MEET THE COLLEGE COUNSELOR

Sonja Montiel, MA

Sonja has served more than 20 years in the college admissions profession, having extensive experience in the areas of freshman, transfer, and international admissions. After earning her master’s degree in education, she began as an admissions officer for the University of California system, followed by becoming a director of college counseling at a private preparatory school in California where nearly 100% of students attended four-year universities worldwide.

Sonja founded College Confidence in 2002 with a philosophy that college planning must be driven by the teen through reflection, transparency, and accountability, which can only be done with parents who are empathetic, knowledgeable, and patient. She believes that teens are empowered when they understand all of their options after high school, which begins in the home with parents being their number one educator. This is the foundation to Sonja’s new program for parents, “Parent University Semester” program.

Working with Sonja, you will experience her heart and soul when it comes to

training, mentoring, guiding, and coaching families through this unique time in a family’s life of raising tweens and teens. Marrying her high school sweetheart, she looks forward to sharing her extraordinary journey raising two daughters

(currently ages 11 and 19)!