Terri Allen
Independent college counselor for high school students in the Northeast and Southeast
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $240 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Parents |
| Based in | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Sessions | Online |
| Credentials | College Counseling Certification, UC San Diego; HECA member |
| Experience | 10 years coaching |
| Practice | Keystone College Counseling, LLC |
Terri Allen is an independent college counselor who guides high school students and their parents through college research and applications. She founded Keystone College Counseling about ten years ago in the Pittsburgh area. She now works online with families across the northeast and southeast. She keeps her client list small on purpose, so each student gets personal attention and a plan built around the family's top priorities.
What Terri helps with
Terri helps students find a college that fits their goals and get through the application process with less stress. She also covers planning steps that start earlier in high school.
- College and major research
- Application guidance
- Essay review
- Resume creation
- Choosing high school curriculum
- Building extracurricular activities
- Honors and scholarship financial aid research
- SAT and ACT testing advice
Who Terri works with
Terri works with high school students and their parents. Her students come from the northeast down to the southeast. Each family shares the criteria that matter most to them, and she builds the search and decision process around those.
How Terri works
Terri builds a personalized plan for each student, based on the most important criteria for that student and family. She guides them through research, applications, and the final decision. She teaches students to compare colleges to their own goals, academic strengths, social life, and comfort zone, instead of comparing themselves to other students. She keeps a smaller client base to give each student individual attention.
Background and qualifications
Terri Allen founded Keystone College Counseling about ten years ago to support families in the Pittsburgh area. When she moved to an online platform, she grew her work to cover the northeast and southeast regions. She completed her College Counseling Certification at UC San Diego. She is a member of HECA and keeps learning about the industry. She limits her client list so she can give students personal attention.
Terri Allen pricing
Programs and services
- Custom College Plan
- Free personal consultation
- Online college counseling
Terri Allen reviews
The CoachVouch take
Terri keeps a smaller client base on purpose so each student gets individual attention and a custom plan.
Best for high school families who want an organized, lower-stress college search with a plan built around their own goals.
Common questions
How much does Terri Allen charge?
Coaching with Terri runs $150 to $240 an hour. Message Terri from this page for an exact quote.
What does Terri Allen help with?
Terri Allen helps with college and major research, application guidance, essay review and resume creation.
Does Terri Allen coach online?
Terri is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Sessions are online.
Is Terri Allen certified?
Terri Allen lists: College Counseling Certification, UC San Diego; HECA member.
Does Terri Allen work with families outside Pittsburgh?
Yes. She moved to an online platform and now works with students across the northeast and southeast.
Can Terri help with more than applications?
Yes. She also helps with choosing high school curriculum, building extracurricular activities, and SAT and ACT testing advice.
How do I contact Terri Allen?
Send Terri a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
Similar coaches to compare
Tick "Compare" to message several coaches at once.
Bridget Hotrum
Bridget Hotrum is a college admissions and financial aid consultant who helps high school students and their parents plan for college. She runs College Bound Admissions Academy in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Her team has over 80 years of combined experience at the high school and college levels. She takes on only 30 students per grade. She is available seven days a week to answer questions and keep students on track.
Charlotte Finegold
Charlotte Finegold is a college admissions counselor who helps students with college and graduate school applications. She is an immigration and human rights lawyer based in Pittsburgh. She earned a law degree from Stanford in 2024 and a master's from Oxford. She won the Clarendon scholarship for Oxford and the Knight-Hennessy scholarship for Stanford. She clerked for a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and worked at Human Rights Watch.
Helane Linzer
Dr. Helane Linzer is an independent college admissions consultant in Pittsburgh. Helane works one-on-one with high school students and their parents through the selective college admissions process. Helane is a psychologist and runs IvyMaven, LLC. Helane also serves as the HECA Regional Coordinator for Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. Helane's work covers course planning, essays, college lists, interviews, and merit aid. Helane can start with families at any point during the high school years.
Leslie Watson
Leslie Watson is an independent college counselor who helps students in grades 9 to 12 and their parents. Leslie runs Watson College Counseling in the Pittsburgh area. Leslie's work covers college lists, applications, essays, testing plans, and financial aid. Leslie holds a Ph.D. and a UCLA Certificate in College Counseling. Leslie has worked in this field for more than 14 years. Leslie also uses personality and aptitude assessments to help students explore careers and majors.
Browse related
Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.