Laurie Cortez

College admissions consultant in Irvine, California

Admissions ConsultantIrvine, California, United StatesOnline and in person$150 to $225 an hour
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Hourly rate range$150 to $225 an hour
Focus areas
Works withStudents and Parents
Based inIrvine, California, United States
SessionsOnline and in person
CredentialsIECA Professional member
PracticeCollege Coaching Services

Laurie Cortez is an independent educational consultant who runs College Coaching Services. Laurie helps students and parents with college admissions. Laurie's practice is based in Irvine, California. Laurie is an IECA Professional member. Laurie's program has helped hundreds of students with the application process. It covers public schools, private schools and Ivy League schools. Families work with Laurie in a 15 session program that mixes in-person and virtual meetings.

What Laurie helps with

Laurie helps students plan and finish college applications. Laurie also helps families lower the stress of the process.

  • Setting personal educational goals
  • Building a resume for college
  • Finding the right campus environment
  • Choosing safe, probable and stretch schools
  • Building a test prep timeline for the PSAT, SAT and ACT
  • Planning around application deadlines
  • Brainstorming and choosing essay topics
  • Getting strong letters of recommendation

Who Laurie works with

Laurie works with high school students and their parents. Some clients start as early as 9th grade. Others begin in 10th or 11th grade. Laurie helps students applying to public schools, private schools and Ivy League schools.

How Laurie works

The program has 15 sessions, with contact between meetings. Sessions are a blend of in-person and virtual meetings. Each family gets a guided workbook that helps organize application materials. The work follows a 10 step process. It runs from goal setting and school selection through essays, interviews, and submitting the applications.

Background and qualifications

Laurie Cortez is an independent educational consultant in Irvine, California. Laurie runs College Coaching Services. Laurie is an IECA Professional member. Laurie's practice has helped hundreds of students through the college application process. Clients come to Laurie as early as 9th grade or as late as 11th grade.

Laurie Cortez pricing

Hourly rate range
$150 to $225 an hour
Get an exact quote from Laurie when you request an intro.

Programs and services

  • 15 session college admissions program
  • In-person and virtual sessions
  • Guided workbook
  • 1:1 interview preparation
  • Test prep strategy planning
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Laurie Cortez reviews

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The CoachVouch take

Laurie's program includes a 15 session plan with contact between meetings and a guided workbook for organizing materials.

Best for students and parents who want a step-by-step plan for college applications, starting as early as 9th grade.

Common questions

How much does Laurie Cortez charge?

Coaching with Laurie runs $150 to $225 an hour. Request an intro for an exact quote.

What does Laurie Cortez help with?

Laurie Cortez helps with setting personal educational goals, building a resume for college, finding the right campus environment and choosing safe, probable and stretch schools.

Does Laurie Cortez coach online?

Laurie is based in Irvine, California, United States. Sessions are online and in person.

Is Laurie Cortez certified?

Laurie Cortez lists: IECA Professional member.

When should families start working with Laurie Cortez?

Earlier is better. Some clients start in 9th grade, and others start in 10th or 11th grade.

Does the program include interview preparation?

Yes. It includes 1:1 preparation and practice sessions for college interviews.

How do I contact Laurie Cortez?

Request an intro on this page. It's free, and we'll connect you with Laurie and, if you want, 2 or 3 similar coaches to compare.

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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.

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