Michelle Baird
Independent college admissions consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $225 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Parents |
| Based in | Fairfax, California, United States |
| Credentials | HECA member |
| Practice | Samara College Advising |
Michelle Baird is an independent college consultant who helps students and parents with the college admissions process. She runs Samara College Advising in the San Francisco Bay Area. Michelle has over a decade of experience in Bay Area independent schools. She guides each student from academic planning through application submission, including personal essays. She also supports parents as a sounding board while their student moves toward adulthood.
What Michelle helps with
Michelle helps students plan their path to college, from course choices to finished applications. She also helps parents understand a complex process.
- Planning academic course progression
- Building activities, volunteering and work experience
- Advice on standardized testing and resume creation
- Building a college list for fit and balance
- Advice on in-person and virtual campus visits
- Writing and editing personal essays
- Supplemental essays and UC personal interest questions
- Building a timeline for applications
Who Michelle works with
Michelle works with students and their parents. Students start early with academic and activity planning and continue through application submission. Parents get a clear view of the process and a sounding board as their student gets ready for adulthood.
How Michelle works
Michelle builds each plan around the student's strengths and interests. Students set goals for the college process, explore schools that fit, and follow an individual timeline for building and submitting applications. Services cover academics and activities, college list building, and essays and supplementals. Each area can support a student from the very start to the end of the process.
Background and qualifications
Michelle Baird has over a decade of experience in Bay Area independent schools. She now runs Samara College Advising LLC in Fairfax, California, where she works as an independent college consultant. She is a member of HECA. Her work covers academic advising, college research, and application support, including personal essays and UC personal interest questions.
Michelle Baird pricing
Programs and services
- Academics and activities advising
- College list building
- Essays and supplementals support
- Full college advising from start to submission
- Free 30-minute consultation
Michelle Baird reviews
The CoachVouch take
Michelle brings over a decade of experience in Bay Area independent schools to her college advising.
Best for Bay Area students and families who want one advisor from early planning through application submission.
Common questions
How much does Michelle Baird charge?
Coaching with Michelle runs $150 to $225 an hour. Message Michelle from this page for an exact quote.
What does Michelle Baird help with?
Michelle Baird helps with planning academic course progression, building activities, volunteering and work experience, advice on standardized testing and resume creation and building a college list for fit and balance.
Is Michelle Baird certified?
Michelle Baird lists: HECA member.
Does Michelle Baird offer a free consultation?
Yes. She offers a free 30-minute consultation.
How do I contact Michelle Baird?
Send Michelle a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.