Collegewise - Orange County

(51 reviews)

6.8 mi

We are extremely grateful for the support this college counseling company provided our family…read morethroughout my daughter's high school. The process of preparing for college applications was overwhelming, but the guidance we received made all the difference. Felicia, who worked directly with my daughter, was outstanding, supportive, knowledgeable, and always encouraging. She helped keep everything organized and made sure my daughter felt confident every step of the way. She was always there for my daughter when she needed her. Justin, the owner, has clearly built a wonderful program that truly supports students and families. We're thrilled that my daughter was accepted into the university she had been hoping for, and we're very thankful for their role in helping make that happen. Very Highly recommend.

My student sat for practice tests in AP Chem and AP Calc AB with Premier Prep. Justin was friendly,…read morehelpful, and very responsive.

Friendly rivalry between future Class of 2029

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Alison Cotter

(17 reviews)

13.4 mi

After Alison helped my daughter get into her dream school UCLA, I turned to her to help my son. He…read morewas transferring from a CC to an UC. His hard work & her help with his essays really paid off. He will be starting at UC Berkeley this fall. One of the things I appreciated most was Alison's responsiveness and willingness to make revisions promptly. Her professionalism and attention to detail made the process smooth and stress-free. Thanks to Alison both my kids got admitted to top schools.

My son worked with Alison the Summer between his Junior and Senior year in high school on his…read morecollege essays. Her style of working with my son, as well as her knowledge of how to shape the essays for the major my son was applying to were valuable and in sightful. Alison communicated very clearly through out the process, both with me and my son, which made things so easy. I highly recommend using Alison for your college essays. I can firmly say it made the difference, as my son got into his dream school.

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Ivy College Prep

(13 reviews)

6.8 mi

Ivy College Prep helped me get accepted to my dream school, USC! If you are looking for academic or…read morecollege counseling, I highly recommend Ivy College Prep as your number one choice. Not only does Ralph Becker prepare you for college applications, but he also continues to guide and mentor even after graduating college. Mr. Becker works extremely hard for the students, but you must also be willing to put in the hard work to get the results you want. Mr. Becker will help you write eloquently, but be prepared to write a lot! If you want help for college, contact Mr. Becker ASAP!

Ralph Becker is excellent!!! He helped my son get into his first choice university. Ralph provided…read morethe motivation and inspiration that my son needed. I did not have to nag my son as much as I expected and was so pleased with the outcome. Essentially, Ralph saved our relationship while helping us through the grueling college application process. I highly recommend Ivy College Prep. Money well spent.

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Strategic College Consulting

(27 reviews)

0.9 mi

Strategic College Consulting is the absolute top of the game. After working with them, their…read moreguidance helped me earn admission to many schools, including Stanford, Caltech, Berkeley, Brown, and more. The thing that has stuck with me, though, is that they are not just knowledgeable but genuinely care about my journey, and I really felt that they wanted to help me reach my full potential. I cannot thank them enough and feel they are absolutely worth working with, given how much my life's trajectory has changed since working with them. Their feedback on my essays and app was absolutely invaluable, and their scientific methodological breakdown approach was reassuring. I personally worked with Dr. Brian Haig and have also spoken with Dr. Jeffrey Haig, and I highly recommend either of them if anyone else is looking for a college counselor! Thank you so much for everything!

We reached out to Strategic College Consulting after seeing its outstanding Google reviews, which…read morefar exceeded those of other firms in Orange County, and chose to work with Dr. Brian Haig. His guidance proved invaluable; our son was accepted not just to a few strong schools, but to several of the most competitive institutions in the country, including Caltech, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Brown. Dr. Haig was transparent and upfront about pricing, and his feedback on essays was particularly impactful. He helped our son present not only his academic strengths but also his intellectual curiosity and emotional maturity, qualities that truly differentiate applicants at the highest level, where many candidates already have near-perfect scores. He also provided strategic guidance on presenting extracurricular activities and honors/awards in a way that maximized their impact. Based on our experience, we enrolled our two younger children earlier in high school, which has allowed them to more intentionally plan and prioritize meaningful activities. On a personal level, Dr. Haig is kind, very responsive, and genuinely invested in his students' success. He has also served on the admissions committee of various colleges, and he brings this wealth of information, insight, and experience to his work. We highly recommend him and have already referred family and friends.

Our Irvine office is located conveniently in the heart of Orange County near the University of California, Irvine (UCI)

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Premiere Prep

(22 reviews)

0.6 mi

I highly recommend Justin and his team. Justin is professional, communicative, honest and…read moreunderstanding. He truly wants to help students put forth the best versions of themselves in the application process. Premier Prep is the ideal partner for navigating college admissions throughout the course of high school or simply if you need application help during senior year. I can't say enough good things about Justin and Premier Prep!

Though Premiere Prep is typically geared towards high school students preparing for college, I used…read morethis company for hourly consultations for my academic transition. I didn't know it when I met him, but Justin was a game changer for me. I never knew the value or importance of receiving professional academic/career guidance. I can honestly say that I would not be nearly close to where I am today without Justin's guidance or support. He has helped me in my professional development through editing my resumes, interviewing skills, and most importantly, he saw my potential and helped me realize it too. His advice is honest and compassionate (though not necessarily what I always wanted to hear) and he wholeheartedly invested his time in me. Justin helped me transition through one of the most difficult times in my life between undergrad and post-undergrad at UCI. These days, I am proud to say I am at my top choice graduate program in occupational therapy. Whether it is college counseling or personal development, you couldn't be in better hands with Justin or his team at Premiere Prep.

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Kaplan Educational Group

(8 reviews)

0.3 mi

Greg worked with both of my sons, one who is at Penn, and the other who is currently deciding…read morebetween Penn, Dartmouth, and Georgetown. I can't say enough about Greg - he's obviously effective, but he also achieves the elusive balance of being realistic AND inspiring. His successes and the depth of his experience would be reason enough to send your kids to him, but he's also just a great person who can read your kids and come up with great suggestions for them (what angle/theme to take throughout high school, what colleges would be a good fit, ideas for essays, etc.) I can't recommend him highly enough.

The service is excellent, with great counselors and highly knowledgeable staff members who have…read morebeen very thorough. They helped my older son significantly in finding his way to a great college, and we're now utilizing their services again for our second child.

UCLA. We work with students interested in all types of colleges and programs.

Effective guidance for success in the college admissions process.

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Earning Admission has been featured in newspapers, magazines, and parenting sites throughout the world.

Nancy Fries Essay and Application Advising

(1 review)

2.2 mi

Ms. Fries was an amazing resource over the course of the whole application process. With her help,…read moreI ended up getting into my dream school, which I hope to attend this fall. I highly recommend her services to anyone who wishes to get a leg up on their college applications.

From the owner: Nancy Fries provides guidance to high school seniors and transfer students on their college…read moreadmission essays. She thoroughly enjoys working closely with her students, helping them craft essays that reflect their unique qualities and add a personal element to their college applications. A professional writer for more than 30 years, Nancy teaches her students how to effectively tell their stories. She holds a certificate as an independent educational consultant from UC Irvine Extension and has a thorough understanding of the American college admissions process. Nancy also provides freelance writing services to a variety of clients. Her work includes magazine articles, newsletters, web copy, annual reports, promotional materials, and blog posts. Nancy earned a master's degree from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and a bachelor's degree from University of Pennsylvania.

Great Expectations College Prep

4.9

(37 reviews)

40.0 mi

My son dreamed of NYU Tisch Film and we knew we needed help in the applicaton process. Jen at Great…read moreExpectations recommended the perfect fit. Sajel Oelerich made the college application process so seamless and SO much easier. From the moment my son first spoke with her, he knew that Sajel was the key to getting into his dream school. Her patience, advice, demeanor and enthusiasm were beyond incredible. She gently pushed him and helped him to see how much more he could bring to his applications. He looked forward to his sessions and after each one he came out more energized, more excited and SO much less stressed out. He got into his dream school! Thank you so much Sajel and thank you Great Expectations! -Deb S.

We had a terrible experience with this group. I would have told the owner director had she ever…read morechecked in during the process. We did not even use all of the hours.

Helping high school students and their families since 2006

Founder, Jen Kaifesh

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In-home test prep and college counseling

College Greg

(3 reviews)

13.4 mi

Greg was recommended by a friend of mine and at first I wasn't sure we would need him. My son had a…read moregreat GPA and very good SAT score, so we thought we could do all the college applications essays himself. Well, a month before he was supposed to submit his essays he decided that he did not like what he wrote and that it wasn't representing who he was. In a panic mode we contacted Greg to help. In just a month they were able to do an incredible common app essay and over 10 supplemental essays for all the EAs my son was sending out. In short 2 months my son was able to submit around 40 supplemental essays to various top 20 Engineering schools. Greg provided an amazing structure, accountability and results. It made the process so much easier and stress free, not only for my son, but also for us, the parents. And the best part of this process is, that it gave my son a much clearer picture of who he was, what he strengths are, he was able to grasp all his accomplishments from someone that has never met him before and it's not his relative. PARENTS this is HUGE for a teenager!!! We are early in the game but so far from the 2 universities that my son applied early to, with decisions by the end of the year, he was accepted to both. We can't wait to see where he ends up going! Thanks Greg, for all your help!

My daughter is currently in 10th grade, so we have a long journey ahead of us. We decided to hire…read moreGreg during the summer between 9th and 10th grade as the college app landscape has changed so drastically. He has helped us with some critical course selection choices. We will use him for ACT prep this summer as well as math tutoring. We know this is an area of strength for Greg, as tutoring was his prior career. Greg has a great demeanor. He is very approachable and he listens attentively. Greg provides balanced, fair, and honest feedback that leaves us realistic yet hopeful about college prospects. We feel so fortunate to have found an "all in one" tutor and college counselor who will guide us through these next few years.

Greg's visit to Stanford University

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Greg's visit to University of San Diego

ModernBrain

Certified professionals

We live in the bay area in northern CA. My son has been with ModernBrain (remotely) for 3 years and…read moreis heading to high school after this summer. He learned so much from Modernbrain's dedicated and knowledgeable coaches. He also built a lasting friendship with his peers in Modernbrain who share the same passion with him. Our experience with ModernBrain is nothing but great. I would highly recommend it to anyone who might start exploring interst or would like to sharpen skills in specific speech/debate category. BTW, their tuition and tournament fee is very reasonable and transparent, not like some other instituitions in the bay area.

I was watching my 7 year old daughter do her ModernBrain speech and debate class for the 1st time…read moreand the coach asked her to argue the pro of reading versus watching a film. I immediately thought this was going to be hard for her because she definitely loves her movies. Instead what I found was a thoughtful argument for something that I knew would be hard for her. For example, she cited that through reading you can become a better writer, and have better comprehension because you see the same words and gain familiarity. In addition to better reasoning, she was also able to structure her argument better than I expected. She started her argument with a hook which is a question to draw the listener into her speech then she stated a couple of her main points before she began to get into the meat of her argument. I found the whole thing adorable but I'm sure it will also serve her well in all future academic endeavors. I know it'll be useful even for meetings in the business world if 7 year olds are allowed!

MSTOC -Kentucky

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MSTOC -Kentucky

Sunsational Swim School - At-Home Swim Lessons

4.8

(332 reviews)

9.1 mi

We decided to extend our swim lessons with Jenna and we're delighted with my son's progress. He…read morelikes swimming now and isn't afraid of the water. We got to go on a kayak adventure (he was wearing a life jacket) in some pretty choppy seas and he loved it! Thank you for bringing a love of water to our family! Updated: we came back to sunsational for another set of lessons to build by sons swim strength even further. We're loving our time with his new instructor, Bella! She is such a patient, encouraging, and specific swim teacher. She was worked so well with Connor and he's grown so fast. He is now a very strong and confident swimmer who I can feel safe letting him play and have fun in the pool or the ocean. Thanks Bella!

The convenience and comfortability of being able to use our own pool to have our children learn to…read moreswim was such a benefit. We had lessons with Elizabeth, who did an amazing job at being consistent and encouraging the kids to try things that they might be fearful of. Through this consistency and explanation of the process She gained their trust to create a safe space of learning and trying new things. I could not be more grateful. My son who is 6 went from being afraid to put his face in water to jumping in to the deep end of the pool and swimming to the ledge. My daughter who is 3 and had also had some fears, based on seeing her brothers reactions, has also learned to be comfortable going under water and learning how to tread to keep herself above the water when she needs help. All within 12 x 30 minute lessons each. This experience has been invaluable in giving myself and my children peace of mind when around water and really bringing out the joy in the swimming experience. I would highly recommend and trust the process.

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Little Angels Family Childcare

Women-owned & operated

As first-time daycare parents, we were very nervous about starting daycare, but the experience has…read moreexceeded our expectations. Even after just a few days, our little one has adjusted so much better than we imagined. The owner and staff have been patient, caring, and supportive during the transition. We were honestly amazed that he was able to nap in a sleeping bag alongside the other children, especially since he normally has a very specific routine at home. It almost felt like magic! We know it's still early, but we're so grateful for the care, attention, and reassurance we've received. It's such a relief to see our child feeling comfortable, safe, and excited to go to daycare.

My husband and I could not be happier that we found somewhere as trustworthy and engaging as Little…read moreAngels for our 2.5 year old son. Elle and Azie made the transition to daycare so seamless and provided an abundance of updates about our son's progression to make us completely comfortable. We love the daily updates of the activities that they work on - the crafts are the cutest and really show intention in what the class is learning everyday. The activities are all rooted in some type of development and we love seeing all of the creativity that goes into making each day different and fun. Our son loves outdoor play and the playground set up is really great. Plenty of space and age appropriate toys outside to release his wiggles during their outdoor time. We are truly so fortunate to have found someplace as special as Little Angels! The entire staff takes health and safety seriously and we appreciate all of the coordination and attention to detail. We are so thankful and look forward to bringing our daughter to Little Angels to join our son in the future!

Backyard at Little Angels Childcare

Backyard with enriching toys and plenty of play space!

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Playroom at Little Angels

Catalyst Kids - Newport Heights

(3 reviews)

3.7 mi

Newport Heights CDC provides an excellent and high quality after schools program year round. The…read moreSummer Camp is so much fun and the kids who I tutor love it. They go on many fun field trips and adventures that the kids adore. The teachers are all awesome especially Miss Valerie and Miss Marsha. I think they are enrolling right now for summer too. It really is so much fun and I cannot recommend it highly enough. I cannot wait to go back and join them this summer to help out on some camp days and trips.

Best place ever! My girls love it!! Miss Marsha and Miss…read moreValerie are so warm and caring. My two girls have been going there for years and its like a home away from home. They help them with homework and always come up with cool clubs and activities. Most importantly, they listen to the kids and give them a vote to include them and make them feel important. Would highly recommend this place. As a mother, its reassuring to know that my girls are in safe hands! My girls give them 2 thumbs up.

Pictures are from various CDC locations

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Giant Step Learning Center

4.9

(19 reviews)

1.4 mi

I can't say enough good things about Giant Step Learning Center. As a parent, I was really nervous…read moreabout leaving my daughter in someone else's care for the first time, but the staff here has gone above and beyond to make the transition easier than I ever expected. Mrs. Martha has been such a gift for us. My daughter is usually very shy and takes a while to warm up to new people, but she completely adores Mrs. Martha. When she's having a hard moment or feeling unsure, she automatically goes to her for comfort, which says a lot about the trust and bond they've built. You can just tell she has a special way with kids. The center also keeps me updated on how my daughter is doing what she ate, how she napped, if anything unusual happened. Those little updates mean a lot and give me peace of mind while I'm away. As any mother we wanna know our children are being cared for and these amazing women definitely do that. I also have to mention Ms. Jazmin, the director. On the very first day, I started tearing up when I dropped my daughter off. Ma. Jazmin comforted me and shared that she went through the same emotions when she left her own child at daycare for the first time. Just that reassurance and understanding made me feel better. Another thing worth mentioning is that their rates are much more affordable compared to most places in the area, especially considering how popular the location is being right near The CAMP. It's getting the best of both world's quality care at a price that doesn't feel overwhelming. We honestly feel lucky to have found Giant Step. It's been such a positive experience, and I'm grateful every day knowing my daughter is in such good hands. Overall, everyone I've met here is warm, approachable, and clearly cares about the kids. They even do little events for families throughout the year, which makes the place feel more like a community.

We enrolled our son here last year when he was just 3 years old. At the beginning, he needed to be…read morewith another child so he wouldn't feel too shy, but now we've seen tremendous improvement in his confidence and learning. He truly enjoys going to school and loves his teachers, especially Ms. Martha and Ms. Anabel. I highly recommend this school to parents who are looking for quality education and a nurturing environment for their children. Their tuition fees are also more affordable compared to other nearby learning centers, which makes it an even better choice.

Easter 2025! 2-year-old class.

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Coastal Children's Learning Center

(34 reviews)

2.0 mi

I (we) think that Coastal is simply a fantastic pre-school run by equally fantastic teachers and a…read moregreat director. We dug deep prior to enrolling our little at Coastal and found it to be the most well-balanced pre-school that allows kids to both learn as well as engage in outdoor play. While we loved ENC, for example, and even got a place to enroll, I can't have our kid looking at leaves all day long without any formal learning or curriculum. Coastal delivers both education (we want to educate our kids right?) as well as the essential outdoor play, interactive, creative and group play. The kids are great. The campus is fantastic. It's a well run machine and there's plenty of value. Love this place and we highly recommend it.

Love Coastal! One joined at 18 months all the way to when she went to TK. The younger also joined…read moreat 18 months and has 1 more year left. The teachers are amazing and the kids always come home happy and cheerful telling us about what they did that day. Such a great place for kids to make friends and play every day!

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Swim with Mike Arentz

4.9

(32 reviews)

4.9 mi

We're about to start on our 2nd year with Coach Mike and this is the best investment we could make…read morefor our kids. Coach Mike is calm but firm and the after each lesson our kids are visibly better swimmers.

My sons took lessons with Mike almost 3 years ago. My youngest had been taking lessons at Lifetime…read moreFitness for almost a year with no progress. To put it into perspective, he was deathly afraid of the water and wouldn't even put his head in even if he was standing on the steps of the pool. Mike had him swimming in less than 2-3 lessons. He now does the 100 yard freestyle in 1:45 and is doing the Newport Beach Junior Lifeguards this summer.

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Collegewise - Orange County - collegecounseling - Updated August 2026

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I first learned about Joey Lin's services after reading some of his insightful and informative…read moreposts in a college-focused parenting group that I'm in. Parents thank him by the hundreds for his invaluable contributions to our discussions - and his YouTube videos are a great resource, too. Although we don't live in the area, when my daughter needed guidance on some very specific questions regarding her UC application, I knew that Joey had the exact expertise to help her through the process. As a UC expert, I felt very confident that his consulting services would be beneficial in helping my daughter put her best foot forward as we slogged through the complicated journey of applying to these highly competitive, top-tier flagship schools here in California. Utilizing Joey's services was a great decision and my daughter was very comfortable working directly with him as he reviewed her application and made meaningful suggestions to help her through the final application phases. I appreciate his responsiveness and kindness in working with my daughter through this stressful time. I would not hesitate to recommend him to other parents also seeking a professional consultant who is well-versed in the mechanics of how to produce impactful and successful UC applications.

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Ivy College Prep helped me get accepted to my dream school, USC! If you are looking for academic or…read morecollege counseling, I highly recommend Ivy College Prep as your number one choice. Not only does Ralph Becker prepare you for college applications, but he also continues to guide and mentor even after graduating college. Mr. Becker works extremely hard for the students, but you must also be willing to put in the hard work to get the results you want. Mr. Becker will help you write eloquently, but be prepared to write a lot! If you want help for college, contact Mr. Becker ASAP!

Ralph Becker is excellent!!! He helped my son get into his first choice university. Ralph provided…read morethe motivation and inspiration that my son needed. I did not have to nag my son as much as I expected and was so pleased with the outcome. Essentially, Ralph saved our relationship while helping us through the grueling college application process. I highly recommend Ivy College Prep. Money well spent.

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It's a terrible educational institution. that only knows how to charge you extra money to pay exfor…read moreAp or any others activities.The teachers are have no experience , no helpful

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Strategic College Consulting is the absolute top of the game. After working with them, their…read moreguidance helped me earn admission to many schools, including Stanford, Caltech, Berkeley, Brown, and more. The thing that has stuck with me, though, is that they are not just knowledgeable but genuinely care about my journey, and I really felt that they wanted to help me reach my full potential. I cannot thank them enough and feel they are absolutely worth working with, given how much my life's trajectory has changed since working with them. Their feedback on my essays and app was absolutely invaluable, and their scientific methodological breakdown approach was reassuring. I personally worked with Dr. Brian Haig and have also spoken with Dr. Jeffrey Haig, and I highly recommend either of them if anyone else is looking for a college counselor! Thank you so much for everything!

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