Today we’d like to introduce you to Yvonne Espinoza.
Yvonne, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
As a child growing up in Southwest Austin, I never dreamed of one day becoming a college counselor or a business owner. Upon graduating from Boston University and spending my senior year in Madrid, Spain, I received my college degree feeling the way many recent graduates do: without a particular “passion” and unsure of what my future held. A few years after returning to Austin and working for the workforce development arm of the Greater Austin Chamber of Austin, I was recruited to fill one of the new College Counseling positions that were being added to each of the high schools in the Austin Independent School District, thanks to a grant from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation.
I accepted a position at LBJ High School with the intention of spending only a year there, and then perhaps moving back to Boston to pursue my “true calling. However, I would follow in the footsteps of many lifelong educators in that my career path was forever altered once I spent time working with students in schools. My undergraduate college experience was transformative and provided me with the resources and challenges that I needed to nurture my identity and foundational critical thinking skills to explore life after college. While in a high school, I realized the importance of all students having access to post-secondary education, and the amount of support needed to successfully help students on that journey. That one year turned into ten years of building the college counseling program to help hundreds of students access college. I spent nine years after that as the college counselor of Garza High School, again building the school’s college-going culture and educating students of all backgrounds and interests about their college and career opportunities. While at Garza, I started my business as a part-time job to provide 1:1 college counseling support to students in the Austin area. During the pandemic, my position was one of many eliminated in AISD due to budget cuts, so I elected to pursue my business full-time instead of returning to schools.
I’m currently in my 13th year as the sole owner of Yvonne Espinoza College Counseling Services, In addition to being able to work with smaller caseloads to spend more time with each of my students, my work has taken me across the country to present at national college admissions conferences with admissions and counseling leaders, visit more than 170 college campuses, served on national boards, and helped shape professional standards, including increasing transparency in the college admissions process.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I am in my 23rd year as a full-time College Counselor and have dedicated my life to helping teenagers to better understand their strengths and opportunities, and to access post-secondary education. Unfortunately, there is no licensing required to perform my job, and anyone can create a website or hang a shingle and claim to be a college counselor. Legitimate college counselors invest numerous hours of professional development and training each year to stay updated on college trends, and to also establish a broad network of both counselors and college admissions representatives. When families hire a consultant who is untrained in the profession, they are more vulnerable to working with someone who is not trained to work with adolescents, doesn’t have a comprehensive understanding of the college admissions process, and doesn’t practice the elevated ethics and confidentiality required of this profession. It is important that families ask about the professional background of the college consultants they are considering working with, and to also ensure that they have membership in associations like the Independent Educational Consultants Association or the Higher Education Consultants Association, which require advanced professional standards, continued training, and accountability.
We’ve been impressed with Yvonne Espinoza College Counseling Services, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I founded Yvonne Espinoza College Counseling Services after spending almost twenty years as a public-school counselor in Austin. I built my practice as a way to offer families personalized consulting with a highly reputable and trained professional who is also invested in their students’ success and well-being. Having worked in schools myself, I have great respect for school-based counselors and often advocate for more of them being added to schools. However, many schools in Austin and in the country are understaffed, and students do not have adequate access to individualized college counseling. I meet with students nights and weekends to supplement any support they are receiving while in school, also recognizing that the college planning and admissions process has become more intensive over the years and often requires a significant investment of time for students outside of school hours.
Although I am based in Austin and the majority of my clients reside in this area, I am open to working with students anywhere in the United States and accept clients in other areas of Texas, as long as I have the capacity. I offer services to my clients either through comprehensive contracts by academic year for students in the 9th-12th grades, or a la carte through hourly services.
My business is intentionally small so I can take the time during 50-minute sessions to know every student I work with. I meet with contract clients regularly (the cadence depends on grade level) and stay connected through unlimited communication in between meetings. I also work with college transfer students. I assist with academic counseling and course planning, career and interest exploration, extracurricular advising, scholarship and financial aid, and creating the college resume, college exploration, and the entire college application process, including essays. The core of my work is empowering students to feel confident and more supported during this complicated process, while also relieving stress for parents.
My clients are often seeking a professional with the highest ethical standards and professional qualifications. I am a national leader in my field who regularly presents to share my knowledge and expertise with other professionals in both counseling and college admissions. I serve on multiple national boards, and currently Co-Chair the NACAC Women Empowering Women Board of Directors to nurture the professional and personal growth of women in the college access and admissions professions. I have visited more than 170 college campuses, often through invitation-only counselor programs that provide more in-depth professional development to counselors. These roles give me a wide view of the profession and help me bring a national network of resources, and ethical, updated guidance to my families. I have also received a number of awards and accolades over the years for my practices, including recently being inducted into the City of Austin Women’s Hall of Fame.
I also volunteer over 100 hours annually through pro bono services and involvement in the national organization, ScholarMatch, as a Varsity Coach. I also regularly present on college planning topics, such as how to plan for college as an underclassmen in high school, or college steps for high school Juniors, to both local high school PTSA/PTOs and to local non-profits like the National Charity Leage, the Young Men’s Service League, and Scouting America.
What sets my practice apart is the level of attention I give to each student and my training in working with adolescents. I do not operate on a volume model. I work with a limited caseload so that families receive individualized support that reflects my expertise. Families who work with me have direct access to me throughout the course of our working relationship.
The best part of my job is serving students and doing what I can to relieve stress and increase transparency and confidence. During the college planning and admission process, my goal is to add another trusted adult to their lives who believes in them and can provide them with a safe space to ask questions, discuss both short and long-term goals, and be their authentic selves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yespicollegecounseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yespicollegecounseling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bestcollegecounselor
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bestcollegecounselor/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/yvonne-espinoza-college-counseling-services-austin
