High School Done Right Starts in 9th Grade
College Counseling for High School Freshmen in the Bay Area
How StrivePath Works With 9th Graders
Starting high school is a genuine shift. New courses, new expectations, and a GPA that follows your student from here on out. The choices 9th graders make this year show up on college applications three years later.
StrivePath offers college counseling for freshmen built around the full four years. We help students choose smart courses and build the habits that carry through. Your student works one-on-one with the same counselor throughout high school, so the plan builds on itself every year.
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
Fashion Magazine
City skyline
What We Work On With Your Student
High School Course Planning
The classes a student takes in 9th grade set the track for all four years. We help families choose courses that match your student's strengths and keep options open for advanced work later. Getting this right in freshman year makes the rest of high school much cleaner.
What's included:
- Course selection aligned with four-year academic and college goals
- Honors and AP readiness planning for 9th grade
- GPA strategy and grade management from the start
- Building a course roadmap through senior year
Study Skills and Academic Habits
High school moves at a different pace than middle school. The habits students build in 9th grade tend to stick, for better or worse. We work on the skills and strategies that make the biggest difference before the material gets harder.
What's included:
- Time management and daily organizational systems
- Effective note-taking and test preparation strategies
- Goal setting and accountability routines
- Developing strong communication habits with teachers
Extracurricular Strategy
Freshman year is the right time to explore activities before committing to a direction. We help 9th graders get involved in ways that feel genuine, not forced. Getting in early also opens the door to leadership and depth that colleges actually notice.
What's included:
- Activity exploration based on real interests and strengths
- Guidance on clubs, sports, volunteering, and community involvement
- Thinking through activities with a long-term college profile in mind
- Identifying early opportunities to lead or go deeper in one area
Interest and Career Exploration
Freshman year is a good time to start figuring out what your student actually enjoys before they have to commit to anything. We use structured activities to help 9th graders connect their interests to possible directions. That self-awareness pays off when it is time to build a college list.
What's included:
- Interest and values assessments
- Career and major exploration activities
- Connecting discoveries to course choices and extracurriculars
- Laying the groundwork for the college search ahead
Summer Planning
The summers of freshman and sophomore year are often the most underused. We help students plan a summer that is meaningful and connected to their goals. A well-used summer in 9th or 10th grade adds real depth to a future application.
What's included:
- Summer program research and recommendations
- Internship, volunteer, and academic opportunity guidance
- Independent project and community involvement planning
- Making summer count without overloading your student's schedule
Introduction to College Awareness
College may feel far away in 9th grade. Knowing what the process looks like early takes real weight off junior and senior year. We give students a clear, low-pressure picture of what colleges look for and how the next four years connect.
What's included:
- Overview of what goes into a college application
- Introduction to the college search and selection process
- Learning how GPA, coursework, and activities factor into admissions
- Early financial aid and cost awareness for families
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
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.
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.
StrivePath Resources:
FAQs
Get answers to the top questions about our academic and college planning services.
Does what happens in freshman year really affect college?
Yes, more than most families expect. Freshman year grades go on the permanent transcript and colleges see them. A strong start is easier to build on than recovering from a rough one. Having support from day one puts your student in a much better position.
How is this different from what the school counselor does?
School counselors manage large student loads and focus mainly on graduation requirements and well-being. We work one-on-one on a plan built around your student's actual goals and college direction. The level of individual attention is different.
My student is still adjusting to high school. Is this too much to add?
Not at all. We meet students where they are. For freshmen still finding their footing, we start with habits, organization, and confidence first. The goal is to make high school feel more manageable, not to add more to their plate.
How do you help 9th graders choose the right courses?
We look at your student's strengths, interests, and long-term direction. From there, we help families choose courses that fit now and keep options open later. We also help students see how 9th grade choices affect their options in junior and senior year.
What extracurriculars should a freshman focus on?
There is no single right answer. We help 9th graders explore activities based on what genuinely interests them. Not what looks good on paper. The goal at this stage is getting involved and seeing what sticks before committing to a specific path.
Is this the same as tutoring?
No. We focus on long-term strategy, academic habits, and college planning rather than subject-specific help. If your student needs support in a specific subject, we can point you toward the right resources. We handle the bigger picture.
Do you work with freshmen in my area?
Yes. We work with families both in person and remotely across the Bay Area. We have dedicated pages for high school students in Fremont, Oakland, Mountain View, Cupertino, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, San Mateo, Moraga, and Mill Valley. If your city is not on the list, reach out and we can talk through options.
Get In Touch
The Right Start Makes Everything Easier
Freshman year goes by quickly. A clear plan from the start gives your student more options three years from now. Book a free consultation to see what college counseling for freshmen looks like at StrivePath.
