Deidra Fisher, founder of OneUp College Consulting, is a former high school English teacher, professional writer and business consultant, and mother to two girls: one who graduated from Northwestern in 2018 and another who graduated SMU in 2020. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from Baylor University and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Deidra previously worked in graduate school recruiting and admissions for the SMU Simmons School of Education and Human Development, and also served as an instructor of college prep courses through SMU’s Lifelong Learning department. She is a frequent speaker at high school PTA and TAG parent meetings, as well as YMSL and NCL chapter meetings.

As a former teacher in an International Baccalaureate school, Deidra worked with students of all academic abilities and backgrounds in their college search and application journey. She believes firmly that finding the best college FIT is most important, and is not limited to a short list of highly selective universities. Her goal is to help students explore the colleges that interest them, and ultimately find the right school for their unique academic and social goals, and career interests. Deidra is committed to helping clients leverage their unique talents and experiences, and showcasing their accomplishments while easing the stress for families of an intricate, time-consuming process.

Counsel you can trust

Deidra is a Professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association. The hallmark of an IECA member consultant is an extensive knowledge of schools, colleges, and special programs. Hiring an independent educational consultant who is a member of IECA ensures that you will work with a professional who has proven expertise, is fully vetted, and demonstrates the highest standards in education, training, ethics, and experience.

Deidra participates in IECA annual conferences, webinars, and training sessions for ongoing professional development. Her travel with IECA counselor tours across the country enable her to get insider access to schools she is recommending for her clients.

What clients are saying

If you’re about to start the application journey, I can’t recommend OneUp College enough. Deidra kept my son on track every step of the way, fine-tuned his essays and kept him going when the going got tough. I got to be the proud spectator, and our relationship remained peaceful! Cassie F.

If the idea of college overwhelms you, I highly recommend OneUp College. Deidra helps with every step of the process, from college lists to essays, and we’re sure she has saved us thousands of dollars! My senior got a 5/5 acceptance rate to her top schools, with THREE Presidential Merit Scholarships. Polly S.

Deidra went above and beyond to help my daughter find colleges outside of Texas that fit our budget and offered the type of community she wanted in a school. Deidra’s knowledge, essay expertise, and task-oriented mindset made the process a positive experience for my daughter and me. Erin P.

My daughter Ali got into NYU, her first choice school, with help from Deidra. We got started late in the game, but Deidra made space for us and helped Ali shape her application to earn a spot at her dream school. Alex L.

Deidra was super helpful to me in applying for film programs in California and New York. I had a lot of questions going into the process, and with her help, I felt a lot more confident about what I was submitting. And I got into my top choice college! Camden C.

Early in high school, I was super unfocused and unorganized when it came to college prep. Deidra helped me navigate my interests and center my extracurriculars towards my genuine passions. Her advice with standardized testing, classes, internships, essays, etc helped me get where I am today. I can’t imagine having gone through the process without her, or trying to understand college essay writing without her assistance. She was truly an amazing mentor and friend for my college application experience; and now, thanks to her, I’m living in one of my dream cities, studying at one of the best institutions (UCLA) in the country. Jackson W.