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Expert College Consultants in Los Altos

Each year, we work with students across Cupertino, including those from Monta Vista High, Cupertino High, Lynbrook, Harker, BASIS, and more. In a city full of 4.0s, test scores, and coding projects, even the best students need a strategy to stand out.

At Sierra Admissions, we help Cupertino families cut through the noise, build compelling applications, and compete at the highest levels. 

We started in Marin County, but we’ve become one of the go-to consulting teams for families across Cupertino, Sunnyvale, and the broader South Bay.

 

 

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

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Why Cupertino Students Choose Sierra Admissions

The Bay Area is saturated with college consultants. Some are solo advisors juggling too many clients. Others are massive firms with polished branding but huge caseloads and little personalized support.

We’re something different.

  • We only take three students per high school, including Monta Vista and Cupertino High, so our students aren’t competing with each other.
  • We’re a small team, not a freelancer or contractor model. Our former admissions officers, writers, and strategists meet weekly to discuss your student’s progress.
  • We’re not afraid to give direct feedback. If something isn’t working, we’ll say so and show you how to fix it.

In a place like Cupertino, where competition is the baseline, students need more than good grades. They need a clear, authentic, and strategic edge.


More Family Time & Less Time Stressing

Even the most organized Cupertino families can find themselves overwhelmed once junior year hits.

There are APs, internships, leadership roles, and standardized tests, not to mention application essays, deadlines, and unclear advice.

When you work with a Sierra consultant, we take over managing the process.

We create a roadmap, manage timelines, and guide students step by step so families can step back and breathe.

Our goal is to reduce stress, sharpen focus, and help students tell a story that admissions officers won’t forget.

Sierra Timeline

 

 

Sierra Admissions Results

Here’s how our students—including those from Cupertino—performed compared 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 Cupertino Families Are Saying About Sierra

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“We knew our son had the stats, but we were worried from all the stories we’ve heard. Sierra helped him pull everything together and we were so proud of his results.”
 — Parent, Monta Vista

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"We tried a big firm first."

“It felt impersonal and confusing. Sierra was focused, honest, and effective from day one.”
 — Parent, Harker

 

Our College Consulting Services in Cupertino

We support Cupertino students at every stage of the admissions process.

For 9th–11th Graders:
We offer long-term guidance on academics, activities, summer planning, and narrative development so students are ready to hit the ground running senior year.

For Seniors:
We guide students through the full college application process, from school list and strategy to essays, supplements, and final review. We also help with post-application support like Letters of Continued Interest and advice about your final enrollment decision.

We specialize in admissions to top CS, engineering, and business programs. Every student we work with gets a custom plan. No shortcuts or fluff.
 

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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 supported students from top schools across Cupertino and the surrounding area, including:

  • Monta Vista High School
  • Cupertino High School
  • Lynbrook High School
  • The Harker School
  • BASIS Independent Silicon Valley
  • Fremont High School
  • Homestead High School
  • Bellarmine College Prep
  • Saint Francis
  • Crystal Springs Uplands
  • Castilleja
  • And others throughout Sunnyvale, Saratoga, and the South Bay

For each class, we take a maximum of three students per school, and most of our spots fill before senior year begins.

 

FAQs About College Consulting in Cupertino

Do you help Cupertino students with UC and Stanford apps?
Yes. We’ve built detailed workflows for the UC PIQs and Stanford supplements, and we know how to position students from high-performing public schools like Monta Vista and Cupertino High in a way that resonates.

Do you only work with STEM students?
Nope. We’re known for STEM results, but we also support students applying to top colleges in the humanities, social sciences, business, arts, and more.

When should we reach out?
Most Cupertino families start in 10th or 11th grade. Some begin in 9th. Senior-year support is where the bread and butter of our work happens, but space is limited after August, so we recommend signing up in the spring of junior year.

Do you offer in-person consulting?
Our work is done virtually, which gives families flexibility and consistency. But we’ve worked closely with families throughout Cupertino, Sunnyvale, and Saratoga, and we understand the local landscape well.

Book A Free Intro Call

If your student is aiming for Stanford, Berkeley, MIT, or another ultra-competitive program, a strong strategy is essential.

Fill out our form below to book your free intro call. No pressure to sign on. We like to get a sense of where you’re at and see if we’re a good fit.