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College Counseling in Mountain View, CA

Academic Planning, College Admissions & Student Success Coaching

The college process has a lot of moving parts. StrivePath helps students get ahead of it with a clear plan before the pressure hits.

Trusted by hundreds of families across the Bay Area

Voted Best College Advisor

Students in a classroom. Some smiling and looking toward a person in front. Desks, window, bright lighting.

Academic Advising and College Prep for Mountain View Families

StrivePath provides in-person academic planning, college admissions guidance, and holistic student success coaching for middle school and high school students in Mountain View. Our hands-on, face-to-face approach ensures students receive focused guidance tailored to their goals.

Book a Consult Today

Complimentary introductory consultation. No obligation.

How It Works

Step 1 

Assess 

We take time to get to know your student's goals, grade level, and timeline. This gives us a clear starting point before we do anything else.

Step 2 

Plan

We build a clear academic and college roadmap that works for your student. No two students are the same, so no two plans look alike.

Step 3 

Guide

Our team supports your family at every stage of the process. We stay with your student from middle school all the way through senior year.

Class of 2025 Results

6-7 admits per student

Average scholarship of $35,000

100% Accepted to a Top-Choice College


Where Some of Our Students Have Been Accepted

Our Services

Academic Planning for Middle Schoolers

Best for students in 7th and 8th grade who want to start strong. We focus on study habits, course selection, and building the skills that make high school easier.

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Academic Strategies for High School Students 

9th and 10th graders who plan ahead have more room to make good decisions later. We help students pick the right courses, explore activities that actually interest them, and start thinking about college before the pressure of junior year hits.

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College Planning for Seniors 

Ideal for students ready to build their college list and take on applications. We cover school research, application strategy, essay writing, and interview prep from start to finish.

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Career and Interest Exploration 

A strong fit for sophomores who want to get clear on what they want before junior year. We help students identify their interests, build early experiences, and develop a direction that feels like their own.

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Extracurricular Strategy for Juniors 

For students who want to strengthen their application profile before senior year. We help them find clubs, competitions, and programs that are both personally meaningful and make sense on paper. 

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Athletic Recruit Add-On for Student-Athletes

Created for student-athletes at any grade level who want to play college sports. We build a clear recruiting timeline and coach outreach plan while keeping academics and applications moving.

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Strive Path - Guiding Your Academic Journey

Meet Our Expert Team

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.

Meet More of Our Team

Success Goes Beyond the Acceptance Letter

At StrivePath, the goal is not just a college acceptance. We focus on helping students become more self-aware, more organized, and more prepared for what comes after high school. Families leave the process feeling confident, not just relieved.


Students who work with us develop a clearer sense of their strengths and where they want to go. That clarity shows up in their applications and stays with them long after decision day.


Happier students. Less stressed families. Better outcomes.

View Our Services

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.

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.

"I feel more organized. I know what I'm doing".

- Reana, Class of 2028

“Thanks to Strivepath, I feel supported in exploring my interests in fashion and interior design”

- Allie, Class of 2027

“I like these meetings because they help me stay on track when it comes to grades. My grades matter to me.”

- Peter, Class of 2028

“I feel like I’m hitting my stride this semester. More in control”

- Josh, Class of 2026

Robin, Miramonte High School Class of 2026, will be attending Fordham with a $40,000 scholarship.

Bassem, Class of 2026, will be studying at UC Irvine.

"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

Community Organizations We Partner With:

A logo for orinda network for education with a pencil in the middle.
A blue logo for lafayette partners in education

High School Athletic Programs That We Support:

StrivePath Resources:

By Joy Mercado April 2, 2026
StrivePath's 2026 guide for Lamorinda families covers testing strategy, AI in admissions, CSU Direct Admission, and what still matters most for UC applicants.
By Joy Mercado April 1, 2026
StrivePath's guide for San Mateo Peninsula families covers UC PIQ strategy, course selection, summer planning, and what makes the SMUHSD applicant pool unique.
By Joy Mercado April 1, 2026
Step-by-step checklist for seniors after college acceptance. Tasks, deadlines, and key next steps to stay organized and ready for fall classes.
By Joy Mercado April 1, 2026
Applying to college from Marin County means competing with some of California's strongest applicants. Here's how to build a distinctive profile that gets noticed.
By Joy Mercado February 25, 2026
Learn how to find summer programs, internships, and research, track deadlines, and submit strong applications that support your college goals well.
By Joy Mercado February 4, 2026
AI has fundamentally changed college admissions for the Class of 2026. Learn how universities are using AI to read applications.
college admission decision
By Joy Mercado December 18, 2025
Learn what to do after a college admissions decision, with clear next steps for accepted, deferred, waitlisted, or denied students to move forward with confidence.
By Joy Mercado October 31, 2025
Learn how the new CSU Direct Admission Program lets eligible California seniors get automatic college admission starting in 2026.
By Joy Mercado October 13, 2025
Starting a club in high school? Get practical tips on choosing your passion, finding a team, and building a project that makes a difference.
By Joy Mercado October 13, 2025
Learn how to maximize every college campus visit as a student or parent. StrivePath shares tips on what to observe, questions to ask, and how to evaluate fit.
Show More

Serving Mountain View and Nearby Communities

We work with students and families across Mountain View and the surrounding area, including Los Altos, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, and Santa Clara. Sessions are available in person or online. Many families mix both depending on the time of year.

Book a Consult Today
Students in a circular table discussion, light-filled classroom setting.

 FAQs

Get answers to the top questions about our academic and college planning services.

  • How do sessions work?

    We meet with students in person at our local Mountain View office. Virtual sessions are also available for families who prefer flexibility, but our default is face-to-face — it's one of the things that sets us apart from online-only services.

  • What grade should my student start?

    The earlier the better. We work with students starting in 7th grade on study skills and course planning. Families who start in 9th or 10th grade typically see the strongest results by the time applications come around.

  • How much does college prep support cost?

    Pricing is based on your student's grade level and what they need. The best way to get a straight answer is to book a free intro call and we will walk you through the options.

  • Do you help with college essays?

    Yes. Essay support is part of our college admissions packages. We help students find a genuine angle, work through drafts, and revise until the writing sounds like them and not like every other application.

  • What if my student is a recruited athlete?

    We have a dedicated athletic recruiting program for student-athletes juggling coach outreach and college applications at the same time. It runs as a standalone service or alongside our standard college prep work.

  • Do you work with transfer students?

    Yes. Our transfer advising program supports students moving from community college to a four-year school or transferring between universities. The timeline and requirements are different from freshman admissions and we know how to work through both.

  • What makes StrivePath different?

    Our counselors have worked inside admissions offices. They know how applications are actually reviewed and what stands out. Every student works with the same person from start to finish, so the plan stays consistent and nothing slips through.

Get In Touch

Get Started with StrivePath in Mountain View

Your student's path forward starts with a single conversation. Our team will help you build a plan that fits their goals and your family's timeline.

Book a Free Consultation