In-Person College Counseling for Students in Irvine, Newport Beach & Tustin
From middle school academic planning through college admissions, StrivePath helps students throughout Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin, Lake Forest, Costa Mesa, and Laguna Beach build confidence, develop strong academic habits, and pursue colleges where they will thrive. Whether your student attends University High School, Northwood High School, Portola High School, Corona del Mar, Beckman High School, Sage Hill, or another nearby school, our advisors provide personalized support in academics, executive functioning, extracurricular planning, college research, essays, and applications.
Trusted by hundreds of families across the Bay Area
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Office Location
📌
17322 Murphy Ave, Irvine, CA 92614
Strive Path - Guiding Your Academic Journey
Meet Our Irvine Consultants
Our team at Strive Path is dedicated to providing top-notch academic and college advising services to help you reach your full potential. Get to know the professionals behind our success.
Schools We Frequently Work With
Our Irvine office works with students from public, private, and independent schools throughout Irvine, Newport-Mesa, Tustin, Lake Forest, and Laguna Beach. The schools below represent many of the communities we regularly serve, but families from all nearby schools are welcome.
Public High Schools
Middle Schools
Do not see your student’s school listed? We work with families throughout Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin, and the surrounding communities.
Success is more than college admission
At StrivePath, success means more than college admission—it’s about building the foundation and self-awareness to thrive. We focus on what truly matters: the student and their family, developing each student’s unique strengths to prepare them for college and a fulfilling life.
Happier students. Less stressed families. Better admission outcomes.
How we help students like you
Discover who you are and what drives you. Let’s turn your goals into achievements while staying balanced and confident.
From hobbies to career dreams, uncover what excites you most and build a plan that reflects who you are.
We tailor every academic plan to your strengths and future goals so you can excel with clarity and purpose.
Say goodbye to last-minute cramming. Learn the skills that will keep you organized and on top of your game.
It’s not about doing it all—it’s about doing what matters most while taking care of yourself.
How we help parents like you
Leave the planning to us so you can focus on supporting your child’s happiness and growth.
We simplify the process so you can enjoy this time without the overwhelm.
Let us handle the logistics and motivation, so your relationship with your child can stay positive.
Whether you’re familiar with the U.S. education system or completely new, our tailored support ensures your child gets the best opportunities.
Our deep knowledge of Bay Area schools and opportunities ensures your child stands out where it matters most.
Why Irvine, Newport Beach & Tustin Families Choose StrivePath
Irvine is one of the most academically competitive markets in California, and families here feel it early. Irvine Unified has been recognized as the top-performing large district in the state on California's standardized assessments, and every one of its comprehensive high schools has earned College Board AP recognition. That creates a specific local problem: when an entire district performs at that level, strong grades and a stack of AP courses no longer differentiate a student. University, Northwood, Woodbridge, Irvine, and Portola all send large cohorts to the same UC campuses each year, and those students are read in the same context against one another.
The surrounding communities add their own dynamics. Newport-Mesa families weigh Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor, where AP participation is unusually high and Newport Harbor offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, against independent options such as Sage Hill and Pacifica Christian. Tustin families consider Beckman, Tustin High, and Foothill's IB pathway. Lake Forest, Costa Mesa, and Laguna Beach students often carry serious athletic or arts commitments. Meanwhile the private tutoring and test-prep industry here is saturated, and many students arrive with a long list of activities that no one has ever helped them connect into a coherent direction.
StrivePath focuses on differentiation and judgment rather than volume. We help students select courses with intent, decide between AP and IB pathways where both exist, build executive functioning that holds up under an eight-course load, develop one or two interests to a level that is genuinely credible, write essays that sound like the student, and build a college list that is balanced instead of top-heavy with the same five UC campuses everyone else is naming. The objective is a student with a real direction, not a longer resume.
Complimentary introductory consultation. No obligation.
StrivePath's Impacts & Results
At StrivePath, we focus on more than just getting into college—we ensure that every student is set up for long-term success. Here's how our approach delivers results:
100% College Acceptance to Top-Choice Schools
Every student StrivePath has worked with has been accepted to one of their top-choice colleges, demonstrating our track record of success.
Improved Grades and Motivation
Students consistently report higher academic performance, along with increased motivation and self-confidence. Our tailored approach fosters long-term engagement and academic success.
Reduced Stress for Students and Families
Through personalized planning, ongoing support, and clear communication, students experience less stress, while parents feel more informed and empowered.
Healthy Habits for Lasting Success
We focus on developing holistic habits that contribute to long-term well-being, such as improving sleep quality and reducing social media use, which ultimately supports academic and personal growth.
Improved Family Dynamics
Parents benefit from regular updates and a clear roadmap for their child’s success, leading to better family communication and a more harmonious college prep experience.
Communities We Serve
Irvine
Supporting students at University, Northwood, Woodbridge, Irvine, and Portola High Schools and at Sierra Vista, Rancho San Joaquin, Venado, Jeffrey Trail, Lakeside, and South Lake Middle Schools with academic planning, executive functioning, and admissions strategy.
Newport Beach
Working with Corona del Mar, Newport Harbor, Ensign Intermediate, and Sage Hill families on course planning, AP and IB decisions, essays, and applications.
Tustin
Partnering with Beckman High School, Tustin High School, and Pioneer Middle School families on long-term academic planning, interest development, and selective college admissions.
Lake Forest
Helping El Toro High School and Serrano Intermediate students build organized, balanced four-year plans and realistic college lists.
Costa Mesa
Supporting Costa Mesa Middle and High School and TeWinkle Middle School students with course selection, college research, financial aid awareness, essays, and applications.
Laguna Beach
Working with Laguna Beach High School and Thurston Middle School families on academic planning, arts and athletics balance, and college admissions guidance.
See What Our Students & Parents Are Saying
* Student images and testimonials posted with permission.
StrivePath helps students achieve their best, both academically and personally.
Not only are we great at driving strong college admission outcomes, but we also impact students and parents in meaningful ways.
"We have been working with them for the past year and are very satisfied with the level of service and results. The technology they have is unmatched and I strongly encourage anyone that is interested to discuss this specifically with them. Very happy with the decision we made and happy to recommend them!"
Jon E.
Walnut Creek, CA
"We've worked with several college counselors for our son who is in college and our daughter who is a senior applying to college. We felt that Sunny and his team provided the most clear, concrete, and actionable advice. We feel that the input and advice we got will make a big difference."
Jill S.
Lafayette, CA
Thank you, StrivePath! As a mom navigating our first college process, I can’t say enough about Saumya—she was patient, supportive, reassuring, and kind from start to finish. She built a realistic summer plan for my son that helped us complete the college research and essay work early, so when October 1 arrived, our applications were already submitted. The organization and calm she brought to the process were a huge relief. She reassured my son that he would have many options and celebrated each college admittance with him. We felt guided every step of the way. Get ready for Kid #2!
Kerry J.
Walnut Creek, CA
Strivepath really does strive for excellence. My daughter is with Strivepath for sometime now. Their counselors are very empathetic, resourceful and knowledgeable. They focus on kids mental health a lot while guiding the path for college admissions. I will highly recommend their service for anyone looking for college counseling. We are very happy with their service.
Sudipta K.
Oakland, CA
StrivePath Resources
College Admissions Timeline
A grade-by-grade overview of the decisions and milestones that matter most.
How to Build a Balanced College List
Guidance on building a realistic list based on fit, interests, and admissions probability.
College Search Tool
Direct families to StrivePath’s current college-search entry point until a dedicated public tool URL is confirmed.
FAQs
Get answers to the top questions about our academic and college planning services.
Do you work with students from University, Northwood, Woodbridge, Irvine, and Portola High Schools?
Yes. Our Irvine office works with students from all five Irvine Unified comprehensive high schools on course selection, executive functioning, extracurricular strategy, college research, essays, and applications.
Do you also work with Newport Beach and Costa Mesa families?
Yes. We work with students from Corona del Mar, Newport Harbor, Costa Mesa Middle and High School, Ensign Intermediate, and TeWinkle Middle School, along with independent schools such as Sage Hill and Pacifica Christian.
Do you serve Tustin, Lake Forest, and Laguna Beach?
Yes. Our service area includes Beckman and Tustin High School, Pioneer Middle School, El Toro High School, Serrano Intermediate, Laguna Beach High School, and Thurston Middle School.
Everyone at our student's school has a high GPA and several APs. How do we stand out?
This is the central question in Irvine. Because admissions officers read applicants in the context of their own high school, differentiation comes from direction and depth rather than from adding another course. We help students identify what they are genuinely invested in and take it far enough that it is credible on its own.
Should our student choose an AP-heavy path or the IB Diploma Programme?
It depends on the student and the school. Some local high schools, including Newport Harbor, offer the IB Diploma Programme while others are AP-centered. We compare the workload, the student's learning style, and how each path will be evaluated before recommending a direction.
What if our student's school is not listed?
The school list highlights many of the communities we regularly serve, but it is not exhaustive. We welcome families from throughout central and coastal Orange County.
Are meetings held in person?
Yes. Families may meet with their advisor at our Irvine office, with additional flexibility depending on the student's plan and needs.
Get In Touch
Help Your Student Build a Future They Are Excited About
Whether your child is preparing for high school or working through college applications, our advisors help families throughout Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin, Lake Forest, Costa Mesa, and Laguna Beach build thoughtful plans, reduce stress, and approach the admissions process with confidence.
