
Cyndy McDonald
College admissions counselor and coach for college counselors in Visalia
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $225 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | College admissionsCoaches and consultants |
| Works with | Students and Parents |
| Also coaches | Business coach and Executive coach |
| Based in | Visalia, California, United States |
| Credentials | Credentialed high school counselor; IECA member |
| Practice | McDonald & Associates |
Cyndy McDonald is a college admissions counselor in Visalia, California. She helps students and parents plan and prepare for college. She is a credentialed school counselor who has worked at the high school and middle school levels. She holds leadership roles in WACAC and founded HECA. She also runs The College Counselor's Coach, where she helps other college counselors grow their practices. She hosts a free Zoom series called Friday Forums.
What Cyndy helps with
Cyndy helps families plan and prepare for college, including finding money to pay for it. She also coaches college counselors on building their practices and finding better balance.
- Planning and preparing for college
- Finding money to pay for college
- Application strategies
- Growing a college counseling practice
- Building better business income
- Work-life balance for business owners
- Leadership lessons for practice owners
Who Cyndy works with
Cyndy works with students and parents going through the college admissions process. This includes first-generation college families. She also works with college counselors and other professionals who own their own practices and want to grow.
Background and qualifications
Cyndy has worked as a credentialed high school counselor and at the middle school level. She has also been a private college counselor, an AVID regional representative, an AVID consultant and a school consultant. She holds leadership roles in WACAC, the Western Association for College Admission Counseling. She founded HECA, the Higher Educational Consultants Association. She is an IECA member and president of McDonald & Associates. She has more than thirty years of business experience. She founded and led two more businesses and a non-profit.
Cyndy McDonald pricing
Programs and services
- Free initial consultation
- Friday Forums on Zoom, once or twice a month
- Summer training workshops (9 offered)
- Independent college counseling practice
Cyndy McDonald reviews
The CoachVouch take
She was the first in her family to attend college and founded HECA, and she now coaches other college counselors on their practices.
Best for families preparing for college and for college counselors who want to grow their practice.
Common questions
How much does Cyndy McDonald charge?
Coaching with Cyndy runs $150 to $225 an hour. Request an intro for an exact quote.
What does Cyndy McDonald help with?
Cyndy McDonald helps with planning and preparing for college, finding money to pay for college, application strategies and growing a college counseling practice.
Is Cyndy McDonald certified?
Cyndy McDonald lists: Credentialed high school counselor; IECA member.
Does Cyndy McDonald coach other college counselors?
Yes. Through The College Counselor's Coach, she helps practice owners grow their business, raise income and find better work-life balance. She offers a free initial consultation.
What are Friday Forums?
Friday Forums is a free Zoom series Cyndy hosts once or twice a month. She interviews experts in higher education, counseling and business.
How do I contact Cyndy McDonald?
Request an intro on this page. It's free, and we'll connect you with Cyndy and, if you want, 2 or 3 similar coaches to compare.
Similar coaches to compare
Tick "Compare" on any coach to add them to your intro request.

Alexandra Matthews
Alexandra Matthews is a college admissions counselor who runs College Odyssey in Mill Valley, California. She helps high school students find best-fit colleges and get in. She has worked as a life coach with teens for 20 years, focusing on anxiety and stress. She also taught writing at an Ivy League college and has interviewed applicants as an alumni interviewer for an Ivy League school. She works with clients across the country and abroad.

Amber Thompson
Amber Thompson is an independent educational consultant who helps students and parents with college admissions. She runs AT College Consulting in El Segundo, California, and works with families across the country. Her work covers finding colleges that fit a student's academic, social and financial needs. She also helps students with their essays. She meets with students on Zoom calls. She is a Professional member of IECA.

Austin Lee
Austin Lee is an independent college admissions consultant in Belmont, California. He helps high school students and their parents plan for college and work through the admissions process. Before consulting, he spent 17 years working in higher education at some of the most prestigious universities in the world. His work covers building a college list, essay support, and application help. He also offers advice for student athletes.

Barbra Rosenstein
Barbra Rosenstein is an independent college admissions consultant who helps students and parents with the college application process. She founded Clear College Choices in 2015. She helps students build a balanced college list, choose essay topics, and review essays and applications. She also works with College Dream Team, a community based organization that supports first generation, low-income students. Families in California use her services.
Browse related
Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.