Marina Lee
Independent college admissions consultant in Cambridge, Massachusetts
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $225 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Parents |
| Based in | Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States |
| Credentials | IECA Professional member |
| Practice | Cogita Education Initiatives |
Marina Lee is an independent educational consultant in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She leads Cogita Education Initiatives, which guides students and parents through college admissions. The team has over 200 years of combined experience in independent school, college, and graduate school admissions, across the U.S., Asia, and Europe. Cogita works with former admission officers, parents, and school counselors. Students are guided through four areas: Character, Academics, Activities, and Admissions.
What Marina helps with
Cogita helps students and families get into schools that fit them. The work covers building a strong application and lowering stress during the process.
- Finding colleges that fit the student
- Building a strong college application
- Showing a student's individual strengths
- Choosing activities that match a student's interests
- Self-discovery and naming personal passions
- Lowering anxiety during the application process
- Support for parents through the admissions years
Who Marina works with
Cogita works with students and their parents. Clients include families who start early, with one parent describing over two and a half years of support. The team also works with independent school and graduate school applicants, and with families in the U.S. and abroad.
How Marina works
Cogita sorts student growth into four buckets: Character, Academics, Activities, and Admissions. Each student gets a plan built around their own interests and strengths. The team uses input from parents, school counselors, and former admission officers. Students spend time on self-discovery and on naming their passions, so their application shows who they are.
Background and qualifications
Marina Lee is an independent educational consultant and a professional member of IECA. She works with Cogita Education Initiatives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Cogita team has over 200 years of combined experience in independent school, college, and graduate school admissions. That work spans the U.S., Asia, and Europe. The team also has skills in curriculum design, character development, and intercultural competency. Cogita has presented and worked with NACAC, NAIS, and AISNE.
Marina Lee pricing
Programs and services
- College admissions consulting for students and parents
- Free consultation
Marina Lee reviews
The CoachVouch take
Cogita builds each student's plan around four areas and draws on former admission officers and international admissions experience.
Best for students and parents who want a personal, low-stress admissions plan with a global view.
Common questions
How much does Marina Lee charge?
Coaching with Marina runs $150 to $225 an hour. Request an intro for an exact quote.
What does Marina Lee help with?
Marina Lee helps with finding colleges that fit the student, building a strong college application, showing a student's individual strengths and choosing activities that match a student's interests.
Is Marina Lee certified?
Marina Lee lists: IECA Professional member.
Does Cogita work with students outside the United States?
The team has admissions experience across the U.S., Asia, and Europe. It brings a global view to each student's plan.
What are Cogita's four buckets?
They are Character, Academics, Activities, and Admissions. Cogita uses them to plan each student's growth and application.
How do I contact Marina Lee?
Request an intro on this page. It's free, and we'll connect you with Marina and, if you want, 2 or 3 similar coaches to compare.
Similar coaches to compare
Tick "Compare" on any coach to add them to your intro request.
Alicen Adams
Alicen Adams is a college admissions consultant who helps high school students and their families plan for college. She has worked in higher education since 2001, including residence life, academic support and transfer advising. She started her private practice in 2018. She keeps her caseload to 15 to 20 students per graduating class, and she visits more than 20 colleges each year.
Cathy Copeland Titus
Cathy Copeland Titus is an independent college admissions consultant with College Hero in Mashpee, Massachusetts. She advises high school juniors and seniors and their families on finding the right colleges. She keeps her case load to 15 students. She also spends part of her time on the company newsletter and other strategic projects. Her work centers on college lists that fit both the student's record and the family's budget.
Joan Lockwood
Joan Lockwood is a college admissions consultant and career coach for students and young adults. She also coaches on confidence and life skills. Her practice is based on the North Shore of Massachusetts, and she serves the Boston area and beyond in person and online. She has worked with over 300 students. Of those, 99% were accepted to one of their top three schools. She starts with guided assessments and honest conversations.
Alex MacArthur
Alex MacArthur is a college admissions counselor who helps students apply to top schools. Alex was admitted to Princeton and nearly every other school applied to in the regular decision round. Alex taught the process to himself by reading everything on admissions and essay writing and by talking with dozens of Ivy League students. Alex is also a working journalist and a peer-reviewed academic, and uses storytelling skills to bring out what makes each student unique.
Browse related
Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.