College Counseling With Purpose,
Passion, and Proven Results
At College Ready®, college counseling is more than a service, it’s a mission. We believe every student deserves clarity, confidence, and a path that aligns with who they are and who they’re becoming.
With a team of experienced consultants, essay coaches and editors, financial strategists, and mentors, we provide college counselling services grounded in warmth, expertise, vision, and real connection.
Our work is about transforming confusion into direction, overwhelm into confidence, and stress into meaningful, memorable growth.
Our Story
College Ready began with a desire to serve families with honesty, clarity, and compassion — principles that ground our work every day.
The traditional process felt confusing, inconsistent, and overwhelming. Families were often left guessing, Googling, and hoping they were making the “right” decisions. Students with incredible potential were overlooked because they lacked guidance, clarity, and strategy.
College Ready was created to change that.
What started as a mission to help a single student has grown into:
Thousands of families supported worldwide
Today, we stand as one of the best college admissions consultants for families who want a custom, strategic, and student-centered approach.
Our Mission
Our mission is to transform the college journey into a clear, confident, and financially smart path for every family. We believe college should expand opportunity — not create debt — and that students rise when they feel known, supported, and empowered to lead with purpose.
At College Ready, we combine personalized college planning with financial strategy, leadership development, and our proven Stand Out strategy so students can present their strongest, most authentic selves to the colleges that fit them best. We support the whole student — their values, their goals, their growth — and we help families make informed decisions that lead to long-term success.
Our mission is grounded in these core beliefs:
College should open doors, not financial strain.
Students thrive when their strengths, values, and purpose guide their path.
A structured, personalized plan brings peace of mind to the entire family.
We exist to be a trusted partner in a confusing process — offering clarity, integrity, and a heart for empowering students to graduate with confidence, purpose, and a smart return on their investment.
And we are committed to a bold vision: helping one million families graduate without unnecessary debt.
Empower Education— Extending Our Mission Beyond Admissions
Empower Education is our student-led non-profit that gives teens the opportunity to earn meaningful community service hours, grow as leaders, and create real impact in their communities and around the world. Through guided projects and global service initiatives, students discover how to turn their passions into purpose while building experiences that strengthen their confidence — and their college applications.
It’s one of the most powerful ways we help students grow beyond academics, through this organization, students earn 8 National Awards, 4 Leadership Certifications, earn internships and complete research projects.
Our Core Values
Our work is guided by a set of values that shape how we show up for students and families every day. These values reflect who we are, how we serve, and what we believe the college admissions experience should feel like.
Student-Centered Guidance
Every student has a unique story, and we begin by listening. We focus on each student’s strengths, interests, and aspirations so their plan reflects who they are, not who anyone else wants them to be. Colleges want proof, so we help your teen craft their unique story.
Personalized Excellence
There is no one “right” path to college. We tailor every recommendation to fit each student’s academic goals, personality, and long-term vision. This personalized approach helps students focus their efforts where they will have the greatest impact.
Integrity and Transparency
We set clear expectations, explain every step, and ensure you always understand the “why” behind our guidance so you can make confident, informed decisions for your student’s future.
Partnership With Families
We walk alongside both students and parents. Through consistent communication, structure, and support, we keep everyone aligned and moving forward with confidence. Our password protected Knowledge Vault is custom to each family.
Financial Stewardship
College is a significant investment. We help families understand financial fit, merit opportunities, and the role colleges play in awarding aid so they can make informed, confident decisions throughout the admissions and acceptance process.
Clarity and Calm in a Complex Process
The admissions process can be overwhelming, with countless deadlines, decisions, and competing priorities. We simplify that complexity by breaking the journey into clear steps, organized timelines, and manageable tasks.
Equity and Access
We are honored to serve students from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and countries. Every student deserves and receives high-quality guidance from the College Ready team and a path that reflects their unique potential.
Continuous Learning and Professional Excellence
The admissions process is always changing. Our team stays current with trends, policies, and best practices so families receive the most up-to-date, expert college counseling possible
Meet the Team
College Ready is powered by a community of experienced counselors, essay coaches and editors, financial strategists, and mentors who truly love what they do. Every team member brings specialized expertise and a genuine passion for guiding students toward their future. Their experience is more than just working in a college admissions office. Each member has over 10+ years of experience from the Dean of students to UC Medical.
Shellee Howard
College Ready Founder and CEO
Shellee Howard is the founder and CEO of College Ready, an award-winning global college admissions strategist and 2026 Global Educational Consultant of the Year. A UC graduate and mom of four college graduates who all finished debt-free—including a son who graduated from Harvard pre-med—she knows how to help families earn acceptances to top-choice colleges without crushing debt. Through College Ready, she has helped families worldwide design clear college plans, secure top-choice acceptances, and earn over $80 million in scholarships. OR Shellee Howard is the founder and CEO of College Ready, a global college admissions strategist, two-time best-selling author, and 2026 Global Educational Consultant of the Year.
A proud UC graduate and mom of four children who all finished college debt-free—including a son who graduated from Harvard pre-med—she knows what it takes to earn admission to Ivy League and other highly selective universities and how to find the best-fit college for every student. Through College Ready, Shellee and her team have helped families around the world build strategic college plans, secure acceptances to top-choice colleges, and earn over $80 million in scholarships while making academic, social, and financial sense.
Michelle Rodriguez
Chief Operations Manager
Debra Carlson Wood
Certified College Consultant and Ivy Strategist
Kristine Johnson
Certified College Consultant and Essay Strategist
Erica Norgren
Certified College Consultant
Keri Anderson
Community Outreach
Dr. Ryan Ouiliette
College Ready Mentor
Makena Ouiliette
College Ready Mentor
Yona Walya
Director of Community Service and our Nonprofit
Dr. Renae McGowen
Community Outbreach
Julienne Ross
Outreach Manager
Our Professional Team
Certified for Results
Consultants
(student + parent meetings)
Essay Editors
(voice + structure + impact)
Financial Team
(FAFSA/CSS/SAI + affordability)
Operations Manager
(onboarding + tracking + accountability)
Empower Education
(nonprofit students)
Why Families Choose College Ready
By the Numbers
Families trust College Ready because the results and the college counselling experience speak for themselves.
See What
Families Say
We were "very" lucky to have found College Ready! They were the perfect help for my high schooler. They helped shape his application with all his accomplishments nicely packaged, guided all their students through tough Covid times providing tons of alternatives, provided insightful seminars, were very encouraging throughout the process ... all in all a very enriching experience that gave us good r...
As we celebrate our son heading off to UCLA this fall, we also reflect on the level of guidance we had with the College Ready team. It took a village to get through this process and stay sane in the journey. The last 6 months have brought peace of mind as we had the ability to lean on College Ready to navigate all our sons' offers to find the right 'fit'. We wouldn't be where we are today without ...
My parents went to college but it was in another country so they could not help me. Shellee and Michelle were for me every step and took the stress out of not knowing. While my friends were angry at their parents for putting pressure on them, I was working on my own plan and rarely felt anxious. Knowing what to expect and allowing my parents to step back was a blessing to my family.”
As a mother , I was looking to find a great college counselor to help my son get ready for his future education. I’m so grateful to know that Shellee and her amazing team will give all resources, support and encouragement to my son. Shellee is so passionate about helping students and has a big heart. My son feels much more confidence since he started this journey with Shellee. Every time we have...
Recognitions & Press
College Ready has been featured in national media, honored in educational leadership awards, and widely recognized for excellence in college counseling services.
Students feel seen, supported, and confident—not just for admissions, but for college and life after high school.
Our Commitment to You
This is more than guidance — it’s a relationship. We are committed to: