An experienced partner on your education journey through school, college and career pathways.
Finding the right school or college for your student can be overwhelming — and the application process intimidating. With Mindful Education Consulting on your side, it doesn't have to be.
We provide holistic support with the unique ability to recognize the whole student and weave a compelling narrative to assist with the application process. Additionally, we build compassionate connections to truly understand the student and help them realize their passion and purpose.
Outcomes parents trust.
After 25+ years at the side of hundreds of families, our approach delivers consistent, measurable outcomes — without the stress of navigating it alone.
Helping students find the best fit for their interests, abilities and aspirations.
All families, students, schools, and colleges are different. Finding the right fit requires careful consideration — and a team who truly understands your student.
Preschool — 12th Grade
All families, students and schools are different, and finding the right fit requires careful consideration. We have distinct approaches for preschool through 5th grade, middle school, and high school; with each, we get to know your students and your family so we can discover your options and the best path ahead.
Learn More →College and Beyond
Our program is designed to help middle through high school students discover their strengths, validate their aptitude, build a strong academic foundation, explore their interests, and develop good study habits while keeping a positive mindset. We believe that these skills are key to success in college and beyond.
Learn More →Tutoring & Test Prep
ISEE and SSAT test prep for both middle and high school students who are applying to independent schools. We also offer content online tutoring for math, writing, reading, etc. for students in grades 2nd–12th.
Learn More →Career Pathways
We work with college and early career professionals to begin, advance or make changes in your career through a personally identified plan. We provide career planning strategies and help identify your strengths as well as areas of growth.
Learn More →Christy has worked alongside, and placed students into, Seattle's most respected schools — including:
— and many more across the Puget Sound region
Whether your student needs help with choosing the right school, preparing for college admissions, or finding their purpose and passion, we are here to support them every step of the way. We are not just counselors — we are mentors, coaches, and friends.
Christy has an extensive background in admissions at Seattle-area independent and private schools — and a deep understanding of what those schools are seeking from applicants. Her insight has helped hundreds of families find the right fit, and her approach is calming, caring, and designed to minimize the stress of what often can be a complex process.
Read Christy's Full Bio →
Mina spent 15 years at Microsoft leading global product management teams before discovering her passion: working with youth. She helps students achieve their flow state through self-discovery, advocacy, and agency — using aptitude testing combined with her signature framework to help students find purpose through school, college, and career.
Read Mina's Full Bio →Before we find the right fit for your student's education, we'll determine if we're a good fit for each other.
Getting to Know You
We discuss your student's needs, goals, and your family's comfort level with the school and college application process. Whether you're new to this process or you simply want an easier way, we can help.
Tailored Questionnaire
We begin with a questionnaire designed to help us learn about you, your student, and your goals. From there, we follow a more tailored approach to better fit your specific situation.
Crafting the Right Path
We curate a list of best-fit schools or colleges, build a timeline, and help your student showcase their authentic story through essays, interviews, and applications.
Every Step of the Way
From school visits and interviews to final acceptance decisions, we are with you through the entire journey — reducing stress and ensuring your student puts their best foot forward.
"Above all, you have to find your purpose, your reason for getting out of bed — your ikigai."
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means "a reason for being" — the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
At Mindful Education Consulting, we believe that every student has an ikigai, a unique purpose that drives them to make a positive difference in the world. Our goal is to help students discover their ikigai and align it with their higher education choices. We are here to support students and their families in their journey to find their ikigai and achieve their dreams.
Explore College & Beyond →Stories from the families we've helped.
Christy has been an absolute lifesaver for us. From guiding us through the pre-K school selection process to seamlessly transitioning to a new school for 2nd grade, her expertise and support have been invaluable. Throughout the application process, Christy's thoroughness and attention to detail provided us with peace of mind. Importantly, she really cares about your child's unique personality and preferences. Christy has not only been an education consultant but also a trusted ally on this journey. Thank you, Christy, for your invaluable guidance!
I'm so grateful we were able to work with Christy. She is extremely experienced, and having her advice and knowledge was priceless, as it alleviated stress and uncertainty during a very long and time-consuming application process. My son was accepted at more than one of his top choice schools. We are so thankful for all of the effort we put in, which includes having Christy on our team as we navigated the application process.
Working with Christy has been an absolute delight. Not only is she incredibly knowledgeable about the entire independent school process, but she's also thoughtful, supportive, and genuinely a wonderful person. She guided our son — and us! — through every step of the high school application process, from navigating the intricacies of online systems to attending visit days, preparing for interviews, filling out applications, and essay writing strategies. Our son particularly valued the meetings before and after his visits and interviews. He said that the pre-meetings helped him prepare to present his best self, while the post-meetings allowed him to process his thoughts and identify the factors that mattered most to him in a school. Her philosophy of "right fit" absolutely worked for him. Now that he's been accepted to his top choice high school, we're only sad that we won't get to work with Christy anymore. Make the best decision you can on your school journey: work with Mindful Education Consulting.
Mina helped us discover our daughter's potential that we never realized! She guided us through the entire college application process, adapted to our daughter's working style, improved it and has instilled a strong sense of work ethic and confidence in our daughter. This experience has helped our daughter be ready for college and eventually life! We are thankful that we engaged her as a college admissions counselor and mentor.
Mina helped me get into universities I could only dream of attending. Despite my late start to the college admission process, Mina guided me through every step. She helped me discover my unique story, helped carve out passion projects based on my interests and encouraged me to express it on my college application. Whether it was a grammar check on my essay or help with writing inspiration, she was always available to help immediately.
Applying to college isn't what it used to be 10 years ago. The sad reality is that most people are stuck in the past, with their old ways, not realising how rapidly the college system and process are changing in today's world. It can seem like you're drowning in an overload of information and mindless work. Mina cuts through that noise and helps you focus on what truly matters.
Recognized by the people parents trust.
Street Journal.
Featured in WSJ Education
"Getting into high school — private and public — is more competitive…" Christy quoted in the Wall Street Journal's coverage of the admissions consulting industry.
Best of 425 — 2025
Recognized by 425 Magazine readers as one of the Eastside's most trusted educational consulting practices, voted by Seattle's most engaged parent community.
IECA Professional Member
The Independent Educational Consultants Association — a member organization committed to the highest standards of ethics and professional practice.
Insights for the education journey.
Practical guidance and reflections from inside Seattle admissions, written by Christy and Mina.
WSJ – High School Admissions
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/high-school-consultants-admissions-016696b8?st=bfpuPL&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
Read More →Choosing the “Right Fit” School for Your Child
Interesting article about choosing the “right fit” school for your child. As an Independent Educational Consultant, I’m always helping parents decide what is most important…
Read More →Why should you consider your coursework when applying to colleges?
Considering your coursework when applying to colleges is important for several reasons: Academic Preparedness: Colleges typically look at the rigor of your coursework to assess…
Read More →Questions parents often ask us.
It varies by stage. For private K–5 admissions, two years before your target start year is ideal. For middle and high school, the spring of 4th or 8th grade is a great time to begin. For college, we love beginning in 9th or 10th grade — but we work with families at every stage, including last-minute. The honest test: if you're feeling unsure or overwhelmed, that's the right time to reach out.
No reputable consultant can — and you should be wary of any who do. What we do guarantee is that your student will submit the strongest, most authentic application they're capable of, to a thoughtfully curated list of best-fit schools. Our track record speaks for itself.
Our packages vary based on the stage and depth of support — from focused hourly engagements to full multi-year partnerships. The first consultation is always free, so we can understand your needs and share transparent pricing that fits your situation.
Yes. A child who needs accommodations might need a different school or college than a child who doesn't — and we approach every student individually. A "right fit" school looks different for every child.
School counselors do important work, but they often serve hundreds of students at once. We work with a small, intentional roster — meaning your student gets sustained, individualized attention from someone who knows their full story. We also draw on relationships built over 15 years inside Seattle admissions offices and 25+ years working with families.
Yes. While we're proudly Seattle-based and most familiar with Pacific Northwest schools, we work with families anywhere over Zoom and email — and our college consulting reaches across U.S., Canadian, U.K., French, and Swiss universities.
Yes — we offer ISEE and SSAT test prep for middle and high school students applying to independent schools, plus content tutoring in math, writing, and reading for grades 2–12.
Ready to get started?
Whether you're new to this process or you simply want an easier way, we can help.