Karen Cebulske
Independent college admissions consultant for students in any grade, online
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $225 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Parents |
| Based in | Washington, United States |
| Sessions | Online |
| Credentials | HECA member |
| Practice | Step By Step College Prep, LLC |
Karen Cebulske is an independent college admissions consultant who helps high school students and their parents through the application process. She runs Step By Step College Prep, LLC and meets with families by video anywhere in the United States. Her 28 Class of 2026 students submitted 184 applications and received 161 acceptance letters. They also earned over 4 million in university scholarships. She guides juniors and seniors through each step of applying.
What Karen helps with
Karen helps students and families lower the stress of applying to college. She guides juniors and seniors through the full application process.
- Building a college list that fits academically, socially and financially
- Planning SAT and ACT testing
- Brainstorming main essay topics
- Editing main, supplemental and scholarship essays
- Understanding how grades and class rank matter
- Choosing extracurricular, volunteer and leadership activities
- Staying organized during the application process
Who Karen works with
Karen works with high school students in any grade, and with their parents. She guides juniors and seniors through the whole application process. She is a good fit for students who need someone other than Mom or Dad to explain why grades, class rank, test scores and activities matter.
How Karen works
Families start with a virtual consultation that runs 60 to 75 minutes. Karen reviews the child's desired colleges, activities, courses and grades. She plans SAT and ACT scheduling and previews Custom College Plan, a website for researching colleges and staying organized. Families then get an action list made for their child. Next, they can sign up for Application Advantage, a 3-hour consulting block. They choose how to spend the time across the key stages of applying.
Background and qualifications
Karen Cebulske is an independent college consultant and a member of HECA. She runs Step By Step College Prep, LLC. She has worked with 22 students in the Class of 2024, 30 in the Class of 2025 and 28 in the Class of 2026. Those students submitted 183, 245 and 184 applications. They received 145, 185 and 161 acceptance letters. Scholarship totals were over 3 million, over 3.5 million and over 4 million dollars.
Karen Cebulske pricing
Programs and services
- Initial family consultation by video
- Application Advantage 3-hour consulting block
- Custom action list for each student
Karen Cebulske reviews
The CoachVouch take
Her Class of 2026 students received 161 acceptance letters and over 4 million dollars in university scholarships.
Best for families who want step by step help with applications and less stress at home.
Common questions
How much does Karen Cebulske charge?
Coaching with Karen runs $150 to $225 an hour. Message Karen from this page for an exact quote.
What does Karen Cebulske help with?
Karen Cebulske helps with building a college list that fits academically, socially and financially, planning SAT and ACT testing, brainstorming main essay topics and editing main, supplemental and scholarship essays.
Does Karen Cebulske coach online?
Karen is based in Washington, United States. Sessions are online.
Is Karen Cebulske certified?
Karen Cebulske lists: HECA member.
Does Karen Cebulske work with students outside Washington?
Yes. She meets with families by video with students anywhere in the United States.
How long is the first meeting with Karen?
The initial family consultation lasts 60 to 75 minutes. Families get an action list for their child afterward.
How do I contact Karen Cebulske?
Send Karen a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.