Catherine Northup
Independent college admissions consultant in San Mateo County, California
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $225 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Parents |
| Based in | Redwood City, California, United States |
| Credentials | IECA Professional member |
| Practice | College Crossroads Consulting |
Catherine Northup is an independent educational consultant who guides college-bound students and their parents through college planning and applications. She runs College Crossroads Consulting in San Mateo County, California. Her work centers on helping each student find a college that fits them academically, socially and financially. Her students have been accepted to schools such as Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Dartmouth and Johns Hopkins. She offers a package for sophomores and juniors and hourly help for other students.
What Catherine helps with
Catherine helps students decide where to apply and how to handle the application process. She also works to lower stress for families during this time.
- Deciding where to apply to college
- Finding a college that fits academically, socially and financially
- Navigating the college application process
- Reducing stress and anxiety for families
- Exploring options for students unsure what they want
- Planning for college as a sophomore or junior
Who Catherine works with
Catherine works with college-bound students and their parents. Her comprehensive program is built for sophomores and juniors. Freshmen, or students who need only one or two services, can use hourly help. She also works with students who are unsure what they want from college.
How Catherine works
Catherine works side by side with each student through the application process. The plan is fully customized to what the student wants from college. If a student is unsure, she draws on their interests and goals to show them a wider set of options. The aim is to find several schools that fit, not one perfect school. Her services come as a comprehensive package for sophomores and juniors, or as hourly packages.
Background and qualifications
Catherine Northup is an independent educational consultant based in San Mateo County, California. She is a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). She runs College Crossroads Consulting, a firm that guides students through college planning and applications. Her students have been accepted to schools including Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Dartmouth, Columbia, Brown, Penn, Cornell, Duke, Northwestern, University of Chicago, Georgetown and Johns Hopkins.
Catherine Northup pricing
Programs and services
- Comprehensive package for sophomores and juniors
- Hourly packages for freshmen or those needing 1 to 2 services
Catherine Northup reviews
The CoachVouch take
Her approach centers on finding several well-fitting schools for each student instead of chasing one perfect school.
Best for sophomores and juniors who want a customized plan to find a college that fits them.
Common questions
How much does Catherine Northup charge?
Coaching with Catherine runs $150 to $225 an hour. Request an intro for an exact quote.
What does Catherine Northup help with?
Catherine Northup helps with deciding where to apply to college, finding a college that fits academically, socially and financially, navigating the college application process and reducing stress and anxiety for families.
Is Catherine Northup certified?
Catherine Northup lists: IECA Professional member.
Does Catherine Northup work with freshmen?
Yes. Freshmen or students who need only one or two services can use her hourly packages.
What is the comprehensive package?
It is a program tailored to sophomores and juniors.
How do I contact Catherine Northup?
Request an intro on this page. It's free, and we'll connect you with Catherine and, if you want, 2 or 3 similar coaches to compare.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.