Liz Smith
College admissions consultant for students and parents in Wilmington, North Carolina
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $225 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Parents |
| Based in | Wilmington, North Carolina, United States |
| Credentials | IECA member |
| Practice | Rising Tide College Consulting |
Liz Smith runs Rising Tide College Consulting in Wilmington, North Carolina. She helps students and parents plan for college and find schools that fit a student's academic, personal, and financial needs. Her full-service package covers assessments, college list building, financial aid guidance, and application oversight.
What Liz helps with
Liz helps families find a good-fit college and get through the planning and application steps without feeling overwhelmed.
- Finding colleges that match a student's academic, personal, and financial needs
- Building a balanced list of colleges to research
- Keeping applications on schedule
- Learning about financial aid options
- Comparing in-state and private college costs
- Choosing high school courses
- Planning SAT and ACT testing and test prep
- Helping students define what they need from a college
Who Liz works with
Liz works with students and their parents. Families who want to be involved in the college search fit her process. Students set their own criteria for the search, so they take ownership of it.
How Liz works
Liz starts with meetings with the parents and with the student. Students take assessments on learning style, career interests, and college preferences. She reviews the transcript, test scores, activities, and awards, then builds a Student Profile to guide the search. From there she builds a custom college list, gives financial aid guidance, suggests SAT and ACT schedules, and oversees applications and timelines.
Background and qualifications
Liz Smith is the founder of Rising Tide College Consulting, an independent practice in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is a member of the IECA, the Independent Educational Consultants Association. Her practice offers full-service college counseling, from early planning and course selection through application support.
Liz Smith pricing
Programs and services
- Comprehensive college counseling package
- College visits
- Family resources portal
Liz Smith reviews
The CoachVouch take
Her financial aid guidance looks for private colleges with generous aid that could match or beat the cost of an in-state university.
Best for families who want step-by-step help finding an affordable, good-fit college.
Common questions
How much does Liz Smith charge?
Coaching with Liz runs $150 to $225 an hour. Message Liz from this page for an exact quote.
What does Liz Smith help with?
Liz Smith helps with finding colleges that match a student's academic, personal, and financial needs, building a balanced list of colleges to research, keeping applications on schedule and learning about financial aid options.
Is Liz Smith certified?
Liz Smith lists: IECA member.
Does Liz Smith help with financial aid questions?
Yes. Her package includes financial aid education and guidance. She recommends in-state options and, when possible, private colleges with generous aid.
How do I contact Liz Smith?
Send Liz a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.