Laila Hilfinger
College admissions counselor in Bellevue and Seattle, Washington
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $225 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Parents |
| Based in | Bellevue, Washington, United States |
| Credentials | Degrees from Brown and Columbia; Member, SACC; Member, HECA |
| Practice | Medina College Counseling |
Laila Hilfinger is an independent college admissions counselor who helps high school students and their parents. She runs Medina College Counseling in the Bellevue and Seattle area. She holds degrees from Brown and Columbia. She worked as an alumni interviewer and leader for Brown Admissions for more than twenty years. She works with students locally, across the country and abroad, from 9th grade through senior year.
What Laila helps with
Laila helps families plan for college and cut the stress of applying. She guides students from early high school planning to choosing and applying to colleges that fit.
- Finding colleges that fit the student
- Choosing courses for sophomore, junior and senior years
- Picking summer programs, volunteer work, internships and jobs
- Drafting and editing college essays
- Preparing for college interviews
- Deciding on SAT and ACT test prep
- Building a student resume
- Handling teacher recommendations and scholarships
Who Laila works with
Laila works with high school students and their families. Some start as early as 9th grade and others begin in senior year. She works with students in her local area, around the country and in other countries.
How Laila works
Laila builds each student's counseling plan around that student's needs, abilities and goals. Families can pick comprehensive counseling packages or hourly counseling. Support covers academic and extracurricular planning through high school, then the search and application process.
Background and qualifications
Laila graduated from Brown University and also holds a degree from Columbia. For more than twenty years she served as an alumni interviewer and leader for Brown Admissions. After helping friends and family with the admissions process, she launched Medina College Counseling to help other parents and students. She is a member of SACC and HECA. She has been interviewed by King 5 TV and featured in Points Living Magazine.
Laila Hilfinger pricing
Programs and services
- Comprehensive counseling packages
- Hourly counseling
- Initial consultation
Laila Hilfinger reviews
The CoachVouch take
Laila spent more than twenty years as an alumni interviewer and leader for Brown Admissions.
Best for high school students and parents who want a plan built around the student, from early high school or later.
Common questions
How much does Laila Hilfinger charge?
Coaching with Laila runs $150 to $225 an hour. Request an intro for an exact quote.
What does Laila Hilfinger help with?
Laila Hilfinger helps with finding colleges that fit the student, choosing courses for sophomore, junior and senior years, picking summer programs, volunteer work, internships and jobs and drafting and editing college essays.
Is Laila Hilfinger certified?
Laila Hilfinger lists: Degrees from Brown and Columbia; Member, SACC; Member, HECA.
Does Laila Hilfinger work with international students?
Yes. She works with students locally, around the country and with international students.
When should a student start working with Laila?
Students can begin as early as 9th grade or as late as senior year.
How do I contact Laila Hilfinger?
Request an intro on this page. It's free, and we'll connect you with Laila 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.
Cynthia Seidel
Cynthia Seidel is an independent college admissions consultant in Sammamish, Washington. Cynthia helps students and parents plan for college, from early high school through acceptance. Cynthia also supports transfer students and graduate school applicants. Cynthia's process covers academic fit, social fit and financial fit. Cynthia also advises on colleges in Canada, Europe and the United Kingdom. Cynthia runs On Course College Consulting LLC and is an IECA Professional member.
Poojha Daryanani
Poojha Daryanani is a college admissions consultant in Bellevue, Washington. She helps students and parents plan for college and graduate school. She has 23 years of experience. She holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management and worked with Yale's Admissions Committee. She also read applications at the University of Washington, Seattle, and worked as a high school counselor at a private IB school in Redmond. She takes a limited number of students each year.
Rachel Zachariah
Rachel Zachariah is an independent educational consultant in Seattle who helps students and parents with college admissions. Rachel works with students around the world and has a particular interest in international students, third-culture kids, and students who learn differently. Rachel's focus is helping students find colleges where they can succeed academically, including the most affordable programs that fit them. Rachel is a professional member of IECA.
Teri Thompson
Teri Thompson is an independent college admissions consultant in Seattle, Washington. She helps students and parents plan for college and apply. Her firm, Thompson College Consulting, has worked with more than 1,000 students over 17 years. Those students have been admitted to more than 100 colleges. She supports families at each stage, from high school course planning to senior year applications. She also advises on applying to colleges in the UK and Europe.
Browse related
Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.