Meet Nicole
As a Filipina-American originally from Manila, Philippines, Nicole Lincoln experienced firsthand the confusion and uncertainty of applying to U.S. colleges while living thousands of miles away. This inspired her to create Upward College Planning.
Nicole is dedicated to offering students guidance to identify “best fit” colleges with minimal stress. Not only does she assist with the intricacies in navigating the college admissions process, but she is also concerned with imparting essential information regarding the cultural and social adjustments necessary for studying and living in college.
Nicole visits college campuses all over the U.S. to be the “eyes and ears” for her students. She attends professional conferences, workshops, and training seminars to stay current with the ever-evolving college admissions trends and news.
Nicole is fluent in Spanish and Tagalog and serves her students and families in their native language. She is a warm and compassionate guide - caring about her students just as her own children and always there to support them. She meets with her students virtually through Zoom.
On a personal note, Nicole lives in the metro Washington, DC area with her husband, a career Coast Guard officer, and their five children, four of whom attend(ed) Brown University.
Education:
International School, Manila, Philippines
BA Economics, Wesleyan University
C.Ed. Independent Educational Consulting with Distinction, University of California, Irvine
C.Ed. College Admissions Counseling with Distinction, University of California, Riverside
Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) Training Institute, Swarthmore College
Professional Affiliations:
Member, Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA)
Associate Member, Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)
Published work:
Challenges and Strategies for Assisting Latino Students with College Access and Completion, IECA Insights
Nicole adheres to the Standards and Ethics Statement of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) and the Principles of Good Practice of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).
Our Philosophy
Upward College Planning helps students learn who they are and recognize their natural strengths and aptitudes. This process facilitates the accurate reflection of the student on the college application—allowing admissions representatives to appreciate how they will contribute to the classroom, campus, and community as a whole. We are dedicated to finding colleges that "fit"—where students will thrive fully and happily.
Non-Discrimination Statement
We strongly believe in inclusion and warmly welcome all students and families, regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, or disability.
Ethics Pledge
We do not guarantee admission to any particular college because we are not the decision-makers. We do not write the application materials or essays for the student or engage in any practices that we consider violations of admissions or professional ethics.
