About Anne Holmdahl
Anne's Background
After completing her bachelor’s degree at Stanford University, Anne spent a year teaching English and continuing her studies of the Japanese language and culture in Hamamatsu, Japan.
Upon her return, she began a career in international marketing for a high-tech company. After the birth of her children, she took on the role of full-time mom and jumped into volunteer activities.
How Common Sense College Counseling Started
In 1998, Anne joined the Stanford Admissions Office volunteer group and spent the next 12 years working with the admissions office coordinating volunteers in the Seattle area, meeting with potential students, and completing multiple trainings related to the admissions process.
When her sons entered high school, the need for additional counseling assistance for college-bound students became obvious – with caseloads of hundreds of students, high school counselors can only do so much.
After 4 years of helping her children, her children’s friends, and her friends’ children through the college decision-making process, she started Common Sense College Counseling to reach out to others.
Meet Anne's Family
Anne is married to Todd, a fellow Stanford alum whom she met her freshman year in college. They have two sons who chose to attend Stanford as well, both studying computer science. Eric graduated in 2016 and is currently working in machine learning in the Bay Area; Ryan graduated in 2018 and completed his masters in CS with emphases in AI/ML and bioinformatics in 2019.
Anne's Qualifications and Accreditations
Anne completed the UCLA College Counseling Certificate program (with distinction). She continues to further her knowledge through online courses and seminars, visits to colleges around the country, and professional conferences. She is a frequent speaker at local school and PTA functions and has mentored other independent counselors in the area.
She is a member of several premier professional organizations for college counselors, including:
National Association for College Admission Counselors
Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counselors
Higher Education Consultants Association
Independent Educational Consultants Association
Seattle Area College Counselors
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