After starting with a different (and expensive) college counselor located in Santa Monica and SAT tutor (expensive) who both came highly recommended but were essentially completely useless, we received a glowing recommendation for Blue Train and made the switch. Best decision ever. Our two sons used Blue Train for multiple things over their junior and senior years - test assessment/diagnostic, ACT prep and guidance, college list building, guidance re HS classes and even extra curricular advise, as well as navigating the college application process and the all-important essay drafting. Scott and the people at Blue Train put the boys on a very manageable schedule and in fact, both of our sons were totally done with most applications by Thanksgiving. Both boys got into tons of schools, got thrown tons of money, and this entire process was so smooth because of Blue Train's guidance. We event consulted with Scott when deciding which schools to attend. I cannot say enough how effective and impressive Blue Train was. Highly recommend !!! read more

It's been 4+ years since I wrote my initial review of Blue Train and I've had 1 more kid go through the college admission process. I'm just as happy with Blue Train now as I was in my previous review. Both my kids got into their #1 colleges thanks in part to Scott's assistance and we're again working with Blue Train and Scott for my 3rd kid. Blue Train and Scott are the best! I've referred several friends to them and my friends have all been really happy. read more

An exciting combination of counselor-led discussions, college student guests, and list assessment by Blue Train specialists. This workshop will help any student struggling to complete and polish his or her academics. Students work on personal statements. They also work on scholarship essays. By the end of the workshop, students gave valuable one-on-one feedback and continue progress on their personal statement. Between the tutoring, practice tests, workshops to complete applications, and knowledge of current college admission standards, the Blue Train mix of counselor-led group discussions and mock one-on-one practice will take away the jitters and leave you feeling confident and related. They also offer a one-on-one guidance with an essay specialist. These mini sessions are open only to students who have already attended the personal statement workshop. These thirty minute boosters are intended to help students keep their writing process flowing with structural and editing advice. No need to curl up in a fetal position or hire an overpriced private college counselor to tell you where you won't be accepted. Do your applications and essays better, for less, with the team that has helped more students with this sort of process than any other company in the South Bay. High probability of success with Blue Train. Email them at office@bluetraincollegeprep.com read more

The best way to describe Blue Train - it's like having a sports agency representing your child in their applications to higher learning institutions. It really doesn't matter whether your child is a straight-A student or a student that has had educational challenges, Blue Train can optimize their strengths and accomplishments, so that your student does apply to universities where they are a "best fit" both academically, financially, and culturally. The Blue Train counselors and resources provide assistance to each step in the process, from standardized testing (think ACT v. SAT, or whether to submit a score at all) to essay writing, application completion, and which schools potentially are best academically suited for your child. This real knowledge would be almost impossible to accumulate on your own. It is not cookie-cutter, but customized for the interests and strengths of your young adult. The cost for Blue Train was offset many times over by the merit scholarship that we were granted by the university my daughter attends. That was because Blue Train had streamlined her candidacy to a school that was the best fit for her. There are few things in life that I could say are so well worth it. read more

Thank you Blue Train (BT) for all of your guidance and support for my children! Now that my nephew is a junior, I am recommending BT to him. We had the best experience with Scott (owner) and BT with 2 completely different children. My son, class of 2020 is thriving and found his home at Carnegie Mellon majoring in Finance with a minor in Economics and has been on the Dean's List every semester. He took a gap year due to the pandemic, and will graduate this June 2025. We met with Scott, and he helped him figure out the right school and which test to take: SAT or ACT. Once it was determined that the SAT was a better fit, Scott set-up test prep with a BT tutor and the progress made was amazing! My daughter, class of 2022, is a Business Major (focusing on Marketing) and Journalism Major with a Minor in Digital Fashion Media at Southern Methodist University. She too is thriving academically, is in a sorority and is involved in everything! Scott was an integral part in her college decision making and she ended up taking the ACT. In addition, Scott matched my daughter with a wonderful tutor for ACT test prep and another tutor to help with Essays for the college applications. What is wonderful about BT is how you can determine your needs, and then pick the level and depth of help you want from them. Scott is knowledgeable about everything "college", has a gift of figuring out your child, is patient and "present", and strategic. Thank you Scott and Blue Train for helping my children get where they needed to go! read more

I cannot say enough good things about Blue Train. After glowing reviews from a number of close friends, we signed up for a package, and also used their tutoring services. Scott, the owner, is VERY knowledgeable, and has a wonderful, calming personality. He connects easily with kids and parents alike. My son did ACT prep with Matt, who was fantastic. He also did some physics tutoring before the APs with Jonathan, who really turned the key on many physics concepts for my son - it made all the difference. It was worth every penny because my son achieved excellent scores. My son has also attended a variety of workshops to help him get all his essays and applications done. Super helpful. Their program is very well organized and ensures that both parents and students stay on track and have access to all the resources they need. They do monthly town hall meetings to describe the latest news on the college application process, which has been especially useful during all the continuing changes due to COVID. Their approach is personal and customized to what your student particularly needs, not a one-size-fits-all program. One of their really great resources is the Blue List, a list of colleges all over the country that the Blue Train team has vetted and researched. The List includes lots of details for each school that would normally take hours and hours to ferret out on your own (I know this from personal experience). They provide a variety of links to each school, as well as a wide range of information regarding the vibe of the school, what they're known for, where they're located, what the social life is like, what test results and GPAs are generally required, etc. A fantastic resource! I'm so thankful to the entire team at Blue Train! Their advice and support have meant all the difference during this process, which otherwise would've felt overwhelming. I recommend them wholeheartedly! read more

We had a terrific experience working with Blue Train on college applications prep for our twins, who have very different interests. Scott and team are unbelievably knowledgeable in all things "college" and have the patience of saints in helping guide students with not only how to build their college lists of choice but to see them through the whole process. We are crazy busy working parents and the college application process is far different than when we were applying to schools back in the day. The help and support from Blue Train was invaluable. And, the twins each were accepted to the schools of their choice! read more

Blue Train was absolutely wonderful! I recommend Blue Train to all families, no matter what your child's GPA is or what academic track they are on. Blue Train is for ALL students - whether they took the SAT or ACT or didn't take any of those tests. We deeply wanted to help guide our teen, but as we all know, the college admissions process has changed and is incredibly overwhelming. Blue Train cuts through all the "noise" out there and prioritizes each student. The individualized support that our teen received from her Blue Train counselor, Celest, was unbelievable. As older parents, we felt very foolish that we didn't understand how the college admission process works, and Blue Train never made us feel incompetent. They supported us and gave us (parents) the tools to support our teen. Blue Train's staff are smart, funny, thoughtful, and inspiring, and they go out of their way to ensure your teen (parents, too) have what they need during the college admission process. Blue Train's customer service is the best all around, and we can't say enough great things about our experience with Blue Train - thank you, Blue Train, and Scott and Laurel! :) read more

From the moment we sat down with Scott at Blue Train, I felt that both my academic and personal goals were prioritized in the college search. Not only did my ACT score improve significantly, but Scott and his team helped me talk through the culture and fit of each school on my list. The tutors at Blue Train are intelligent and successful in their own right; I looked up to Angelica throughout our work together. Without her guidance and perspective, I would not have had the same assurance and confidence in my choice to study on the East Coast at Bowdoin. Knowing that I was looking for a small, liberal arts college, the Blue Train team steered me in the right direction, offering up competitive schools with strong Economics & Government programs. By the time I wrote my personal statement and sat down for the exam, I felt fully confident in my preparation and goals. I highly recommend Blue Train to anyone for its exceptional and bespoke offerings! read more

Blue Train is not only an excellent 1:1 college test prep program but the owner Scott goes the extra mile for your kids. He walked my daughter through a lot of challenges and is extremely knowledgeable and compassionate. Even through the challenges she got into several great colleges. I am most impressed with the way Blue Train walks with you all the way to the final decision. I am highly confident in recommending Blue Train to anyone looking for a solid college test prep program with lots of bells and whistles. read more

I have two daughters who have used Blue Train for college test prep classes, specifically for the ACT. In both cases my daughters did far better with the training than they would have without. Over the course of the sessions both girls raised their ACT scores significantly, enough to get one daughter in her first choice of school, and while the other has not yet applied it has raised her confidence substantially, which is half the battle. If you're like many parents who want to give your kids the best opportunities to succeed, you won't go wrong with Blue Train. read more

Blue Train is by far the best decision we have made for both our kids. The instructors meet one on one with them in the home. So far with their help we have navigated our oldest to UCI into the Campus Honors Program for Biomedical Engineering and he couldn't be more happy. Our second child is in the middle of her Junior year and is getting prep work for the ACTs and will then go through the sometimes overwhelming process of filling out applications and essays. Blue Train will be with them through every stage. I feel one of the best things besides test preparation is their attitude of not wanting to add more stress for the students as well as instilling an attitude of confidence in them. It goes from being this very big abstract process to a systematic step by step approach. It can be stressful going through this period for both the parents and the kids, I have found Blue Train College Prep to be one of the best choices we have made in terms of getting our kids into performing their best and giving them a much better chance into getting into the college that is best suited for them. read more

I used Blue Train througout High School and also as a resource to match my Son with a good College for his skills. My Son's grades and confidence in math improved 100% and he was admitted to his stretch school Purdue. The owner of Blue Train, Scott had recommeneded a great but lesser known school Embry Riddle Aeronautical University initially but my Son insisted on a big school experience. After 2 years at Purdue and struggling with ADHD we transferred him to Embry Riddle along with a nice scholarship. My Son thrived in the small class environment and is now graduating in May Suma Cum Laude with several great paying job opportunities in the aerospace industry. I can't thank Scott and Blue Train enough for the great tutors who inspire the kids to do their best. The great knowledge and insight Scott had to help me get my Son to the right school will have a lasting impact on his life. Thank you so very much Blue Train. read more

OVER RATED AND EXTREMELY OVER PRICED!! Extensive Tutor Interviews highly suggested, as some are Very Under qualified! My daughter scored 1 point lower than her first time taking it cold turkey.... after 18 hours of Blue Train Tutoring. Found another company and she scored 5 points higher with 10 hours of prep! Blue Train not a beneficial investment! read more

Blue Train did an amazing job of helping my daughter prepare for the ACT. Her tutor, David, was truly exceptional and made a huge difference in getting her ready for both the tests and for helping her through the college admissions process. The outcomes were outstanding. Not only did she get into her first choice college in a very selective major, but she had many other options if that hadn't worked out. She just started at her new school and we are thankful for the difference that David made in her life via Blue Train. If I had another child, I would hire the company again. It made our lives so much easier and we were able to avoid many parent/child conflicts during the process. We highly recommend Blue Train! read more

Highest recommendations for Blue Train! We utilized all of the services of one-on-one tutoring, test preparation, application workshops, essay writing, etc for both my daughter and son who are now both happily ensconced at the colleges of their choosing. The tutors were the highest quality and established a personal working relationship with each of my kids to bring out their strengths. Scott, Abigail and all of the tutors really know their stuff. Can't imagine having gone through this process without them. read more

Blue train was awesome! Took all of the stress away from the process. Some of the wisest money I ever spent. Currently dropping my daughter off at Gonzaga University, never thought we'd be so fortunate for her to get in. Thank you BT and go Zags! Ron Man Bch read more

Both of my 2 older kids used Blue Train for college prep tutoring for SAT as well as college essay. We purchased the 27 hours package and had one on one tutoring at home. It was wonderful because we didn't have to spend too many hours as the tutor focused on what my child needed. As to helping with the college essays, Matthew came to the house but he also edited the essays on his own time and my son finished all his college applications without too much stress. Another thing I really liked about the program is that they offer many workshops over the summer to get ready for the college application process. These workshops (UC app, Common app, interview, personal statement) are all included in the package price. Only negative thing about the company is that the package prices have been increasing significantly over the years. Just between my 2 kids who are 2 years apart the price increased almost $500. It's definitely not on the cheap side. However, I will be using them again later this year with my youngest. read more

The one on one in home tutoring was great and convenient. My son got an outstanding score on the ACT. Thanks, Blue Train!

We were so pleased with Blue Train and the improvement in our son's ACT score. It made all the difference in the colleges he was accepted into and the scholarships that he was awarded. We will definitely be using them again for our other children. Highly recommend. read more

Blue Train is fantastic! They helped me score well on the ACT and guided me through the confusing and overwhelming process of college admissions. read more

I wish there was room for 10 stars! Blue Train is getting my son ready for the SAT. They are also helping him with college applications. The office and the tutors are so patient and professional! THANK YOU BLUE TRAIN! read more

We are very pleased with Blue Train. They really care about the students. Blue Train was instrumental in prepping our son for the ACT. Matt was a great tutor and tailored their time based on our son's strengths and weaknesses. In addition to test prep, Blue Train really helped our son put together a fantastic list of schools with a high probability of success. We had an amazing response with merit scholarship opportunities. He has a great selection of schools and he will have a difficult but can't lose choice to make this month! I highly recommend Blue Train. Between the tutoring, practice tests, workshops to complete applications, and knowledge of current college admission standards, Blue Train is a must for any college applicant. read more

Scott and the entire crew has been great. We've been to several preps in the area and finally settled with Blue Train. Recommended for technical & informative aspects as well as providing that extra rally spirit to the student and parents. We were very happy with the results. read more

After my daughter worked with another tutoring/college test prep company in Redondo Beach, we realized she wasn't getting the kind of guidance and training needed to do well on the ACT. I quickly began searching for another test prep company as she only had a few more chances to raise her test scores before the winter of her high school senior year. I read all of the great reviews about Blue Train and thought I'd give them a call. They got back to me quickly, answered my questions and sent a tutor out within a couple of days to meet her. My daughter's tutor, Matt was awesome! He was patient, very knowledgeable, accommodating with her busy schedule and very motivating. He put a plan into action and helped her exceed her test score expectations. He even helped her with her college essays!! Blue Train...you are The Best! read more

Scott, Abigail and David at Blue Train were instrumental in helping my son not only with his ACT prep, but with his essay and application process as well. His scores reflected his hard work and the workshops helped to make the overwhelming process manageable. I'm about to sign up with them again with my rising junior as she starts on her journey. Blue Train pricing packages are very competitive and the service is worth every penny. read more

Could not have navigated this treacherous path without them - Blue Train was wise about everything, deeply invested in the kids, and always comforting. She just left for Boulder yesterday! read more

Great group and individual college app concept and writing courses. Thanks Blue Train!

Scott and his team helped my son write his essay and prep him for the ACT. Their tutoring was comprehensive, thorough and cordial. He got a 32 on the ACT tests and that got him into UCLA, his #1 choice. Go with Blue Train if you want your child to meet his/her full potential. read more

Raised my daughter's SAT score by a significant amount after only a couple of tutoring sessions. Great tutors! Laurel in the office is sweet and helpful and Scott, the owner is very knowledable and relates well to the kids. Well worth the cost. Can't believe there are no other reviews yet. We are sooooo happy with Blue Train. read more

Scott & the rest of the Blue Train Crew should get a paid vacation to Tahiti!!! Our family's experience with Blue Train has been TERRIFIC! We met Scott when he did a seminar at MCHS during "College Knowledge" night when our daughter was a Sophomore. The logical and relaxed approach to the college process made sense and that night we decided Blue Train was a good fit for us. Fast forward to now - our daughter is a Senior and was recently accepted into her first choice university - in the Business School (admitted to the Honors Program if she chooses) and given $25k in merit scholarship. She is THRILLED! Our SAT prep tutor, Lacy, was incredible - she helped our daughter prep for the SAT and worked on areas that improved the test score each time from Test to Test. The workshops for Common App and also Essay Writing were great. In addition, the one-on-one help with the essay final touches was super helpful. Scott was a great help when we went to have a visit with the favorite school - he spent almost an hour on a call with my husband, daughter & I about how best to leverage the visit. The magical "Blue List" that you receive at a workshop is like a unicorn - you have to see it to believe it's real. Tons of helpful, up to date info about schools of all sizes in all areas of the country that your kid might be interested in! I have recommended Blue Train to several friends who are looking for a SANE approach to the college process. It needn't give parents grey hair and stress out our already stressed kids - you'll be pleased at the end of the process if you use Blue Train! We will surely use Blue Train again for our other daughter who is a Freshman. read more

Blue Train is an amazing service and support system during the college prep, application process and beyond!! We truly believe our daughter wouldn't have been admitted to the colleges she was without Blue Train's guidance and Scott's (the owner) personal help. The test prep tutor was outstanding and the writing tutors incredible. They were able to keep my daughter focused and on track right up to the point the "submit" button was hit!! As parents we put our complete trust in the Blue Train staff and process and it paid off. In fact, we haven't read our daughter's college essays to this day because we wanted to ensure her essays were her voice and only her voice...that's how much we trusted Blue Train to get the job done!!! Scott's level of customer service is unsurpassed in our opinion. He took the time to meet us at our home and we had more than our fair share of personal phone calls with him. His knowledge about the in's and out's of college admissions is vast and yet he finds a way to make each student feel like they're his only client. We have another daughter beginning the college prep process this summer and we wouldn't consider using anyone other than Blue Train!!! Thank you to everyone at Blue Train, we're looking forward to another successful ride!!! read more

Blue Train College Prep put our family at ease during what is normally a stressful process! Blue Train came highly recommended from a few friends so we decided to give it a try for our daughter who was a Junior at Mira Costa HS at the time. They setup a meeting with our family to chat and get a feel for our daughter so they could match her with the right tutor. Our daughter was matched with David, who was AMAZING! He came to our home to tutor based on my daughter's availability, was patient, flexible, a great tutor with such a positive attitude and relaxed vibe, and gave great suggestion and guidance for other things like personal statement for college applications. Our daughter took the ACT 3 times, and her score increased the 2nd and 3rd time! Not only was David a perfect match, but we also appreciated the incredibly informative meeting that the owner Scott held for the parents to fill us in on our child's college testing & application journey. We have happily referred many other to Blue Train and now with our 2nd child, we will be using Blue Train again! Thank you, Scott & everyone at Blue Train! read more

Blue Train gets my highest recommendation and gratitude for easing us through the college prep and application process. We looked into another company that several friends were using and it seemed like they treated everyone the same. At Blue Train in our first meeting, they asked questions to get to know my daughter, her schedule, and her ambitions and then set a plan according to her needs. I was able to step back and let them take over. Adam was an amazing tutor and explained the ACT process so that we understood it was not a one shot deal. It took my daughter 3 times and she went up by 7 points, much more than we ever expected. Abby did a fabulous job coaching her through the essays and kept her on track with deadlines. Scott sent out monthly newsletters that were helpful and kept me informed. Blue Train gave us peace of mind and solid results. My daughter applied to 10 schools and was accepted to 7 and wait listed at 3. She is thrilled with where she is going and I am pleased they gave her a merit scholarship. The money that we invested in Blue Train paid off handsomely! read more