ABOUT US

Valori Stitt, director of Achievement College Planning, brings a unique perspective to advising students. As a former high tech marketing executive Valori understands the importance of fully exploring the client’s needs and conveying a complete story of the strengths of the applicant to an admission committee. Valori holds an MBA from Santa Clara University and a Certificate of College Counseling from UCLA. She is an AVID college counseling mentor for students at Los Altos High School and Mountain View High School and an undergraduate college mentor for MVLA Scholars’ scholarship recipients.

Valori opened Achievement College Planning with mentoring from Sam Stapleton, a successful independent college counselor with a stellar reputation in the Bay Area for helping hundreds of students and their families with the college admission process. Valori also understands the importance of making connections with personnel in the admissions departments of colleges and universities. She travels extensively to colleges and shares the value of her connections, her first-hand impressions and insights with students and their families.

After studying under accomplished writers at Stanford’s Creative Writing program she became a published travel writer. Valori brings her love of storytelling to the essay coaching process which enables her to help students convey their accomplishments and authentic personality in an engaging way. Most importantly, Valori has always loved working with students. She was a volunteer Applied Economics teacher at Lynbrook High School in Cupertino for Junior Achievement and an Art Docent teaching art appreciation lessons to students in the Los Altos School District for many years.

Professional Affiliations

Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) HECA is the premiere professional organization for consultants who focus exclusively on helping high school students realize their full potential, especially the transition from secondary schools to undergraduate and graduate programs.

National Association of College Admission Counselors (NACAC) The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), founded in 1937, is an organization of more than 14,000 professionals from around the world dedicated to serving students as they make choices about pursuing postsecondary education.

The Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) is a not-for-profit, international profession association representing experienced independent education consultants.  The IECA works to ensure that those in the profession adhere to the highest ethical and business standards.