In-Person College Counseling for Students Throughout the Mid-Peninsula
From middle school academic planning through college admissions, StrivePath helps students throughout San Mateo, Burlingame, Hillsborough, Foster City, Belmont, San Carlos, and Millbrae build confidence, develop strong academic habits, and pursue colleges where they will thrive. Whether your student attends San Mateo High School, Aragon High School, Hillsdale High School, Burlingame High School, Carlmont High School, Mills High School, or an independent school such as Junipero Serra or Notre Dame Belmont, 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
Voted Best College Advisor
Office Location
📌
1900 S Norfolk St #350, San Mateo, CA 94403
Strive Path - Guiding Your Academic Journey
Meet Our San Mateo 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 San Mateo office works with students from public, private, and independent schools throughout central San Mateo County. 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 San Mateo and the mid-Peninsula.
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 Mid-Peninsula Families Choose StrivePath
The mid-Peninsula is one of the most educationally varied stretches of the Bay Area. Within a few miles, a family may be choosing between San Mateo, Aragon, Hillsdale, Burlingame, Mills, or Carlmont, a well-established Catholic school such as Junipero Serra, Notre Dame Belmont, or Mercy Burlingame, and independent options such as Crystal Springs Uplands or Nueva. Each of those paths comes with a different course sequence, a different counseling ratio, and a different peer group, and the decision often gets made in seventh or eighth grade with very little admissions information in hand.
Local families also tend to be commuters. Parents work in San Francisco or farther down in Silicon Valley, schedules are tight, and students carry heavy activity loads across club sports, music, and jobs. That combination makes executive functioning, not raw ability, the usual constraint. Many of the students we meet here are entirely capable of the coursework but are losing points to missed deadlines, unclear priorities, and a calendar no one has ever sat down and mapped with them.
StrivePath works with students over time rather than at the last minute. We help families compare school and course options honestly, build organization and follow-through habits, develop interests that hold up under scrutiny, understand UC, CSU, private, and out-of-state options realistically, and assemble a college list that fits both the student and the family's financial picture. The measure of success is a student who becomes more independent each year, not one who is managed through the process.
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
San Mateo
Supporting students at San Mateo, Aragon, and Hillsdale High Schools and at Borel, Abbott, and Bayside Academy with academic planning, executive functioning, and college admissions guidance.
Burlingame
Working with Burlingame High School, Burlingame Intermediate, and Mercy Burlingame families on course planning, interest development, essays, and applications.
Hillsborough
Partnering with Crocker Middle School and Crystal Springs Uplands families on long-term academic planning and selective college admissions.
Foster City
Helping Bowditch Middle School and Aragon students build organized, balanced four-year plans from middle school forward.
Belmont & San Carlos
Supporting Carlmont, Ralston, Tierra Linda, Central, and Notre Dame Belmont students with course selection, college research, essays, and applications.
Millbrae
Working with Mills High School, Capuchino, and Taylor Middle School families on academic planning, student development, 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 San Mateo, Aragon, and Hillsdale High Schools?
Yes. Our San Mateo office works with students across the San Mateo Union High School District on course selection, executive functioning, extracurricular development, college research, essays, and applications.
Do you also work with Burlingame, Hillsborough, and Millbrae families?
Yes. We regularly work with students from Burlingame High School, Burlingame Intermediate, Crocker Middle School, Mills High School, and Taylor Middle School, along with nearby private and independent schools.
Do you serve Belmont, San Carlos, and Foster City?
Yes. We work with students from Carlmont High School, Ralston Middle School, Tierra Linda and Central Middle Schools in San Carlos, and Bowditch Middle School in Foster City.
We are deciding between a local public high school and a private school. Can you help?
Yes. This is one of the most common conversations we have with mid-Peninsula families. We walk through course sequences, counseling support, activity access, and how each option is likely to affect the student's application, without steering families toward a predetermined answer.
Can you help with executive functioning and study habits?
Yes. Academic planning and executive functioning are integrated into our long-term advising. We help students strengthen organization, time management, follow-through, and independence, which is often the deciding factor for busy students here.
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 San Mateo County and the surrounding Peninsula.
Are meetings held in person?
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 San Mateo, Burlingame, Hillsborough, Foster City, Belmont, San Carlos, and Millbrae build thoughtful plans, reduce stress, and approach the admissions process with confidence.
