引青教育 Enlighteens Education Pleasanton — Local services in Pleasanton

As an immigrant parent navigating the U.S. college application process for the first time, I cannot overstate how challenging it was to figure out what to do and when. My child recently got into their dream college during the early application round, and while they had perfect grades, high AP and SAT/ACT scores, and impressive extracurriculars, we couldn’t have done this without professional help. Coming from a public school with limited college counseling resources, we didn’t know how to approach the application process. As parents, we didn’t grow up with the U.S. system, and we didn’t even know where to start—let alone how to structure essays, select a major, or narrow down the best-fit colleges. My child’s activities, including arts, sports, academic competitions, and college-level research, were chosen based purely on interest, without an overarching strategy. When we sought answers from the school counselor, we often hit a dead end. An experienced parent suggested seeking help outside of school. That’s when I discovered Teacher Ben’s periodic YouTube broadcasts. His videos answered many of my questions and gave me a better sense of the process. After months of following his advice, I decided to seek personalized help from Enlighten. In hindsight, this decision made all the difference. Once we started working with Emma, everything began to make sense. In the first few sessions, she patiently answered my questions and guided us step by step, turning what felt like an overwhelming process into something manageable. We met weekly, and Emma began educating both me and my child on the key aspects of college applications. Her calm and organized approach helped me feel more confident, even as I gradually stepped back and trusted her to guide my child. One of the first things Emma helped us with was applying to a highly competitive summer camp at my child’s dream school. We had been rejected from similar programs before, so I didn’t have high hopes. But this time, with Emma’s guidance, my child was accepted. That success boosted my child’s confidence and showed us how much professional insight could improve an application. Emma’s help went beyond technical guidance. What stood out most to me was how she encouraged and motivated my child. Her approach was both practical and empathetic. When I unconsciously passed on my own anxieties about college acceptance rates, Emma reassured my child: “You’ve done everything you’re supposed to do. Relax and trust yourself.” Her positivity helped balance the stress of the process for both me and my child. Another thing I appreciated was how Emma drew from everything we shared during our sessions to help my child craft essays that were authentic and compelling. These weren’t just essays—they were reflections of who my child is and what they care about. This process not only made the essays easier to write but also helped us see the connections between my child’s interests and achievements in a way we hadn’t before. Looking back, three things stand out as the most valuable parts of this experience: 1.Major Selection: Emma helped us narrow down potential majors, saving time and providing a clearer sense of direction. 2.Writing Development: The intensive focus on writing transformed my child’s skills. They learned to approach topics from multiple angles, helpful for applications and beyond. 3.Understanding the Bigger Picture: Emma helped us connect all the dots—activities, passions, and goals—so my child’s application told a cohesive, genuine story. As Emma gained my child’s trust, I was able to step back and let them work directly together in English, which made everything smoother. Over time, I realized I didn’t need to hover. Instead, I focused on the administrative side, trusting Emma and my child to handle the rest. During our second year with Emma, I joined meetings only when I wanted to, which gave my child the independence they needed and brought relief to me as a parent. Not only did my child achieve their dream, but they also grew in confidence and skills throughout...

The best gift for our family is my child getting into a school that is the perfect fit for her. Thanks to lots of guidance and support from the Enlighteen Team, my child got accepted and is committed to a prestigious liberal arts college. Looking back, I first learned about Enlighteen four years ago through their YouTube channel. At that time, my child had just started high school, and we knew nothing about the college application process. At the start, I was only able to understand a small fraction of Mr. Ben’s presentation. His fast pace speaking and the amount of information he shared was overwhelming. Nevertheless, I was instantly inspired by his genuine passion and selflessness sharing. I became like a student and regularly tuned in to their live streams and stayed up to date on the latest information on college admissions. I went from a complete beginner to gradually being able to keep up with the pace of Mr. Ben. At the same time, I was also listening to insights from other institutions. After comparing and evaluating different institutes, I realized that the name “Enlighteen” truly reflects their mission of “enlightening teens”. They don't just focus on college guidance or blindly push students toward the so-called "top colleges" for the sake of the institution’s reputation or popularity. Instead, they put emphasis on each family’s individual needs. Their approach is student-centered, tailoring the guidance based on each child’s individual talents and strengths. Their educational philosophy that prompts students to explore career possibilities resonates with our own educational values. It took a lot of time and effort to persuade my child to receive professional guidance from college counselors. After a year of convincing, we finally became an Enlighteen student. Today, I can confidently say that this was the wisest choice we've made in our journey of the college application process. I can't thank Mr. Thomas and Mr. Ben enough for all their support and guidance throughout the college application process. From start to finish, they were incredibly helpful, offering advice on everything from choosing the right schools to revising my child’s essays. Their insights were always clear, thoughtful, and personalized, making us feel confident every step of the way. Every meeting, they would attentively listen to our scattered thoughts and stories and quickly pick out useful information. Not only did they provide expert advice, but they also took the time to truly understand my daughter’s goals and interests, ensuring she was applying to schools that were a great fit for her. Their encouragement and attention to detail made a huge difference in our application. We tend to make our decisions based on our feelings and emotions, but they provided logical data analysis that reflected our needs. When it came time to choose schools, we prioritized factors like location, future development, and overall campus life. With the expert opinions of the counselors, we were able to find colleges that set my daughter on the right path. I highly recommend the Enlighteen Team to boost you and your child's college application experience. Wishing that everyone can get into their best-fit...

I am incredibly grateful to Enlighteens Education, especially Ally and Thomas. Words cannot fully express my appreciation for their support and guidance.

As a first-generation immigrant, I was unfamiliar with the college application process and the importance of strategic academic planning. We didn't realize how critical AP courses were, and due to a lack of early preparation, my son had only taken three AP classes by his junior year, which resulted in a much lower weighted GPA. Additionally, his SAT score remained below 1500, making his college profile less competitive.

A friend referred us to Enlighteens Education, and in April 2024, we enrolled in their senior high school program. From then on, Thomas met with us weekly, quickly assessing my son's situation and providing a clear plan to strengthen his application. He encouraged my son to take more AP courses in his senior year to demonstrate academic rigor. Understanding my son's struggles with standardized testing, Thomas motivated him to retake the SAT or consider the ACT instead. My son, who had lost confidence, ultimately took the ACT and achieved a score that significantly boosted his college application.

I was deeply impressed by Thomas's expertise and dedication throughout this journey. He identified my son's strengths and areas for improvement, ensuring his college application presented a compelling and cohesive narrative—from extracurriculars to essays. With Thomas's strategic guidance, my son developed a unique and standout profile, leading to results that exceeded our expectations. He was accepted into multiple prestigious colleges, including UT Austin, UNC Chapel Hill, and UIUC, all as an out-of-state student for CS. We came in with barely any ammo, yet Thomas persisted and worked countless hours planning a seamless strategy that helped my son reach for and touch the sky.

I cannot thank Thomas enough and highly recommend him to every single high school student and their parents. Thomas is patient, has excellent emotional qualities, and can connect with teenagers. His straightforward yet respectful approach made the process smoother and more effective. His professionalism and responsibility were evident in every interaction—he never missed a meeting, even when battling COVID-19.

Choosing Thomas as our consultant was the absolute best decision we had ever made in this high school journey. He stood by us through the most challenging times, and we are forever grateful. Any cost of money is paid back tenfold with the assurance of a fantastic application and an...