About Donna Sakabu
Hi! I’m Donna!
I am the Founder and Principal Educational Consultant of Insightful College Planning. At our first meeting, you’ll quickly learn that I love guiding families with preparing for and applying to college. If I were asked to design my dream career, THIS IS IT!
My life's journey, including extensive involvement in K-12 education, inspired me to embark on this career. It has been a great adventure! I have 13 years of experience as an Educational Consultant, making the overwhelming college planning process less stressful by offering deep expertise and insight to families.
I earned a graduate Certificate in College Counseling, with Distinction, from UCLA, completing 33 units of rigorous coursework and a culminating internship with two high schools. I participated in the renowned Summer Training Institute offered by IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association) to enhance my expertise further. My undergraduate degree is in Business Administration (Finance) from Cal. Poly., Pomona. That number-crunching ability and facing the prospect of sending two sons to college a few years back fueled my deep interest in the quest for college affordability knowledge.
Professional development is a high priority for me. I’m involved with several professional networking groups with colleagues locally and nationwide, collaborating to share information to best support our students and their families. Keeping up with the ever-changing college admissions world is key, so I attend webinars and in-person events, like conferences and college tours. I have toured nearly 200 colleges in person and attended many in-depth online presentations on dozens of colleges.
I am a Professional Member of IECA, the premier professional association for educational consultants, grateful to serve in IECA leadership.
I achieved the highest level of competence in educational consulting, becoming a Certified Educational Planner (CEP). To apply to become a CEP, I had to meet rigorous application requirements, including specialized training, significant professional experience, involvement in professional activities and organizations, and provided professional references. In addition, I had to pass a 5-hour board-certified examination and pledge to adhere to stringent ethical practices.
When I’m not working with my students, touring colleges, or volunteering with IECA, I love traveling, nature walks, reading, and spending time with family and friends, near and far. My husband, a systems/electrical engineer, and I relocated to McKinney, Texas, in 2020 after living in California for many decades. Our sons are college graduates making their marks in their careers. We enjoy the empty nester phase and love exploring our new home state.
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