College Counseling for Los Altos Families
Los Altos families invest deeply in education, and the college process is where that investment comes into focus. We help students present themselves with clarity and confidence, grounded in who they are.
College Counseling Services for Los Altos Students
College counseling for families in Los Altos. This is a community that values education at the highest level. Students here grow up in one of the strongest school systems in California, surrounded by families who take the college process seriously. That means the bar is already high. Our job is to help your student stand out within it.
College Application Strategy Where Most Families Start
School list building, timeline management, and positioning. In Los Altos, where nearly every student has an exceptional academic record, the school list matters enormously. We help families identify schools where their student's particular profile, interests, and personality will be a genuine advantage rather than just another strong application.
Personal Essay Coaching
Story discovery, drafting, and revision. Los Altos students are often academically accomplished but unsure how to translate their experiences into compelling writing. We help them find the personal narrative that only they can tell, one that goes beyond grades and scores into genuine self-expression.
Interview Preparation
Mock interviews for selective schools. Los Altos students are thoughtful and well-prepared, but interviews reward spontaneity and personal warmth alongside substance. We build confidence and authentic self-presentation so alumni interviews feel like natural conversations.
Course Planning & Profile Building
Strategic course selection, extracurricular positioning, and summer planning starting sophomore year. In Los Altos, where AP-heavy schedules are the norm, we help students build depth rather than just breadth, creating a profile that tells a coherent story admissions officers can follow.
Financial Aid & Scholarship Guidance
FAFSA, CSS Profile, and scholarship search strategy. Even in Los Altos, many families benefit from merit scholarships and institutional aid packages they might not pursue without guidance. We integrate the financial picture from the start, so families can make clear-eyed decisions about where to apply.
UC & CSU Application Support
PIQ (Personal Insight Questions) coaching and UC-specific strategy. Many Los Altos students apply to the UC system alongside private universities, and the two require different approaches. We help with major selection, campus-specific positioning, and the PIQ prompts that reward self-reflection over resume-building.
I really appreciated how patient and encouraging Aidan was. He made me feel confident about subjects I used to dread.
We have helped Los Altos students build applications for top-tier private universities, UCs, selective liberal arts colleges, and leading STEM programs. In a community where academic excellence is the starting point, our focus is on finding schools where your student's full profile is a genuine match, not just adding more prestigious names to a list.
Common Questions from Los Altos Families
When should we start college counseling?
Ideally sophomore year. In Los Altos, where families plan ahead and academic expectations are high from the start, beginning in 10th grade gives us the most room to shape course selection, extracurriculars, and summer plans before the application window opens.
How is this different from what the school counselor provides?
School counselors in Los Altos are knowledgeable, but they often manage hundreds of students at once. We offer one-on-one partnership across the full admissions cycle: essay coaching, school list strategy, interview prep, and financial aid guidance. The depth of attention is the key difference.
Do you help with essays?
Yes. Essay coaching is one of our most requested services. We help students discover their story, draft, revise, and polish, for both Common App and UC PIQ essays. In Los Altos, where so many applicants look similar on paper, the essay is often where real differentiation happens.
My student is already a strong applicant. Why do we need counseling?
Strong students from Los Altos are competing against other strong students from communities just like theirs. The difference is often not in the resume but in how the application tells a story. We help with positioning, school selection, and the strategic choices that turn a strong profile into a compelling one.
What does college counseling cost?
Engagements typically start at $100/hour. We discuss fit, goals, and the right session cadence during the free consultation before making any recommendations.
Do you only work with students targeting Ivy League schools?
Not at all. While many Los Altos families are looking at highly selective schools, we also help students find excellent-fit options across UCs, liberal arts colleges, and specialized programs. The goal is always the right match for the student, not just the most competitive name.
Your student's record speaks for itself. Let's make sure their application does too.
A candid conversation about where your student stands, what schools are the right fit, and how to present a compelling application from a community where everyone's profile is strong.