We help students make things happen for themselves. Our clients frequently include students with ADHD and LD, kids whose grades don’t reflect how cool and smart they are, students passionate about performing arts, serious athletes, the smartest STEM students in the country, and people whom nobody else has been able to help. Contact Paul to schedule your free consultation.

Study Skills

  • D1 baseball is a grind. SMITH RIVAS gave me the study skills and confidence I needed to excel in college, which helped me achieve my dream of being a big-leaguer.

    Shane Bieber
    Shane Bieber MLB All-Star Game MVP
  • Thank you for working with our daughter this week. After the first day, I knew this was a good investment to help her accomplish whichever path she decides to pursue.

    L.T.
    L.T. Parent of an Elon pre-med student
  • SMITH RIVAS taught me the study skills and time management I needed to take my college academics to the next level, allowing me to devote maximum time and energy to becoming a professional basketball player.

    Alan Williams
    Alan Williams NBA Veteran
  • Thank you very much for giving James your time and helping him think smart and build good habits at a critical time in his life. I can still see the impact of your work with him many years ago, and the results have been amazing!

    Danielle Donovan
    Danielle Donovan Mother of a Columbia student
  • We can't begin to explain the gratitude we feel towards you. We dearly appreciate all that you have shared with us throughout these six months, as you have played a significant role in not only helping us adapt to American culture, but also in showing us how we can make the most of our college years. Your words of wisdom will always be with us.

    The Veloz Fellows
    The Veloz Fellows Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls
  • Thank you for teaching Emilie such important study skills in a fun, engaging way last summer. I just wanted to reaffirm how much she got out of those sessions with you. And we've still got one more year of high school to go!

    Maria Wallis
    Maria Wallis Mother of a TCU Founders Scholar
  • Remember when my son took your one-hour group class in 8th grade? Well, he's in his 4th year at Cornell, and he still remembers when the best time is for studying!

    Tracey Weisler
    Tracey Weisler Stanford professor
  • Thank you, on many levels, for your work with my son. I think an objective, firm coach was just what the doctor ordered. You helped tremendously in bringing back his moxie, drive, and results. I greatly appreciate that from both an academic and life standpoint.

    J.D.
    J.D. Mother of a Georgetown freshman
  • My son is fortified and excited by all that you taught him. Thank you for your excellent instruction.

    M.C.
    M.C. Father of a Williams sophomore
  • For travel volleyball coaches and parents who are serious about academics, SMITH RIVAS teaches the time management and study skills players need to not only become successful college student-athletes, but to thrive in the real world after graduation.

    Kathy Gregory
    Kathy Gregory 38-year NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Coach
  • I'm going to college on a full-tuition, leadership-based scholarship!

    Muhammad Ghoni Damanhuri
    Muhammad Ghoni Damanhuri High School Student, now Grinnell College Posse Foundation Scholar
  • SMITH RIVAS made it possible for me to be academically successful in college and focus on my dream of becoming a Major League Baseball player.

    Peter Maris
    Peter Maris Infielder, San Francisco Giants Organization

Academic Coaching

  • I didn't have a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities as an undergrad, but you motivated me to step out of my comfort zone and try something that I never thought I could be successful at. Because of you, I don't let other people's opinions of me affect me as much and I’m more confident in myself and my public speaking skills. The world is a better place because you help students with their academic problems and see the best in people and their abilities.

    Erin Gray
    Erin Gray Transfer Student, now Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  • You were a tremendous influence in our son’s academic and emotional world during the last 11 weeks of his 8th grade year. Our only wish is that you had been a part of our team earlier in the year. You have the gift of getting a student motivated with your ability to connect with them to gently guide them into realizing that they can and will succeed in their own unique way. We are grateful that our paths crossed and that you had such a strong impact!

    L.W.
    L.W. Mother of an 8th grader in crisis
  • My son couldn't stop raving about your leadership and inspirational wisdom. It's amazing how 60 minutes of talking with the right person can change the course of one's life! He's decided to keep his classes and try his best to turn everything around. Thank you for taking the time to talk to him and guide him on the right path.

    J.M.
    J.M. Mother of a college student in crisis
  • Paul, 是一个耐心专业的资深教育顾问,多年在美国名牌大学校园从事专业的学习指导,协助国际学生成功转学、升学。他可以根据您的期望和条件,从职业规划和个人发展的角度为您量身定做留学计划和个性化服务方案,指导并帮助您选择最合适的学校和专业。Paul 提供的不仅是留学咨询,更为您设计职业和人生,帮助您走向成功的彼岸。

    Jiabao Peng
    Jiabao Peng Chinese International Student
  • I want to thank you because you were there for me during my college career when I started questioning what I was doing, for whom I was doing it, and why! Everything you said to me is still very present. I'm studying abroad now, and it has indeed been a life changing experience like you said. I've been doing things that I've never imagined myself being capable of doing. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with me, I'll always be tremendously grateful for that.

    Evalejandra Chávez
    Evalejandra Chávez Mexican International Student
  • I highly recommend parents utilize SMITH RIVAS. Mr. Rivas' presentation on study skills was informative, innovative, and out-of-the-box. The expert strategies from his workshop can be instantly implemented, are practical, and make a lot of sense.

    Whitney Minnis
    Whitney Minnis Co-Founder, Capital Futbol Club, Washington DC

Enrichment & Special Projects

  • Thank you for the hours of help with my statement of purpose; I'm heading to Stanford, and I got accepted to the ADVANCE summer program!

    Erin Sanders
    Erin Sanders Stanford Medical School Developmental Biology PhD
  • Paul帮助我发掘了自己独特的闪光点. 这不仅可以很好地写进我研究生申请的自荐信,同时还增加了我作为一名英语非母语学生日后可以在美国取得成就的信心. Paul非常乐于帮助别人. 非常有帮助并且很有耐心. 相信Paul有能力帮助更多国际学生申请到他们梦想的学校.

    Xue Wang
    Xue Wang New York University Master's in Economics
  • Thank you so much for helping me go through these two essays. You helped me develop ideas and organize my thoughts to express the information in the best way possible. With your help, I feel more confident in my writing.

    Wenjie Xie
    Wenjie Xie Economics MA applicant
  • After listening to you critique my grad school essays, I knew I received the best feedback I could ever hope for. I feel more confident about getting into grad school because of you. I appreciate how blunt and honest you were in regards to my work and chances. I remember every compliment you made about my essays, and I know they were genuine and true since you were not one to hold back on criticism.

    Jaclyn Gold
    Jaclyn Gold UCLA Master's of Social Work
  • So I have successfully completed my first week of law school... CRAZY! I cannot thank you enough for your support and encouragement throughout the whole process. As a result of your honesty, I worked my butt off to make it happen. You really do influence everyone that you come in contact with and you really prepare us all for the challenges as well as the amazing times we will have in the real world. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you!

    Amelia Steelhead
    Amelia Steelhead Loyola Law School
  • My deepest appreciation for the support you've made available to me in helping me reach my dream of being accepted to a master's program. I'm grad school bound because you helped me submit a strong application!

    Robin Dungan
    Robin Dungan Cal Poly Counseling & Guidance MA
  • Thank you very much for helping me out with fine-tuning my cover letter and résumé. In the end, I landed a job as a program advisor at a private study abroad company, Global Student Experience. Thanks for all your help transitioning into the real world!

    Blake Criswell
    Blake Criswell College Senior, now Wholesale Flights Executive Travel Consultant
  • I just accepted my offer from Teach For America to teach elementary school in Detroit next year! I wanted to thank you again for your help with my statement of purpose. Your comments improved my writing, but more importantly gave me the confidence I needed for the interview and for the whole process. I am so excited to do this next year!

    Patrick Sheehan
    Patrick Sheehan Teach For America
  • Yesterday I was accepted into Teach For America to teach bilingual education in Colorado. I am very excited about the opportunity and I feel you played an integral role in my acceptance!

    Dana Green
    Dana Green College Senior, now California Public Charter School Teacher