Deborah Donley
College admissions counselor serving Chicago's North Shore
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $225 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students, Parents and Athletes |
| Based in | Illinois, United States |
| Credentials | Master's Degree in College Student Personnel; M.A. in Guidance and Counseling; Member, National Association for College Admission Counseling; Member, Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling; Member, Higher Education Consultants Association |
| Practice | Deb Donley College Counseling |
Deborah Donley is an independent college admissions counselor who helps students and parents on Chicago's North Shore. She has over thirty-five years of one-on-one college counseling experience. She also worked in college admissions offices at Purdue, Drake and Bowling Green's Firelands College.
What Deborah helps with
Deb helps students build a college list, learn how to research schools, and finish every step of the application. She works to make the process less stressful and easier to manage.
- Building a college list that fits a student's interests
- Learning how to research colleges
- Writing college essays
- Completing applications and required forms
- Navigating athletic recruitment
- Choosing and applying to college with a disability
- Preparing auditions and portfolios for arts programs
- Understanding how admission works at different colleges
Who Deborah works with
Deb works with high school students and their parents. Her clients include student-athletes, students with disabilities, and students applying to visual and performing arts programs who audition or submit portfolios.
Background and qualifications
There she started the essay seminars and the college application processing night, wrote newsletters for seniors, juniors and parents of sophomores, and created the post-high school binder. Before that she was a counselor at Hinsdale Central High School and spent nine years in admissions at Purdue University, Drake University and The Firelands College of Bowling Green State University. She holds a Master's Degree in College Student Personnel and an M.A. in Guidance and Counseling. She also taught high school English and has taught college counseling to graduate students and school counselors.
Deborah Donley pricing
Deborah Donley reviews
The CoachVouch take
Best for North Shore families who want an experienced counselor to guide a student through the application and essays.
Common questions
How much does Deborah Donley charge?
Coaching with Deborah runs $150 to $225 an hour. Message Deborah from this page for an exact quote.
What does Deborah Donley help with?
Deborah Donley helps with building a college list that fits a student's interests, learning how to research colleges, writing college essays and completing applications and required forms.
Is Deborah Donley certified?
Deborah Donley lists: Master's Degree in College Student Personnel; M.A. in Guidance and Counseling; Member, National Association for College Admission Counseling; Member, Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling; Member, Higher Education Consultants Association.
Does Deb Donley work with student-athletes?
Yes. She helps student-athletes through the recruitment process.
Can Deb help students applying to arts programs?
Yes. She works with students who audition or submit portfolios for visual and performing arts programs.
How do I contact Deborah Donley?
Send Deborah a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.