Kimberly Malin | College Admissions Counselor

I never thought I wanted to go to college but started to realize there wasn’t just one way to do college so I started that whole journey with Kim. I have a very complicated, long story that Kim fully engulfed herself in and helped me find my strengths when I thought I didn’t have any. It has been a struggle to find confidence in the school process and I have a tendency to shut down but Kim stayed with me and kept her patience the whole time. She helped me not only find a college that I’m very happy with but helped me with my confidence in school.

MEGAN

CORNISH COLLEGE OF THE ARTS

Having a senior in high school is already wrought with emotions; a dread at the thought of them leaving home, worry that you haven't prepared them thoroughly so you are scrambling to play catch-up, along with an eagerness for them to move on to college. Adding the labor intensive college process to this swirl would have been a lot. Thankfully, we engaged the help of Kim and Collegewise and because of this, have been able to savor these precious fleeting moments of having our daughter at home. All the stress, strategizing, and labor of finding the right college was being handled in a thorough, personalized, fun-loving way by Kim. It's hard to adequately express what a difference this made for our daughter, who decided on a school that was not initially on our radar, and our entire family. A collegewise counselor is an investment in your future, and sanity!

MARGARET, PARENT OF ANABELLE

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MADISON

My experience with Collegewise was great! Ms. Kimberly helped me so much with the nerves I had about applying and reassured me that I was right for picking harder level schools. She was just as enthusiastic as me and her love and appreciation for me was very respected. She’s a great counselor and might I say friend. Any student would be lucky to have her on this journey.

CHRISTEL

COLGATE UNIVERSITY

The college application process is confusing and tedious, and Collegewise really helped with that process. It was reassuring to go over my application with my counselor so that we could make sure that I had a better chance of getting in!

KYRA

VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY

Kimberly Malin, College Counselor

Kim has always found a way to advocate for others and is at her best (and happiest) when helping people. That’s why being a college counselor is more than just a job for her—it’s a calling!

Kim earned her bachelor's in psychology, graduating cum laude from the University of Michigan before becoming an AmeriCorps volunteer for an elementary school program serving inner-city students. She then took her passion for helping others to the next level by heading off to law school and earning her JD at the University of Southern California. Between classes, she managed to earn a Public Interest Law Foundation Grant and the LACBA Pro-Bono Award, participated in the Post-Conviction Justice Project, facilitated adoptions of foster children, and founded the Animal Legal Protection Society (phew!).

After graduating from USC, she worked in the large law firm world in both LA and NYC for several years before heading back to her roots and working at the Children’s Law Center, where she advocated for at-risk children separated from their parents through the Dependency Court System. Kim was also a volunteer attorney, fighting for the appellate rights of convicts who couldn't afford their own legal appeals. After navigating the complex school system in Los Angeles with her own children, she discovered she had a knack for helping friends find the “right fit” school and decided to leave lawyer-ing behind in favor of earning her college counseling degree from UCLA. Kim has an amazing way of connecting with each one of her students to bring the very best out of them. She absolutely loves helping her students in this process of self-discovery as they find their way on their path to college.

Kim was an undefeated debate champ in 10th grade, reads tons of books, and is an avid animal lover who has fostered too many homeless pets to count. She puts a lot of time, care, and love into everything she does to make sure it’s just right, and that attention to detail is what makes her an excellent college counselor.

Education & Experience

B.A., Psychology, University of Michigan

J.D., University of Southern California Law School

Certificate of College Counseling, UCLA

President of the Board, Friends of the IHP

Attorney, Children’s Law Center

Certified Law Clerk, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office

Certified Law Clerk, United States Attorney's Office

Volunteer, AmeriCorps

Award Winner, Public Interest Law Foundation Grant and the LACBA Pro-Bono Award

Participant, Post-Conviction Justice Project

Founder, Animal Legal Protection Society