The College Advisor…Concierge Services
for You and Your One-of-a-Kind,
College-Bound Teen
We help families stay ahead of deadlines and reduce college application stress. With our help, your teen will create smarter college lists, write memorable essays, choose the right major, and learn about scholarships and colleges with the best financial fit.
Your teen’s list of college choices should be as unique as they are.
We manage the schedules, deadlines, and reminders in addition to providing eye-opening insights - from college major choices to academic and extracurricular programs. Our job is to minimize stress and maximize options.
Explore
We help your teen discover their goals through interest and aptitude assessments, guided questionnaires, and honest conversations about their priorities. The right college fit starts long before the application process begins.
Apply
From building a strategic college list, tracking deadlines, and writing well-crafted essays with our essay specialist, we help your teen create applications that paint a “full picture” of who they are so admissions officers see your child beyond their applications.
Succeed
For your child to thrive, getting offers from schools that support their academic and social growth and have the college experience that will create positive memories for years to come.
Is Your Teen Ready for What College Applications Look Like Today?
The admissions process has changed.
- New testing policies.
- Holistic admissions.
- Essays that actually matter.
- Demonstrated interest.
If it feels overwhelming, that's because it is.
We make it manageable.
From 9th grade through acceptance letters, we guide your teen every step of the way. With our Comprehensive College Planning Package, we provide unlimited support by phone, email, or OVER video, whenever you need us.
Our Approach
We start by asking your teen, “What makes them unique?” How do they learn? What do they need to thrive? Then, we get to work by creating a specialized plan:
The College List
- curated to fit their academic abilities
- including learning differences
- social style
- location preferences
- budget (merit aid included)
An Application Plan
- choosing application strategies
- submission of test scores
- letters of recommendation
- sending transcripts or self-reporting grades
- reporting AP results
Essay Support that goes deeper
- choosing appropriate essay topics and idea formulation.
- Deeper understanding of themselves.
The result is essays written in their own voice showing admission officers who they are beyond grades and scores.
Decision-day guidance
- we help you compare offers,
- review program strength,
- internships, career services,
- decode financial aid offers, and choose with confidence.
No guesswork. No panic. Just a clear path forward.
Our team of seasoned professionals has expertise in college admissions, social and emotional well-being, college essay writing and editing, and college student transfers.
Hilary Lefitz, MSW, Lead College Advisor
Laurie Gallagher, MA, MFT, College Student Transfer Counselor
Jenn Poole, College Essay Coach
Meet the Team
What Our Clients Are Saying About The College Advisor
“We are so thankful for our journey with Hilary at The College Advisor.
Hilary and my daughter took off on a road of exploration that led them to the list of schools that was right for my daughter… Having a variety of school options to choose from was empowering and magical!” -
Wendy S.
My son and I had a great experience working with Hilary. College applications are naturally overwhelming, but Hilary made the process feel easy and flowy. She has this calm energy that makes you feel secure. I couldn’t deal with the intensity of some college advisors I interviewed before I met her. Throughout the process, she was very attentive to my son’s desires, requests, and needs. She was also always available to answer any questions we had. I definitely recommend!
Hilary Lefitz is the best! I am beyond grateful for the incredible support our daughter received from Hilary last year as a high school senior. What initially felt like an overwhelming and confusing process- deciding which colleges to apply to, managing application deadlines, and understanding scholarship opportunities—became organized, strategic, and manageable under her guidance.
Hilary worked with my son to compile his list of schools and prepare his applications. Her team was incredibly helpful providing feedback and guidance on writing his essays. Hilary was not only thorough but gave my son school recommendations that we did not know about. She has a kind and compassionate style that made working with her really easy. I highly recommend using her and The College Advisor.
We worked with Hilary Lefitz at the College Advisor for both of my kids (Class of 2022 and Class of 2025) starting in the 9th grade and throughout the college process. My kids are have very different personalities with divergent interests, skills, and activities and Hilary was great at working with each of them to maximize their applications. We could not have been happier with the experience and ultimate outcome.
I have to also give a shout out to Jenn Poole, Hilary's essay writing coach, who does an amazing job guiding the essay writing process while ensuring that the kids do all of the writing, and who is great with both strong and weak writers. I can't recommend Hilary highly enough. I have also referred a number of friends to Hilary who have all been happy with their experience.
I used Hilary and The College Advisor, Inc. for my oldest daughter’s college search and application process. I could not be happier with the service that Hilary provided or the outcome for my daughter.
Several things that I think Hilary did exceptionally well:
1. She was calm, patient, and focused on creating the right outcome for the individual student.
2. She was time-bound and excellent at breaking seemingly huge tasks (ie, write a bunch of essays) into smaller, manageable steps, and then following up with a text mid-week to check on the status of said steps. This really helped my daughter to manage her anxiety and not procrastinate on some of the things that seemed overwhelming.
3. She really focused on my child as the student. She was really in-tune with my daughter’s desires in a college, and helped her to rule out some colleges that would not have been a good fit. She also did an amazing job at helping us to find some colleges that were excellent fits that we probably would not have found on our own.
I highly recommend Hilary and The College Advisor, Inc. as someone who is patient, highly capable, and an expert in her field. My daughter has finished one year of her dream school and could not be happier-the best testament that Hilary did an all-around fantastic job at managing a very stressful process!
Frequently Asked Questions
When should we start working with a college advisor?
Many families begin as early as ninth grade, when there's time to make thoughtful choices about coursework and activities. Others start junior or senior year with a more focused plan. There's no single right time.
How do I know which package is right for my student?
That depends on where your student is in the process and how much support they want. We'll talk through your student's timeline and goals on an initial call and recommend the package that fits, whether that's our Comprehensive, Essential, or Transfer offering.
What happens in our first meeting?
We get to know your student. We ask about their interests, strengths, and what excites them about the future, so every recommendation that follows is built around who they actually are.
Do you write the essays for my student?
No. We guide students through brainstorming and revision, but the writing is always theirs. Colleges want to hear a student's authentic voice, and so do we.
How involved are parents in the process?
As involved as you'd like to be. Some parents prefer to stay close to every step; others prefer to let us work directly with their student. We adapt to your family's style.
How much time does this require each week?
It varies by season and package. Meetings are typically one hour and focused, and we're always mindful of your student's schoolwork and activities outside the process.
How is working with you different from what my student's school counselor offers?
School counselors manage large caseloads and general guidance. We offer one-on-one attention, an outside perspective, and the time to really know your student's story.
How do you help build a college list?
We start with your student's priorities, not a ranking on a website. Academic fit, campus culture, size, location, and cost all factor in, and we refine the list together as your student learns more about what they want.
Do you help with financial aid and scholarships?
Yes. We help families understand the financial aid process and identify merit scholarship opportunities as part of our guidance.
What if my student doesn't know what they want to study?
That's normal, and it's part of what we help with. Our background in interest and aptitude assessment helps students explore direction without locking them into a major too soon.
Do you offer support for the transfer process?
Yes, our Transfer package is designed specifically for students looking to move from community college to a four-year university or from one college to another.
Where are you located, and do you work with families outside your area?
We're based in Westlake Village, California, and work with families both locally and nationally.
How do I get started?
Reach out through our contact page to schedule a complimentary consultation. There's no obligation, just a chance to see if we're a good fit for your family.
