College Consultants in California
Find college admissions counselors in California. Getting into a top ranked college requires more than straight A’s. You need expert help; we help you find quality college consultants near your city and state.
According to our college consulting expert, David H. Nguyen, PhD, founder of Next Level Prep, Location is pertinent to finding the best educational consultant agencies because companies based in a region will understand the characteristics that admissions officers look for in students from high schools in that region. There is an edge that consultants gain from having worked with many students in the same region.
That’s why our college consulting agencies are broken down state-by-state.
Most high school students have extremely limited access to direct guidance during the college admissions process. According to The New York Times, during the 2012–2016 school year, every public school counselor in the U.S. was assigned an average of 470 students! That doesn’t leave much time for one-on-one support as you figure out how to complete your FAFSA, decide which extracurriculars improve your chances of college admission, and what application strategies can help you stand out in a sea of other excellent students.
College admissions consultants, or college coaches, can help fill that gap, and give you a major advantage in finding the school of your choice.
Best College Admissions Consultants in California
Agencies are listed alphabetically within their cities.
College Endeavors LLC
Location: Agoura Hills, CA
Services include:
- Thorough review of high school or community college academic record, course selection, and standardized test scores
- Explore student's goals for both college and possible careers
- Review extracurricular and volunteer activities and interests
- Discuss the college admissions process and provide a timeline of activities for each year of high school
- Discuss the college admissions process and provide a timeline of activities for each year of high school
- Discuss standardized testing strategies and options available to students including the ACT, SAT, AP, IB, SAT Subject Tests
- Evaluate the strength of the student's academic program and make recommendations for future course work
- Evaluate extracurricular activities, volunteer commitments, summer programs and employment
- Discuss educational goals, career interests, values, and passions that may influence college selection
- Develop a preliminary list of colleges that meet the student's interests, academic profile, possible majors, and the family's financial situation
- Assist families in utilizing tools for college research, planning college visits, and understanding what is important in the college selection process
- Brainstorm essay ideas and provide feedback for students as they compose their personal statements
- Assist students in developing resumes, preparing for interviews, and researching scholarship options
Affiliations and Accreditations
Choices for Life
Location: Alameda, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Casey Educational Consulting
Location: Aptos, CA
Services include:
- College admissions counseling
- academic advisement
- college preparation advisement
- course selection
- co-curricular choices
- Guidance for college essay writing
Affiliations and Accreditations
Elaine Chan College Advising
Location: Berkeley, CA
Services include:
- Develop personalized college list based on student and family considerations
- Evaluate high school transcripts and activities
- Assist in preparing strong college applications
- Provide financial aid and merit aid guidance
- Evaluate financial aid offers
- Provide college essay guidance
- Share research tools and outreach suggestions
Affiliations and Accreditations
JTCC
Location: Berkeley, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
- sports scholarships
Affiliations and Accreditations
Positive Outcome: For Admissions Success
Location: Berkeley, CA
Services include:
- Evaluate standardized test results
- Evaluate high school transcripts and activities
- Assist with firming up final list of colleges
- Mentor applying for Early Decision and Early Action programs
- Provide detailed calendar of all due dates
- Advise regarding the process for requesting letters of recommendation and transcripts
- Essay prep and review
- Interview prep
- Assistance with offers and determining the best fit
- support in the first year of college
Affiliations and Accreditations
Sallie B College Consulting
Location: Berkeley, CA
Services include:
- Review student academic record
- Advice on course selection
- Recommendations for extracurricular/summer activities
- Testing/test prep recommendations
- Career planning
- College list preparation
- Guidance on application strategies
- Timeline assistance
- Essay brainstorming
- Recommendation letter support.
- Review of applications.
- Gap year options.
Affiliations and Accreditations
Forman Educational Consulting
Location: Beverly Hills, CA
Services include:
- College Visit
- College List Building Essay Brainstorming
- Application Completion
- Planning & Preparation
- College Search & Selection
- College Applications
- Review college admission offers
Affiliations and Accreditations
Princeton Education Network
Location: Beverly Hills, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Rhodes Educational Consulting
Rock Steady College Counseling
Buckley Education
Location: Burlingame, CA
Services include:
- K-8th grade planning
- High school planning
- College counseling
- Support for summer programs,internships,and other activities
- Application and essay guidance
- College visit planning
- Interview preparation
- Fine arts portfolios or auditions assistance
- Assistance with college admission decisions
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Pathways
Location: Calabasas, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
Affiliations and Accreditations
STRICKLAND COLLEGE CONSULTING
Location: Campbell, CA
Services include:
- Analysis of student's 3-year academic accomplishments
- Analysis of student's strengths, interests, and aspirations as they relate to college and major selection
- Advice on course selection for senior year
- Advice on testing options and test prep
- Advice on college selection as well as early decision and early action options
- Advice on effective college visits and interview prep
- Step-by-step guidance through college application process
- In-depth guidance on personal statement and short answer essays for college application
- Advice on obtaining letters of recommendation
- Resumé assistance
- Advice on academic progress
- Advice on course selection for each academic year
- Advice on standardized test timing and preparation
- Advice on enhancing curricular and extracurricular participation
- Advice on building relationships in preparation for recommendation letters
- Advice on summer plans
- Advice on study skills
Affiliations and Accreditations
Dori Middlebrook Educational Consulting
Randles Educational Consulting
Location: Claremont, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
College GPS | College Admission Counsuling
Location: Clarksburg, CA
Services include:
- Learn about and understand the College Admissions Process and what colleges look for in their applicants.
- Evaluate grades, coursework, extracurricular activities, and interests.
- Research options for majors, careers and colleges
- Make a list of colleges to research and decide where to apply
- Know which tests to take (PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP) and when to schedule them
- Make a timeline and organize college information
- Prepare for college visits and interviews
- Learn how to complete applications
Affiliations and Accreditations
The College Planning Center North America Inc.
Royal College Consulting
Wolf College Consulting
Get Smart for College
Location: Culver City, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- College Fit
- Application Help
- Essay assistance
- Financial Aid Basics
- Reviewing and understanding financial awards
- Information and advice on Standardized Testing
Affiliations and Accreditations
Knavigators – College Admission Counseling
Location: Cupertino, CA
Services include:
- Early Planning
- Academic Evaluation
- Curriculum Planning
- Activity Planning
- Test Planning & Timing
- College Selection
- College Tours
- Admissions Insight
- Financial Aid & Scholarships
- Application Strategy
- Application Essays
Affiliations and Accreditations
Learning Enterprises College Prep Services
Location: Cupertino, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Sapience Admissions
Location: Cupertino, CA
Services include:
- Review of high school transcript, standardized test scores (SAT/ACT, SAT Subject Test), and extracurricular activities and interests
- Development of list of prospective colleges through in-depth discussions about your goals and aspirations
- Assistance with senior year course selection
- Assistance with deciding if/where to apply early
- Careful review of admission requirements
- Essay topic brainstorming-identifying topics and themes to write about
- Assistance if "deferred" in a college's early applicant pool and in the final decision
Affiliations and Accreditations
Alma Mater College Admission Consultants
Location: Danville, CA
Services include:
- Evaluate a student’s academic record
- Determine goals
- Test review and prep
- Resume assistance
- College selection
- Application timline and assistance
- Financial aid assistance
- Help evaluate offers of admission
Affiliations and Accreditations
Higher EDge Scholar
Location: Danville, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Stacy Kadesh College Consulting
The Admissions Advisor
Location: Danville, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
University Path
Location: Danville, CA
Services include:
- College search, applicationa assistance
- test prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Essay review
Affiliations and Accreditations
Springer Educational Consulting
Insight College Advising
Location: Del Mar, CA
Services include:
- College Advising Timeline
- Essay prep adn assistance
- assistance for applicants in Fine & Performing Arts
- Understanding College Costs, Merit Aid and Financial Aid
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Inspired
Location: Diamond Bar, CA
Services include:
- Complete application review
- Complete essay review
- Initial evaluation and goal-setting
- Review of academic records
- planning of all coursework and testing
- Help plan college visits
- Summer activity planning
- Review of potential college matches
- Finalize college list
- Brainstorming of college essays
- Editing of all college essays
- Admission Interview preparation
- Application editing, proofing and help
- Comparison of acceptances and financial offers
- Assistance with final selection
Affiliations and Accreditations
Admission Crew, LLC
Location: Dublin, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Mrs. Jian Liang
Location: Eastvale, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Leslie Cohen College Consulting
Location: El Cerrito, CA
Services include:
- Step-by-step college admissions planning and support
- Matching students with the best-fit colleges
- Essay guidance
- High school curriculum and transcript review
- Extra-curricular and summer enrichment recommendations
- Standardized testiong advisement
- College planning workshops
Affiliations and Accreditations
Your College Journey
College Connections
Location: Encino, CA
Services include:
- Preliminary Assessment
- College Search and Selection
- College Visits and Tours
- College Interviews
- Essays and Personal Statements
- Activity Resume
- Letters of Recommendation
- Specialty Services and Portfolios
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Connections, LLC
Headed for College
Location: Encino, CA
Services include:
- College search
- Application managment
- High school academic planning
- Tutoring
- Rusume building
- Test counseling
- Essay guidance
- Athletic counseling and guidance for performing and fine arts students
- Campus visit planning
- Interview preparation
- Financial aid assistance
- Course selection
- Graduate school counseling
- Career counseling
- Special needs assistance
Affiliations and Accreditations
The College Planning Center
The Bodin Group
Location: Foster City, CA
Services include:
- School and residential placement assistance
- College and postsecondary planning
- Test consulting
- Mentoring
- Parent coaching
- Social club
Affiliations and Accreditations
IvyBoost Education
Location: Fremont, CA
Services include:
- Student Assessments
- Monthly Virtual Meetings
- Unlimited Counseling Support
- Career and Major Guidance
- Performance Monitoring and Curriculum Choice
- Test Prep Plan, Strategies and Resources
- Extracurricular, Volunteer, and Summer Activities
- Financial Aid and Scholarships assistance
- College Study and Visiting
Affiliations and Accreditations
Jeffrey Yoon Educational Consulting
Location: Fremont, CA
Services include:
- College Research
- Academic Preparation
- Application Support
- Evaluation of Acceptances
- Financial Aid Award Review
- Essay Brainstorming and Review
- "Best Fit" College List Creation
Affiliations and Accreditations
Mill Creek Academy
Location: Fremont, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Central Valley College Quest
Royal Education
Location: Glendale, CA
Services include:
- Course Selection
- Extra Curricular Activities
- Outside Programs
- Editing the college application
- College essays and Supplement
- Scholarship search and essays
Affiliations and Accreditations
ThinkYes | College Admissions Consulting
Location: Goleta, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Garfield College Counseling
Location: Grafton, CA
Services include:
- Academic assessment
- Admissions and enrollment guidance
- Exploration of colleges
- Testing consulting
- College visit preparation
- Finding best fit college
- Essay and application development and revision
- Financial aid advising
Affiliations and Accreditations
The College Planning Center
Campodonico Education Consulting
Location: Greenbrae, CA
Services include:
- College Target List Development
- Standardized Testing Schedule
- Transcript Review / Course Recommendations
- Essay Editing and Refinement
- Financial Aid Tools
- Campus Visits
- Application Submission Project Management and Coaching
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Find, LLC
Location: Greenbrae, CA
Services include:
- Application Guidance
- College Search and choice
- Essay prep and Review
- Financial Aid assistance
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Find, LLC
Location: Healdsburg, CA
Services include:
- College list development
- Essay guidance
- Consultation on course selection
- Guidance on summer activities and programs
- Academic and extra-curricular goal-setting for the freshman or sophomore year
Affiliations and Accreditations
Coleman College Counseling
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Services include:
- A Parent Financial Overview
- An Academic Plan
- An Academic Plan
- Extra-Curricular Plan
- Plans for extra classes or Summer Programs
- Plans for Internships and or Job Shadow Opportunities
- Curriculum and GPA Reviews
Affiliations and Accreditations
CollegeGPS
Location: Imksburg, CA
Services include:
- College admissions process advising
- Research majors,careers and colleges
- College list building and selection
- Test preparation
- College visit planning
- Interview preparation
- Essay development
- Financial aid and scholarship review
Affiliations and Accreditations
Ardent Academy
Location: Irvine, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Blue Torch USA LLC.
Location: Irvine, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Cornerstone College Planning
Holtzman Educational Consulting
Location: Irvine, CA
Services include:
- College search and selection
- Essay development
- Application assistance
- Financial aid and graduate school review
Affiliations and Accreditations
Lizard Education College Counseling Center
Location: Irvine, CA
Services include:
- Education counseling
- Career planning
- College selection
- Athletic recruiting
- Test preparation
- Application assistance
- Resumes and supplementals
- Winning College entrance essays
- Financial aid and scholarship advising
- Graduate and professional school guidance
- Life/leadership coaching
Affiliations and Accreditations
Strategic College Consulting: Educational Counseling Center
Location: Irvine, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
The College Blueprint, LLC
Admission Planning, LLC
Location: La Canada, CA
Services include:
- Develop a cohesive and compelling application
- Envision personal statements which convey the student's greatest strengths
- Help revise essays for grammar, punctuation and clarity
- Align supplemental essays with colleges' missions
- Identify colleges best suited to the student
- Access resources to achieve the student’s highest possible test scores
- Prioritize extracurricular activities and summer opportunities
- Practice interviews
- Prepare a resume
- Search for and customize applications for merit scholarships
- Complete financial aid applications
Affiliations and Accreditations
Spangler College Counseling
Location: La Canada, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
AdMISSION POSSIBLE
Best Match College Consulting
Location: La Jolla, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
- sports scholarships
Affiliations and Accreditations
Kipers College Consulting
Location: La Jolla, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Doing College: College Advisor
Location: Lafayette, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Comprehensive College Prep
Location: Laguna Hills, CA
Services include:
- SAT/ACT courses and tutoring
- Essay/Application courses
- Distance learning solutions (tutoring and support)
- AP exam reviews
- SAT subject test prep
Affiliations and Accreditations
Academic Answers
Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Services include:
- School consultation
- College counseling/planning
- Intensive college conference
- Test preparation
- Tutoring/credit recovery
- Parent coaching
- Young adult services
- Achievement consulting
- Assessment services
- Crisis intervention
Affiliations and Accreditations
Thinque Prep
Location: Lake Forest, CA
Services include:
- College Identification
- Essay prep and assistance
- Personality and Aptitude Test
- Financial aid assitance
Affiliations and Accreditations
Perrella College Consulting
Location: Larkspur, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Right Fit Educational Consulting
Location: Larkspur, CA
Services include:
- College list building
- Test guidance
- Interview preparation
- Essay brainstorming and editing
- Application assistance
Affiliations and Accreditations
Jackie Stamps College Consulting
Location: Livermore, CA
Services include:
- Guidance with course selection – creation of academic plan
- Testing plan (PSAT and/or PLAN)
- Summer program information and assistance with applications and essays if required
- Begin student assessments (personality, interests, environment)
- Guidance for exploration that will assist with major and career identification
- Begin creating “Personal Narrative” - Activity sheet/Resume consultation and feedback
- Determine student goals and priorities
- Complete a series of student assessments (personality, interests, environment)
- Exploration of college options, understanding selection criteria
- Create “Personal Narrative” - Activity sheet/Resume consultation and feedback
- Interview preparation and feedback
- Complete college application plan through to enrollment decision
Affiliations and Accreditations
I'm Possible College Admission Consulting
Location: Long Beach, CA
Services include:
- ACT tutoring
- Summer planning
- Application review and critique
- College planning and application management
- Essay and personal statement coaching
- Resume writing
- Interview preparation
- College major selection
- Post-acceptance counseling
Affiliations and Accreditations
UniVarsity, LLC
Achievement College Planning
CreativeKCC
Location: Los Altos, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Strategies 4 Admission, LLC
College Circuit
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Services include:
- College search
- application assistance
- decision assistance
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Right Educational Consultants
Collegewise
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Services include:
- Create a Strategic Admissions Plan
- application assistance
- test prep
- counsuling
Affiliations and Accreditations
GE College Prep
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Get Me To College
PREP FOR ART
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Got college?
Location: Los Gatos, CA
Services include:
- College search
- application assistance
- decision assistance
Affiliations and Accreditations
Thrive College Counseling
Location: Los Gatos, CA
Services include:
- Recommendations for academic courses, extracurricular activities, summer programs, etc
- Discussion regarding the types of support services that will meet the needs of the student, including academic, social/emotional and independent living supports
- Develop a recommended list of colleges based on the student’s interests, taking into account the ability of each college to support the student
- Ongoing discussion of skills needed for success, including self-advocacy, ability to transition from living at home, ability to communicate needs as they arise
- Essay support and guidance only, as student writes own essays (essay coaches are available for students as needed) Guidance in managing timelines for testing, financial aid and applications
- Explanation of the overall college admission process
- families will be provided with a list of tasks to be completed during the application process which will be reviewed at each meeting beginning the spring of their junior year
- Review of college acceptances to think through the college decision
Affiliations and Accreditations
Choice Educational Services
Location: Los Osos, CA
Services include:
- Assessment
- Review of Academic Profile and High School Enrichment
- Test Preparation
- Assessment and Recommendations
- Build a College List
- Explore Admission Options and Strategies
- Provide College Application Summary and Timeline
Affiliations and Accreditations
CollegeNod
Location: Malibu, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Location: Manhattan Beach, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
AnchorPrep
Location: Manhattan Beach, CA
Services include:
- Coursework & Extracurricular Activity Planning
- Standardized Testing Options Advice
- Admissions Timeline Recommendations
- Resume Preparation
- College Search and Recommendations
- Financial Aid and Merit Scholarship Counseling
- College Essay & Personal Statement Guidance
- College Interview Tips
- Application Review
- Final Decision & Appeal Process Assistance
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Kupp
Location: Manhattan Beach, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
South Bay Educational Consultants
Location: Manhattan Beach, CA
Services include:
- Course selection
- resume and transcript review
- Test prep
- Letter of reccomendation stratagies
- Major and career exploration
- College lists and visits
- Application prep and assistance
- interview prep
Affiliations and Accreditations
Avalon College Advising
College Counseling Associates
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Willows College Consulting
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
EUREKA! College Prep & Admissions Advising
Location: Modesto, CA
Services include:
- Outline application process
- Outline application process
- Target relevant scholarships
- Recommend college fairs/ visits based on goals
- Re-evaluate prep progress
- Provide 20-30 suggested college fits
- Finalize 10-12 best college fits
- essays, interview/ resume prep
- Timeline/ Application/ Essay review
- Evaluate college acceptances
Affiliations and Accreditations
Exploring College Choices, LLC
OnTarget College Consulting
Location: Mountain View, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Learn with Jen
Location: Murrieta, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Made Clear
Hamler College Planning
Location: Napa, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
MP College Chat LLC
Location: Newport Beach, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Mapping
Location: Newport Beach, CA
Services include:
- College searching
- Testing Schedule
- High School Activity Resume
- References
- Essay Review
- Financial Aid assistance
- Application planning
Affiliations and Accreditations
Curreri Educational Consulting, Inc.
Location: Newport Beach, CA
Services include:
- College scholarship, grant opportunities and financial aid paperwork assistance
- Plan and prepare college visits
- Test, essay and interview preparation
- Create artistic, preforming or athletic portfolios
- Application assistance
- College selection
Affiliations and Accreditations
Eva Scalzo Advising
Location: Newport Beach, CA
Services include:
- Review academic history and test scores/grades
- Discuss PSAT/ACT/SAT
- Assess extracurricular and other activities
- Review student’s likes, dislikes and needs for colleges
- Discuss factors in choosing a college
- Determine college options and visits
- Discuss creating a college list
- Evaluate summer enrichment and programs
- Discuss athletic recruitment (if necessary) and NCAA rules
- Assist with activities and spreadsheet preparation
- Address any parent or student questions or concerns
- A custom-designed and highly personalized program that covers the A-Z of college applications and admission
Affiliations and Accreditations
Frazier College Admissions Counseling
Location: Newport Beach, CA
Services include:
- College consulting
- Essay and application guidance
- Finacial aid advising
Affiliations and Accreditations
Jennifer Bartz Independent Educational Consultant
Location: Newport Beach, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
Affiliations and Accreditations
Judy Bailey College Planning, Inc.
Location: Newport Beach, CA
Services include:
- Four-year academic planning
- Summer & academic enrichment
- Testing timelines & strategies
- College search assistance
- Athletic eligibility & recruiting for division I and II schools
- Essay brainstorming
- Interview prep
- obtaining effective letters of recommendation
- Helping match students to colleges
Affiliations and Accreditations
Kawamura College Advisement
Location: Newport Beach, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Kawamura College Advisement, LLC
One College Avenue
Location: Newport Beach, CA
Services include:
- Compose a thorough list of best-fit college options
- Assist in selecting final list of colleges
- Consider early action/early decision options
- Discuss special circumstances
- Campus visit preparation
- Interview practice/strategies
- Essay assistance
Affiliations and Accreditations
Academically Speaking
Robin Levi Educational Consulting
Location: Oakland, CA
Services include:
- Develop a College List
- Application Support
- Essay Advice and Editing
- Assistance in Getting Ready for College Applications
Affiliations and Accreditations
Christine Higgins College Consulting
Location: Orinda, CA
Services include:
- Explore student’s college goals
- Review high school academic record and standardized test scores
- Discuss extracurricular interests and activities
- Provide overview of college admission process and make preliminary recommendations.
- Answer questions about college planning and applications.
Affiliations and Accreditations
Educational Consultant
Helping Hand College Guidance
Location: Pacific Palisades, CA
Services include:
- Curriculum Planning
- Personalized Statement and Supplemental Essays
- College Application, Strategy and Positioning
- College Application, Strategy and Positioning
- College Tours
- Test prep
- Extracurricular Resume and Summer Opportunities
- Forming a Target College List
- Financial Aid Information and Scholarship Search
- Athletic Recruiting and Resume
- Follow-Up Communication
- Transfer Curriculum Planning
Affiliations and Accreditations
The College Consortium
AdmissionSavvy
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Services include:
- Create individualized timelines
- Select colleges that align with career aspirations and maximize career potential
- Brainstorm/edit memorable Personal Statements and Supplemental Essays
- Help create a cohesive resume and assist with interview techniques
- Advise on Financial Aid, Portfolios
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Advising Team
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Services include:
- Academic Plan/Schedule Reviews
- Summer Planning
- Extracurricular Planning
- College Admissions Process Overview
- College Admissions Process Overview
- Strategic College Application Planning
- College Research and List Development
- Resume Development
- Personal Statement /Essay Development
- Logistical Support (time management, password management, application tracking, recommendation tracking)
- Supplemental Application Development
- Scholarship and Financial Aid Support
- Review/Compare Acceptance Packages
Affiliations and Accreditations
Raftrey College Advising
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Creative College Counseling, LLC
Location: Pasadena, CA
Services include:
- Academic planning
- College selection
- College essay guidance
- Test preparation
- Transfering schools assistance
Affiliations and Accreditations
Jones College Counseling
My Best College Plan
Location: Petaluma, CA
Services include:
- Application preview, editing, and review
- FAFSA and CSS PROFILE instructions
- Study plan for standardized testing
- Test-optional pathways
- Personal Statement brainstorming, feedback, and editing
- Mock interviews and support
- College visit plan, reservations, and calendar
Affiliations and Accreditations
College.u
Location: Piedmont, CA
Services include:
- Course and outside activity selections
- College search and matching
- Testing information and recommendations
- Timeline development
- College list development
- Career and self-assessments
- Application development, support and strategy
- nterview tips and preparation
- nterview tips and preparation
- Assistance in college decisions
Affiliations and Accreditations
Independent University Advisors, LLC
Open Gate College Advising
Location: Pleasanton, CA
Services include:
- College search and selection
- Application prep and guidance
- Essay guidance and review
- FInancial aid advising
- test prep
Affiliations and Accreditations
Contact College Search Strategies
Location: Portola Valley, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Summit College Counseling
Collegewise
Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Services include:
- Tutoring & Test Prep
- College search
- Essay Prep
- application assistance
- College selection
Affiliations and Accreditations
Great College Fit
Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Higher Grounding College Counseling
Coast 2 Coast College Counseling
Location: Rolling Hills, CA
Services include:
- Develop a list of colleges
- Consultation to assess college goals
- Evaluate transcript
- set academic goals
- aassistance with course selection
- Help identify extracurricular activities
- Provide guidance and schedules for all standardized tests
- Prepare for college visits
- practice interview strategies
- Essay review and assistance
Affiliations and Accreditations
Margaret Amott College Counseling Services
Location: Sacramento, CA
Services include:
- A review of the student’s high school curriculum
- Discussion of testing options
- Evaluation of extracurricular activities and interests
- Discussion of colleges
- Setting high school goals
- Parent Workshop
- Application and Essay Workshop
- College List Development
- Essay Work
- Organization of the application components
- Scholarship Tips and Financial Aid Assistance
- Referrals to tutors and specialized resources.
- Post Acceptance: Guidance for college selection and choice of major.
Affiliations and Accreditations
BestFitCollege Consulting
College Consultants Orange County | Simply College Prep
Location: San Clemente, CA
Services include:
- Academic Planning
- College List Building
- College Essay prep and assistance
- Application Organization
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Safari, LLC
Matlyn College Consulting, Inc.
Location: San Clemente, CA
Services include:
- High school planning
- Major, interest, career and inventories
- College list building and selection
- Test preparation
- Resume development
- Essay review
- Application assistance
- Financial aid and scholarship support
- College visit planning
Affiliations and Accreditations
Advocacy Associates, Inc.
Location: San Diego, CA
Services include:
- Advocacy
- Educational consulting
- In-home behavioral and learning supports
- Parent coaching
- Staff and community professional learning
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Admission Navigation
Location: San Diego, CA
Services include:
- Understand best value education
- Optimize college admissions opportunities
- High school course selection
- Athletic recruitment understanding
Affiliations and Accreditations
COLLEGE ADMISSION NAVIGATION
Location: San Diego, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Smart Advising
Greenhaus College Consulting
Location: San Diego, CA
Services include:
- Academic planning
- Jumpstart to college for high school sophomores
- Comprehensive college planning
- Transfer admission package
- Application review/essay coaching
- learning differences/ADD students
- Freshman transition mentoring
- Academic coaching
Affiliations and Accreditations
Orlowski College Consulting
Location: San Diego, CA
Services include:
- College search
- application assistance
- decision assistance
Affiliations and Accreditations
Right4U College Counseling
Location: San Diego, CA
Services include:
- College Search Counseling
- College Application Coaching
- College affordability guidance
- College advising for home school educators
Affiliations and Accreditations
Rosemary’s College Consulting
Location: San Diego, CA
Services include:
- Course selection
- resume and transcript review
- Test prep
- Letter of reccomendation stratagies
- Major and career exploration
- College lists and visits
- Application prep and assistance
- interview prep
Affiliations and Accreditations
Location: San Francisco, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
1566 24th Avenue
Location: San Francisco, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
AdmissionWise
Location: San Francisco, CA
Services include:
- Assistance with high school course selection
- Assistance with applications to summer programs
- Advice about how to make the most of your college visits
- Development of list of prospective colleges
- Essay topic brainstorming
- Essay topic brainstorming
- Assistance with navigating being "deferred" in a college's early applicant pool
- Assistance with navigating being placed on a college's waitlist
- Assistance with appealing decisions at the University of California campuses
Affiliations and Accreditations
ASG Consulting
CollegesGPS
Kathy Rosenberg-Wohl College Admissions Counseling
Location: San Francisco, CA
Services include:
- Law School and Graduate Application assistance
- College Search
- develop a list of best fit
- Application assistance
- test reccomendations and prep
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- College visit and travel planning.
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Mallory, Baron, Ross & Kindler
Location: San Francisco, CA
Services include:
- Essay writing workshops
- Test preparation advice
- Interview preparation
- Application assistance
- College search and selection
Affiliations and Accreditations
Mallory, Baron, Ross, Kindler & Adeosun
Location: San Francisco, CA
Services include:
- CURRICULUM PLANNING/PRE-COLLEGE COUNSELING
- Essay writing workshops and critiquing of college essays
- Individualized advice concerning test preparation
- Role playing preparation for college admissions interviews
- Additional meetings and phone consultation throughout the college application process
- Assistance in making your final decision after acceptances
Affiliations and Accreditations
DesignWorlds
Location: San jose, CA
Services include:
- Ongoing bi-monthly advisory meetings
- Resume and Activity List development
- Coaching and editing for three UC application essays
- Essay and supplemental essays
- College Research
- Prepare for College Visits and Build strategic list
- Interview Preparation
- Summer Activity Advising
- Admissions Advocacy
- Application completion guidance and support
- Communication with college representatives and departmental faculty
Affiliations and Accreditations
Admissions Edge
Location: San Jose, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
CS Career & Education
Location: San Jose, CA
Services include:
- Academic advising
- High school course selection help
- College matching
- Test and resume preparation
- College visit preparation
- Essay assistance
- College application review
- International studen program
Affiliations and Accreditations
Educational Pathways with Antoinette Battiste
Strive Achieve & Soar for Higher Education
Location: San Leandro, CA
Services include:
- School Application Support
- College Application Support
- College Counseling
- Summer Planning
- School/College visits preparation/planning
- Family Workshop Series
- Preparation/Set up for College Counseling
- Diversity Trainings
- Financial Aid Overview
Affiliations and Accreditations
Coupe College Consulting
Liebau Consultants LLC
Location: San Marino, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Campanile College Admissions Counseling
Location: San Mateo, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Campanile College Counseling, Inc.
Location: San Mateo, CA
Services include:
- 3646 - 24th Street San Francisco, CA 94110 (650) 579-6180
Affiliations and Accreditations
UpSkill for College
Location: San Mateo, CA
Services include:
- College searching
- Testing Schedule
- High School Activity Resume
- References
- resume assistance
- Essay Review
- Financial Aid assistance
- Application planning
Affiliations and Accreditations
ANDERSON + KRONE
Location: San Rafael, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Counseling by Barry Beach
Location: San Rafael, CA
Services include:
- Interest assessment
- Developing a college list
- Developing admissions stragegy
- College Visits
- Discuss standardized tests
- Advice for selecting recommenders
- Reviewing college essays
- Tips for Funding college
- Researching colleges and college programs
- Researching colleges and college programs
Affiliations and Accreditations
Cornerstone College Consulting
Location: San Rafael, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Laurie Favaro M.S
Location: San Rafael, CA
Services include:
- Course selection
- college search and selection
- early addmissions assistance
- resume and transcript review
- Test prep
- Letter of reccomendation stratagies
- Major and career exploration
- College lists and visits
- Application prep and assistance
- interview prep
Affiliations and Accreditations
Susanna Ordway College Consulting
Location: San Ramon, CA
Services include:
- ASSESS INTERESTS, SKILLS AND TALENTS FOR COLLEGE OR CAREER
- CREATE TESTING SCHEDULES
- DEVELOP A BEST FIT COLLEGE LIST
- FORMULATE COLLEGE APPLICATION TIMELINES
- HELP PREPARE COLLEGE VISITS AND CAMPUS TOURS
- GUIDE THE COLLEGE ESSAY PROCESS
- PROVIDE FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
- PROVIDE FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
- EVALUATE ADMISSIONS / FINANCIAL AID AWARD LETTERS
Affiliations and Accreditations
Hamilton & Associates, LLC
College Coaching Services
Location: Santa Barbara and Irvine, CA
Services include:
- Setting Personal Goals
- Developing a Professional Resume
- Identifying Campus Preferences
- Identifying Safety, Probable, and Stretch Choices
- Test Preparation Planning
- College Application Planning
- Essay Brainstorming
- Completing Applications
- Interview Preparation
- Obtaining Letters of Recommendations
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Planning Service
Ilumin Education
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Services include:
- COLLEGE LIST FORMATION
- MAJOR SELECTION GUIDANCE
- ESSAY DEVELOPMENT AND EDITING
- COMPLETE APPLICATION SUPPORT
- APPLICATION SUPPORT
- COLLEGE SELECTION
Affiliations and Accreditations
Duffy Grant, College Advisor and Educational Consultant
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
LK Consulting
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Services include:
- Academic preparation
- College admission testing
- Identifying possible majors or areas of interest
- Exploring and preparing for careers
- Academic enrichment opportunities
- Essay Prep adn assistance
Affiliations and Accreditations
Next Step College Advising
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Services include:
- College advising
- Application guidanc
- Test and essay preparation
- Financial aid advising
- Graduate school counsling
Affiliations and Accreditations
Valerie Deutsch College Advisory
Big J Educational Consulting
BigPicture Planning
Educational Resource Consultants
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Services include:
- Works with students with learning differences
- Test planning and tutoring
- Application and essay assistance
- College tours guidance
- Interview preparation
Affiliations and Accreditations
The College Curators
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Services include:
- Essay brainstorming and review
- Application management
- Application support
- Mock college interviews
- Guidance on college decision and waitlist strategy
- Comparing financial aid and merit scholarship offers.
- Create individualized timelines and help manage deadlines
- Create a target list of campus and virtual tours, and prepare students to conduct meaningful visits
Affiliations and Accreditations
Uefclice & Geller, Inc.
College Placement Consultant
Location: Seal Beach, CA
Services include:
- College search and selections, application assistance
- essay review and assistance
- final decisions
Affiliations and Accreditations
Sonoma West Educational Services
Location: Sebastopol, CA
Services include:
- College advising
- Essay development
- Advocacy
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Help Now
Location: Sherman Oaks, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Torch
Location: Sierra Madre, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Colledge LLC
Brady College Counseling
Location: Solana Beach, CA
Services include:
- Comprehensive Counseling
- Academic and testing services
- Athletic and extracurricular planning
- College admissions services
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Navigators
Location: Solana Beach, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
Affiliations and Accreditations
Colledge
Location: South Pasadena, CA
Services include:
- Academic evaluation for college admission
- ‘Best Right Fit’ college list suggestions
- Strategic college visit guidance
- Final list research strategy
- Test and test-optional planning and advising
- High school engagement advice
- Extracurricular activities suggestions
- Resume development
- Advice on demonstrated interest
- Mid-year parent debrief meeting
- Letters of recommendation guidance
- College interview preparation
- Fine-Tune Essays
- Finalize and Submit Applications
- Final decision research strategy
Affiliations and Accreditations
Gina B. Lee Consulting
Location: South Pasadena, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
The Collegiate Edge
College Steps Consulting
IvySelect
Location: Tarzana, CA
Services include:
- Course selection
- college search and selection
- early addmissions assistance
- resume and transcript review
- Test prep
- Letter of reccomendation stratagies
- Major and career exploration
- College lists and visits
- Application prep and assistance
- interview prep
Affiliations and Accreditations
IvySelect College Consulting
Melanie Rome Education
Location: Tarzana, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Savvy College Funding Solutions
Location: Tarzana, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Shen Educational Consulting, LLC
Location: Temecula, CA
Services include:
- Transcript review
- High school course recommendations
- Academic monitoring
- Career and major exploration
- Leadership, volunteer and summer experience recommendations
- Resume building
- Test planning
- College list building and selection
- Essay brainstorming and editing
- Application review
- Interview preparation
- Financial aid and scholarship advising
Affiliations and Accreditations
Valencia Educational Consulting
Location: Temecula, CA
Services include:
- Educational Counseling and Career Exploration
- College List Building
- College Application Guidance
- SAT/ACT testing guidance and timeline
- Thorough review of all extracurricular activities
- Detailed review of college preferences
- Assistance interpreting financial aid offers and making an enrollment decision
Affiliations and Accreditations
Knowledge Worx 4 College
Location: Templeton, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Admit You to College
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Services include:
- Assessment
- Career Exploration
- Essay and Application Help
- Strategy
- Scholarship and Financial Aid Help
- Final Decision Guidance
Affiliations and Accreditations
Insights to College
Grays Hall College Counseling
Location: Torrance, CA
Services include:
- Assist with class selection
- Tutor referral for standardized tests and course work
- Help identify major and career options
- Testing review and timeline
- Campus visits
- financial aid assistance
- Provide individualized college list
- Review all application options
Affiliations and Accreditations
College Right OC
Location: Trabuco Canyon, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- High School Course Review
- Major Guidance
- Testing guidance
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Resume Assistance
- Interview Preparation
- College Visit Guidance
- Guidance on final choices
- Gap Year Guidance
Affiliations and Accreditations
Great College Fit, LLC
Morrison Educational Consulting
LA School Scout LLC
Location: Venice, CA
Services include:
- Preschool-college counciling
- School selection
- Admissions help
Affiliations and Accreditations
McDonald & Associates
Location: Visalia, CA
Services include:
- High school & college schedule planning
- Assessments on study styles, personality, and career aptitude
- Academic coaching for school success
- "Best fit" college selection & personalized college list
- Personal statement/essay guidance & editing
- Financial aid options and paperwork
- Standardized test preparation
- Standardized test preparation
- Deadline management
- Application assistance
Affiliations and Accreditations
SOAR College Planning
AdmitOne College Advising
Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Engineering Next
Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Services include:
- Inventory Assessment
- Major Exploration
- Major Exploration
- Major Exploration
- Application Support
- Interview Preparation
- Interview Preparation
- Internships And Career assistance
Affiliations and Accreditations
Top Choice College Admissions Counseling
Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Services include:
- Preliminary Assessments and Profile
- Academic Advising/ Course Selection
- College Selection/List
- Letters of Recommendation
- Activity (Brag) Sheet prep
- campus visits
- College Application Essays assistance
- Review of Application Prior to Submission
- Interview Preparation
- Creating Strategic Plan for Standardized Testing
Affiliations and Accreditations
The Academic Match
Location: Westlake Village, CA
Services include:
- Curriculum Planning & Extracurricular Activities
- College Search Selection & Applications
- College Major & Career Guidance
- Application Essays
- Standardized Testing & Scholarships
Affiliations and Accreditations
The College Advisor, Inc.
Students organized for success
Location: Woodbridge, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Magellan College Counseling
Location: Woodland Hills, CA
Services include:
- High school curriculum and transcript review
- College list development
- Extra-curricular activity review
- College visit/college fair preparation
- Transfers
- Summer enrichment activity review and recommendations
- on-campus interview/alumni interview preparation
- Customized college search plan and timline
- Essay brainstorming, development and revision
- Resume/brag sheet development assistance
- Major/carreer exploration
- Athletic recruitment
Affiliations and Accreditations
Marsha Winkler, JD, MPH
Location: Woodland Hills, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Recommend extracurriculars
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
Mercer Educational Consulting
Location: Woodland Hills, CA
Services include:
- College Search
- Application assistance
- Essay Prep
- Financial aid assistance
- Graduate school advice
- Interview Preparation
- Guidance on final choices
Affiliations and Accreditations
McDonough College Consulting
Colleen’s Creative Consulting
Location: Yuba City, CA
Services include:
- Orientation to college selection and application process/timeline
- PSAT/SAT/ACT guidance
- College review and selection process
- High school class review
- High school sports/extra-curricular review
- Review of suggested summer time activities
- Review of suggested tutoring services
- Essay development, guidance and review
- Support through the college application process
- Campus interview and tour guidance
- Financial aid/scholarship overview and application process
- Monthly coaching meetings and workshop participation (in person, via Skype, FaceTime, text/telephone/emails).
Affiliations and Accreditations
Sponsored
Find the admissions help you need through one of these global leaders:
College Consulting FAQs
What is an admissions consultant?
An admissions consultant is a hired professional who can guide you through the complex landscape of college admissions. Admissions consultant companies vary greatly in size and service offerings, and operate either locally, or as part of a nationwide network.
Learn more about how to select a college admissions counselor that is right for you in our conversation with NextLevelPrep college consultant and admissions expert David Nguyen, who explains how to choose a college admissions counselor.
What does a college admissions consultant do?
College admission consultants help guide families and students through the often complex college admissions process. Services typically include counseling on how to improve your chances of getting into your chosen schools, coaching on writing college essays and personal statements, SAT and ACT test preparation, and assistance in the scholarship process, among others.
Why hire a college admissions consulting company?
One of the primary benefits of hiring a college admissions consultant is their experience: an expert consultant will have up-to-date insight on what colleges are looking for in terms of grades, extracurricular activities, test scores, and personal statements. This knowledge can help you make a favorable impression on the schools of your choice.
Plus, college admissions consultants who also provide test preparation can significantly improve your performance on SAT/ACT exams — improving your odds of both earning scholarships and getting into the higher-tiered schools on your list.
When is the best time to start working with a college admissions consultant?
This depends on your goals. If you simply need support during the test-prep and application process, you can begin your relationship with a consultant during your junior year of high school — just as the college search process really heats up. However, some college consultants begin working with families as early as 8th or 9th grade, guiding students in their academic focus, electdive course selection, extracurriculars, community service, and more.
This type of full-service consultation is generally very costly, but the goal is to provide students and families with a complete road map leading directly to a top college.
How much do college admissions consultants charge?
The price for college admissions consultation can vary widely depending on the type of company and the nature of services you seek. From one-time seminars to weekly consultation, to hands-on guidance for the entirety of your high school education, you have a lot of options. The higher the level of service you seek, the more you’ll spend.
For an overview of the pricing landscape, check out college consultant and admissions expert David Nguyen’s ranking of The Best College Admissions Consulting Agencies.
Are college admissions consultants worth it?
Yes! If you have access, this extra level of support can genuinely provide you with insight into the admissions process and enhance your odds of admission. More importantly: you won’t be alone during the arduous process of applying to colleges.
While your high school guidance counselor can literally spend no more than a few minutes a semester on your admissions process, a professional college admissions consultant will be directly and professionally invested in your success. This can make a major difference in where you end up earning your undergraduate degree.
Can I trust college admissions consultants?
Yes, you can trust the recognized college admissions consulting groups. That’s why we list only companies that are recognized by agencies and associations such as Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), and National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC).
These independent agencies provide oversight and certification, ensuring that members adhere to all appropriate legal, ethical, and commercial standards both on behalf of consumers and within the higher education infrastructure. Consulting companies listed in their directories may be considered trustworthy and legitimate.
For more on how you can safely and effectively navigate the college admissions consulting landscape, check out college consultant and admissions expert David Nguyen’s Confessions of a College Prep Consultant.
Resources for College-Bound Students
- Guide to Applying for College
- How to Apply for Grad School
- Guide to Paying for College
- Guide to Financial Aid in HigherEd
- Guide to College and Grad School Scholarships
- College & University Accreditation Guide
- Guide to Surviving College
- Guide to College for International Students
- Guide to College Study Skills
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Colleges and Universities in California
California’s higher education institutes span across the entire state, allowing students to study by the beach, in the forest, in small towns, and in large cities. The largest university, the University of California, Los Angeles, serves nearly 44,000 students and offers a tuition rate around $13,000. This isn’t the only school with a large student body though. California is home to 23 colleges and universities with student populations of over 20,000 students.
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What are California’s Colleges & Universities?
- 30 Research Universities
- 65 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
- 97 Graduate Schools
- 46 Public Colleges & Universities
- 67 Private Colleges & Universities
- 37 Christian Colleges & Universities
- 51 Small Colleges & Universities (fewer than 5,000 students)
- 58 Affordable Colleges (below national average of $16,000/year)
- 96 Community Colleges
