The 6 independent college counselors serving Tokyo are Aubrey Groves, Mac Harada, Patricia O'Keefe, Haruka Yamashita, Quad Education Group, and Tokyo Academics. The table compares them at a glance, and each profile below adds who the counselor is best for and who should look elsewhere.
Independent college counselors in Tokyo: compared
| Counselor | Focus | Pricing | Languages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aubrey Groves | College admissions, domestic and abroad | Not published | English, Japanese, Mandarin |
| Mac Harada | College admissions, career counseling… | Not published | English, Japanese |
| Patricia O'Keefe | College admissions, career counseling | Not published | English, Japanese, Mandarin |
| Haruka Yamashita | US college admissions counseling | Not published, 'Counseling Plans' page not read | Japanese, English |
| Quad Education Group | US and UK admissions (Ivy League and Oxbridge) | Packages Silver, Gold, Platinum, Elite | Not listed |
| Tokyo Academics | One-on-one admissions counseling for top US… | Not published, free consultation | English (Japanese not stated) |
Counselor profiles
Aubrey Groves, Davis Groves Educational Services
- Best for: Japanese-speaking and Chinese-speaking families applying to US colleges from abroad who want online counseling
- Not the right fit if: Families wanting in-person counseling: online only; fees not published
- Focus: College admissions, domestic and abroad
- Services: College application counseling for families in the US and abroad
- Starts at: Not specified
- Pricing: Not published
- Languages: English, Japanese, Mandarin
- Credentials: IECA Professional Member; IEC Certificate, UC Irvine; BA Davidson College; MA East Asian Studies, Duke; has lived in China, Japan and England; IECA committee member and regional group leader. CEO of the firm
Visit Davis Groves Educational Services's website
Mac Harada, MACS Career & Education
- Best for: Japanese families and Japan-based students who want a Japanese-speaking counselor for international academic and career paths
- Not the right fit if: Families wanting a Tokyo-based in-person counselor: he is in San Jose, California; fees not published
- Focus: College admissions (international), career counseling, financial aid advising, gifted/twice-exceptional students, student-athletes
- Services: College admissions for international students, career counseling, financial aid advising; consultation and lectures for educational institutions in Japan
- Starts at: Not specified
- Pricing: Not published
- Languages: English, Japanese
- Credentials: IECA member (listed in IECA directory, Japanese-speaking filter). 20+ years as a global education and career consultant
Visit MACS Career & Education's website
Patricia O'Keefe, Global Elite Scholars
- Best for: Japanese-speaking families, including international students, who want a counselor with USC admissions background
- Not the right fit if: Families wanting in-person help in Tokyo: she is in Newport Beach; fees not published
- Focus: College admissions (international students included); career counseling; first-generation, gap year, STEM, summer programs, transfer, arts
- Services: College lists, submission strategy, essay brainstorming, interview prep
- Starts at: Not specified
- Pricing: Not published
- Languages: English, Japanese, Mandarin
- Credentials: IECA member; CEP certificate (UCI); UCLA BA Political Science and International Relations; USC MBA; 20+ years in college admissions, first 10 at USC
Visit Global Elite Scholars's website
Haruka Yamashita, Plan It Education
- Best for: Japanese families, including those in Tokyo, who want a Japanese- and English-speaking counselor for US college applications
- Not the right fit if: Families wanting an in-person counselor in Tokyo: she is based in California; fees not published
- Focus: US college admissions counseling (UC, CSU, transfers, other state schools, private colleges); advice on Japan vs US differences
- Services: College admissions counseling, college list building, parent programs, College Knowledge webinars, scholarships and preparation advice
- Starts at: Not stated; runs 'Get Ready for College' parent programs each spring and fall
- Pricing: Not published; 'Counseling Plans' page not read; free 60-minute introductory meeting
- Languages: Japanese, English
- Credentials: B.S. Human Development and Family Studies, Cornell (1990); Certificate for Independent Educational Consulting, UC Irvine (2016); UC Admissions Reader (2016-2017); HECA Professional Member; WACAC member; 2023 HECA Rising Star of the Year. NACAC and IECA not listed
Visit Plan It Education's website
Quad Education Group
- Not the right fit if: Anyone who needs a Tokyo office (none confirmed)
- Focus: US and UK admissions (Ivy League and Oxbridge)
- Services: Common App and UCAS guidance; essays; interview prep; scholarship search; waitlist support; tiered packages for 5 to 20 applications
- Starts at: High school
- Pricing: Packages Silver, Gold, Platinum, Elite; payment plans up to 36 months
- Credentials: Eli: Columbia admissions counselor, Columbia BA. Kerry: Columbia and Carnegie Mellon master's, PhD. Li: Cornell graduate, Oxford interviewer.
Visit Quad Education Group's website
Tokyo Academics
- Best for: Tokyo international-school students who want counseling bundled with tutoring and test prep
- Not the right fit if: Families who want one named independent counselor; business is mainly tutoring and test prep
- Focus: One-on-one admissions counseling for top US and UK universities; also tutoring, SAT/ACT and AP
- Services: Application profile, academic planning, school list, free diagnostic session with a Senior Admissions Consultant
- Starts at: Not stated
- Pricing: Not published; free consultation
- Languages: English (Japanese not stated)
- Credentials: Not stated