Welcome
Find Your Match at College Klatch
Educational Consultant leading students and families through the college application process, in the Bay Area and Beyond
What we do
College Consulting
College Klatch is an Independent Educational Consultant working in Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz county, helping your student navigate the college application process, aiding them in finding their best fit schools and in putting their best self into their applications so that they can get there.
klatch /klätCH/
a social gathering, especially for coffee and conversation.
Why CollegeKlatch?
For years I have hosted a social gathering, a coffee klatch, or kaffeeklatsch, an informal social gathering or conversation over coffee. I am known for my coffee klatches. Klatch comes from the german word for chitchat or gossip.
Over the last few years many of my coffee klatches have drifted more and more to discussions of college admissions and planning. So it made sense to me that the conversation I was suggesting, an informative, yet informal, conversation about colleges be called College Klatch. It ties together the need college counseling that is a conversation between the students, the parents, and the consultant with my desire to share information, and talk candidly yet casually about the big decisions coming.
What we can klatch about
For your lowerclassman: Help them start thinking about college, planning their courses and extracurriculars, and planning and scheduling their testing. Help them consider their college preferences.
For your junior or senior: Help them put together their college application lists, researching and selecting schools where they are a good fit for the school and vice versa. Help them with their application and essays to help them read as the amazing people they are.
For your graduated Senior: Help them navigate their new college’s requirements, both general education (distribution) and major requirements, and how to plan their first semester.
For the transfer student: Help figure out what the transfer options are, what are the requirements and schedule for transfer, how will their credits transfer to their new school.
What makes College Klatch Different?
Any family looking for an Educational Consultant is looking for help navigating the increasingly complex post-secondary landscape. But every family is also different from one another. Some students need more help with "The List," others more help with the essays. Some just need to be oriented to the process. Because every student is different, and every family is different, every consulting experience is different.
College Klatch consulting is personal, practical, and positive. What that means is:
PERSONAL
- Individual attention and an personalized curriculum. Some students need more guidance through the process than others. Some need more information. Some just want to be pointed in the right direction. Some need help figuring out what they want to study as well as where they want to study it. Some know what their essay will be about while others need to explore different topics and different structures. I will provide service at the level your student and family needs, whether it be just a few hours of research or detailed school information, whether it be letting the students run with the process, or reading every detail on the common app to make sure it is what the student wants to say.
PRACTICAL
- Meeting your student where they need to be. I pride myself on my flexibility. I will meet with students before school, after school, even on the weekend if required (fall only!). I am flexible about rescheduling if your schedule changes. Due to COVID, I am only meeting with students online at this time, but that actually gives me more flexibility in scheduling. I only ask that the student brings their full attention to the meetings and works hard for their educational journey.
- Service from the beginning of the process to the first semester of college, as needed. College preparation is not over when you have submitted your application. I can also help with comparing schools after admissions are completed, and comparing financial aid packages. OR after you submit your SIR (Statement of Intent to Register), figuring out the requirements of the particular school you have chosen, figuring out AP credits, and pre-advising - getting your student ready to register for their first term. Finally, I can help with the non-tangibles of going off to college, helping your student understand the different challenges that exist as a college student.
- NO packages. Because every student is different and their needs are different, I do not offer packages, but have only an hourly charge. YOU decide what your family needs, what level of service you want, what parts of the process you need the most help with.
POSITIVE
- All students bring something unique to the table and there is a path for everyone. We just have to find the right path for the right student.
- This is the student's journey and it should be exciting, not stressful. The consultant's role is to educate, help, and empower the student to undergo this adventure with enthusiasm and aplomb.
About Dr. Tracey
Who am I
I am Tracey O'Rourke, Independent Educational Consultant, PhD, Anthropologist, Mom, Coffee Drinker, and founder of College Klatch Educational Consulting. Certificate in Independent Educational Consulting, UC Irvine. Associate Member, IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association)
Why College Consulting?
As my oldest approached high school graduation, I dove headfirst into researching colleges, financial aid, majors, general education requirements, essay writing - really anything that would help me make sense of the options, the admission process, and help him get into a school he was excited to attend.
I have been absorbed and fascinated in this world since then and in March 2020 received my Certificate in Independent Educational Consulting from UC Irvine. I also recently attended the IECA Summer Training Institute, a crash course in educational consulting. Through these courses and my own research, I have amassed a large body of knowledge about college admissions, have visited many different campuses, and try to become more familiar with at least one new university daily. Everyday, I apply my well-honed research skills to an area that is very daunting to many but that I find immensely exciting and interesting.
There is nothing more satisfying than the excitement of a well-matched student and their new school.
Other Experience
Years of experience have familiarized me with the college landscape from both the student and professor perspectives. I completed my BA in Anthropology at the University of Washington and MA and PhD at the University of Michigan. After teaching briefly at the University of Michigan and the University of Michigan, Flint, I taught for more than a decade at San Jose State University. As my family grew, I volunteered extensively in the local schools, most recently as a coach for our local high school's award-winning Speech and Debate team.
What Clients Say
RD, Parent, 2024
FS, Student, 2023
RD, Parent, 2024
We just got back from an admitted student event at our first choice college, and my child has officially decided to attend. I'm thrilled to see my child at a school that feels exactly right for him, and we really appreciate Tracey's guidance through the process. Tracey's help made this a million times less stressful and got my child to a college outcome that feels perfect.
LL, Parent, 2023
FS, Student, 2023
RD, Parent, 2024
I’m not sure where to start in terms of describing my feelings about Tracey. Big feelings!
I’ll start by simply listing words I can use to describe her:
Smart
Kind
Savvy
Encouraging
Insightful
Committed
Tenacious
Ethical
Passionate
Compassionate
Impactful (very!)
Funny (very!)
Playful
She is someone who has so clearly chosen the perfect career for herself.
In terms of how I feel?
I feel a deep, deep gratitude for all that she gave to our son, and all that she gave to us.
I cannot recommend her enough!
FS, Student, 2023
FS, Student, 2023
PB, Parent, 2023 + 2021
Without College Klatch, I would have never gotten into college. It’s true. I always dug my heels in, frightened of the future, and by the time I would have started to even look at colleges late into my senior year, it would have been too late. Tracey has been with me in every sense, and in every way. She gave me step-by-step processes that made my brain happy and much less overwhelmed than it probably would have been otherwise. One of the other biggest things was that she proofread my essay tens of times. Without her helping me with ideas and edits and proofreading, I wouldn’t have gotten into all of the colleges I got into. (I got accepted to all of the colleges I applied to, with her help.) I thank Tracey for all she’s done with me and for my college career, and will definitely go to her for any more help with college I need in the future.
PB, Parent, 2023 + 2021
PB, Parent, 2023 + 2021
PB, Parent, 2023 + 2021
Tracey is an invaluable resource for families navigating the college application process. She provided assistance to both of our children, each of whom faced their own distinct challenges. Tracey approached each child with a comprehensive plan, skillfully gathering their interests and establishing realistic objectives for where to apply and how to stay on top of deadlines.
Tracey's guidance not only enabled our children to discover schools that matched their diverse expectations but also motivated them to work consistently from early in their junior year of high school until their final applications and acceptances in the spring of their senior year. Tracey provided strategic and innovative advice throughout the process.
Ultimately, both of our children had several schools from which to choose after receiving several acceptances. We are exceedingly pleased with the outcome, and we enthusiastically recommend Tracey to anyone facing this difficult family challenge.
KC, Parent, 2023
PB, Parent, 2023 + 2021
KS, Student, 2022
Tracey was a terrific resource for our family in navigating the college application and selection process. Her experience, advising, and resources were incredibly valuable. We came in knowing nothing about the process, but Tracey kept us on track with applications, essays, and supplementals. We highly recommend her as a partner in a confusing and difficult process.
KS, Student, 2022
PB, Parent, 2023 + 2021
KS, Student, 2022
Tracey was an awesome college counselor to have! When we first met her, she was enthusiastic and friendly and had a great personality to work with. As my journey into college applications started, she broke everything down to the basics and made everything seem much less complicated and intimidating. She was also very organized and wasted no time when it came to writing and editing essays. Tracey made everything efficient, and I was one of the first students in my class to finish my applications thanks to her help. She was personal, kind, and orderly. I am excited to say I am attending Purdue thanks to her help.
ST, Parent 2022
KR, Parent, 2021
KR, Parent, 2021
Tracey helped my senior start and complete the college application process in a very short period of time. He had a late start due to a medical issue. First of all, she was a very good listener and helped my son understand more about himself, what he wanted from a college, get closer to a major of interest and then identify multiple colleges which are a perfect fit. And the list is completely different that when we started. Tracey met with my son weekly, provided a list weekly goals, helped review his common app and essays. She also helped him stay on top of the complex administrative part of the entire process. As this was our oldest child and first introduction to the college application process, Tracey also answered a lot our questions and overall, was a great partner. We give her the highest ratings.
KR, Parent, 2021
KR, Parent, 2021
KR, Parent, 2021
We are so glad that we decided to partner with Tracey for our daughter's college selection and application process. Tracey was amazing from the very beginning and at every crucial step along the way. To start, Tracey worked with K to determine what type of schools would be the best fit. The research that Tracey did on that front only, specific to our daughter, was amazing. Once schools had been selected, Tracey worked with K to ensure that all necessary steps were followed and completed; when it was time for essay writing, Tracey worked to support K with creating beautiful work. All throughout the actual application process Tracey worked with K; we did not have to worry about any deadlines or missing any steps; that was all handled completely by Tracey. In short, Tracey was awesome, the process was smooth and stress-free (for us as parents and as much as possible for our daughter) and we are SO grateful. From a parent who wasn't sure if we were going to go with a college counselor, I highly recommend that you do; you and your child will be in excellent hands with Tracey and you'll be so glad that you did!
MW, Parent, 2021
KR, Parent, 2021
MW, Parent, 2021
Tracey helped to save our relationship with our high school senior. After working hard to keep him motivated in school during the spring covid lockdown, managing his fall college applications was the last train that we wanted to take. Tracey navigated us through the application circus and answered all of our freaked-out parent questions. She demystified the process, made us feel confident and advised us at each phase.
In addition, she found a way into our son’s personality and used those insights to help him document his unique qualities in his college essays. She also took that knowledge to motivate him along the arduous college application journey.
As for our son, he has appreciated Tracey’s helpful and specific advice. He is well aware that he would not have found all of the colleges that were good fits for him (versus general fits) without her help. He is certain that he will be happy at any of the colleges he attends, thanks to Tracey.
KQ, Parent, 2021
KB, Student, 2020
MW, Parent, 2021
Tracey helped our son become engaged and invested in the college application process. She worked hard to get to know him and help him figure out what he was looking for in schools, and did a ton of research to find ones that met his expectations. Her process for that was awesome and fine-tuned. She really kept him on track and excited every step of the way in getting recommendations, writing essays, and filling out apps. He will be done with his apps with very little stress and much time to spare. Even for us parents, she made something that seemed crazy daunting feel like a walk in the park. She's great!
KB, Student, 2020
KB, Student, 2020
KB, Student, 2020
I honestly don’t know how I would’ve gotten through the process without you. The idea of sifting through the 4000 or something schools in the US to find my fit was far too daunting to consider researching myself. You helped me separate deciding the rest of my life from deciding where I might want to be for four years. What also helped was that you broke it down into small fragments. You were so patient through the whole process, and helped me stay on top of the work with milestone deadlines. So I can’t thank you enough for helping me find my college.
ND, Student, 2020
KB, Student, 2020
KB, Student, 2020
Tracey not only helped me navigate the application process, she also helped me figure out what I wanted in a college and how I wanted to describe myself in my applications. Her first two college suggestions became my top two choices, and she helped me write essays that confidently showcased my personality. I came to her overwhelmed and unsure and am now on my way to what I proudly call my dream school.
OQ, Student 2021
OQ, Student 2021
OQ, Student 2021
Tracey was extremely helpful in the college applications process. I finished all my applications in early October. Without her help I would’ve been still doing my first one.
10/10 Would recommend!
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This past week we went and visited [College 1, College 2, and College 3]. Wanted to say thank you because I loved every school, you did a very good job finding schools that matched me. We really appreciate it!
LS, Parent, 2020
OQ, Student 2021
OQ, Student 2021
Tracey was invaluable in getting me and my son through the college application process! By highlighting the steps, deadlines and giving my son manageable "to dos" after each meeting, she took a lot of stress and anxiety off both our shoulders. She is very thorough in locating schools that are a good fit for your child based on their interests and criteria.
Tracey really excels with the college essay. There is an art to writing a unique essay that stands out. Tracey and my son took a lot of time finding a topic that showed his personality, insight, and character. On my son's admission letter into his reach school, the admissions counselor stated that they were very impressed with his essay. I give Tracey my highest recommendation!
KR, Parent 2020
OQ, Student 2021
KL, Parent, 2019
"You have been a beacon in this college world where otherwise we would be so confused and unsure of what do to and what is happening. Thank you for your messages, thank you for reassurance and thank you for your spirit."
KL, Parent, 2019
KO, Student, 2019
KL, Parent, 2019
“It was immensely helpful to have you looking out for us. It gave me confidence most of all. To have your knowledgeable navigation was invaluable. I knew that you had vetted things, taking into consideration (my daughter’s) specific requests, and I just could not have kept up with that myself. It made me feel more sure that she was moving ahead in the best way she could.”
KO, Student, 2019
KO, Student, 2019
KO, Student, 2019
“Tracey O’Rourke is an exceptional counselor and guide through the complicated college application process, and is understanding to both you and your family’s needs. I have and will continue to recommend her to any of my peers who are having difficulties”
AB, Parent, 2019
KO, Student, 2019
KO, Student, 2019
“Tracey has an extraordinary talent for gathering and synthesizing information. She not only deeply understands what the colleges have to offer, but also has the ability to ferret out insights from reluctant teenagers — and distill it all down to a manageable process for an anxious parent ;-) Tracey has been an invaluable help with the college search process already, and I count on her support to help both my kids successfully finish this journey with minimal stress.”