About

Tara Powers-Hausmann, College Consultant

After spending decades as an editor, I found an unexpected passion while helping my oldest child navigate the college search process. What started as a personal journey quickly became an obsession—in the best possible way. I immersed myself in learning about colleges, admissions, and the many paths students can take to find their best fit. Before long, I was helping friends and their families through the process, too.

Becoming an independent college consultant was a natural next step. Today, I have the privilege of helping students discover who they are, what they want from their college experience, and how to get there. Every student is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. I love getting to know each student's unique strengths, challenges, interests, and goals, then creating a personalized plan to help them succeed.

I am also passionate about supporting students with learning differences and neurodiversity. As someone who has worked closely with these students and families, I know that with the right guidance and support, they can navigate the college admissions process with confidence and thrive once they arrive on campus.

I hold a BA in English Literature from St. Lawrence University and a Certificate in Independent Educational Consulting from the University of California, Irvine. I am a Professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), a member of PNACAC and Seattle Area College Consultants (SACC), and certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid.

I'm a lifelong learner when it comes to college admissions and have visited more than 100 college campuses across the country. Based on Bainbridge Island, Washington, I work with students and families both locally and around the world.

My goal is simple: to help students find colleges where they will not only be admitted—but where they will thrive.

"Tara is a thoughtful, well-researched, and dedicated counselor. She thinks outside the box, is willing to listen to family input, and works with compassion. Tara has made this transitional time less stressful as I trust her expertise and her ability to work effectively with my son." -- Parent

“Tara has been extremely helpful in guiding me through the whole college application and writing process. I wouldn’t have known what I was doing if I did not have her help, so I greatly appreciate her dedication to helping me through the process and making it all feel so much easier for me.” – Student,

“Tara’s passion, knowledge, enthusiasm and encouragement is priceless! Her skills have taken the weight off my shoulders as a parent and allowed me to enjoy the journey with my daughter. Such a great investment!” -- Parent

“Working with Tara has been eye-opening. As a student with learning disabilities, I started my college search not thinking that any college would want me. After the first meeting with Tara, I realized that she really understood what it was like! And after a few more sessions with Tara I was on the right path for finding schools that would best fit my needs and my strengths.” – Student