Looking back, we started our college counseling journey so late in the game. We had some unique circumstances with my daughter's academic path and we neither had the expertise, time, or energy to navigate the nuances of selecting appropriate colleges for her consideration. I found Cliff via his Yelp reviews, explained our circumstances and set up an initial meeting to further discuss our needs. Cliff did a great job introducing himself, his experience and what he could do for our daughter. After contracting with Cliff he was able to provide us with a thoughtful, organized and comprehensive list of colleges for consideration. He provided us with informational literature regarding every step of the college admissions process. Cliff communicated primarily with my daughter keeping her on track through the college selection and application process. He kept her(us) apprised of deadlines and was crucial in vetting her application and essays. Our daughter was accepted into every college/university(all 10 of them!) of which she applied- validating that Cliff was more than qualified and experienced in his practical assessment of our daughter's qualitiesand abilities. She couldn't be happier with all her choices and has matriculated to Gonzaga University for the completion of her undergraduate college experience. We highly recommend Cliff for your college planning needs. read more

Cliff MacDonald is an excellent resource for advising college-bound students. His vast knowledge on what a college is looking for in a student is invaluable. He is very personable and patient person. He will guide your child through the college application process including those dreaded college essays. Not sure whether you need Cliff's services, no worries. Give him a call and discuss it with him. He has limited openings for new students. read more

Cliff MacDonald is an incredible resource through the entire college application process. His knowledge and understanding, as well as, knowing the various requirements, information, and strategies about so many colleges/universities across the country are unmatched. He spent a lot of time with both our sons throughout this journey. Countless hours working with them on their essays and applications. We couldn't have imagined going through this process without him. Oxford Advisors is top notch! I have 2 very happy boys with their college choices. read more

I would recommend you choose Oxford Advisors because it can help you reach your dream college just like my daughter did.

Cliff was a tremendous help in our daughter's college admission process. He worked with my daughter to identify good school options based on her interests and qualifications. Cliff worked with her to organize the process and timelines with guidance on school specific nuances and strategies. Our daughter was always kept on track with deadlines and requirements related to the various schools. She will begin college in the fall at her perfect fit. I cannot thank Cliff enough for the valuable counsel and advice he provided. read more

I wish there was an "Excellent" rating option! Senior year in high school hit us like a freight train! We weren't as on top of our daughter's college-prep as we had anticipated and before we knew it it was time to apply to colleges! We were so fortunate that Cliff made a last minute spot for us and we will be forever grateful for his help. Cliff seamlessly guided us through the entire college search, application, and financial aid process. He helped with narrowing our daughter's major, suggested an extensive list of top schools in her area of interest, and recommended interviews and steps to keep our daughter pro-active and on our top college's radar. He went the extra mile to make sure our applications were on time, had great insight and feedback on how to take our daughter's essays to the next level, and helped us keep on top of every deadline. He did all this in a very heartfelt and supportive manner. Our daughter was accepted into an amazing private school and earned a significant 4-year merit scholarship! Cliff has a wealth of industry knowledge and connections and his dedication, expertise, and professionalism is second to none. He tirelessly takes the initiative to ensure the success of his clients. I can 100% say that you would regret not working with him! read more

I met Cliff MacDonald 12 years ago and learned about his college advising service but I could not use his service until recently. My son is now looking into transferring from community college to a CSU. Cliff, my son and I scheduled a Google Meeting. We discussed the pros and cons of different CSUs in regards to the program my son is interested in plus financial costs and which schools would be the best fit. Cliff was great in directing us and is very knowledgeable and personable. I highly recommend his advising service. read more

Cliff has been really helpful in the college admission process. From searching for the right college and planning to actual applying and after applying. We are really grateful that we have found him. He helped us put together a letter to school which was originally waitlisted, and we got accepted! As a parent, I wouldn't have know what to do without him in the process. Highly recommend it!!! Awesome service! read more

Not knowing the school system in the USA and being from another country we really needed some guidance and advice for my son's schooling. My really good friend recommended Cliff. Cliff is very knowledgeable in his field, a very nice person and explained everything we wanted to know. I'm very thankful and appreciate all his help he has given my son to succeed. Thank you! read more

Recently, my wife and I decided to meet with Cliff McDonald with our daughter, who is a sophomore in high school. We were very surprised by the thoroughness of Cliff's knowledge of the college experience. He provided us with a lot of details regarding the admissions process and how his company can help us in not only selection of a school and its admission requirements, but what each school offers and how it fits into our daughters goals. One of the most important things that Cliff has extensive knowledge about and success with, is finding scholarships and funding that we were not aware of. He has very specific step by step instruction on each step of the process. We were also impressed by his reasonable fees and the options that he gave us in choosing which package of services fit our needs. Our daughter came out of the meeting with Cliff feeling more inspired to start the process of looking for a college and we felt relieved to know that there is someone like Cliff to help guide us through this journey. We look forward to working with Cliff and Oxford Advisors. read more

I have a slightly different perspective from most of the reviewers as Cliff helped me through the college application process nearly 10 years ago. I was a good student thinking about playing football in college. My parents and I got in touch with Cliff very late in the process; I think it was only a couple of months before the deadlines. Immediately Cliff expanded my horizons to schools around the country. I ended up adding several more excellent schools to my list. We met a couple of times/week and put together several rock solid applications that I believe differentiated me from the crowd. I got accepted to an excellent private college and played football for them. I am now working at a booming Silicon Valley start up and feel like I have been fairly successful. Make the investment and work with Cliff. He has an immense amount of experience that WILL make difference on your or your kid's future! read more

Cliff MacDonald is the most knowledgeable and helpful person! He offers help to students looking to get into college and I highly recommend his services. I have not had the opportunity to utilize his services, but I get to meet with him every week and hear about the amazing things he's doing for his students to get them into the college of their dreams. He helps with the whole process from beginning to end including financial aid and essays! He is honest and forthright and I am honored to have gotten to know him. read more

Being immigrant parents to a young talented daughter with a high GPA gave us an obligation to set her for a successful career life. While we have been thinking of connecting to an experienced and knowledgeable advisor, we were so lucky to come across Cliff MacDonald name. It has been a real pleasure to have Cliff with our daughter over the past 12 months on her college journey. He worked with her to develop a listing of schools that would be a good fit for her, setting a unique resume to capture the attention of colleges, editing essays that tell her story, and creating applications. All his excellent advice and support, along with my daughter's hard work, paid off so well when she was accepted to over 10 colleges! Yet the $$$ per year Financial Aid package coupled with being accepted to the University of Pacific's prestigious Accelerated Dental Program!!! We cannot appreciate Cliff enough who puts my daughter for a fruitful life Thanks Cliff, Please continue passing down your experience to other talented students like ours! read more

If you have any doubts at all or the whole college process seems intimidating, don't worry. Oxford Advisors is here to save the day! Cliff is the greatest college advisor out there and I couldn't recommend him more. He knows everything from finding the perfect fit school to how to apply and tackle the application properly. He knows the process super well, and he is definitely an expert in the field. He helped me a lot through this process and I would've been overwhelmed and lost without him. He also truly cares about each of his students and will go far out of his way to help each and every one of us. Cliff is basically the Superman of the college application process. This guy is phenomenal, you won't regret working with such an amazing counselor. read more

Cliff MacDonald is superb. Before we found Cliff, we hired another college advisor who gave us a workbook and not much else. When my son got waitlisted at his dream school, we hired Cliff to advise us. Cliff interviewed my son and asked insightful questions. Then, he encouraged my son to dig deep and write an appeal. A few days later, the call came through: my son was accepted! Other parents agree: Cliff is the best. He gets to know your student first, and then creates a custom list of colleges with unique programs. He offers specific advice to guide you. My son is extremely happy with his final choice. Cliff knew it would be a good fit, and he was right. read more

Hiring Cliff to help my daughter apply to her school of choice was the best decision I've made. Before we hired Cliff, we found the UC College application process was overwhelming and we needed help. Cliff came highly recommended by a dear friend. Immediately, Cliff took the pressure off my shoulders and organized and structured a plan for my daughter. She and Cliff worked closely together. He guided her every step of the way. My daughter was involved in her application 100 percent with Cliff's guidance and expertise. Without Cliff's expertise we would not have properly filled out some crucial information because it was hard to understand and apply it to the things that were important to my daughter. My daughter was accepted to her UC school of choice and I am certain it would not have happened without his guidance. Our family recommends Cliff MacDonald and Oxford Advisors to any student wanting to attend College. read more

I have known Cliff MacDonald for a couple of years and have come across a number of parents who have used his College Admission services for their children. I have heard nothing but the most eloquent words of gratitude and satisfaction for the guidance he provides over an extended period of time, sometimes over more than 3 years, helping students select their preferred college or university, determining what their requirements are in terms of subjects, grades, even valuable summer internships, that influence acceptance. Cliff specializes in student athletes whom he steers through a special admittance process, securing hard-to-get scholarships. It is evident that Cliff MacDonald offers years of experience that ease the way into college for many lucky students. read more

I would recommend Cliff MacDonald and Oxford Advisors to any High School student looking at attending the right College. Cliff is an expert at listening to your needs, developing a plan, and working diligently on executing the plan. Any parent who wants to get their child into the right school must work with Cliff. read more

Cliff is an expert when it comes to college admissions. He knows about the application process, financial aid, and specializes in sports scholarships. As a financial advisor, I'm constantly calling him on behalf of my clients. And Cliff always delivers! Even if you don't think having a college advisor is needed for your child's needs, CALL Cliff to make sure. Unlike other college advisors I know, I can honestly say that Cliff has a passion for his students, and not the profits of his business. Plus his initial meeting is complimentary so you have nothing to lose. read more

I have known Cliff for several years and can say there is nobody that cares more about his students and the families he works with. Whether they are a student-athlete or simply want to explore their passion at a school that fits them well Cliff is the guy to go to at Oxford Advisors! read more

Cliff McDonald made a highly complex situation so much easier that it's hard to imagine going through it without him as a co-pilot. The amount of information about universities is overwhelming and comes from so many different sources, to include college websites, independent organizations, students, faculty, parents and other experts. Without Cliff's thoughtful expertise and analysis to make sense of all of the information it would have been impossible to understand and apply it to the things that were important to our student. He made it easy to pick out the things to place emphasis on and the things to discount. Not only is Cliff's expertise superior, his approach is incredibly calming. I will definitely work with Cliff when my next child is ready to start her college search. read more

Mr. Cliff MacDonald made college applications easy for me, as well as provided me with multiple opportunities scholarship wise, and working wise to earn some money. He's an expert at helping students find the college that fits them the best. Cliff is a very reliable person, and helps students through all of the applications including training to write a solid essay. Any student who wants a smooth application experience should call Mr. MacDonald. read more

As soon as you meet Cliff you realize he really knows the complicated and confusing process of this very important step in all our lives. He understands and carefully explains the steps from selecting the right schools, the financial considerations, the applications for admission right through to acceptance. His manner will definitely relieve some of the anxiety these decisions bring. read more

I highly recommend Oxford Advisors as I was helped tremendously by Cliff MacDonald. He helped me craft a letter to get off the Waiting List and into the school of my dreams! Also, he has coached both me and my siblings on how the Financial Aid system works, and how to win scholarships so I can pay for college. At first I was a little hesitant about appealing, however Cliff made the process a lot easier for me. He helped me edit and add charm to my letter and taught me a few tidbits to try out. I am very thankful to be admitted to San Diego State and to Oxford Advisors for all of the help that made it possible. read more

Although Cliff is a really nice guy, save your money. I wish I had. Everything he says he can help you with can be done with a couple hours of research on the internet. With his system, you are the one researching schools, majors, sports programs, financial aid, etc. You fill out all the forms and then send them in. He is great with all the deadlines and sending reminders to get items done. But you are the one sending the various items in. He proof reads and enhances the admissions letter. It's a great letter when his is done. But it's not worth $4000. read more

I can't say enough about Mr. MacDonald. He truly is someone with impeccable character; as well as, integrity. If it wasn't for him, I would still be lost, and trying to figure out which direction to go. His kindness and generosity; as well as, his level of commitment to those he helps, is truly amazing. He's not only well versed in his craft, but sincerely wants to help those who ask for his guidance. I'm so fortunate to have made his acquaintance; as well as, gained valuable insight from him. read more