Hi, I’m Sandra.
I’m an Independent Educational Consultant. In a nutshell, I help high school students discover and pursue the path that works best for them.
For nearly a decade, I supported high school students’ college and career exploration through my work at Duluth East High School’s Career Center. At the same time, I helped my own two children navigate the college admission process. I loved working with students to figure out their next steps. Eventually, my passion for helping young people led me to an Independent Educational Consultant certificate from the University of California Irvine.
My goal is to help students and parents understand the college admission process and approach it with clarity and confidence. Students who work with me not only build strong applications—they also gain a better understanding of themselves, their interests, and their goals.
Throughout our work together, students learn valuable life skills such as time management, organization, and thoughtful decision-making. I help students discover their unique strengths, explore new interests, and develop an application that genuinely reflects who they are.
Together we spend months researching colleges to build a balanced list of schools that align with the student’s academic goals, social preferences, and financial considerations. The end result is a confident student who finds a college where they will thrive.
While most families come to me seeking guidance with the four-year college admission process, I also enjoy helping students explore other pathways. These may include beginning at a community college with a transfer plan, pursuing certificates or apprenticeships, considering military service, or planning a purposeful gap year.
Why work with an Independent Educational Consultant?
For students and their families, high school is stressful enough before you add in planning for what comes next.
As an educational consultant, I can:
Be the middle person in parent-student discussions about the future and convert those discussions into a plan that moves things forward.
Help students translate passions and strengths into a list of possible educational or career paths.
Outline a schedule for students to stay on top of goals, like signing up for college placement tests, preparing for a college tour, or completing an application.
Lead honest discussions between parents and students about the cost of college and how to make good financial decisions.
Assist students in finding and completing applications for colleges, scholarships, and other programs.
Important Information
The Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) has developed a strict set of ethical guidelines that govern the actions of consultants in their relationships with students and families, schools and colleges, and with colleagues.
These include a responsibility to understand each student’s special strengths, values, and needs, while striving to include all family members in the educational planning process. An IECA member does not accept any compensation from educational institutions for placement of a child. All IECA members subscribe to these Principles of Good Practice (PDF) and all IECA members are required to annually sign and follow the principles as part of their Association membership in good standing.
What My Clients Are Saying
My Credentials
Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)
Member of the Minnesota Association for College Admissions Counseling (MACAC)
Certificate for Independent Educational Consultants, University of California-Irvine
B.S. in Interior Design, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Graduating from high school is a big transition — and I’m here to help you navigate it.
Interested in learning more?
Let’s discuss what this would look like for you and your student. Get to know me in a free introductory session.