We believe in turning clients into family.
These 5-Star reviews of College Ready from grateful parents and students demonstrate our unique family-focused service.
The College Ready process starts with our strong conviction that every student is unique, and in order to achieve success, they must have their own personalized plan and strategy. Of course, we also take into account the family situation, especially when it comes to finances.
We firmly believe that each student possesses a unique gift or talent, as well as a passion that sets them apart from their peers. The key to unlocking a student’s full potential lies in understanding them on a one-on-one basis. This understanding powers our strong track record over the last 16 years.
- We have helped over 2600+ students.
- 97+% of our students have been admitted to one of their top 3 colleges.
- 2,600+ Passion Projects have been completed.
The College Ready program has a global reach, and we value every single client equally no matter where you are from. Our goal is to help each and every student find a college that provides the best academic, financial, and social fit, enabling them to thrive and graduate without the burden of debt. We invite you to check out the glowing testimonials from our satisfied parents and students.
Want to learn how College Ready can help you? Click on the button to set up your Discovery Call. We look forward to connecting with you.
Students From College Ready Families Have Been Accepted At These Fine Colleges.
Your Student Can Too, And Often With Big Scholarships And Grants!
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
More 5-Star testimonials that urge you to take action now and book your free Discovery Call.
★★★★★
“College Ready and their team were the ultimate guide for our daughter (and for us) in all aspects of the college selection, application and preparation process. They delivered spot on advice and guidance the whole way and they were so easy to work with. I can’t recommend them enough.”
Mike D., Proud Parent
★★★★★
“Shellee is so informative and helps to navigate the sometimes difficult and confusing road to college. Check her out – you and your students will be very happy you did!”
Marit C.
★★★★★
“Shellee and her team have been such a match for our family and guiding us through all of the details of college preparation. We enjoy the friendly dynamic, all of the workshops and the one on ones that we get. College Ready is priceless.”
Michelle C., Freshman Parent
★★★★★
“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
★★★★★
“If your kids are taking their studies seriously then you need to do your part and sign them up with College Ready sooner rather than later.”
Jorden C., Parent of two College Ready students
★★★★★
“I’ve never been more excited in my life to help my children. Shellee is smart, has a big heart, and offers thorough and tailored support for her students.”
Kimberly M., Parent
★★★★★
“Shellee Howard has made the college planning process, stress free!” She simplified the process with a strategic plan that was easy to follow and put our son at ease.”
Lisa B., Parent
★★★★★
“I honestly thought I could do this process by myself until it came time to put my application together and decide on essay topics. I panicked at the last minute in my Senior year and College Ready welcomed me and made it their mission to help me pull everything together in just a short time. I had not taken any test prep or a standardized test before I signed up with College Ready. Shellee put together a plan that was achievable in just a short time. Because of College Ready, I was accepted into ten colleges and three were full rides!”
Noah A., Proud College Ready Student
★★★★★
“College Ready is more than just a College Consulting business.They care more about the student that anyone we met including the High School staff. They helped our daughter, pick the best class schedule with rigor in her best subjects, they put together a custom testing plan, guided us through the most amazing Passion Project and helped us navigate which extra curricula’s and leadership activities were worth the time investment. College Ready was an investment in our daughter’s future we will treasure forever!”
Janell M., Parent
★★★★★
“I cannot say enough about College Ready and how helpful they were to my son and our family. They removed our confusion and feelings of being overwhelmed. Our son was so empowered by the College Ready plan that not only did his grades improve but also his SAT score improved by 300 points. Having a strategy with a four-year plan was the best way to keep our son motivated and focused on the end result.”
Stephanie A., Proud College Ready Parent
★★★★★
“Thank you so much to College Ready for helping me obtain admission to my dream school! Your essay and application editors were amazing to work with and I believe was the icing on the cake to my applications. Your whole team treated me like family and I will be forever grateful!”
April S., Student, UCLA
★★★★★
“Thanks to College Ready not only did my daughter get in to USC, she also got a scholarship and grant money. College Ready has already paid for itself!”
Barry C., Lawyer and Parent
★★★★★
“There are no words to express how grateful I feel for not just your assistance but for your caring approach. Our son had such BIG news to share with us in October and him trusting you with his essays was quite key and important. A huge relief for him too! Thank you for your expertise and kindness! We appreciate you.”
Susan H.
★★★★★
“My daughter is living her ivy league dream, she’s attending Columbia University in the fall. In a year when her top-performing friends received so many rejections, some from even their safety schools, my daughter, was fortunate to receive multiple ivy league and top school offers, many with scholarships. She then was able to pick which school was best for her, not choose the only school that picked her. I know, had I not found Shelley at College Ready I know we’d not have had the same high acceptance rates.”
Jordan C.
★★★★★
“Chose College Ready on a recommendation and the guidance received did not disappoint. Beginning my daughter’s sophomore year in high school, College Ready had a plan for my daughter to meet her goals while keeping her on track and accountable for all three years. Desired result achieved. Well worth the investment in your child’s future.”
Jody G., La Palma
★★★★★
“The personalized attention offered by College Ready is beyond what I had expected. The Consultant’s took the time to get to know me and find out what my perfect college match would be. They researched colleges and offered me choices I would never have considered. The information they shared with me was not found in any of my research and it proved to be valuable when applying for grants and scholarships.”
Thomas T., University of Alabama Scholarship Recipient
★★★★★
“I am very satisfied with her service. Definitely worth it. I am so glad I came to College Ready during my 8th-grade year! Their team made getting through High School and applying for colleges so much easier! They helped me stay organized as well as set high and achievable goals. Thank you Shellee and the entire College Ready team for making this so-to-be “scary” process so enjoyable!!!”
Makena O.
★★★★★
“I cannot say enough great things about Shellee Howard and her team of professionals. Our daughter is on track, stress-free and excited about this process of applying to colleges. Shellee has prepared her, supported her, held her accountable and so much more.”
Lisa B., Laguna Niguel
★★★★★
“We highly recommend Shellee and her team! We knew we had many things to think about when it comes to college planning. After meeting with Shellee, we realized that we didn’t know the half of it. She worked with our child to come up with a plan, calendar, motivation, and workshops to help the process along.”
Shon K., Brea, CA
★★★★★
“We can’t say enough about our experience with Shellee and her team.”
Mona B.
★★★★★
“I would have been lost without this book and College Ready. Having international options gave me so many opportunities.”
Francesca B., International Student from Italy
★★★★★
“This workbook is amazing. If you follow the book and workbook you will no longer feel overwhelmed or stressed. You will feel in control and excited.”
Grace J.
★★★★★
“College Ready is awesome! I started with them my Freshman year and just signed my acceptance letter to Stanford! I still feel like I am dreaming. The process was made much easier by just following the College Ready strategy. If I had a question, I would just send a text and it was answered. The essay editing team and application team were incredible and I could not have been as successful without them. If I stick to our plan, I will graduate in 4 years debt free! I will forever be grateful.”
Juliette R., Student
★★★★★
“Where do I even begin? College Ready was a lifesaver for my family. My daughter was so overwhelmed and stressed out, all we did was argue. I thought I was early signing up with College Ready but what I found out, is that my daughter was so stressed because she was falling quickly behind. There were so many parents sharing information, I did not know who to believe or trust. One afternoon when I picked my daughter up from school, she got in the car and broke down in tears. The pressure had gotten to her and I knew it was time to seek help. I remember hearing Ms. Howard speak at her National Charity League Tea event and I knew it was time to give her a call. She took the time to answer all my questions over the phone and when we met in person, I could see my daughter smile with relief. We hired College Ready that evening and it was honestly the best decision I have made for my family. On top of that, my daughter got accepted into 11 colleges and 7 of them she received a significant amount of money! She will graduate debt free!”
Doreen L., Parent
★★★★★
“Shellee is an excellent College Consultant. She gave me the guidance needed to pick the best college based on my interests, academic fit that made the best financial sense. She always made me feel like I was her priority and was always happy to help. Her team made sure I did not miss any deadlines and helped me understand what was the most important thing to do at that time. College Ready is the reason I will graduate debt free with a major I love! I can’t wait to see how she helps my sister.”
Myra B., Student
★★★★★
“Shellee and the College Ready group are hard working, dedicated and completely ethical. Their honesty saved me a ton of time and frustration. The college I am attending was not on my original list and yet it is the perfect fit for me. Because of their guidance, my mom and I did not have to argue about this process and I enjoyed my last year at home.”
Sarah W., Student
★★★★★
“College Ready was recommended to me by one of my son’s friends. I had so many questions, so we setup a free Discovery Session. Shellee and her team made us all feel like family. I was so overwhelmed and had no idea where to start. Once Shellee got to know my son, it was great watching the two of them strategize and plan for his strengths. The Passion Project was a huge hit for him. He loved the idea of creating his own service project doing something he was passionate about and making a difference. When it came time to pick his colleges, Shellee’s experience was invaluable and a life saver. He applied to 12 colleges, got into 10 and received financial aid offers for $1,344,000.00!!! He will be able to graduate debt free and we will not have to take money out of our retirement. We are forever grateful for College Ready’s help!”
Cherly B., Parent
★★★★★
“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.”
Amar B., Student
★★★★★
“I couldn’t imagine navigating the College Maze without Shellee, I’m not sure how parents get THE best college, THE best scholarship and pick THE perfect mix of subjects to give their students the best chance, without her. We are so blessed and way less stressed with Shellee in our corner.”
Tanya T., Parent
★★★★★
“I cannot say enough about College Ready. I was referred to them late in the process (early in my son’s Sr. year). We had already done much of the college process ourselves and wanted to find a professional to help us make sure we hadn’t made any mistakes. Upon meeting with Shellee I was so pleasantly surprised. She was so full of knowledge and extremely friendly and professional. She took the time to listen to what we had done so far and provide guidance even in our first consultation. After we decided to move forward, she assessed what we had done well and what was still missing. She did not make us feel bad but was very supportive and creative in her suggestions. She was a breath of fresh air with a ton of knowledge and ideas. She helped our son edit an amazing college essay in 2 meetings. Shellee had a professional editor proof-read the college application and helped expand on the Activity section. She also helped answer some VERY difficult FAFSA questions that I would otherwise NEVER have been able to navigate. And this made a HUGE difference in my EFC. Overall they were available for questions by phone and the whole process was made so much easier because of them. The end result…. 11 out of 12 acceptances all by February 11, with comprehensive financial aid. My son will be attending his 1st choice school next fall and we are thrilled. Thank you again College Ready. You are the best!”
Tammy & Sam R., Parents
★★★★★
“Searching for the right colleges and financial aid for your child is a daunting process, and can also become a full-time job. We became overwhelmed, and finally, we took friends’ advice to meet with Shellee Howard at College Ready in their Newport Beach office. Our friends’ children worked with College Ready and both have excellent scholarships and financial aid at University of Michigan and SMU. What a relief to have the process steered by someone with expertise. Shellee and her associates are experts not only about private and public universities nationwide, but also about emerging career choices that may suit your child’s interests and strengths. They care about matching your child to college environments best suited to them and to your wallet. Shellee’s proposed colleges were not even on our radar, or seemed out of reach, and they helped us position our child’s applications for the best chance at acceptance and a strong financial aid package. If you want your child to have a breadth of options, both public and private, at a price you can afford, don’t leave it to a high school counselor. They cannot devote individualized time to your child, and they lack knowledge about “secret gem” private colleges with generous aid. You need a private counselor such as College Ready. The investment in their services will alleviate stress and save you considerable money; you may get MUCH more help from a private university than a state public one. So far our daughter was accepted to Columbia with 90% financial aid. Fingers crossed on the others.”
Will & Sarah M., Parents
★★★★★
“Shellee and her College Ready group are solid college admission and financial counselors. They take parents and students through every step of the college admission process, starting with academic rigor, test strategy, passion project, extracurriculars, leadership and the FAFSA. Our daughter is now in her second semester at USC where she received the President’s Scholarship. My daughter 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. They make navigating through the college admission maze so much easier!”
Trish D., Parent
★★★★★
“My husband was reluctant to pay for a College Counselor, finally I convinced him to go and hear one of College Ready’s in-home presentations. In less than an hour we signed up to start the process. Their passion, professionalism, enthusiastic, trust, honest and deeply engage with the student and the family, made us going to a friendly process of a very difficult system in this Country, which is impossible to do it yourself if you want to have the great advantage of understanding which Universities fits the student, their academics, personality, family priorities and values, short, medium and long term profession and guidance for their life. Just try one hour with College Ready, you will never regret it, I promise. They put a whole puzzle together, guide you step by step, to get the most benefit combination for your student and budget, giving them the opportunity to study in Universities you may think is unaffordable by your first impression. And most important, the earlier you start with your student in Freshman, the best orientation and benefit will receive your student, because their FOCUS change when they start listening for their options and planning. This is a key concept to consider, because if you wait too long, may be too late to start focusing and get an idea what they’re going to do after High School. This has been the best investment for our kid’s future. We’re very happy, don’t wait to Start your kid’s future with College Ready.”
Marit H., Parent
★★★★★
“Working with Shellee and her College Ready team was an excellent experience, Shellee sat down with me to get to know me and help choose colleges and universities that fit my needs and preferences as well as my parent’s financial needs. Once we had established a list of possible schools, I sat with Shellee and she helped me through the entire application process from the FAFSA to negotiating financials and comparing offers. 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
★★★★★
“For all you junior and sophomore parents out there with kids wanting to go to college, I highly recommend working with a college counselor. To be honest, we were really on the fence about hiring one. We met with Shellee from College Ready with our son the first time. She spent almost 2 hours with us (free consultation) and we were blown away by her knowledge. If your child is seriously thinking about college, I firmly believe that the money you spend with her will be recovered (plus $1,000’s more). It’s not too early (sophomore parents) to meet with her!!! You won’t regret it!”
Patty T., Parent
★★★★★
“We were referred to College Ready by a friend and are delighted by the difference their services have made with our youngest child’s college search experience. We’d hesitated to spend the money but now regret we didn’t use them with our eldest child. For starters, they asked thorough questions and helped our daughter clarify what she was looking for in an academic program and campus environment. Although that may sound obvious, their process was far more comprehensive than what the school counselors and our family had been able to establish. Then they introduced us to schools that were off our radar but that were excellent fits for our student’s academic needs. When it came time to submit applications, it was liberating to have College Ready guide and support our daughter with her essay writing & forms. It removed all tension in our family as we literally sat back while the work was done and she completed all tasks before their deadlines. My daughter has now been accepted into 9 colleges and 2 of those are a full ride!!! It’s decision time and we owe the financial offer to College Ready, they know where to find the money.”
Jen S., Parent
★★★★★
“Shellee Howard is articulate and inspiring. My son, who was very anxious about the whole process of applying to colleges and his grades, became enthused and motivated. Shellee pinpointed my son’s opportunities and gave him concrete advice for dealing with them. She presented options, with the benefits and consequences, allowing my son to draw his own conclusions that propelled him in a better direction. Shellee identified all the universities that fit my son’s educational needs. She told us what grades, ACT and SAT scores were required for admission and she provided specific information about tuition, grants and scholarships which were available. College Ready provides assistance with the college essays. Shellee turned a daunting and overwhelming process into a manageable one and my son, who was floundering, now cannot WAIT to go to college. As a result of Shellee’’s expertise we are considering universities we would not otherwise have considered. My son already had an acceptance to a university by mid September! I desperately wish we had known about her when our daughter was applying. I’m sure the choices and her path would have been different. I can say, by comparison, that Shellee’’s expertise has made a night and day difference in the college application process and I am convinced my son’s future success will be the result of Shellee’s guidance and support.”
Parent
★★★★★
“College Ready has been a great experience for our daughter Taylor and our family. It helped us develop a strategic approach, helping Taylor stand out from the competitive crowd, getting accepted from all seven of the colleges that she applied to, and receiving scholarships from six of the seven schools. This exceeded our expectation. Thank you Shellee, Michelle and Kristine.”
Lisa P., Parent
★★★★★
“College ready was an excellent resource for our daughter. Very professional worked on a one to one basis with her on building her resume and providing excellent feedback on her essays. We would recommend without any reservation.”
Dimitra V., Parent
★★★★★
“We have had a great experience helping our son get ready for college. Shellee and her team have helped us learn all the ins and outs if how to prepare for college admissions!”
Shannon H., Parent
★★★★★
“Our daughter is in her first year of high school, and we signed on with College Ready. We are impressed with the staff’s experience and knowledge. We look forward to continuing the college preparations with Shellee, Kristine, and Michelle.”
Rocky D., Parent
★★★★★
“It was a great comfort to work with College Ready during my daughter’s high school education while she was preparing for university. Her advisors provided us with extensive information and guidance. They were knowledgeable and helped us with everything.
Shellee Howard is a professional who knows her job well and can establish a good bond between the student and her advisor after her talk with you. Our advisor, Ms. Debra, with her expertise and experience, helped us identify the right universities to match my daughter’s interests. She also gave detailed information about university applications and success scholarships.
Their guidance allowed us to follow the right steps to streamline the application process. It’s impossible for very busy parents to easily keep track of their dates, processes and to-do lists! We often overlook this process. But they remind and tell us what we will encounter. No surprises!
College Ready’s friendly and professional approach has allowed my daughter to take confident steps and develop a clearer vision for her future. Mentoring and guidance provided by her advisors contributed to her academic and personal development. Their priorities are your comfort zone and they talk to you one by one about what your child should do in the future. Sometimes, due to the meetings we hold and the questions we want to ask about the process, they respond to our very sudden meeting requests within 1-2 hours. I don’t remember ever having a meeting a week later. We always talked the same day or the next day. They are very sensitive about this.
I highly recommend College Ready to all high school students and their families. Their expertise, knowledge and personalized approach make the university application process easier and more successful.”
John E., Local Guide & Parent
★★★★★
“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 a question, she takes our call and answers all our questions. I highly recommend College Ready to every individual who is looking to get prepare for getting into the best colleges. Many thanks to Shellee , Kristine and Michelle.”
Azin R., Parent
★★★★★
“Shellee was amazing. Her team helped my daughter get accepted to 7 universities and a full ride to The University of Virginia. Would highly recommend.”
Gretchen M., Parent
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.