College Counseling Support Tailored to YOU
How I Can Help:
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It’s hard to know what schools may be good for you. I’d love to help create a list of schools that you want to apply to.
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I’ll help you write your story, find your voice, and be authentic — all the things you need to write a killer essay that you’re proud of.
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It’s complicated. I get that.
I can break the process down and make it easier to understand.
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Once you get into the school of your dreams, I can support you as you transition from high school to college.
STUDENTS SAY:
“I am someone who procrastinates every assignment and my college applications were no different. When September of this school year came, I started to meet with Joanna. She created a planner, helped me pick out schools, and created a timeline for all my essays. She pushed me hard on deadlines and allowed me even to submit some essays early. During our meetings, she brought out ideas and focused on helping me find my voice in my writing. Now, I feel my essays are the strongest part of my application and all the credit goes to Joanna. Without her, I don’t know if I would have been able to get a single application in.”
ABOUT JOANNA
Joanna Belkin Petti is an experienced English teacher and college counselor with 20 years in education. Known for her warmth, empathy, and humor, she helps students craft compelling college essays with authentic narratives and personal voices. She also guides students in building balanced college lists that align with their strengths and aspirations. Honesty and integrity are at the core of her approach, ensuring personalized support for each student. Outside of work, she enjoys swimming, hiking with her husband and dog, Rocky, and spending time with her two high school kids.
Joanna earned her BA in Psychology from Clark University, where she competed in swimming and crew, and later obtained a JD from Northeastern University. She holds multiple teaching credentials and an Independent Educational Consulting (IEC) certificate from UC Irvine. A longtime Bay Area resident, she has spent much of her career at St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Oakland, where she taught eighth-grade English.
PARENTS SAY:
“I enthusiastically recommend Joanna and her college counseling services which directly resulted in my son getting into all four of his top school choices. He also had plenty of time to enjoy his senior year and maintain, and even improve, his academic standing.
We were referred to Joanna during the summer before my son’s Senior year. Despite our slightly late start to the process, Joanna jumped right in and quickly helped him narrow down his list of colleges so that they could get to work on writing essays and filling out applications. She corresponded directly with him over the next few months, setting and meeting goals in a timely manner during scheduled zoom sessions and follow ups. I was kept in the loop throughout the process but was never required to participate. All of his applications were filed on time and the essays I read were thoughtful, well written, and maintained “his voice.”
I am grateful to Joanna for her efforts and expertise in all aspects of our college application journey and consider it to have been a great success.”