The College Admission Process
Many families struggle to find the best college options for their teen. Parents discover that trying to help their student with applications and essays can be both stressful and chaotic. The goal of Insight College Advising is to reduce your stress and increase your student’s chances for admission, making the process both organized and meaningful. My services include helping students plan and choose high school classes, identify extracurricular and leadership opportunities, develop an ACT/SAT testing plan, build a unique college list, create stand-out college essays, and stay organized throughout the application process.

About Julie
My professional career started in the field of finance and marketing, and I spent fifteen years in various management positions at Well Fargo Bank. Later, our family moved to Hawaii for five years, where I received my MFA in Art (Painting).

After moving to San Diego in 2005, I worked at Oceanside High School as a College Coach and Writing Tutor, which allowed me to connect with a wide range of teens, from struggling students to valedictorians. There, I developed my expertise with the college application process, and I successfully coached students to express their personal stories through their essays.

I gained valuable insight into the University of California admissions process when I worked for UC San Diego as an Application Reader, scoring over 800 applications in 2017-2018. I also gained a parent’s perspective on the stress and conflict that can arise during the college application process as I coached my two kids through it. My son wanted to stay in California and attended and graduated from Cal Poly, SLO with a BS in Business. Conversely, my daughter wanted to leave California and was accepted at Emory University with a full-ride scholarship. She graduated in 2022 with a double major in Interdisciplinary Studies and Dance.

Testimonials
Parents and students describe me as warm, friendly, patient, and encouraging. I work with a wide range of students, from future engineering and business majors to writers and diplomats, environmentalists, and artists. I am especially passionate about helping each student showcase their life stories through their college essays. I treat each student as a valued individual and celebrate their journey into adulthood.

Please check out my testimonials and then click on the link below to set up a free initial consultation. I look forward to helping your student successfully navigate the college admissions process! 

- Julie Laymon