Meet Elisa Romero,

Individualized College & Postsecondary Counseling

Helping Students Discover What Comes Next

You want your child to feel confident about what comes next. They want that, too.

Whether your student is navigating high school, preparing for college applications, or trying to determine whether a university, community college, trade school, or another pathway is right for them, I provide individualized guidance to help make that transition clearer and more manageable.

With 20 years of experience as a special education professional and school counselor in public schools, my practice has a particular focus on students with learning differences.

I understand that successful college and postsecondary planning requires more than identifying schools where a student can gain admission.

It requires understanding the student.

My goal is always the same:

Helping young people find an educational and personal path that fits who they are and where they want to go.

My Approach to College Counseling

There is no single right path after high school.

I work individually with students to uncover their interests, strengths, challenges, goals, and ideas about the future—and then help them translate that understanding into realistic postsecondary options.

For many teenagers, having an adult outside the family to talk with can be especially valuable.

Students often feel more comfortable discussing their uncertainties, frustrations, hopes, and fears with someone who isn't their parent. Those conversations can help students take greater ownership of the process while giving parents additional support during what can be an exciting but stressful transition.

My role is part college counselor, educator, mentor, and guide.

Together, we work toward a plan that belongs to the student.

Experience in College Admissions

To provide informed guidance, I continually research colleges and postsecondary options, particularly through the lens of students with learning differences.

My professional experience includes serving as a former application reader for:

• UC Santa Barbara

• UC San Diego

• University of San Francisco

I also participate in national and state-level professional development related to college admissions and continually investigate and visit colleges and postsecondary programs.

This experience allows me to consider both sides of the process:

What makes a student a strong applicant—and what makes a college a strong fit for the student.

College Search & Application Support

For students pursuing a four-year college or university, I can provide individualized guidance throughout the college planning and application process.

Services may include:

• Developing a personalized college search strategy

• Building a balanced college list

• Identifying schools aligned with the student's academic profile and interests

• Understanding admissions requirements

• Developing an application timeline

• Supporting organization and follow-through

• Exploring majors and academic programs

• Considering campus culture and environment

• Evaluating academic and disability support

• Preparing for the transition to college

For students with learning differences, I pay particular attention to whether a school offers the academic, emotional, social, and practical supports that can contribute to long-term success.

Admission is only the beginning.

Expertise in Learning Differences & College Readiness

My background in special education and school counseling shapes how I approach every college search.

Students with dyslexia, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, and other learning differences may need to consider questions that aren't always part of traditional college counseling.

We may explore:

• How independently the student manages schoolwork

• Executive functioning demands

• Academic support services

• Disability and accessibility services

• Available accommodations

• Documentation requirements

• Opportunities for tutoring or academic coaching

• Student-to-faculty interaction

• Campus size and structure

• Social and emotional supports

• The student's ability to communicate their needs

• Readiness for increased independence

Most importantly, I help students begin developing the self-awareness and self-advocacy skills they will need when parents and high school support teams are no longer managing those systems for them.

Community College & Transfer Planning

For some students, community college is the ideal next step.

It can provide additional time to explore career interests, strengthen academic skills, develop independence, complete general education coursework, pursue certificates or associate degrees, and prepare for eventual transfer.

I help students and families understand community college options and develop a plan that connects the student's immediate next step with their longer-term goals.

Rather than treating community college as a backup plan, we consider whether it may actually be the best strategic starting point for that individual student.

Trade Schools, Apprenticeships & Career Pathways

Not every student needs—or wants—a traditional four-year college experience.

I also help students explore trade schools, career and technical education, certificate programs, apprenticeships, and other career-focused pathways.

Possible areas of interest may include:

• Electrical work

• Plumbing

• Automotive and diesel technology

• HVAC

• Construction

• Welding and fabrication

• Advanced manufacturing

• Other skilled and technical careers

Hands-on programs can be particularly appealing to students who thrive through visual, tactile, and experiential learning.

Rather than beginning with the assumption that college is the goal, we begin with the student.

What are you good at?

What interests you?

How do you learn best?

What kind of work feels meaningful to you?

What kind of life do you want to build?

Then we explore the educational and career pathways that can help get you there.

Supporting Students—and Their Parents

Postsecondary planning affects the entire family.

Parents naturally want to make sure their child chooses wisely, receives the right support, and is prepared for greater independence.

Students, meanwhile, need increasing ownership of the process.

My role is to help bridge those perspectives.

I provide students with a trusted adult who can help them explore options, solve problems, develop confidence, and move forward—while helping parents better understand the choices available and the factors that may influence their child's success.

Finding the Path Where Your Student Can Thrive

The right postsecondary path might be a four-year university.

It might be community college followed by transfer.

It might be a certificate program, apprenticeship, or skilled trade.

And sometimes the process of working together reveals an option the student and family hadn't previously considered.

The goal isn't to follow someone else's definition of success.

The goal is to help each student find an educational and personal path where they can grow, become more independent, and thrive.

Work With Me Through Read Write Grow

I provide individualized college and postsecondary counseling through Read Write Grow, with particular expertise in supporting students with learning differences as they prepare for life beyond high school.

Schedule a consultation to discuss your student's strengths, needs, goals, and next steps.

Disclosure: Working with an educational or college consultant does not guarantee admission to any college or university.