About Me

As a former high school teacher and writing tutor, Amanda is able to combine her professional writing and editing skills with her education and experience as a college consultant. She regularly visits colleges across the country to remain current with today's admission practices and to maintain relationships with college admission counselors. She has helped hundreds of students set themselves apart in the applicant pool using their personal statements and essays and has a clear understanding of the importance of strategy in college applications.

In 2006 she began Hirko Consulting to help students find great college options, while continuing to work with them to produce thoughtful and compelling essays. After all, kids are not boring, so their essays shouldn't be!

She is proud of continuing her commitment to the American Institute of Certified Educational Planners as it denotes a level of professionalism realized by those in the field who have extensively traveled touring campuses, participated in continuous education through workshops, conferences and webinars and been a professional presenter.

Certified Educational Planner, AICEP, 2015, 2020

Certificate in College Counseling, UCSD, 2006

MA from U of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1995

BA from Indiana University, Bloomington, 1992

A mother of two, Amanda appreciates the role the entire family plays in the admission process, communicating frequently with parents to minimize anxiety and stress. She works with each student providing guidance and individual attention and personally overseeing application content. Amanda will provide her students with a plan and arm them with information to demystify the admission process. She has the experience to know what colleges are seeking and how to present students in their application packages.

Specialty Areas

Students Enrolled

Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Rochester, University of Vermont, Willamette University, University of Denver, Gonzaga University, Seattle University, University of Puget Sound, Lewis and Clark College, University of California -- Los Angeles, The University of Arizona, University of Miami, The University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of California, Davis, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, University of Washington, Seattle, Santa Clara University, University of San Diego, San Diego State University, University of Minnesota -- Twin Cities, University of California, San Diego, University of Michigan -- Ann Arbor, Iowa State University, Northwestern University, Texas Christian University, University of Oregon, Southern Methodist University, University of Missouri -- Columbia, Claremont McKenna College, Loyola Marymount University, Indiana University Bloomington, Arizona State University -- Tempe Campus, Northeastern University, American University, University of Colorado Boulder, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, University of California, Irvine, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, Northern Arizona University, Purdue University -- West Lafayette, Arizona State University -- Polytechnic Campus, Stony Brook University, Syracuse University, University of California, Santa Barbara, Gettysburg College, University of California, Santa Cruz, Brandeis University, Catholic University of America, University of Maryland, College Park, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Clemson University, Savannah College of Art and Design, James Madison University, Boston College, Washington State University, Colorado State University, Oregon State University, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Michigan State University, Franklin & Marshall College, Pepperdine University, Colorado School of Mines, The University of Tulsa, The University of Texas at Austin, University of Kansas, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Wisconsin -- Madison, Loyola University Chicago, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Central Washington University, California State University, Chico, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Trinity College, Union College, Wellesley College, Lafayette College, Davidson College, Fordham University, Dickinson College, Carleton College, Lehigh University, University of California, Riverside, Muhlenberg College, Occidental College, University of San Francisco, Chapman University, Point Loma Nazarene University, DePaul University, Sonoma State University, Pitzer College, The George Washington University, Pennsylvania State University -- University Park, University of Connecticut, California State University, Long Beach, University of Portland, Case Western Reserve University, The University of Utah, Brigham Young University -- Provo, University of Virginia, The Ohio State University -- Columbus, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey -- New Brunswick, Villanova University, Vanderbilt University, California State University, Northridge, Drexel University, Western Washington University, University of Houston, University of Pittsburgh, Harvey Mudd College, Miami University -- Oxford, University of Cincinnati, Baylor University, University of South Carolina -- Columbia, California Lutheran University, College of Charleston, Wake Forest University, Elon University, Scripps College, Georgetown University, Colby College, University of California at Merced, California State University, Fullerton, Boston University, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, Connecticut College, Hamilton College, University of Southern California, Wesleyan University, Tulane University, Bentley University, Hult International Business School, Pace University, The University of British Columbia, Amherst College, Boise State University, Montana State University -- Bozeman, North Carolina State University -- Raleigh, Virginia Tech, Auburn University, Macalester College, St. Andrews University.

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