Kara McMahon
College admissions consultant with 20 years of experience
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $225 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Parents |
| Based in | United States |
| Credentials | Member, Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA); Master's in Counseling, Fordham University; Degree in Educational Administration, Hofstra University; Undergraduate degree, Villanova University |
| Experience | 20 years coaching |
| Practice | Admissions by Design |
Kara McMahon is a college admissions consultant who helps students and parents plan for college and build strong applications. She founded Admissions by Design and has 20 years in admissions counseling. She spent 10 years as a high school college counselor and later led counseling at a Milwaukee high school. She also worked as an alumni admissions liaison for Villanova University, where she interviewed applicants and took part in admissions committee talks.
What Kara helps with
Kara guides students and families through college planning and the application process. Her work centers on students aiming for selective universities.
- Building a personal application strategy
- Applying to selective universities
- Planning college goals across all four years of high school
- Positioning a student's strengths in an application
- Supporting students with different academic profiles
- Understanding how colleges evaluate applications
Who Kara works with
Kara works with high school students and their parents. Her clients include students with a range of academic profiles and postsecondary goals. Many are aiming for selective and top universities.
Background and qualifications
Kara earned her undergraduate degree from Villanova University. She also holds a Master's in Counseling from Fordham University and a degree in Educational Administration from Hofstra University. She spent 10 years as a college counselor at a public high school on Long Island. She then served as Director of Counseling at an all-girls Catholic high school in Milwaukee, where she oversaw college planning across all four years. Earlier, she worked about three years as an alumni admissions liaison for Villanova University. There she interviewed applicants for admission and scholarships. She is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association.
Kara McMahon pricing
Programs and services
- Consultations
- Personalized college planning and application support
Kara McMahon reviews
The CoachVouch take
Kara has seen admissions from both sides, as a former Villanova alumni admissions liaison who joined admissions committee discussions and as a school counseling director.
Best for families who want a personal application plan for selective universities.
Common questions
How much does Kara McMahon charge?
Coaching with Kara runs $150 to $225 an hour. Message Kara from this page for an exact quote.
What does Kara McMahon help with?
Kara McMahon helps with building a personal application strategy, applying to selective universities, planning college goals across all four years of high school and positioning a student's strengths in an application.
Is Kara McMahon certified?
Kara McMahon lists: Member, Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA); Master's in Counseling, Fordham University; Degree in Educational Administration, Hofstra University; Undergraduate degree, Villanova University.
Has Kara McMahon worked inside a college admissions process?
Yes. She was an alumni admissions liaison for Villanova University. She interviewed applicants for admission and scholarships and took part in admissions committee discussions.
How do I contact Kara McMahon?
Send Kara a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.