Maria Markus
College and boarding school admissions consultant in Stamford, Connecticut
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $225 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Parents |
| Based in | Stamford, Connecticut, United States |
| Credentials | IECA Professional member |
| Practice | Markus Education Int. |
Maria Markus is an independent educational consultant in Stamford, Connecticut. She helps students and parents with college and boarding school admissions. Her firm, Markus Education Int., has worked with students for over twenty years. She has helped over 300 students gain admission to their top-choice schools. Her clients get help choosing colleges, preparing for tests, writing essays, and deciding where to enroll. She is a professional member of IECA.
What Maria helps with
Maria helps families get through the college application process, from first college list to final enrollment choice.
- Selecting colleges that fit the student
- Preparing for admissions tests
- Working through the application process
- Writing and refining personal statements and essays
- Making informed enrollment decisions
- Choosing colleges that fit a tight financial situation
- Applying to boarding schools
Who Maria works with
Maria works with students and their parents. Her clients include high school students applying to college and families looking at boarding schools. One student needed nearly a full scholarship, and Maria helped pick colleges that met that need. She also worked with a student in her final year of high school in the U.S.
How Maria works
Every client follows a four-step process. It starts with an initial consultation. Next comes an evaluation of the student's records. Then Maria builds a preliminary plan. The last step is strategy execution. The firm also offers test preparation and academic coaching next to its college and school counseling.
Background and qualifications
Maria Markus has worked to help students for over twenty years. She founded Markus Education Int. to guide students and families toward the right college fit. She is an independent educational consultant and a professional member of IECA. Her firm has helped over 300 students gain admission to their top-choice schools. Its services cover college counseling, school services, test preparation, and academic coaching.
Maria Markus pricing
Programs and services
- College and university admission counseling
- Boarding school admission counseling
- Test preparation
- Academic coaching
- Initial consultation
Maria Markus reviews
The CoachVouch take
Her firm combines admissions counseling with test preparation and academic coaching, and she has over 20 years of experience.
Best for parents and students who want one guide from college list to enrollment decision.
Common questions
How much does Maria Markus charge?
Coaching with Maria runs $150 to $225 an hour. Message Maria from this page for an exact quote.
What does Maria Markus help with?
Maria Markus helps with selecting colleges that fit the student, preparing for admissions tests, working through the application process and writing and refining personal statements and essays.
Is Maria Markus certified?
Maria Markus lists: IECA Professional member.
Does Maria Markus help with boarding school admissions?
Yes. Her firm offers boarding school admission services along with college and university admission help.
Can Maria help students who need scholarships?
Yes. She has helped a student who needed nearly a full scholarship choose colleges that met that need.
How do I contact Maria Markus?
Send Maria a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
Similar coaches to compare
Tick "Compare" to message several coaches at once.
Laurie Gordon
Laurie Gordon is a college admissions consultant who helps students and families find schools that fit and that they can afford. She works with Sandweiss Test Prep & Admissions Consulting. Before this work, she built a background in mental health counseling and social work. She has spent more than 15 years in test prep and college planning. She also volunteered as a Virtual College Coach with ScholarMatch, helping low-income, high achieving students apply to colleges.
Going Ivy
Going Ivy is a college admissions, tutoring and test prep consulting group. It helps students and parents with the full path to college, from course choices to essays and final applications. The team is headquartered in Phoenix and works with students across the U.S. Going Ivy also covers athletic recruiting, scholarship and financial aid guidance, and support for international and first-generation applicants. Tutoring runs from K-8 through AP subjects.
Jacqueline Pravda
Jacqueline Pravda is an independent educational consultant who guides students and their parents through the college process. She runs NorthStar College Advisors in Santa Monica, California. She has over 20 years of experience and holds a graduate degree and certification in education. She has worked in public and private high schools and in college and university admissions. Her work covers course selection, college lists, essays, applications, and financial aid review.
Jennie Kent
Jennie Kent is an admissions consultant who helps students and parents with college and boarding school placement. She runs Big J Educational Consulting and has worked in this field for ten years. She has visited over 450 schools and universities around the world. She also serves the profession, with time on IECA committees and as faculty for its Summer Training Institute. Each year she puts together admission and financial aid resources for families.
Browse related
Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.