One-on-One College Coaching

We offer services that help you:

Prepare for your college journey
Find colleges that are a great fit for you
Develop and submit your application materials with confidence

Strategic Paths Educational Consulting, LLC is a full-service college admissions consulting business run by Kristi Ramey and based in San Jose, California.

Kristi has a true passion for strategically guiding students to colleges that fit who they are and helping them showcase their character, strengths, and accomplishments in a way that makes them stand out. Kristi has worked with many students who have been admitted to their desired schools both in the U.S. and abroad. Her proven technique of working through the process in a methodical way helps to lower both parent and student stress levels so that students can click Submit with confidence!

Kristi’s story
Before starting as an educational consultant, I worked as a project and program manager at one of the world’s largest IT corporations, honing skills and techniques that I now use to keep students on track throughout the many parts of the application process. I hold a B.S. in Scientific and Technical communication from the University of Washington (Seattle) and I spent my early career as a technical writer, where I developed a strong foundation of interviewing, interpersonal, and communication skills that I am now able to leverage when helping students create compelling narratives for application essays.

I received my training in college admissions counseling from UC Berkeley as well as the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) Summer Training Institute. I tour colleges and attend professional training regularly. I am an Associate Member of IECA and a member of both the National Association for College Admissions Counseling and the Western Association for College Admissions Counseling. I’ve also completed coursework through UC Irvine in working with neurodivergent students, and have experience assisting students with a variety of learning differences. I leverage my certification as an executive function coach regularly both in EF coaching sessions and throughout the college application process with students.

In addition to seeing clients in my own practice, I work with students who have learning differences as part of Top College Consultants (topcollegeconsultants.com). I also help students with college applications as part of College Essay Guy’s Matchlighters Scholars Program.

I take great joy in guiding each of my students through this transformative journey!

To prepare for your college journey, it’s important to…

Know Yourself

Choosing a major and potential career – and a college to help you get there – is a very introspective, thoughtful process. We undertake assessments that reveal personality traits, aptitudes, and interests and then have follow-up discussions to be sure that each college on your list is a fit for who you are and where you want to go in life.

Know the Colleges

We’ll make sure you’re equipped with the facts you need to create a list of colleges that suit you. Then we’ll make sure it’s well balanced by admission chances (Likely, Target, Reach, Super Reach) and together decide on an application strategy (Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision).

Stay on Track with the Process to Reduce Stress

Many factors come into play in the college application process and we work on all of them throughout this journey:

High school academic planning for competitive rigor
Summer internships and programs
College research and campus visits
Standardized testing (SAT/ACT/AP)
Personal statement and supplemental essays
Activities list and honors/achievements
Letters of recommendation
Student resume
Preparation for interviews
Financial aid and scholarship opportunities

I had the privilege of working with Kristi when I was applying to law school. Her personalized approach helped me tailor my writing to showcase what makes me a unique applicant and person. Her expertise is undoubtable, but her passion for her students is truly what makes her unique. She cares deeply about the success of the students she works with, and will ensure that you feel confident and prepared to work toward the future you envision for yourself. Planning for the future can be stressful, and sometimes you feel like you are struggling alone. If you are looking for someone to be in your corner, fighting with you to help you succeed, then Strategic Paths is the perfect choice.

Kristi, thank you so much for your work. I recognize that you went above and beyond with my son to get him to this point and it is deeply appreciated. Your caring, kindness, and sincerity were evident in every interaction. Your patience and professionalism are incomparable and I feel like he (and I) won the lottery when he was matched with you.

College applications can be overwhelming, but with Kristi’s expertise, she provided our son with the tools to navigate the process. Beginning with the self-reflection exercises, Kristi’s methodology really helped him craft thoughtful, authentic essays for his applications. We are truly grateful for her dedication and time spent advising our son. Most importantly, we know that he feels confident that he’s put his best foot forward on his applications.

Current Students

If you are a current student, you can log into your dashboard on my counseling platform here.

Contact Us

Have questions or want to book a free initial consultation? Reach out by submitting the form below!