Our Team — College Ready

We believe in providing you with the right resources.

You deserve the College Ready “All hands on deck!” approach to your college application.

At College Ready, we are a team of certified college admissions consultants driven to help your student succeed both in college and in life. We plan individually with students and their families to build the perfect college match as well as financial fit.

Our focus is your son or daughter and what he or she aspires to achieve. We are Certified College Counselors from UCSD, UCLA and come with years of experience helping students get into the perfect college or university. We enjoy working with students of all ages and stages. We have specialists who focus on the Ivy schools and we have specialists who focus on getting B students into the best-fit college. Our goal is to help your student be the best they can be while graduating debt free!.

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Meet Your College Ready Team.

Shellee Howard

College Ready Founder and CEO

Shellee’s daughter completed her freshman year at the University of Alabama and will complete her Nursing degree this year. Shellee has traveled around the world helping students plan for their “perfect match” college. She knows what it takes to compete in the Ivy schools as well as finding the best fit for all students. Shellee believes that no two students are the same and each student must have their own strategy and plan to be successful. Each student has a gift/talent and a passion that will set him or her apart from their competition. Getting to know your student one on one is the key to success. This can be done in person or via Zoom. College Ready has clients all over the world and each one is important. Her focus is to find the best academic, financial and social fit college for each student to thrive at and graduate debt free!

Michelle Rodriguez

Certified College Consultant

Michelle Rodriguez is the COO and Executive Administrator for College Ready. If you want to know anything about our program, she is the one to contact. She graduated in Communications/Public Relations from California State University, Fullerton. She is a dedicated mother of three boys and has first hand experience with the college application process. She is passionate about helping students navigate their college strategy using her expertise in organization and accountability.

Mary Kate Hampton

Certified College Consultant

Mary Kate’s Masters degrees are in Writing, Literature, and Publishing, and English Education. After working in publishers in Boston and New York, Mrs. Hampton began a teaching career in New York City. Mary Kate moved back to the West Coast and started tutoring high school and college students. College essays soon became a favorite subject. As a mom of four, Mrs. Hampton settled in San Diego and started at College Ready. In addition to a passion for education, she’s the lead writer for a local magazine and a volunteer for Villanova University’s alumni recruitment network.

Debra Carlson Wood

Certified College Consultant

Debra Wood has her law degree (J.D.) from Washington University, B.A. in Political Science – International Relations. She has 25+ years experience in higher education. After attending a small , private, elite college, she received her law degree from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. She became their first dean of students at the age of 28, and went on to serve as vice president and/or dean at several outstanding institutions including Scripps College of the Claremont Colleges, Northwestern University in Qatar, and Illinois Wesleyan. Her professional experience includes helping students identify their strengths and abilities and select colleges or universities, graduate schools, and conduct career searches. She currently lives in Qaxaca, Mexico with her husband.

Kristine Johnson

Certified College Consultant

Kristine graduated high school with a 4.2 GPA and attended Long Beach City College Honors program before being accepted into UCLA. In college, she worked as an actress, spent her junior year in Paris, and taught at a local private elementary school. After graduating, she worked as a French teacher and as an editor at am educational publishing company. She currently lives in Long Beach with her husband where she homeschooled her four boys. She looks forward to working with students as they prepare for their future.

Alyssa Pflugler

Certified College Consultant

Alyssa Pflugler grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s in Education and a Minor in Special Education. She has taught more than 400 students and staff from more than 80 countries. Her biggest passions are helping students realize their full potential, plan for their future, and overcome adversity. She currently lives in Austin, Texas with her husband.

Makena Ouiliette, BSN, RN

College Ready Mentor

Makena is a pediatric registered nurse. She attended The University of Alabama and received her RN at CBU. RN Pediatric Emergency at CHOC

Grace Jones

College Ready Mentor

Grace Jones is a current student at Vanderbilt University in the Ingram Scholars Program. She began working with College Ready after 8th grade and has since continued to be involved as an intern at CR Tutoring & Test Strategies and a mentor for the President’s Leadership Council. Grace loves being able to mentor high school students as they discover their best-fit college and their passions, especially when making an impact in their communities through passion projects.

Kristi Torres

Marketing and Outreach Specialist

Kristi has a B.A. in Communications with a background in Marketing and Customer Service. She loves ascertaining the best way to engage with people which in turn will help your business grow! She resides in Houston and when she is not working, she is with her husband and three young children. Her hobbies include running, reading and getting outdoors.

Dr. Ryan Ouiliette

College Ready Mentor

Dr. Ryan is an Orthopedic Surgery Resident at UCLA. He studied Pre-Med/Bio at Harvard and graduated medical school at UCSD.

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Students From College Ready Families Have Been Accepted At These Fine Colleges.

Your Student Can Too, And Often With Big Scholarships And Grants!

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Featured Testimonial: “…I knew we were in good hands. Thanks to Shellee, my daughter will graduate debt-free!”

“The college process is intimidating and scary, but after our first meeting with Shellee I knew that we were in good hands. She presented my daughter with schools that specifically meet her needs financially and academically. Beyond that, Shellee’s guidance has taken the pressure and angst out of the process. Her organization, knowledge and encouragement is priceless. Shellee walked me through the financial aid process which can be daunting. Her patience and sense of humor was very much appreciated. My only regret is we didn’t meet with College Ready sooner. My oldest son had no plan and will end up in $270,000 in debt. My daughter had a custom plan thanks to Shellee and she will graduate debt free. Do yourself a favor and call them today. This has been the best investment I have made for my daughter’s future hands down!!!!” ~Cindy H., Parent

These Satisfied Parents Know The Value Of A College Admission Consultant

★★★★★

“My husband was reluctant to pay for a College Counselor, finally I convinced him to hear the presentation. In less than an hour. we signed up to start the process! …This has been the best investment for our kid’s future…you will never regret it, I promise. We’re very happy.”

Marit H., Parent

★★★★★

“Our daughter is now in her second semester at USC where she received the President’s Scholarship. She called me last week to tell me Shellee stopped by to take her to lunch and see how she was doing! College Ready goes over and above what you may expect.”

Trish D., Parent

★★★★★

“An excellent experience! …My parents are completely confident that their money went to good use and that the return on the investment was well worth the cost. Thank you!!”

Madison M., Student

Book Your Free Discovery Call Today With A College Admissions Consultant

We Take Away The College Application Overwhelm And Get You Accepted By Your Target Colleges!

Our strategic plans for the College Application Process work! We are delighted to report that we've placed our students at over 166 colleges, often with big scholarships and grants. Credit, of course, always goes first to the hard-working students and their supportive families! We're proud to guide you through your college admission journey as part of your team.

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