College Counseling Services Testimonials
Check out these honest and genuine feedbacks from our Parents and Students!
Working with Ms. Shanti has been one of the most transformative parts of my high school experience. From the start, she took the time to understand who I am. Her college counseling support helped me stay on track with deadlines, refine my essays, and highlight my experiences across academics, extracurriculars, and community service. With her guidance on my research project, I explored an area I was passionate about, learned how to structure my ideas thoughtfully, and ultimately produced something I was proud of. I’m beyond grateful for her dedication and patience with me, and I can honestly say I wouldn't be where I am now without her support. Thank you so much for everything! - Saniha
I was uncertain about what high school students should do before applying to a good college. Thankfully, I met Shanti, who provided me with clear guidance throughout the process. What stood out the most is how she treats every student like her own child. She’s not just performing her job as a consultant; she’s genuinely dedicated to helping kids succeed. I felt confident in her services and trusted her to guide my second child as well. - Vivian
Student Perspective: Shanti has been super supportive, kind, and patient when helping me on my college applications. She handheld me through the entire process, telling me what admission officers look for and always making time to review my drafts. Her constant support made the process non stressful and completely manageable. I will be attending UCLA, my top-choice! -Russell
Ms. Shanti’s counseling has been extremely helpful for my son in reaching the top 10 colleges in the USA. She has been instrumental in guiding my son with his college essays, extracurricular preparation, brag sheets for letters of recommendation, and overall advice. Ms. Shanti is highly punctual and available for advice most of the time. I recommend her 200 percent to all prospective college-pursuing students. - Sitaram
We wholeheartedly recommend Ms. Shanti Balaraman. Without her expert knowledge, patience, and personalized guidance, my son, Aditya, would not have achieved his dream of being admitted to the University of Michigan's prestigious Aerospace Engineering program—his top choice!
When Aditya began working with Ms. Shanti in 9th grade, he was unsure of his direction. Through her patient, insightful responses to every question, she not only put us at ease but also built our confidence that we were in the best hands. Within a year, it became clear that Ms. Shanti’s mentorship was transformative.
Under her thoughtful planning and encouragement, Aditya blossomed into a self-driven, curious, and determined learner. Every course, extracurricular, and activity during the school year and summer breaks was meticulously planned and tailored to his aspirations. A pivotal moment was his participation in the STEM State competition, where we truly appreciated her insistence on thorough preparation and diligence at every step. Aditya ultimately secured second place, a remarkable achievement that demonstrated the effectiveness of Ms. Shanti’s guidance.
Thanks to Ms. Shanti’s unwavering support and expertise, Aditya not only gained admission to his dream college but also matured into a confident, motivated young adult. We are forever grateful for her role in shaping his bright future. - Ramesh
We are incredibly grateful for Ms. Shanti's guidance and support throughout my son's college planning and course selection process. Her extensive knowledge of the college admissions process was invaluable, helping my son to apply to the right colleges and significantly improving his chances of admission. Thanks to her expertise, my son received multiple college admission letters, exceeding our expectations. We consulted her when my son was in 10th grade. After the first session, she understood my son’s goals, strengths and weaknesses. She then put together a plan and discussed it with us. She helped my son choose the proper subjects each academic year to ensure he was on the right track. She also has extensive knowledge about the summer courses, clubs, and volunteer jobs kids should take to increase their chances of getting into their dream colleges. Her meticulous plan helped my son succeed and achieve a college admission.
The impact of Ms. Shanti's direct and honest approach was significant and undeniable. Her candid feedback about our son was a catalyst for his growth and preparation. Her straightforward advice and consistently positive attitude made the journey smoother and more effective. We wholeheartedly recommend Ms. Shanti to any family navigating the complex college admissions landscape, as her unique style and approach can make a difference. - Chandra
We can't thank Shanti enough for her help with Ram's college applications. Her guidance was invaluable in finding the perfect colleges and navigating the application process. She was very organized and supportive. We highly recommend shanti to any family going through this process!
As parents, we were feeling lost in the college application process. Shanti was our guide! Her knowledge of schools and the process helped us a lot. She kept us all organized and motivated, especially during crunch time. Most importantly, she guided my son to get things done before the due dates, so it really helped in a stress free application process.. No last minute things... Thank you, Shanti !
She also helped Ram to discover his hidden strengths and that showcased in his application. Any time if we as parents or the child has any doubts.. She is always available.. Her expertise saved us countless hours of research and stress. In the end, shanti's guidance was very helpful. - Mangai
Shanti was an incredible help to me and my family during a challenging time in my life. I was uncertain about my future career path, knowing only that I wanted to pursue something in law enforcement. Shanti patiently worked with me, brainstorming ideas until I discovered my true passion for becoming a lawyer. She listened carefully to my interests and guided me in choosing the right major.
When it came to my college essay, Shanti's assistance was invaluable. She helped me refine and polish my essay, providing thoughtful feedback and encouraging me to express my creativity. She was instrumental in helping me select a range of safety, target, and reach schools, walking me through each step of the admissions process.
Once I received my college acceptances, Shanti was there to help me evaluate my options and decide which school was the best fit for my major. Throughout the entire journey, she was supportive and kind, making a significant impact on my future. Shanti's guidance and encouragement have been truly transformative, and I am incredibly grateful for her help. - Praniti
I am writing this to appreciate, Shanti Balaraman who helped Manvitha Bojjala with college admission process. As me and my wife work, it was difficult for us to spend much needed time with my kid. Moreover me and my wife went to school in India which made it difficult for us to understand and guide Manvitha with the process. Shanti Balaraman came to our rescue. She guided Manvitha with the process and with her help my kid made it to UCSC and joined her favorite undergrad program, which is Bio-Molecular Engineering and BioInformatics. Thanks to Shanthi for all the effort that she put in. - Murali and Neelima - Happy parents of Manvitha
Student: During my time with Shanti as a counselor she has helped me start planning what colleges to go to in the summer. She had very organized sheets filled with information about all of the UCs CSU's and privates. Throughout the essay writing process, she has given me insight on what to write, and helped reword the essays to be the best that they could be. Shanti helped guide me to choose what topics to write about, and because of her I'm very proud of the essays that I have written. The college that I would be going to in the fall is UC Santa Cruz for computer engineering. The other colleges that have accepted me were Santa Clara University, Loyola Marymount University, University of San Deigo, San Jose State, Arizona State, UT Dallas, and USF. For all of the privates I have received scholarships and grants. Thank you Shanti for being a part of my college journey. -Gordon
Mom: Thank you Shanti. I am very pleased with the help you have given my child. -Karen
I am incredibly grateful to the Children's Innovation Center on their invaluable support and guidance throughout my college application process. Their expertise, encouragement, and dedication were instrumental in helping me navigate the complex admissions process. Shanti Balaraman's insights and personalized advice not only boosted my confidence but also significantly improved my application materials. Thanks to Shanti Balaraman's assistance, I am thrilled to start a new life in one of the best schools in California. I highly recommend Shanti Balaraman's assistance to anyone seeking expert help in reaching their academic goals. - Armin
Ms. Shanti’s counseling these past two years have been overly helpful, reaching me to my target of a top 10 finance school in the country, Indiana University Kelley. The help throughout with essays, extracurricular preparation, the brag sheets for letters of recommendation, and just overall advise and help during the admission process. I am very thankful for this help and I recommend her 100 percent to anyone serious of highly improving their admissions process. - Akshaj
Ms. Shanti, Akshaj’s Counsellor Testimonial: She counseled our son for college from 11th grade to 12th grade. When we first met her we were very impressed that she makes your kid ready for life not just for college. She is very knowledgeable in different field, professional, TEDx speaker, helpful and friendly person. She also teaches college prep courses- Research programs.
She counseled our son .and provided course suggestions that boosted his profile through UC Scout and college courses taken during high school. Strategically, she planned the right courses, enabling him to excel in both his college courses and high school work. This boosted his GPA and increased his knowledge.
Our son had some ideas to write for high school Entrepreneurial projects: Clothing business, farm to people delivery service. She guided him for Farm delivery project as it’s helpful for farmer’s community and making bigger impact. He got admitted for business major to UC Riverside, Rutgers and Indiana university. He is going to Indiana as Kelley school of business has good program for business finance. We are very thankful for Shanti’s support from start to end. She advised him for his essays. We are thankful to Shanti for her guidance. - Shipra
I’m incredibly grateful to Ms. Shanti for all the support and guidance she gave me during my junior and senior years. With her guidance we planned my high school courses, clubs, and extracurriculars and helped edit my essays. Ms. Shanti was very organized and helped me plan my deadlines which made my essay writing process stress free as we were all done by august. Thanks to their help, I was able to get into my dream school! - Vikram
We are deeply thankful for the unwavering support and exceptional guidance provided by Ms. Shanti Balaraman throughout my child's college application journey.
Working with Ms. Shanti Balaraman was an invaluable experience during my son’s undergraduate college admission process. As a family navigating the U.S. college admissions system for the first time, we were both excited and overwhelmed. The nuances, options, and expectations were all unfamiliar terrain for us, but fortunately, Ms.Shanti Balaraman was an exceptional guide throughout this journey.
Ms. Shanti Balaraman offered unwavering support and insightful advice from the start. Her compassionate nature made it easy for my child to openly discuss academic and personal challenges. Her meticulous attention to detail and ability to tailor guidance to my child’s unique strengths and aspirations were truly remarkable.
What sets Ms. Shanti Balaraman apart is her genuine care for students. She never rushed sessions, always listened attentively, and provided personalized advice that encouraged self-growth and confidence. My child consistently left their meetings feeling heard, empowered, and assured. Additionally, her timely and prompt communication demonstrated her dedication and commitment to her role as a counselor.
Her expertise in planning and preparation was instrumental in my child's success. She meticulously guided my son through selecting AP courses, planning a research project in his area of interest (economics), and creating a focused application strategy. Her hands-on approach allowed us, as parents, to feel completely confident in the process, knowing it was being handled with the utmost professionalism.
Thanks to Ms. Shanti Balaraman's strategic guidance, my son was accepted into 4 out of the 6 top University of California campuses to which he applied. This remarkable achievement is a testament to her thoughtful approach, expertise, and unwavering support. She helped craft compelling applications and guided my son through every step of this rigorous process, ensuring his efforts were effectively directed toward success.
We sincerely appreciate Ms. Shanti Balaraman’s significant contribution to enhancing our child’s college application experience. Thank you, Ms. Shanti Balaraman, for your outstanding support, dedication, and care. We wholeheartedly recommend her to any family navigating the college admissions process. - Chandar