Cassie has been great for our Sons application process. She is very focused and clear with him…read more We were working with another college adviser who had a lot more experience, but not nearly the interest in getting to know him and understanding his interest. It certainly was not by the numbers process with Cassie. She is young with lots of experience and we are so happy to have found this service. She had an ongoing text message and meeting schedule with our son. Every deadline was meet with time to spare. He even enjoyed the essay process as they discussed the pro's and con's of each essay. I even thing he learn a bit more about himself during the entire process. I suggest that if you decide to go this route it is worth interviewing a couple of professionals before moving forward. We first selected someone who everyone said was the best, but to us her approach turned out to be a tired process. It was an extra expensive to use this service, but in the end the cost was small knowing that the college application process was stress free. College Specific's far exceeded our expectations.

Today's college application process is full of hurdles and potential minefields, particularly if…read moreone is applying to several colleges. I used Balanced College Planning in Santa Barbara to help me with the process and I'm so glad I did! Rya Carpenter and Jean Fox have many years of experience supporting students in the application process and they are outstanding, value-minded professionals at helping students navigate that complex process. I worked very closely with Jean Fox, who patiently asked questions to understand my needs (my #1 goal was to transfer into UCSB, which is local for me). Jean provided clear direction, great insights and laser focus on the many steps required to create my strongest possible application. Jean was always cheerful, supportive, flexible and a pleasure to work with. Whether you are entering the college application as a high school student or as a transfer student (I am an older student), I would highly recommend Jean, Rya and Balanced College Planning! This Wednesday, I received my acceptance letter to UCSB. I couldn't be happier!

Rya's skills, knowledge and passion gave our family the tools to assist our two kids in their quest…read morefor their #1 college choice. She is a coach, a trusted advisor and a realist in helping us understand the process along with what scholarship may or may not be available. Anyone looking to get an "edge" in the competitive college application process, we strongly encourage you to hire Rya. If we had two more kids, we certainly would! Steve &Debbie Woodward

We are a busy family with little time to discern the pros and cons of the ACT vs the SAT. Lisa…read moreMazor expertly guided us in identifying the most appropriate test for our daughter to take for her college applications. She was invested in explaining to us the differences between both tests and how each test benefits specific types of students. We settled on our daughter taking the SAT and then signed up for a series of group test prep classes taught by Ms. Mazor. Our daughter came home from every class with a "can do" attitude about the test, invested in studying for the practice tests and reviewing errors she made in practice tests (of which there are many!) The class series was taught at a steady pace and in five short weeks accomplished review of strategies and material, taking 4 proctored tests that simulate the real SAT test experience and analysis of test errors and writing samples. I believe our daughter's level of enthusiasm and commitment to give this experience her very best was inspired by Ms. Mazor's approach to teaching. She communicates positivity, accountability to be the best one can be and her teaching style is dynamic and engaging. My daughter was never bored in these classes and remained focused on studying at home and learning from her errors throughout the test prep period. The final outcome was an SAT score that exceeded her (and our) expectations! We could not be more satisfied with our experience with Test Prep Santa Barbara!!

My husband and I took Tracy's eight week long course as we prepared to welcome our first child into…read morethis world. Her class was extremely informative and helpful, and I wish everyone could take Tracy's course. Tracy is the kindest human and is incredibly generous with her time and knowledge. Take this course. You will not be disappointed. It is worth every penny! :)

My husband and I attended one of Tracy's birthing workshops and it was incredible! She was so kind…read moreand knowledgeable and we left feeling so much more prepared and supported. We love her holistic approach and would 10/10 recommend working with her. She is wonderful in every way! Thank you so much Tracy

I am truly grateful to have Clarissa Cortez as my real estate trainer at US Realty Training. She is…read morean exceptionally clear, structured, and knowledgeable instructor who delivers California Real Estate material with professionalism, confidence, and outstanding clarity. Clarissa has the unique ability to take even the most complex concepts and explain them in a way that feels simple, logical, and easy to absorb. Her teaching style is organized, calm, and highly effective. She provides real‑world examples that connect theory to practice, helping students not only memorize information but genuinely understand how it applies in the California real estate industry. Thanks to her precision, consistency, and well‑structured lessons, I always feel supported, prepared, and confident.Clarissa demonstrates exceptional expertise, professionalism, and a strong commitment to student success. Her dedication shows in every class--she ensures that each topic is fully understood and she never hesitates to provide additional guidance.I highly and confidently recommend Clarissa Cortez as one of the strongest, most reliable, and most impactful trainers for anyone preparing for the California Real Estate exam. She sets a high standard for teaching and truly cares about her students' success. P.S. Thank you to the US Realty Training team for the kind response and support!

I've had three sessions with Ramona and with each and every session I learn so much from her about…read moremyself. Ramona is always able to open my perspective and help me shift my mindset. She is very skillful at helping me identify the underlying patterns / ways of thinking that become obstacles or feed into negative loops, that I never notice before! I think Ramona is able to do this because she is so thoughtful, kind, genuine, grateful, accepting and encouraging. I feel very lucky to have met Ramona and view her as a friend, mentor, and coach. Since my sessions with her, I've improved in many ways at work and in life. Ramona always unlocks a spring of positive energy for me and I strongly encourage anyone seeking a coach to meet with Ramona.

Danielle Monroy is the owner and director of Creative Care for Children, and she does an amazing…read morejob! Both of my children attended Danielle's, and both my kids loved it. Danielle has a wonderful focus on art and outside play - in the summer it is not unusual to see a handful of kids laughing and playing in the sprinklers in her gorgeous back yard. Her facility is amazing - a HUGE backyard with a Victorian wooden playhouse, lovely grass area, children friendly vegetable patch and flower garden, multiple climbing structures, and a paved bike path. Though technically she's a childcare and not a preschool, she still takes the time to teach the older children their basics. My son attended Danielle's until kindergarten, and I felt that he was well prepared for his first day of real school. Do yourself a favor and go check her out - you'll and your child will be happy you did!

We searched and searched to find the perfect preschool for our 2-year-old. We toured all the…read morehighest rated schools in SB and weren't excited about any of them. And then we found Danielle. We couldn't be happier! She's caring, attentive and it's abundantly clear that she adores the kids. It's not a standard school - it's out of her home, in a residential area. But, she has a fully equipped, expansive backyard where the kids run free and explore. Danielle has a master's degree in early childhood education and believes in the importance of outdoor learning. There are numerous daily art projects and most are nature based. Inside, there are wooden Montessori and Waldorf toys as well. I've also noticed that she spends a lot of one-on-one time - teaching and reading to the kids. We are so glad to have found this affordable, small little school where our daughter has thrived.

Love this place. Been here for 6 years, all 3 kids go here. All teachers we have had have been…read moreamazing, tremendous energy, engaging and caring. Small class sizes. We are so lucky to attend.

This school is as good as it gets. They have the resources…read moreto give our children the best of the best. Small class sizes, violin lessons, science lab, organic gardens, parent education classes, student trips to DC, teacher in services at Harvard....I could go on and on. This is a public school but is better than most private schools. We are fortunate our children go here.