I couldn't be happier with our experience with David and College Zoom. Their program is like NO OTHER. They have created a system that truly helps the student organize his/her/their thoughts and ideas in order to put their best foot forward and create a college application that represents who the student is and what their achievements are. Both my children worked with College Zoom. My son is a very typical young man who had a hard time getting started with his applications, and College Zoom did an excellent job supporting him every step of the way. My daughter, on the other hand, was very motivated and College Zoom worked well with her enthusiasm and organization. I am happy to report that both kids got into their DREAM schools (USC and UC Berkeley) with College Zoom's help. David and College Zoom really understood each student's unique needs, and also helped this mom feel less worried!! read more

College Zoom was instrumental in my success with college applications. I've gotten into more schools than I could ever even dream about, and Harvard is where I will be going for the next four years. When I started the CZ program, my vision was that Yale and the Naval Academy were my unlikely 10% chance dreams, while I'd realistically have a 50% chance of landing at Purdue (which is still a great school nonetheless), and a 40% at a Vanderbilt or Northwestern-level school. When I got into the Naval Academy, I thought that would be it. And then came Yale, where at that point I applied to Harvard and Princeton more or less to put my name in the drawing hat. But to be standing here at the end of the journey, having gotten into all of these top universities as an engineering major, I truly never could've dreamed it at the beginning. It was only possible with CZ's help, between the hours and hours poured into the personal statement, supplementals, cutting and rewriting the activity sheet. They told me exactly how to fill out each section of my applications in the optimal way, while leaving ample room for me to represent myself through my own words. And when it came to college interviews - the part I was most nervous for - CZ provided me with ample practice and resources to gain the confidence I needed. I know that without their guidance and organization, I would've been lost in the process and fallen behind quickly. Before applications started, its college planning package helped me by pushing me to create a Passion Project in high school. I tended to be someone with strong academics and average extracurriculars, and this concept pushed me to lead impactfully within the computer science club at my school - which, looking back, was both very important to my applications and is something I value even beyond college admissions. As someone who tended to shy away from leadership activities like these, without CZ's encouragement for me to pursue them, I would've missed out on a lot of opportunities for self-development in high school so I am grateful for its guidance in this respect as well. All in all, CZ's straightforward and effective guidance, in conjunction with its reasonable cost, made it the best choice for me! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this organization to others. It's been awesome working with them, and I owe my success with the application cycle to them. read more

I am so glad that we chose CollegeZoom as my son's college counselor. My son got accepted at UCSB with a major in Engineering he is really excited about. During the high school years when we were choosing an external counselor, we were really worried about making the right call. After talking to a set of counselors we decided to go with CollegeZoom, since we were impressed by David's direct no-nonsense approach of making my son feel responsible and accountable for the outcome of his college admission preparation. CollegeZoom provided not only a proper structure to identify the areas of additional work, but also helped him in brainstorming to identify them. They taught him techniques to study more efficiently and helped him all the way to the end by helping him write the essays. They were a trusted partner all through. This process brought out more maturity out of my son for sure, and I am indeed glad that we chose CollegeZoom for my son on this journey. read more

I had the great opportunity to work with College Zoom through their high school counseling service, and also for my college applications. Before working with them, I was extremely tensed about college applications as I had no experience and extracurriculars in the field of major I intended to study due to all of my time being invested in playing a sport competitively. However, as I worked with Jackson, Aisa, David, Griffin, and Riley, I was able to successfully navigate the college application process, understanding what I needed to do and how I was supposed to approach it. Something College Zoom did really well was addressing their reasoning and rationale as to why a certain process had to be used, whether it was figuring out a topic to write my common app essay on, or even just the structure of my activity sheet. Everyone at College Zoom had a welcoming and proactive attitude, something that allowed me to push to make my application as strong as I could. Although I had a good GPA yet lacked the extracurriculars I needed for the field I was going into, with whatever small amount of time I had before applying to college, College Zoom was able to provide resources and ideas for me to pursue that would help strengthen my application. In the end, College Zoom and their guidance through the college application process allowed me to get into UC Berkeley, a dream school of mine that I did not expect being able to even get into. If I had to end on a single note, I'd say that College Zoom thoroughly allowed me to feel confident in my application, something I feel is absolutely necessary in the college admission process. I'm extremely glad to have chosen College Zoom to work with, and would wholeheartedly recommend them! read more

The team at College Zoom was the BEST!!!! I worked with Jackson since Junior year focused on college planning and then later with Adya on essay development for the applications themselves; as a result, I was admitted to my top choice UCLA, as well as UC Berkeley! Going into the planning process, my family and I were nothing short of stressed. Everyone has a different opinion on how to approach preparing for applications, however, College Zoom's tried and true, straightforward, in-depth methodology helped me develop a solid framework from start to finish of the college application process. When I started with them, I was sort of just going through the motions and was socially reclusive. With the guidance of Jackson, however, I was able to find a passion project of my own to devote time into and ended up forming an entire global network with friends all centered around a common passion (Improv Comedy). Not only did they help teach me leadership skills via their unique resources on how to apply psychological concepts to developing a unique edge, but they allowed me to focus on topics that genuinely interested me. These are not the kind of counsellors that will force you to do a project for a project's sake; they are focused on long term development which is one of the reasons why we chose them in the first place. Overall, I really don't know what I would have done without their guidance. I feel completely at ease knowing I'm not only going to my dream school but also equipped with the social skills needed to take my learning outside of the classroom at UCLA. Thank you College Zoom!! read more

Working with College Zoom, I was accepted by UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Irvine, UC Santa Cruz, Northeastern University, Boston College, University of Washington, Syracuse University, and Westmont College admissions. I ended up committing to UC Berkeley and have fallen in love with college. My biggest worry about applying to colleges was that I did not have a specific major or career in mind yet. I was nervous to apply as an undeclared major as I thought it would decrease my chances at admissions. Yet, College Zoom demystified this for me and helped transform my diverse range of interests and personal experiences into a compelling narrative that was uniquely mine. I chose to work with College Zoom because of how they believe strongly in each student's Passion Project. As someone who struggles with standardized testing, I really appreciate how College Zoom focuses on sharing a story through your Passion Project- more than just a GPA or SAT stat, your application represents you as a person. I was able to provide a story of my drive and compassion through my applications because of this. On a more personal note, College Zoom gave me more than just college/career counseling. Throughout the application process, I learned more about myself and my counselors' stories as well. This empowered me to become more proactive and open-hearted in my own life. Coming out of College Zoom, the relationships I've built with the team are something I will forever be grateful for. read more

College Zoom helped both of my daugthers and my nephew's college applications. I think repeat engagements speak loudly of their quality work and ethics. I highly recommend College Zoom if you or your child is a self-motivated student. For my first daugther, I interviewed 4 consultants over the phone or video chats in the very last minutes (October) during the pandemic admission cycle when I realized I had no idea how to help her stand out from mountains of applications for Ivys during this crazy period. College Zoom jumped out from the crowds with their lightling fast response by owner David, and the very structured and efficient program he showed me. In additions, David's insight into this unique cycle was refreshing. No other consultants pointed out the craziness, which prepared us well in terms of expectations. She was accepted to Stern at NYU, USC, and U of Virginia. They were not Ivys she wanted, but Stern ended up was a great fit for her. She is exceling and secured a full-time offer from a top bank a year ahead of graduation. My nephew who also applied at the same time was admitted to UC Berkeley. His family wasn't familiar with college admission counseling as they were immigrants. The family was not too worry at first because their other 2 sons got into UCLA (transfers), which was what they wanted. However, when SAT requirement was removed, we know he would be facing the same issue as my daughter. And he didn't have unique/difficult background, impressive extra-curriculum activities, nor any "projects" he did to put into his applications. They jumped on board as soon as they talked to David. The way they structured his personal statement refocusing the reviewers to his characters and potentials with interesting stories made him a memorable applicant. And my younger one who applied in 2022-23 cycle sweeped top 5 UCs. I was concerned about her candidacy for our 1st choice UCLA because of her "invisible illness", which inhibited her to participate in sports and even simply focus in classes or tests. Her counselor Griffin and David, were great in helping her frame her story and guiding her with additional projects she could do during the summer to stand out. Their strategy paid off. Their knowledge of the application review process helped her demonstrate qualities the universities were looking for. She got proficient in formulating personal statement "angles" and created a club to help many of her classmates in their UC applications as well. The UC acceptances definitely boosted her confidence in her ability despite her limitations. BTW, did I mention that they all went to public schools in Los Angeles and had no real help from their schools? CollegeZoom surely did magic on their applications! They are not going to satisfy everyone. Do discuss your needs in the info session to make sure they are a fit. read more

I wanted to write this before I get the results of my appeal letter back so you can be rest assured that I'm just talking about the experience of College Zoom without being influenced by possibly not getting in. I contacted David after reading these stellar reviews here on Yelp, he was quick to respond, especially given how late it was, which I really appreciated. He set a meeting up with Griffin for me the next day and as soon as the session started, man were we off to the races, but not in the way you'd hope. It was very clear that my consultant was very focused on rushing through a pre-written outline of questions to adhere to the 1.5-hour time limit. What's worse is he gave me absolutely no new insights, actually he was quite impressed with my application, regularly stating how well written this or well organized that was. Hey, that's nice and all, but I didn't pay almost $500 for a bunch of compliments. By the end of it all, he wrote a rough outline for me based on my answers and I felt like when he asked if I had any questions, he meant it rhetorically and then got irritated when I asked them. The moment I had no more questions, he said goodbye and hung up. So hey, maybe College Zoom was just as baffled as I was on why I wasn't accepted given my 3.95 Honors GPA and an application I worked on for more than 8 months, but ya know what, I would've appreciated them letting me know that instead of just giving me the default outline approach and taking half my rent with no follow-up. And there's a chance that I'll eat all my words and come back to update this review stating that my appeal letter worked and got it, but that's because I paid $427 for a by-the-numbers kind of appeal outline. Let's just hope it works... Hope this was helpful, and I hope you have a different experience that's more like the rest of these 5-star reviews, just thought I should give ya a heads up. read more

Working with CollegeZoom as a transfer student was an unforgettable experience. As a high school senior, I was rejected by every school except for my safety (applied to T20s, UC's). It felt like all of my efforts in high school amounted to nothing. Motivated to try to transfer to a school I thought I deserved to be at and would be a better fit in, I asked CollegeZoom to help me through the transfer process (which was much more difficult than freshman apps in my opinion). Fast forward a few months, I was admitted to Chapman, Michigan, Tulane, Vanderbilt, and USC (attending!). I finally had the privilege of choosing which college fit me best-- a scenario I could have only dreamed of a year ago. Looking back, I've realized that CollegeZoom doesn't just help you with college apps. They transform you into a person who takes action and writes their own script in life. As a college freshman, CollegeZoom empowered me to become a leader on campus and pursue my passion for mental health advocacy using mindfulness techniques. Now, I'm implementing their lessons into my resume and interviews haha. My first year of college tested me more than ever, but the help of Aisa (especially with her psychology background), Wendy, Griffin, and Jackson definitely made the entire process that much easier and more impactful. I am so much more capable than I was a year ago, and I credit CollegeZoom for giving me the tools to maximize my potential and instilling in me the belief that I can make the world a better place if I put enough time and effort in the right place :) read more

In general save your money. College Zoom along with the other college consultants really don't add value or make a difference. Our son got into a few private universities, not the targeted UC schools in California. They talk about a passion project, which everyone seems to do now, not a standout. What we realized after talking with admissions counselors is that AP credit courses starting in sophmore or junior year count, extra curricular counts particularly if they show continuous development. But these are all things HS counselors also advise. Pros: somehwhat lower cost than others, our son enjoyed talking with the counselors, gave us a target acceptance rate for schools based on what our son accomplished already(most helpful) Cons: They say it's individualized but it's far from it. They want you to fit into a formulaic process, way to expensive for the value, even tho this was lower cost, only communicated via emails, and very long emails, (lots of words, not much content), never option to talk with coordinator, heavy sales pitch, and always add on's for an extra hundreds/hour. Son got more out of spending time with his counselor and his own due diligence in writing and re writing his essay. we believe this is a market segment that takes advantage of the emotional component parents feel in trying to get their kids into a good school, using a heavy sales pitch that makes you think it will make a difference. What your child does in high school, grades, extra curriculars, meaningful community involvement and a good story essay is what works, not spending 5-15k on the college counselor. Utilize available resources, online and in your childs HS. read more

David, Aisa and the entire team at College Zoom were invaluable in leveraging their expertise during the multi-faceted college transfer process for our son. We are extremely grateful for their amazing collaboration and wise counsel as we navigated this new experience. Our son is ecstatic to be transferring to the University of Chicago, thanks to College Zoom's guidance, thank you!! We were so impressed with CZ's curated approach in matching the right team with the student, maximizing successful outcomes. We really liked how David and his team's POV encourages deep self-reflection, which helped our son showcase his accomplishments, learnings and overall best self in the right way on his essays/applications. He loved how knowledgeable, supportive, and honest David and his team were, especially with the fast-paced nature of the process. We found CZ's offerings, packages, and pricing completely transparent, intuitive, and comprehensive in order to fit all of our needs. David and his team are also extremely responsive and customer/student-centric. When we first contacted David, he responded within hours and we scheduled our first meeting immediately. The entire process was streamlined and handled with total professionalism and care every step of the way. Given how stressful the college admissions process is for all involved and how it has become increasingly opaque, at a time when clarity, good insights and actionable frameworks for families are needed, College Zoom is invigorating. Thank goodness for College Zoom and their successful approach over the years in helping students/families get to the other side! read more

I got into a top MBA program thanks to the guidance of the College Zoom team. They are incredibly knowledgeable and conscious of your time each session. They ask you the best questions in order to help you form your story in your own words. Not only did I come out with amazing essays, they helped me revise my resume and tailor it to the school of my choice. Thanks guys!!! I highly recommend this service to anyone who needs a launch pad for their application process. read more

Recently, I was accepted into Middlebury College, a top tier Liberal Arts College, a school that is perfect for my appreciation of liberal arts and desire to further my Italian studies. This year, the acceptance rate for regular decision application rate was about 13%. The counseling that I received from College Zoom leading up to my acceptance was life changing. Before I worked with College Zoom, I was considerably uninvolved. I spent the free time that I did not devote to academics playing video games (Fortnite most of all) and scrolling through the explore pages of social media. I enjoyed gaming and all, but I had no habit of moderation, and I logged far more hours than was healthy. My parents, seeing this, purchased the College Zoom Junior package, to give me something productive to do with my time. I wasn't excited about the opportunity initially. I thought that College Zoom would just show me how to sound like a better applicant superficially. I had no idea I was actually going to actually become a better applicant (and person). The actual service started by helping me find a direction. It focused on me becoming more involved in my track team and in my school clubs and it gave me insight into what I wanted to do in terms of career. I would have thought that the above process would be extremely difficult and burdensome, but I was completely wrong. I was given weekly tasks to complete that I agreed were doable, and before I knew it, I was actually having fun and looking forward to my sessions with David. I didn't know college counseling could be as engaging as the video games I used to play excessively. I received personalized advice on what my distinct leadership style was and how I could contribute more uniquely in everything I was a part of, most notably on my track team. Previously, I was satisfied and complacent simply being the captain. But, I started taking initiative and going above and beyond in ways that I actually had a surprising amount of fun with. In gaming, upgrading my virtual characters felt good, but upgrading my actual real life character and teammates felt so much better! I went on to have my best memories of high school on the track team. The entire team, freshmen to seniors became so much closer. I even ended up starting a tradition. I was able to talk to the new generation of runners and inspire them to live giving no excuses. There was a heightened sense of team unity, and most importantly, louder and more passionate cheering at track meets! A couple months ago, my track coach (who has been coaching for 20+ years) told me that I was one of, if not the best captain that he has ever had. I would not be the captain and leader I am today without the guidance I had from College Zoom. The leadership tools and psychology models that David gave to me are still on my desktop and I still reference from time to time. At the beginning of the year, I found myself in an interview with an Middlebury alumni. It was going pretty poorly for me, as I was extremely nervous, wishing I had taken the steps to prepare myself to answer certain questions with confidence, but one question saved me. I was asked what it was that I would specifically bring to the campus as a unique individual, and I seized the moment, explaining the leadership qualities and the productive attitude I could bring to my college community. These were the same qualities I had developed thanks to College Zoom! Not only was I accepted, but I received a handwritten note from my admissions officer complimenting my team unifying skills and urging me to get involved with ResLife where I would be the community leader in my dorm hallway. And the best part about my experience with College Zoom? In becoming that all-star change-maker that was previously dormant inside of me, I discovered there was so much more I could do with my life. Sure, College Zoom is a College Counseling service with college acceptance as the ultimate goal, but what I learned about who I am and what I love doing will last for as long as I live. The whole process was a wake up call for me, but it was not your typical "wake up, there are things to do." It was a unique "wake up, there are things to enjoy!" read more

Every transfer applicant knows the pain of waiting months on end for an answer which is why I could not be more thankful for College Zoom for helping me draft my essays. I had absolutely no idea how to go about properly addressing the prompt, much less how to get the attention of admissions counselors despite knowing I had a compelling history. David is so accommodating and understanding of how stressful the process is, so I am especially grateful to him for always responding to my inquiries and working with me on short notice. David got me in touch with Griffin who guided me through the writing process. Our first session was extremely productive and I was shocked at how much material I had to work with after just an hour. Not a single second is wasted, and despite paying lower rates for other counselors, I would not have been anywhere near as confident in my essays without their help. For those of you still debating whether to use their services or not, let me just say that there was nothing more satisfying than the sense of achievement I got after checking my inbox and finding that I had been accepted into USC. read more

I have used College Zoom a total of two times, both with the hope of attending a specific university. As a high school senior, I was rejected from my dream school and first reached out to College Zoom to assist me in writing my appeal letter to this university. Although this appeal was not successful, I remember being incredibly impressed by how professional and efficient the whole experience was with College Zoom. About 6 months later, I contacted them again to assist in the transfer application process to the same school I had originally gotten rejected from and had sent an appeal to. Throughout the whole process, they were so knowledgeable about the direction of my application and how to showcase my personality and interests through my essays. College Zoom was so helpful and well-organized when it came to formulating my application and I could not have asked for better guidance. My transfer application was successful and I am now attending my dream university all thanks to the amazing people and overall experience at College Zoom! Although it is definitely an investment, they are 100% worth the money because of their professionalism and efficiency, along with the high success rate of students like me. read more

College Zoom is a company we would wholeheartedly recommend. David Reynaldo and his team are not only brilliant, but also responsive, honest, and exhibit much integrity. We interviewed several college prep companies, and felt that College Zoom was the least commercial and never pushy. We trusted them in the application process (they are also very efficient/organized without losing the personal attention), and our son got offers from U Michigan and Carnegie Mellon, among others. He is now a Junior at NYU (Stern). As an international student, it was double as difficult to be admitted to competitive US colleges. We are very happy that we chose College Zoom. read more

My BIGGEST REGRET is that I didn't take my son to see David earlier in his high school career. David is not only a college counselor, he's a life coach for impressionable teenagers. He sparked something in my son that I was never able to by instilling in him a sense of purpose, and the desire to succeed both life and academics. I took my son to meet with David the summer between his junior and senior years of high school. My son has a trust that will pay for him to attend any school he wishes, and I struggled throughout his high school career to put effort into getting into the best school to take advantage of his trust. My son's GPA hovered around 3.4, and his standardized tests were middle of the road. We met with David in an attempt to maximize our approach to applying to the best schools my son could get into based on his student profile. College counseling is not cheap, but as in life, you get for what you pay for. David was worth every penny (I don't have very many pennies, or a trust.). He doesn't waste any time, and I felt I received excellent value for his services. He delivers condense information in a well-organized manner which a teenager can digest. Communication with David was superb! Being in law-enforcement, I'm regimental, so I appreciate how responsive and attentive David was throughout the process. I would send emails to David at 1am, and received an immediate response from him!!!!! I would mention minor details about my son, and David would surprising recall them. Before our meetings David sent me an outline of topics he would hit on so we wouldn't waste time. I appreciate the efficiencies and thoroughness, which made me feel I received tremendous value. David is a professional and expert in his field. He gives you the facts, information, and the reality of college admissions. Then outlines the approach and strategies to attack the process head on! NEVER GO TO COURT WITHOUT A LAWYER, NEVER GO THROUGH THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS (FOR A COMPETITIVE SCHOOL) WITHOUT DAVID... Thanks again, David!!!!!! Brian read more

I had an absolutely wonderful experience with College Zoom. I am currently a senior in high school and will be attending UC Berkeley this coming fall. I had the privilege of struggling to make a decision between other colleges I was accepted to such as NYU, Boston University, Northeastern, Carnegie Mellon, UCSD and many more. This year, the college process was definitely one of the hardest, and many of my peers, were not accepted into any of their top choices, match schools, and for some, even safeties! I don't believe this is because of what they did in high school, as many of them had more impressive grades and extracurriculars than me. I think I was accepted to these colleges because College Zoom helped me accurately frame my application and story to my colleges. They had specialists for each application process, including essay writing, the activity list, and even advice on how to strengthen my current extracurricular activities before I started writing applications (love you Aisa). They also made sure I stayed on top of work through emails and meetings, and I did not suffer the last minute procrastination of college applications that I totally would have without them. I was definitely worried I wouldn't be able to show my voice as a person in my applications, and college zoom helped convey my personality to the admissions officers. Could not recommend them and their method enough, 1000% worth it. read more

Impeccable service! I'm a law school applicant and had called to receive more information on College Zoom's personal statement, resume, and other subsequent statement services. Without charging me anything, David spent an hour on the phone counseling me; helping me better understand my goals and what exactly was required to get there. He genuinely wanted to help and it showed in his tone. Incredibly so, not once during that conversation did he try to sell me his services. It came as a shock. After taking what David had said into consideration, I was able to solidify my goals and firmly establish the direction I wanted to use to get there. I quickly reached back out to them, secured my first appointment, and have now crossed the finish line. I worked with Lynn on my resume. She was competent, and quick! She knew exactly what admission officers were looking for and guided my thought process to find exactly what I've done in my past that would qualify me as a top candidate. It took an hour and a half and I left with an outstanding resume. Thanks again Lynn! 6 statements total required brainstorming and writing. I had the pleasure of working with Jackson for this part. Unlike many of the other admission's companies out there Jackson had his undergraduate and graduate degree in fields related to writing. This was important to me. Having a Wharton or Harvard MBA is great but how can they possibly know about persuasive writing when they studied business? I studied business in my undergrad and I can tell you first hand that that just isn't my expertise. Jackson did a superb job helping me find events in my past that would display a story that also portrayed my unique abilities. He made sure that we addressed every aspect of each prompt and helped me do so in such a beautifully written way. In total it took 4.5 hours between 2 sessions. Not once did I feel like he wasted any time during any part of the process. Thanks for all of your patience and hard work Jackson! If you can't already tell by this long review, I highly recommend this company! David communicates the entire way, they're priced right, and they work with personnel suited to their positions. Thanks again College Zoom team! read more

My acceptance to USC's MBA in-person program, and winning the Dean's Scholarship which essentially covers my tuition, felt surreal. I had no idea that the Dean's Scholarship existed. In fact, I was in a work meeting when I got a voice-to-text voicemail on my phone that I thought was a scam...until I stepped outside and heard the full message from the dean himself. College Zoom, David, Jackson, and Lynn have truly changed my life. My experience with College Zoom dates back to 2013 when I was a senior in high school. I reached out to them about appealing many universities I was denied from such as USC, UCLA, and Pepperdine. I had applied on my own. Although heartbreaking, getting those rejections was easily the best thing that ever happened to me. Facing a wave of rejection made me determined to get my act together and try transferring into my dream school, USC. I knew that College Zoom was exactly what I needed for my transfer application to help me achieve a different outcome in my second year of college. However, after building an awesome application, I experienced an unfortunate series of events that killed my eligibility for every business program I applied to. At the last minute, I had no choice but to withdraw from a calculus class which would prevent me from completing all of my pre-requisites by the completion deadline. None of the colleges we sought exceptions from would allow me to make it up that summer. The director of LMU's Transfer Enrollment Services said that even LMU students who hadn't taken calculus weren't eligible for admission into the business major. Being rejected from every business program I applied to was heartbreaking once again, especially because I knew the quality of the application we created. David advised against my idea of taking an entire gap year, which would allow me to re-submit my transfer application with the calculus class completed. He explained that it wasn't worth the postponement of my degree progress as well as the delay it would have on my career progress in the big picture. So, I finished my undergraduate degree at the University of San Fransisco and after graduation, I successfully worked within two of the world's top investment management firms. Despite climbing my way up the corporate ladder; however, I still had an itch to pursue higher education and earn an MBA at USC. Fast forward a couple of years, I caught up with David over lunch, catching up as old friends. I told him that I wanted to go for my MBA at USC and he told me that I had already written most of the components that I needed for my MBA application already, thanks to my previous transfer application. With two weeks' time, Jackson, Lynn, and I finished a graduate application that I was truly proud to put my name on. My essay was largely the same, except expanded to include updated information, and my resume was updated with my recent work experiences, articulating what made me different in my positions. In the additional space the MBA application allowed, we were able to add more compelling information about my old experiences, too. I submitted my application, with time to spare before the deadline, and was admitted to USC's Marshall School of Business shortly after! However, what really blew me away was my scholarship! Not missing a beat, I applied to USC's Consortium, with College Zoom's help for that application's essays, and I was swiftly admitted days after I submitted it. The speed and expertise of David, Jackson, and Lynn are second to none. If you're on the fence about hiring a college admissions counselor, try a consultation. This did it all for me. While my path to USC was not typical, I was blown away with all aspects of my time with College Zoom, especially in the way they truly cared about my journey and helped me navigate every low moment in the process. The support and honesty College Zoom provides is something I really value and am truly grateful for. Their approach is very methodical and strategic. I didn't only use this service once, but two times and I would do it again! College Zoom paid for its services many times over. I 100% recommend them. read more

The following are my 2023 undergraduate admissions cycle results after receiving help on them from College Zoom, in order of when I received/opened them. I applied as an English major to all. Princeton (REA): accepted and committed UNC-Charlotte (in-state): accepted UNC-Chapel Hill (in-state): accepted UVA: waitlisted Wake Forest: accepted NYU: waitlisted Emory: accepted Dartmouth: waitlisted (I did not submit a peer recommendation) Columbia: waitlisted UPenn: accepted Harvard: rejected I did a combination of the activity sheet/additional information and college planning packages and used my extra time on essay help. My mother signed me up for College Zoom in particular because it was the most transparent organization on the market regarding pricing and programs and was flexible in the way our purchased hours could be used. Before I met with David and Jackson, I was not worried about much, purely because I did not even know what to worry about. David rated my application 1D in the initial consult, meaning I had a superior academic profile but a pretty average extracurricular profile (roughly balances out to be competitive for 25% acceptance rate schools). It was a good wake-up call for me--I needed to improve, or I would end up somewhere I did not want. I went into the process expecting at least an acceptance from a 15% acceptance rate school because of my academics, so I fell into a period of anxious application writing to avoid... not that. For those unfamiliar with how the college application (or writing resumes for that matter) works, the activity sheet/additional information package was very helpful. There, I learned how to write an activity sheet entry and the additional information section to best display my accomplishments and contributions to each activity. It's one of those hygiene factors that ensure admission officers don't scoff at your application, but also, the framework of the activity sheet tutorials guided me to take on a larger leadership role in my primary club, the Literary Magazine. I like to believe that's the most appealing aspect of my activity sheet. I am very glad that I was paired with Jackson for college planning and essay help because of how useful his experiences were. My niche for the application was that I wrote poetry, and that was my thing. Jackson is a writer and went down a similar route for his college application, so he was very helpful in developing my passion project: a poetry workshop. The workshop gave me a lot to write about, which I needed, since I was lacking an example of community action (turns out a lot of schools ask about that!). Speaking of essays, College Zoom taught me a lot about what colleges are looking for with specific prompts and how to exceed their expectations. I hear a lot of my friends complain about how to write a "Why Us" college essay, and often I sat there thinking about how I had a template for those essays because that's one thing College Zoom provided; same thing with the "How Will You Contribute to Our Community" type of essay. Jackson looked at most of my essays and helped clean them up a lot; I think those essays were the reason I got in where I did. With Jackson's help, I was able to go beyond the admissions officers' expectations and know exactly why I did. At the end of the day, I left College Zoom knowing that they helped me the most out of everyone I consulted. Consultations from Ivy League/Stanford/MIT admissions officers can only go so far; even though College Zoom may not have that prestige about its brand, it is completely worth the price. Seriously, don't let it turn you away. College Zoom completely transformed my identity as an applicant, and I fully believe it could do the same for anyone else in my position. If you are debating whether to use College Zoom's services, let my review be a point in favor of doing so! read more

I am absolutely astonished with my experience College Zoom. Going with College Zoom was one of the best decisions if not the best decision I have made in my life. Before I used College Zoom, I went through this process alone. It was absolutely disheartening. I got rejected from every UC I applied to and all but one college overall( I applied to 15). The only college I got into was very low ranked and I couldn't justify going there with the cost. Those days were the hardest in my life. It was heartbreaking to watch as my friends moved on with going to good colleges and I felt like I had nothing. I felt that a gap year was in my best interest to help my family. When it came time to give the admission cycle another go, My mom and I decided that it would be best to get a college counselor. Before we found out about College Zoom, we talked to two other admission coaches. They seemed like they knew what they were doing but only cared about the money nothing else. We found College Zoom and every review had nothing but high praise. After having a consultation with David, we felt confident that he was the one to guide us through this process. He had lots of knowledge and you could tell he truly cares about his students. I begin the process. Their process is just awesome on making the best activities and brainstorming good essay topics. Griffin was just phenomenal with his essays and together we developed strong responses to each prompt. I felt very strong about my essays but know my gpa would be a challenge to overcome. Decision time comes around and wow it was just remarkable. I was told by other college coaches my gpa was way too low to even get into a mid-tier UC and one of them called my chances at UCLA" zero". UCSD decisions come and came back accepted! Several days later, UCSB decision were out and again it came back accepted! Friday came around UCLA decisions were out, as I recalled other coaches saying I had zero chances at UCLA I wasn't expecting much. As I open my decision, I erupted with happiness when I saw the blue and gold #UCLABound. My family and I were just ecstatic for hours. That was one of the best days of my life. That was the happiest I have been in a long time. As a reference of my academic profile, my gpa was only a 3.4. If that is not staggering, I don't know what is. In addition, I had no hooks, no national awards or anything of that caliber. I have so many more good things to say about David and his team but this review is getting way too long. Now, It is my brother's turn who is sophomore, and David and him are already planning his next steps. I know 100% for a fact he will set him on a great college journey like he did with me. I am proud to say that I will be joining UCLA's Class of 2024!! Go Bruins!! read more

One of the main things that astounded me about College Zoom is how detailed and prepared they were. I started my applications process with no idea what the colleges wanted, and how to give it to them. I wanted a counseling program that I could trust to use proven strategies to make the most out of every letter I typed and bring out the best of me onto the screen. And that's exactly what College Zoom delivered. Homework/instructions were given online after every 1-on-1 counseling session, so specific that all I had to do was follow exactly what they said. Every concern of mine throughout this entire process was addressed right away, and I never had a doubt that my counselors knew what they were doing. One of my main concerns was that I wouldn't have enough extracurriculars to put on my activity sheet, but College Zoom, through many steps and by making sure to bring out every little detail, eventually helped me compile a concise and impressive list of activities that each showed a different facet of what makes me a stand-out candidate. They made sure, in both my activities section as well as my essays, that every word count COUNTED. I greatly appreciate that. David is with you every step of the way, amazingly considerate and knowledgeable in his teaching. His program is so on top of things, all you have to do is follow his directions. I didn't think it was possible for me to get into my dream school, but my bug-eyed expression at the "Congratulations" on my computer screen begs to differ. Praise God, and fight on, Trojans! read more

I have no words to express how much I am grateful of this service. David and his staff are super high quality regarding college applications. Do not doubt and contact him!! read more

College Zoom is the best. They helped my daughter appeal a recent college decision. I was in awe of the amazing job they did in pulling out new insights from her that she used in writing her letter. Most importantly, understanding the likely causes of her denial was eye-opening. I have no doubts that our two meetings increased her odds of success dramatically. I was particularly surprised that they found a lot of new and compelling information that related to things that happened before she submitted her application. We had previously thought that her college essay expansively conveyed who she was, but they got things out of her that told a more complete and compelling story. My daughter's letter revealed entirely new aspects of her life and high school experience that we had not considered sharing and my daughter felt so much excitement and confidence. While we don't yet know the result of her appeal, I was so thrilled by the care and attention that went into the service we got that I just wanted to express my satisfaction. Both meetings were extremely efficient and you won't find a better value. Every minute was productively used. Next month, if our appeal doesn't work out, we will at least know the best angle to take for her transfer application. We didn't just get an appeal letter, we got the right strategy. read more

Recently, I was accepted into my dream school, the Dodge College at Chapman University, a top 3 film school. The acceptance rate was below 6% for my major. I was 1 out of the 10 who was admitted from 250+ transfer applicants. I was also admitted to other prestigious film schools such as SFTV at Loyola Marymount. The counseling that I received for years from College Zoom led up to this life changing acceptance. I cannot express how incredible David, Jackson, Lynn, and the entire team at College Zoom are. This process started back in 2019. I had just graduated high school and having gone through a tough time those few years, my record was not good. The college application process was already stressful enough and I wasn't sure what to do with my situation. When I came across College Zoom, I was skeptical at first. How could a counseling service have so much praise? But, I decided to give College Zoom a try. I got in touch with David. He responded within a couple of hours and arranged a call for the following day. He spent an hour counseling me. Right away, David genuinely wanted to help me and it showed in the way he carried the conversation. He wanted to know about me. I told David about my situation and he gave me two choices, stating that my chances for the schools I wanted to apply to weren't great. So, I could either go straight to community college and apply as a transfer or I could try applying with my current record. David suggested I go straight to community college but I wanted to apply. So I applied. Months later, I was denied from every single school. I was heartbroken but David believed in me. Although my appeals didn't go through, David reassured me it wasn't a matter of my talent rather my high school record. Thus, I attended community college for the following two years. I worked hard, followed David's advice and instructions he gave me before the start of my first semester. A year and a half later, during my third semester, I got in touch with College Zoom's again. David quickly connected me with Michael and Lynn who worked alongside me to craft the many essays and portfolio components that were needed for the schools I was applying to. The counseling focused on me. College Zoom's priority was to learn about me as a person, who I am, and what makes me unique. Not once, was there any mention of optimizing my essays for the admissions process with syntax or prose related gimmicks. Rather it was all about, what's your deeper story? In fact, after our first session I started to look forward to each session with College Zoom. Each session was productive yet fun. I was shocked at how much I was able to learn about myself and how much material I had to work with after just an hour. We worked on discovering the core of my artistic vision. Once we nailed down the artistic vision, I worked with Jackson and Lynn on my application. Jackson did a superb job at helping me write stories in my essays that displayed my uniqueness. Lynn was quick with the resume help and knew exactly what schools were looking for! About a month and a half later I found myself in an interview with a Dodge College admission's offer. I was nervous! I had emailed College Zoom the week before that I had received an email request to be interviewed. We quickly set up a mock interview call. An hour later, I came out feeling confident and ready to tackle my interview! The mock interview didn't waste a single second and helped me compose what story I would tell and what unique qualities I'd be able to showcase during my interview. The day of the interview, I sat there nervous! But, thanks to College Zoom's help, I was able to rock the interview and impress the admissions offer! Less than two weeks later, I received the acceptance letter to my dream school. From being rejected originally I was now accepted. Most importantly, this wouldn't have been possible without the amazing care, guidance, and mentorship everyone at College Zoom has given me. The best part of this process was that I learned more than I ever thought I would about myself. It's truly been a blessing. I'm forever thankful to David, Jackson, Lynn, and the rest of the College Zoom team. You cannot go wrong with College Zoom! read more

I cannot thank College Zoom enough for helping me get into Cornell University's college of engineering!! As a high school senior, the entire admissions process is very stressful and confusing at times, especially since I'm a first-generation student. Working with David initially, I loved his enthusiasm during our meetings, and he really put in a lot of time and effort in our introductory call, so we knew College Zoom was right for us. I was incredibly impressed with the level of organization that they have: David and his team always reply to email very quickly and use every minute of our time productively. As an organized person myself, I was super happy to see that David and his team had a clear/logical plan for me since day 1. Not only does College Zoom help with writing essays, but also activities and planning out extracurriculars. Although I live in the EST zone, there was no issue at all with communication or setting up meeting times. Big thank you to David, Michael, Jackson, Adam, A'Lira, and all!! Couldn't have done it without them!! read more

I met David and College Zoom in 2016. We had an incredible time in brainstorming and planning my academic and professional paths. I loved how David and College Zoom developed my mind; he pushed my boundaries and exceeded my limitations in a good way. During my Grad school Prep. David and College Zoom definitely played an important part in it! During each meeting with College Zoom, it polishes me in all perspectives. David is more like a strategist and a nice mentor of mine. He is professional and comprehensive in shaping application background; he knows exactly how it works and what qualities schools are looking for. I had a very unforgettable time with Michael, my essay specialist. He was an awesome, patient and professional helper; he can easily lead you to find the most attractive stories of yours and put all pieces together. Michael gave me a lot of confidences in my application, and my essay was definitely the part let me stand out among all applicants. Again, College Zoom is the Best and the Right choice to make, like I always recommend it to all my friends. This time, College Zoom helped me get admissions to Columbia, Brandeis, BU, John Hopkins, Fordham... But I know, it helped me more than this! read more

My daughter had to write an appeal letter and reached out to College Zoom. Shortly after she had a meeting scheduled with Griffin to go over her appeal. Once the meeting was over, my daughter said, "This is the best company I have ever worked with. It was totally worth the time and I am so relieved." Both my daughter and I had some follow up questions which we directed towards David, our contact at College Zoom. David went above and beyond with his assistance and guidance. He replied to our emails quickly, answered all our questions and was extremely helpful. I highly recommend College Zoom and their services and cannot thank David enough for all of his time. read more

I literally cannot sing higher praises of the College Zoom team as a whole. As a state school transfer hoping to get into UCLA and USC, I felt like I needed the extra boost in my personal statement in order to even have a chance. However, when I met with College Zoom, I learned that the personal statement is only a small part of the entire written application. They showed me that there was a strategy to sharing different things about myself in the other written parts that most people overlook. After speaking with a classmate who used College Zoom and swore by them, I signed up. I worked with three different specialists who got to know me intimately and were incredibly knowledgeable about the specific section we each worked on, including the personal statement. They helped me brainstorm revealing aspects about myself that I never thought a college would want to know about me. And they explained how each window into my life had a strategic place in the application and connecting them would reveal a more authentic and comprehensive view of me. Even for the little things like cutting down my writing to fit the word limit, the specialists were super knowledgeable and helpful about how to condense everything I wanted to say without losing any power or detail in what I hoped to share about myself. How fast they were able to understand what I really wanted to say, even when I was at a loss for words or stuck due to writer's block, was almost magical. They always kept me moving forward, making everything easy to understand and execute. Ultimately, College Zoom not only provided me with tricks and tips to make my college application look as full and impressive as possible, but the advice and mindset they gave me has also greatly assisted me in writing everything from resumes to scholarships. Now I know how to stand out on my own. I also learned a tremendous amount about myself. Working with College Zoom helped me develop a more deliberate vision for how I want to grow personally through college. There's no doubt in my mind that without the vision they've helped me develop, my college experience at USC when I enroll this fall would not be as abundant or purposeful as I now plan to make it. Even though I was in good academic standing as a transfer, I'm dubious that I would've been accepted to USC and UCLA without the help of College Zoom. I've seen other transfers with higher grades than me get rejected and I've also heard of students who got USC's Trojan Transfer Plan offer as freshmen but still got denied as transfers. Further, there were times I was so scattered in what I wanted to say, I never would've gotten to my finished result without College Zoom. They truly helped me showcase why I'm the best candidate for the schools I applied to. I cannot recommend this company enough. UCLA and USC are so competitive nowadays, but College Zoom helped my application stand out like a diamond in the rough. Plus, I got way more intrinsic value that matters to me personally, outside of college admissions, than I expected. read more

College Zoom helped me get into my dream school, Columbia University. :) They were very helpful and their price was really reasonable. I feel like I got more value than what I paid for. The specialists I worked with not only answered all of my questions, but they were very patient with me and helped me learn an incredible amount about who I am. They asked me many provoking questions that not only taught me about the college admissions process for highly competitive schools but also revealed parts of me that I never realized before. That's more important to me than getting into a prestigious university. Above all, working with College Zoom became a learning process for me. With their help, I began seeing how seemingly insignificant experiences I've had in the past are transferable to my future, and they also helped me articulate all of that that in my application. The entire process was incredible. read more

College zoom definitely deserves five stars. Even 6 or 7. I am a student and was not accepted into my 1st choice university so I was worried about how I could write an appeal that would convince them to accept me. I called college zoom and expected a business that would be really experienced but would just look at my appeal letter and send feedback. I was also worried they would not respond after we called and asked about the appeal letter. I was wrong, college zoom responded in less than an hour and this was not a coincidence, college zoom counselors respond to emails, phone calls etc. extremely quickly. They are always there and ready to help you. Anyway, college zoom was much more personal than just sending feedback on essays. The counselor actually looked at my application with me line by line as if the counselor were an admissions officer at my 1st choice. The counselor poked holes in my application whenever the counselor could, finding all my weak points. Then the counselor and I worked on a letter and I learned exactly how to format the letter to show why I should be accepted and cover the weaker points of my application. What really distinguished college zoom from other businesses was that since we were working on the letter together, the counselor could ask me clarifying questions easily and I could help brainstorm ideas for the appeal letter. The process felt extremely personal for me and that I was not just another student. The school I applied to only accepts around 2% of the appeals (that's lower than Harvard's admission rate) so I was not expecting to be accepted but when they notified me about the appeal letter by email, I looked and I was accepted! I was so glad to be accepted and I cannot thank college zoom enough for the help they gave me with my letter. I learned so much about how to effectively position myself for this university and how to make a strong case for admission. Most importantly though, I learned so much more than just how to write an appeal letter. I learned about myself as a student, I learned about how to dig in and hone in on weak points and strengthen them and most importantly, I learned all about how I should not give up too soon because I would never know what I would be missing. Working with college zoom taught me so much about myself as a person and a student, I highly recommend using them for the college application process, appeal letters, getting off waitlists, getting better financial aid packages and anything else that is college related. Also, I highly recommend them because of the tremendous personal growth I received from them. read more

I wish I had more time to rave about David's knowledge, professionalism, attentiveness, and general helpfulness as a college counselor to both my daughter, the applicant, and me, the stressed out mom. David's program is well-organized, strategic, and effective in helping students tap into their strengths and explain their limitations in ways that are human and understandable to admissions officers. Let's face it, the level of competition for college is insane (and is driving students and parents alike toward desperate measures). David's program is timely, manageable, focused, and most importantly gets results. Suffice it to say, there are college counseling companies out there that charge a fortune and cannot deliver a quarter of what College Zoom offers. David Reynaldo meets with admissions officers regularly and knows exactly what he's doing. Go to the expert! read more

When I first reached out to College Zoom for help, my GPA was the only thing I had going for me. As a non-traditional student with other responsibilities, I had no concrete volunteering experiences or extracurricular activities so I didn't think I'd stand a chance getting into any of my top choice schools. This lack of a resume also meant that I had nothing to work with when writing my personal statement, and we all know the personal statement is paramount to being a strong candidate. Despite all my shortcomings, College Zoom was willing to take up my case. I really thank them for that because as a result, not only did I get accepted into everywhere I applied to (in a highly impacted major to boot), I also learned a lot about myself in the process of setting up my activities sheet and brainstorming for my essays. College Zoom has a fun and ingenious way of tapping into your psyche to show the colleges all your strengths. And It's important to note that based on the decision results shared by fellow applicants on College Confidential, many who had high GPA's, completed prerequisites, and good EC's (in other words, equally competitive applicants, if not better) were denied admission. I somehow was not with my really unconventional situation and less than stellar grade in a major-related class. Now looking back, I believe the saving grace of my application was my personal statement that College Zoom helped convey so well everything I wanted to say. Thank you College Zoom for making what was once a pipe dream into reality! Go Golden Bears! read more

Paying for college zoom consultation with David was the best investment of the whole college prep routine of my son so far. David gave a very to the point and individually fine-tuned for us presentation on the admissions process as well as a great personality test for my son, who has been having great trouble in finding himself lately, being overwhelmed by the whole graduation and choosing his future process. My son and I have found much more of common grounds when discussing colleges after our visit to David and it has elevated my son's motivation incredibly. Much recommended! read more

Truly an amazing 3year experience with David and his staff with my son getting accepted to his Dream School. I would recommend anybody who has a son/daughter to start early (Freshman or Sophomore yr) with College Zoom. They are not only consultants for college admissions but also "life coaches" for these kids to achieve their best in high school which translates into a great application at the end. College Zoom guided my son to be the best leader he can be in his own environment and got him out of his shell. David guided him, first from a shy introvert and transformed him to become a true leader in his community. My son wrote about his experience in his essays and the result was getting into a top elite school of his dreams. Thank you David. read more

David and his team are simply amazing. My daughter was a very competitive student (4.2, calculus dc, 5 aps, college classes, minority, stem major) we used a very expensive college service but she was getting rejection after rejection. David and his team honed into the gaps she had with her responses and USC reversed their rejection. Originally USC was her safety school! Her number one choice also moved her from the waitlist to accepted. We cannot thank David and his team enough! They are simply amazing! read more

When I first read the amazing and articulately crafted reviews College Zoom received I thought it was a scam. Every other program I checked out had mixed reviews, but everyone on Yelp had nothing but high praise for College Zoom. I decided to give it a try and contacted David Reynaldo who was the founder and a counselor for College Zoom. I can honestly say now that going through the college application process with the College Zoom team is one of the smartest decisions I have made in my life! The college application process is stressful enough in itself, and like many others I had other compounded fears on top of that such as a low SAT score, mediocre GPA, and a complete loss of how to express seventeen years of my life in less than 650 words! During my first FREE consultation with David he got rid of all these doubts and fears, as he explained the many unique ways the counselors would be able to not only help me express my strong areas, but also explain the weaker parts such as a poor grade in a positive and well received manner. David's knowledge and experience in the college application process had me absolutely sold on the program, and when David showed my parents the past success College Zoom students had they were sold too haha :) The college application process with College Zoom was so easy and stress free, as they have a step by step program that is very detailed and elaborate. I worked with several different counselors for the various section, as each counselor in college zoom has their own area of expertise. I had one counselor for the activities section, another for the essay writing section, and so on. Some people may feel it's better to have only one counselor who gets to know you and does everything with you. With College Zoom I felt like every counselor knew me just as well and provided me with the various expertise and advice that one counselor couldn't possibly do. The College Zoom counselors are also super personable and easy to talk too. College Zoom was incredibly helpful and they really go above and beyond in every little way possible. They had multiple counselors double check and read over all the work I did. Whenever I had a question, David would always reply to my emails in thorough detail within three hours. I remember I emailed him past midnight once and he replied at 2am! The man doesn't sleep! David was so helpful and transparent about everything throughout the whole process and my time working with College Zoom felt like a wonderful journey that not only helped me showcase my best self, but also helped me grow and realize the potential that I have. David even went as far as to help me with the additional information section. I told him about my love for NBA basketball and he "encouraged" (forced) me to email someone within the Lakers organization... Next thing ya know I'm on the Lakers hardwood taking pictures of Lonzo Ball and the entire Lakers team. There's so much good things to say about College Zoom and it's crazy for me to think about how far I've come in only several months. I am proud to say that with the help of the College Zoom team, I will be attending Bucknell University next fall with a four year full ride scholarship. I'm a seventeen year old who just spent an hour writing this review, so you better believe College Zoom was well worth it! Most reviews are only a few sentences at best, and I think one of the reasons I chose College Zoom was because the reviews they received sounded so genuine and detailed. Given the amount of extra help, genuine care, expertise, and time College Zoom shares and invests in every one of their students, writing this review would be the least I can do to thank them. read more

Hi guys this is a long over due review and it's also my first time ever writing one. I just want to start off by saying when I went to David sophomore year I had 2 Cs on my transcript for core classes and I had a solid 3.4 WEIGHTED GPA in a school where honors classes also gets a 5. So yeah I was in a pretty bad situation. My counselor at my private prep school kept pushing me to apply to state schools ED and EA because he believed I had no chance in anything else. Lemme just tell you telling him I got accepted to a school with an 9% acceptance rate for class of '26 in addition to a school that was ranked top 3 in my major felt really really good. Working with David was probably one of the best choices I've ever made. He not only helped me improve my academic transcript and resume but also helped me find my passion and that led me to realize what major I wanted. Then through application season I was probably the least stress out of all my peers because I started through summer with help from them. I felt like I wasn't looping in circles like a lot of other people and I was almost done with everything by the time school started. read more

New update! I was recently accepted to UC Santa Barbara's Theatre major- that's 3 for 3! I definitely recommend college zoom (: