Paul Nicholas
Independent college admissions consultant working with students online
| Hourly rate range | $70 to $130 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students, Parents, Athletes and Creatives |
| Sessions | Online |
| Credentials | College Counseling Certificate, UCLA Extension; Member of HECA |
| Practice | Alma Mater Educational Services |
Paul Nicholas is an independent college admissions consultant and the founder of Alma Mater Educational Services. She helps students and their parents with college applications, from early planning to decisions and follow-up. She is in the eleventh year of her practice and works with students across the country and around the world by Zoom. She earned her college counseling certificate at UCLA Extension and volunteered with Minds Matter in Los Angeles.
What Paul helps with
Paul guides families through each phase of the college application process, including the work before, during and after applying.
- Building a strategic and balanced college list
- Applying for merit scholarships
- Completing financial aid applications
- Understanding a student's full background before applying
- Applying as a transfer student from community college
- Applying to grad school after college
- Applying as a student-athlete
- Preparing applications as an artist or performer
Who Paul works with
Paul works with high school students and their parents. Her clients come from all over the country and from other countries. They include student-athletes at D1 to D3 levels, studio artists, performing artists, engineers and film majors. Some transfer from community college, and many return later for grad school applications.
How Paul works
Paul splits the admissions process into three phases. The first is the work before the active application begins. The second is the work during the application. The third is the follow-up after decisions arrive. Her services include a strategic and balanced college list, merit scholarship help, financial aid application help and a full student background analysis. She meets with students over Zoom, which she used before the pandemic.
Background and qualifications
Paul enrolled in the College Counseling Certificate Program at UCLA Extension in early 2011. She finished her capstone course with mentor Jodi Walder at her practice, College Admissions Coach, in Portland, Oregon. On her advice, she began volunteering as a college counselor with the Los Angeles chapter of Minds Matter, which serves low-income, high-achieving high school students. She now runs Alma Mater Educational Services as founder and CEO, and is in her eleventh year of practice. She is a HECA member.
Paul Nicholas pricing
Programs and services
- Full college admissions counseling
- College list building
- Merit scholarship application help
- Financial aid application help
- Student background analysis
- Grad school application guidance
Paul Nicholas reviews
The CoachVouch take
Paul keeps working with many students after college and has guided a community college transfer student to UCLA and then through grad school applications.
Common questions
How much does Paul Nicholas charge?
Coaching with Paul runs $70 to $130 an hour. Message Paul from this page for an exact quote.
What does Paul Nicholas help with?
Paul Nicholas helps with building a strategic and balanced college list, applying for merit scholarships, completing financial aid applications and understanding a student's full background before applying.
Does Paul Nicholas coach online?
Sessions are online.
Is Paul Nicholas certified?
Paul Nicholas lists: College Counseling Certificate, UCLA Extension; Member of HECA.
Does Paul Nicholas work with students outside Los Angeles?
Yes. She works with students across the country and around the world over Zoom.
Does Paul Nicholas help with grad school applications?
Yes. Many of her former college students return to her for grad school applications.
How do I contact Paul Nicholas?
Send Paul a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.