Hillary Hewins
she/her/hers
Hillary Hewins

About

I want to help you to discover your strengths, interests, and talents, and support you as you plan for your future. I have been counseling students and helping them reach for their dreams for more than 15 years, and I have guided over 600 students toward achieving their goals.

APPROACH

I believe in every student’s ability to learn and grow from wherever they are starting from. Preparing for college applications should start early, though it is NEVER too late to plan the next steps in your journey. Applying to college can be fun. I love helping students tell their stories, and the writing process has the potential to be one of the most powerful parts of your application.

If you are a rising senior, you have a lot of control over how you present yourself in your applications. Now is the time to plan ahead to craft an incredible college list, and to write essays that help your personality come alive on your application! Being authentically YOU is the key.

I have lived, traveled, an...

Hillary helped students get into:
Wellesley CollegeSanta Clara University
Claremont McKenna CollegePitzer College
Pomona CollegeOccidental College
California State University, Long BeachUniversity of San Diego
Wellesley College
Santa Clara University
Claremont McKenna College
Pitzer College
Pomona College
Occidental College
California State University, Long Beach
University of San Diego
Hillary helps with…
Majors & Careers
Extracurriculars
Building a School List
College Interviews
Waitlist & Deferral Assistance
UC Schools
Common App
Medicine
Law
Art & Music Portfolios
Highly Selective College Admissions
High School Course Selection
College Applications & Essays
Admissions Timeline
School-Specific Supplemental Essays
New York, New York | Tokyo, Japan
15 years of experience
English
New York University – MA | Counseling Psychology
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt – BA | Psychology and Anthropology
Business
Economics
Psychology
Sociology
Anthropology
Education
Political Science
International Relations
Communications
Journalism
Film and Photography
Theater
Music
Art
Design
Computer Science
Engineering
Philosophy
Environmental Science
Creative Writing
International Students
Next available sessions
According to your time zone (CUT)
Fun Facts
🖐
Describe yourself in five words
Friendly, Creative, Curious, Tenacious, FUN

🙏
Best piece of advice
Work hard, create good energy, and find your luck

💼
First job
Lifeguard and Swim Instructor for little kids

💭
Dream job
Helping people reach their goals. Also, opening a small hotel in Japan. I am doing both of them already :)

📚
Favorite book
The Secret History

📓
Favorite subject in school
Literature, social studies, social sciences, and health/wellness

Favorite after-school activities
In my high school days it was hanging out with friends, eating delicious food, working out, and lots of service learning activities

🎵
Favorite artist
I love (almost) all music! A few favorites are Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, 90s hip hop, Japanese city pop, 2000s indie rock, and reggaeton

📺
Favorite TV show
Teen dramas, reality shows, anything in Japanese (I am studying the language)

🍴
Favorite food
I can never have enough pizza and tacos, also I love Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese cuisines, and so so so much more

🪄
Hobbies
Traveling, exploring cities (and the world), hanging with friends, snowboarding, art/design/culture, live music, broadway shows, fashion

My process

I meet you where you are in the process. This is a judgement-free zone and I am here to help.

All package and multi-session students will receive access to my custom google documents where we collaborate, plan, strategize, and document growth. I am constantly updating my approach to respond to student needs, and I am happy to say that I share with students all of the best resources I have encountered in my counseling career. These documents help you maximize your extracurricular activities, do college research, identify strengths, brainstorm essay topics, manage timelines, and so much more. I will give you small "homework" assignments to complete between each session so that we can make the most of our time together.

In the writing process I will introduce a series of brainstorming activities and thinking routines that will inspire ideas for topics and help you to craft outlines. I won't just ask you to start writing drafts without guidance. We'll engage in both synchronous and asynchronous work together so that you can move through the writing process at a comfortable pace.

During our initial conversation, I will ask a series of questions that will enable me to understand where you are starting from and what you need support with. I will help to identify key areas where you can make an impact, and help you to share your story in a way that is genuine and compelling.

I have worked with pretty much every type of student, though I have specialized in working with students applying to highly selective universities, students applying to multiple countries, international students, and students with learning disabilities/differences.

Advising hours

College admissions advising

$195.00 / 60 min

Set a focus for each session or get help with any aspect of the admissions process.


Kickstart Your College Journey!

$265.00 / 90 min

Are you excited about the college search and application process, and are trying to figure out where to start? Whether you have a few questions or lot of questions, this session will help to kickstart your journey. Let's spend an hour diving into your strengths, abilities, values, hopes, and dreams in order to identify your ideal next steps, developing a cohesive and highly personalized application theme, and create a plan for moving forward. This meeting includes follow up resources shared with you to meet your individual needs, and one focused area of deep feedback of your choosing.


Returning Single Session Clients

$175.00 / 60 min

If you have previously booked a single advising session with me, please choose this option.


Soft or "Essential" Skill Development

$265.00 / 90 min

Colleges want to accept students who know who are self-aware and able to communicate effectively. What used to be known as “soft” skills are now more often referred to as “essential” skills (and sometimes “interpersonal,” “power,” “professional,” and “transferable” skills). These skills are the foundation of essential communication and leadership ability, according to Forbes and the Harvard Business Review. Each session comes with assessments, notes, totally 90 minutes of follow up. I offer sessions on Critical Thinking, Communication and Interview Skills, Complex Problem Solving, Meta-Cognitive and Learning Skills, Judgement and Decision Making, Emotional Intelligence, Self-Direction and Self-Management, Social Skills, Perseverance, Literacy skills (Information, Media, Civic, Technology, Digital), Global Awareness and Social Responsibility, Growth Mindset, Adaptability and Resilience, and Empathy.

Recent reviews

4.9(17 reviews)

“Hillary was so helpful and kind, she helped me find a direction for my goals and continues to offer support after our session :)"

Meredith R.

“Very professional consultant, gave me a good direction, I will consider further cooperation."

Yia Y.

“Meeting Hillary was absolutely delightful! Not only was she a pleasure to talk to and a very well-spoken individual, but she provided insightful and helpful advice on how to navigate the tough world of college admissions- and this was in just 30 minutes! I would definitely recommend her service if you are looking for an honest and compassionate advisor who views your profile holistically, and I am looking forward to future sessions with her!"

Nika T.
Join a quick meeting
Let’s chat
Any questions? Let’s hop on a quick call to learn more about your needs in the admissions process and how I can approach them
Join a quick meeting
Let’s chat
Any questions? Let’s hop on a quick call to learn more about your needs in the admissions process and how I can approach them
New York, New York | Tokyo, Japan
15 years of experience
English
New York University – MA | Counseling Psychology
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt – BA | Psychology and Anthropology
Business
Economics
Psychology
Sociology
Anthropology
Education
Political Science
International Relations
Communications
Journalism
Film and Photography
Theater
Music
Art
Design
Computer Science
Engineering
Philosophy
Environmental Science
Creative Writing
International Students
Next available sessions
According to your time zone (CUT)
Fun Facts
🖐
Describe yourself in five words
Friendly, Creative, Curious, Tenacious, FUN

🙏
Best piece of advice
Work hard, create good energy, and find your luck

💼
First job
Lifeguard and Swim Instructor for little kids

💭
Dream job
Helping people reach their goals. Also, opening a small hotel in Japan. I am doing both of them already :)

📚
Favorite book
The Secret History

📓
Favorite subject in school
Literature, social studies, social sciences, and health/wellness

Favorite after-school activities
In my high school days it was hanging out with friends, eating delicious food, working out, and lots of service learning activities

🎵
Favorite artist
I love (almost) all music! A few favorites are Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, 90s hip hop, Japanese city pop, 2000s indie rock, and reggaeton

📺
Favorite TV show
Teen dramas, reality shows, anything in Japanese (I am studying the language)

🍴
Favorite food
I can never have enough pizza and tacos, also I love Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese cuisines, and so so so much more

🪄
Hobbies
Traveling, exploring cities (and the world), hanging with friends, snowboarding, art/design/culture, live music, broadway shows, fashion
Tips for success
1. Prepare for your first session
Plan out the questions and topics you'd like to discuss. If you'd like to work together in the long term, discuss expectations for each other.