
“Everyone has a unique story. Uncover yours and create a clear path toward college, career, and beyond.”
-Joan Lockwood
“Everyone has a unique story. Uncover yours and create a clear path toward college, career, and beyond.”
-Joan Lockwood
Helping Students Navigate Life’s Big Decisions
Joan Lockwood empowers students and young adults to take charge of their future, whether they’re exploring colleges, preparing for their first jobs, or building confidence in new environments.
Based on the North Shore of Massachusetts and serving students and young adults across the Boston area and beyond, Joan offers in-person and virtual coaching tailored to each student's unique needs.
Her work begins with listening, really listening to what matters to each of her clients. Through guided assessments, honest conversations, and steady encouragement, Joan helps students understand who they are, what they value, and what kind of life they want to build.
Because success isn’t just about getting into a “top” school or creating a perfect resume, it’s about finding your path, owning your strengths, staying true to your values, and moving forward with confidence.
How Joan Helps Students and Young Adults
Joan Lockwood supports students and young adults through three core services designed to meet them where they are and help them take the next step with purpose.
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For students seeking thoughtful, personalized guidance through the college search, preparation, and application process, Joan Lockwood offers a proven approach grounded in authenticity and fit.
From students considering highly selective schools or exploring alternative paths, Joan helps her clients build strong academic and extracurricular profiles, manage timelines, and craft compelling applications. With having worked with over 300 students, 99% have been accepted to one of their top three choices by identifying schools where they’ll thrive instead of chasing rankings.
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Whether they’re looking for an internship, their first job, or a meaningful pivot, Joan helps young adults identify their goals while helping them build and articulate their story. Helping them create resumes, develop networking strategies, hone interview skills, and more.
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From social communication to self-awareness Joan offers personalized coaching that helps students and young adults show up with clarity, presence, and purpose at school, work, and in life.
What Makes
Joan’s Approach
Different
Joan believes the best decisions come from deep self-knowledge. That’s why her work always begins with connection, getting to know every client’s personality, strengths, interests and challenges. Using personalized assessments and reflective exercises, she helps students move past external pressures and tap into what truly matters to them.
Her calm, grounded presence offers both structure and support, creating a space where students can tackle and hard questions, try new strategies, and develop lifelong skills.
Whether she’s helping a student refine their college list, brainstorm essays, or navigate a career pivot, Joan brings warmth, clarity, and decades of experience to every step of the journey.
What Makes
Joan’s Approach
Different
Joan believes the best decisions come from deep self-knowledge. That’s why her work always begins with connection—getting to know every client’s personality, strengths, interests and challenges. Using personalized assessments and reflective exercises, she helps students move past external pressures and tap into what truly matters to them.
Her calm, grounded presence offers both structure and support, creating a space where students can ask, tackle, and consider hard questions, try new strategies, and develop lifelong skills.
Whether she’s helping a student refine their college list, brainstorm essays, or navigate a career pivot, Joan brings warmth, clarity, and decades of experience to every step of the journey.
Is this the right fit?
Joan Lockwood supports a wide range of students and families through pivotal academic, career, and life transitions, offering expert guidance that’s personal, practical, and deeply attuned to each student’s needs.
Joan loves to work with:
High school students beginning the college search process
Students exploring a range of schools, from Ivy League to private universities to public colleges, or alternative pathways
Teens who thrive outside traditional academic environments
Young adults preparing for internships, first jobs, or graduate school
Families in the Boston area and across the North Shore of Massachusetts
Teens building confidence, independence, and communication skills
Parents seeking support around big decisions with less stress at home
Families looking for personalized, student-centered coaching not a one-size-fits-all approach
“I support students in building balanced college lists that include everything from Ivy League and highly selective universities to strong public institutions and exceptional liberal arts colleges. It's about matching each student’s strengths, goals, and interests to a community where they can thrive.”
Common Goals Joan Helps Students Achieve
Gaining admission to colleges that align with their goals, strengths, and values
Building self-awareness and confident decision-making skills
Strengthening time management, study habits, and organizational strategies
Learning to advocate for themselves in academic and professional environments
Navigating social dynamics with greater ease and resilience
Developing interview, networking, and professional communication skills
Finding clarity around interests, values, and career direction
Using their newfound insights to create an authentic, compelling story so they can build meaningful connections
Interested in Working Together?
If you’re ready to support your teen or young adult as they take their next big step (or you’re a student yourself), Joan would love to connect.