Ricki Benjamin
College admissions counselor for high school students in Wellesley, Massachusetts
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $225 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Parents |
| Based in | Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States |
| Credentials | Member, Independent Educational Consultants Association; Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration, Boston College; Bachelor of Science, The Pennsylvania State University |
| Practice | CollegeSage, LLC |
Ricki Benjamin is the founder of CollegeSage, a boutique college counseling firm in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She guides high school students and their families through college admissions. Before counseling, she spent nine years at the Harvard Kennedy School as a senior admissions officer. She oversaw the full admissions process there and read hundreds of applications each year. She has worked as an independent college counselor since 2012 and belongs to the Independent Educational Consultants Association.
What Ricki helps with
Ricki helps students build a college list, finish their applications, and write strong essays. She also guides families on planning steps that come before and after applying.
- Building a college list and early application strategy
- Completing the Common Application and its activities section
- Writing the main college essay and supplemental essays
- Creating a resume to share with colleges
- Choosing high school courses
- Finding summer opportunities
- Preparing for college visits with a mock interview
- Making a personal testing plan
Who Ricki works with
Ricki works with high school students and their parents as they plan for college. Her clients include rising seniors and students filing transfer applications. Many come from schools in the Wellesley area, such as Natick, Needham and Wayland.
How Ricki works
Ricki's service covers the whole application process from start to finish. She builds the college list with an analysis of Naviance and Scoir data. She advises on supplemental essays for up to 12 colleges. She fills out the Common Application and any other applications. She runs a mock interview before college visits. She also manages the full timeline so deadlines stay on track.
Background and qualifications
Ricki began her career in management consulting at PriceWaterhouseCoopers. She then moved into higher education and gained experience in residential life and career services at two Boston-area universities. She earned a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Boston College. She spent nine years at the Harvard Kennedy School as a senior admissions officer, where she oversaw the admissions process from start to finish. She has been an independent college counselor since 2012. She holds a Bachelor of Science from The Pennsylvania State University and is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association.
Ricki Benjamin pricing
Programs and services
- Comprehensive college counseling service
- College application workshops for rising seniors
- Transfer application support
Ricki Benjamin reviews
The CoachVouch take
Ricki is a former senior admissions officer who spent nine years at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Best for high school students and parents near Wellesley who want full support from college list to final application.
Common questions
How much does Ricki Benjamin charge?
Coaching with Ricki runs $150 to $225 an hour. Message Ricki from this page for an exact quote.
What does Ricki Benjamin help with?
Ricki Benjamin helps with building a college list and early application strategy, completing the Common Application and its activities section, writing the main college essay and supplemental essays and creating a resume to share with colleges.
Is Ricki Benjamin certified?
Ricki Benjamin lists: Member, Independent Educational Consultants Association; Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration, Boston College; Bachelor of Science, The Pennsylvania State University.
Does Ricki Benjamin help students who want to transfer?
Yes. Her client work includes transfer applications.
How do I contact Ricki Benjamin?
Send Ricki a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.