Reviews for College Quest and Dr. Barbara Austin
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Amazon 5-Star Review: Strategy for Asian American to become Super Star
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2026. Format: Kindle
I still remember meeting Dr. Austin in the summer of 2016. At that time, her consulting rate was already $300 per hour. My son was a rising freshman applying to an elite high school, but he was rejected. We wanted to understand the reason, and Dr. Austin quickly identified the issues — he was not mature enough yet, and his essay lacked focus and authenticity.
We started working with Dr. Austin, and years later my son was accepted into UC Berkeley for Computer Science. Now, nine years later, he is an AI Engineer.
Reading this book brought back memories of how she guided my son to write essays from the heart. Every counselor has unique strengths, but Dr. Austin truly understands how to position Asian American students and help them build their own passions and goals, instead of simply following their parents’ wishes.
Looking back, the investment was absolutely worth it. By reading this book, families may save thousands of dollars, but more importantly, they will learn that applying to college requires both strategy and authenticity.
**Discover Why Readers Love This Book — Check Out the Reviews on Amazon.com. Top-rated College Admission Guide**
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More Happy Families and Successes
I want to extend our heartfelt appreciation for the exceptional job you did, Barbara, in guiding D through the college admissions process, resulting in his admission to Cornell University. The outcome truly exceeded our expectations, and we are immensely grateful for your outstanding work in securing such a wonderful opportunity for D.
We truly feel fortunate to have the opportunity to work with you. The positive changes we’ve witnessed in D since he began working with you are remarkable, and we are truly impressed by your work. Your passion, dedication, and pursuit of excellence have not only inspired D but have also motivated him to strive for greater accomplishments and to dream big.
As parents, we are immensely grateful for what you’ve been able to achieve in such a short period of time. Thank you once again for your exceptional dedication and support.
Dr. Austin not only helped my daughter get into Stanford, but she helped our whole family get through the process!
I was worried that Barbara only worked with top students from needy families but she did her magic with my 3.2 average son and our middle class finances and got him into Occidental with more than enough money.
In Northern California Barbara is considered a legend – she has helped hundreds of students from all walks of life get their stories together in such a way that their applications shine out like stars to the best colleges. I unequivocally refer her.
She is fun yet stern and very compassionate. Barbara brought out my teenage daughter’s greatness.
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