skip to main content
Lisa  Smits

Lisa Smits

San Diego, CA USA

"I am so passionate about my job that I knew it was the right path for me. I had no time or energy to spend on negative bystanders."

Career Roadmap

Lisa 's work combines: Education, Writing, and Helping People

See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.

Take Roadmap Quiz

Day In The Life

College Admissions Coach

I help kids explore their options for the future! We design a path to meet both career and university goals.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

    Grace M. Davis High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

    Pepperdine University

  • Certification

    College Student Counseling and Personnel Services

    UCSD Extension (Pending)

  • Vocational

    Graphic Design

    The Art Institute of California-San Diego, a campus of Argosy University

Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a College Admissions Coach:

Bachelor's Degree: Educational Psychology

Certification: College Student Counseling and Personnel Services

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

I've taken a lot of twists and turns

  • 1.

    Attended Pepperdine University, but had seven different college majors along the way.

  • 2.

    Worked in Advertising for two years, then decided I wanted to work on the creative side.

  • 3.

    Received my AA in graphic design.

  • 4.

    Got married and chose to stay home with my kids....for 22 years.

  • 5.

    Worked sporadically as a free lance designer.

  • 6.

    Went back to school to start training as a college admissions counselor after helping a few students through their college admissions processes.

  • 7.

    Helping students explore and living my best life.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Friends:

    You're too old to start a new career, you may as well just stay home when your daughter leaves for college.

  • How I responded:

    I am so passionate about my job that I knew it was the right path for me. I had no time or energy to spend on negative bystanders. Energy is too precious, I'll save it for my students.