Terms of Service
PAYMENT
All payments must be received before sessions can be scheduled and can be made one of four ways:
• Online — pay by credit or debit card on our website at https://www.gecollegeprep.com
• Phone — pay by credit or debit card by calling the office at 888-917-7737
• Email — request an invoice from the office, and click the link to pay online
• Mail — send check or money order to 12531 Mitchell Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90066
Clients have the option to pay for a package in two or three installments, charged 30 days apart, depending on the size of the package purchased. Payments split into two installments will incur a 1% set-up fee, and payments split into three installments will incur a 2% fee.
Purchases are not made with an individual Tutor/Counselor, but with the company, Great Expectations College Prep. If the availability of a particular staff member changes or the family is not satisfied with the match, Great Expectations College Prep will assign a new Tutor/Counselor to step in based on the goals and feedback given.
• Online — pay by credit or debit card on our website at https://www.gecollegeprep.com
• Phone — pay by credit or debit card by calling the office at 888-917-7737
• Email — request an invoice from the office, and click the link to pay online
• Mail — send check or money order to 12531 Mitchell Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90066
Clients have the option to pay for a package in two or three installments, charged 30 days apart, depending on the size of the package purchased. Payments split into two installments will incur a 1% set-up fee, and payments split into three installments will incur a 2% fee.
Purchases are not made with an individual Tutor/Counselor, but with the company, Great Expectations College Prep. If the availability of a particular staff member changes or the family is not satisfied with the match, Great Expectations College Prep will assign a new Tutor/Counselor to step in based on the goals and feedback given.
SCHEDULING
Cancellations must be made through the portal. You can do so by hovering over the session you would like to change under “Upcoming Sessions” and selecting the Cancel/Reschedule button. Please note that a request to reschedule a session within the cancellation window will count as a cancellation.
Scheduling is done on a first-come, first-served basis; last-minute requests cannot always be granted, so booking sessions as far in advance as possible is strongly recommended. Great Expectations College Prep cannot guarantee availability of Tutors/Counselors and is not responsible for any resulting damages. The client acknowledges that changes in scheduling may result in students missing deadlines or failing to reach academic or test prep goals.
Clients will be billed for the full length of time they reserve via a Tutor/Counselor’s booking link.
In the first session, Tutors/Counselors will present a recommended schedule of meetings based on the program or package purchased, and families are expected to adhere to that rhythm and frequency as closely as possible. If anyone has any concerns with the suggestions, they should express them at their earliest convenience.
Students should only schedule sessions at times that enable them to give maximum attention and energy, ensuring they get the most out of their sessions and that time and resources are not being wasted by either party. The specific days and times that meet these criteria will vary from student to student, but in general, sessions taking place late at night – after an entire day of school, sports commitments, and tutoring for other subjects – are rarely optimal.
Counseling
The month of October is reserved for students in the throes of the application process. While we understand this may not be ideal for younger students, this allows our Counselors to give seniors their undivided attention and support in the most stressful and chaotic month of most students’ lives – a perk that will be appreciated once younger students are in the process themselves.
In order to encourage seniors to avoid the frazzled, last-minute completion/submission of applications, we have implemented internal deadlines to ensure that they have time to produce quality work, increase availability in Counselors’ schedules, and mitigate the potential (and frequent) issues of overloaded application websites crashing. We have seen diminishing returns when students work right up until official deadlines, so we adhere to the following schedule for the 2025-2026 application cycle:
• For institutions with a deadline of November 1, all applications must be completed and submitted by October 27.
• For institutions with a deadline of November 15, all applications must be completed and submitted by November 12.
• For institutions with a deadline of November 30 or December 1, all applications must be completed and submitted by November 25.
• For institutions with deadlines between January 1-5, all applications must be completed and submitted by December 22.
If work on applications must continue after these cutoff dates, the availability of the student’s Counselor is not guaranteed.
Tutoring
Standardized test preparation requires consistency in order to yield maximum results. Great Expectations College Prep heavily discourages students from taking substantial (greater than one week) breaks from test prep prior to an official exam. Breaks (due to vacations, sports commitments, etc.) are sometimes unavoidable, and in such cases, sessions missed should be made up in subsequent weeks to ensure retention of content knowledge and maintenance of progress.
Scheduling is done on a first-come, first-served basis; last-minute requests cannot always be granted, so booking sessions as far in advance as possible is strongly recommended. Great Expectations College Prep cannot guarantee availability of Tutors/Counselors and is not responsible for any resulting damages. The client acknowledges that changes in scheduling may result in students missing deadlines or failing to reach academic or test prep goals.
Clients will be billed for the full length of time they reserve via a Tutor/Counselor’s booking link.
In the first session, Tutors/Counselors will present a recommended schedule of meetings based on the program or package purchased, and families are expected to adhere to that rhythm and frequency as closely as possible. If anyone has any concerns with the suggestions, they should express them at their earliest convenience.
Students should only schedule sessions at times that enable them to give maximum attention and energy, ensuring they get the most out of their sessions and that time and resources are not being wasted by either party. The specific days and times that meet these criteria will vary from student to student, but in general, sessions taking place late at night – after an entire day of school, sports commitments, and tutoring for other subjects – are rarely optimal.
Counseling
The month of October is reserved for students in the throes of the application process. While we understand this may not be ideal for younger students, this allows our Counselors to give seniors their undivided attention and support in the most stressful and chaotic month of most students’ lives – a perk that will be appreciated once younger students are in the process themselves.
In order to encourage seniors to avoid the frazzled, last-minute completion/submission of applications, we have implemented internal deadlines to ensure that they have time to produce quality work, increase availability in Counselors’ schedules, and mitigate the potential (and frequent) issues of overloaded application websites crashing. We have seen diminishing returns when students work right up until official deadlines, so we adhere to the following schedule for the 2025-2026 application cycle:
• For institutions with a deadline of November 1, all applications must be completed and submitted by October 27.
• For institutions with a deadline of November 15, all applications must be completed and submitted by November 12.
• For institutions with a deadline of November 30 or December 1, all applications must be completed and submitted by November 25.
• For institutions with deadlines between January 1-5, all applications must be completed and submitted by December 22.
If work on applications must continue after these cutoff dates, the availability of the student’s Counselor is not guaranteed.
Tutoring
Standardized test preparation requires consistency in order to yield maximum results. Great Expectations College Prep heavily discourages students from taking substantial (greater than one week) breaks from test prep prior to an official exam. Breaks (due to vacations, sports commitments, etc.) are sometimes unavoidable, and in such cases, sessions missed should be made up in subsequent weeks to ensure retention of content knowledge and maintenance of progress.
SESSIONS
To ensure that sessions are as engaging as possible, we expect that students will log onto Zoom with a camera-enabled, microphone-enabled device. If the student is unable to accommodate this request for any reason, the family should communicate this to the Tutor/Counselor in writing prior to the first session.
Students should be present and attentive throughout the learning process, so cell phone use, checking social media, and other behavior unrelated to the matters at hand are strongly discouraged.
To enhance the quality and consistency of our services, Great Expectations College Prep may use automated tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to generate summaries of meetings, tutoring sessions, or counseling consultations. These summaries help us improve internal communication, support team training, and ensure high service standards.
By participating in a session with our team, you acknowledge and consent to the use of such AI tools for the limited purpose of creating internal summaries. These summaries are securely stored, accessible only to authorized personnel, and are not shared with third parties unless required by law.
If you prefer not to have your sessions processed using AI summarization tools, please notify us in advance by contacting our office, and we will make reasonable efforts to accommodate your request.
Students should be present and attentive throughout the learning process, so cell phone use, checking social media, and other behavior unrelated to the matters at hand are strongly discouraged.
To enhance the quality and consistency of our services, Great Expectations College Prep may use automated tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to generate summaries of meetings, tutoring sessions, or counseling consultations. These summaries help us improve internal communication, support team training, and ensure high service standards.
By participating in a session with our team, you acknowledge and consent to the use of such AI tools for the limited purpose of creating internal summaries. These summaries are securely stored, accessible only to authorized personnel, and are not shared with third parties unless required by law.
If you prefer not to have your sessions processed using AI summarization tools, please notify us in advance by contacting our office, and we will make reasonable efforts to accommodate your request.
ASSIGNMENTS
If students are not completing assignments in a timely manner, Tutors/Counselors will document it in session reports so that parents are aware. Such delays will slow the overall process, waste time in sessions while the student completes the work, and jeopardize a student’s readiness for upcoming exams and application deadlines. Great Expectations College Prep is not accountable for lack of progress on the student’s part if homework assignments are not completed. If students are consistently failing to complete assignments, they may need to upgrade their packages/programs to stay on track.
Counseling
Flex Packages offer self-guided counseling services and grant families access to a Counselor who can answer questions and offer advice on an as-needed basis. This is intended for families who are familiar with the college application process and know what support their student needs. Counselors will assign tasks to students based on their goals, but it is up to the families to prioritize how the hours are used.
Grade-Specific Programs are structured and counselor-led with specific action items and deliverables. These programs are ideal for families who want to ensure students stay on track and do what is recommended at every turn. Counselors will assign the necessary homework for students to stay on schedule successfully and record assignments along with the date and time that they are due.
Tutoring
Improvement on standardized tests and in academic courses requires repeated exposure and practice. Students are unlikely to see improvement unless they are completing all assigned homework and reviewing concepts and materials outside of their sessions with tutors. Tutors serve as guides in test preparation, but the onus is on the student to put in prep time outside of sessions, particularly those who are aiming to achieve high scores or are looking to make substantial jumps in their scores.
The Tutor will assign any homework deemed necessary for the student’s success and record assignments along with the date and time that they are due. All increases in grades and scores are contingent on a student’s work ethic and innate abilities.
Counseling
Flex Packages offer self-guided counseling services and grant families access to a Counselor who can answer questions and offer advice on an as-needed basis. This is intended for families who are familiar with the college application process and know what support their student needs. Counselors will assign tasks to students based on their goals, but it is up to the families to prioritize how the hours are used.
Grade-Specific Programs are structured and counselor-led with specific action items and deliverables. These programs are ideal for families who want to ensure students stay on track and do what is recommended at every turn. Counselors will assign the necessary homework for students to stay on schedule successfully and record assignments along with the date and time that they are due.
Tutoring
Improvement on standardized tests and in academic courses requires repeated exposure and practice. Students are unlikely to see improvement unless they are completing all assigned homework and reviewing concepts and materials outside of their sessions with tutors. Tutors serve as guides in test preparation, but the onus is on the student to put in prep time outside of sessions, particularly those who are aiming to achieve high scores or are looking to make substantial jumps in their scores.
The Tutor will assign any homework deemed necessary for the student’s success and record assignments along with the date and time that they are due. All increases in grades and scores are contingent on a student’s work ethic and innate abilities.
SESSION REPORTS
Session Reports are online summaries and updates of a student’s strengths, weaknesses, progress (or lack thereof), etc. Once the Tutor/Counselor enters notes on the GE College Prep portal after each session, the parent and student will each receive an email with a link to view the report.
The parent and student agree to review said Session Reports and contact the Tutor or Counselor with any questions or concerns. They also agree to clarify any assignments or suggestions that are, in any way, unclear.
The parent and student agree to review said Session Reports and contact the Tutor or Counselor with any questions or concerns. They also agree to clarify any assignments or suggestions that are, in any way, unclear.
PUNCTUALITY
All parties agree to arrive on time and fully prepared. If any party will be more than 10 minutes late, they must inform the other via text or phone to avoid the assumption of a “no-show.”
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations must be made through the portal. You can do so by hovering over the session you would like to change under “Upcoming Sessions” and selecting the Cancel/Reschedule button. Please note that a request to reschedule a session within the cancellation window will count as a cancellation.
We understand that emergencies happen and unavoidable conflicts arise in life; that said, last-minute cancellations (less than 6 hours’ notice) make it extremely difficult for our staff to fill their time slots, but they also make it difficult to keep students on track.
In Flex Packages, clients will have 50% of the session length deducted for less than 24 hours' notice and 100% for less than 6 hours' notice.
In Founder Flex Packages, clients will have 50% of the session length deducted for less than 36 hours' notice and 100% for less than 6 hours' notice.
After the second late cancellation (less than 6 hours’ notice) or no-show in a given Grade-Specific Program, Great Expectations College Prep will charge clients $150 for each infraction.
After the second late cancellation (less than 6 hours’ notice) or no-show in a given Grade-Specific Founder Program, Great Expectations College Prep will charge clients $500 for each infraction.
We understand that emergencies happen and unavoidable conflicts arise in life; that said, last-minute cancellations (less than 6 hours’ notice) make it extremely difficult for our staff to fill their time slots, but they also make it difficult to keep students on track.
In Flex Packages, clients will have 50% of the session length deducted for less than 24 hours' notice and 100% for less than 6 hours' notice.
In Founder Flex Packages, clients will have 50% of the session length deducted for less than 36 hours' notice and 100% for less than 6 hours' notice.
After the second late cancellation (less than 6 hours’ notice) or no-show in a given Grade-Specific Program, Great Expectations College Prep will charge clients $150 for each infraction.
After the second late cancellation (less than 6 hours’ notice) or no-show in a given Grade-Specific Founder Program, Great Expectations College Prep will charge clients $500 for each infraction.
EXPIRATION POLICY
All Grade-Specific Programs are valid from June 1 before the specified grade begins until May 31 of the following calendar year. Packages are non-refundable and non-transferable to other students.
Flex Packages are active for 12 months from the date of purchase. Hours are non-refundable and generally non-transferable to other students, but there is an exception to the latter rule: a one-time transfer to a sibling is allowed if the original student has no more use for the remaining hours.
Flex Packages are active for 12 months from the date of purchase. Hours are non-refundable and generally non-transferable to other students, but there is an exception to the latter rule: a one-time transfer to a sibling is allowed if the original student has no more use for the remaining hours.
COMMUNICATION
All parties are expected to update their contact information in the GE College Prep portal should it change at any time.
Our services and guidance are intended to be conversation-based – not email-based. There will be nuance and exceptions in almost every scenario and every question, so to protect both Tutors/Counselors and families from misunderstandings, anything more than a “yes/no” question should be reserved for longer discussions during sessions (which will then be documented in session reports for the sake of clarity).
Tutors/Counselors will not communicate important information via text message; texting is only appropriate for scheduling and communicating urgent matters.
Our services and guidance are intended to be conversation-based – not email-based. There will be nuance and exceptions in almost every scenario and every question, so to protect both Tutors/Counselors and families from misunderstandings, anything more than a “yes/no” question should be reserved for longer discussions during sessions (which will then be documented in session reports for the sake of clarity).
Tutors/Counselors will not communicate important information via text message; texting is only appropriate for scheduling and communicating urgent matters.
CODE OF ETHICS AND EXPECTATIONS
Counseling
A College Counselor will advise on course selection, standardized testing, extracurricular and summer programs, activities lists and resume composition, college list building, early action/early decision plans, senior questionnaires/brag sheets, essay brainstorming, and essay editing. The Counselor can also review applications with the student to ensure accuracy, help the student set up and navigate portals, prepare students for interviews with admissions officers and/or alumni, and assist students with composing deferral and rejection appeals and communications with admissions.
A College Counselor will share college application essays with the parents upon request once the Counselor feels that the essays are developed enough to share. We expect that the student will be the primary writer and architect of the essays; parents will not rewrite the essays on behalf of the student and will instead communicate any concerns to the Counselor during a session.
A College Counselor will not do the work for students; this includes research on schools and majors, filling out applications or creating resumes, writing essays or changing the student’s voice in a way that compromises the integrity of the piece, or procuring employment or internship opportunities for the student.
Tutoring
A Tutor will provide instruction that aims to clarify, explain, substantiate, and deepen a student’s knowledge of academic course content. The Tutor empowers students to engage with course material accurately and thoughtfully while teaching the skills necessary for academic success (test-taking skills, essay-writing skills, analytical skills, etc.). The Tutor can assist students in brainstorming essays and offer guiding questions and feedback, as well as grammar edits on essays.
A Tutor will identify standardized testing strengths and weaknesses for students and tailor curricula to enable student success on standardized tests. Tutors will outline for students the key components of a given standardized test, assist students in the review of concepts tested, and empower students with standardized testing strategies for specific exam sections and the exam at large.
A Tutor will not write academic essays or projects for the student or change the student’s voice in a way that compromises the integrity of the piece, do the research/assigned course reading entirely for the student, assist the student during online exams, or encourage academic dishonesty in any shape or form.
A College Counselor will advise on course selection, standardized testing, extracurricular and summer programs, activities lists and resume composition, college list building, early action/early decision plans, senior questionnaires/brag sheets, essay brainstorming, and essay editing. The Counselor can also review applications with the student to ensure accuracy, help the student set up and navigate portals, prepare students for interviews with admissions officers and/or alumni, and assist students with composing deferral and rejection appeals and communications with admissions.
A College Counselor will share college application essays with the parents upon request once the Counselor feels that the essays are developed enough to share. We expect that the student will be the primary writer and architect of the essays; parents will not rewrite the essays on behalf of the student and will instead communicate any concerns to the Counselor during a session.
A College Counselor will not do the work for students; this includes research on schools and majors, filling out applications or creating resumes, writing essays or changing the student’s voice in a way that compromises the integrity of the piece, or procuring employment or internship opportunities for the student.
Tutoring
A Tutor will provide instruction that aims to clarify, explain, substantiate, and deepen a student’s knowledge of academic course content. The Tutor empowers students to engage with course material accurately and thoughtfully while teaching the skills necessary for academic success (test-taking skills, essay-writing skills, analytical skills, etc.). The Tutor can assist students in brainstorming essays and offer guiding questions and feedback, as well as grammar edits on essays.
A Tutor will identify standardized testing strengths and weaknesses for students and tailor curricula to enable student success on standardized tests. Tutors will outline for students the key components of a given standardized test, assist students in the review of concepts tested, and empower students with standardized testing strategies for specific exam sections and the exam at large.
A Tutor will not write academic essays or projects for the student or change the student’s voice in a way that compromises the integrity of the piece, do the research/assigned course reading entirely for the student, assist the student during online exams, or encourage academic dishonesty in any shape or form.
NON-CIRCUMVENTION
All parties acknowledge that they have been introduced to one another by Great Expectations College Prep.
Parents and students specifically acknowledge that their respective Counselors are employed by Great Expectations College Prep and have been referred in good faith; they therefore agree not to do business privately for a period of five (5) years after the final session with the company.
Parents and students specifically acknowledge that their respective Counselors are employed by Great Expectations College Prep and have been referred in good faith; they therefore agree not to do business privately for a period of five (5) years after the final session with the company.
LIABILITY
For in-person sessions, Great Expectations College Prep recommends that a parent be present during all sessions held in the home. Should the parent disregard this recommendation, they release Great Expectations College Prep and its Tutors/Counselors from any/all liability.
Sessions may also be held in a public location, including but not limited to a library, school, etc. Whether a session is held inside the home or another location, the parent and student agree to hold harmless Great Expectations College Prep and its staff from liability for personal injury or property damage that may arise by reason of, or as a result of, participation in or travel to/from said activities.
Great Expectations College Prep reserves the right to remove a Tutor/Counselor from any situation that it considers dangerous, inappropriate, or otherwise unacceptable.
Sessions may also be held in a public location, including but not limited to a library, school, etc. Whether a session is held inside the home or another location, the parent and student agree to hold harmless Great Expectations College Prep and its staff from liability for personal injury or property damage that may arise by reason of, or as a result of, participation in or travel to/from said activities.
Great Expectations College Prep reserves the right to remove a Tutor/Counselor from any situation that it considers dangerous, inappropriate, or otherwise unacceptable.
REFERRALS
Great Expectations College Prep offers a credit towards future purchases for any clients who send referrals its way:
• Upon the purchase of a Fundamental program and/or Flex package of 25 hours, the referring party receives a $200 credit towards future purchases.
• Upon the purchase of a Comprehensive program and/or Flex package of 50 hours, the referring party receives a $500 credit towards future purchases.
Referral credits are only applicable to the first Grade-Specific Program or Flex Package purchased by a new client. The new client must mention the referring client’s name when initially booking their package to activate the credit. If two unrelated parents and/or students refer the same new client, they will each get half the credit. If new clients opt to split their payment, the referring parent/student will receive an email notification once the final payment has come through and the referral credit has been processed (up to 90 days).
• Upon the purchase of a Fundamental program and/or Flex package of 25 hours, the referring party receives a $200 credit towards future purchases.
• Upon the purchase of a Comprehensive program and/or Flex package of 50 hours, the referring party receives a $500 credit towards future purchases.
Referral credits are only applicable to the first Grade-Specific Program or Flex Package purchased by a new client. The new client must mention the referring client’s name when initially booking their package to activate the credit. If two unrelated parents and/or students refer the same new client, they will each get half the credit. If new clients opt to split their payment, the referring parent/student will receive an email notification once the final payment has come through and the referral credit has been processed (up to 90 days).
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