For School Counselors & University Representatives

Statement of Purpose, Ethics, and Collaboration:

My Purpose

For many years, I was a school-based college counselor. Now I work outside the school setting, as an independent university counselor. I help students apply for admission to universities around the world.

  • I am an IEC - an Independent Educational Consultant. As stated in the glossary of the NACAC Guide to Ethical Practice in College Admission, “Independent educational consultants or counselors are professionals working on a fee for service basis who provide services exclusively to students and families in the college selection and application process.” 

  • I am a CEP - a Certified Educational Planner. This credential is the highest certification a college counselor can earn, representing not only completed education and experience, but a commitment to continuous professional growth and ethical practice.

  • I am not an agent. I work directly for students and families, and I do not receive any kind of compensation from schools, colleges or other organizations.

I believe deeply in the value of intentionally diverse living and learning communities, and that students must be the sole authors of all of their application materials, remaining “in the driver’s seat” throughout the process. You can read more about my philosophy here. I work with students on either hourly or package basis (plus several pro bono students each year), and I believe in keeping my price point reasonable and accessible. Services I offer include career counseling, summer program search, college list development, time management support, writing support (brainstorming for content and coaching for structure and polish), application review, and final decision support. My pricing is based on my cost of living; because my cost of living is relatively low, my rates are generally considerably lower than most IECs/CEPs with comparable background and experience.

commitment to Ethical Practice

I am the only AICEP credentialed Certified Educational Planner in all of Mexico. I am also a current member of International ACAC (Admission Practices Committee 2018-2021), and a current Professional member of IECA (Global Committee member 2018-2023, Chair 2020-21).

The requirements to become a professional member of IECA are demanding. The AICEP credential takes this to an even more rigorous level, requiring a comprehensive assessment for initial certification, and 70 campus visits every five years plus demonstration of continued professional development and leadership for recertification. All of these organizations -- AICEP, International ACAC (a NACAC affiliate), and IECA -- hold their members to very high standards of ethics.

I adhere to the codes of ethics established by these organizations in which I hold membership. If any student, parent or guardian, school counselor or official, university or program representative, or concerned member of the public ever has ethical concerns about my practice, I invite them to contact me, or reach out directly to AICEP, IECA, or International ACAC directly to voice their concerns.

commitment to Collaborative Practice

Some of my students already have outstanding support from school counselors or officials who are highly knowledgeable and capable of helping students navigate the university application process. Still, these students and their families may have chosen to work with me for a variety of reasons; large school counselor caseloads and my understanding of international context in admissions are the reasons most frequently mentioned by families.

Many of my students come from high schools in Mexico and other countries that are national schools, with little support for the application to institutions of higher education in their home country, much less abroad. Some of these high schools are even directly affiliated with universities, and in some cases those schools may even present obstacles which make it challenging for students to pursue alternative options for higher education beyond those universities into which they feed. I am here to help those students explore their full range of options, and try to overcome obstacles that may be in their way.

Regardless of the level of support a student may have in their school, I can never replace the school counselor or school officials in this process; that is neither my goal nor my purpose. I cannot send transcripts or other official documents, and I do not write letters of recommendation for students. I do not have access to the school’s data or knowledge of the school’s history of success of applicants to particular universities.

I will always strive to:

  • collaborate with school counselors and officials (with permission from the student and their family) to provide student-centered support

  • help students abide by the timelines, expectations, and policies established by their school

  • be a valued member of the team who makes everyone’s life easier.

If you have any questions about the work that I do, please don’t hesitate to email me directly.
I look forward to collaborating with you!