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College Consultants in Los Altos

We work with high-performing students from Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, and surrounding communities. Many of our students come from top public and private schools in the area, including Los Altos High, Mountain View High, Harker, Menlo School, Castilleja, and Saint Francis.

Our consulting practice is rooted in the Bay Area. We started in Marin County and now serve families across the South Bay, including a growing number in Los Altos.

Whether your student is aiming for Stanford, UC Berkeley, or another top program, we help them build an application that stands out in the sea of other highly qualified applicants in Los Altos.

 

 

We've helped hundreds of students get into schools like these.

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Why Los Altos Families Choose Sierra

The college admissions landscape in Los Altos is as competitive as it gets, and there is no shortage of college consultants to pick from. 

But many families still find themselves unsure of how to navigate it all.

That’s where we come in. Unlike overwhelmed solo consultants or huge firms, we take a small team approach.

  • We work with only three students per high school, including Los Altos High, Saint Francis, and Harker, so there’s no internal overlap or recycled advice.
  • Our team includes former admissions officers, professional writers, and strategic advisors, and we all meet weekly to discuss student progress.
  • We’re honest, direct, and focused on helping you discover your interests while moving the needle in admissions.

    We offer the kind of personalized strategy and support that makes a real difference.

 

From Overwhelmed to On Track

By junior year, many Los Altos families feel the pressure building. There are APs. Club leadership. Summer programs. Standardized testing. 

Everyone’s telling you something different, and senior year is coming fast.

At Sierra, we take the pressure off.

We manage timelines, set priorities, and give students the kind of structure and mentorship that keeps things moving without constant parent intervention. That means fewer arguments, less late-night stressing, and a more confident, focused application season.

Our job is to simplify the process so your family can actually enjoy the last years of high school.

Sierra Timeline

 

 

Sierra Admissions Results

We help Los Altos students not only stay competitive but outperform the odds.
Here's how our students’ results compare to national averages:

Average Acceptance Rate Sierra Admissions Rate Our Advantage
UT Austin (CS) 15% 68% 4.5x
Cornell (Eng) 10% 32% 3.2x
Stanford ~2% 19% 9.5x
MIT 4.1% 15% 3.6x
Michigan (Turing) 18% 56% 3.6x
UIUC 15% 59% 3.9x
NYU (Tandon) 35% 72% 2x
Berkeley (CS) 8.5% 25% 2.9x
Carnegie Mellon 5% 23% 4.6x

 

What Los Altos Families Are Saying About Sierra

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"We really needed direction. ."
“Sierra gave us the structure and strategy we were missing.”
— Parent, Los Altos High

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"Everyone in Los Altos is impressive."

“Sierra helped us stand out for all the right reasons.”
 — Parent, Saint Francis

 

College Admissions Services in Los Altos

We support Los Altos students throughout the entire college admissions process.

For 9th–11th Graders:
We help students build strong academic and extracurricular profiles with long-term planning, mentorship, and strategic positioning.

For Seniors:
We guide students through the entire application process, from school list and essay strategy to final review, submission, and enrollment.

We also specialize in admissions for Stanford, UCs, MIT, CMU, and other highly selective CS, business, and engineering programs.

Every student gets individualized support. 

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"Great result."

Our sophomore needed help thinking about career & major. Set up meetings twice a month and were ready to go by senior year. Brown BS/MD great result!

Hanish L., Sierra Admissions Client

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"Helped me brainstorm an essay I loved."

I like writing but the college essays are so weird. I had never really written a personal essay but Alex broke it down and helped me brainstorm an essay I loved.

Lily S., Georgetown University '26

Los Altos High Schools We Work With

We’ve worked with students from top schools in and around Los Altos, including:

  • Los Altos High School

  • Mountain View High School

  • Saint Francis High School

  • Harker School

  • Castilleja

  • Menlo School

  • Bellarmine College Prep

  • BASIS Independent

  • Crystal Springs Uplands

  • Nueva

  • Plus students from nearby cities like Cupertino, Saratoga, and Santa Clara

We take only three students per school each year, and most of our spots are filled before senior year begins.

 

FAQs about Los Altos College Consulting

Do you help with Stanford and the UCs?
Yes. We’ve built dedicated workflows for Stanford’s supplements and the UC PIQs. We know what it takes to stand out as a Los Altos applicant, and we help students compete at the highest level.

Is this only for STEM students?
Not at all. We’re well known for CS, engineering, and business results, but we also support students applying to top programs in the humanities, arts, social sciences, and BS/MD programs.

When should we reach out?
The earlier, the better. Most Los Altos families begin in 10th or 11th grade, though we support some students as early as 9th. We have special packages for seniors through the application process, but capacity is limited after fall, so we recommend reaching out ASAP.

Do you offer in-person meetings?
We are deeply familiar with Los Altos, Mountain View, and surrounding communities, but we do all of our meetings virtually for flexibility. 

 

Book Your Free Intro Call

If your student is aiming for Stanford, MIT, Berkeley EECS, or another top program, strategy matters, and so does timing.

Fill out the form below to book your free intro call. No pressure or pushy sales pitch. We start by assessing whether we’re the right consulting fit for you.