Susan Hamilton
College and career coach for students and parents in California
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $225 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | College admissionsFinancial aid and scholarshipsCareer changeCareer clarity and purposeNew grads and students |
| Works with | Students and Parents |
| Also coaches | Career coach |
| Based in | California, United States |
| Credentials | HECA member |
| Practice | SJH Development College and Career Coaching |
Susan Hamilton is an independent college consultant who helps students and their parents with college planning, choosing a major, and career counseling. She started her practice in 2005. Before that she taught fourth grade in Gilroy and worked as a college and career counselor with San Jose Unified School District. She begins with a student's strengths and goals, then works toward the college choice. She also wrote a career planning and mentoring curriculum for Grades 9 to 16.
What Susan helps with
Susan helps students find a path in education and careers. She starts with who the student is, then moves to college and major choices.
- Planning for college
- Choosing a college major
- Career counseling for students
- Finding a student's strengths through discussion and testing
- Choosing a college with the family
- Cutting time in college and costs
- Finding scholarships
Who Susan works with
Susan works with students and their parents. Choices about college and careers are made together with the student and family. Her services cover college planning, choosing a major, and career counseling.
How Susan works
Susan gets to know each learner's strengths through personal discussions and testing. She then researches options and presents them. The student and family make the choices together. She starts with the student's strengths, hopes and dreams, then moves to the major and the college. She believes this order is the reverse of how most students approach admissions.
Background and qualifications
Susan Hamilton began her career as a fourth grade teacher in Gilroy and became a master teacher after four years. She then taught applied academics to adults and high school students. She later became a college and career counselor with San Jose Unified School District. During summers she started a private practice in education and career development counseling. She founded College and Career Coaching in 2005. She developed the Starfish Initiative career planning and student mentoring curriculum for Grades 9 to 16. She also created the I'm Going to College student guide. She is a HECA member.
Susan Hamilton pricing
Programs and services
- College planning
- Choosing a major
- Career counseling
Susan Hamilton reviews
The CoachVouch take
She is a former school district college and career counselor who builds her process around a student's strengths before choosing a college.
Best for students and parents who want to choose a major and career direction before picking a college.
Common questions
How much does Susan Hamilton charge?
Coaching with Susan runs $150 to $225 an hour. Message Susan from this page for an exact quote.
What does Susan Hamilton help with?
Susan Hamilton helps with planning for college, choosing a college major, career counseling for students and finding a student's strengths through discussion and testing.
Is Susan Hamilton certified?
Susan Hamilton lists: HECA member.
How does Susan Hamilton approach college selection?
She starts with the student's strengths, hopes and dreams, using discussions and testing. Then she researches options and the student and family decide together.
How do I contact Susan Hamilton?
Send Susan a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
Similar coaches to compare
Tick "Compare" to message several coaches at once.
Abby Friedman
Abby Friedman is an independent educational consultant in Berkeley, California. She helps students and parents plan for college and apply. She is a Certified Educational Planner and a lifelong educator. Her work covers US colleges and also programs in the EU, UK and Canada. She pays close attention to fit, including academic, social and financial fit. She holds a master's in education and a UC Berkeley certificate in college admissions and career planning.
Alexandra Matthews
Alexandra Matthews is a college admissions counselor who runs College Odyssey in Mill Valley, California. She helps high school students find best-fit colleges and get in. She has worked as a life coach with teens for 20 years, focusing on anxiety and stress. She also taught writing at an Ivy League college and has interviewed applicants as an alumni interviewer for an Ivy League school. She works with clients across the country and abroad.
Amber Thompson
Amber Thompson is an independent educational consultant who helps students and parents with college admissions. She runs AT College Consulting in El Segundo, California, and works with families across the country. Her work covers finding colleges that fit a student's academic, social and financial needs. She also helps students with their essays. She meets with students on Zoom calls. She is a Professional member of IECA.
Arlette Bolduc
Arlette Bolduc is an independent college counselor who helps students and their parents plan for college and apply. She owns Grays Hall College Counseling and has run it since early 2013. She has worked with hundreds of students and families on finding the right college fit. Her work covers class choices, test timelines, college lists, and every application option. All sessions are held online.
Browse related
Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.