College is exciting.
College planning should be exciting too.
The ProblemThe college planning industry preys on your confusion and anxiety. Students deserve better. You deserve better.
The SolutionAn honest, relaxed college counseling relationship rooted in curiosity, discipline, expertise, initiative, and reflection.
What my students say
College Admissions Consulting
A wellness approach to college planning and beyond.
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My 9th - 11th grade program is rooted in my signature Depths & Domains of Practice framework. I teach students to nurture their curiosity, sharpen their discipline, develop their expertise, grow their initiative, and deepen their reflection.
At the same time, using my Grade Level Road Maps, students make concrete progress toward a comprehensive set of college admissions benchmarks tailored to their goals and interests.
The result? Rising seniors ready to tackle their college applications with clarity, purpose, and strategy.
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My 11th - 12th grade program walks students and families through every step of the college search, application, and selection process. We build balanced college lists that reflect students’ goals and preferences, cutting through the stressful noise of prestige, ranking, and college marketing.
I walk students through my signature essay writing curriculum, empowering them to write compelling, authentic stories that help their applications stand out. Unlike many consultants, I do not limit students to a certain number of essays or schools. We work together until the work is done.
Meet Your Coach:
Harley Poston
My name is Harley Poston and I'm so excited to help you or your child with college applications and beyond. I was born and raised in the East Bay and I live with my wife and two children in Oakland, CA. I've dedicated my career to the education of young people, and I'm ready to focus on your child's transition to higher education.
Education
BA, History - UC Davis
MA, Education + social science teaching credential - Stanford University
Certificate of Independent Educational Consulting - UC Irvine
Experience
Founder, Stress Less College Apps (2023- )
College Counselor, Empowerly (2025- )
Partnership Manager, Early Bird (2026- )
College Admissions Writing Instructor, SEO Scholars San Francisco (2025-2026)
Social Science Teacher, Skyline High School (2017-2023)
Advanced Admissions Strategy, Delivered to Your Inbox
The single most comprehensive guide to the UC application on the market today. 60+ pages, 12 winning PIQ strategies, 15+ example essays. Advanced strategy that families pay thousands for. Yours for $27.
The most comprehensive guide to the Stanford application on the market. Exclusive insights from former Stanford admissions officers, winning strategies for every supplemental essay, and everything else you need to know. Written by a Stanford alum.
Let me send you the curriculum I use to walk my clients through the personal statement brainstorming process.
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