About Us
We approach the college admissions process by helping students articulate their goals and interests in order to find the colleges that are a great fit. Our objective is for every student to enroll at a college that meets their academic needs and interests in an atmosphere where they can thrive socially. We do not leverage the anxiety that the selective college admissions process generates nor do we make false claims about our ability to gain anyone admission to any particular school.
Consultants
Mimi Donohue, Consultant
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Mimi Donohue has a BA from Amherst College, a Masters in Public Administration from New York University and a College Counseling Certificate from the University of California, Riverside. Mimi worked for 18 years in Marketing and Public Relations for such companies as Time-Warner. and Publishers Clearing House. Additionally, she has volunteered extensively in the Manhasset Public Schools as the Executive President of the School Community Association and VP of the Board of Directors of the Tower Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the educational experience for all students in the district. Mimi got into the field of college counseling to help families successfully navigate the college application process. Mimi is primarily based in Amagansett, NY and works with students all around the country and abroad. (member of NACAC)
*Mimi is fully booked for students from the HS graduating classes of ‘26 [email protected] |
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Pam Hommeyer, Consultant
Pam Hommeyer has a B.A. from Dartmouth College and a College Counseling Certificate from
the University of California, San Diego. Her previous professional work has been in education, school board governance, fundraising, writing, copyediting and proofreading. She worked in schools for 11 years as a trustee at the Hamlin School and Lick-Wilmerding High School. Pam’s experience helping middle and high school students on a volunteer basis as they applied to private high schools and colleges led her to pursue a career as an independent educational consultant. She loves working with teens and young adults. Pam is primarily based in San Francisco and works with students all around the country. (member of NACAC & WACAC)
*Pam H is fully booked with students from the HS graduating classes of '27 and '28.
[email protected]
Vicki Penny, Consultant
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Vicki Penny has a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and a College Counseling Certificate from the University of California, San Diego. Vicki has worked in education, fundraising and community service for more than 30 years. She has served on the board of the SF Friends School and on several board committees of the Bay School of SF. Vicki is proud to have been a founding board member and the Vice President of Philanthropy for Service Corps SF, a service organization for high school boys. Helping students find their voice has led her to pursue college counseling. She has two teenage boys. Primarily based in San Francisco, Vicki works with students all around the country and abroad. (member of NACAC & WACAC) *Vicki is currently only offering college counseling workshops for public schools and educational not-for-profits. Please contact me if you know of an organization that would like to host a workshop. [email protected] |
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Pam Rupright, Consultant
Pam Rupright has a B.A. and J.D. from Northwestern University, as well as a College Counseling Certificate from the University of California, San Diego. She practiced product defense litigation in the Bay Area before leaving the law to focus on raising her two children. Pam has volunteered extensively in her children’s schools and was President of the San Francisco Riptide Lacrosse Club (youth) for two years. She enjoys watching teenagers pursue their interests, whether on a lacrosse field, dramatic stage or Math classroom and helping guide them in following those interests to a great college fit. Primarily based in San Francisco, Pam works with students all around the country and abroad. (member of NACAC)
*Pam R is fully booked for students from the HS graduating class of '27.
[email protected]
Rachel Shay, Consultant
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Rachel Shay has a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, a College Admissions Counseling Certificate from the University of California, Berkeley and an Essay Coach Certificate from the WOW Certified Essay Coach Program. She is a passionate college counselor who helps students develop personalized college plans, identify the right-fit schools, and navigate the complex admissions landscape with an approach rooted in encouragement and affection. Deeply committed to education and working with teens, she has served on The Branson School's Board, The Hamlin School’s diversity committee and the National Charity League's philanthropy committee. Rachel brings over two decades of strategic marketing and management expertise to her practice. Throughout her career at industry-leading companies including Charles Schwab, Wells Fargo, and The Clorox Company, she has developed comprehensive strategies that help organizations identify target markets, optimize positioning, and achieve competitive advantage. Her unique combination of strategic business planning and educational involvement enables her to guide families through the college process with clear insights and a comprehensive approach to achieving their goals. Rachel is a mother to a thriving college student and two adorable dogs. Rachel is primarily based in San Francisco and works with students all around the country. (member of NACAC & IECA) [email protected] |
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Specialists
Chase Hommeyer, Writing Tutor & Essay Specialist
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Chase Hommeyer is a full-time professional tutor and mentor who helps young people achieve their highest academic potential. Chase graduated from Princeton University magna cum laude and is also a proud alumna of the Hamlin School and Lick-Wilmerding High School. Chase specializes in helping middle and high school students with writing and executive functioning, offering targeted support for college application essays, homework help, analytical writing skills, reading comprehension, time management, organization, intrinsic motivation, and self-confidence. Chase is currently pursuing a Master's in mental health counseling and has five years of experience as a writing tutor, coach, and mentor. Chase supports students to develop the skills to academically succeed while balancing full course loads, extracurricular activities, remote learning, and a social landscape shaped by social media and distracting technology. As an essay specialist, Chase guides students through the process of writing high school or college application essays. She also tutors students in humanities subjects, helping them gain confidence and excel academically in English and History classes by building foundational writing skills and providing support in all forms of academic and creative writing: English essays, research papers, lab reports, and short stories. Chase is based in San Francisco and works with students all over the US and abroad on an hourly basis via Zoom. High school seniors who received college essay coaching from Chase have gone on to attend Stanford University, Yale University, Princeton University, Northwestern University, Pomona College, NYU, UC Berkeley, Georgia Tech, Syracuse School of Journalism, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Architecture, the University of Hawaii, and more. [email protected] |
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We respect families’ experiences, history, values, goals and resources throughout the process and strive to bring clarity and minimize stress for students and their parents. We work with students to compile a realistic list of good fit schools, help students complete their essays and guide them through their applications.
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