Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Harris.
Hi Katie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was in high school, my mom hired a college admissions coach to help me identify schools where I would be a competitive applicant and enjoy the experience. Without his guidance, I probably never would have applied to Arizona State University—let alone attended and had such an incredible college experience.
That experience always stayed in my mind as something I would love doing, but the timing never felt quite right. Instead, I spent the next 15 years working in higher education at Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara, helping undergraduate students achieve their academic, personal, and career goals. I held a variety of roles doing academic advising, career counseling and admissions at both institutions. My favorite part of my job was always the interactions and personal connections with students, and giving them the tools to be successful.
Last year, it felt like the right time to take the leap and launch Katie Harris College Admission Consulting. It has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I love working one-on-one with students to help them discover what they truly want from their college experience, build a college list that fits their goals, and navigate the admissions process with greater confidence. I love having the chance to help shape their future and see them thrive. I love learning about colleges and cannot wait to visit more campuses over the next few years.
My goal is to help students understand college admissions and take away some of the stress and pressure of applications. I love being able to make this an exciting chapter for them instead of an overwhelming one.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As a new business owner, I am constantly experiencing struggles, and I’m sure this will always be the case!
At the beginning I had a time hard determining what would be a fair price for families. It took a few consultations to really figure it out. Through this process, I learned that it is important to consult with other professionals, but at the end of the day, this is my business and I need to do what I feel comfortable with.
Another challenge has been going from a staff member in a huge organization to an independent business owner. I spend my time wearing every hat possible and trusting myself on all decisions. I have gained valuable insights and support from my professional memberships which has helped with this a lot!
I’m sure all new business owners struggle with trying to launch a new business, finding enough time in the day and worrying about being successful. All of these things have been struggles, but ones that I am privileged to have.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am an Independent Educational Consultant (IEC) and I work with high school students and their families to navigate the college admissions process and apply to college. Every student I work with gets personalized, one-on-one guidance throughout their time with me. I provide both hourly services and comprehensive packages and work with students and families on the following:
Building balanced college lists that are an academic, social and financial fit
Major and career exploration and assessments
Guidance on standardized tests (SAT/ACT)
Essay brainstorming and review
Guidance on financial aid applications, scholarship deadlines, need and merit aid and cost comparisons
Provide customized spreadsheets and timelines to help students stay organized and on top of deadlines
Something that sets me apart from a lot of other IECs is that my background is in higher education. I have many years of experience working at two selective universities in California (Cal Poly and UCSB) and know how universities run and function, understand institutional priorities and know which departments handle different things. I can very quickly find out answers for your questions at any college or university.
My brand is personal connection. I pride myself in being able to tailor my services and approach to each individual student so that they feel supported and get the most out of our time together. I truly love working with students, allowing them to dream about what their future could hold and helping them get there.
How do you think about happiness?
Professionally:
When students leave a meeting feeling less overwhelmed than when we started.
Exploring new colleges and universities.
Personally:
Spending time with my husband and two daughters.
Watching my daughters dance, which is something they LOVE.
Playing tennis (especially a winning match!)
Walking my dogs on the beach in a cozy sweatshirt with a coffee.
Reading fiction, mysteries, romance and anything on the Reese Witherspoon book list.
Pricing:
- Can email me for pricing!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://khcollegeadmissions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khcollegeadmissionsconsulting/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-harris86/
