Laird Durley
College admissions consultant for students and parents in Fresno, California
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $225 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Parents |
| Based in | Fresno, California, United States |
| Credentials | IECA Professional member; HECA member; WACAC member; NACAC member |
| Practice | Central Valley College Quest |
Laird Durley is an independent college admissions consultant in Fresno, California. He runs Central Valley College Quest and helps local students and their parents choose colleges and apply to them. He guides families through the whole admission process, from first questions to finished applications. He has made over 326 college visits in 156 months, so he knows many campuses first hand. He belongs to four national and regional admissions groups.
What Laird helps with
Laird helps students who are unsure which college to pick and how to apply. He covers the whole process from start to finish.
- Choosing the right college from many good options
- Building a list of colleges to consider
- Narrowing a broad search to a targeted list
- Tailoring applications to the top three schools
- Getting through the full admission process
Who Laird works with
Laird works with students and parents in the Central Valley area around Fresno. His clients are families trying to decide which college to attend and how to apply. He helps those who feel stuck because there are so many good schools to choose from.
How Laird works
Laird works in three steps. In consulting, he learns about the student's needs, academic interests, preparation and college preferences. In advising, he builds a refined list of colleges and narrows it from a broad search to a targeted list. In counseling, the student picks a top three and Laird tailors the applications to those schools. He also shares detailed written, online and on-site views of campuses from his visits.
Background and qualifications
Laird Durley is an independent educational consultant based in Fresno, California. He runs Central Valley College Quest. He is a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association. He also belongs to the Higher Education Consultants Association, the Western Association for College Admission Counseling and the National Association for College Admission Counseling. He has made over 326 college visits in 156 months, which gives him detailed knowledge of many colleges.
Laird Durley pricing
Programs and services
- Consulting
- Advising
- Counseling
- Application help
Laird Durley reviews
The CoachVouch take
He has made over 326 college visits in 156 months and shares that campus knowledge with local students.
Best for Fresno area students and parents who want help narrowing a long college list and applying.
Common questions
How much does Laird Durley charge?
Coaching with Laird runs $150 to $225 an hour. Message Laird from this page for an exact quote.
What does Laird Durley help with?
Laird Durley helps with choosing the right college from many good options, building a list of colleges to consider, narrowing a broad search to a targeted list and tailoring applications to the top three schools.
Is Laird Durley certified?
Laird Durley lists: IECA Professional member; HECA member; WACAC member; NACAC member.
What steps does Laird Durley follow with students?
He starts with consulting to learn about the student, then advising to build a targeted college list. Then he does counseling to tailor applications to the top three schools.
How do I contact Laird Durley?
Send Laird a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
Similar coaches to compare
Tick "Compare" to message several coaches at once.
Abby Friedman
Abby Friedman is an independent educational consultant in Berkeley, California. She helps students and parents plan for college and apply. She is a Certified Educational Planner and a lifelong educator. Her work covers US colleges and also programs in the EU, UK and Canada. She pays close attention to fit, including academic, social and financial fit. She holds a master's in education and a UC Berkeley certificate in college admissions and career planning.
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.
Arlette Bolduc
Arlette Bolduc is an independent college counselor who helps students and their parents plan for college and apply. She owns Grays Hall College Counseling and has run it since early 2013. She has worked with hundreds of students and families on finding the right college fit. Her work covers class choices, test timelines, college lists, and every application option. All sessions are held online.
Browse related
Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.