Lori Byer
College admissions consultant for Bay Area high school students
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $225 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students, Parents and Teens |
| Based in | California, United States |
| Credentials | Member, Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) |
| Practice | Cornerstone College Consulting |
Lori Byer is an independent college admissions consultant who helps high school students and their parents. She runs Cornerstone College Consulting in Marin County, California, and works with students across the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a member of the Higher Education Consultants Association. Her services start in freshman year and continue through senior year. Families can also get guidance on two-year colleges, four-year colleges and gap years.
What Lori helps with
Lori helps students and parents understand the college search and application process. She starts with goals and priorities, then builds a plan.
- Choosing challenging high school courses
- Setting goals in freshman year
- Picking extracurricular activities
- Defining what matters in a college environment
- Building a college list
- Testing options and strategies
- Deciding between two-year college, four-year college or a gap year
- Financial aid questions
Who Lori works with
Lori works with high school students in Marin County and the wider San Francisco Bay Area, along with their parents. She serves freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. She also gives extra guidance for student athletes, performing and visual artists, and students with learning disabilities.
How Lori works
Lori uses a set of defined sessions. Freshmen get a one hour informational session. Sophomores and Juniors start with the Cornerstone Session, which covers course selection, the admission process, testing options and an analysis of five colleges the student picks. Families fill out a questionnaire and send a transcript two days before. After that, they can sign up for the Comprehensive Package. It includes the Knowing What Matters sessions, which are two 1 1/2 hour meetings on personality, major exploration, college factors and interests.
Background and qualifications
Lori Byer is an independent college consultant and the founder of Cornerstone College Consulting in Marin County, California. She is a member of the Higher Education Consultants Association, which sets ethics and standards for the field. Her practice serves students from across the San Francisco Bay Area. Her site also lists volunteer opportunities for students with local groups such as Ceres Community Project, Marin Humane Society and Special Olympics.
Lori Byer pricing
Programs and services
- Freshman Session (one hour)
- Cornerstone Session for sophomores and juniors
- Comprehensive Package
- Knowing What Matters sessions
- College list development
- Standardized testing information
Lori Byer reviews
The CoachVouch take
Lori starts with a Knowing What Matters process that has students define their own priorities before building a college list.
Best for Bay Area high school students and parents who want a step-by-step plan starting early in high school.
Common questions
How much does Lori Byer charge?
Coaching with Lori runs $150 to $225 an hour. Request an intro for an exact quote.
What does Lori Byer help with?
Lori Byer helps with choosing challenging high school courses, setting goals in freshman year, picking extracurricular activities and defining what matters in a college environment.
Is Lori Byer certified?
Lori Byer lists: Member, Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA).
Does Lori Byer work with student athletes and artists?
Yes. Her Cornerstone Session offers added information for student athletes, performing and visual artists, and students with learning disabilities.
Does Lori Byer only work with high school seniors?
No. She offers sessions for freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors.
How do I contact Lori Byer?
Request an intro on this page. It's free, and we'll connect you with Lori and, if you want, 2 or 3 similar coaches to compare.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.