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College Admissions Consultants in San Jose

We work with students across San Jose and the surrounding area, including those from Lynbrook, Harker, Leland, Basis Independent, Notre Dame, Bellarmine College Prep, and more. Whether your student is aiming for Stanford, a UC campus, or a competitive CS or business program, we help them build the kind of application that stands out.

We understand the academic intensity and cultural expectations that define the South Bay, and we know how to help students rise above the noise with clarity, strategy, and storytelling that works.

Our consulting practice began in Marin County, but we’ve become a trusted partner for families across San Jose, Cupertino, and the greater Bay Area.

 

 

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

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Why San Jose Families Choose Sierra

There are plenty of college counselors in Silicon Valley. But most fall into one of two groups:

  • Solo consultants with limited capacity
  • Massive firms with rotating staff and generic playbooks

We’re different.

  • We only work with three students per high school, including competitive schools like Lynbrook, Harker, and Bellarmine. That means no internal competition—and no recycled strategies.
  • We’re a full-time team of former admissions officers, professional writers, and strategic advisors who meet weekly to discuss every student’s progress.
  • We help you find schools, activities, and essay topics that are the perfect fit for you while also moving the needle in admissions.

    We built Sierra to give students a smarter, more comprehensive path through the admissions process.

 

Less Stress. More Strategy.

By junior year, even the most organized San Jose families feel the pressure.

School is demanding. Schedules are packed. And college admissions has become a full-time job.

That’s where we come in.

We provide structure, deadlines, and mentorship—so students stay focused and families don’t have to manage the process themselves. Fewer reminders. Fewer arguments. More clarity and calm.

Our goal is to reduce stress, build confidence, and help your student make the most of what they’ve already worked so hard for.

Sierra Timeline

 

 

Our San Jose Admissions Results

Let’s talk numbers. Here’s how our students from the Bay Area—including those from San Jose—performed compared to national admit rates:

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 San Jose Families Are Saying About Sierra

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"We needed a plan."

“Sierra helped us start making real progress.”
— Parent, Harker

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"The difference was night and day."

“We tried another service before Sierra.  The communication, the feedback, the results. It really worked for us.”
 — Parent, Bellarmine College Prep

 

College Admissions Services in San Jose

We work with San Jose students at every stage of the college admissions process.

For 9th–11th Graders:
We provide long-term planning, academic and extracurricular guidance, and strategic mentorship so students are ready for senior year.

For Seniors:
We guide students through every step of the application process, from school list strategy to final essay review.

We specialize in supporting students applying to top programs in computer science, engineering, and business.

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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

San Jose High Schools We Work With

We’ve supported students from across San Jose and the greater South Bay, including:

  • Lynbrook High School
  • The Harker School
  • Leland High School
  • Bellarmine College Prep
  • Notre Dame High School
  • BASIS Independent Silicon Valley
  • Evergreen Valley High School
  • Archbishop Mitty
  • Cupertino High School
  • Branham and Leigh High Schools
  • Plus schools in 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 San Jose College Consulting

Do you help San Jose students with UC and Stanford apps?
Yes. We’ve built dedicated workflows for the UC PIQs and Stanford’s supplemental essays, and we know how to position students coming from high-achieving South Bay schools like Harker, Lynbrook, and Mitty.

Do you only work with CS and engineering students?
No. While we’re known for helping students break into top CS, engineering, and business programs, we also support students applying to liberal arts colleges, BS/MD programs, and pre-law tracks.

When should we reach out?
Most San Jose families contact us in 10th or 11th grade, but we also support students as early as 9th grade. Senior-year support begins in July and is available depending on capacity, so we recommend signing up around February for senior services.

Do you meet in person?
Most of our work is virtual, which allows for consistent support and flexible scheduling. That said, we’re deeply familiar with the South Bay and have long-standing relationships with families throughout San Jose, Cupertino, and Saratoga.

Book Your Free Intro Call

If your student is aiming for Stanford, Berkeley, CMU, or another top-tier program, it’s not enough to be qualified. You need a strategy to stand out.

Fill out our fit form below to book a free intro call. No pressure or hard sell—just an honest conversation about whether there’s a fit.