Independent College Counselor in Marietta, GA
Calmer applications, better-fit colleges. One counselor guides your student from the first college list to the final decision — essays in their own words, deadlines tracked, and honest advice at every step.
We Know Every Student By Name
School counselors do remarkable work, but many look after hundreds of students each. We cap our practice at forty seniors a year, so there's time to learn who your student is — what they love, how they write, what they'd want from four years somewhere — before a single college goes on the list.
We're independent: we aren't paid by any college, and we don't steer students toward names. We help them find places where they'll be admitted, be happy and graduate.
- ✓No more than forty seniors a year
- ✓Independent of every college
- ✓The same counselor from start to finish
College Counseling Services
Most families choose full guidance for junior and senior year. Every service is also available on its own.
From Ninth Grade To Decision Day
Grades 9 And 10
Challenging but realistic classes, and activities your student actually cares about.
Junior Fall
First conversations about what they want from college, plus a plan for testing.
Junior Spring
The first college list, campus visits and a draft of the activities list.
The Summer Before Senior Year
Personal statement drafts, a final list and an application calendar.
Senior Fall
Supplements, early deadlines, interviews and the financial aid forms.
Senior Winter And Spring
Regular deadlines, comparing offers and aid packages, and choosing.
Every Kind Of Applicant
Aiming for selective colleges
Students applying where admission rates are low, who need a list with real balance.
First in the family
First-generation students and parents new to how US admissions work.
Student athletes
Applications planned around recruiting timelines. We're counselors, not a recruiting service.
Learning differences
Finding colleges with strong support and planning how to ask for accommodations.
Homeschooled students
Transcripts, course descriptions and the counselor letter that schools will ask for.
Transfer students
College students moving schools, with credits and timing worked out early.
Clear Fees, Agreed Up Front
Every family starts with a free 30-minute consultation. Payment plans are available for the full package.
Hourly Guidance
Advice when you need it.
- Planning for 9th and 10th graders
- Financial aid questions
- A second look at a list or essay
- Book one hour at a time
Full Application Guidance
Junior spring through decisions.
- College list with reasons for each
- Personal statement and supplements
- Activities list and interview practice
- Every deadline tracked for you
Essay Coaching
For students who have a list already.
- Personal statement, brainstorm to final
- Up to six supplements
- Five one-on-one meetings
- Comments within three days
What You Can Count On
Admission decisions belong to colleges. Here's what is ours to promise.
Essays in your student's own words
We ask questions, give feedback and edit for clarity. We never write a sentence for them.
A balanced list
Likely, target and reach colleges your student would be glad to attend.
Straight talk about the odds
No counselor can guarantee an admission. We'll tell you plainly where things stand.
Cost in the conversation from day one
Net-price estimates come before the list is final, not after the offers arrive.
Deadlines tracked for you
A shared calendar of every form, essay and deadline, with reminders well ahead.
Families kept in the loop
A short summary after each meeting, so nobody has to ask how things are going.
What Marietta Families Say
We started with a list of twenty-two colleges and a lot of arguing at dinner. Pellington helped our son narrow it to ten he'd genuinely be happy at, and he was admitted to seven of them, including his first choice. The arguing stopped by October.
I thought my essay had to be about something huge. My counselor kept asking questions until I found the story about fixing bikes with my grandfather, and every word of it is mine.
Neither of us went to college in the US, so the whole system was new. They explained every deadline and every form, including financial aid, without ever making us feel behind.
Quieter Evenings At Home
Applications are hard on families. Parents worry about deadlines; students hear every reminder as pressure. When the counselor tracks the calendar and keeps everyone posted, you get to go back to being the parent.
We meet with parents at the start, again when the list is set, and whenever you'd like a check-in. Your student owns their essays and their choices — you'll always know where things stand.
- ✓Parent meetings at the key points
- ✓A summary after every student meeting
- ✓One shared calendar of deadlines
What Families Ask
How much does college counseling cost?
Full application guidance is $5,200 from junior spring through decisions. Essay coaching is $1,450, a college list is $950 and hourly guidance is $185 an hour. The first consultation is free.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. The full package can be split into monthly payments across junior and senior year.
When should we start?
Junior spring is the most common starting point for full guidance. Families of ninth and tenth graders usually book a few hourly sessions to plan courses and summers.
Is senior fall too late?
No, but the calendar is tight. We'll focus on the list and essays first and tell you honestly what can be done well before each deadline.
Do you write the essays?
Never. We help students find their story, give detailed feedback and edit for clarity. Every word is the student's — colleges can tell, and it's the right thing to do.
Can you guarantee admission?
No one can. Colleges make their own decisions. What we can promise is a balanced list, strong applications and no missed deadlines.
Do you work with the school counselor?
Yes. School counselors send transcripts and letters of recommendation, and we make sure your student gives them what they need in good time.
In person or by video?
Either. Most families meet in our East Cobb office and switch to video calls during busy weeks.
Plan Your Next Step
A free 30-minute family consultation: where your student is now, what the next year looks like, and whether we're the right fit. No commitment.
Tell Us Where You Are
Tell us your student's grade and where you are in the process. We'll call within one business day to find a time.
- Visit us1150 Harrowgate Pkwy, Suite 210, Marietta, GA 30062
- Call us(770) 555-0142
- Email ushello@pellington.com
- Opening hoursMon – Thu: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Fri: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Sat: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Sun: Closed