MEET THE AUTHOR OF COLLEGE BOUND, AND YOUR COLLEGE PLANNING ADVISOR: Dr. Christine Hand Gonzales

Dr. Christine Hand Gonzales – known as “Dr. Chris” to her students – is a talented and dedicated professional with over 30 years in college counseling. As a motivational speaker, author, and consultant she assists families in making healthy, productive choices as they plan for college. Her work with high school juniors and seniors has focused on career exploration, college search and the application process. She has counseled students from both private and public schools. Her passionate commitment to help students is evidenced with a 91% success/acceptance rate for students to their top choice schools and 100% accepted into college.

“I’m proud that all my students have been accepted into college – with over 90% accepted into their top choice schools!”

Dr. Hand-Gonzales is a graduate of St. Lawrence University, with a B.A. in Art Education and Economics. She has a Masters in Counseling Education from the University of Bridgeport, and a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University.

Dr. Hand-Gonzales was selected by UCLA to create, implement, and teach online certification courses for counselors around the world including Using the Internet for College/Career Counseling, and Financial Aid Fundamentals,  and development of coursework for Empower.Edu. She served as the Chair of Independent Schools in 2008 for the Georgia School Counselors Association, and was chosen as a College Counselor for the Odyssey Summer Enrichment Program designed to work with Atlanta intercity youth in their college search process. She serves as a committee member on the SACAC Drive-In Workshop  in South Carolina and the Sumter Chamber of Commerce Education Committee in Sumter, South Carolina.

Dr. Hand-Gonzales is also an author and she has written several books including College Bound: Proven Ways to Plan and Prepare for Getting Into the College of Your Dreams, the companion workbook, My College Bound Plan, Your College Planning Survival Guide: Smart Tips From Students, Parents, and Professionals Who Made It Through, Paying for College Without Breaking the Bank: The Ultimate Student, Parent and Educator Guide to Over 500 Verified Financial Aid and Scholarship, and her latest release, A Book of Questions to Jumpstart Your Career Search.
Available on Amazon and the College-Path.com Bookstore.

As a member of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors – NACAC, Dr. Hand-Gonzales supports its Statement of Principles of Good Practice.

Professional Affiliations

• National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC)
• Southern Association of College Admissions Counselor (SACAC)

Professional Recommendations

Dr. Christine Hand-Gonzales is a dynamic, energetic individual with a wealth of experience in the higher education environment. Her knowledge, education and expertise in college and guidance counseling only serves to further enhance her reputation as an expert in the high school counseling field. I take great pride in developing cooperative relationships across diverse groups, with this in mind I can truly say that I observe her ability and skills to work with all types of individuals in all types of circumstances. Besides her strong people skills, she is adept at utilizing assessment tools and college resources to assist students in developing a career and college planning course of action.

Diversity Coordinator – Atlanta, Georgia

In regards to the college counseling process, Dr. Christine Hand-Gonzales’ broad base of knowledge will enable her to assist and support secondary students in a number of ways including: 1) evaluating their interests, strengths and needs, 2) enhancing these strengths and improve any academic weaknesses through their secondary academic courses, 3) matching their interests and skills with appropriate potential college choices, and 4) presenting themselves in the best manner in the college application process.

Assistant Principal – Norcross, Georgia

Dr. Christine Hand-Gonzales impressed me as I watched her sort through research documentation while devising her proposal for her dissertation entitled, “Factors That Impact the Student’s College Decision-Making Process in an Independent College Preparatory School.” As you know, choosing a college is a major decision for many high school students. Her study looked at the correlation between internal and external factors that affect college choice. Chris used quantitative methods involving surveys completed by seniors and their parents regarding factors of relevant importance in choice. While identifying themes, and conducting analyses, she constructed a model on the college choice process for students in a private school designed to help college counselors, college admissions counselors facilitate a student’s transition to higher education.

Professor – Sumter, South Carolina

Thank you so much for sharing your valuable time with the 11th grade parents at our parent’s meeting. We appreciate you answering college/SAT questions and we look forward to hearing more of your expertise next month.

PTA – Atlanta, Georgia

To learn more, email a message to Dr. Hand-Gonzales – click here.

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