Cathy Ganley
College admissions consultant serving Northern Virginia families
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $225 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Parents |
| Based in | Falls Church, Virginia, United States |
| Credentials | IECA Professional member |
| Practice | ForWord Consulting |
Cathy Ganley is an independent college admissions consultant in Falls Church, Virginia. She runs ForWord Consulting and helps students and parents with the college application process. Her work covers essays, college search, choosing a major, financial aid, scholarships and interviews. She serves families across Northern Virginia, Maryland and DC, including Arlington, McLean, Reston and Vienna. She is a professional member of IECA.
What Cathy helps with
Cathy helps students and parents get through the college application process with less stress. She covers the full path from early planning to finished applications.
- College essay writing
- Selecting a major
- Building a college list
- Financial aid questions
- Scholarships
- College interviews
- Testing strategy
- Academic and extracurricular planning
Who Cathy works with
Cathy works with high school students and their parents. Her full-service package covers grades 8 to 12. Families are mostly in Northern Virginia, Maryland and DC, including many private school students.
How Cathy works
Cathy offers a Comprehensive Package for grades 8 to 12. It starts with the first meeting and runs through seven finished college applications. Students get unlimited one-on-one support on academic and extracurricular planning, college selection, testing strategy, essay development and application completion. The number of Comprehensive clients is limited so each family gets close attention. New families can begin with a 1.5-hour Overview Session that lays out the process and a timeline.
Background and qualifications
Cathy Ganley is an independent educational consultant based in Falls Church, Virginia. She is a professional member of IECA. She works through ForWord Consulting, LLC, which serves families across Northern Virginia, Maryland and DC. Her practice covers the full college application process, from early planning in grade 8 through essays, testing strategy and final applications.
Cathy Ganley pricing
Programs and services
- 1.5-hour Overview Session
- Comprehensive Package for grades 8 to 12
- Free contact form inquiry
Cathy Ganley reviews
The CoachVouch take
Cathy limits how many Comprehensive clients she takes so each family gets unlimited one-on-one support through seven applications.
Best for Northern Virginia families who want full support from early high school through finished applications.
Common questions
How much does Cathy Ganley charge?
Coaching with Cathy runs $150 to $225 an hour. Message Cathy from this page for an exact quote.
What does Cathy Ganley help with?
Cathy Ganley helps with college essay writing, selecting a major, building a college list and financial aid questions.
Is Cathy Ganley certified?
Cathy Ganley lists: IECA Professional member.
What grades does Cathy Ganley work with?
Her Comprehensive Package covers grades 8 to 12. She does not offer the Application Package for juniors and seniors.
What happens in the Overview Session?
It is a 1.5-hour talk about the college application process. Families get tips and a timeline tailored to their child's goals.
How do I contact Cathy Ganley?
Send Cathy a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.