Who We Are

Being an independent college advisor is more than a “job,” it’s my passion! No matter the budget, goal, GPA, or geographic preference, I believe there is a college for everyone. Getting to know each student, exploring their innate gifts, learning style, and personality are all keys to creating a college application plan that’s geared towards acceptance success.

I began my career as a therapist, helping families navigate challenging transitions. With over 25 years of experience working with young people, I know how to get to the heart of the matter and hold frank, honest conversations. I create a safe place for young adults to discover their superpowers and try on ideas before making firm decisions.

By injecting fun and humor into a time-sensitive process, students relax and enjoy achieving milestones while staying focused on next-step actions. I help each student assume the level of responsibility he or she is ready for without allowing anything to fall through the cracks.

There may be times when the demands of everyday life or the pressures to make the “right” decision creates too much tension for teens. I recognize the warning signs and take steps to alleviate stress. I also make sure each student has the support and resources needed before, during, and after they transition to college.

I earned a master’s degree in Social Work from USC, an undergraduate degree in Psychology from San Francisco State University, and a College Counseling Certification from UCLA. Before becoming a college advisor, I served as a nonprofit executive overseeing critical support services to grieving families.  

Because I’m dedicated to lifelong learning and maintaining the highest standards in education, training, ethics, and experience, I am an associate member of the Independent Consultants Association (IECA), where I have been fully vetted as an industry expert who remains updated and deeply engaged in her field. 

Each year I tour colleges and universities to share information and connect with thought leaders within the college admissions industry. I apply a wealth of real-world experience that I’ve gained over the years working with diverse groups of wonderful students and their families, helping to make college dreams come true.  

Laurie Gallagher has spent most of her adult life working in higher education. After 25 years of serving as a California Community College Counselor at Butte College, she now works as an Independent College Advisor, leveraging her expertise in assisting students with transferring to diverse colleges and universities.  

Dedicated to helping young adults remove obstacles to achieving personal and academic goals, Laurie is also a marriage and family therapist specializing in assisting youth in navigating the complex process of coming of age. As a College Student Transfer Counselor, she provides a safe, judgment-free place for those seeking academic transfers, including a broad range of four-year college and university programs.  

In addition to serving as a college counselor and marriage family therapist, Laurie served as a community college instructor at Butte College and college lecturer at California State University, Chico, for over 25 years, where she prepared students to become licensed therapists. Among Laurie’s passions is spending time with her family and beloved German Shepard.  

For nearly thirty years, Jenn Poole has been coaching high school students to write compelling, well-received personal statements, essays, and supplemental responses for their college applications. 

She guides students from brainstorming and organizing ideas to drafting, revising, polishing, and finalizing content. Jenn is recognized for her deep understanding of the college admissions landscape and the proclivities of college admissions officers. With a strong, student-centered approach, she assists individuals from widely diverse backgrounds, empowering each student to showcase their unique experiences and talents and share stories in their distinct voices.  

For the past 26 years, Jenn has also served as an English teacher and Vice Principal of Academics at a college preparatory high school in Los Angeles. She earned her Master’s degrees from Loyola Marymount University in English Literature and Child and Adolescent Literacy. Jenn is passionate about helping students develop highly effective writing strategies, cultivating skills that extend beyond the college application process.

Why Us – There are a lot of options when choosing an educational consultant to guide your family.  We encourage you to consider these suggestions from Jeff Schiffman, Director of Admissions at Tulane University.

“Ensure that they are members of the National Association for College Admission Counseling or a regional affiliate. Whenever you hire someone to do a service for you (like a contractor or dentist) you always want to make sure they are accredited and certified. Same goes with hiring an independent counselor. Being a part of NACAC means they'll abide by the Statement of Principles of Good Practices. I do not recommend working with a counselor who is not a NACAC member.

Ensure that they are affiliated with IECA or HECA. These are two incredible organizations comprised of all higher education consultation and independent education counselors. They share great ideas, best practices and are a great professional networking group.

Make sure your application remains authentically you.  If you remember nothing else from this blog, remember this tip. We expect your application to sound like a high school student has written it. We want to hear your authentic voice. The voice of a 17-year-old guy sounds a lot different than the voice of a 45-year-old woman. Independent counselors can help formulate your college list, provide knowledge about best practices in applying and proofreading your essays, but if your voice starts to fade from your application, well...we can tell.”

Consultants at The College Advisor are guided by your teen and family’s desires. We serve in a supporting role, gently guiding the process, offering options and opportunities that are realistic for each student.  Our Director has been a member of NACAC, IECA and HECA for over 15 years, has visited over 500 college and university campuses, and has supported over a thousand students through the process in both high school and independent settings.  Our essay consultant has guided over a thousand students through the college essay process, helping them to find their voice and best tell their unique story.