Shellee Howard
College admissions consultant for middle and high school students
| Hourly rate range | $70 to $130 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Parents |
| Also coaches | Career coach |
| Sessions | Online |
| Credentials | Certified Independent College Strategist; Career Counselor; Certified College Consultant |
| Experience | 13 years coaching |
| Practice | College Ready |
Shellee Howard is a college admissions consultant who helps middle and high school students and their parents get ready for college. She is the founder and CEO of College Ready and has worked as a paid independent college consultant for 13 years. She helps each student build a Stand Out Strategy and find a good academic, social, athletic and financial fit. She also wrote a book on paying for college and has appeared on FOX, CBS and NBC.
What Shellee helps with
Shellee helps families plan for college from freshman year through senior year. Her goal is to get students into college and help them graduate debt free.
- Building a Stand Out Strategy for college applications
- Finding a college that fits academically, socially, athletically and financially
- Planning test prep for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP and IB
- Developing college essays and application plans
- Planning summers, service projects and extracurricular activities
- Understanding the FAFSA and the CSS Profile
- Comparing financial aid packages
- Negotiating with colleges when needed
Who Shellee works with
Shellee works with middle school and high school students and their parents. Families can start in freshman year and continue through senior year. Each grade has its own plan that builds on the year before. Parents take part through family meetings and shared planning.
How Shellee works
Each grade level has a plan that builds on the one before it. Freshmen get a custom academic plan, a GPA evaluation and summer planning. Sophomores add a custom College Match program and a strategy session. Juniors add test prep strategy. Seniors add application action plans, essay development classes and college interview prep. Families meet by phone, text, email and Zoom, and share plans through Google Documents.
Background and qualifications
Shellee Howard is the founder and CEO of College Ready. She is a Certified Independent College Strategist and a Career Counselor. She has worked as a paid independent college consultant for 13 years. She is the author of a best selling book called How to send your student to college without losing your mind or your money. She is an international speaker and award winner, and she has been featured on FOX, CBS and NBC.
Shellee Howard pricing
Programs and services
- Freshman year plan
- Sophomore year plan
- Junior year plan
- Senior year plan
- Family meetings
- Zoom online training
Shellee Howard reviews
The CoachVouch take
Shellee combines admissions planning with financial aid help, including EFC, FAFSA, CSS Profile and aid negotiation.
Best for families who want to start college planning early and graduate without debt.
Common questions
How much does Shellee Howard charge?
Coaching with Shellee runs $70 to $130 an hour. Request an intro for an exact quote.
What does Shellee Howard help with?
Shellee Howard helps with building a Stand Out Strategy for college applications, finding a college that fits academically, socially, athletically and financially, planning test prep for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP and IB and developing college essays and application plans.
Does Shellee Howard coach online?
Sessions are online.
Is Shellee Howard certified?
Shellee Howard lists: Certified Independent College Strategist; Career Counselor; Certified College Consultant.
What grades does Shellee Howard work with?
She works with middle school and high school students and their parents. Each grade from freshman to senior year has its own plan.
How do I contact Shellee Howard?
Request an intro on this page. It's free, and we'll connect you with Shellee and, if you want, 2 or 3 similar coaches to compare.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.