Thinktango, and the people that make it what it is (Dr. Shari Aldridge and Chloe), are some of the…read moremost generous, intelligent people I have ever met and produce truly astonishing work. Before connecting with Thinktango, I had been advised by two of the United States' 'best' admissions consultants (former readers from two Ivies who operate their own independent admissions consultancy groups). Working with Shari, I could not have been more impressed and from my experience, can confidently say that she is the best possible person to offer admissions advice. As a current student at Columbia University, Shari's guidance was invaluable in my acceptance. Shari is honest, to the point, and hones decades of experience in helping students shape their applications. She provides feedback and guidance and knows exactly what is needed and where; she cares deeply about her students and is committed to going the extra step. The changes that I made as a result of our discussions were clearly distinguishing factors that further set my application apart. Shari's experience and wisdom is second to none as are her results and success. I recommend Thinktango completely and when it comes to applying to college, trust Shari and Chloes's advice above all others. Thank you both so much - I am completely indebted to you for your help and guidance!

Shari and the team at thinktango are phenomenal! We really can't thank her enough for helping our…read morefamily through not just one, but two, college processes. Our girls, one now a junior and another a freshman, were both accepted at their early decision schools. First off, when you meet Shari, it is immediately evident that she knows each college and its individual admissions process well. This is incredibly valuable in helping your child choose the right school. After getting to know each of our girls, she was spot on in her advice as to which schools would be good fits for them. Also when it came to the application process, she clearly understood what each school was looking for. After working with so many students over the years, she has accumulated a vast knowledge base of what works and what doesn't -- and it is definitely a vast spectrum. And while both girls got into their ED schools, each had a dozen applications already completed and ready to submit in early December, all of which had been customized. In terms of the actual applications, we could not have been more pleased with the final products each of our girls submitted. I recall sitting with my oldest before she hit the Submit button. We both agreed that the application in its entirety was a true representation of her - it portrayed exactly who she was as a person, not just her accomplishments. This was the real value-add that Shari provided. She got to know my child and was able to extract and have her put on paper what was truly unique and special about her. It vividly came through. This created a great sense of relief - we both felt that if she had gotten rejected, it was because the school really saw her for the person she was and just didn't feel that she was a fit. It would not have been because her application fell short in anyway. We had the same experience with my younger daughter, who could not be more different in personality and interests than our oldest. Lastly, one of the best things about working with Shari is that she and your child will own the process. We originally struggled with using a consultant -- ultimately I felt that the most important thing was preserving my daughter and my relationship. And that is exactly what happened. My husband and I were involved in the process, but only from a big picture way. We saw drafts and gave high level comments, but quickly realized that they had everything under control. As you can tell, our family had a wonderful experience with Shari! We could not recommend her more highly.

Leila is amazing and my family would have been absolutely lost without her help. We moved from LA…read moreto the Bay Area this year and she helped us figure out both middle and elementary school for our children. She has a wealth of knowledge about schools, teachers, pedagogy, the application process, how to write an essay, etc. She helped us every step of the way and also organized school visits for us on our trips up from LA. Every penny you spend on Sparkjoy Consulting is well worth it. In fact, I still text Leila with questions about extracurricular activities, restaurants, etc.! She is amazing and her sunny disposition makes her wonderful to work with through this process which would otherwise be very stressful!

I whole-heartedly agree with all these glowing Yelp reviews of Leila and her services. She brings…read morea wealth of experience as a teacher (check out her resume!) and parent to her work, and it feels like having a friend on the inside to guide you through the school selection process. Leila helped me navigate the process with more lightness, and homed in on the right questions to help us make important decisions. Leila provides a wonderful service for parents wading through the many great school choices available to East Bay families!

My husband and I attended Tori's childbirth preparation and newborn essentials class a few weeks…read moreago, as we prepare for the arrival of our baby in February. The class came highly recommended from our OB and I was happy to take any more resources that didn't involve too much doom scrolling. The entire class was very informative and it's clear that Tori is a very experienced nurse (my aunt also happens to be a L&D nurse as well). I found it very helpful that she went through all of the options in a very clinical way and it helped reaffirm what choices I had available to me. I don't think it's reasonable to expect that everyone will agree with all aspects of the class (especially when it comes to baby products), but it brought me a lot of comfort and understanding that I didn't have before.

Tori's class is fantastic. She is incredibly experienced and deeply knows the material she's…read moreteaching. The way she broke down every part of the labor and delivery experience helped ease my nerves and made everything feel more approachable. When I ultimately went into labor, I had Tori's materials right by my side to track how I was progressing. And even before then, my baby rotated into a breech position - I called Tori and she walked me through recommendations on how to encourage him to flip and what to expect with interventions from the doctor if those became necessary. Tori really cares about the people in her class and puts her whole heart into what she does. I feel lucky to have taken her class and have had her in my corner as we navigated the last few weeks of pregnancy. I highly recommend PillowTalk to any expecting family!

Ms. Angela invited the neighbors on Del Mar Avenue to learn CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation )…read moresince there had been a few medical emergency incidents over the past couple of years on our block. Her concern, care and love for people moved her to share her knowledge with us to equip us with life saving tools like CPR. She is a fantastic neighbor and instructor.

She was fantastic. She was able to come to my job in Sacramento with all necessary materials and…read morewas efficient and effective in her education. The way she presented the material was engaging. I was never bored like. I have been in other CPR trainings. Highly recommend her.

I have attended a number of Barbara's classes over the last few months. As a beginner, I found her…read moreto be very approachable and generous. She manages to make time for everyone, has a sense of humor and endless patience. There were times where I just couldn't express my thoughts in clear way, not knowing any sewing jargon, and she graciously did her best to understand. Her experience and ability to sew and teach are very impressive, there's nothing she can't do. I hope to continue learning from her in the future. I've even signed my 7 year old up for a week of summer camp with Barbara.

Sterne is a great school for kids who have learning difference! The teachers are very supportive…read moreand understanding.

Our daughter is an eighth grader at Sterne, and we are glad we made this choice for her education…read more As a teacher, I am impressed with lessons I hear about. From teaching students about marine life with the Marine Mammal Center, learning about the Innocence Project and reading about a child's experience with her father's incarceration, to reading about a migrant family and their experience in the U.S., Sterne's teachers are amazing, not shying away from challenging work and topics, despite student's academic struggles. They encourage critical thinking and empathy for all people. With dyslexia and dysgraphia, she has consistent support from her teachers, making big gains in reading. Formerly a reluctant reader, she goes to the library most weeks. The teachers and staff know my daughter as a unique individual, with strengths and talents. The school's motto is "start with strengths" and I have seen this enacted many times. She explores her interests in music, digital arts, theater and studio art with dedicated teachers creating wonderful performance opportunities: playing in a rock band, participating in a unique fairytales play, or building a carefully crafted art show. We look forward to these events each year, and there is a newfound confidence in our daughter, who was shy in the past. Additionally, the administration handled a difficult situation between our child and another student, with kindness, compassion and respect, with nearly immediate contact with me. The staff made her feel safe and empowered to speak up for herself, and I am grateful for that. We also appreciate the kind and attentive staff at the front desk and office, who always help her out. Working in public education myself, I do not take for granted the opportunities the students at Sterne have for field trips, interest-based lunch clubs, and experiential weeks. These opportunities take an incredible amount of planning. I am impressed at what they do for students who could easily become disenchanted with school. The students are lucky at Sterne. We look forward to her continued growth, and eagerly applied for the high school this past year. We are grateful to be part of the Sterne family.

I have taken my boys to 3 summer swim sessions now and have nothing but great things to say about…read morethe staff and owner, Tami. Tami ensures she has highly trained staff who effectively teach kids of all learning abilities. My two autistic sons have been doing private swim at Makai and have made great strides. They are swimming independently and I now feel so confident with them in the water. Although everyone at Makai are great, I'd like to give a special shout-out to Ashley (who has always helped me navigate through the enrollment process) and Lindsey who is an incredible swim instructor. Lindsey worked with both of my boys and has been patient and so kind. My boys and I love her! 5 stars all the way!

I brought my granddaughter to Makai when she was around 4 years old. Tami took the time to…read moreunderstand what she needed and had an instructor work one on one with her. Our main goal was to make her safer around water. Bobby was an incredible instructor for our little one! He really focused on her and on meeting her exactly where she was at. I will always be grateful for this experience for my granddaughter.

Kalu is the best Surf School in California. They coached me with the best tips to learn about this…read moreamazing sport and also Surf Lifestyle. Nacho is awesome. And you can reach your Surf goals in the School quickly and effectively. I recommend them so much. Have Fun, enjoy the Surf, enjoy life.

Guys here are great! Took my first lesson with Scotty- got a wetsuit and board and both worked…read moregreat even for me- 6'2 and 210. Walked to the beach, got some great education about the board and reading the waves, sets, breaks, and current. Got in, paddled around, and stood up on my own and rode the third wave! Everyone at the shop is great and the beach they use is filled with beginners and the vibe is friendly and welcoming to all. Highly recommend HOKALI and I'll be back!