Start Early, Succeed Big
Not waiting until college to maximize your potential unlocks greater accomplishments, acceptances, and scholarships.

Vaughn became inspired to stop a billion-dollar U.S. weapons deal, and he succeeded.

Michael made a musical collective, integrating non-musical disciplines for more immersive and tactile musical experiences.

Taline became the leader who got students to take up causes they typically don't care for or rally around. Then, she co-wrote state law.

Brandon became a one-of-a-kind mentor to others, won a full-ride POSSE scholarship (4% admit rate), and is now in law school.
What We Learned from Miracle Students
Our Process Starts with a Massive Perspective Shift.
Your passion project is not the project—the project is you.
College planning package benefits:
1. Cover the essentials: course selection, extracurriculars, summer plans, college matching, standardized test timing, and financial aid tips.
2. Remove guesswork: Benchmark and track your progress on an admissions evaluation rubric. Your path to success is transparent and clear. No misguided decisions, wasted effort, stress, or burnout.
3. Transform: Discover your hero type and unleash your best self, step-by-step mentoring as you ascend higher on the admissions rubrics.
Choose your grade level and click below for information.
Initial Consultation (Before the Package Starts, Excluded from Package):
✓ See a college evaluation sheet (to start with the end in mind)
✓ Learn where you stand on the college evaluation sheet
Freshmen Year:
✓ Develop a vision and action plan to separate yourself from other applicants who have similar activities and roles as you (includes a proprietary personality assessment)
✓ Become a leader before you become an upperclassman
✓ Find the right mentors and collaborators for higher level endeavors
✓ Achieve your first milestones
✓ Track your progress on the college evaluation sheet
✓ Pick the right sophomore year classes and summer activities
By this point, the student should be independently motivated and self-propelling. Assigned action steps that are usually assigned to students at the end of 1-on-1 meetings can now be confidently introduced and assigned to students as email assignments. 1-on-1 meetings become further spread out, while accomplishment increases.
Sophomore Year:
✓ Deepen your capabilities
✓ Widen your impact
✓ Continue climbing up the college evaluation sheet
✓ Work through obstacles and challenges
✓ Establish your standardized test-taking strategy and dates
✓ Pick the right junior year classes and summer activities
By this point, the student should be able to self-steer by independently identifying and pursuing new goals without direction. The student is acting autonomously, leading and utilizing a tribe of project collaborators and mentors for daily support. Our 1-on-1 meetings begin to focus more on widening impact, introducing systemic innovations, and legacy setting.
Junior and Senior Years:
✓ Pursue a legacy project
✓ Cultivate letters of recommendation
✓ Discover the best colleges for you
✓ Build your college list
✓ Choose your major
✓ Pick the right senior year classes and summer activities
By this point, the student is ready to begin the college application process.
20 hours gets most students through this plan. Additional hours can be added at the discounted rate of $300/hr to accommodate students with conditions that require extra care and attention. Note: this package does not include assistance with the college applications. Depending on the specific colleges you apply to, we'll recommend either hourly help ($350/hr) or a package for college applications.
To sign up, contact us for an initial consultation. This plan fits most freshmen, but we want to ensure it is right for you. If it isn't, we'll build you a custom one.
Initial Consultation (Before the Package Starts, Excluded from Package):
✓ See a college evaluation sheet (to start with the end in mind)
✓ Learn where you stand on the college evaluation sheet
Sophomore Year:
✓ Develop a vision and action plan to separate yourself from other applicants who have similar activities and roles as you (includes a proprietary personality assessment)
✓ Find the right mentors and collaborators
✓ Achieve your first milestones
✓ Track your progress on the college evaluation sheet
✓ Determine your standardized test-taking strategy and dates
✓ Pick the right junior year classes and summer activities
By this point, the student should be independently motivated and self-propelling. Assigned action steps that are usually assigned to students at the end of 1-on-1 meetings can now be confidently introduced and assigned to students as email assignments. 1-on-1 meetings become further spread out, while accomplishment increases.
Junior and Senior Years:
Part 1
✓ Deepen your capabilities
✓ Widen your impact
✓ Continue climbing up the college evaluation sheet
✓ Work through obstacles and challenges
By this point, the student should be able to self-steer by independently identifying and pursuing new goals without direction. The student is acting autonomously, leading and utilizing a tribe of project collaborators and mentors for daily support. Our 1-on-1 meetings begin to focus more on widening impact, introducing systemic innovations, and legacy setting.
Part 2
✓ Cultivate letters of recommendation
✓ Discover the best colleges for you
✓ Build your college list
✓ Choose your major
✓ Pick the right senior year classes and summer activities
By this point, the student is ready to begin the college application process.
15 hours gets most students through this plan. Additional hours can be added at the discounted rate of $300/hr to accommodate students with conditions that require extra care and attention. Note: this package does not include assistance with the college applications. Depending on the colleges you apply to, we'll recommend either hourly help ($350/hr) or a package for college applications.
To sign up, contact us for an initial consultation. This plan fits most sophomores, but we want to ensure it is right for you. If it isn't, we'll build you a custom one.
Initial Consultation (Before the Package Starts, Excluded from Package):
✓ See a college evaluation sheet (to start with the end in mind)
✓ Learn where you stand on the college evaluation sheet
Junior Year:
✓ Develop a vision and action plan to separate yourself from other applicants who have similar activities and roles as you (includes a proprietary personality assessment)
✓ Find the right mentors and collaborators for higher level endeavors
✓ Achieve your first milestones
✓ Track your progress on the college evaluation sheet
✓ Cultivate letters of recommendation
✓ Pick the right senior year classes and summer activities
By this point, the student should be independently motivated and self-propelling. Assigned action steps that are usually assigned to students at the end of 1-on-1 meetings can now be confidently introduced and assigned to students as email assignments. 1-on-1 meetings become further spread out, while accomplishment increases.
Starting in the Summer Before Senior Year:
Part 1
✓ Deepen your capabilities
✓ Widen your impact
✓ Continue climbing up the college evaluation sheet
✓ Work through obstacles and challenges
By this point, the student should be self-steering: independently setting and pursuing new goals.
Part 2
✓ Discover the best colleges for you
✓ Build your college list
✓ Choose your major
✓ Build stronger momentum for an eclectic start to senior year
By this point, the student is ready to begin the college application process.
12 hours gets most students through this plan. Additional hours can be added at the discounted rate of $300/hr to accommodate students with conditions that require extra care and attention. Note: this package does not include assistance with the college applications. Depending on the colleges you apply to, we'll recommend either hourly help ($350/hr) or a package for college applications.
To sign up, contact us for an initial consultation. This plan fits most juniors, but we want to ensure it is right for you. If it isn't, we'll build you a custom one.
Initial Consultation (Before the Package Starts, Excluded from Package):
✓ See a college evaluation sheet (to start with the end in mind)
✓ Learn where you stand on the college evaluation sheet
Senior Year:
✓ Develop a vision and action plan to separate yourself from other applicants who have similar activities and roles as you (includes a proprietary personality assessment)
✓ Find the right mentors and collaborators for higher level endeavors
✓ Achieve your first milestones
✓ Track your progress on the college evaluation sheet
✓ Determine your standardized test-taking strategy and dates (if needed)
✓ Secure letters of recommendation
✓ Discover the best colleges for you
✓ Build your college list
✓ Choose your major
By this point, the student is ready to begin the college application process.
10 hours gets most students through this plan. Additional hours can be added at the discounted rate of $300/hr to accommodate students with conditions that require extra care and attention. Note: this package does not include assistance with the college applications. Depending on the colleges you apply to, we'll recommend either hourly help ($350/hr) or a package for college applications.
To sign up, contact us for an initial consultation. This plan fits most seniors, but we want to ensure it is right for you. If it isn't, we'll build you a custom one.
Initial Consultation (Before the Package Starts, Excluded from Package):
✓ See a college evaluation sheet (to start with the end in mind)
✓ Learn where you stand on the college evaluation sheet
First Year:
✓ Develop a vision and action plan to separate yourself from other applicants who have similar activities and roles as you (includes a proprietary personality assessment)
✓ Find the right mentors and collaborators for higher level endeavors
✓ Achieve your first milestones
✓ Track your progress on the college evaluation sheet
✓ Secure letters of recommendation (if needed)
✓ Discover better colleges for you
✓ Build your college list
✓ Choose your major
By this point, the student is ready to begin the college application process.
10 hours gets most students through this plan. Additional hours can be added at the discounted rate of $300/hr to accommodate students with conditions that require extra care and attention. Note: this package does not include assistance with the college applications. Depending on the colleges you apply to, we'll recommend either hourly help ($350/hr) or a package for college applications.
To sign up, contact us for an initial consultation. This plan fits most 1st year transfers, but we want to ensure it is right for you. If it isn't, we'll build you a custom one.
Initial Consultation (Before the Package Starts, Excluded from Package):
✓ See a college evaluation sheet (to start with the end in mind)
✓ Learn where you stand on the college evaluation sheet
First Year:
✓ Develop a vision and action plan to separate yourself from other applicants who have similar activities and roles as you (includes a proprietary personality assessment)
✓ Find the right mentors and collaborators for higher level endeavors
✓ Achieve your first milestones
✓ Track your progress on the college evaluation sheet
✓ Cultivate letters of recommendation (if needed)
✓ Pick the right classes and summer activities
By this point, the student should be independently motivated and self-propelling. Assigned action steps that are usually assigned to students at the end of 1-on-1 meetings can now be confidently introduced and assigned to students as email assignments. 1-on-1 meetings become further spread out, while accomplishment increases.
Second Year:
Part 1
✓ Deepen your capabilities
✓ Widen your impact
✓ Continue climbing up the college evaluation sheet
✓ Work through obstacles and challenges
By this point, the student should be self-steering: independently setting and pursuing new goals.
Part 2
✓ Discover better colleges for you
✓ Build your college list
✓ Choose your major
By this point, the student is ready to begin the college application process.
12 hours gets most students through this plan. Additional hours can be added at the discounted rate of $300/hr to accommodate students with conditions that require extra care and attention. Note: this package does not include assistance with the college applications. Depending on the colleges you apply to, we'll recommend either hourly help ($350/hr) or a package for college applications.
To sign up, contact us for an initial consultation. This plan fits most 2-year transfers, but we want to ensure it is right for you. If it isn't, we'll build you a custom one.
Q: “Is there a difference to starting a package in the fall, spring, or summer?"
A: Normally, a student will utilize the same number of college planning hours whether he or she starts in the fall vs spring. Think of the package as having two parts: 1) a hands-on achievement period, which generally lasts 8 to 12 months, followed by 2) a tracking period. In the tracking period, the student's prior growth allows for continued achievement to be accomplished with meetings which occur fewer and farther in between.
Fall Start: The hands-on achievement period occurs in the fall, spring and summer. Then, we shift to tracking in the fall semester of the following year.
Spring Start: The hands-on achievement period occurs in the spring, summer and fall of the following year. Then, we shift to tracking that spring.
Summer Start: Normally, the student would start the package designated for his or her upcoming grade level.
Q: “Will the hours in my plan really be enough?"
A: If you do your pre-meeting action steps with honest effort, yes. The pre-meeting assignments are highly structured steps that guide you in acquiring knowledge and intermediary accomplishments that are prerequisites for your next 1-on-1 session. However, a student may need additional time if he or she:
1) Doesn’t complete assigned homework or exert effort, requiring remedial counseling that sets back our agreed upon schedule
2) Has special needs or learning challenges that require extra help to achieve a satisfactory work product.
Q: "How will we work together?"
A: A shared interactive workspace will be provided where everything you do for college admissions will be organized in one convenient place. Our consulting relationship involves three types of activities, in order of frequency:
1. In person meetings or virtual meetings via Skype (based on your preference)
2. Emails and phone calls for coaching in between meetings
3. Offline reviews of your work upon request
These activities count towards the counseling hours you purchase.
Q: “How is time tracked? How will I know if I’m running low on time?”
A: Time and meeting logs are kept in the workspace where all of your work will be done with College Zoom. You will always know whether you are ahead or behind schedule so that time can be managed appropriately. For example, if you fall behind and need to make back time, you’ll be able to do so in the next pre-meeting assignment you’ll complete before your next 1-on-1 session.
Q: “What about my college applications?”
A: By completing your package on schedule, you will be ready to begin your college applications for which we have other service offerings.
Magical Student Transformations from the Inside Out
“There have been two experiences in my life that triggered massive quantum leaps in my intellectual awakening. The first was working with College Zoom. The second happened at Stanford.”
— Michael, Stanford University, Class of 2014
2.2% transfer acceptance rate★★★★★
"I just got off of the phone with my son and I don't even recognize him! He is more sure of himself, focused, organized...he sounds a lot like you. [Laughing]. The way he reacts to things is different, too. He is no longer reactive, flustered, and anxious. What have you done with my son!??? [More laughing]. Wow. I'm so glad we found College Zoom."
— Surja H., Son matriculated to UC Berkeley
Class of 2021★★★★★
"I'm here because you got Xiao's son into Harvard. He's a typical Asian boy with typical Asian activities. So, I'm interested in what you can do for my daughter."
— Dr. S, Daughter accepted to UPenn and CalTech
CalTech, B.S. Computer Science, Class of 2022The friend's son joined Harvard's Class of 2021. He was admitted in 2017, before the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard lawsuit, when Harvard's Asian admit rate fell to its lowest point. His top extracurriculars were math club, orchestra, tennis, and tutoring.
★★★★★
"Wow!! We had no idea that Riki's program had come this far!! Boys usually don’t make an effort to repeat explanations to their parents so I totally appreciate that you recorded the video of Riki and shared it with us! Even though we are his parents, this is a new Riki we see. And how grateful we both feel about his whole path. I am so thankful that Riki has you. Thank you so much for everything. I see in him so many behaviors and actions that have come from his work with you."
— Y.K., Son accepted to USC, Michigan, and GeorgiaTech for Business
USC, B.S. Business Administration, Class of 2024★★★★★
"I wanted to update you on my daughter's life since we worked with you...[She is now working at one of the most prestigious management consulting firms globally, graduated #3 in her undergraduate class with several departmental awards for academic excellence and leadership, and completed her masters degree]...Looking back now, we believe that the process you put her through (helping her to polish and 'display' her best self) has been incredibly valuable and impactful to her success and growth. It has definitely had a positive impact on her life and I consider it some of the best money I’ve spent on any of my three daughters."
— Joe A., Daughter admitted to UC Davis (top 35 in computer science) and UofA (top 17 in business)
University of Arizona, Class of 2025★★★★★
"I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the great guidance and the well-intentioned tough love you have provided my son that made his acceptance to Penn possible. Your level of professionalism, structure and goal-orientedness was exactly the right formula for him."
— Harpreet D., Son matriculated to the University of Pennsylvania
Benjamin Franklin Scholar, B.S. Health & Sciences
Class of 2028★★★★★
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