Tags
College selection Application guidance Essay review Financial Aid advising GPA analysis Career Interest Assessment Comparative College Analysis Resume Building Northern California
Biography
Influenced by a long career in high tech marketing, I use a strategic, MBA approach to helping students reveal their best talents, abilities and personality traits within their college applications. I also conduct primary research on colleges to help students develop a best fit, best chance college list. It is the combination of personal contact with college admission departments and college campuses and comprehensive work with students that yields results that exceeds client expectations.
My training at Stanford University's writers studio, as a published travel writer and work with leaders in college essay coaching have given me the skills to help students discover and reveal a compelling story for their personal and supplemental college application essays.
In addition, I mentor students at Los Altos and Mountain View high school and work closely with their teachers and college counseling department to help determined, low-income students get to college and obtain the best financial aid and scholarships.
Experience
Director & College Consultant
Achievement College Planning
March 2015 - present
At ACP, Valori Stitt provides the individualized attention and expertise needed to help high school students and their families navigate the increasingly complex college application process. For students, this is not the end point, but the beginning of the path of self-discovery, growth and fulfillment. For families, expert guidance can help your student find their best fit and increase their chances for success and financial aid. Valori provides just the right amount of advice, encouragement, support and structure to make the process of sharing the student’s authentic story through their application and essays exciting, enjoyable and effective.
Valori connects with admissions representatives at scores of colleges around the country and has developed an extensive base of knowledge about programs and outcomes. She offers specific admissions organization tools that enables students to sort through the options and develop a balanced target college application list. Her clients have applied to colleges and universities in both the U.S. and U.K., completing a myriad of different application forms and requirements.
Education
Santa Clara University
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
UCLA
2013 - 2015
Graduate level College Counseling Certification
San Jose State University
Bachelor's Degree
Bachelors of Science, Business and coursework in Aeronautical Engineering
Other
Volunteer
College Success Coach
MVLA Scholars (Children)
August 2014 - present
MVLA Scholars helps local (Mountain View and Los Altos, CA), high potential, low-income students achieve their dreams of earning college degrees and attaining professional positions
College Mentoring: The Scholars Program is unique in providing not only college scholarships but also a personal mentor for the entire time that the Scholars are in college. The college mentors work closely with their Scholars to set budgets, manage time, choose courses, and provide encouragement. Mentors also help Scholars successfully transition from college to career by providing assistance with resume building, interviewing skills, and internship/job hunting strategies
AVID High School College Planning Mentor
MVLA Scholars AVID Program (Children)
August 2014 - present
High School Mentoring for AVID classes at Los Altos High School and Mountain View High School: Trained mentors help the students develop an appropriate college list, complete college applications, apply for scholarships, complete financial aid forms, and make the final college choice.
