We were referred to John by one of our close friends and we are so thankful we did it. John and his team worked closely with our son for four years, from course selection to summer camp application, and eventually through the college app process. He put a lot of thought and paid extra attention to every details of the application forms. He is our guardian on meeting every milestone in this journey. John is more of a mentor to my son as well. He helped him navigate through his stress and anxiety, so that he could focus on making progress in his course work and applications. He also help bridging the communication between us and our son, which we deeply appreciated to balance our relationship during the crunching times. We would highly recommend John, he is the one you can count on! read more

Entering my senior year of High School and the chaos of college applications, I was very lost on what a strong college essay and application looked like. I remember having different extracurricular experiences to talk about but there was a missing piece of how to word my essay and let alone start on my essays. I spent 2 weeks blankly starring at my document before realizing I needed more help than I expected. It wasn't until I started working with John and Jamie that I was able to talk about my life experiences and turn them into strong essays that reflects who I am and the type of leader I am in any community. Working with them helped me quickly understand how college essays are structured and how I can word my experiences to illustrate my strong characteristics as a student and leader. I really appreciated the weekly workshops provided by Jamie and John for extra time to spend on essays. As someone who had a hard time finding time and motivation to work on my essays, the workshops and set meeting times held me accountable for getting my work done before each meeting. I would 100% recommend John's service to anyone else struggling during this process. I am now committing to UC Davis and I couldn't be more grateful for the help provided by John and Jamie. read more

John worked with both of my sons through their high school years. He was very patient with them, listened to their goals and focused on what was important to them. He also helped them figure out what they were interested in pursuing as a degree and potential career. Without his guidance they were feeling confused about the whole college application process. When the boys had calls with John they would come back with action items that would push them out of their comfort zone. The steps they took helped build their confidence as well as their skills. Both of them are attending a top California university and had choices between various UC's as well as some top private schools. Having John help them through the process was invaluable. It also preserved our parental relationships since we were not the ones telling our teenagers what to do. I would highly recommend John and his team. read more

John began working with my daughter as her college admissions counselor in 10th grade, and we are deeply grateful for the guidance he provided throughout her high school years. With his support, she was ultimately admitted to an Ivy League university, a top University of California campus, and several highly respected liberal arts colleges. Looking back, the entire high school experience--especially senior year and the college application process--was intense, filled with pressure and uncertainty. Having John by our side made a world of difference. From our very first meeting, which came through a trusted friend's recommendation, we were impressed by John's professionalism, warmth, and ability to connect with both students and parents. Every conversation felt purposeful, and his insight always helped us feel more grounded and reassured. John guided us through every stage with clarity and structure--whether through our monthly check-ins or in-the-moment communication when things get stressful. He gave thoughtful, practical advice that reflected his deep experience and sincere commitment to each student's growth. His passion for this work is evident in everything he does, and we were often touched by how fully he invested himself in helping our daughter thrive--not just as an applicant, but as a person. More than just a college counselor, John is an educator in the truest sense. He empowers young people to discover their interests, shape their stories, and build a meaningful vision for the future. For any family navigating the road to college, this kind of mentorship is invaluable. If you're looking for someone who will guide your child with both heart and expertise, I wholeheartedly recommend John. His presence in our journey brought not only results but also inspiration--and I'm confident he will do the same for yours. read more

Living in a competitive school district in the bay area, nothing is on the minds of the students like college applications. Starting freshman year you see people rushing to join clubs, hoping to improve their chances at getting into their dream schools, Stanford, MIT, Caltech, etc. Naturally along with the college applications, college counselors are a common topic of discussion. I have always had a very strong voice in this, that my counselor, John, is by far the best. From freshman year John helped me sculpt my profile, from giving me suggestions on what courses best supported my major and level of academic rigor, to what extracurriculars to do. Whether it was summer programs or community college courses, John always had a long list of suggestions. However, he didn't only give suggestions, he was there with me the entire way, helping me look through these programs, seeing which fit my personality and preferences the best. As a result, I never once showed up to an extracurricular activity unexcited or viewing it as a chore, but rather pumped to get to participate. In addition, John's openness and flexibility are what helped me find my true passion, math. I started high school tunnel vision, sure I was going to study computer science in college, as it was all I had ever known. However, John changed that, as he helped me try new activities, I started to pull away from computer science, instead feeling drawn to the magnificent field of applied mathematics. My first three years of high school passed in a flash and somehow it was the summer before senior year, marking the start of college application season. I was nervous, as everyone is, but those nerves quickly subsided with the help of John. He started with giving me a list of colleges, suggested by him based on my profile. However, he also gave me the time to make my own decisions, and I did, altering my list slightly to exclude schools I would never attend and adding schools I would love to try for. When we started writing essays John had created an efficient and effective plan, starting immediately with a full week of brainstorming and drafting essays. While at the time this process felt tiring, it saved me a lot of time and effort later in the essay-writing process. John also helped me with a big problem I have always had, procrastination. My whole life I have been a chronic procrastinator, doing all my work at the absolute last minute possible. However, John helped me with this problem by keeping me on a strict schedule, with action items and deadlines. We planned out the deadlines together in meetings, working around my tests or big assignments like projects, keeping them strict but realistic. During the intense college application season I would have 5 meetings a week, three with my consultant and two with John. This kept me not only on task but constantly thinking, constantly improving my essays. My time with John has helped me immensely with staying on track and doing my work even days before they are due, just to get ahead. However, despite all the technical help John has given me, nothing has been as important to me as his personality. Working with a college counselor for some is grueling, painful, and they try their best to avoid their meetings. Not me. John is more than just your college counselor, he is a friend someone you can open up to. At the start of many of our meetings I have ranted to John about something that has been on my mind, whether it be academic stress or even conflicts in my social life, and he has always been there to listen and support me. He creates an environment that makes students comfortable and excited to work with him, which is absolutely KEY to a perfect college counseling experience. There is no doubt in my mind that without John I would have never been able to have the opportunity to attend Cornell University, my dream school, next fall. If you want a counselor who will not only help you attend your dream college but also make your high school experience feel like a dream, John is the only choice. read more

I've always had a clear idea of what I wanted to do in my life: Computer Science. But having a passion is one thing-building on it and turning my dream to life is another. That's when I decided to start working with a college counselor, John. At first, I thought that a college counselor job was to only help me with my applications. Looking back at the amazing things that happened to me over the last four years, I've realized just how much John has done for me. He not only helped me reach my academic goals, but also helped me grow as a person. John helped me push the limits of my academic capabilities. When it comes to college applications, the one word I hear the most often is "extracurriculars." I would often see people participating in activities just to build their resumes, even if they didn't truly enjoy what they were doing. John helped me discover opportunities that weren't just impressive, but genuinely enjoyable for me, whether it was research, competitions, or volunteering. More importantly, these opportunities helped me grow as a person, and the lessons I've gained from them will guide me far beyond my academic journey. When it came to writing essays, John planned it out perfectly. We started the brainstorming process during the summer after junior year, and met 3-5 times a week to work on the essays. I was also able to work with Bailey and Sandra, members of his essay writing team, and they were just as fun to work with as John. I felt like I was always productive when I worked with them; every meeting had a specific objective, and we set deadlines for each task to keep track of our progress and meet all our deadlines. Although I was initially nervous to start writing, the entire process ended up being surprisingly stress-free and even enjoyable. Throughout high school, John was a constant source of support and encouragement, especially during the moments when I needed it most. There were many times throughout high school where I felt lost and uncertain. Sometimes, a lot of work would pile up or something unexpected would come up that I wasn't prepared to handle. However, I never felt like I was alone. In each of these moments, John was there, not only as a counselor, but also as a friend and mentor that would motivate me and push me past my boundaries. John always made me feel reassured and optimistic, and his positive attitude would always keep me going. It is without reservation that I recommend John Chen as a counselor. I am so thankful for his support throughout my high school career and I wouldn't have gotten as many college acceptances as I do now. read more

John worked with my daughter a few years back during her senior year. He helped her with an appeal and we were so grateful for his guidance. My son is now a senior in high school so I reached out to John for essay consulting. John's experience and detailed feedback was very helpful, especially during the stressful time of college applications. We greatly appreciate all of John's efforts with both my children. He is very knowledgeable and I appreciated his insight and detailed feedback after each meeting with my son. Thank you John!! read more

As a parent without a background in the U.S. college application process, I was quite nervous when my son started high school. On one hand, I was preparing to navigate the challenges of the teenage years; on the other hand, there was the upcoming stress of college applications. I had heard so many stories about how overwhelming and complicated the process can be, and I wanted to ensure both my son and I could get through these four years with as little stress as possible. That's when I decided I needed to find a professional to guide us through the high school years and ease the application process for both of us. I'm so glad we found John through a friend's recommendation. We started working with John in the second semester of my son's freshman year, and since then, I've felt completely free from the burden of making tough decisions---whether it was about course selection, summer programs, or extracurricular activities. John has been there at every step, providing thoughtful guidance. He's very approachable and easy to work with, which helped my son stay engaged. At first my son wasn't sure which field he wanted to pursue, but John encouraged him to explore various interests through different summer programs. This process helped my son discover what he truly enjoys, which made applying to colleges much more focused and manageable. What truly stood out to me was how John made the college application process very smooth and organized. With John's coaching, my son was always on target and consistently followed through on his goals. John's proactive approach kept him ahead of deadlines, which significantly reduced the stress for us. Thanks to John's guidance, my son was accepted into his dream school through Early Decision. Without John's help, I'm not sure we could have made it this far. I'm so grateful for his support and highly recommend him to any family navigating the high school and college application journey. read more

It had been a long time since I applied for college, so I didn't feel equipped to guide my child through the process. I also learned that UCs had gotten a lot more competitive since I was a college student. Rather than try to guide my child through it myself, risking additional frustration and turmoil just as she reached her teenage years, I decided to get help. John scheduled an initial consultation to see if there was a fit. This gave me confidence that he would invest in the relationship rather than put my child through a counseling mill. He encouraged my child's passions, and surfaced opportunities related to her interests that we otherwise wouldn't have known about. When the pandemic started soon after our initial in-person consultation, John seamlessly switched to Zoom and increased the number of meetings to help us transition to a new reality. He was great at following up and keeping my child on task, which in turn helped her learn to keep herself on task. I appreciate how data-informed John is about the admissions process. He keeps up-to-date on the latest trends, and thought strategically about how to help my child accomplish her goals. Most importantly, he was a constant in her high school journey all the way through college applications, which freed up time for me to focus on all the other aspects of raising a teenager. In a really tough admissions season, my child had all the support she needed and really great results. She was offered admission to eight schools, one of which was her dream school. We don't think she could have done it without John's help and guidance, as the acceptance rate at this school is under 10%. John did this by helping her position herself over four years as a strong candidate, steering her towards activities and academics that aligned with her strengths and interests. He didn't tell her to do whatever activity or competition everyone else was doing--he encouraged her to stay true to her passions while setting milestones and standards that would make her as competitive a candidate as possible. He was a mentor, coach, and cheerleader to my child through some tough years, and we feel super lucky to have worked with him! read more

Looking back on the four years where I've had John as my counselor, the personal development I see in myself is hard to believe. I'm nowhere near the same person I was at the beginning of high school, and much of it is thanks to John's guidance over these years. Not only has John introduced me to countless opportunities and helped me achieve my goals, he has also taught me how to be responsible and professional. During my monthly meetings with John, we would check in and discuss my academic goals. When I failed to reach them or was struggling in a class, John always pushed me to come up with strategies for myself to do better next time. By encouraging me to actually do something about my problems rather than just tell myself to "try harder," John was able to help me become a more proactive person and take responsibility for my actions. John also introduced me to many extracurricular opportunities and summer programs that helped me refine and develop my passion for business. I knew early on that I was interested in business, but would have been completely lost in navigating myself to explore the field without his guidance. Through his recommendations, advice, and help with applications, I have been able to hone in on my passion for business and strongly gear my extracurriculars towards this interest. I was very impressed with my experience in the college applications process with John. I found the brainstorming sessions with him extremely useful and productive, and with his help, I was able to write essays that I was genuinely proud of. What I appreciated most about this experience was the attention to detail that John put into my essays. At times, the countless scrapping of ideas, restarting essays, and revisions seemed meticulous to me. Every time he asked to do another revision, I kept thinking "how are we still not done??" However looking back, I know that this process was necessary and I'm insanely grateful for John's commitment to making my essays the best they could possibly be. I really appreciate that John is so chill and that he focuses on helping me learn and grow from my mistakes. Many of the lessons that John has taught me have developed into good habits that I know will benefit me later on in college and in life. I am so incredibly thankful to John for guiding me through my high school journey and helping me get into my dream school, NYU Stern. I highly recommend John as counselor! read more

John has been an extraordinary college counselor who made my college application journey so much smoother and helped both me and my family make sense of the entire college application system/process. When I began this process, I knew I was searching for a insightful, supportive counselor who would give me a real picture of the college application system and of my potential college list, while also helping me put forth my best work possible, and from our very first meeting, I knew that John and his team would be a perfect fit for me! He provided personalized guidance and suggestions and is very knowledgeable about what different colleges value and offer, making navigating this complex process much more manageable and even exciting. John also met with me twice every month to check in, discuss a game plan, and always helped me set specific and realistic goals like sending out cold-emails for internships or starting an online course. John always took my concerns, values, and interests into account and provided tailored, thoughtful suggestions and feedback. John and his team are both realistic and pragmatic while always pushing you to do your best and providing continuous encouragement and support, acting as both knowledgeable mentors and compassionate friends. John and his team truly bring out the best in every student. When it came time to prepare college essays, John hosted a "Masterclass" on college essay writing. This was a huge help to me, as I had very little prior experience with this sort of writing and was able to gain so much practice with this workshop. Getting this headstart on my essays made it much easier to balance school in the fall with college applications and extracurriculars. John took so much time to meticulously review all angles of my application with me, and I truly felt confident in each application I submitted. I feel so fortunate to have also been able to work with other members of John's team as well, like Sandra, Lynn, and Bailey, who always provided unique perspectives, and constructive, insightful feedback on my essays, helping me to both correct minor errors but also gain valuable skills I could apply to future prompts, too. What truly sets John and his team apart is their holistic approach and unwavering support. He encouraged me to explore new extracurricular activities, fostering both personal and academic growth. He was always very easily accessible, communicative, and was always there to answer any questions my family or I had. Thanks to John and his team's help, I am now heading to one of my dream schools this fall and I couldn't be more excited and grateful. I would highly recommend him to any student seeking a compassionate and knowledgeable guide through their college journey. read more

It is a blessing that John and his counselling service was mentioned to me by a previous coworker during a lunch meeting as we are talking about how challenging it has become for "NAK" (Nice Asian Kids) to go to a decent college. It is at that time my daughter was asking me to find a counselor to help her in the upcoming college application in the fall of 2023. My husband, my daughter and I met with John through zoom, and all three of us agreed that John is the right counselor we are looking for. Our values and goals aligned well, and somehow we felt John would guide and encourage my daughter to excel with the right amount of push. The actual work started in June, when John and my daughter met weekly through zoom. Some research activities were suggested to make her stand out. Essay workshops were also offered in the summer with periodical meetings between the essay consultant and my daughter. A comprehensive college list was shared with our family for both nursing major and biochemistry major with detailed information summarized. A fantastic team was formed: John planned well, and my daughter worked diligently to deliver tasks on time, and John was there all the time to answer questions. I was so relieved through the process: the healthy relationship was maintained well between parents and kid; we communicated with John for any concerns we have for my daughter so that he can help. My daughter just needs to focus on her assignment and does not need to worry about other things as she trusted John is on top of the process. After more than 6 months of hard work, a happy ending came in December 2023 when my daughter's early decision was accepted, and she was so excited that she shared the good news while I was on my way from the office back to home. Thank you, John, for all you have done to guide/accompany my daughter for the journey. read more

I'm incredibly grateful to have worked with John Chen, my counselor, for almost all of high school. My parents and I were equally as lost when it came to preparing for college, but John quickly helped us develop a long-term plan to point me in the right direction. John customizes each step of the plan to the student's needs, with the main focus being on what the student wants to achieve. He consistently finds the best academic programs and extracurricular activities that most fit into his students' interests because he understands our passions and motivations. In addition, John is a very proactive counselor who will get things done. He has a strong focus and long-term vision that really helped me stay on task and he prepared me with the right time-management skills and study habits. John is organized and diligent, as he's always clear and active with communication and committed to making sure that his students produce their best work. Not only is John a dedicated mentor, he's also a kindhearted friend. The college application process was perhaps the most stressful experience for me during high school, which I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to handle as well without John's help. Throughout that time, he kept me motivated and on track but was also careful to never push me too hard. I can tell he truly cares about the well-being of each individual student, as he puts in the extra time to give insightful life advice and offer emotional support. Thanks to John, I was accepted into all the UC's I applied to and ultimately decided to attend Cornell University. It's been a great three years under John's guidance! read more

We had been looking for a good college application counselor for a few years. We talked to some of the local counseling institutes but had various concerns. Luckily, one of my good friends also a former colleague referred me to John. I was very impressed with his counseling experience and track records on college applications. My son is very grateful to have worked with John on the journey and my family is very pleased with the results. John has done a great job in helping my son in many areas! He is super organized with setting milestones and meeting minutes. John made sure my son met his deadlines and followed up on the progress. He helped my son to improve his study habits and better time management skills. John is a superb education counselor. He has spent quality time with my son on a regular basis. In addition to the face-to-face meetings and online conferences, John was very flexible and approachable during the college application crunch time! One of the key steps before college applications is the summer internship or summer programs after my son's junior year. As many parents know, good summer internships or programs are hard to get in. The major of my son's choice was one of the hottest fields and the relevant summer camps are always highly competitive. John helped us with a list of high-ranked, high-quality summer programs that suit my son's needs. With the help and guidance from John, my son got accepted into an excellent summer program that was very innovative and attracted many students around the world. The experience and the results from this special summer program definitely helped my son's early acceptance into one of the top colleges in the field because the institute of this summer program was one of the noted, educational partners of the college! The college application process is a long journey. It takes a lot of time and efforts for many tasks, including the essay writing. Fortunately, John has excellent essay workshops and boot camps that help senior students to be well prepared. One of the early tough tasks was to find a good college that fits my child. John did an excellent job by suggesting a list of colleges based on my son's academic performances and extracurricular activities. He also shared with us the detailed statistics of admission information from the colleges over the past few years. With the highly educated guess and the wonderful guidance on the essays, my son got accepted into his first choice college and finished his college applications in mid-December of his senior year! John also provided the same excellent services for my daughter and helped her got accepted into the best UC and one of the top 20 US universities with scholarship! Thank you very much, John, for your superb services! I highly recommend John and other counselors at Abound Education for their coaching and counseling services! read more

Getting a counselor was one of the most impactful things I did in high school. At first, I wasn't sure whether I needed it and I was looking into it because other people were doing it. As time progressed, I realized that for some reason, John telling me to do something was just different from your parents telling you to do something. I appreciate how he is a friend/big brother figure, and never forces you to do anything--it's more of a recommendation. My dad's stance was, for a long time, that we didn't need a counselor because he could tell me everything the counselor could. As college application season rolled around the corner, his stance changed drastically. The amount of help you get before senior year is just adding up to this culminative semester of just grinding out essays, but Ilumin really helped me manage my time and provide inspiration. Their comprehensive college list for you was probably the most useful resource I had, and I am grateful that they compiled a list with so many possibilities and it also set my mind at ease. I can confidently say that without Abound/John, I would not have gotten into Michigan or half of the other schools I was accepted to. read more

John was a tremendous guide and consultant for our son. Even though I attended college here in the US, I was surprised by how much the landscape of college admissions has changed over the decades. John made an immediate impression on us. He was clearly experienced. He was curious about our son; he asked great questions and seemed to genuinely care about his interests and goals. But he was also straight with us about where our son stood and what it would take to achieve his academic goals. He was kind, but he didn't mess around! What I appreciated the most about John, though, was that we felt we could simply trust him to guide us from beginning to end. Yes, he gave invaluable technical assistance--he caught crucial omissions in our son's application, gave invaluable essay guidance, and kept him on a timeline. He also had clear frameworks and data-driven guidance for everything! When the college process feels like a fog; we appreciated clear "handles" to grab onto. But more than that, since he really got to know our son, he proactively talked him through decisions about high school courses and activities. He gave us a realistic range of schools and majors to shoot for. Again, he kept us on task and on time with things we didn't even know needed to be done. And ultimately, John helped our son make his final college decision--which was surprisingly difficult! In short, John *led* us through the process. Some of my son's friends also had consultants, but they were more like great tutors rather than great guides. Others were also not as approachable as John, my son felt comfortable reaching out to John for help at any time; this empowered our son take more "ownership" of the college admission process. I am proud to say that our son was accepted or waitlisted to every school he applied to. He plans on attending UC Berkeley this Fall. Of course, we are proud of the work our son put into the last four years, but we do not think he would have reached his full potential without John's patient and expert guidance. We have told so many friends about John - we cannot thank him enough! read more

The best choice I made in high school was to start consulting with John. His system and approach is well-crafted to help students maximize their potential throughout high school and the college application season. His personalized counseling method focuses on getting to know the students, something that is lacking at other counseling firms. What separates John from other counselors that I have tried to work with in the past is his proactivity, communication, and experience. Every month, we collaborated on a plan which included specific goals and tasks like finishing half of a bot, app, or online course. John continuously checked-in and offered encouragement as a mentor, transcending the traditional role of a counselor. The life long skills (time management, organization, communication, etc.) that I have learned from him show his dedication to getting the best out of every student, as well as his commitment to helping you accomplish the goals you have set for yourself. John minimized the stress of the college application process. The summer before senior year, I regularly met with him to plan, edit, and finalize my college essays. Most of my applications were finished before finals, which allowed me to focus on school. From long conversations about essay topics to the comprehensive college list he proposed, John efficiently guided me through the labyrinth-like process of college admissions. Like I said before, John is more than just a counselor, he is a mentor and friend. Without him, I definitely would not have as many college acceptances as I do now. read more

When my mom first told me she was getting me a counselor for my junior and senior year of high school, I was upset. I thought I'd be fine continuing my high school journey on my own, and I thought counselors just take control of my academic life and order me to complete a bunch of tasks. I went into my first session with a pretty negative and stubborn mindset, but I left high school completely changed. What sets John's counseling far apart from my other friends' counseling experiences at other places is that he truly cares about you. The biggest thing that I realized is that he's not just there to give you college counseling; he's also there to learn more about you as a person. I felt that I could talk to him about anything, rather than just academics, and he always has a positive mindset and constantly gave me advice. Junior year was very tough, but I felt that having John to support me helped me get through it. When it came to college application season, I knew the biggest struggle was going to be time management and motivation to write my college essays. Surprisingly, John and Lynn somehow made the process pretty enjoyable for me, and I ended up finishing all of my essays far before their deadlines. Without them, I probably would have been very lost. But they both walked me through the entire process and made sure that I knew that they were always there to support me. My biggest impact that John's counseling gave me wasn't that I got into a college I wanted, that I got good grades in school, or that I received a great internship offer. It was the lifelong skills that I took away and brought to college. My writing, communication, and interviewing skills have improved thanks to John, and I've been able to continuously apply it to my life after high school. read more

Just like any other teenager, I had no clue what I wanted to do in life. I juggled a few interests like marine biology, business, and art, but I still had no idea where to start. That is why I began to look for a counselor. But after meeting with a few companies, I couldn't bear to sit with some of the people I met with. They seemed to be pandering to the parents, boasting about their acceptance rates, and the long list of prestigious schools their students have attended with little genuine connection. Yet if I was going to work with them for the next three years, I needed to find the one that worked for me. I needed someone that would understand MY interests and be a helping hand every step of the way. When I met with John for the first time, I knew he was the counselor for me - dedicated, relatable, and chill. I started working with him and he immediately focused on my main concern of figuring out my interests. He gave me an intensive test to further explore my personality type, helping me narrow down my interests. He also suggested several online courses to help me make my decision. While swimming in the hellish waters of junior year and college applications, he was always there with the very necessary flotation devices and emotional support to navigate through the distressing time. John helped me prioritize and ground myself while also building up my confidence. When college application season came around, John compiled a recommended college list for me, but it was a daunting list with very prestigious schools. I had little confidence in my ability to get in even though I had already been accepted to two competitive programs in previous summers through his aid. Imposter syndrome was in full swing and I was mentally ready to enroll in De Anza but he pulled me out of that mess. When completing the actual applications, I struggled with conveying myself but he guided my narrative. I could just shoot him a quick text to get a question answered. I think the ability to openly communicate with him is what makes John so special. He is a confidante, a friend, and a mentor. He didn't just care about me academically, he cared about me as a person and sat through all of my rants on my niche interests (Minecraft & kpop mainly) and dank memes. If you are looking for a genuine, down-to-earth, and well-informed counselor, John is your man. He set me on the right path for my future and made sure I was always one step ahead. I was grateful that he pushed me to finish my applications a month early. On top of that, I was accepted into my ED school, Emory University, where I will be graduating with a double major in Psychology and Business this coming May. read more

What can I say about John, except the best things. I worked with John throughout high school, not just college applications. Although he helped me through my college applications by making me write essays over and over again until I got them perfect, or getting me into a school whose average GPA was much higher than mine, John helped me with so much more than that. He helped me develop life habits, such as balancing football and academics, taking care of my own health, learning what to prioritize, helping me find my beliefs and values, and countless other things. He also helped me and my parents reach out to tutors when I was struggling in a certain class. Foremost, he helped me communicate with my parents a lot better. My parents and I often had different views and different expectations, but John helped us bridge that gap coming to mutual agreements about everything. He taught us skills to communicate that come in handy now, when it comes to talking about summer plans or just communicating in general. He's helped improve my relationship with my parents, and made me a better and more caring, and more well rounded. Furthermore, he goes beyond academics. He's always more than willing to help me with something else. For me, he helped me with the normal high school drama, like finding a girlfriend, cultivating and maintaining a relationship, and dealing with heart breaks. Finally, John treats me and my family as if we're part of his family. Having worked with his wife for SAT/ACT english as well as my own english classes, I've developed a close relationship with both him and his wife. I always feel comfortable asking for something, whether it's figuring out how laundry machines work in college, learning how to cook, having my resume looked at, or preparing for an interview. I'm always excited to come back home from college and stop in to catch up with them, as they always have exciting stories or helpful advice for my own life. John, and his wife, Lynn have helped me develop in so many ways, and I am forever grateful for the countless wisdom they have given me. read more

I've been working with John since the beginning of freshman year and I just can't imagine how my high school and college application experience would have been without him. From freshman to junior year, my consultant helped me immensely with class scheduling, volunteering opportunities, summer program applications, test prep, and even less "tangible" items like time management, stress, and burnout to prepare for college apps. He was extremely knowledgeable and experienced, but beyond that he was so kind and funny and I really connected with him on a personal level-- which made working together so much more productive and enjoyable. Many of our meetings have gone overtime just from us laughing about memes; he really made time to get to know me as an individual, which I really appreciated! On a slightly more serious note, one thing I really struggled with at the beginning of high school was finding a passion--I was that kid that felt "meh" about every single subject. If this sounds like your kid, John will have you covered. My consultant helped me brainstorm and find volunteer/event/online course opportunities to explore what I liked and what I didn't. What I enjoyed in particular is that he never pushed me to do certain things in the name of "looking good on college apps"; he really took my interests and helped me develop and expand them in my unique way, no matter what they were. For example, I was interested in the science behind skin care so my consultant taught me how to apply for internships at skin care companies. He leveraged my social media experience to help me get three offers and have learned so much about marketing, product development, and PR from my internship! JOHN has been invaluable to my college application experience and I am forever grateful. They are extremely knowledgeable about different colleges and their programs/deadlines/requirements/etc. and helped me build my college list. I was dreading writing college essays since pretty much freshman year, but JOHN made it a great experience! Essay workshops were held throughout the summer before senior year to brainstorm for UCs and early apps. I struggled with putting the story I wanted to tell on paper, but after trying different ideas and rounds of meticulous revising throughout the fall I can proudly say the essays I submitted represent me. My consultant plus the amazing essay editors helped me tie together my extracurriculars, passions, and life experiences perfectly. In terms of college apps, at the time of this review, I have been accepted to every single UC I applied to (UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz) as well as Michigan, NYU, BU, UIUC, and Northeastern, among others. I'm extremely thankful for everything JOHN has done for my high school and college app experience. I cannot recommend them enough if you are looking for an educational consultant. read more

I had a great experience with John and would 100% recommend him as a counselor. He provided not only great academic support throughout high school, but also served as an older brother figure whose experience and advice I learned a lot from. He helped me plan rigorous coursework and provided resources that helped me succeed both in and outside of school. More importantly, John's extracurricular guidance shaped my high school experience and college application. Most students understand that achieving good grades in challenging courses throughout high school is important for college apps. However, many are unsure of which extracurricular activities are valuable in terms of personal enjoyment, college preparation, and professional development. This is where John shines! John introduced me to a variety of summer programs and opportunities in my fields of interest that I otherwise wouldn't have known existed. As a biology major, the research experiences I gained during high school set me aside from my peers and helped me form a direction for my future. This still applies today! Without what I've learned from John in resume writing, interviewing, and countless other interpersonal and professional skills, I wouldn't be where I am today. (I am studying Molecular & Cell Biology and Computer Science at UC Berkeley whilst working as a research assistant in a UCSF lab as a freshman) I would definitely recommend Abound for students and families looking for college counseling! read more

Getting acquainted with John at the start of 9th grade was by far the best decision of my high school career. Freshly out of middle school, I had no clue how I would go about and manage my future years in high school, which was why I decided to find a college counselor. After meeting with several counselors, I met with John and instantly knew that he was the one I wanted to help me throughout my high school journey - not just as an advisor but also as a friend and brother figure. In our first meeting, John showed me his four-year plan for me to reach my highest potential, and each month we had meetings where we would work towards that goal with planned action items to accomplish. One thing in particular that I found valuable was that he never forced me to do anything, rather only providing a plethora of good recommendations. Without him, I wouldn't have been able to find and participate in carefully picked-out activities in the past four years to develop my profile coherently. Our four years together were built upon goal setting and open communication, which not only helped me see ahead in my academic path but also developed me as a person with life skills such as organization and planning. John was also integral in keeping my sanity in high school. Throughout the college application process which initially seemed daunting, John helped me navigate through it with relative ease by splitting up the work into mini-goals and helping me with each essay, which helped me manage my stress immensely. When finding a counselor, one thing I did not want was another parent that would hover over me, and I'm happy and grateful to say that this was not the case. John is the best counselor I could imagine and more, and without him, I certainly wouldn't have been able to get accepted into the colleges I did. read more

I have been working with John since the start of high school, and he has been incredibly consistent and intentional the entire time. As an aspiring attorney, he helped shape my academic and career plan years in advance with plenty of action items and program opportunities that I would never have discovered on my own. He introduced me to research projects, study programs, and all kinds of academic resources. No matter what we did, he always had a plan. When I needed help getting into a summer program, he showed me how to write the most compelling cover letters and what to include based on his experiences. In the event that things didn't go as we expected or hoped, he had a plethora of backup options and alternatives. Because of this, he kept progress constant and high momentum at all times. It seemed like he had insider knowledge of how everything worked, ranging from internships to college admissions to scholarship essays to job applications. He gave my application and career the focus and direction only a qualified expert like himself could provide. He is ideal for knowing the ins and outs of the college application process. While application season is stressful and arduous, John helped keep me organized and made the task of writing more than twenty essays startlingly efficient. He taught me so many unwritten rules of the application process that I used to my advantage and never would have known otherwise. As a person, John is very approachable and friendly. Unlike other counselors I've seen, he takes special care of his students. Whether this be small things like remembering little details about their lives and families or bigger ones like emotionally supporting them during hard times, he is dedicated to his role as not just a counselor, but as a mentor and companion. read more

John is someone you can trust and count on as a coach/counselor. The college process can be stressful at times, and he is always there to help. When we have questions and concerns, he is always willing to listen and offer solutions. He guided us every step and made sure no critical deadlines were missed. John is not only knowledgeable about college applications, but he is also a caring person. He cares about his students and took a holistic approach to college counseling, keeping up with all the key deliverables, making sure that all of them are done on time while taking care of my son's mental and physical well-being. I could not have asked for someone who has shown as much care and interest of the future of my son. He talked to my son on a regular basis, and encouraged him to do his best. My son would ping him when he needed his advices, and he always responded timely. I can tell my son looks up to him as his big brother. He knows my son's interests, strengths and weaknesses, and helped to build a strong college profile. In addition with his essays writing help, my son got into his dream college! We are forever grateful for his professional help and friendship. read more

I have worked with John since freshman year, and I had an amazing experience with him as my counselor. Coming into high school with no idea about the steps required to be a competitive applicant for college, John first helped me determine my interests and worked with me on applying to extracurricular programs that I had genuine interest in, boosting my profile. From there, John assisted in developing a list of schools and majors, playing to my strengths, and gave me great tips on my essays and interviews, which I believe played a major role in my acceptance at my ED school Duke! Students should consider taking John's essay bootcamp, it is the best at preparing anxious seniors early in the summer and greatly reduces the stress of writing college essays in the year. In addition to college applications, my counselor was someone that I could chat with about things that were happening in my life, and I feel like John was a friend to me first and foremost. Anyone who wants to get into their dream school should definitely choose John! read more

Starting in high school, I did not know what I wanted to do with these valuable four years of my life. I liked science and math but needed to learn how to stand out, as many of my peers were also very STEM-focused. Starting freshman year, he helped me explore my interests, encouraging me to try out new clubs, classes, and activities. What I appreciate most about John is his constant, personal, and individualized support. Although my school has academic and college counselors, going to a public school, the resources are stretched very thin, and the counselors do not have enough time for you. With John, I knew I would always feel supported and heard. I plan on attending UC Berkeley in the fall to study Molecular and Cellular Biology. I got in early to Berkeley as a Regent's and Chancellor's scholarship top candidate and got into many other top 20 schools because of his help. Not only that, but he helped me discover a possible career path for the future and helped combine and gauge all of my diverse interests. He always pushed me out of my comfort zone, something I am eternally grateful for, as many of my most impactful high school experiences wouldn't have happened without his push. Whenever I had a question, such as how to write a waitlist LOCI, what questions to ask a college interviewer, and how to frame essays, he did not only have excellent explanations, but he also had successful examples. John will always be there for you as a friend, counselor, essay editor, and whatever else you need. He does not think of you as a client but as a whole person. After every college decision, acceptance, waitlist, or rejection, he always asked the question that mattered the most, "how are you feeling?". I know if I ever have a question in college about academics, research, clubs, or anything I know, I can always reach out to him. You can always message him whenever you have a question, and he will answer. I owe much of my high school success to John Chen; he was everything you could ask for in a counselor and more. read more

We have two daughters. For our elder daughter, we used a famous counselling institute, however we were re-assigned counselor three times during the year, which was not a good experience. So for our younger daughter, we were not planned to use any counseling service. However when she refused to apply any summer camps in junior year we think counseling service is a must. And luckily we found John. It's a long and emotional journey with so many things happened. John works really hard and communicates with my daughter almost instantly. Being an anxious parent I also asked a lot of questions to John in email and he always responded with important information. I think there are three things I like the most: 1. He keeps the whole timeline very well, that's why my daughter was able to submit more than 10 EA applications by 11/1. 2. He also provided invaluable mental support when my daughter didn't get her REA school, which helped her to gear up for the remaining RD schools, which was the toughest period of application season. 3. There were many student essay sessions and edits, and reviewing of application materials, I am sure this brought out her best profile, which is an important part of her admission to a bunch of prestigious schools that were way above our expectation (certainly I understand luck is also an important part). When I look back, I think using John earlier would have made things a lot easier. When we signed up John it's already too late for summer camps and her senior year course selection. If signed up earlier, all these can be planned more carefully. read more

Having started consulting with John early on in high school, I've only recently begun to realize how transformative the process was - for both my college application and personal development. I can safely say that without John's guidance, I wouldn't be close to the person I am today. The biggest impact that I feel John brings to the table is his unique ability to help you achieve your full potential. Like numerous other students, I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to study at the beginning of high school. During my freshman and sophomore years, however, John encouraged me to participate in new activities and step out of my comfort zone to uncover my legitimate interests. Not only was this crucial for my personal development as I become increasingly open to new experiences, once I had an idea about what I was truly passionate about, I worked together with John to create a roadmap for the rest of high school. In monthly meetings, I would check in with John to discuss my goals and further ways to explore my passions. Whether it was starting a nonprofit or business, or applying to summer programs, John was there every step of the way assisting me to make sure I achieved my desired results - as long as I was motivated enough to put in the dedication and effort necessary to succeed. Additionally, John's guidance was invaluable in the development of my character. He constantly encouraged me to pursue options I had never even considered, such as a summer job, where I surprisingly learned lessons that I hadn't in research positions or internships. As a result, I was able to develop a clear theme in my personal characteristics, academics and extracurriculars that really shone in my college application and conveyed my authentic self. I'm extraordinarily grateful to have had the opportunity to work with John over these past few years. I would wholeheartedly recommend John for anyone searching for college consulting and life coaching. read more

I had a fantastic experience with John. One of my friends recommended John to me, and I decided to schedule a consultation to learn more about his college consulting. I was the first person in my family to go to college in the U.S. and was feeling nervous about the whole process because I could not ask my family about it. I wanted more guidance with the college application process, and he helped me understand it more clearly, answering all of my questions. After the consultation, it was clear to me that John would be a good fit for me. He took the time to learn my whole profile and understand who I am as a student. From there, the college application process went really smoothly and was relatively pain-free. I really appreciate John's tailored approach to my interests and how he helped me brainstorm ways that played to my strengths. From creating the college list to writing essays, the whole experience felt like a conversation, rather than someone telling me what to do. Overall, I don't think I could have had a better college application process and I'm excited to be attending UC Berkeley! If you are looking for a college application consultant I highly recommend John! read more

One of the best things I have ever done for myself was getting an John as a college consultant. I can confidently say that I would not have been able to successfully make it through high school and especially the college application process without John's help and support. When I first entered high school, I had no idea how to build a competitive college resume. During our very first meeting, John gave me an outline of what my ideal CV should look like as well as a roadmap to get there. From then on, starting my freshmen year, John would routinely meet with me every 2 weeks to check up on my progress and make sure I was keeping on track. From directing me to apply to relevant and competitive research programs to giving me advice on which courses to take in high school, John was always there to guide me, answer all of my questions, and provide support. Knowing that he was there gave me a lot of confidence to step out of my comfort zone and try new experiences and made me grow as a student. When it was time to start my college application process, John made sure that I started early. He outlined every step I needed to take, provided a timeline, helped me brainstorm ideas, and kept me organized. We worked together to develop a thorough list of colleges that I wanted to apply to that included reach, target, and safety schools. For me, the hardest part of applying to college was all the essays. During the actual writing of my college essays, John proofread and gave insightful editing recommendations and kept me motivated and on schedule. Thanks to him, I finished all of my applications and essays early and could comfortably submit them before the deadline. With John's help, the stressful, confusing college application process was made so much more manageable. I am happy to say that I was accepted early decision into my first choice, Emory University. I am thankful for all John's help and support. read more

I would like to thank John for all of the work that he did in making my college application experience go so smoothly. John has a passion for making sure his students succeed. He was always on top of things, clearly showing all the deadlines I had to meet and making sure that I was on schedule. There were times when we spent extra time on the weekends or late at night to finish up reviewing essays when I was falling behind. He helped me stay motivated throughout the entire process and it definitely wouldn't have been as straightforward without his help. John is deeply knowledgeable in the college application process and it clearly showed in his guidance. John is also a very friendly person to talk with. I always felt comfortable chatting about my high school experiences and different topics outside of the college process. Again, I cannot thank John enough for making the college process so much easier, and I highly recommend him if you are looking for a college counselor. read more

I met John near the end of my freshman year of high school through a close friend who also had John as their counselor. At first, my parents were very skeptical about getting a college counselor at all -especially so early into high school. Ultimately they left the decision to me, and looking back, choosing to work with John was one of the best decisions I've ever made. As a freshman, I had many ideas but no plans. John helped with that. From the beginning, John helped me break down my goals into actionable items and constructed plans for me to follow in order to achieve them. For example, my dream was to study engineering in college. John helped me get to UC Berkeley for mechanical engineering by first recommending me apply for a machine learning bootcamp at Stanford, then use the experience I gained there as content for applications to further programs in my sophomore and junior years. These experiences culminated in spending my junior summer at UCSB's Summer Research Academy, where I had the opportunity to study soft robotics principles, construct a working prototype, and present my research paper to the other students at SRA. I was then able to write about the experiences I gained through SRA in my college applications. Without John's guidance throughout high school, I would not have known what steps I could take to reach my goal. Thanks to his planning, however, I not only achieved more than I could on my own but also got to learn and experience far more in high school as well. When it came to writing, such as writing program applications, school papers, and college applications, John was also an excellent help. When writing my personal essays, for example, John would first help me brainstorm ideas by asking me questions and getting me to reflect on important moments and traits I never thought of as significant myself. This successfully helped me navigate my introspection and formulate the themes which represented me best to show to college admissions. When writing college-specific essays ("Why us" essays as we like to call them), John also provided many sample essays that worked in the past, getting me off the ground and giving me a good idea about what I should include in my own. Most importantly, however, throughout the entire writing process (as well as in school, ACT test prep, and completing self-paced online courses) John held me accountable, allowing me to complete deadlines I thought were impossible and ensuring I was able to apply to all the colleges I wanted to apply to. Lastly, when I work with John, he is more than a counselor. He's a friend. A friend who is always looking out for me and who is always thinking in my best interest. John helped me work through feelings of unmotivation during quarantine, encouraged me when I felt defeated, and was brutally honest about the impacts of my decisions on admissions. In the first semester of my senior year, I decided to take Data Structures and Algorithms at my community college as I did not have any science courses in my regular school schedule. The class soon proved overwhelming, however, so I dropped it a month into the semester. John then pushed me to take AP Physics C electricity and magnetism online, as I was again not taking any science courses my senior year as a mechanical engineering major. After a hard decision to sign up for the class, I began to fall off pace and believed I couldn't complete the course in time. I really wanted to drop physics too, but John strongly urged me not to as it may have a substantial effect on my admissions. After choosing to commit, John did what he does best and helped me create a new plan, setting deadlines for each module in the class, and checked in on my progress every few days to keep accountable. In this way, I was able to complete the entire course in eight weeks, on top of writing college essays, maintaining my other grades, and participating in extracurriculars. These are just a few of the greatest benefits working with John provides, not to mention his sincerity towards his students and supportive, communicative approach to counseling which brings out the best in the students he guides. Bottom line: I highly recommend John. read more