cassie ambutter
academic coach
“My experience working with Cassie was amazing! Through personalized calendars and extra research on schools and programs, she made my college application process so much less stressful. Cassie possesses a huge wealth of knowledge and experience that truly transformed my applications!” Ally S, High School Senior
In one way or another, I have been a college coach since I began my own collegiate journey. This has taken me from being a peer academic coach for NCAA Division 1 athletes to over 10 years advising and coaching as a PhD student and then college professor at UC Santa Cruz, a Tier-1 research university.
I have a natural rapport with teenagers and early-twenty-somethings and bring unique insights into how best to serve young people trying to plan their academic and professional futures. My intimate knowledge of U.S. and Canadian universities will guarantee that your student gets the fullest picture of their options and what their academic and social life will look like at college or graduate school.
"An education is not so much about making a living as making a person.”
Tara Westover, Educated: A Memoir
my services
one-on-one application support
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ideal for rising seniors or seniors in their first term & those considering graduate school
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weekly meetings for 2–3 months
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insight-oriented interviews to help students create and refine their school list
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brainstorm ideas for required essays
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create a digital calendar and timeline for drafts and application completion
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improve college writing skills working with and receiving feedback from a seasoned university educator
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work on strategies for gathering required materials, e.g. recommendation letters and transcripts
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navigate the technical aspects of the process
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begin the process of a private scholarship search
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register and prepare for campus interviews
college ready: beyond the application
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small group workshops
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ideal for students in the second half of their senior year or first semester of college
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weekly (or twice monthly) meetings
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personal, written reflections on topics related to college life and expectations
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brainstorm problem-solving strategies for academic, social, and dorm life
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focus on the social and emotional aspects of college readiness
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explore and work through classroom fears and anxieties with a neutral but experienced sounding board in a low-stakes environment (i.e. you’re not being graded!)