Category All Testimonials

Crystal Quine, Santa Monica High School Parent

“I heard about the ‘Paving the Way to the College of Your Dreams’ program from another mom, and after having met Cindy and Merry, I really wanted my daughter to check it out. Then when my daughter met one-on-one with Cindy to talk about what the workshop could bring to her, Annie said she definitely wanted to go. She enrolled in the program, and after each class, she tells me how much information she has gathered, and feels more confident about what type of college would be best for her, and most importantly, how best to assure that she gets into the one of her choice.”

Crystal Quine, Santa Monica High School Parent

Vida Simon, Crossroads School Parent

“Cindy Chanin is at the helm of Rainbow, a creative and ingenious program. The emphasis of her program is about the whole child, homing in on each students’ goals and helping them achieve their goals by minimizing the stress of the college application process. Learning is intrinsically fun and test taking is less stressful through Cindy’s holistic approach. The academic tutoring, lead by Ivy League graduates, was an immense help in enabling my son to decipher the questions on the SAT. I highly recommend Rainbow for any age child or adult who is looking to learn more about themselves and become more successful academically and in developing their real personal goals.”

Vida Simon, Crossroads School Parent

Areanna Sabine, Brentwood School Graduate

“Enrolling in Rainbow’s “Paving the Way to the College of your Dreams” workshop was the best thing I could have done to prepare myself for the college application process. The amazing support that I received from both Sascha and Avriel helped me organize my thoughts around what college would best fit my needs as a student, and gave me individualized, expert attention that I couldn’t have gotten at my school. Even after participating in the program, I continue to work with Avriel, and find the mentoring relationship we’ve built invaluable. I am grateful to have such a wonderful, bright mentor who really cares about me and knows what I want even when it seems hidden to me. But more than anything, Rainbow helped me define who I am now and who I want to be in the future. Not only do I feel prepared to take on my college applications, but I also hold a new self-awareness that has given me the confidence I need in moving onto the next stage of my life.”

Areanna Sabine, Brentwood School Graduate

Nick Baker, Itacha College and Calabasas High School Graduate

“I just moved into my dorm a couple days ago and already having a blast in Ithaca. I just wanted to thank you for all your help because you are the reason I’m even in college. I really did enjoy working with you even when I wanted to pull my hair out, you were the one to calm me down and get me through it. Couldn’t have done it without you and really wanted to let know that you are a wonderful tutor/person and I wish you the best.”

Nick Baker, Itacha College and Calabasas High School Graduate

Hayley Jones, USC and Santa Monica High School Graduate

“Working with Cindy and Sascha was one of the best experiences of my college application process. As a transfer student, they guided and encouraged me to go beyond my comfort zone to produce amazing essays. Both were very informative, provided quick feedback, and extremely eager to assist me. I would absolutely work with Rainbow again and would recommend them to my friends and siblings who are applying to college!”

Hayley Jones, USC and Santa Monica High School Graduate

Madeline Loef, Marymount and NYU Parent

“My daughter, Aja Bivens, worked with Cindy from her freshmen year through her senior year of high school. With Cindy’s extra guidance and recommendations through the rigors of her academic coursework, Aja was able to do very well throughout her high school years. Each year showed an improvement with her study skills as well as her grades. Cindy was able to teach Aja so that she fully understood her subjects and was confident in taking her tests. Aja also took Cindy’s prep courses for her SAT testing and she began these courses during the second half of her sophomore year and continued until the end of her junior year. Because she started well in advance, she was very prepared for the official SAT testing and was able to improve her scores by over 600 points from where she started. Cindy also worked with Aja to create vivid and poignant personal statements and unique essay supplements that very much set her apart in the college application process. Her applications, along with her excellent SAT scores and a strong GPA, allowed Aja to gain admittance to her dream school, New York University.”

Madeline Loef, Marymount and NYU Parent

Isabel Caro, Cornell University and Brentwood Graduate

“Rainbow was definitely important in my college prep process because the college immersion/mentoring program really helped me to understand the college process and how it works a lot better than I understood it previously. Of course, the writing workshops and time spent brainstorming topics for the application essays were key. I enjoyed being able to discuss ideas, share stories about myself, and talk about our opinions on the college process with other students. It helped give me different perspectives and it made the program fun and social as well. Paving allowed me to realize that it’s important to find a college that’s a good fit rather than choosing a college because it has a big name. Paving also gave me the tools to find the pros and cons of schools in order to make that choice. I found it important to have the program mentors get to know me so they could give input on what colleges they thought would be a good fit for me. Most essentially of all, Paving highlighted my best qualities and showed me how to emphasize them to colleges.”

Isabel Caro, Cornell University and Brentwood Graduate

Noa P., Wildwood School Graduate

“My test-taking skills were poor from the get go. However, after taking an SAT course with Rainbow, I had learned so many tricks to the SAT, improved in timing, and obtained a better sense of how to study for the exam. None of this would have been possible without guidance from Cindy and my SAT teachers. Their teaching methods were creative, helpful, and genuinely fun! I now feel much more confident in my ability to take a test.”

Noa P., Wildwood School Graduate

Alexis Huron, Marymount High School Graduate

“For the couple of months I have been tutoring with Cindy, not only have my grades gone up in biology and math, but the confidence I have in myself has increased. A few months ago I would never have thought that I could achieve any of the things that I have so far. Cindy has helped me gain confidence in math, which has always been a subject that I never felt I could excel in. My test average has raised a whole letter grade and the lessons I am learning in class have become easier for me to comprehend. Cindy is such a down-to-earth person who cares so much about the success of her students. Going to Cindy has been a great experience for me. I am extremely grateful for all the time and effort Cindy has made on my behalf so I can do better in school.”

Alexis Huron, Marymount High School Graduate