AJ Tutoring

2.1 mi

Review from my son: Zach Pava played a major role in my…read morecollege admissions process. Not only was his college essay feedback on 15+ essays extremely insightful, I felt that the manner in which he set up a schedule with deadlines and tasks was more helpful. He always kept in touch, especially during October and November, and always responded promptly. Zach set up mock interviews for me with other Insight counselors to practice for college admissions interviews, which did not count against my counseling hours! Also, the fact that Zach primarily worked over Skype was actually more convenient, since I did not have drive to the Cupertino office all the time for the counseling; instead, I could just do it over Skype in my room.

I just recently graduated from Emory University, and upon finishing my time in undergrad, I found…read moremyself looking back and reflecting on my college application process. I am the eldest in my family, and a first-generation American, so my family and I were unseasoned and largely out of our comfort zone when the time came to begin applying to universities. I found Zach through Insight, and he was a tremendous help to me, offering up suggestions about colleges I may be interested in applying to, prepping me for college tours and visits, editing my personal statements and supplemental essays, and offering me any guidance or support I needed throughout the long process. While I was a bit shy and lacking in confidence, Zach saw my strengths and potential, and constantly motivated me to challenge myself, ensuring that my applications reflected my best attributes. With Zach as my counselor, I never once felt stressed or overwhelmed about writing my applications, as Zach planned out deadlines for all components of my applications, ensuring that I would have everything in on time. Zach's genuine concern for my well-being and future was palpable throughout the application process, and after being accepted into Emory, my top choice school, Zach continued to be supportive of my aspirations. He was always more than happy to answer any questions I had about college and the future beyond. I highly recommend Zach not only as a college counselor, but also as a trusted mentor. His help was, and continues to be, an invaluable resource for me and my family!

Insight Education Student Workshops

Team Insight and our Alma Mater schools!

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Insight Education Boston

Darcy Prime Consulting

(4 reviews)

0.4 mi

We were so lucky to have found Darcy to help our son with his college application process!! She and…read moreJordan clicked right from the start and it helped tremendously that she took the time and effort to get to know him. Darcy made the whole college application process enjoyable and seamless. Darcy was a great listener, counselor, mentor, and friend!! Without a doubt, she played a huge role in getting Jordan accepted into many great colleges, some with full or half scholarships too!!!

In my almost 20 years as a local test prep professional, I have yet to come across a College…read moreCounselor or human being that I could recommend more wholeheartedly than Darcy Prime. There's nobody better at helping students discoverer their true voices. There's nobody better at making the very stressful undertaking of applying to college an enjoyable and enlightening exercise. If reports from my students are any indicator, there's nobody better at boosting the self esteem of 16 and 17 year olds. To quote one lucky student," My friends tell me they dread spending time with their college counselors. Whenever I'm with Darcy, I feel about 10 feet tall ! " I have passed her name along countless times to grateful families thrilled with her wonderful approach and her spectacular results. Impressive. But what are her credentials ? Darcy is a double Stanford alumna (Undergrad: English Literature; Grad school: Adolescent Psychology). After graduating from Stanford, she spent 12 years working as the Associate Director of Stanford Admissions. For the past 14 years, Darcy has worked as a private college counselor. Her rates are surprisingly reasonable. She is also the nicest person I know. The downside is there's just one Darcy Prime. She can only take so many students each year, so contact her sooner than later. Whether it's college counselors or people in general, there's nobody better.

College Counseling Associates

4.0

(3 reviews)

0.0 mi

We have worked with Michelle Podbelsek for both of our kids. They are very different types of kids…read moreand therefore had different styles and approaches to the college hunt. In both cases, Michelle was a godsend. She regularly met independently with the kids and always provided me with a status afterwards which meant that the kids could drive their own process but I was comfortable with the direction and the partnership was super easy. Both kids have said "I don't know what I would have done without her" Her counsel is always honest, fair and spot on, while being delivered in a supportive way. The process is so tough and so emotional, and she managed to identify its harsh realities while keeping the kids feeling good about themselves and identifying options that worked for them. The office is very well run. They call and remind you before every appointment. Billing is easy to understand. All in all, a totally terrific place and super highly recommended.

Our son worked with College Counseling Associates, and we were pretty disappointed in the feedback…read morehe received. For paying such a steep fee, he received little feedback. We have noticed that other families have found much better consultants from other companies in the area, so we suggest to anyone reading this to check out other counseling firms in the area." Other people who give positive reviews likely are not knowledgeable on the subject of college admissions and thus don't realize how helpful or not the counselors are.

Writing Coach & College Essay Admissions Counselor

(43 reviews)

0.9 mi

Dan's ability to build rapport with high school students and draw out their stories is obvious. His…read more"writer's workshop" approach clicked for my daughter immediately. Dan made the brainstorming process both fun and productive. As a result, my daughter understood the depth of her own character and experiences, and had a solid starting place for each college essay. We greatly appreciated Dan's coaching and assistance (and the fact that we parents didn't need to edit college essays!).

extremely helpful! very thorough with comments and editing. Very talented and knowledgable.read more

I provide clients with the one-on-one support necessary for independently navigating the writing process.

Dan Lichterman | Writing Coach

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Since 2004 Dan Lichterman has coached college applicants & clients to stand out on paper and fulfill their academic and professional dreams.

Raftrey College Advising

4.3

16.2 mi

This person did not return any phone messages or emails from myself or my son. Possibly he is no…read morelonger in business.

John was chosen by our child after interviewing three potential advisors. It turned out to be the…read moreperfect choice. John provided the right mix of guidance, encouragement and gentle prodding to keep the process on track. The results were fantastic. Our child received ten acceptances, some of which are national top 20 schools. It was a delight to have to help our child choose from such an amazing set of schools. Highly recommend John's approach to this important task.

The HYPSM Statement

(2 reviews)

1.9 mi

Julian is absolutely brilliant. I've never encountered anyone who could speak and write as well as…read morehim. Since we met at Stanford, his writing skills have helped me tremendously when applying to jobs or preparing important documents. I am very confident in his skills as a writer and consultant, as well as his ability to get your child into their dream school.

If you're considering paying ridiculous amounts to some huge company that will give your child…read moreimpersonal counseling -- stop. The folks at HYPSM statement are incredibly helpful, empathetic, and effective. The consultant I worked with was Julian, and his mastery of the English language and understanding of the application process is top-notch. Couldn't be happier

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Compass to College

4.7

(15 reviews)

2.5 mi

A supportive and thoughtful team. They provided sound strategy and meaningful advice. They helped…read moreus navigate the stressful process effectively and successfully.

Working with Compass To College was one of the best decisions we made during our daughters' college…read morejourneys. From the very first meeting, we felt supported, informed, and genuinely excited about how each could grow through the research and transformative experiences they were introduced to. Our counselor took the time to really get to know each of our daughters, learning their strengths, interests, and what made them unique--empowering them with a genuine belief in their own potential. Each daughter turned their unique backgrounds and social interests into remarkable initiatives that highlighted them as self-driven, inspiring change-makers, thanks to the extraordinary guidance they received. We're thrilled with the results (Stanford! Princeton!), and more importantly, that each ended up at a school that's a perfect fit for them. I'm so grateful for everything Compass To College did for our family!

Specialists in Athletic college recruiting.

Guidance into top computer science, engineering, data science, STEM universities.

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Top 20 University expert admissions consulting.

Summa Counseling

(10 reviews)

2.3 mi

My older son had a fantastic experience working with Jennifer over two years. She helped him…read moreidentify schools of interest, calibrate likelihood of admission so that he had a great mix of "reach" and "safe" options, and assess the pros and cons of different majors (really helping him define and articulate for himself what he wanted to study). She also helped him turn an initially disparate set of activities and extra-curriculars into something much deeper and coherent. She presented him with an amazing range of options (like online summer courses in entrepreneurship) which he enjoyed, looked impressive, aligned with his admission "narrative", and which we frankly would never have found without her. Finally, she was invaluable in compiling everything into the applications themselves and invested a ton in making each one as good as possible. This included essay ideation, rough draft reviews, and went all the way through to line edits with us of every final essay and application. I think I'm a pretty good writer, but the input and help that Jennifer provided my son was far beyond my expectations and much better than what I could offer. I believe that her effort, expertise, and attention to detail significantly increased the number of acceptances and options that my son ended up with. Throughout this, Jennifer was patient, persistent, encouraging, and comforting during a period when I know my son was stressed about both the admissions process and also moving into this new phase of life. Jennifer was invaluable to my son and he was delighted with the options she helped him get and is incredibly happy with the choice he ultimately made on where to attend school. We heard of Jennifer through word of mouth and are so happy that we did. My sophomore has just begun working with her and asked if he could based on the experience that he saw his older brother have.

Jennifer helped my daughter (and us!) with her entire college application process. We loved…read moreworking with her because she was very patient, supportive, communicative, non-judgmental, kind, motivating, and organized! I already referred my friend and her daughter to work with Jennifer. She really relieved a lot of stress for my husband and me. We are very grateful!

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Fahey Associates

3.8

(10 reviews)

3.9 mi

I had a very disappointing experience with Fahey College Consultant. We paid a significant amount…read morefor guidance through the college application process, especially for help with essays and making sure applications were completed on time. Unfortunately, once the process began, the support we expected simply was not there. The student struggled with writer's block and anxiety during the essay writing stage and needed real guidance and feedback. Instead of meaningful help, we mostly received long lists of tasks with little actual support on how to complete them. Communication also became inconsistent during critical parts of the process. As deadlines approached, we expected close guidance and review of the application materials, but the student felt largely abandoned in the middle of the process. While the consultant presents herself very well and is a strong salesperson during the initial conversations, the actual delivery did not match the promises made. For such an expensive service, families expect hands-on guidance, especially when students are struggling. Our experience was that the student was left to manage a very stressful process largely alone. I would strongly advise families to carefully evaluate the level of support they will actually receive before committing to this service.

If I could give 0, I would. Please STAY AWAY from this counselor and her team. She would sweet talk…read moreuntil signing a contract and then from there everything goes downhill. She and her so called team of writers don't do any due diligence on the essays, they would even leave one college name in another college essays and this was after multiple rounds of checking by THEM. She addressed my child in email with another student's name and completely another major and college, so this shows how much thorough she is with her work. DONT WASTE MONEY....she only takes money and then vanishes.

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Mr. Test Prep

Online only tutoring. My understanding is that Mr. Test Prep used to be great when he had kids come…read moreto his home. Now it is entirely online. My son (who actually does well with online learning) did the trial and felt he could do better on his own. I eventually got someone who did in person tutoring. In my experience, a lot of these online classes and tutors benefit the tutor but not the students. If you have a student who does well with online teaching, maybe this is okay. But if you want to pay big money, make sure you get results. For our family, the benefit of taking the SAT over and over was good. But not having any human interaction with the tutor or peers was not good. My son eventually scored a 1570 but with an in person tutor and taking the SAT five times.

It was divine appointment that we found Mr. Test Prep. I…read morealmost never use Yelp anymore to search for anything (sorry, yelp!) but I came on here just to see if there was any SAT prep service that could help my son. He had already sat for the SAT in his 10th grade, and had a decent 1550 score, but we wanted to see if he could improve it. Mr. Test Prep's approach and clear value proposition really stood out to me in the sea of the multitude of tutors and SAT prep services. We gave it a try, our son Ethan loved Michael's style, and format, and it was a good fit for our family's needs all around. Ethan sat for the SAT again in a few months of working with Michael, and his score was perfect. Of course, everyone's mileage may vary. For us , it was a match made in heaven :) Thanks, Michael

At Mr. Test Prep we aim to elevate more than a score!

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Mr. Test Prep incorporates mindfulness practices into his test prep program.

Building Kidz of Palo Alto

4.8

(70 reviews)

3.4 mi

Certified professionals

Women-owned & operated

We are so grateful for the incredible care our baby, received at Building Kidz Palo Alto. From day…read moreone, the infant teachers welcomed us with warmth, patience, and genuine love. They truly made us feel at ease and supported every step of the way. The team went above and beyond--providing daily updates, celebrating every little milestone, and treating my baby with so much care and attention. It was clear they saw him as more than just a baby in daycare--they treated him like family. My son has developed so much during his time here, and it's bittersweet to be saying goodbye as we prepare to move. We will always remember the loving foundation Building Kidz provided during such a special stage in his life. Thank you to the amazing infant room team for everything--you've left a lasting mark on our hearts.

We moved to Palo Alto for 2 months last spring and enrolled our 13m and 3.5y old sons at Building…read moreKidz. My 3.5 y old has been very happy in the school, since the very first day. He did tell us often that it was his favorite school. The teachers and staff are dedicated, warm and caring. They were always available to comunicate with us; and also worked hard to help our sons integrate with the classmates, despite our short stay. Both sons bonded well with the teachers; it has been hard to say good bye! When we left we got a card signed by all the teachers, the director and the assistant director. We are grateful to everyone for the wonderful care that our sons received, despite the short stay.

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Tikiland Daycare & Preschool

4.8

(26 reviews)

3.7 mi

So grateful we found Tikiland during our daycare search. Mrs. Pily & team are warm, caring,…read moreattentive, kind and supportive. Leaving your LO isn't easy, but TL feels safe comforting welcoming and full of heart. Here are some selling points- Why we Tikiland: *A+ comms w/ parents, super responsive to Qs. The teachers were BORN for this! *Big shaded yard w/ fun play structures (cars, playhouse, giant playground) for exploration and play *Curriculum is well rounded which helps Kids thrive socially & academically. *Bilingual program to help kids become multilingual *Fun holiday celebrations (VDay, may5, MDay, etc.) *Welcoming family community-never cliquey * The drop-in program has been a lifesaver, giving us time to reset/recharge. Very flexible-start w/ a few drop-in hrs & add more as needed TL is 5/5 quality child care program top to bottom TY for taking such good care of the kiddos! (Sharing a quick snap of one of my LOs--a tiny peek into how special this place is.)

Coming from a bilingual Spanish/English-speaking household, finding Tikiland was the perfect fit…read morefor my family. From the 1st moment I pulled up, the lush greenery set the tone for a welcoming, enriching space, where kids create/explore/thrive. The teachers are attentive/nurturing/trustworthy and truly invested in each child--you see it in the way they eagerly walk up each morning! Here are some of my kids' fave activities: - Story-based Arts & Crafts - Themed storytime w/ hands-on projects connected to what they read (one day, animal masks; another, a paper-plate whale reinforcing Spanish/English vocab; another, a decorated bear mask blending literacy & creativity). -STEM + hands-on discovery - Learning feels like play as they build, experiment w/ circuits, & explore STEM concepts ("We made it light up!" my son said about their snap circuit activity--so cool!!). - Outdoor exploration - Nature walks introduce plants/flowers/birds/ environmental awareness. - Gardening activities - Outdoor spaces turn into classrooms, where kids observe/engage/teach ("You have to be gentle, or the plants won't grow," my son reminds me--wise kiddo tbh). -Imaginative play + role-playing - The playhouse kitchen turns into a full-on restaurant (my daughter proudly declared herself both chef/boss when she runs the pretend lunch service @ TL), while the dollhouse encourages creative storytelling (she reenacts her gentle parenting skills back @ home lol). - Music & Movement - Days include dance/rhythm games/interactive songs (hand-clapping in Span/Eng performances of Los Pollitos Dicen & De Colores, & the highly competitive freeze dance which according to my son, demands absolute focus -don't interrupt when the music stops!!). W/ dedicated teachers/engaging activities/a vibrant outdoor setting- TL is where kids develop curiosity/confidence/love for learning in a nurturing bilingual environment. If you're looking for a place that truly understands childhood where education is joyful/immersive/hands-on Tikiland is IT!!

Tikiland Daycare & Preschool Palo Alto Discover a CrEaTiVe Outdoors

Tikiland Daycare & Preschool Palo Alto

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Arts & Crafts Arts & Crafts: From grasping crayons to creating intricate designs, our art projects cater to all ages.

Little Builders Preschool & Daycare

(14 reviews)

3.8 mi

We feel so lucky to have found Little Builders Daycare. Our daughter has been attending since she…read morewas 18 months old, and over the past 10 months, we've seen her grow and thrive in so many ways. Andy, Amy, Katelyn and Andrew do such a thoughtful job creating age-appropriate activities that keep the kids engaged, learning, and having fun. We're always impressed by the creativity they bring to each day (all of the art projects, sensory play, storytime and lots of music) . We love getting the daily photo updates. It's clear she feels safe, happy, and loved there, and we're so grateful to have this nurturing little gem in our neighborhood.

My son (age 2) has been enrolled in Little Builders since he was 18 months and we continue to have…read morea positive experience at the school! It is a happy, safe place he loves to go to every day. All the teachers and staff are friendly and great with the kids. Highlights of the school include: Small teacher to student ratio; also the students form a tight bond with the small class. Great outdoor play space, lunch and snacks are provided and included with tuition. I'm also impressed with what my son has learned at age 2 has learned Spanish and knows all his colors and and animals and starting to learn numbers and letters in both English and Spanish.

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Alpha Kids Academy

2.7 mi

Our children were enrolled at Alpha Kids Academy when we lived in the Bay Area (Menlo Park…read morelocation). It was a godsend and probably one of the things about the Bay Area that we miss the most. They provide an amazing educational program for the kids.

Alpha Academy was a good choice for my daughter. The teachers helped her to develop social and…read morecommunication skills. As a parent I see a positive progress in my daughter in both personal and academics. She always comeback happy and tell me what she did during the day. This school is amazing and the teaching process is in two languages English and Spanish. Also, I really enjoyed of the activities that the school celebrate with parents and children such as Easter and Christmas. This school care a lot of children.

Cool playground equipment

Writing table activity

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Working on our projects

Gina's Daycare

4.5

(24 reviews)

2.1 mi

Gina's Day Care provides an all around wonderful experience for children. When considering day care…read moreoptions for our children, we wanted an environment that would help them become wonderful people and experience having fun as kids with other kids. We are very pleased to share that we found that with Gina's Day Care; a wonderful place for children to make friends and enjoy their day. Gina is very knowledgeable in child care and is able to help children through their stages and have fun. Furthermore, we value the time and effort Gina places in helping children enjoy parties and special days throughout the year; thus helping create special memories for the children at Gina's Day Care. Gina clearly goes the extra distance to make the children of her day care feel loved. We are always pleased to learn of the fun times our boys experience at Gina's Day Care. In our view, Gina's Day Care brings the best day care experience for children on the Peninsula in Silicon Valley, primarily serving Atherton, Menlo Park, and Redwood City.

So we decided to overlook the negative reviews about kicking people out of her daycare and keeping…read morepeoples' deposits and give her a try. We went with a very expensive $300 a week for 3 days of care and a $300 deposit was required. A week after my son started daycare she put a yelp deal for $250 per week for 5 days of care. I asked her about it and she made up some BS about yelp doing that automatically and the deal wasnt valid. That was obviously a lie but whatever we went with her anyway. Unfortunately the bad reviews are very accurate of what kind of person Georgina Manzo is. She is shady and all she cares about is money. After the shelter in place order we tried put a pause to daycare and we were promptly kicked out after I told her that I would not be able to pay her during the pandemic. She kept my $300 deposit and my sons clothes, medicine and epipens. We tried to get our stuff back various times. We went to her home and her husband answered the door and said she was in the shower during daycare hours. More BS. Overall a person you do not want to be in business with. We have decided to take her to small claims court to recover our deposit and costs for the items she kept. Please be advised and don't make the same mistake we did. You have been warned.

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69 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Allie T.

2 years ago

I cannot recommend Devashish Sarkar highly enough! Over the course of my studies in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and Latin American economics, Dev has been an invaluable guide and mentor. His deep knowledge, not only of economic theories but also their real-world applications, has been instrumental in helping me grasp complex concepts and gain a deeper appreciation for the subject. What sets Dev apart is his rare combination of expertise and passion. His background as a business executive at global organizations like BBC and Reuters brings a wealth of real-world insights that make economics come alive. He doesn't just teach the subject--he illuminates it, weaving together theory, practical examples, and personal anecdotes that make abstract concepts relatable and memorable. Whether it's breaking down the money multiplier or exploring opportunity costs through relatable real-world examples, Dev has a gift for making the complex seem simple. Dev's teaching style is exceptional. He is patient, thoughtful, and truly dedicated to his students' success. His genuine enthusiasm for economics is contagious--his love for the subject has inspired me to view it not just as a course to complete, but as a lens to better understand the world. Beyond his technical expertise, Dev has been a mentor in the truest sense of the word. His belief in the transformative power of education shines through in every session, and his encouragement and support have boosted my confidence immensely. Learning from someone with such a rich teaching philosophy and heartfelt dedication has been a privilege. If you're looking for a tutor who is knowledgeable, patient, inspiring, and deeply committed to his students, look no further than Dev. I will always be grateful for the clarity, confidence, and passion he has instilled in me as a student of economics. read more

Maya R.

362

11 years ago

Tara Metha is by far the best tutor I've ever had in my whole life. She has worked with me for the past few months on SAT preparation and it's been so amazing to have worked with her. She is an excellent teacher, very easy to talk to and super funny and kind, always offers you food or drinks before you start, and most importantly helped me improve my scores tremendously. Not only this but she has become a great friend of mine and a huge mentor in my life. I know my relationship with her is one that will influence my life for years to come and I'm so lucky I chose to work with her. In addition I have loved working with Matt Downhour and Peter Littlefield. Even though I've only worked with Matt for a short while now, he has been so incredibly helpful! Even when I'm not in a session, he will help me over the phone or on email to make sure I succeed in history. He is so friendly and funny and I have enjoyed all the time I've spent with him so far! Peter and I have worked together for a while, after helping me with chemistry last year and biology this year. He is very good at explaining everything from the inside of a cell to the color of the sky. He is so friendly and him and I have formed an amazing friendship over the past 2 years. I would not have gotten the grades I did in Chem or bio without his help. Also, I have loved AJ as a place as well- everyone is so kind and helpful, there are snacks and a ton of resources around you at all times! I honestly wish I could live there sometimes. I absolutely encourage everyone to try AJ if they need a tutor and especially recommend Tara, Matt and Peter as tutors. read more

G. C.

12 years ago

I recommend AJ Tutoring. They helped my daughter meet her goals for the SAT exam and in AP Calculus over the past year. With help from three tutors, in three different semesters, with 3 or 4 tutoring sessions each time, she raised her SAT score by about 300 points to 2240 and her AP Calculus grade from B to A, and she met her goal of scoring a 4 on the Calculus AP exam, so she won't have to take Calculus again in college. My daughter, a senior in high school, was self-motivated to get the tutoring help. I agreed to pay for the tutoring, and I called the owner to request a particular tutor who would work well with my daughter each time. Then I stepped away and let my daughter and tutor manage it all. Everything worked out well. My daughter put in the effort, the three tutors taught the material well in a few weekly sessions, and my daughter met her goals. It was a good learning experience for her on how to find help when she needs it in life, and how to use the help wisely and efficiently. I like that not only did she improve her scores and grade, but she also learned valuable study skills. The office is conveniently located for students. The tutors were flexible to work out a schedule. The Saturday practice tests option was excellent. I wish we didn't have to pay for tutoring, but it was worthwhile. Tutoring may be more expensive and less effective if the student does not buy-in to the process and if the parent is forcing it. Even for a reluctant student, at least one or a few sessions would probably be worthwhile. read more

Michael R.

4 years ago

I've been working with James Backlund, previously out of the Menlo Park office, and now that I moved to Arizona, I still work with him online. I do this because my work with him completely saved my grade last year. I'm not exaggerating that I had grades like 40% or 20% or 15% in some classes. My best grade was a 55%, in my favorite class, because I was just not feeling it AT ALL being 11 months into the pandemic. But in February we started working together (also online, bc: pandemic), and IDK but we started getting a lot done. Like, a ton. We worked a LOT, but in the end I passed all of my classes with Cs, Bs and As. It was amazing: I had no idea that would be possible to pull off. But James also helped me a lot in not only being motivated, but also organized. Moreover, he showed me how to communicate with adults, and think from their point of view. So by communicating with my teachers, I was able to write them really good emails, have great discussions during office hours, and in the end they were lenient with my late assignments. And whenever they gave me a new deadline, I kept track of it, met it, and turned in really high quality work (usually...there was a lot). So, yeah, it was a really surprising experience, and so of course we're keeping on with it in my junior year, even after we'd moved away from California. read more

Trevor B.

9 years ago

Over the course of two years, I have had the chance to work one-on-one with Peter Littlefield for Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. Peter has enriched my comprehension of all of these subjects through combining textbook and personalized examples to better demonstrate each concept. His assistance with Chemistry managed to help me turn a subject I previously struggled with and shrugged off into one that I understood and could articulate very clearly. With Physics, Peter was able to prepare me to confidently sit down for each test I took in class as well as the two APs I took for Physics as I knew I was armed with a plethora of different ways to approach and understand each problem I was given. Lastly, Peter managed to turn preparation classes for the Biology SAT test into much more than just a memorization period (which is what the majority of the test comprises of) by bringing in specific examples to associate with every Kingdom of organism, for example, to better provide me with context when I stumbled across a specific Kingdom of organism. On the whole, Peter managed to make tutoring sessions that should have been rather boring both fun and enlightening by drawing on things far outside the realm of what was being directly mentioned in the text to provide a better context for whatever was being covered at that time. read more

Kristine E.

8 months ago

We purchased AJ Tutoring's College Consulting package with Matt Furman for our son last year, and again for our daughter this year. Both experiences were outstanding. Matt is exceptionally knowledgeable about the college application process and met weekly with each of our kids to ensure their applications stayed on track and were submitted correctly. Early in the process, he took the time to get to know their interests, academic strengths, and extracurriculars, then used that insight to guide them toward a well-balanced list of reach, target, and safety schools. He also introduced several colleges aligned with their interests that weren't yet on our radar which broadened their options. In addition, he offered thoughtful recommendations for summer classes, internships, and other opportunities that could strengthen their applications. For both of our kids, working with Matt made the entire process smooth and stress-free. As parents, it gave us peace of mind knowing everything was progressing as it should without us needing to constantly check in. We highly recommend AJ Tutoring and Matt Furman for anyone seeking expert, supportive guidance through the college planning and application journey. read more

Rene J.

8 years ago

My name is Rene Jimenez. I am the Director of College Programs at Peninsula Bridge: peninsulabridge.org. I am writing this review to reflect the experience we have had working with James Backlund. James has been working with our Peninsula Bridge students in individual and group sessions for the past two academic years. James has tutored in specific subjects and group tutoring for SAT prep. We have been very happy with the quality support he provides every time he works with students. Students have mentioned how effective his support has been. I've also noticed that some students have had full letter grade increases through his support. James is a very smart professional, and very relatable. He has a great sense of humor, that even high school students can relate to. (Difficult to do). Overall, we would recommend James to tutor and work with students at any level of support needed. We try to make sure we book James in advance for every cycle of SAT prep. We are now going into our 3rd year and continuing! AJ Tutoring is a great organization and we are incredibly happy for the partnership we've developed. read more

Michael G.

6 years ago

Mr. Patrick Keenan was an outstanding teacher. It was clear to me from the beginning that Patrick fully understood the ACT and Subject SATs, and he always offered multiple strategies for solving each problem. Prior to working with him, I had no idea what the ACT was like, and after only a few sessions I gained a full understanding of the test. After working with Patrick for a few months, I was able to score a 33 on the ACT. During those few months I met with Patrick once a week, via a video chat system, and I was able to continuously improve my scores every time I met with him. I also worked with Patrick to prepare for two subject SAT tests, both of which I scored over a 700. Patrick was also very flexible when it came to scheduling, and he was able to accommodate my busy schedule. I was even able to work with him as I travelled. I am confident that without Patrick's help, I would not have gained admission into multiple Ivy League schools, including my number one choice. I would recommend Patrick to anyone who is looking for a tutor for any test and any subject. read more

Indie B.

7 years ago

I feel like the luckiest person in the world to have Sam Beech as my tutor. Not only has he made me more confident in my testing, but he has brought a smile to my face while doing it. He is without a doubt the best tutor at AJ, by a very wide margin, and is willing to do the most for his students. Tutoring with Sam is a very low stress, and what I would consider a "chill environment", but we are still very productive. Sam is the coolest cat in West Menlo Park, and probably the most intelligent cat as well (even more intelligent than the Siamese cat!). Tutoring with Sam has made me want to continue tutoring because I am just not ready for my time with him to come to an end. I feel like my intelligence has tripled even in this short time with him. To quote one of my favorite AJ practice tests, "what sleight of divine hand or alignment of the stars mixed to produce this human phenomenon -- at just the moment when we most needed him?" (AJ ACT #4). When I am with Sam, I feel like I am in the presence of a genius. read more

Dorothy P.

2 years ago

My daughter has been working with Brian Pesner for SAT Prep and he has been a terrific tutor. Standardized tests have always been overwhelming for her, impacting her performance. Brian has given her the tools to build her confidence. He instilled a sense of control by teaching her how to approach each section strategically. He didn't just focus on generic test-taking skills; he pinpointed her specific weaknesses and tailored a study plan to address them directly. This personalized approach made a big difference and the results speak for themselves. Her score increased by more than 200 points! The benefits extend beyond the SAT. Brian's techniques are valuable study skills that will serve her well throughout college. Overall, Brian's guidance gave my daughter not just a higher score, but a newfound confidence in her academic abilities. I highly recommend Brian to anyone looking for an SAT tutor who genuinely cares about the students he works with. read more

Lisa G.

11 years ago

Bob Jones is amazing. Our daughter had trouble with Middle School math and had "accepted that she just wasn't good at math." She's smart and we didn't believe that (unfortunately her teachers were not great). She started with Bob in 8th grade, Algebra one, and has ended up with an A in the class. While the grade showed tremendous progress and of course we are super-proud, her confidence skyrocketed. Bob had a great way of breaking down the concepts in ways that our daughter got it. He worked with her, many times going over the allotted session,until she felt ready for the next day's test. He had a lot of faith and confidence in her, was the consummate cheerleader on her behalf, and we own him a great debt of gratitude. We've tried other tutors in the past but Bob, who is actually a math teacher (or who was one) just had a great way about him. And it's genuine. I'm sure we'll be calling him when she starts HS. Thanks for everything Bob! read more

A C.

6 years ago

After having a wonderful year working with my tutor, Samantha Crimmins, I must inform the public of her superiority over all my past tutors in the subject of writing. She has fully devoted not only her time in class but has spent countless hours preparing documents through extensive research. Early on in our time together, Samantha identified and adapted to my weaknesses and efficiently helped me eliminate them. Because of her diligence my essay grades augmented by 40 percent over the course of a semester and I developed a style of writing. Her flexibility in both scheduling and teaching styles have allowed for an optimal learning environment. Samantha has aided me to become a better writer who can be proud of my writing. Looking back, this review isn't as much of a review of AJ Tutoring, but more for the incredible tutor Samantha Crimmins. :) - A Child read more

Sofia C.

7 years ago

Sam Beech is probably the dopest tutor I've ever had. Not only is he super smart, but he brings a lot of fun humor to the game. It is no joke the highlight of my week. He has given me great math skills that will take me to the next level of excellence on my ACT/SAT. Don't be fooled, Sam Beech may look like a pure math wizard, but what you don't realize at first glance is that he brings English skills as strong as steel to the table as well. I not only feel prepared for my ACT/SAT, but I'm excited to continue studying for it as Sam has made the process as fun as going on a rollercoaster. I'm gonna be super depressed when I'm no longer in need of tutoring because the sessions bring such joy to my day. If you are considering a tutor, please, please pick Sam. I promise you you will not regret it. read more

Laura F.

7 years ago

We had a tremendous experience with AJ Tutoring thanks to Sam Beech! My daughter had not had very good tutoring experiences before we tried AJ Tutoring. Sam was the first tutor she really enjoyed working with. He not only helped improve her math grade dramatically, but also gave her the confidence and motivation to succeed across all her subjects. She would look forward to seeing him every week, and would always come home feeling more confident and better about school. Sam also did an outstanding job of giving me frequent updates on my daughter's progress and keeping me involved. Sam really was a life saver for us. I highly recommend Sam and AJ Tutoring for anyone looking for a fantastic tutoring service! read more

Jacob B.

8 years ago

Christina Ha is a phenomenal tutor who is thoughtful, organized, and flexible in her approach. I used her for standardized test tutoring and my scores improved tremendously. Not only was she incredibly helpful in teaching the concepts and techniques for the test, but she had access to practice sets that only come with AJ tutoring, and these guides were second to none. My strong performance on the test would not have been possible without Christina. Regular tutoring with Christina plus studying for a few months prior to a standardized test will surely improve your score by a significant margin. If you are looking to do well on a SAT or GMAT, look no further than Christina. read more

Holly T.

4 years ago

My high school student worked exclusively with Logan at the Menlo Park office to prep for the SAT and ACT for the past two months. Truly a positive experience for both myself and my child. I anticipated having to drag them to tutoring and hear a lot of complaining about the time/work commitment but I was pleasantly surprised to experience the exact opposite! My child loved tutoring and dramatically improved their score by the 100s in both sections. I'm really satisfied with entire experience from start to finish. Easy, professional, responsive, and just plain nice to work with from a student and parent perspective :) read more

Chris A.

8 years ago

Kavya did an excellent job preparing my son for the SAT. Over the course of 9 sessions, she worked with him in areas where there were gaps and other areas where he simply needed to review and refresh his memory. She also helped him to find strategies for working through some of the more challenging areas of the test and to build self esteem going into the testing process. Overall, the practice sessions with Kavya were a very positive experience for my son. Most impressively, she was somehow able to get him to do all of his practice homework without any input from me! I would recommend AJ and Kavya for SAT prep. read more

Madeline S.

2 years ago

Devashish Sarkar was my math tutor for my college stats math class and helped me out so much with the course! I cannot recommend him enough; he is very understanding and supportive, willing to rearrange even his own schedule to fit a student in and help them prepare for any exams or homework assignments that are due. He is also very personable, which makes learning math outside of school feels less like a chore and more like a hopeful opportunity. I have zero confidence in math and Dev really helped to boost my self esteem in the subject. He is truly a 10/10 tutor, you will not find someone else like him! read more

Grace Y.

9 years ago

My experience at AJ Tutoring in Menlo Park has been fantastic, especially with my tutor Brian Pines. Before I started at AJ, I strongly preferred the sciences and was struggling in English. Through multiple strategies, Brian helped me learn to express my ideas effectively, and even write at a faster pace! In only a short amount of time, my grades improved dramatically in both English and history, and I gained confidence going into my AP tests, which also went well. More importantly, my interest in the humanities was renewed due to Brian's engaging teaching style. Thank you Brian! read more

Sarah D.

5 years ago

Elizabeth Emery has worked with all three of my children doing ISEE prep, maths review and ACT prep. I can't speak highly enough of her interpersonal and professional skills. She is the best. Each of my children has said that they actually ENJOY their tutoring time with her! She is friendly and fun, super organised, flexible and communicates regularly on progress made or areas for improvement. We have seen our children's skill and confidence level improve dramatically under Elizabeth's excellent tutelage. She is the best and we are so thankful for all of her help. read more

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AJ Tutoring

4.5

(117 reviews)

I am happy to write this review to support AJ Tutoring! Joe and Aaron are great guys who started…read moreout as tutors themselves. They really get the business and understand the needs of both the children and parents. The have created the most professional environments and offices in many key locations of any other tutoring business. I've been to Menlo and Palo Alto. They are the best option and easily my wife's goto option in supporting the the brightest future for our kids. AJ has and was recommended by several of our friends who have sent their boys and girls to there with great results. I was fortunate enough to get to know Joe beforehand and was able to instantly see the passion he has for kids education and the care they take to recruit and train the best tutors. It takes a certain personality to be able to do this job well and consistently and their team has it!

My son had an excellent experience with Caleb Liu preparing for the ACT. Caleb is extremely…read moreprofessional, listens attentively to the individual needs and goals of the student and parent, and goes above and beyond to ensure the success of his students. He was recommended to me by a parent whom he successfully tutored with great results as well. I was especially impressed by him when there was a practice test hiccup, was super responsive in resolving the issue, and took it upon himself to do a personal makeup for my son. I highly recommend Caleb as a 5-star tutor for test prep. Overall, our experience with AJ was very positive, but there is significant room for improvement for practice test sessions. My son took two practice tests that were not well-organized and frustrated him because he had prepared for them only to feel like his time was wasted. I provided direct feedback to AJ because I was surprised that that this happened twice in a row to my son. I expected a premium tutoring service like AJ to be able to run practice test sessions routinely and smoothly because when they don't it causes additional stress and time on the students and parents. I hope AJ takes this as constructive feedback for the future.

Transform Tutoring

(18 reviews)

We had Collin for our son for 2 years on Chemistry (Chem Honor and AP Chem). Collin is the best…read moretutor we have ever had - he has heart - he gave inspiration, encouragement, patience, and coaching. He is very accessible, gives advice on studying and test taking techniques, foster subject interest to make it understandable. Our son is a non-STEM subject student, and under Collin's positive influence he got A in both classes, and did well in AP exam. It's truly "transformative". We'd highly recommend Collin to any future students!

Skilled and talented tutors, coordination and correspondence top notch. Highly recommended.read more

Cardinal Tutors

(14 reviews)

My son Was a senior this year and I reached out to Cardinal Tutors and was lucky enough to find the…read moremost amazing tutor. I wish I had found him earlier. Peter did an amazing job. He was extremely knowledgeable in his area of expertise. Accommodated my son ( who had very limited time due to spots training) with the times that he was available - between them they always came up with a solution. As for the company - they make us easy to contact your tutor, payments are set up in advance and feedback is always asked for. Great service.

We have used Cardinal Tutors for over 4 years for two of my sons in different courses: Alegebra,…read morePre-Calculus, and Calculus. Neil at Cardinal Tutors has always been attentive to finding the right personality to fit the needs of my two different sons. We also found them to be flexible and understanding about scheduling. When your kid needs a session to help with a big test: they need a session! The tutors themselves have been great: well-prepared, thoughtful and on-time. At each level of math needed, we found these Stanford students to be not just helpful tutors but great mentors as well. I not only would recommend them, I have recommended them to several friends and never heard a complaint. This is a first class operation.

Sylvan Learning of Los Altos & Mountain View

(8 reviews)

My daughter's math skills have improved since she joined the program, as reflected in her school…read morereport cards and teacher feedback. I asked her if Sylvan has helped, and she said yes. More importantly, she has been enjoying the sessions with the tutors. Thank you, Vincent, Steven, and other Sylvan staff!

When I found Sylvan, we were very concerned about our child's progress in math due to a concussion…read morewhich had caused her to miss several months of school. She had months of work to make up during the summer and was struggling in class. We had tried multiple tutors from other places but done had made a difference. In fact, she was beginning to doubt her abilities due to the situation. Sylvan Learning Center saved the day. Really. She went from a C- and hating math to a B- within a month, then to an A. She currently wavers between an A and A+! We are so thankful and highly recommend this center. She will be taking summer courses and high school prep with them as well.

AJ Tutoring

4.9

(34 reviews)

My students took the SAT this Saturday, and they all agreed about one point: the tutoring they…read morereceived -- through Matthew Downhour of AJ Tutoring -- helped them feel prepared and confident. They said that they were better able to manage their time, and their stress levels, because of the tutoring he provided. Since January of this year, Matt has arrived on time at 8 am, twice a week, to our junior AVID classes. AVID is a college prep class, but I always felt less than confident tutoring my students for the SAT. I'm an English teacher, after all. Can I help with the reading? Sure. The grammar? Yes. But Matt is able to teach them skills, strategies, rules, and... math. I could not have been more happy with Matt, and AJ Tutoring.

We've had a wonderful experience with this tutoring center. They are incredibly responsive,…read moreproactive, and easy to work with. I also really appreciate that we're only charged for the sessions we actually use -- no pressure or unnecessary commitments. Most importantly, my daughter's tutor, Amelie, has been amazing. My daughter is in 5th grade and started tutoring because she was behind in reading, spelling, and writing, and she needed extra support from someone other than mom or dad. Homework at home was often a struggle, so it says a lot that she genuinely likes Amelie and actually looks forward to her sessions. In fact, we were running late once and my daughter was very upset because she didn't want to be late to tutoring -- something I never thought I'd see! Seeing her excited about learning has been incredible, and that wouldn't have happened without Amelie's patience, encouragement, and ability to connect with her. We're so grateful for the progress we've seen and highly recommend this tutoring center, especially Amelie.

QWERTY Education Services

(15 reviews)

This is a long overdue review of QWERTY and Michael Perez. Our teen son needed additional help in…read moremath and he came highly recommended for good reason. Michael is emphatic, patient and great at explaining complicated math concepts. We used him for a few years and he was always easy to work with, communicated well and was readily available during crunch times, like finals, etc. More importantly, he gets kids who learn differently and is exceptional at understanding his students as a whole person. We always recommend Michael to anyone needing an outstanding math tutor. He is simply terrific!

We have repeatedly sent two kids through them for help on multiple subjects or challenges. We have…read morenever been disappointed. Michael is easy to work with, and getting into a groove with scheduling was straightforward. If we had a 3rd kid, we would likely use them all over again. 10/10

C2 Education of San Mateo

3.9

(11 reviews)

We signed our kindergartener up for a package of tutoring. It was not cheap but it is worth it. My…read moreson is learning two languages and has been under a lot of travel lately - not a proper structured school. I wanted to make sure he got ahead before 1st grade starts. He is learning a lot with Anuja and he really likes her. He leaves every session feeling more confident and proud of himself. It is worth the price knowing that my son is building confidence and setting the foundation for the next 12 years of his school life. And update: My son said "I like learning at the learning center better than my school" and he attends one of the best school in this entire region. So that was pretty exciting to hear how happy he is here..! He really enjoys Anuja!!

Stating pure facts in a timeline format, in case C2 tries to disguise the issue…read more On 9/28/23, we reached out to C2 to extend my son's hours, to use them for SAT prep in 2024. On 9/29/23, we received written confirmation that the hours were extended. On 8/28/24, we reached out to C2 to use those hours that were extended. We were informed that the hours had expired in 12/23. We showed them proof of their written confirmation from their center director. We waited around 2 weeks for a resolution. Eventually our messages were ignored. Sign that contract and buy those hours at your peril. Stay away and find an honest tutoring company.

Cortex College Consulting

4.8

(16 reviews)

When come down to find a good college advisor for our high school kid, it could be very…read morechallenging! We interviewed three consulting companies, after first initial meeting, very obviously Cortex was standing out! We are with them for three months now, we realized we made the right decision. There so many good things about Cortex! I will start with our family's first meeting with them, the presentation James showed to us was very impressive, the goal, the process and timeline of applying college was so clear, especially the philosophy behind their service is to help kids to build good study habit and be productive. My kid likes James instantly, to him, James is more like mentor. Each week James gives assignments and also monthly face to face meeting, which is very helpful. James is super responsive, patient and be passionately about his work! We feel so grateful to find Cortex! thank you James!

Being immigrants and attending a public school where counselors are overwhelmed by a very large…read morestudent body, we felt that we needed help to prepare for the college admissions process. We spent quite some time looking for someone who was not only knowledgeable and experienced but also relatable to our son, and we are pleased to have found Amy. Amy really makes an effort to understand the individual, his or her aspirations, merits, and potential, the basis of every recommendation and feedback, from which extracurriculars to pursue to which colleges to apply, always having in mind whether that is a good match for that specific individual. While the credit really goes to the student who earn the grades, take the tests, and write the essays, her support and advice really helped throughout the journey and the outcomes are a testimony to this: Columbia, Cornell, Brown, Dartmouth, Amherst, Johns Hopkins, University of Chicago, Northwestern, University of Southern California, and all of the UCs. Working with Amy was a delight and we highly recommend her.

Raftrey College Advising

4.3