Haas College Connections

provides highly personalized college admissions consulting. Applying to college can be stressful. Let me help you navigate your college journey and turn what can be an overwhelming task into a positive and empowering experience. Take the first step to your college acceptance by booking a free consultation.

Haas College Connections adheres to the NACAC Statement of Principles of Good Practice. My consulting practice is committed to supporting high school counselors. I strive to collaborate with counselors and encourage my students to do the same.

What We Do

Determine student interests, learning style, aptitudes and possible career paths. Review student’s academic transcript and personal credentials.
Evaluate high school course selection and rigor for freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years.
Identify appropriate summer programs, internships, employment and volunteer opportunities through community service and cultural travel.
Plan an effective schedule for SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests, and ACT. Refer students to qualified and vetted tutors, as needed.
Using proprietary assessments, we analyze student preferences for school size, location, campus culture, and academic opportunities such as majors/minors and study abroad programs in order to craft a “best fit” college match list.
We create realistic, balanced list based on each student’s academic profile, wants and needs.
We organize timelines and discuss requirements for college application process to keep your student on track.
Determine appropriateness of Early Action/Early Decision options.
Brainstorm essay topics and provide detailed ongoing feedback so that essays reflect each student’s unique character, abilities and interests.
Provide guidance on soliciting teacher and counselor recommendations.
Prepare students for college interviews and assist in planning college visits.
Advise communication with admissions offices regarding waitlists, deferrals, and rejections.
Discuss final college selection after all acceptances are received. Celebrate with students and their families once a final decision has been made!

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About Haas College Connections

Haas College Connections helps students discover their “best fit” colleges by identifying schools that match the academic, social, emotional and financial needs of students and their families. We guide students through their college research and applications, build realistic, balanced “best fit” college match lists, brainstorm essay topics, provide essay feedback, demystify financial aid, identify sources of merit aid and scholarships, and much more. See our services page for more detail.

Contact Me

Robin graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech. She later received her teaching credential and Master of Arts in Education from Pepperdine University. For over 25 years Robin has worked as an educator helping students of all ages. A lifelong learner, Robin completed a College Counseling Certificate program through UCLA, “With Distinction.”

She is also an active member of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) and the Independent Educational Consultant Association (IECA) and the Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC). In addition, Robin works with underserved students in need of college guidance through the Matchlighter’s Scholar Program.

An avid writer, Robin is also a WOW-Certified Essay Coach. In her spare time, she writes a monthly column for the Estero Bay News called College 101. When she’s not writing, reading or working with students you might spot her cycling along the Central Coast of California, hiking, or practicing yoga.

Robin Haas, M.A.Ed.

Founder and Educational Consultant

My approach

As a seasoned educator with over 25 years of experience, I provide high quality consulting that is intentionally designed to meet the individual needs of each student I serve. I take the time to get to know my students so that I can facilitate the discovery and presentation of the unique qualities that each individual possesses. In turn, my students present their very best selves to the college admissions officers who read their applications. Applying to college can be stressful. Let me help you navigate your college journey and turn what can be an overwhelming task into a positive and empowering experience.

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Testimonials

Dawn, Parent of Cal Poly Engineering student, Class of 2028

“Working with Robin greatly alleviated the stress for our family throughout the entire application process. She developed a ‘best fit’ list that truly matched my high schooler’s values and talents, and made applying to college manageable by providing reasonable tasks that they could accomplish. With her expert guidance, my child not only survived the application process but gained skills that will help them succeed in college. The resources and detailed reports she created for us were very helpful as well. Robin’s background as a teacher no doubt contributes to her ability to motivate and empower her students as she gets them ready for college. She truly provides highly personalized service that is tailored to fit the needs of her students. Her expertise and caring nature make her the perfect choice to help any student apply to college.”

Mary, University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2027

“Robin was an amazing asset for me throughout my transfer application journey. This application process was immensely different than applying to Ivy League and other top schools as a first-year. I was unsure about what schools would be the best fit for me and my interests, as well as how to approach the vastly different applications to each school. Robin guided me to be able to present myself in a way that truly reflected who I am in the essays, activities section, and interviews. Even in the face of technical issues (where to send transcripts, what types of activities to report, how to input classes in a mid-term report, etc.), Robin was an excellent and reliable resource to make this process go as smoothly as possible. I was accepted into the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University, and I was waitlisted at Brown University and Dartmouth College. With extremely low transfer acceptance rates, I never thought that this would be possible!”

Lauren, San Diego State University, Class of 2028

“When the college application process began, I was overwhelmed with everything that the applications required. Having Robin’s instruction and advice throughout the entire process was a game changer. She helped create the seemingly endless list of tasks into something manageable, providing resources every step of the way. She helped me to find themes and messages I could incorporate in my essays to truly show who I was, and helped me edit numerous drafts and essays throughout the months working with her. She helped me to list my activities in the most effective way, and truly showcased her knowledge on all aspects of the college application process. She constantly reassured me of the work I was doing, and was extremely flexible with meeting dates and times: two things that truly made this difficult season even enjoyable at times. Not only did I gain many college acceptances, but writing advice, life advice, and even learned more about myself. I would truly recommend her and her services to anyone!”

Maureen, Parent of Barnard College of Columbia University, Class of 2027

“Robin was thoughtful in her approach and kind, supportive, and timely in her responses. She is an excellent essay editor, provided thorough research of universities, and goes the extra mile to bring current information from college seminars and information forums. The entire application process was easier because of her, and she greatly eased the stress throughout our entire household! My daughter was admitted to her dream school, and we are forever thankful for her help.”

Maceo, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Engineering, Class of 2028

“I couldn’t have made it through the application process without Robin. She is not only incredibly helpful and knowledgeable but also great to talk to. Most importantly, I appreciate how patient she was throughout what could have been the most stressful period of my life. Robin is an excellent guide and helped me to reorganize my ideas in a clear and concise way. Her help made my essays significantly stronger. I feel like I learned a lot in the process, and am ready for college.”

Leia, Long Beach State, Class of 2028

“Working with Robin as my college advisor was an absolute game-changer in my college journey. Her guidance, support, and expertise were instrumental throughout the application process. Robin’s commitment to helping me create a compelling narrative for my college essays laid a strong foundation that truly reflected my aspirations and personality. I am incredibly grateful for Robin's dedication and support. Her mentorship played an important role in shaping my academic path, and I am excited about the opportunities that await me in college thanks to her help.”

Mary, Barnard College of Columbia University, Class of 2027

“Robin’s knowledge and support made the college admissions process immensely easier! I was very interested in BS/MD programs, and Robin researched and attended conferences to help me find programs that would be the right fit for me. For the other colleges on my list, Robin provided expert insights for essays and resumes to build my application. I then got accepted to my dream school, Barnard College of Columbia University! I appreciate all of her hard work and kindness, which made her an amazing support system to guide me through the application process.”

David, Princeton University, Class of 2027

“Robin Haas went above and beyond to ensure that I was well-prepared and confident in my college applications. Especially as a first-generation student from a low-income background, I found it very difficult to navigate the college application process. With her guidance and support, I was accepted to an Ivy League school which was something I hadn’t even dreamed of. She provided invaluable assistance with my activities list and essays, helping me to organize my unique strengths and craft compelling responses. Throughout the process, Robin was very open and willing to listen, and she pointed out some of my strengths that I wouldn’t have considered writing about. Robin is someone who can truly help with the daunting college application process and make sure your application is strong and unique.”

Atticus, San Francisco State University, Class of 2027

“The college application process can be extremely intimidating for any student, but if done the right way, an extremely rewarding experience. Robin Haas provides this experience, by providing an extremely personalized approach to applying to college. She sets attainable goals that keep you on track and focused, impressive insight for essay revision, and above all else, instills a true sense of confidence in her clients. Upon submitting my applications, I couldn’t imagine what it would have been like to do it alone. I recommend Robin to any student who is seeking guidance in their college application process or simply needs a place to start.”

Chelsea, Parent of Cal Poly Athlete, Class of 2027

“Having Robin’s help with my son’s application process was beyond appreciated. She helped him find schools to apply to, and kept him on a schedule so he could get all applications in on time. I appreciated the clear email summaries of what had been discussed during their sessions including next step. It was fun to be able to hear updates about the application process from my son and a relief to know that all of the details were being addressed.”

Natalie, University of California, San Diego, Class of 2027

“Robin helped me with my applications for my PhD program. I had applied the previous year without her help, and my essays lacked a consistent message. She helped me to take my old essays and fully reconstruct them so that they imparted my candidacy without question to the admissions committee. I am happy to report that with Robin’s help I was offered admission to 3 schools, including UCLA and UCSD, and I have accepted an offer with the UCSD Chemistry and Biochemistry PhD program.

Even though Robin is not actively involved in the hard sciences, she was able to quickly understand the critical aspects of my scientific jargon, and grasp the key elements of my essays. After a few sessions she was able to help me clarify my message to the admissions committees, resulting in my acceptances.

I cannot thank Robin enough for her help, and I would highly recommend her services to anyone seeking help for essays or college/graduate program admission advice”

Cole, Chapman University, Class of 2026

“Deciding to return to college after a multi-year hiatus, knowing that I had done very little research on potential colleges in high school, I was prepared to dedicate blood, sweat, and tears to thin out the thousands of universities I might’ve been interested in. Fortunately, I had the pleasure of working with Robin. Through her experience and wisdom, we very rapidly pinpointed which schools fit my interests and past learning ideals. Albeit, I did indeed sweat when it came to writing application essays due to the significance of them, Robin made revising and editing said essays easy and oftentimes fun. I have no doubt I will shed tears of joy when I receive my responses from the colleges I’ve applied to, simply based on the sheer stress levels I had prior to working with Robin. I will absolutely be reaching out to Robin again for future Master’s programs research.”

Angel, California State University, Channel Islands, Class of 2023

“As a first-gen college student, the guidance I received from Robin was invaluable as I transferred to a four year university. The application process could have elevated my level of stress and anxiety but her kind, calm and nurturing demeanor made the process much more enjoyable. My successful completion of my undergrad would not have been possible without the guidance from Robin throughout the admissions process. She has continued to offer guidance as I applied for internships!.”