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Bellevue & Seattle College Admissions Consulting

Helping top students in Washington compete in the most selective college admissions pools.

We work with high-achieving students across Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, and the broader Eastside. Many of our students attend schools like Lakeside, Bellevue High, International School, Newport, Eastside Prep, and Overlake.

We understand the intensity of this region: families working in tech, students with top scores and ambitious goals, and schools where everyone is qualified. In that environment, the biggest risk is blending in.

Whether your student is aiming for Stanford, MIT, University of Washington, or another selective program, we help them craft applications that rise above the noise and deliver results.

 

 

We've helped hundreds of students get into schools like these.

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Why Seattle & Bellevue Families Choose Sierra

The Seattle area has no shortage of college counselors. But most fall into two categories:
  • Solo consultants with limited reach or inconsistent quality
  • Big-name firms that prioritize volume over outcomes

Sierra is something different.
  • We only take three students per high school, including at competitive schools like Lakeside, International, and Newport.
  • Our full-time team of former admissions officers, essay experts, and strategists meets weekly to collaborate on each student’s progress.
  • We take an interest in your interests and help you find extracurriculars, schools, and essay topics that are the perfect fit for you while also moving the needle in admissions.

In a competitive region like Seattle, the right strategy is essential.

 

Your Admissions Timeline

By junior year, many Seattle-area families feel like college admissions has taken over their lives.

There are APs, SATs, internships, research, and constant pressure, not to mention confusing application timelines and vague advice from overloaded school counselors.

That’s where we step in.

We build a custom plan, manage deadlines, and coach students 1:1 so families don’t have to. 

The result is fewer arguments, more focus, and better outcomes.

We help students tell authentic, strategic stories and make the most of everything they’ve worked so hard to for.

Sierra Timeline

 

 

Sierra Admissions Results

Our students, including those from Seattle, Bellevue, and the greater Bay Area, consistently outperform national averages at the most competitive programs:

Average Acceptance Rate Sierra Admissions Rate Our Advantage
UT Austin (CS) 15% 68% 4.5x
Cornell (Eng) 10% 32% 3.2x
Stanford ~2% 19% 9.5x
MIT 4.1% 15% 3.6x
Michigan (Turing) 18% 56% 3.6x
UIUC 15% 59% 3.9x
NYU (Tandon) 35% 72% 2x
Berkeley (CS) 8.5% 25% 2.9x
Carnegie Mellon 5% 23% 4.6x

These numbers reflect smart strategy, deep support, and students who came to us ready to push themselves further.

 

What Seattle Families Are Saying About Sierra

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“They helped me write essays that were better than I thought I could have. Every part of the app felt perfect.”
 — Student, Lakeside

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“We were looking for honesty and expertise. Sierra gave us both. They raised the bar and made the process feel manageable.”
 — Parent, International School

 

Seattle & Bellevue College Consulting Services

We work with Seattle-area students at every stage of the college admissions process.

For 9th–11th Graders:
We offer long-term planning and mentorship to help students make strategic choices with academics, activities, and summer opportunities so they’re ready when senior year rolls around.

For Seniors:
We provide comprehensive support through the entire application process: school list strategy, essay development, application coaching, and final review all the way through to enrollment.

We specialize in competitive admissions for top programs in CS, engineering, and business, and we keep our caseload small so we can focus deeply on what matters most: results. 

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"Great result."

Our sophomore needed help thinking about career & major. Set up meetings twice a month and were ready to go by senior year. Brown BS/MD great result!

Hanish L., Sierra Admissions Client

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"Helped me brainstorm an essay I loved."

I like writing but the college essays are so weird. I had never really written a personal essay but Alex broke it down and helped me brainstorm an essay I loved.

Lily S., Georgetown University '26

High Schools We Work With in Seattle & Bellevue

We’ve supported students from top public and private schools throughout the region, including:

  • Lakeside School

  • Bellevue High School

  • Newport High School

  • International School (Bellevue)

  • Eastside Prep

  • Overlake School

  • Interlake High School (IB)

  • Tesla STEM High School

  • Seattle Academy

  • University Prep

  • Mercer Island High School

  • And others throughout Seattle, Redmond, and Kirkland

We only work with three students per school, and most of our spots are filled before senior year.

 

Seattle Consulting FAQs

Do you help with Stanford, UW CS, and UCs?
Yes. We’ve built detailed workflows for Stanford, the UC system, and programs like UW CS, which are among the most competitive in the country. We know how to help strong applicants stand out in those highly selective pools.

Do you only work with STEM students?
No. While we’re known for STEM and business admissions, we also support students applying to selective colleges for the humanities, arts, and social sciences.

When should we start?
Most Seattle-area families begin in 10th or 11th grade, but we work with some students as early as 9th. We also offer comprehensive senior-year application packages that begin in July. Our class fills up quickly, so we recommend reaching out as soon as possible.

Do you work with students in person or virtually?
We know our students are busy. Our model is primarily virtual, which allows for consistent support regardless of your student’s schedule.

Book A Free Intro Call

In selective college admissions, you need more than strong grades and test scores. You need a strategy and a team.

Fill out our form to book your free intro call. No pressure or obligation to sign up. Just an honest conversation to see if we’re a good consulting match.