Pamela Ellis
College admissions advisor for high school students in Oak Park, Illinois
| Hourly rate range | $130 to $300 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students, Teens and Parents |
| Based in | Oak Park, Illinois, United States |
| Credentials | IECA Professional member; PhD, Stanford University School of Education; MBA, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College |
| Practice | Compass College Advisory |
Dr. Pamela Ellis is the founder of Compass College Advisory, an independent college admissions advisor near Chicago. She works with high school students in 9th through 12th grade and their parents. She holds a doctorate from Stanford and has visited more than 500 colleges. She wrote the book What to Know Before They Go: College Edition. Her team says it has helped thousands of students and earned $50+ million in merit scholarships.
What Pamela helps with
Pamela and her team guide teens through the whole college application process.
- Building a list of best-fit colleges
- Writing college essays
- Finding and securing scholarships
- Building a strong application portfolio
- Setting a vision for success in high school
- Meeting deadlines without fights at home
- Choosing between colleges
- NCAA recruiting
Who Pamela works with
Pamela works one-on-one with high school students from 9th through 12th grade. Parents join the process too. Families include working parents who lack time to learn the details of applications. Students range from those who have not yet picked any schools to those who feel stuck on essays. Students do not need straight A's or financial aid eligibility to earn merit scholarships.
How Pamela works
The Signature College Roadmap Program pairs each high school student with an advisor one-on-one. It runs from 9th through 12th grade. Students set their values and a vision for high school. Then they build an application portfolio, research colleges, write essays and pursue scholarships. Families get a step-by-step roadmap with clear deadlines. The team holds students accountable for tasks so parents do not have to. Families start with a free 20-minute call, then a 45-minute discovery call.
Background and qualifications
Pamela Ellis holds an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. She also earned a doctorate from the Stanford University School of Education. She is an award-winning educational consultant and has advised school districts, community organizations and higher education institutes. She has visited more than 500 colleges and universities to learn their cultures and opportunities. Her research covers high school to college transition, parent engagement, African-American males in education, and college completion. She is a speaker and wrote What to Know Before They Go: College Edition. She is an IECA Professional member.
Pamela Ellis pricing
Programs and services
- Signature College Roadmap Program
- Free 20-minute clarity call
- 45-minute discovery call
- Free webinar
- Digital store resources
Pamela Ellis reviews
The CoachVouch take
Pamela holds a Stanford doctorate focused on high school to college transition and has visited more than 500 campuses.
Best for families who want a clear roadmap and scholarship-focused college matching, without parents acting as the advisor.
Common questions
How much does Pamela Ellis charge?
Coaching with Pamela runs $130 to $300 an hour. Message Pamela from this page for an exact quote.
What does Pamela Ellis help with?
Pamela Ellis helps with building a list of best-fit colleges, writing college essays, finding and securing scholarships and building a strong application portfolio.
Is Pamela Ellis certified?
Pamela Ellis lists: IECA Professional member; PhD, Stanford University School of Education; MBA, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.
Which grades does Pamela Ellis work with?
Her Signature College Roadmap Program serves high school students in 9th through 12th grade. Students work one-on-one with an advisor.
Do students need top grades to get merit scholarships through Compass?
No. The team says students earned merit scholarships even without financial aid eligibility or straight A's.
How do I contact Pamela Ellis?
Send Pamela a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.