You can't miss the opportunity to work with Paul! He is probably one of the most talented humans I've met and his ability to listen, to understand, to guide and to motivate are unparalleled. While my college bound son spent his Covid riddled gap year getting an advanced ski instructor certification in Europe, It was as if Paul was right by his side the whole semester through the entire application process. Paul offered countless hours of late nights and early mornings to ensure our son made it into the schools of his dreams. He's currently headed to the "3/2" program of Willamette in Oregon followed by USC or Columbia. Above all else we feel a sense of connection commitment and friendship with Paul. It's a no brainer. Hire him if he has space in his schedule, he will change your life! read more

See all

Paul just always seems to be there when you need him: whatever you need whenever you need it, no matter the personal imposition on him. Whether it was helping me finish my UC application minutes before the midnight deadline or proctoring all eight of my exams at a moments notice. In the beginning of Senior year I was met with a crisis, for a variety of reasons I didn't have any math credit. I had to take geometry through AP Calculus BC in one school year, whilst applying to college and managing a full senior year course load. With that I needed to take eight separate proctored exams. Without the flexibility and commitment of Paul as a proctor, I can say definitively I wouldn't have completed this feat. However working together, I got it done. In about six months, I went from not graduating high school to being admitted to a number of top universities including UCSD, UCSB, University of Michigan, and NYU. Paul continually goes out of his way to do whatever he can to help you achieve your goals. Fundamentally, I believe what distinguishes Paul Nicholas is that he cares, and that certainly can't be taken for granted in this world. So thank you Paul, I will be eternally grateful. read more

Paul is AWESOME! I recently used Alma Mater Test Proctoring for exams at my University. I could not be more pleased with the service I received. From start to finish, Paul made sure the process was smooth, efficient, and stress-free. I was thoroughly impressed with the level of service I received from Alma Mater. Paul is fantastic and made sure that I had the best possible testing environment. If you're looking for a reliable and professional test proctoring service, I would highly recommend them! read more

Paul is amazing! He was so professional, diligent, and accommodating in proctoring my exams. He really cares about what he does and is very helpful. I would highly recommend him! read more

this guy is sharp! Paul understands what I, the parent, am trying to do to help my kid, age 17 and he clearly tells me what he needs from us to do his job. I am excited to see the end result of this great work we are doing together to help my child reach his full educational potential. read more

Paul claimed that he would proctor an out of state exam between the Beverly Hills Public Library and the Leavey Library at USC. I selected Leavey Library at USC and scheduled my exam over week in advance. The State of Ohio arranged for Paul to conduct my exam and forwarded him the testing instructions multiple times prior to my exam date. Additionally, I was advised that Paul would provide the testing laptop for my exam and that I was prohibited from using my own laptop, phone or any notes which I expected. I took the initiative to confirm that Paul had received all testing materials a week before my exam. However, the night before my exam, Paul advised me that he had not received my testing instructions within his 24 hour policy before the test, and as a result threatened to charge me a cancellation fee. This created unnecessary stress and anxiety during my study session while I was preparing for my exam the night before. I frantically emailed the officials in Ohio to explain what I had been told. Given the late evening notification from Paul, no one responded until 4:00am Pacific time only to notify me that Paul had been provided my testing materials multiple times. As a result of Paul's disorganization, I got little rest the night before my exam. Then, I get a non-apologetic message from Paul stating "I have it". Then, less than 3 hours before my scheduled exam time, Paul notified me that he was changing my test from USC to Beverly Hills because he failed to make arrangements until the morning of the exam instead of coordinating with the library when he scheduled me a week prior. This required me to cancel all of my morning meetings and added an hour to my commute to take the exam. All of Paul's poor planning and arrogant attitude contributed to unnecessary stress when as my test proctor he should have created a calm, conducive environment for ideal test taking. Also, on the morning of the exam, Paul told me that I needed to bring my own laptop to take the exam in conflict with Ohio's testing instructions. Rather than say sorry, Paul chose to question my temperament because I expressed frustration and he never took responsibility for his lack of preparation. He was a total disaster and unprofessionally referenced me as "dude, I'm just trying to help you" when I arrived. Find a true professional with an office instead of being disorganized and conducting unauthorized for-profit-business activity in a library. I was the customer and had to pay for this lousy service without him ever saying "I'm sorry". His parting words were "Your invoice has been emailed." Sad read more

I would give Paul 100 stars if I could. I contacted Paul at the 11th hour to help guide my son through the UC transfer process. He agreed to work with my son with only three weeks to go before the deadline. My son and Paul had to figure it all out, get the application written and submitted. Paul helped my son through the EVERYTHING that he needed to do with the application. He also identified what classes he needed to take to be able to transfer, researched schools where he could take the classes since his current school did not offer them and help him get enrolled. The goal was to be the best transfer candidate he could be. More important than all of the crazy work that needed to be put into the application and identifying classes, Paul gave my son the support and direction he desperately needed to manage the process and feel successful and confident. My son never seemed stressed and always stated that Paul projected that he was in good shape and could get it all done in time. My son can carry stress on his shoulders so to know that he was not feeling stress meant the world to me. I am so thankful for Paul's expertise, positive attitude, approach, and coaching. I would HIGHLY recommend Alma Mater for your child. read more

If you're here, you're obviously contemplating hiring Paul to help you navigate the complex process of preparing for and applying to college. Three years ago, I was in the same place. I chose Paul and it was one of the greatest educational decisions I ever made. Paul took the complex process of transferring from community college and made it simple. He helped me set small achievable goals which made transferring feel less daunting. This allowed me to stop stressing over my application and focus on my work and my grades. He gave me writing exercises and really helped me understand how to make my voice and my story shine in my writings. Paul was there for me when I needed him. He was attentive, answered my many questions throughout the years, and always made me feel like my concerns were heard. As I write this, I am truly at a loss for words because I cannot express how grateful I am for everything he has done. Here's the kicker: while the educational services Paul offers are not inexpensive by any means, it ultimately paid for itself. Paul's guidance through FASFA and other educational grants has helped me receive enough of an award to where his services were free with additional money leftover to go toward my tuition for the next few years. What a steal. I am proud to say that this fall, I will begin my first semester at UCLA in a highly competitive major and I don't think I could have done it without Paul. If you're on the fence, don't be. Invest in yourself and let Paul provide you with the exceptional service that he provided me. I will be applying to a graduate school once I finish my Bachelor's, and you better believe I will be calling Paul when the application process begins. Paul - thank you for everything. I am truly lucky to have found you. read more

It's no secret- I hate math. Detest it, really. But, a year after I left college, it was the only thing standing in the way of me receiving my BA. I finally decided to take an online course from my college back in New York to finish my degree, and soon, the date for the final was upon me. However, I was at a loss to find a proctoring service. Everywhere I went to turned me away as soon as I mentioned that I could only take the test over the weekend, or told me about a complicated process where I would have to fill out paperwork, wait at least a week for someone to approve me, and then, IF they did, fill out some more paperwork and wait for further instruction. Frustrated, and at a loss for time, I went to Google and found a link to Alma Mater Tutors. A few moments later I was on the phone with Paul, the president of the company, who, after I explained my predicament (including the fact that I had to take the test THAT weekend), said: Great! How does Saturday work for you? It was that simple. Paul kept in touch with me throughout the week, updating me on the communication between him and my professor, and answering any questions I had. Paul is incredibly personable and dedicated to setting up the best testing experience for you. He set up my exam at the West Hollywood Public Library, reserving a study room overlooking the Hollywood hills. He even offered to play some music for the tests duration- turning on the Pandora station of my choice so I didn't have to listen to mind-numbing silence for two hours. I have never been more at ease taking a math exam in my life! To put it simply: If you need a proctoring service, look no further. Alma Mater Tutors will work with even the most insane schedules, make sure that you are well informed every step of the way, and vanquish any test anxiety you may have. Thank you, AMT! read more

This review is long overdue! I have been a repeat client of Alma Mater (and Paul) for proctored testing over the past year. As a student of UC Berkeley Extension, I found myself in need of a proctor for each of my exams over the course of several semesters. A Google search led me to Alma Mater, and I called and gave my information to a very friendly receptionist. Not long after, Paul contacted me by phone to set up my exam date. He was professional, thorough, and incredibly friendly! He was also available any time or day that worked for me! We agreed to meet at a location not far from either of us (a public library) on my exam date, and he arrived early, prepared with my printed exams and all of the necessary documentation from the school for me to complete - I didn't have to worry about a thing! We found a quiet space and after I had signed my forms, he explained the procedure, and allowed me to begin my exam. He sat quietly, working on his laptop until I was finished, and reviewed my work to make sure it was ready to be submitted. The next few times we met were exactly the same; consistently perfect! We ran into several issues of distractions from other library patrons, and Paul was determined not to let those distractions impact my exam performance. He kindly asked others to lower their voices, and in one instance, requested assistance from a librarian to enforce the rules when some teenagers were being extremely loud and obnoxious. I can't say enough good things about Paul. He goes out of his way to make an unpleasant task (exams, ugh!) stress-free and comfortable. He is punctual and fully prepared each and every time, doesn't reschedule, doesn't cancel, just makes it easy from start to finish. On top of that, he's kind and funny, and the process is just like hanging out with a friend, which definitely helps the nerves go away! Thanks to Paul and AMT for many pleasant experiences! read more

I came to Alma Mater very late in the game, hoping to get some help on my college applications. Paul took me in right away and guided me through the entire process of not only the applications themselves but everything else that had to be done in order to get into my preferred college. From answering all my questions about FASFA to personally editing all my insight questions, I was able to get into UC Davis, my dream school. All the effort, time, and resources that was put into all my applications definitely payed off and I could never thank Alma Mater enough for making my dream a reality. read more

This review is long overdue, but I wanted everyone to know how great it was working with Paul and Alma Mater! I have twins who are now successfully entering their junior year in college (time really does fly). Both were a product of a top tier private high school in LA. While we were one of the lucky ones who could take this route, we were less than pleased with the college counselling we were getting from the school. After interviewing several prospects, we met Paul and we knew he was the right fit for our family's needs. Both of my children are very different in temperament, ability and interests. Paul met with each and provided just the right amount of individual guidance they needed. He guided us through standardized testing prep and networked us with tutors if needed. At the time of the college application process, he sat down with each child individually and provided links and information for schools for them to review. While Paul has a great instinct as to what would be the "right fit", he listened and respected each child's wishes, and together, developed a list of schools to apply to. Since I had 2, the number of applications was about 23... this is where I was soooo grateful to have Paul to help us!! He guided my children through the application process with oversight and with insight. If you are looking for someone to "do" your child's applications- I cannot stress how this is NOT the right person for you. However, if you are looking for someone to guide, provide insight and navigate this process with you and your child, in a supportive environment with a nurturing manner- you can stop looking. In all honesty, we felt Paul was truly vested in our children, and as part of that investment, he was not interested in coddling, but rather, he aimed to develop rationale, independent thinkers. He knows when to intervene and when to let the child lead the process. We as a family, very much appreciated his approach, sincerity, honesty and availability. Fast- forward to today. Paul still keeps in touch with our children, and with us as well. We really feel he has become a part of our family. With one child succeeding in Entrepreneurship and Information Systems at Boston University Questrom Business School and the other doing a double major in Biomolecular Engineering and Biochemistry at the University of Chicago, we truly are blessed. We are very grateful for all that Paul and Alma Mater has done for us. read more

This tutor referral was a godsend. Paul found my nephew a tutor last minute. Alma Mater was not only cost effective, they were able to get my nephews SAT scores up by 25%. He is now on his way to applying to schools that were not even possibilities before. There isn't enough space on Yelp to express our gratitude. As soon as we get his acceptance letters I will surely update this post!!! Thank you Paul and Alma Mater !!!!! read more

Alma Mater is elite Educational services that has always felt like home base for any tutoring needs for my son and daughter, since we've had the pleasure of being in the presence of some absolutely wonderful top notch tutors throughout the years that have kept my kiddos thriving. I trust Paul very much and all tutors Paul has matched us with have always seamlessly fit our busy schedules and educational needs with quick results. Ive thanked him countless times over the years and always felt that I can count on Alma Mater at anytime! So once again Paul thank you for giving my kiddos the confidence they need to succeed and continue to thrive throughout the years! read more

I recently took a class from UC Berkeley and had to take a proctored final exam. Organic Chemistry...just the name of the class strikes terror into the hearts of the most learned students. I was terrified of the final. I called around, looking for a place where I could take my exam. Finding a proctor isn't as easy as you'd think...in fact, it's quite difficult. Libraries don't do it (contrary to what the university says). Proctoring centers treat you like a criminal (roll up your sleeves, pull up your shirt, etc...). A friend of mine said that when she went for her proctored exam, she was so stressed by the patdown beforehand she was mortified and humiliated by the time she started the final. I'm 47 years old and don't need that sort of treatment. When I read the reviews of Alma Mater, and of Paul specifically, I was heartened. I called, and he was so sweet. He seemed to care more about my comfort than anything else. He (and I) had to deal with delays in receiving the final exam, and he was constantly rescheduling my exam due to the university's delays. Finally, the day came, and I met him at the Beverly Hills Library. (His recommended location.) He was spot on vis-a-vis this location. It was quite posh, very comfortable, and quiet. He brought everything I could possibly need- extra paper, pens, pencils, and even earplugs. He left me alone, except to check on me from time to time to be sure I was doing well. He kept reiterating that his top priority was MY comfort. Paul is super professional, and very caring. If it wasn't for his caring self, I think I'd have panicked my way into blowing the final. Because of how comfortable he made me, I passed with an A! Look no further--it's worth the drive. (I drove 2 hours to get to him.) Paul rocks and if/when I do another proctored exam, I will look no further. read more

Paul has consistently provided excellent tutors to support our daughter academically. Beyond that, he has invaluable insight into learning styles and an uncanny ability to match personalities. We have worked with other tutoring companies and none can match Alma Mater's standards or experience. read more

As a parent, it's difficult to watch your child struggle with his studies. It's even worse when it comes down to the end-of-semester crunch time. We needed help and Paul and his Alma Mater Tutors came through for us in just such a squeeze. I can't praise him, and the two tutors he lined up, enough. Two summer courses my son (who has a learning disability) had trouble with were peaking at almost the same time. Paul had one tutor show up two days before the chem final for a great prep, and another for the final week of an algebra online course. Both performed excellently and helped to deliver maximum effort on my son's behalf. They raised his confidence and his final grade. You can't get better than that. read more

My work with Paul Nicholas, CEO of Alma Mater Educational Services was nothing short of perfect. Paul is the perfect balance of professional and personable. He is in constant contact with his college counseling students over cell, e-mail, or phone and is available for in person counseling once or twice per week. He was dedicated to helping me get into my dream school and made sure all of my applications were turned in on time. He counseled me in variety of things including: which schools to apply to, practicing for my college interviews, researching available scholarships, and crafting and editing my college essays. Throughout the entire process I felt confident about the person guiding me and therefore I felt confident about the choices I made. Not only is Paul an excellent college counselor, but he is also an amazing resource to use for professional advice, and I continue to rely on him for ideas about internships both during and outside the school year. I just finished my first year of college at American University in Washington, DC and couldn't have been happier with the services Alma Mater provides. 5 stars! read more

Paul, the owner of this company, has found a host of amazing veteran tutors to launch this new company!!! I have known him since grade school (15 years) and he is an honest, hardworking, funny and kind business man (and friend). He stands behind his service and I guarentee you will be more than satisfied with him and the quality of all his tutors. He will definately make you a fan! read more

We hired Alma Mater Tutors for my husband's little brother and have been incredibly impressed with the services of both the company and the tutor assigned. We found AMT online and things couldn't have worked out better. If you're looking for a top-notch tutoring company that really cares about helping kids achieve success, this is it. Paul (the owner) volunteers with Minds Matter, an organization that works to prepare kids from low-income families for college. He's completely committed to ensuring that your child and his or her tutor work together to achieve your goals. read more

WOWZA !!! Where to begin? I called Paul as someone who had taken a gap year after high school to work. I had absolutely no idea how the transfer admission process worked and all I knew was that I wanted to go to a school with a decent theater program. Enter Paul. Next thing I knew, I was in community college (on top of working) and he was helping me pick out my schedule so I could get the best possible classes that would likely transfer. He helped me put together a realistic list of schools, complete with his own algorithm that used my application info to calculate how likely an acceptance at each school was. He hooked me up with an ACT tutor - not because I needed one, but because he knew it would boost my application. (Spoiler: it did). We FaceTimed and Skyped as we began working on the (seemingly countless) essays required for college apps: we would brainstorm, and then he'd give me a deadline, and then he'd give me feedback and edits, and the cycle would repeat until we had several perfectly polished essays. Following that, I began touring schools; he called personal connections and landed me interviews. As a theater major, he even watched my audition tapes! All in all, I'm now exactly where I want to be: in New York at a college with a (more than) decent theater program. In conclusion, I went into this worrying it was too expensive for someone to just "counsel" me. But Paul is the epitome of going above and beyond. I often worked with him more than once a week when needed - he even Skyped me as I finally submitted each app. And it didn't stop there; afterwards, he helped me (and my family) pick schools, work out financial aid, and even fill out the many, many, many forms. Now, I'm officially here & in class, and even now, he's helping me with my interviews for classes. All in all: is it worth it? Yes. A million times, yes. read more

I am forever grateful with Paul! Last Nov I applied to UCLA, UCI and UCR, but since the beginning my hopes were high of getting into UCLA. Although, I started my application process on time, I left everything to the last minute when it came to my personal statement (NOT a smart thing to do). Desperately, I began to search for a tutor, but many were too busy helping out other students on their applications. I was able to find a tutor through yelp and after sending him my rough draft, he basically told me that I needed serious help on my p.s since it looked very unorganized and that he didn't have time to work with me due to the high amount of students he was already helping. I truly felt disappointed and at one point doubted myself to continue with the application. I kept on searching for more tutors and finally came across with Alma Mater Tutors where I met Paul. Since day 1, Paul was extremely courteous and responded to my emails promptly. In fact, he was actually willing to work with such "unorganized personal statement". Through out the process, he was very respectful with my own ideas and helped me incorporate everything I wanted to say into my p.s. I was accepted to UCI and UCR and this past Friday UCLA sent me a letter of admissions to the program I applied to (YEYYYYY). I was truly shocked and cried of excitement! I am truly thankful with Paul and will definitely seek his services in the future! read more

Alma Mater Educational Services - Paullll Thank Youuu !!!!!! I Got into UCLA! - Educational Services Near Me

So happy to have found this service! I searched everywhere for a proctor in Los Angeles to help me take an American Sign Language Proficiency Interview Exam (Or the ASLPI, which is a unique exam that requires video relay services to communicate in ASL). So thankful I found Paul, who went the extra mile to make this happen. I appreciate his professionalism and persistence in helping me to accomplish my goal! :-) Hats off to Alma Mater services! You're the best! read more

First off I wanna thank Paul from Alma Mater Educational Services for helping me achieve my full potential in the college application process. I came to Paul in the beginning of November feeling completely fallen behind in the application process with no knowledge on what to write my personal statements about. I sat down with him and told him about myself and we brainstormed ideas to write my personal statements based on the prompts provided for my dream schools. He created an online portal for me with to do lists constantly being updated and deadlines I had to meet. Once I had completed drafts of my essays I would immediately submit them through the portal and would receive them back with comments and edits within a few hours. This process allowed us to quickly communicate and perfect my personal statements in a short amount of time. Once my applications were submitted, Paul also helped me prepare for an interview with my dream school. Now 4 months later, I've received an acceptance to one of my dream schools. This would likely be impossible without the assistance I received through Alma Mater Educational Services. Even now after the application process has ended, Paul has assisted me in applying for scholarships and aid. Thank you so much to Paul and the Alma Mater team. Anyone on the fence about hiring them definitely should! read more

I am so glad I found Alma Mater Tutors. Paul (the president) has been very helpful and patient with me. He went out of his way to help me with my personal statement and interview preparation. I couldn't have asked for more. read more

After searching for a tutor for my son for several months, I stumbled upon alma mater tutors. Paul spent a good deal of time talking to me about my son and calming my fears. He matched my son up with Dan to help with math, and Leah for English. Within weeks my child's grades began to change for the better. I not only see the improvement on test scores, I also see a difference in his confidence and his approach to his studies. His entire school experience has changed. Most notable is how he is able to take what he has learned from his tutors about studying and apply it to his other classes. I cannot recommend alma mater tutors highly enough. I am eternally grateful to Paul and his team. read more

You really can't get better than Alma Mater Tutors. I have never in my life met a company that is this dedicated to their clients. I graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor's in Theatre and a small dream of making backstage theatre work my life. After graduation, I wasn't having much luck, and was working retail and office jobs whilst doing theatre on a volunteer basis. When I found Paul and Alma Mater Tutors they immediately began helping me bolster my resume and cover letter writing skills, teaching me exactly what potential employers in the theatre industry wanted to see. Each draft of my resume that I would give them would come back with tons of helpful feedback and tips to make my resumes as strong as they could be. Day or night, it didn't matter, Paul was there, ready to help me with any question I might have, and it meant the world to me. I am now living in New York, a working stage manager, and a large part of that is because of the skills and assistance that I got from AMT. No matter what your education need is, they will work tirelessly to make sure they can provide you with what you need to succeed. read more

Paul made the college application process so UN-overwhelming for us! He broke the whole process down into smaller, manageable parts for my applicant and really held our hand through every step. Deadlines were alerted far in advance; no surprises! I truly appreciated the individualized attention he provided us, being available to answer any questions quickly, and being so responsive with problem-solving any issues that came up along the way. I am ever-grateful that we chose Alma Mater for college counseling. On to Student #2 out of my 6!!! read more

As one of Alma Mater Tutor's employees, I have been consistently impressed by Paul's supportive, encouraging, and dedicated approach to management. He is committed to ensuring AMT provides the highest quality tutoring services available. I strongly recommend Alma Mater Tutors! read more

I first contacted AMT to find a proctor for my daughter's online school exams. It quickly became apparent Paul was a dedicated, very intelligent and thoughtful guy who actually cared about his business, and about the students and tutors he works with. We've been homeschooling for over 5 years and have never needed to use a tutoring service. However, we had hunted in vain for an exceptional math tutor for our oldest daughter, and decided to see if the additional cost was worth it. It completely and totally was. We are thrilled with the tutor and with the way she and Paul conduct themselves at every juncture. I would recommend AMT without reservation, and would never use anyone else. Paul is the real deal. read more

We were referred to AMT from another tutor. We were losing that tutor as he was moving out of the area. I was skeptical to try another company, as we've tried others with little success, but the moment I spoke to Paul, I knew this would be a different experience. Paul is a caring person who runs a professional business. He listens to your concerns and needs and does his best to fit you with a tutor who will help your child succeed. The tutors are professional, caring, people with impressive educational backgrounds. Our daughter was preparing for the ISEE's and not only did she do well on the test, she felt more confident going into the experience with the preparation she had received. Paul has been an aliy in our efforts to assist our child in getting the tools she needs to be a better student. I can't recommend him and his company more highly! read more

Near the start of my college career I was adamant about starting at a 4 year university after just a single year at my local community college. Through yelp I found Alma Mater Educational Services. Within an hour of leaving my information the companies CEO, Paul, got back to me and introduced himself as the person who would guide me over the next couple of months to attain my goal. Paul was a great help, and with his assistance I was admitted to the colleges of my dreams, both USC and the University of Michigan. Again, I cannot express how thankful I am for the help of Paul and his skilled associates. Their hands on approach and continual guidance and support through the transfer process made me confident in my ability to attain my goals. I would recommend Alma Mater Educational Services to anyone applying to colleges. read more

After trying many tutors and tutoring companies we found Alma Mater. We have now used Alma Mater for our 3 high school children for several years. Paul has always responded immediately and sent us qualified tutors for many different subjects. In addition his fees are very reasonable. The last of our children is graduating this year. No doubt, with help from Alma Mater. I could not recommend them more! read more