Maria Woodruff
Independent college admissions consultant in California
| Hourly rate range | $130 to $300 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Parents |
| Based in | California, United States |
| Credentials | Ph.D. in Higher Education and Organizational Change, UCLA; HECA member; Independent college consultant |
| Practice | The Admissions Advisor, LLC |
Maria Woodruff is an independent college admissions consultant who runs The Admissions Advisor in California. She helps high school students and their parents plan for college, from picking classes to finishing applications. She has a Ph.D. in Higher Education and Organizational Change from UCLA. She spent 7 years as a high school counselor and Director of College Guidance. Her work covers college lists, personal statements, and financial aid.
What Maria helps with
Maria helps students plan for college at any point in the process. She works with families who need a high school academic plan, a college list, or help with essays.
- Building an academic plan for high school
- Choosing courses each year
- Building a college list for current seniors
- Writing personal statements
- Planning SAT, ACT, AP or IB testing
- Planning college visits
- Building an application plan and timeline
- Understanding FAFSA and financial aid
Who Maria works with
Maria works with high school students and their parents. Some students start as freshmen and plan all four years. Others are seniors who have no college list yet or only need help with personal statements. Parents take part in interviews about college preferences.
How Maria works
Maria offers a package that covers freshman through senior years. It includes yearly academic advising on course selection and recommendations for extracurricular activities. She reviews summer program applications and plans testing. She holds in-depth interviews with the student and parent about college preferences. She builds the college list, sets an application timeline, and makes a calendar for applications and financial aid. She supports essays for the Common Application and supplements.
Background and qualifications
Maria Woodruff holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education and Organizational Change from UCLA. Her work links research to practice. She spent 7 years as a high school counselor and Director of College Guidance before working as an independent college consultant. She is a member of HECA. She writes on her site about financial aid steps, California deadlines, and how families should interview an independent educational consultant.
Maria Woodruff pricing
Programs and services
- Comprehensive high school package, freshman through senior years
- Application support for 10 applications, including UCs and CSUs
- Essay support for the Common Application and supplements
- Academic planning for any stage of high school
Maria Woodruff reviews
The CoachVouch take
She holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education from UCLA and spent 7 years as a high school counselor and Director of College Guidance.
Best for California families who want a plan from early high school through college applications.
Common questions
How much does Maria Woodruff charge?
Coaching with Maria runs $130 to $300 an hour. Message Maria from this page for an exact quote.
What does Maria Woodruff help with?
Maria Woodruff helps with building an academic plan for high school, choosing courses each year, building a college list for current seniors and writing personal statements.
Is Maria Woodruff certified?
Maria Woodruff lists: Ph.D. in Higher Education and Organizational Change, UCLA; HECA member; Independent college consultant.
Can Maria help if my student is already a senior?
Yes. She helps seniors who do not have a college list yet or who only need help with personal statements.
Does Maria help with financial aid?
Yes. She writes about FAFSA and other aid steps, and her package includes a calendar for college applications and financial aid.
How do I contact Maria Woodruff?
Send Maria a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.