We had a wonderful experience with Erin and Laura at Central Coast College Consultants. They helped…read moreus navigate the process so smoothly and really put the ownership and responsibility in the hands of our daughter which is such an empowering and important way to approach it. Erin and Laura exposed our daughter, Lil, to universities that she was not even aware of and guided the entire process from beginning to end. She is now attending a prestigious art school in New York and we couldn't be happier. I continue to refer Central Coast College Consultants to friends and I feel so good about it.

Erin is a gift to students and families on the central coast. As both a consultant and a university…read morefaculty member I know firsthand how tirelessly she works to provide superior service for all her clients. With respect to the sole negative review I will simply say that many people who work with consultants fail to understand the behind the scenes work that goes into meeting client needs. Our time is valuable and we assign a monetary value to that time. This is the nature of business. If you are looking for a consummate professional that will guide you and your family through this often maddening process, Erin is by far your best option. There are happily enrolled college students across the country who will attest to that.

Laura at Sea Change was so helpful in our son's college application process. As a community college…read morestudent, he was very busy with a heavy load of schedule. Laura not only made the process easier but exciting as well. She was so patient with picking the right colleges to apply, giving plenty of information on each one of them with requirements, majors and campus life. Her detailed spreadsheet with timeline and college specific information made our son stay on track each week without feeling overwhelmed. He says Laura really made the whole process stress free and pleasant! Laura really listens and genuinely cares for her student!!!

From the owner: Sea Change helps students find, apply to, and choose colleges that fit them academically, socially,…read moreand financially. We work with high school students, student athletes, transfer students and those applying to graduate or professional schools. Sea Change provides college planning that is focused on finding fit and reducing stress.

If you're looking for event facilitation in San Luis Obispo, Jessica at The Decision Bar is the…read morereal deal. I've attended three events she's hosted, and every single one has been thoughtfully designed, beautifully organized, and genuinely fulfilling. She puts intention into every detail, from the structure of the experience to the way she makes every person in the room feel included. What sets her apart from other event facilitators in SLO: her prompts and activities are genuinely creative. Nothing feels recycled or cookie-cutter. She has a gift for leading people into real conversation and meaningful moments without it ever feeling forced or performative. Two of the events were women's business-focused gatherings, and I'll say this: they were professional without being stuffy, and connective without being surface-level. The third was an invitation to simply come home to yourself, not to fix or improve, just to be present as you are. It was exactly what I didn't know I needed. Jessica is warm, fun, inclusive, and sharp. Whether you're planning a corporate event, women's networking experience, workshop, or personal growth gathering in San Luis Obispo, she brings a level of craft and care that's rare. Highly recommend.

I've had the privilege of attending multiple workshops led by Jessica Yacoub, founder of The…read moreDecision Bar, and every single one has been unforgettable. Jessica has an incredible ability to create a safe, welcoming space where everyone feels seen, valued, and inspired. She doesn't waste time on surface-level conversation, within minutes, you're in deep, meaningful dialogue about topics that truly matter: leadership, systemic change, the motherhood mental load, entrepreneurship, personal growth, and building real-life community in an overly digital world. What sets Jessica apart from other life coaches and leadership facilitators in San Luis Obispo County is her combination of warmth, humor, and serious expertise. She draws on her Master's in Education, Leadership & Change, her nonprofit leadership background, and her bilingual skills to connect with people from all walks of life. She guides discussions with purpose and keeps the energy high, blending insight with fun in a way that makes learning and self-reflection exciting. Her workshops are not just meetings; they're transformational experiences. I've walked away each time with new perspectives, practical strategies, and a renewed sense of motivation for my personal and professional goals. If you're a young adult, parent, non-profit organization, business owner, or community leader looking for clarity, connection, and real-world tools for growth, I can't recommend Jessica and The Decision Bar enough. Whether it's one-on-one coaching, a team retreat, or a community workshop, Jessica brings a rare mix of empathy, vision, and leadership that will leave you feeling empowered and ready to take action. San Luis Obispo is lucky to have her!

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

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

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

From the owner: Founded by Cassie Nichols in 2010, College Specific provides college admissions consulting services…read moreto families throughout the world. In addition to individual consulting, College Specific is the creator of "College Specific Toolkits": a collection of multimedia products designed to help students prepare for and apply to college. Headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, College Specific's counselors meet one-on-one with families - in person or online - working with them to make wise academic and extracurricular choices throughout high school, build an ideal list of colleges, complete their college essays and applications, and stay organized along the way. College Specific's counselors travel throughout the United States and abroad, conducting workshops and presentations on college admissions for schools as well as private groups and organizations.

Working with Nita is one of the best experiences a parent could hope for when their teen is…read moreapplying for colleges. Nita is kind, patient (especially with eager parents!) and more importantly knows how to connect with teens! My husband and I are a bit unorganized and well, frankly, clueless about college applications and financial aid. Our son didn't seem interested in discussing colleges with us, which was also frustrating. He began sessions with Nita in January 2022 researching colleges and their locations, lifestyle and academic programs/offerings. He has enjoyed working with Nita and has made great progress. He recently completed essays and application requirements and submitted his applications. We have already recieved an acceptance letter from one college, Western Washington University! Nita is very knowledgeable about financial aid and how to prepare for freshman year. I was referred to Nita from another mom who had a similarly outstanding experience. With gratitude to Nita - The Schous.

From the owner: Nita June, College Counseling guides young adults with expertise, wisdom, and heart on their higher…read moreeducational adventures.

In Junior/High School my daughter struggled terribly…read more Today, I am traveling to see her graduate from Grad School with her Masters in Social Work. Wendy gave me hope that we'd get there somehow. Thank you for being patient with not only the kids but the parents too.

outstanding tutors are at this tutoring center. They can teach what needs to be teached in a…read moreshockingly irregular time frame. They have the best teaching methods, top of the line education! I knew my daughter would pass her tests after coming here, this place is the place to be.