About
About Sean Hawes
In 2010, I started PTCA as a College Choice and Success Counselor, working in person with high school students and families across Whatcom and Skagit County. My vision is to help students make the most of high school and college to become better prepared for their twenties.
- College campuses toured by Sean Hawes
- 350+College campuses toured by Sean Hawes
- Years as a college counselor
- 15+Years as a college counselor
- Years working inside colleges
- 6Years working inside colleges
- Master's degrees in education
- 2Master's degrees in education
My mission
My mission is to help students plan their high school curriculum and activities, progress through the college application process toward their best fit colleges, then support their journey through college graduation.
Credentials & education
- Certified Educational Planner (AICEP), 2013 to present
- M.S., School Counseling & Preventive Mental Health, Creighton University, 2020 (4.0 GPA)
- M.S., College Student Personnel Administration, Indiana University, 1995
- B.S., Psychology & Sociology, Creighton University, 1993 (cum laude)
Professional background
Twenty plus years studying high schools, colleges, and universities
Sean has spent years working directly inside the high schools and colleges his students are heading toward. By working in Bellingham, Sean knows the local high schools well. He follows the Bellingham School District calendar and course options closely, and plans meetings around each student's schedule so they do not miss important class and activity time.
School counseling
- School Counseling Intern, Squalicum High School, Bellingham, WA: a 600-hour internship in academic, college and career, and social-emotional counseling.
- Graduation Coach, Windward High School, Ferndale, WA: individual success counseling that reduced course failures to the lowest in the school's 15-year history.
University student affairs
- Coordinator for Residence Life & Housing, University of Georgia: led a 1,000-student residential community, supervised 32 staff, and managed a $2 million budget.
- Assistant Resident Dean, UC San Diego: one of three deans to manage a 950-student complex, 22 staff, and advise five student executive boards.
- Resident Director & Career Counselor, Coe College: supervised 8 residential staff for 220 students and guided students on majors, careers, and resumes.
- Academic Adviser & Student Affairs Administrator, Indiana University: advised students on graduation and major requirements.
Published writing
Recognized voice in college counseling
Preparing For and Transitioning to College
Northwest Mom Magazine · Fall 2015
Support for Clients After High School
Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) · October 2014
Family Life
Sean has been married for over 20 years to Kimberly Hawes, a school principal, and they have two daughters, Sierra and Sage, both Sehome High School graduates currently studying elementary education and nursing, respectively.
Let's plan the path together
Whether your student is just starting high school or applying this fall, I'd like to hear about their goals.