San Diego College Consultants
High-achieving high school students in San Diego—those earning strong grades, top standardized test scores, and building impressive extracurricular resumes—often set their sights on the nation’s most competitive colleges and universities.
Unfortunately, many of these students lack the individualized support necessary to navigate the increasingly complex admissions process. According to the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, the average student-to-counselor ratio in San Diego area high schools is around 460-to-1, far exceeding the recommended level.
School counselors play a vital role in the academic and personal development of students. However, due to their wide range of responsibilities and limited time, they often cannot provide the in-depth college admissions guidance students need. Key services such as building a balanced college list, crafting compelling application essays, preparing for interviews, reviewing applications, and navigating financial aid and scholarships often fall by the wayside.
As a result, many San Diego families turn to private college admissions consultants for expert guidance. Unlike large national firms that rely on dozens of part-time consultants, we are group of counseling professionals dedicated to offering highly personalized, hands-on support.
For over 14 years our San Diego-based college admissions consultants have helped students successfully gain admission to top colleges and universities across the country.
Our counselors work with students from La Jolla, Del Mar, Carmel Valley, Rancho Santa Fe,Encinitas, Carlsbad, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, San Marcos, Scripps Ranch,La Costa, Oceanside, Point Loma, University City, University City, La Mesa. El Cajon, MissionBay Area, Black Mountain Ranch, Del Sur.
These are a few of the San Diego High Schools We Serve
- Canyon Crest Academy
- Del Norte High School
- Torrey Pines High School
- Westview High School
- Scripps Ranch High School
- Cathedral Catholic High School
- La Jolla Country Day School
- Our Lady of Peace High School
- Rancho Bernardo High School
- Mount Carmel High School
- La Costa Canyon High School
- San Dieguito Academy
- San Marcos High School
- La Jolla High School
- Sage Creek High School
- University City High School
- Helix High School
- Olympian High School
- Poway High School
- Steele Canyon High School
- San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts
- Point Loma High School
- Mission Bay High School
Volunteer Resources for San Diego High School Students
Academic & Tutoring / Mentoring Opportunities
- UPLIFT San Diego — Kids At Heart Free Tutoring Program
Volunteer as a tutor or mentor for low-income K–12 students. Tutors commit about 1 hour/ week to help with homework and study skills (in person or virtual).
https://www.upliftsandiego.org/tutoring-kids-at-heart - Achieve Tutoring and Music Program
Volunteer tutors provide one-on-one academic support in core subjects (math, English, science) and may assist with music enrichment. Great for students who enjoy teaching or learning alongside others.
https://achievesandiego.com/programs.html - San Diego Refugee Tutoring (SDRT)
Serve as a tutor/mentor for refugee youth (preschool through high school) with regular sessions
https://sdrefugeetutoring.com/volunteer/ - San Diego Council on Literacy
Volunteer to tutor children, youth, adults, or families in reading and literacy — flexible roles (1–1.5 hr/week) throughout the county. Most opportunities ask volunteers to be 18+, but older teens (18+) can benefit.
https://www.literacysandiego.org/volunteer/ - HandsOn San Diego – Youth & Family Volunteering
Provides a calendar of group volunteer projects for ages 13–17 (with youth membership) and family volunteering for younger kids. Great for students who want diverse service experiences (environmental, community support, event-based work).
https://www.handsonsandiego.org/ - Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego
Volunteer with programs that support youth enrichment, mentoring, sports, tutoring, or event-based activities. Teens can often volunteer with supervision/parent approval.
https://www.sdyouth.org/ - San Diego Humane Society – Youth Service & Student Projects
Participate in animal-related service work (DIY enrichment projects, onsite teams) with logging
for school service hours.
https://sdhumane.org/ - Helen Woodward Animal Center
The Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC) in Rancho Santa Fe, California, is a non-profit organization focused on connecting people and animals through adoption, education, and therapy, operating under the philosophy “people help animals andanimals help people”.
https://animalcenter.org/ - Jewish Family Services – Hand up Food Pantry Volunteers
Community-based non-profit organization that provides comprehensive social and human services to individuals and families, regardless of religion, to help them navigate life’s challenges, achieve stability, and thrive, with support often focusing on food security, mental health, aging care, domestic violence, and refugee resettlement.
https://www.jfssd.org/volunteer/
📍 Tips for Students Looking for More Opportunities
- School service folders: Many schools partner with local nonprofits for service hours — check with your school counselor.
- Event-based volunteering: Organizations like HandsOn San Diego list one-time events (cleanups, food drives, park beautification).
- Libraries, food banks, shelters: Libraries, food banks (e.g., San Diego Food Bank), animal shelters, and parks departments often accept teen volunteers — check program rules and age requirements. (Community posts suggest these are popular options locally.)