Annette Mackaness is Principal and Owner of I'm Going 2 College! Annette's counseling approach is highly personalized to assess each student's unique profile and understand their college aspirations. She believes that through careful planning, mutual focus and strong partnerships with students, families, teachers and high school counselors, she can enable your student to find and get into the right college where they'll succeed and thrive. As Frank Sachs, former President of NACAC so eloquently stated: "college is a match to be made, not a prize to be won." Annette's philosophy aligns with this.

About Me

Annette has lived in the Almaden Valley area of San Jose for over 20 years. She and her husband have raised three children who've attended their local public schools: Williams, Bret Harte and Leland High schools. Her oldest child graduated from Loyola Marymount University and her middle child attends San Diego State University. Her desire to help students navigate the college admissions process stems from her passion and experience in guiding her own children through that journey. Annette has helped countless students achieve their college goals.



Annette obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She is a former Certified Public Accountant and worked in public accounting and finance with Ernst & Young, Apple and Netscape. Most recently she was Director of HR & Recruiting for Ricoh Innovations and subsequently specialized in Corporate Recruiting for the high-tech industry. Annette excelled at matching employers and job seekers to find the best fit for both parties. She brings that same expertise to college admissions counseling where she helps students find colleges that are uniquely matched to their individual needs.

Annette is an advocate of lifelong learning and obtained her certificate in College Admissions Counseling from UCLA. She graduated with Distinction. She is a member of the Higher Educational Consultants Association (HECA) and the National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC),



Annette has been, and continues to be, active in her community, volunteering and serving the following organizations: her children’s schools, sports teams, church, National Charity League, South Valley Fish Food Pantry, Las Madres, Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), MomsNext, Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence and City Team Ministries. She has also embarked on three Mission Trips to Mexico to build homes for the needy.

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