Reviews
After working in this industry for over a decade, we have had the pleasure of seeing our students attend and thrive at universities like: *For both academics and sports*
Princeton
Stanford
Brown
Cornell
NYU
USC
UChicago
Northwestern
TCU
Oregon
Wisconsin
Purdue
LMU
Gonzaga
Georgia
Ole Miss
Utah
UNLV
Colorado Boulder
Arizona
Arizona State
Syracuse
Texas
Boise State
Chapman
Caltech
Miami
Florida
And Many More...
University of California (UC) Schools:
UChicago
UC Berkley
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UC San Diego
UC Riverside
UC Chico State
UC Santa Cruz
Cal State Fullerton (CSFU)
Cal Poly
Cal State Long Beach
Cal Poly Pomona
California State University (CSU)Schools:
Education
Marketing
Applied Mathematics
Kinesiology
Psychology
Fashion
Physics
Nursing
Business
Communications
Engineering
Computer Science
Economics
Biochemistry
Cybersecurity
Public Health
Student areas of interest and majors:
Student and Parent Testimonials
Class of 2024 Student
Currently Attending: Caltech, Major: Engineering
"Working with Mr. De La Riva was one of the best decisions I made during high school. He helped me stay on track with applications, essays, and deadlines while also helping me think carefully about which colleges were the best fit for me. His mentorship made the entire process much more manageable, and I’m thankful for his support along the way."
Class of 2025 Student
Currently Attending: Caltech, Major: Computer Science
“Working with Mr. De La Riva had a profound impact on my high school experience. He was more than a counselor; he was a true mentor who genuinely cared about my goals and future. During the college application process, he kept me organized with essays, applications, and deadlines, while constantly encouraging me to push myself further. His support made the process far less stressful and gave me confidence in the path I chose. Balancing varsity basketball while maintaining top grades was incredibly challenging, but his guidance kept me focused, disciplined, and on track to achieve every goal I set.”
Class of 2023 Student
Currently Attending: Georgia Tech
“Working with Mr. De La Riva was one of the most valuable parts of my college application journey. From the very beginning, he took the time to understand my interests, academic goals, and the kind of college experience I was hoping to have. He helped me build a clear plan for applications, guided me through brainstorming and refining my essays, and kept me organized with important deadlines and requirements. Thanks to his guidance and support, the college process felt far more manageable and purposeful. I am incredibly grateful for the role he played in helping me reach my goal.”
Class of 2025 Student
Currently Attending: UCLA, Major: Biology
“My experience working with Mr. De La Riva was incredibly helpful throughout high school, especially during the college application process. His guidance helped me stay organized, motivated, and confident in my goals. He always maintained a positive outlook and took the time to clearly explain each step of the application process, making what could have been a stressful experience feel manageable. With his support, I was able to strengthen my applications and navigate the process with confidence. Thanks to his guidance, I was accepted to UCLA, where I am not majoring in Human Biology and Society. I am truly grateful for the time, encouragement, and advice he provided along the way.”
Class of 2026 Student
Admitted to: Harvard, Major: Government/Economics
Working with Mr. De La Riva was one of the best decisions I made during high school, both on and off the court. As my basketball coach, high school and college counselor, he constantly motivated me to stay focused and work toward my goals. He helped me stay on track with college applications, essays, and important deadlines, while also guiding me in choosing schools that were the best fit for me. His mentorship made the entire college process much more manageable, and I’m truly grateful for his support and encouragement every step of the way.
Class of 2026 Student
Admitted to: UC San Diego, Major: Business
“As a student-athlete, balancing school, sports, and college applications felt overwhelming at times. Mr. De La Riva helped me stay organized and focused while making sure I didn’t fall behind. His mentorship and guidance helped me manage everything and find a college that was a great fit for both my academic and athletic goals.”
Class of 2026 Student
Admitted to: Colorado Boulder, Major: Business
“Throughout high school, Mr. De La Riva has been a great mentor and friend who has significantly helped make my college application process easier. He helped me pick classes that challenged my academic trajectory and helped me find the schools I truly wanted to add to my application list. I appreciated that he would always ask me if I needed help or had any questions, he truly cared about what I was doing. I was able to finish my application process quickly and smoothly, and I am very grateful for everything he did to support and prepare me for college.”
Class of 2025 Student
Currently Attending: UChicago, Major: Business Economics
“Mr. De La Riva was my counselor at Corona del Mar High School, and he greatly helped me during my college application process. He gave me thoughtful advice and always encouraged me to pursue schools and opportunities that genuinely fit my interests. His guidance helped me navigate a stressful process and ultimately led me to the University of Chicago, where I’m now majoring in Business Economics. I appreciated how much he cared about each student and took the time to understand our goals. I’d definitely recommend him to any student looking for supportive and knowledgeable college counseling.”
Class of 2025 Student
Currently Attending: Oregon, Major: Cybersecurity
“Working with Mr. De La Riva made a huge difference during my college application process. He helped me stay organized, pushed me to do my best on my essays, and always made time to answer my questions when I felt overwhelmed. His guidance helped me feel confident about the choices I was making, and I’m grateful for the support he gave me throughout the entire process.”
Class of 2025 Student
Currently Attending: UC Riverside, Major: Business
“One of the best parts about working with Mr. De La Riva was how much he helped me grow throughout the process. He didn’t just help with applications—he helped me think about my goals and what I wanted from college. His support and honest advice made the whole experience much less stressful, and I’m grateful to have had him as a mentor.”
Parents of Class of 2026 Student
"As parents, the college application process can feel overwhelming, but Mr. De La Riva helped guide our family in every step of the way. His knowledge of the admissions process, organization, and ability to connect with our students made a huge difference. We are grateful for the support throughout this journey."
Parents of Class of 2023 and 2025 Students
“We hold Cesar De La Riva in the highest regard and are deeply grateful for the positive influence he has had on our three children. It truly takes a village to raise a child, and he has been an essential part of their growth and success. From basketball and college counseling to academic guidance, community service, and personal support, Mr. De La Riva has played a meaningful role in every stage of their journey. We have celebrated their undergraduate and graduate admissions to Caltech and Georgia Tech with him, and we are so thankful for his belief in our children and the invaluable support he has provided along the way.”
Parent of a Class of 2026 Student
“Working with Mr. De La Riva was an incredible experience for our family. He took the time to really understand our son- his interests, strengths, and what he hoped to achieve. He guided him through the college process with patience and thoughtful advice. From shaping his college list to strengthening his essays and staying organized with deadlines, Mr. De La Riva helped our son approach the process with confidence and clarity. Most importantly, he encouraged our son to believe in himself and take ownership of his goals. We are deeply grateful for his mentorship and highly recommend him to any family navigating the college admissions journey.”
Parent of a Class of 2025 Student
“Working with Mr. De La Riva was one of the best decisions we made for our son during high school. The college process can feel overwhelming for families, but he guided our son step-by-step with patience, honesty, and expertise. From building a balanced college list to refining essays and staying organized with deadlines, his mentorship gave our son confidence throughout the process. We truly trusted his guidance and are grateful for the opportunities our son now has ahead of him.”
Parent of a Class of 2026 Student
“What we appreciated most about working with Mr. De La Riva was the genuine care he showed for our son’s future. He took the time to understand his interests, strengths, and goals, and helped him find colleges that were truly the right fit. His mentorship went beyond applications- it helped our son grow in confidence and independence. We highly recommend his services to any family navigating the college process or in need of a mentor for your student.”
Parent of a Class of 2025 Student
“Mr. De La Riva provided exactly the structure and support our son needed throughout high school and the college application process. He helped him stay organized, encouraged him to think deeply about his goals, and made sure nothing fell through the cracks. As parents, it gave us tremendous peace of mind knowing our son had a knowledgeable mentor guiding him every step of the way. The results spoke for themselves, and we couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”
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