Ayden is a terrific person who genuinely cares about the families and kids he serves. He is patient, understanding and generous with his knowledge and time. Given just how complex and competitive the whole college admissions process has become, we always felt good knowing we had a resource to help us navigate the waters and remind us of what needed to be done each month. With the thousands of different universities and colleges in the US (and it'll feel like almost all of them are inundating you with mail), there's no doubt the process can be overwhelming, not to mention stressful. From building a compelling High School "resume", preparing for SATs, ACTs, and APs, to identifying and then selecting appropriate schools that are a good academic, social, and financial "fit", to navigating the admissions process, to the decision-making surrounding paying for college, FAFSA, financial aid, etc. it's truly a mammoth undertaking. Can you do it alone? Maybe, but be prepared to do a lot of homework (and I mean a lot; there's so much info out there, the challenge is actually finding what is relevant, meaningful, current), and don't be surprised to learn that college admissions has advanced well beyond what it was when we were doing it 30+ years ago. The risk is what you may miss or what you learn too late. Ayden and his team offer a very comprehensive service (we actually found we didn't need all of what Ayden offered) but he was also able to outline some very compelling strategies that actually opened our eyes as well as opened up a door of opportunity for us that we otherwise would not have considered. And I'm not referring to simply taking on more debt and leaving your child with a burden of indentured-servitude that seems to have become the norm these day. Instead, Ayden advised us to focus on strategies to maximize merit aid which made all the difference for us. Does Ayden do it all for you? Of course not, and anyone who expects that doesn't understand or appreciate the process. Your son or daughter has to apply themselves and be motivated throughout the process and only you and your child will know what feels right when faced with the multitude of options available. If your plans are to attend your local JC or State College and live at home you may or may not need the full breadth of Ayden's services but if you want to expand your options consider working with Ayden. He won't be able to take all the work and family stress out of the process but he will be a voice of support and encouragement as you navigate the road and you can rest assured you have a partner in the process. It wasn't until we got to the end of it and we found ourselves in the very fortunate position of accepting (& declining) multiple offers of acceptance with some extremely generous levels of merit aid (close to $100k) that we began to truly appreciate what Ayden had done for us. read more

College Panning Solutions eliminated the college application stress off my system :)!!! I started working with Ayden in 2018 for my older son's admission process who at that time was in the middle of applying for colleges. I must say that without Ayden's services, my son would not have got enrolled in the college of his choice (during sophomore year) plus we would not have received all the scholarship/grants available to bring his tuition down significantly. My son is studying in a private Jesuit school in LA and he is extremely happy there. I as a parent I am very fortunate for having partnered with Ayden's College Planning Solutions to fulfill my son's dream at a much lesser cost. Ayden and his staff not only make their clients feel comfortable and at ease during this overwhelming process but also are available anytime for any kind of related questions and queries. Their knowledge is impeccable that makes one feel that they are in good hands. I am now working with Ayden for my second child's college admission process and I am confident the process will go smooth. I highly recommend College Planning Solutions for anyone whose kids are in high school and it is definitely worth the $$$. Thank you, Ayden and Team!!! read more

I started working with Ayden in 2015 when my son was a sophomore. It was the greatest setup because Ayden was actually working with my son, instead of me. They went through the process together, from finding out what his interest and skills were to filing out applications & writing essays. Ayden had a way of talking to my son and getting him to take responsibility for each part of the process. My son was thrilled to get into his school of choice! In March 2020, we started the process again, but with my freshman and sophomore daughters. They are working with Laurie, one of the positioning counselors. She is in constant contact with both of my daughters. They have "todo" lists and completion dates. Laurie follows up with them via text, email, and video conferencing. Both girls own the process and the outcome. I get to watch the process from a distance and am within arms reach if I am needed as backup, support, or any clarification is needed. I highly recommend College Planning Solutions with Ayden and Laurie. They are easy to talk to, accessible, knowledgable, and have been a very positive influence in all 3 of my children's lives while navigating high school and the transition into college. -Lynne H read more

Ayden and his team at College Planning Solutions have been FANTASTIC to work with. Starting in 2019 with our daughter during her Senior year in high school. We may have been behind in the college prep process for her but rest assured Ayden and the team moved swiftly to catch her up. They helped to improve her writing skills to prepare for the application process. She was accepted to 8 of her 10 colleges that she applied to, including her top three. The process was smooth and worth every penny invested. We've now moved on to our oldest son, who has already been accepted and will pay baseball on scholarship to Loyola Marymount in the fall of 2021. The best part of C.P.S. is their communication with the students and holding them accountable to the tasks and deadlines to have a successful college application process. We, as parents, didn't have to do any follow up or "nagging" of the kids. I highly recommend Ayden and his team at College Planning Solutions for any family looking for professional, affordable guidance to college planning. Thank you Ayden. read more

Ayden and his team have helped us walk through the college planning process for our two older sons who are now in college. They are starting the process with our youngest son who will be a Junior in High School in the Fall. Ayden's passion for helping families work through the process of college applications and choosing a college that works for each student, is matchless! Ayden is knowledgeable and provided us with guidance, answered every question, no matter how small, made our investment in this process with College Planning Solutions well worth it. The peace of mind and the results for our first two sons gives us full confidence they will again provide invaluable help and guidance one more time for our youngest son. Thank you for walking with us during this important season of life. We could not have done this without you! Highly recommend!!!! read more

Ayden helped me a lot through the whole college applications process, letters, and even after getting accepted he continued to help me with any questions or concerns I had. I was able to complete my college apps and go through the college process easily and efficiently with his help. Without his guide I would've had everything confused and because of his help I was able to make it to almost every college I applied too!! What I loved most was the fact that even after getting accepted to these colleges and commitimg, he continued to help me through any questions I had and made sure I had all my paperwoks, information, and applications needed to get the best financial aid package I could ( I got full ride btw ). Without his help I dont think I would've been able to get though it without being stressed and overwhelmed. read more

Our first introduction to Ayden was at a College Planning Workshop presentation, which proved to be quite valuable. He and his staff deliver on what they say they will. They have surpassed our expectations, and we have felt very confident in their abilities. He assured us that they would be there every step of the way and they have been - from picking universities for our daughter, to reading essays, filling out applications, and answering lots of questions. Ayden also walked us through the often confusing financial aspects of college and has saved us a considerable amount. We highly recommend CPS to everyone we know. We look forward to a long relationship with Ayden and his staff as our first daughter continues her college education and our second daughter starts hers in a few years. read more

Ayden has been the calm in our college planning storm! We met him half way through our son's senior year and had no idea what to do. Ayden guided us through the process and helped us reach our goal in getting our son into college. He is now working with our daughter and what a difference it has been to have someone walk us through every step and be there to answer all of our questions and help address our concerns. What we appreciate most is that his services won't stop once our kids are in college. He will continue to be there for us during all four years and beyond! So far, CPS has been a good investment choice for our children's education. Ayden is extremely knowledgeable and genuinely cares for the families he serves. read more

Ayden, Amy and his entire team are highly knowledgeable about the entire process of selecting and applying to the right colleges. Amy was super helpful in coaching my daughter on the required essays. Prior to working with CPS, private universities would not have been on our radar due to sticker price shock. Ayden and team helped educate us on a strategy that fit well with my daughter's accomplishments and interests, and as importantly, financial considerations. My daughter has committed to Chapman next year and we owe a great deal of credit to College Planning Solutions for their expertise and assistance. I will use them again as my son begins his college planning. read more

I met Ayden Masudi at a seminar for college planning in the Livermore Valley last year. I requested a free followup meeting with him to discuss my daughter's college situation with him. He graciously provided us with assistance regarding the FAFSA and college application process. I felt so valued as a person, and so comfortable asking and emailing any question I had. Recently, I contacted him about this year's FAFSA and received an immediate response back. Ayden truly is invested in getting to know you and your child, and optimizing your financial situation. I highly recommend him as a consultant for college planning. read more

Ayden Masudi from College Planning Solutions helped my oldest son get into his dream school (Chapman University) when the odds did not favor our desired outcome. We are now planning college for our second son who is a junior in high school and he has been very helpful in the entire process. Additionally, we are excited for the retirement planning that comes as part of the deal. CPS took over the whole process and I didn't have to do anything. His team worked with my sons on the entire application process, essay and all financial related documents. I would highly recommend him for any of your kids college needs. read more

Ayden and his team have been most helpful, both with FAFSA and questions regarding admissions. He is quick to reply to our Emails and is willing to set up a sit down appointment when ever needed. As a parent you wish you had all the answers for your children when it comes to picking the right University and how to pay for it, this is where Ayden and College Planning comes into place. He will get you and your child on the right track. Thank you Ayden!! read more

Ayden was a lifesaver for my twins and me. He guided us through every step of college planning, admissions, and the financial. He was always responsive and friendly when we had questions. We saved money immediately on college costs, and I knew that we would never have to pay more than was absolutely necessary, as he knows every trick and angle of how to get the best value. I would highly recommend him and his team. read more

College Planning Solutions has supported me enormously through the college process! They worked with me on the college applications, including deciding where to apply and editing my essays. Most importantly, they helped with the financial aid and made school affordable. Ayden has made it possible for me to attend a fantastic school! I cannot thank College Planning Solutions enough! read more

Our son was accepted to USC which none of us planned for. Ayden was there to help us in a last minute situation and came thru strong. Our son was able to get $30,000 with a weeks notice after correcting errors on our application. I highly recommend Ayden to anyone, Just as he was highly recommended to us. Thanks again Ayden, S- read more

CPS is a great service. Ayden is awesome to work with. He continues to be our go to guy when we have any questions regarding the financial portion of our daughter's college experience. He answers emails quickly and is always pleasant and approachable. Thank you Ayden! read more