I recommended Leo Consulting to my cousin, whose sons are getting ready for college. They have very…read moreunique backgrounds and needs, such as interest in different sports and an interest in premed (but not necessarily heading into many years of medical school). My cousin absolutely raved about Maxine's service, and I would feel highly confident recommending her to anyone who wants guidance in the transition from high school to college. What sets Maxine's consulting apart from other college consulting is that she is focused on exploration and investigation, which leads to finding hidden gems within the student and learning more about the infinite college options that few ppl know exist. I would say it's safe to say that in Irvine, many families and students hone in on HYP schools and the namebrand schools, but they may not necessarily be a good fit for the student. The best results come from students who are open to exploring good matches as opposed to aiming for a top Ivy, since Maxine's goal isn't to help students aim for goals that other people designed for them. On top of what she does for helping students find their fit, she also is particularly skilled at mediating and facilitating complex parent-teen relationships/communication issues that often come up in the process. Maxine goes deeper than the surface, and enjoys working with parents and teens equally so that both sides are heard and seen.

We'd interviewed at least 5 different college counselors before deciding to go with Maxine. When…read moreyou first meet her, you'll realize she asks A LOT of questions, so get ready to learn a lot about yourself while talking for her. She has an extensive background in investigative journalism, which is what sets her apart from other college counselors in O.C. She's not nosy but simply has a way of getting ideas out of others' heads and giving them credit for the whole process. Maxine was able to somehow ask the right questions and identify where we needed the most help with college apps, curate a personalized college plan, and efficiently serve our needs without us having to go with a $30k comprehensive package elsewhere. Every meeting with Maxine was relaxed but productive with her insights on hidden gem colleges that we weren't initially familiar with but ended up loving. We ultimately got into 3 dream schools with her help and just committed to 1. She's the most competent, respectful, and coolest college counselor out there! Don't look anywhere else.

We had a great experience working with Munira on both of my kids' applications. She's supportive,…read moreknowledgeable, and motivating. What stood out most was how genuinely she cared and how consistently she kept my children's best interests in mind. She put a clear structure to a very stressful process, helped the kids navigate all the tasks and requirements, and always followed through until everything was completed. I'm glad we had the chance to work with her--and both my kids are happy with the outcome.

She is one of the best and most caring counselors that one can have. I moved to USA three years ago…read morewithout any background of USA transfer and college system. She walked me through all the steps. Thanks to her guidance, I got admitted to my first choice UC which was UC Berkeley.

I highly recommend AR Academic to any family with high school kids who need test prep…read more It starts with a diagnostic test taken without any prep, followed by a consultation with Mr. Michael. He helps you figure out which test (ACT or DSAT) is the better fit for your child, and together you map out a strategic plan from the start. From there, the program is well structured: a personalized schedule, weekly tutoring sessions, and mock tests every other week so students always know where they stand. What I really appreciated was how seriously the tutors take the homework. All materials are drawn from real past tests, and students are given assignments before each session. The tutors analyze that work and tailor their instruction accordingly, so every session feels targeted, not generic. My kids came home after each session with a clearer sense of what they needed to work on, and noticeably more confident. For AP prep, Ms. Amanda was wonderful. She kept my kids motivated even when the stress started to pile up, and her upbeat energy is exactly what they needed. As for results: both of my children scored in the 99th percentile on their tests, one on the ACT2024 and one on the DSAT,2026 and earned 5s across the board on their AP exams. We couldn't be more grateful.

Truly the best of the best. From standardized test prepping (where score are back and make a huge…read moredifference in applications), to essay support, Amanda and her team are AMAZING!

Rebecca Sabatino is an exceptional advocate. She has extensive knowledge of IDEA and the IEP…read moreprocess, and she comes thoroughly prepared for every meeting. My husband and I always felt supported and confident that she truly had our son's and family's best interests at heart. Rebecca strikes the perfect balance between being calm and collaborative while also never hesitating to advocate firmly when needed. She has guided us through several very contentious IEP situations, always presenting herself in a calm, professional, and concise manner. She has supported us through some of the most challenging moments of our educational journey, and we recommend her without hesitation to any parent seeking knowledgeable and compassionate educational support.

Amazing Advocate I really enjoy working with her. She has done a lot for my son. I will never go…read moreinto another IEP without her.

I've been coming to this location for a few years now, and it's always a great experience. The…read moreinstructor keeps things up to date by going over any new guidelines or updates from the American Heart Association, and she makes sure we have all the important information without dragging the class out. I'm usually in and out within 2.5 to 3 hours, which I really appreciate.

Dr. Said is an effective teacher. Helps you retain important information that will…read morehelp you save a life. The class is interactive and fun.

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!

As I'm about to send the kid off to school, it felt appropriate to write this review since it…read morewouldn't have happened without them. The kid is a great applicant, but trying to guide her on my own was a nightmare. After trying that approach for far too long, I enrolled her in this program and instantly felt at ease. I didn't have to nag because they kindly nudged the kid with all that needed to happen. They had all these additional tips that I had no clue about. Like little known, less competitive majors or what tired, overdone personal statement topics to avoid. Well worth the money for expert advice and less fighting. Ok, I can't help myself. I have to brag that the kid is a UCLA Bruin. Couldn't be prouder. Feels like I was the one admitted!

Came across Senior procrastination Package as the name indicates ... late. My son is my only…read morechild, so I had plenty of regrets about not starting the college preparation process sooner. I had him at 20 and attended college later as an adult so I wasn't quite aware of the process out of high school. I was sooo happy that I found them. Julie was simply amazing and broke everything down for me and supported my son by prioritizing his needs with the deadlines, help with the application process, and utilizing their essay review service. I knew that signing up in the summer before my son's senior year wouldn't magically make everything right, but it definitely brought down the stress level for both of us. Apparently, they sell out every year and I'm glad I was able to get a spot. If you have a child who needs help for the college admissions process, don't wait until school starts their senior year. I wish I would have known about their parent companies Premiere Prep and Junior Scramble sooner, but you live and learn. Hopefully I've saved one parent from procrastinating with this post!! Looking forward to some good news in the months ahead for my son.

highly recommend her as a tutor! She was incredibly kind, patient, and knowledgeable throughout the…read moreentire process. She was also very flexible with scheduling and always worked around my busy work schedule, which I greatly appreciated. She has a great way of breaking down difficult concepts and making them much easier to understand. After being out of school for over 12 years, I was nervous about preparing for the HESI exam, but her encouragement and teaching style gave me the confidence I needed to succeed. Thanks to her support and guidance, I passed my HESI exam! I am so grateful for her help and would recommend her to anyone looking for a dedicated and effective tutor.

I cannot say enough great things about Yara! She tutors my daughter in Bio H. My daughter was…read morestruggling in understanding the info given in class and since she has been working with Yara, she is getting nothing less than A's on her tests and in fact, today she got a 100%. More important than her scores, she is finally understanding the material. Yara breaks down all her slides in ways that it's easy to understand and retain. She has several friends now that have joined Yara in tutoring as well. You are best Yara.. thank you!