Our Services
StrivePath works with students from 7th grade through senior year. We build a plan around where your student is right now and where they want to go. Every student works one-on-one with the same counselor throughout.
Academic Planning for Middle Schoolers
For students in 7th and 8th grade ready to build strong habits before high school begins. We focus on the skills and course choices that make the years ahead less overwhelming.
What's included:
- Study skills and time management foundations
- Course selection for high school readiness
- Goal setting and progress tracking
- Extracurricular exploration
- Building habits that carry through high school
Academic Strategies for High School Students
For 9th and 10th graders who want to use their early high school years with intention. We help students build a strong transcript and a clear direction before junior year pressure sets in.
What's included:
- Strategic course selection and transcript planning
- PSAT prep and standardized testing introduction
- Interest and activity exploration
- Early college list development
- Summer program recommendations
Extracurricular Strategy for Juniors
For 11th graders who want a stronger profile before senior year. We help students find activities that are genuinely meaningful and make sense on an application.
What's included:
- Application profile review and gap analysis
- Activity narrative development
- College list refinement
- SAT/ACT testing strategy
- Early essay concept development
College Planning for Seniors
For students ready to take on applications with a clear process. We manage every step from school research to final submissions, so nothing slips through.
What's included:
- College list building based on fit, goals, and realistic chances
- Personal statement and supplement essay support
- Full application review and submission management
- Interview preparation
- Financial aid and scholarship guidance
- Waitlist and deferral strategy
Career and Interest Exploration
For sophomores who want clarity on their direction before junior year takes over. We help students connect what interests them to real experiences and a plan that feels like their own.
What's included:
- Interest and values assessment
- Career exploration activities and tools
- Resume building and early experience planning
- Summer opportunity recommendations
- Activity strategy developmen
Athletic Recruit Add-On for Student-Athletes
For student-athletes at any grade level who want to compete in college. We build a recruiting plan that runs alongside academics and applications without dropping either.
What's included:
- NCAA eligibility planning
- Athletic resume creation
- Coach outreach strategy and email templates
- Recruiting timeline development
- Campus visit planning
- Balancing athletics with academics and applications
Transfer Student Advising
For students moving from community college to a four-year school or switching universities. The transfer process has its own rules and timeline and we know how to work through both.
What's included:
- TAG planning for the UC system
- Major and school research
- Personal statement development
- Credit evaluation guidance
- Application deadline management
- Transfer GPA requirements and planning
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.
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.
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
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FAQs
Get answers to the top questions about our academic and college planning services.
Do you write the essays for my student?
No, and that is by design. Every essay we work on is your student's own writing. We help them find the right angle, give feedback on drafts, and guide revisions until the essay sounds genuinely like them. Admissions readers can spot a ghostwritten essay and it rarely helps.
How many students does each counselor work with at a time?
We keep caseloads small on purpose. Your student works closely with one counselor throughout, not a rotating team. That consistency is a big part of why our approach works.
What is the difference between the junior and senior packages?
Junior year is about strategy and preparation. We focus on building the right college list, testing plans, and early essay concepts. Senior year shifts into execution. We work through every application, manage deadlines, and refine essays until they are ready to submit.
Do you use AI tools in your process?
We use some tools to support research and organization, but your student's essays and application materials are always their own. We do not use AI to write content for students, and we coach students on how to approach AI appropriately in their own process.
Can we add services if our students' needs change?
Yes. We work with families at different stages and can adjust the plan as things evolve. If a student adds athletic recruiting or needs transfer support mid-process, we can build that in.
Do you help with financial aid and scholarships?
We provide guidance on financial aid timelines, FAFSA basics, and scholarship research as part of our senior planning work. For complex financial aid strategy, we can point you to trusted specialists who focus on that specifically.
What if my student has a learning difference or needs extra support?
We have experience working with students who have IEPs, 504 plans, or other learning differences. We factor those into the academic plan, college list, and application strategy from the start.
Is there a minimum commitment to get started?
The best starting point is a free intro call with no commitment required. From there, packages are structured around your student's grade level and goals. We will walk you through the options that make sense before you decide anything.
Get In Touch
Ready to Get Started?
One conversation is enough to figure out where your student stands and what a strong plan looks like. Find out what the right support looks like for your family.
