About Us

858-676-0700

College Planning Source offers different programs with customized plans that have helped thousands of families succeed through the college education process the right way.

College Planning Source was established in 2005 by Michelle Mai. Michelle grew up in Orange County, California, graduated as a high school valedictorian, and attended the University of California, Santa Barbara. During her student work-study in the financial aid office at UCSB, Michelle realized there were a large number of families who did not understand the financial aid system. Ever since her experience, she has been educating families on the ins-and-outs of the college funding, finance, admissions, and application processes.

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Years of Experience

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Families Helped

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College Acceptances

Initially we filled out the FAFSA on our own. A couple of issues set our ‘Expected Financial Contribution’ awfully high. Michelle helped/coached us through the correction of errors and dealing with the high amount expected of our family. My daughter ended up with a good offer at a great school. Now we look to Michelle for help in making a plan on how to pay for our daughter’s education and our son’s when it’s his turn. Great advice, and handholding, so far.

I can not express to Michelle my gratitude for her help during our complementary 1 hour counseling. I went from not knowing how to go about the best way to come up with the funding to a plan that will work for both my kids. I had to go over it twice and she never made me feel “dumb” she made sure I understood all her recommendations. I felt embarrassed like I waited to long to get this advice but it’s never to late. I am so relieved and thankful for her professional opinion.

The editors here are amazing! (Went here previously for help with college essays + financial planning). All of them are super dedicated to what they do, and the prices are very fair also. Michelle is great at making sure that you're efficiently using your words to cast yourself in the best possible light to colleges (She's also super funny and a sociable person to chat with, which is a nice plus). Definitely recommend!

Michelle and her team are simply the best. Two of my children have already graduated from UCSB and my third is hoping to go there. All of them are clients of College Planning Source. There is no way we could have achieved so many acceptance letters and the best financial aid package without College Planning Source. Besides the amazing results, the amount of reduction in overall stress has been beyond belief.

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858-676-0700