About Dot Kowal, MA, LMFT
An experienced guide for an important journey.
Dot Kowal is a holistic college counselor, educator, and former independent school leader with a deep commitment to helping students grow into confident, self-aware young adults.
Founder & Lead Counselor
Dot Kowal, MA, LMFT
Education & credentials
— B.A. in English, Williams College
— M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Argosy University
— Certificate in School Management & Leadership, Harvard Business School + Harvard Graduate School of Education
A licensed clinical psychotherapist (MFT), Dot brings a values-based, wellness-centered lens to the college process — grounded in the belief that when students understand themselves, what they value, how they learn, and where they thrive, they make better decisions and experience less stress.
Since 2010, Dot has worked in Bay Area independent schools in academic, personal, and college counseling, including serving as Director of College Counseling at Woodside Priory School and Sonoma Academy, and as Head of Upper School at Crystal Springs Uplands School.
Her work is known for its calm, clear, and thorough approach — meeting students and families where they are, while helping them move forward with intention. Kowal College Counseling works with students and families nationwide through high-touch, remote sessions and flexible scheduling.
What makes us different
The intersection of education, psychology, and admissions.
A Psychotherapist's Lens
Emotional undercurrents — anxiety, perfectionism, fear, burnout — often drive the college process more than logistics. Dot recognizes these dynamics early and helps families move through them with steadiness and compassion. This isn't an add-on. It's foundational to how we work.
A College Counselor's Experience
Having guided hundreds of students through applications, essays, and decisions, Dot helps students uncover their authentic voice while building thoughtful, strategic plans. Deep relationships with admissions offices nationwide mean guidance grounded in real, current knowledge.
A UC Expert's Insight
Dot understands the University of California system inside and out — from admissions nuances to institutional culture, campus-specific priorities, and program-level differences. Families applying to UC schools receive clear, informed guidance from someone who knows the system in depth.
An Administrator's Perspective
Having worked inside schools — including as Head of Upper School — Dot understands how systems function behind the scenes: how decisions are made, how students are perceived by educators, and how institutional culture shapes the high school experience.
Our whole-child approach
Three pillars that keep high school feeling intentional.
Academics
Challenge with intention
Building a smart academic path without overwhelm. Choosing experiences — coursework, enrichment, testing — based on genuine interest and how the student thrives, not just what looks good on paper.
Wellness
Health, balance & resilience
Strengthening the habits and self-awareness that protect mental health over four years. Understanding limits, managing stress, building communication skills, and developing resilience — so students can maintain wellbeing through the intensity of high school.
Engagement
Depth over volume
Investing time in meaningful involvement that reflects who students are. Genuine community engagement, authentic leadership, intentional choices about how to spend time and energy. Depth and authenticity matter far more than accumulation.
The team
Supported by specialists who share the same values.
Kowal College Counseling is a small, carefully selected team of specialists, built through years of trusted relationships in the college admissions world. Each counselor works directly with their own students and families, and the team stays closely connected — sharing perspective, coordinating when it's helpful, and aligning around the same student-centered, whole-person values.
The result is thoughtful, consistent support that is both deeply personal and well-resourced. Families are supported, not passed around.
What others say
From students, parents, and professional peers.
She is the kind of educator every student deserves — someone who listens deeply, leads with care, and helps young people believe in what's possible.
— Katie B., Director of Community Well-Being, The Hamlin School
A welcome antidote to the cultural obsession with brand-name institutions. Dot prioritizes the unique needs and aspirations of each student with a deep commitment to helping them find the best fit.
— Katie M., Associate Director of College Counseling, Sonoma Academy
Through a gap year, two years at Deep Springs, a transfer to Columbia, and now planning for Cambridge — she has been an indispensable voice of insight and support.
— Nathan B., Deep Springs College → Columbia → Cambridge
I would not be a graduate of NYU Tisch if it were not for her — but more importantly, I would not be the young woman I am today had I not met this wonderful and wise woman.
— Nina V., NYU Tisch School of the Arts
Ready to work with Dot?
The call is free.
Schedule a free 30-minute Discovery Call to talk through where your family is and whether Kowal College Counseling is the right fit.