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College planning for Grades 8 to 12

Your path to a
dream college starts here

One counselor helps your child choose colleges, build a strong application, and meet every deadline. Your child knows what to do next. You know how things are going.

Free 30-minute call. No commitment.

Mother and teenage son reviewing college plans at a table
Real help, real person

One counselor who knows your child by name.

Got into a top choice
98 %
Scholarships earned
$ 2.4 M
Years of experience
8 +

Past results reported by Dream College Path. Individual outcomes vary.

Background-checked

FERPA-aware

Nationwide

We help students apply to schools like
MIT Stanford Harvard UC Berkeley Carnegie Mellon Georgia Tech UCLA Cornell Purdue UT Austin NYU MIT Stanford Harvard UC Berkeley Carnegie Mellon Georgia Tech UCLA Cornell Purdue UT Austin NYU
Why early planning matters

The top schools admit
very few

The top schools admit very few

These are the published admit rates for the Class of 2030, the students admitted this spring. Getting in is rarely about being the smartest. It is about an early plan and an application that stands out.

Student on a video call at her laptop
of our students are accepted to at least one of their top choices.
98 %
in scholarships earned by our students.
$ 2.4 M
Years of experience
8 +

Admit rates are the figures each school published for the Class of 2030 and show how competitive top schools have become. Dream College Path has no affiliation with these universities. Results shown are self-reported by our families; outcomes will vary.

Class of 2030 admit rates, by school

Share of applicants admitted in spring 2026. Bars run from 0 to 10%.

Columbia1 in 24
4.2%
Yale1 in 24
4.2%
MIT1 in 22
4.6%
Brown1 in 19
5.4%
Dartmouth1 in 17
5.8%

Official figures each school released in March 2026. Harvard, Princeton, Penn and Cornell did not publish rates for this class.

Personal college counseling

One counselor. Start to finish.

A real counselor guides your child. Simple online tools keep every step, paper, and deadline in one place. This is real help from a real person, not just an app.

Counselor and student going over a college plan at a desk
Real help, real person

One counselor who knows your child by name.

What we help with

Everything the process requires, handled

From the first college search to the final submit button, one team keeps every moving piece connected – so nothing gets missed.

Build the right college list

Matched to what your child actually wants and needs, not a generic ranking.

Map out classes and testing

Coursework, majors, test targets, and study plans, all working together.

Shape meaningful activities

Projects that grow out of genuine interest, not a résumé-padding exercise.

Craft essays that sound like them

We help your child find their voice, not write it for them.

Track scholarships and aid

Every dollar of opportunity, and every form that goes with it.

Keep every deadline covered

Forms, letters, applications - nothing slips through.

How it works

Four simple steps

No mystery about who’s helping, what’s next, or how your child is progressing.

01

Talk with us for free

30 minutes to understand your child’s goals and timeline.

02

Get a personal plan

We make a plan for school, activities, tests, and college applications.

03

Meet with your counselor

Regular meetings keep the work clear and help your child move forward.

04

Check before you apply

We review the key parts before your child sends each application.

Help for each grade

The right focus, at the right time

What your child needs shifts every year – our plan shifts with it.

GRADE 8
Explore

Discovering strengths worth building on.

GRADE 9
Grow

Laying the academic and extracurricular groundwork.

GRADE 10
Focus

Sharpening interests, scouting colleges.

GRADE 11
Prepare

Locking in tests, letters, and the college list.

GRADE 12
Apply

Finishing essays, aid forms, and applications.

Starting in Grade 11 or 12? It is not too late. We focus on the most important work first.

Made by a parent

Created by a parent who understands

As a father, Venkat Munjeti saw how hard college planning can feel. He started Dream College Path so families could get a clear plan and help from a counselor they trust.

I built Dream College Path so no family has to figure this out alone. Every student gets a real plan and a person who knows their name.
Venkat Munjeti, founder of Dream College Path
Venkat Munjeti
Founder of Dream College Path

The people in your child's corner

Every family gets a background-checked counselor plus specialists in essays, projects, and test prep – one connected team, start to finish.

Susan Parker Davis, college counselor at Dream College Path

Susan Parker Davis

DCP Counselor · Former Admissions Officer

She has guided students to top universities, including Ivy League schools, Stanford, MIT, and leading liberal arts colleges.

Mary Williams, college and career counselor at Dream College Path

Mary Williams

Counselor · College & Career Guidance

She specializes in college admissions, career counseling, international student recruitment, and WASC accreditation.

Rafi, math and test prep tutor at Dream College Path

Rafi

Counselor · Test Prep & Academics

Rafi is an experienced academic tutor specializing in SAT/ACT preparation, mathematics, economics, and English, including AP-level courses.

Abhi Kandi of Dream College Path

Abhi Kandi

DCP Intern · Blog Content

Abhi helps students plan their applications step by step, from building a balanced college list to shaping essays that sound like them.

For students and parents

Your child drives.
You stay in
the loop.

Your child gets support without more stress or constant reminders at home.

For your child
"I always know what's next."

Direct guidance, honest feedback, and help through the hard decisions.

For parents
"I know my kid is in good hands."

Full visibility into progress, without babysitting every task.

Teenage student writing at a kitchen table while his father looks on
Support without taking over
Stay close without taking over.

You can support the plan without managing every task.

Student voices

Real acceptances, real stories

Hear it directly from the students who lived it.

We started in ninth grade with no idea where to begin. By senior year my daughter had a clear

Sarah M.
Class of 2029

Having a clear plan made the college process much easier. I knew what to focus on each year and which schools were a good fit for me.

Arjun R.
Class of 2028

The guidance helped me understand what I needed to do and stay organized throughout the college application process.

Olivia
Class of 2027

The college process felt overwhelming at first, but having a step-by-step plan made everything much more manageable for me.

Priya S.
Class of 2028
Learn with us

Free guidance, made for families

Live webinars, honest guides, and a knowledge center built so parents
feel informed, not left out.

Live webinars & events

Real-time sessions on admissions, essays, and financial aid, with room for your questions.

Admissions guides & blog

Clear, honest articles on planning, testing, essays, and paying for college.

The Parent Hub

Resources made for parents, so you always know what is happening and what comes next.

Common questions

What parents usually want to know

Have more questions? We’ll cover them on your free call.

When should we start?

Grade 8 or 9 gives your child the most runway to explore. Starting in Grade 11 or 12 is still workable – we’ll zero in on what’s most urgent.

No. A real counselor works with your child directly. The tools we use just keep the plan, progress, and deadlines organized in one place.

A dedicated counselor. On your free call, we’ll walk through their role, meeting frequency, and everything included.

You’ll see the plan and progress at every stage. Your child does the work – you won’t have to chase it.

Yes, we support students nationwide online, with in-person options in select locations.

No one honestly can. What we guarantee is a strong, complete, authentic application built on good decisions.

Start with a free call

Ready to help your child move forward?

Tell us where your child is today and where you need help. We will explain
the best next step, whether you start with us or not.

Free 30-minute call. No commitment. Individual outcomes vary.