Annette Mackaness
College admissions consultant for students in the San Jose area
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $240 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Athletes |
| Based in | San Jose, California, United States |
| Credentials | Certificate in College Admissions Counseling, UCLA (with Distinction); Member, Higher Educational Consultants Association (HECA); Member, National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC); Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; Former Certified Public Accountant |
| Experience | 8 years coaching |
| Practice | I'm Going 2 College! College Admissions Consulting |
Annette Mackaness is a college admissions consultant who helps students find colleges that fit their needs and get through the application process. She owns I'm Going 2 College! and has eight years of experience. She has worked with over 60 students from 13 high schools in the SF Bay Area, Southern California and Boston. Before this, she was a CPA and led HR and recruiting at Ricoh Innovations.
What Annette helps with
Annette helps students plan for college from course choices through the move to campus. She builds each plan around the student's needs.
- Choosing Honors and AP classes
- Deciding between the ACT and SAT
- Navigating the NCAA recruitment process for athletes
- Choosing a major or career direction
- Brainstorming and editing college essays
- Financial aid and scholarship guidance
- Preparing for college interviews
- Getting ready for the move to college
Who Annette works with
Annette works with high school students who are planning for college. Her clients come from public and private schools in the SF Bay Area, Southern California and Boston. She also guides student athletes through the NCAA recruitment process.
How Annette works
Annette builds a personal timeline for the college application process and holds regular checkups to track progress. She starts by reviewing the student's academics and activities. Then she sets college selection criteria such as major, location, cost and admission standards. She also guides campus visits and ways to show interest in a school.
Background and qualifications
Annette has a business administration degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She was a Certified Public Accountant and worked in accounting and finance at Ernst & Young, Apple and Netscape. She later became Director of HR and Recruiting at Ricoh Innovations, then focused on corporate recruiting for the high-tech industry. There she matched employers and job seekers. She now uses that skill to match students with colleges. She earned a College Admissions Counseling certificate from UCLA with Distinction. She belongs to HECA and NACAC.
Annette Mackaness pricing
Programs and services
- Academic assessment and course planning
- Testing strategy and plan
- Target college list development
- Personalized application timeline with regular checkups
- Essay brainstorming and editing
- Interview preparation
Annette Mackaness reviews
The CoachVouch take
A former recruiting director and CPA who applies employer and job seeker matching to finding the right college fit.
Best for high school students who want help building a college list and managing each step of applying.
Common questions
How much does Annette Mackaness charge?
Coaching with Annette runs $150 to $240 an hour. Request an intro for an exact quote.
What does Annette Mackaness help with?
Annette Mackaness helps with choosing Honors and AP classes, deciding between the ACT and SAT, navigating the NCAA recruitment process for athletes and choosing a major or career direction.
Is Annette Mackaness certified?
Annette Mackaness lists: Certificate in College Admissions Counseling, UCLA (with Distinction); Member, Higher Educational Consultants Association (HECA); Member, National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC); Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; Former Certified Public Accountant.
Does Annette help student athletes?
Yes. She guides athletes through the NCAA recruitment process.
Does Annette help with support after college choice?
Yes. She offers final college decision support and help with the transition to college.
How do I contact Annette Mackaness?
Request an intro on this page. It's free, and we'll connect you with Annette and, if you want, 2 or 3 similar coaches to compare.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.