https://www.davidancounseling.com/about daily 0.75 2026-04-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/10f9a945-27d5-4fa2-8bc1-edb60d9f6971/selfie.jpg About Me - About Me I was born and raised in Southern California to Korean immigrants who valued education. As a teen, I witnessed the unfortunate decline of close friends/family members due to a lack of mental health awareness, substance abuse literacy, and real mentorship. I pursued a career in public education for these reasons and throughout the years have gained unique insights on the college application process. During the week, I am a counselor at a public Title I high school in Southern California. On the side, I run a College Consulting business and a YouTube channel (@davidthecounselor). On weekends, I’m out and about with my wife Lucia and our two kids. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/2edeb9e7-2824-4fd7-8269-eaedc5a1b709/5.jpg About Me - Experience Attended the University of CA, San Diego and received a Bachelor’s in Psychology. From there, attended Teacher’s College of Columbia University in New York City for his Masters in Psychological Counseling & Education. 11+ years as a School Counselor. UC Berkeley Application Reader. UCLA Extension Instructor for the College Counseling Certificate Program. https://www.davidancounseling.com/home daily 1.0 2026-04-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/9996896e-2335-4ce1-9bc3-7dc959da86db/DSC01958.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/a8943330-bff9-4daa-8bb2-5bb73237a614/DSC01937.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/4a564b0b-9622-45d6-bb95-2809ecf0d8b8/DSC02771.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/1fdeb947-b7ab-47b1-9925-c6b75f6d307c/DSC02877.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/9ee23ad1-13dc-462d-aa4e-36e74118f308/DSC03635.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/6d6599e2-d855-4c32-b997-e9505d4cdfe5/DSC08697.JPG Home 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While most people believe that the ultimate goal is to gain admissions into a top university, I believe the ultimate goal is self-actualization — the acceptances are just a bonus. Essay prompt after essay prompt will ask students essentially the same kind of questions: Who are you? What are you made of? How do you fit into the larger world? A self-aware person has an honest perspective of who they are. They tend to live with more confidence and clarity. They eventually become the adults who contribute positively to their families and immediate communities. I aim to guide my students towards self-awareness through my counseling. https://www.davidancounseling.com/services daily 0.75 2026-04-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/1655958459946-HJJ7KGQMHE4L2YVGRUAE/unsplash-image-7jFMs5vzsSQ.jpg Services & Booking hand-drawn armchair icon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/1655958529147-RZE8KWSASGDM8LWAWRHC/unsplash-image-02z1I7gv4ao.jpg Services & Booking hand-drawn aim target icon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/1655958492373-OGMDJIWQKINAWMSBCTBE/unsplash-image-zIwAchjDirM.jpg Services & Booking hand-drawn empty pill bottle icon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/1655958608063-01IGKG2D9Z1VV986PYDN/unsplash-image-sfL_QOnmy00.jpg Services & Booking hand-drawn simplified needles in back acupuncture icon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/6629afb0-a0b1-4f38-abab-14cfa77ff748/DSC08519.JPG Services & Booking - “There aren’t enough words in the world to express my gratitude to Mr.An. Because of him I was able to understand the college process and allowed me to excel in my college process. Not only was he was one of the most beloved teachers but made me feel so comfortable in such a short period of time. Mr. An is a great person inside and out and it shows. He is a person everyone wants to be around and makes anywhere feel like a home.” — Natalie B., former student/ current UCLA student https://www.davidancounseling.com/testimonials daily 0.75 2025-11-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/8f2db8ff-f5cd-4c0c-8270-1307619d76ba/DSC02311-Original.jpg Testimonials - Former Student, SEHS Christian G. (CSUN ‘26) “My experience with David An has been amazing. He has opened my eyes not just through my senior year of high school but also the bigger picture, which is the real world out there. He did an amazing job sharing and giving me information about many opportunities such as colleges, working, and group talks. He has done more than just a college counselor at my school I appreciate him for all the things he has done for my peers and myself he has helped me and will help me become the man I intend to be in the future.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/d1d68b75-522f-48e9-bb36-9db4dcc5f396/IMG-0287.jpg Testimonials - Former Student, BHS Abby S. (Barnard ‘24) “Mr. An’s guidance in the college application process was completely comprehensive. I entered into the process with no idea how to begin and he helped me from start to finish: from teaching me how to write the UC PIQs, filling out FAFSA and the CSS profile alongside me, editing my activity summary, helping me reach out to teacher for letters of recommendation, and applying for scholarships. I truly cannot imagine how I would have gotten the acceptances I did, without his support.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/52a84ce2-b170-4c81-ae9b-e20529a0ee01/IMG-1898.jpg Testimonials - Former Student, BHS Gunner L. (USC ‘25) “David An is someone who has never backed down from going the extra mile to help someone out. Throughout my experiences with him he has been an empathetic and knowledgeable guide that connects with people on both a personal and professional level. Finding someone who knows how to balance the fine line between these two is rare, and David An does it masterfully. He has been a motivator, supporter, mentor, and a true friend, and anyone who has the pleasure of interacting with him will experience this same treatment.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/c3f68059-b7da-4898-8d22-75e67394ca8b/DSC03674-Original.jpg Testimonials - Former Student, SEHS Magaly A. (Stanford ‘26) "My experience with David An as my counselor could never fully be put into words because of how amazing and supportive he was. A core moment I have that plays in my head almost everyday is the day April 1st. Which was the day after Ivy day. That day I spent my time at the college center waiting to open my letters with Mr. An from the colleges only to receive 4 rejections. My heart broke and the only thing I wanted to do was cry. Though with his support and kind words, I searched for positive emotions and thought about the acceptances I had prior. That same day my dream school, Stanford, released their decisions. I prepared myself for another rejection since I had gotten deferred earlier in the year. This time I opened the letter by myself to see “Congratulations” and I fell to the ground in tears. After telling my family the first person I messaged was Mr. An. In only one day I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions and Mr. An was there for me through every step. David An is not only an amazing college counselor who pushes every student to do their best and apply to many schools but a counselor who will support any student who may be struggling. I am so grateful to have had Mr. An as my counselor, he made my senior year the most memorable." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/08c9753c-72a0-439f-aafa-887822f266f3/DSC03374-Original.jpg Testimonials - Former Student, SEHS Truby H. (SCLU ‘26) “Mr. An is a counselor that actually cares about his students past academics and what his job description might state that he should do. He cares about the well being, mental health, and the overall wellness of each students he interacts with. Many times he’s made my day by just asking if I’m okay or if I need anything on a day I felt down. He started a mens group which I had learned a lot from, he is easy to talk to, understanding and is the best teacher/counselor I have ever had! “ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/d40b6eac-4bc3-4ad7-a0df-07a510d347ef/DSC03686-Original.jpg Testimonials - Former Co-Worker, SEHS Ramon A. (Teacher/Coach) “David has a personality that connects with anyone that is looking for someone to care. Working alongside David was an experience unlike any other, for someone to be so selfless and willing to pour their soul into every action is impressive but also needed for children and young adults to feel empowered. Every student that has the pleasure of even talking to David feeling the power to enact change in whatever avenue they take, and it isn’t just a review but a testament to the person and heart that David takes into every action. “ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/5d490c9b-9f3c-4748-8975-359cc32b4854/IMG-5075-Original.jpg Testimonials - Former Student, BHS Daijah C. (UC Davis ‘24) “…he works very hard to promote comfortability across a wide range of diverse students…I personally am a first generation student who did not receive much help from family as the college process has changed over time and was difficult for me to understand. Despite this, Mr.An sat down and explained my options and encouraged me to see no goal as too high…I am studying at a UC. This is something I never thought would be possible for me coming out of high school. ” https://www.davidancounseling.com/contact daily 0.75 2026-04-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62b28f3fdb4f590a865f3cac/d98da21d-aa31-4267-a302-7bcc1f059bd2/DSCF2752.JPG