Do you only tutor high school students? ↓

While most of our students are still in high school, we have worked with a wide range of age groups, from elementary and middle-school students to college undergraduates to graduate students and adult learners seeking enrichment or the completion of a degree. We offer test preparation for all graduate level exams.

Do you prepare students for LSAT/GMAT/GRE/MCAT and other graduate level exams? ↓

Yes.

Where do we meet? Do you have an office? ↓

We find that most families prefer the convenience of home tutoring to the stress of driving to yet another after school location during rush hour or in between sporting events on the weekend. Generally, tutoring will take place in the family’s home, though we will be happy to meet you at a public library or other venue conducive to quiet, concentrated study. While we understand that some clients do prefer a professional office environment, the vast majority of our clients prefer the stress-free choice of receiving a tutor at home.

How long are your sessions? ↓

Most of our sessions are designed to last 1.5 or 2 hours, depending on the student’s needs and the timeline. We can accommodate one hour sessions for students meeting during study hall hours at their own school during school hours. Many parents of students with ADHD have expressed concern that two hours is much too long for their child, but most are surprised to find after only one or two lessons that a one-on-one tutoring experience with a dynamic mentor can keep that student’s attention and accomplish far more than they ever imagined. Naturally there are many students for whom a shorter time frame is both appropriate and effective. We will work with you to find the ideal balance.

What is the difference between your college counseling services and the services offered by my child’s high school guidance counselor? ↓

School guidance counselors have many students to manage and little time for personalized advice or service on a daily basis. Working with an educational consultant for college admissions places a professional researcher at your disposal, one who is knowledgeable about university programs, the admissions process, application strategies, school requirements and deadlines, acceptance rates, financial aid and scholarship data, etc., and who takes a personal interest in guiding a student step by step through the entire process, 24/7. This process begins with an understanding of what college actually is (i.e., in historical, theoretical and pragmatic terms) and how a student’s personal, academic and professional goals fit into that larger framework of higher education. Time can be spent on real discussion about unusual or multilateral curricular options, life choices, academic disciplines, the differences between majors among different programs, planning for graduate study, internships and study abroad, or general questions about student life or school culture. The goal of counseling is to find the ideal place where your child will thrive everyday.

A college counselor should also serve as a bridge between parents and their children. Adolescents commonly dismiss their parents’ ideas, knowledge and advice about college and testing, and so they need a reliable source outside the home for guidance. Mom and dad need to know that their child has access to a professional who understands their goals and their child on a personal level, one who can communicate effectively by breaking down stubborn prejudices and misinformation or offer compassionate, thorough and candid advice that takes the stress out of the process. Students need to know that they have a reliable source of information about every aspect of the college admissions process, and have the confidence that their college lists are designed to be bulletproof in terms of acceptance and offer a wide array of options. Good private counselors will always offer candid advice about a student’s potential and make certain that their clients understand the risks and probabilities involved with any school program or college choice. The value of the counselor as mediator or arbitrator between parent and student cannot be understated.

While many counselors are caring, knowledgeable professionals who offer effective suggestions, most do not “craft” a list or engage personally on a regular basis to explain details of the process specifically relevant to that family’s situation with attention to the step by step details that crop up every day. While some do offer creative suggestions and many have dynamic understanding of the admissions landscape, they often simply do not really get to know a student personally, and so they use broad, heuristic categories to make their recommendations, often relying on a standard list of conservative and familiar options. Many parents do not feel comfortable discussing finances or personal family matters with a school counselor, but prefer a confidential professional who takes a personal stake in the future of every student and every family. Finally, some school counselors are consumed with so many administrative responsibilities that their role as college admissions counseling does not get their full attention. The reality is that budgetary constraints prevent schools from hiring a sufficient number of counselors to personally serve all the students effectively.

As with test preparation, a good counselor will not only find the perfect fit while taking the stress out of the admissions process, but also repay the cost of the counseling ten times over with carefully chosen advice about how to earn scholarships or financial aid. A private counselor should always help guide a client’s educational/academic future without being coercive or putting the client into broad categories based on a single test score or academic transcript. Instead, a good counselor will find creative ways to help you make the most of your child’s talents and interests.

Do you prepare students for the SSAT/ISEE/HSPT/TJ or other independent school tests? ↓

Yes, we prepare many students every year for independent school exams and offer independent school placement assistance as well.

Do you offer general academic support services in addition to test prep? ↓

One of the privileges of personalized tutoring is being able to cater to students’ academic needs and curiosities above and beyond standardized test preparation. We provide full academic support for elementary, middle school, high school and college classes in all disciplines, in addition to enrichment classes and specialized support services for students with learning differences.

Do you work with students who have learning disabilities or special needs?↓

Approximately 40% of our clients are students with learning differences or disabilities.

How much homework will be involved for test preparation? ↓

Typically, students will have a couple of hours of homework per week in addition to two hours of face to face preparation with a tutor.

Is your one-on-one tutoring better for me than a course? ↓

1-on-1 courses are better for almost everyone because they are individualized, distraction-free and designed to meet your academic needs. Moreover, they take into account your psychological approach to the test and your personal inefficiencies in solving problems. These tests are psychological, both in their design and in terms of how students respond to them. One-on-one preparation allows for students to focus not only on the content of the test but the content of their own minds. In other words, students require an academic and a mental approach to the test. They need to think about how they think, about how their own thought processes are working for or against them. Each student is unique and therefore needs to develop his or her own personal approach to the test with a mentor who can reveal that student’s own metacognitive habits and teach to a student’s individual learning style. The student-mentor relationship also builds confidence. Students see more rapid improvement in a one-one environment than in a classroom setting because prefabricated courses teach to a “generalized” student prototype and much time is inevitably spent learning what a student already knows or what other students need to know. One of the most important aspects of test coaching is therefore a humanistic–psychological preparation that not only gives students the skills and cognitive tools they personally lack, but also prepares them for a more analytic approach to their studies and to their lives. Avoid test preparation services that promise to “teach the tricks” of the SAT. As the bunny rabbit on TV says, “Tricks are for kids.” The real trick to the SAT or ACT is that there are no tricks. That is a marketing ploy designed to lure in clients with the promise of easy gains.

How do I know if my child should prepare for the ACT or the SAT?↓

While in past years many East Coast colleges and universities preferred the SAT and those based in the Midwest and West preferred the ACT, such biases are no longer relevant in college admissions. Practically every institution of higher learning will accept either test. Standardized tests are actually less relevant today than they were thirty or forty years ago. Colleges are seeking percentile ranking in certain ranges regardless of the exam. Today roughly the same number of students take the SAT and the ACT, and many students on the East Coast have “discovered” the ACT and find it advantageous. Those who tell you that you “must” take the SAT to get into college are themselves unaware of the vast changes that have happened in college admissions over the past fifteen to twenty years.

Best Practice: Have your child take a diagnostic SAT and ACT exam at the end of Sophomore year or at the beginning of Junior year to determine which test is best suited to his or her learning abilities. The key is to find the right test for your child and prepare effectively for that test. Most parents will find that preparing for both tests is a waste of time and resources. You do not have to submit both tests with your applications, and doing so does not typically give you a significant advantage. Colleges now offer students a flexible choice as to which exam they may submit and which scores to submit.

What are the myths about the ACT? ↓

Myth 1: “The ACT is the ‘easy’ test.” The ACT has its own challenges, particularly its rigid time limits, its Science section and its broader range of mathematical concepts.

Myth 2: “The ACT is not accepted everywhere.” False! In fact, many Ivy League and most selective colleges (such as Duke) that once championed the SAT as a definitive indicator of college promise now accept the ACT WITHOUT the need for SAT subject tests. Elite students applying to elite college all score well on these tests, so the type of test itself is no longer relevant, especially in sample sizes at nearly two million per test per year. Most colleges that once harbored biases against the ACT ended those policies twenty years ago. We have not seen students turned away from elite or competitive colleges because they chose to take the ACT. Each year, dozens of our students are admitted to the most selective colleges by presenting only their ACT scores. The popularity of this test is only rising because it seems more closely aligned to achievement in high school level work and expectations.

Myth 3: “Are you sure that the ACT is really, really accepted everywhere? My sister’s best friend’s cousin told me….” YES, it is. Your sister’s best friend’s cousin has information that is out of date.

Should I study for both tests at the same time? ↓

Probably NOT. When preparing a student for college admissions tests, we administer SAT and ACT diagnostics to pinpoint a student’s individual strengths and weaknesses in order to determine which test will match that student’s skills and abilities. Sometimes a student develops a preference for the other test and decides to take it later on, but that is rare. While this second test sometimes does help a student if he or she is really struggling to master one subject area, we find that it is usually to a student’s advantage to select one test and focus on that testing paradigm. Since the launch of the new SAT in 2016, the two tests have become more closely aligned, but they still have their own institutional biases, content preferences and verbal styles. For that reason, it does take time to master the differences on each test. Students who naturally excel on standardized tests may wish to take both tests if the preparation involves little time and few resources. For those starting with an average baseline, we normally recommend choosing one test and focusing our energies there.

Is it too late to start in the summer of Senior year? ↓

No, but if you are planning to apply early decision, you will have a more constrained and high concentrated preparation schedule. If you are applying in a regular decision (Jan 1) timeline, then you have all of summer and fall—presumably seven or eight months—to get ready. Using that timeline, there is more than adequate time.

How late can I take the exams? ↓

Surprisingly, you may take them continuously through the Senior year. As long as you submit qualifying scores with your application, you may retest with the hope of improving until you are accepted or rejected. Many but not all schools will accept tests after January 1, so be sure to check with whatever colleges you are applying to about their specific policies. At certain schools, late testing can help students boost their scores, and this improvement gets them off the waiting list or moves them from deferred to accepted status.

How much prep time do I need? ↓

Every student is different. The diagnostics will allow us to tell you broadly where your scores will fall with different levels of commitment.

The Golden Rule for Parents of College-Bound Students↓

If you have not been involved in college admissions since your own high school days, assume that everything that was true in the 1970s or 1980s is precisely the opposite of today’s standards and practices. Score reporting regulations, admissions requirements, application procedures and standardized testing conventions have all changed dramatically, so be prepared to start from scratch and throw out everything you think that you know! In fact, many rules are now in flux from year to year and can even vary significantly from school to school, so make sure that you have all the most current information available.

Who makes these tests? ↓

Psychologists and statisticians. Educational testing is a branch of psychology. The College Board makes the SAT (as well as AP exams and other scholastic programs you may know). The ACT is based in Iowa and is a completely separate testing service from College Board.

When are the SAT and ACT given? ↓

The ACT and SAT are both given three times in the Spring, once in the Summer and three times in the Fall, sometimes in the same month (October, December, June). However, the ACT can be taken in July and September, which are often useful times for rising seniors to take the test. The SAT is given in August and early October. Typically the SAT will be given on the first Saturday of a month and the ACT on the second Saturday, though several testing dates throughout the year occur toward the middle or end of a month. Each testing service announces its national testing dates a full year or more in advance, and these dates are available on the official websites.

Should I first take the SAT or ACT cold to establish a "baseline" score? What about local test prep companies that offer free diagnostic tests? Should I take one?↓

You should use diagnostics, but you should know how to take the tests first. Beware of companies that offer free “cold” tests. They want you to start with a low score in order to lure you into more expensive packages, and then show you later how much you supposedly improved. That’s why they give the tests cold—to depress your initial score. Make sure that you know your real abilities before committing to study for either test. Learn the general content and relevant strategies, tactics and timing before taking any diagnostic test. Often the “free” tests are not available for you to review afterward unless you sign up for the package, so you cannot actually see what you got wrong in the test booklet. Instead, you are presented with fancy graphs and statistical summaries that describe your errors categorically but do not help you understand your mistakes.

What is the best time to prepare? ↓

The sooner, the better. Ideally, begin the summer before Junior year, or during the Sophomore year (or earlier!) if you are an athlete seeking early recruitment. Academically weaker students may wish to start in 10th grade or earlier. The only difficulty with earlier preparation is that teens often show tremendous cognitive development in the second half of high school, and so their true abilities on tests can often be disguised until that time, or their latent development makes progress limited during 10th grade and explosive with the sudden maturity in 11th grade. Some adolescents are not emotionally mature to make the commitment to prepare as early as 10th grade. For those who are, however, a strong review of vocabulary and grammar should start early in high school to achieve maximum results. It’s best not to wait until late Spring of Junior year (May/June) to find out where your normative score range currently stands. If you do wait until 11th grade to take your exams for the first time, sit for them in December, January or February to better gauge your needs and to provide a cushion for future preparation if necessary. Make sure you pay for score reporting services (especially with the ACT) get your complete results. It is very important to think of your extra-curricular schedule when planning tests. If you are a spring athlete, do a lot of early prep in the summer before the Junior year and in the fall of 11th grade. If you are a fall athlete, get started early and then hit the ground running as soon as the fall season is over. Fall athletes who need retake their exams as seniors will have additional pressure on them during that critical time. Keep this strategy in mind if you are a musician, thespian, tournament player or have a seasonal job. All of these activities are time-consuming and can disrupt your test preparation plans.

How often can I take the exams? ↓

Believe it or not, as many times as you want! Actually, the ACT has a limit of 12. You are not penalized for this in any way. Schools now encourage multiple testing as a sign of drive, sincerity and scholarship. Your scores will not be “averaged” or dropped if you take too many tests. There are some schools that use unconventional methods to analyze scores, so be sure to double check, as a handful make very specific requests or consider multiple tests differently. The old notion that you can “only take the SAT twice” is decades old. The College Board and the ACT strongly encourage multiple testing. SAT superscoring and subject tests generate more exam dates and therefore more revenue for the College Board, and both the ACT and the College Board will encourage you to buy more preparation books, online resources and course materials whenever you sign up. Score choice (your ability to select whichever scores you wish to submit to colleges and drop the rest) further encourages you to retake exams. Most kids will test at least 2-3 times until they reach the desired score.

Don’t the schools see all of your scores? ↓

NO, not anymore. The ACT has always used a “score choice” system, meaning that you can cherry pick your best test and drop the rest--or submit a combination of two good tests with different numbers. You are in total control of your scores—send them all, or just one or two. The SAT moved to a score choice system several years ago after realizing that the ACT's method had become more popular with consumers. Naturally, to take advantage of “superscoring” (see the next entry below), you need to submit more than one test. But schools really DO only look at the highest scores of multiple submissions; otherwise, there would be no common basis for evaluating so many thousands of applicants in so short a time. In truth, most schools do not have time to psychoanalyze your testing numbers and don’t care if you “went down” on a certain section on a certain day. That’s part of the standard deviation of the test. They are looking for your best scores against every other student’s best scores. However, a small handful of schools do request that you send all scores, so be sure to check the requirements.

How is the SAT scored these days? ↓

The old 1600 point system is back. For about ten years, the College Board altered the old testing model of two 800 point sections--one verbal and one math--to a 2400 point system with three sections. The extra section (writing skills) was deemed by many colleges to be gratuitous and so many were not using it in their admissions decisions. The latest version of the SAT brings the scoring back to the old 1600 point system. There is now one verbal score consisting of a Reading skills and a Writing skills section, and a Mathematics score consisting of one section without a calculator and one section with a calculator. The essay is longer (50 minutes) but optional.

What are the Essays used for if they are of declining interest to colleges?↓

The essay score are NOT averaged into the actual composite test score of the ACT or included as part of the SAT Writing and Language test. The essay itself was once deemed useful for purposes of collecting a controlled writing sample for comparison with an applicant's college admissions essay to determine whether an applicant's writing sample should be red flagged for plagiarism or appears insufficiently developed for that student to succeed in college-level work. Many schools used them for placement in Freshman English composition classes rather than admission itself. Until the 2016 restructuring of the SAT, the essay portion of the SAT was always required. As the essay's perceived use value was never fully established empirically (and the quality and preparation of foreign applicants improved dramatically), the College Board decided to make the essay optional in its new format (the ACT essay was always optional). The optional nature of these essays now has led many colleges to make them optional as a requirement or simply recommend that students take them if possible.

Do the essays count at all toward my SAT or ACT score? ↓

The essays are scored on brief rubrics for organization around a thesis, content and development, mechanics, style and depth of ideas. The SAT gives three scores for reading, analysis and writing on a 1-4 scale, and the scores of two graders are combined. The ACT uses four sub-scores with two readers on a similar scale of 1-6 and these scores are averaged. The essays are scored using a 12-point maximum. The essays scores are merely presented as a supplemental score to the larger SAT or ACT score and in no way influences the 36 point ACT composite score or the 1600 point SAT score. Students who are not strong writers but produce an adequate essay usually find that a score of 8 is sufficient to satisfy most colleges and that a score of 10 or more is very strong. 7 is borderline and scores below 7 may not disqualify you from admission but may signal to the college a need for your placement in a remedial English composition course or endorse a requirement that you to take an extra freshman composition course to meet college readiness benchmarks. Many schools ignore these results entirely.

What is “Superscoring?” ↓

Superscoring is the process of “mixing and matching” a student’s best scores on each individual section of the SAT or ACT after the student has taken the test multiple times. While universities almost universally superscore the SAT (mainly from tradition, because there were only two sections in the old days and only two sections now), schools vary their superscoring policies with respect to the ACT. Moreover, schools have been changing their policies on ACT superscoring every year, so be sure to check with the school in question (sometimes even the websites will have old information). The ACT is not designed to be superscored because it uses an averaging system, so many schools—particularly the most competitive schools—refuse to superscore it. Others superscore to make their own programs appear more competitive. We will help you target schools whose policies can yield the most beneficial results.

I heard that the essay portions of the SAT and ACT are optional—is that true?↓

The ACT and SAT are offered both with and without writing. However, after the ACT made several changes to its scoring methodology in just a short time after one of its rubrics turned out to be quite flawed, and the SAT expanded its essay to nearly an hour in an "optional" section, colleges became increasingly wary of the value given by the data from these rating scales and many were already dubious that these essays provided additional value in verifying college readiness or academic achievement. At one time, nearly every competitive school required the essay portion of the test, but now we are seeing many of the most competitive colleges drop the requirement. Today, schools will either require, recommend, or make optional the essay portion of the test. You must check with each college individually to determine its policy. We have seen a rapid decrease in the interest from colleges in requiring these tests, but it may be that the one or two colleges that you most wish to attend will still require the essay. Given the uncertainty of your college list when you first test in junior year (and the fluid environment of college requirements in general), we recommend that students take the essay portion at least once to ensure that they have a completed score to submit. There is always a risk. For example, students who take the non-essay version of the test as a "practice" and achieve their highest score on that test may discover that this strong outcome is useless for admissions to a college that requires the essay. We recommend that students choose the writing option, which adds 40 minutes to the ACT and 50 minutes to the SAT, at least once.

How quickly are the tests graded? Can I see my test booklet? When? ↓

Gone are the old days when students waited three or four months for SAT or ACT scores. You can check them online in two to three weeks after either test. A paper score report is sent home in 3-4 weeks. Exam booklets and a copy of your answer sheet can be ordered three times a year for a small fee from the ACT through its Test Information Release Service. ACT supplies the correct answers, but not the worked out solutions or rationale for the correct answers. The high tech SAT digitizes your exam questions and makes your answer choices available for online review, complete with explanations and worked out solutions to the math problems. ACT exams are typically scored in two weeks; SAT has taken a little longer in the new format. Note that ACT test release booklets can take 6-8 weeks to arrive, so you often get the detailed results of your exam only a week or so before the next test. The SAT offers a helpful, detailed online score report (including a scanned copy of your hand-written essay) that breaks down each section statistically for your review. Recently the ACT has upgraded its statistical analysis of your test results, but both tests include confusing acronyms for its sub-scores and "STEM" scale ratings (which colleges do not use), and all of these additional scales can be distracting to understanding your score report. The ACT currently releases its test booklets ONLY in December, April and June, so those are often the best dates to take the exam.

My scores are weak and my schedule makes it difficult for me to prepare for these tests. Do I have to take these tests at all to get into college? ↓

Some elite and moderately selective universities—mostly small liberal arts colleges—are completely testing optional. Big state universities use standardized tests to gain an objective “standard” against the different grading systems used in different school districts or across different counties, to compare interstate standards, or measure achievement against students in private schools, so these tests are still very relevant for most competitive colleges. These schools have a larger body of students to vet, so the standardized tests can be useful. Fairtest.org has a list of testing optional schools. Recently, medium sized, highly selective research universities like George Washington University and American University have gone testing optional for students with a minimum grade point average, so this is a trend to watch. Keep in mind that without SAT or ACT exams, admission to many state colleges will not be possible.

How do I apply for extra time accommodations on the ACT and SAT? ↓

Talk to your guidance counselor about making arrangements for special testing accommodations. We can also offer guidance about what different testing options and formats are available. Sometimes, the decision to take the SAT or the ACT will depend on the type of accommodations available or the degree of accommodations received. The SAT and ACT offer different special testing formats, so be informed about the differences. Information is also available on the websites of the SAT and ACT, and specialists are available to answer your questions by phone. We can help you determine which formats will be most beneficial with our dual-diagnostic testing system.

What types of special needs accommodations are available? ↓

In addition to extended time, students can receive large format booklets, computers for writing essays, circling privileges (rather than bubbling) in the answer booklet, audio recordings for auditory learners, multi-day testing, private rooms, and many other accommodations to fit your learning needs. Students who receive accommodations from the College Board receive them not only for the SAT but also for the SAT Subject Tests, AP exams, PSAT, and any other test administered by the College Board, so even if you are taking the ACT, it is important to apply for accommodations to the College Board!

Are the rules for extra time the same for the SAT and ACT? ↓

Not exactly. The ACT offers many frameworks, but higher levels of accommodations are often harder to get without a substantial history of accommodations or learning challenges backed by strong empirical data and psycho-educational testing from a qualified clinician. Accommodations for extended time seem to have a greater benefit for students who take the ACT because a central challenge of that test is its shorter time limit on each section than given by the SAT.

When should I apply for extra time? ↓

As early as possible. You will need cognitive testing that is recent, if possible. Often, public schools that offer special needs support and cognitive testing from the school district will not provide enough information or sufficient testing to satisfy the accommodations review boards at the ACT or SAT, and you will have to pay out of pocket for private testing to receive a fair review. That private testing can cost between $2000-3500. Make sure that you apply early in the Freshman or Sophomore year to lock those accommodations in place. If you are denied, you can appeal, but that process can be time consuming and require more testing or meetings with counselors, so PLEASE give yourself enough time to overcome the bureaucracy. Many parents who file late for accommodations never get them. Don’t wait until the Junior year and then face uncertainty about your testing plans. These delays prevent effective test preparation, inhibit your ability to make the right choice and add intense stress to an already stressful process. Unexpected denials can thwart plans and cost hundreds of hours of study and thousands of dollars in test preparation. Seek advice from reputable educational consultants on required psycho-educational testing and know the standards you need to meet in advance of requesting special testing accommodations.

What is the role of the SAT Subject Tests (formerly SAT IIs)? ↓

In addition to the ACT Assessment or the SAT Reasoning Test, many of the more competitive colleges require SAT Subject tests, which are short, one-hour exams used to evaluate a high school student’s mastery of a specific academic discipline. As part of our college preparatory packages, we offer tutoring in all of the SAT Subject Tests. Some colleges do not require but simply “recommend” these tests. Often they are used as last minute tiebreakers for admissions or scholarships, but some schools simply use them for placement purposes once students enroll. The Subject Tests were called the Achievement tests prior to the 1990s—you might remember them under that name. Back then, they were not required exams but recommended by counselors as college admissions profile enhancers in specific academic subjects like biology or European history to allow students to stand out from their peers. Today they are used mainly by Ivy-league peer schools to distinguish the talents of top-tier students across more specific subject areas. Most colleges require TWO subject tests. Currently, Georgetown and Harvard require THREE. The importance of subject tests has been declining in recent years. Be sure to check a college's website to determine its current testing requirements because schools re-evaluate their requirements annually.

How do I know whether I should take SAT Subject Tests? ↓

Generally, there are three reasons to take them. First, if they are required or strongly recommended by a highly selective school. Second, they help an institution gauge your mastery of academic disciplines, so students with weaker GPAs or a desire to show off their strengths in an intended major can improve their chances of admission or boost their financial aid tallies. Finally, a student who earned a poor grade in an otherwise strong subject can prove his or her excellence by mastering the related Subject test. Since AP tests are not normally considered as part of the college admissions process, Subject Tests are a good way to provide information to colleges about a student’s excellence in specific subject areas.

Is private test preparation worth the high cost? ↓

Yes. But how much you choose to spend will depend largely on your score goals, financial aims and academic needs. Many choose test preparation for its educational value as well as the quantitative improvement in scores and higher admissions rates. Others choose to spend money on ongoing preparation over the course of many months or even years because it will yield greater knowledge, lead to higher grades in core subjects, prepare students for college level writing and analysis, and vastly enhance a student’s scholarship potential. We like to think of test preparation more broadly as enriched academic coaching with value-added benefits. The added confidence and knowledge a student attains outside the classroom have tremendous collateral effects on performance, cognition, verbal skills and global thinking. The added benefit of having a personal educational counselor, mentor and life coach available to answer questions about high school course selection, college admissions outcomes, self-advocacy, professional and career goals, and a host of other topics of concern to teens and parents can be a tremendous benefit to a student's long-term planning and preparation. Moreover, having a coach personally invested in you every week creates a level of commitment and sustained, personal interaction that far exceeds the capacity of a traditional test coaching class to advance your goals quickly with a highly individualized focus.

Effective test preparation can often yield enormous financial returns: ↓

A small investment of a couple thousand dollars will not only yield more competitive school options and more acceptances (not to mention a better educated child) but far more money in scholarships or tuition incentives. For example, many state universities such as Ohio State and Indiana University offer tuition reductions for out-of-state students with SAT scores of 1250 (reading/math) or ACT scores of 28 or better. Spending a couple thousand dollars for excellent test preparation yields a scholarship at these schools of $6000 to $8000 per year. Therefore, an expense of $3000 or $4000 earns you $24,000 to $32,000. Many other schools will offer in-state tuition for high scorers from out-of-state, and many private colleges will give tuition incentives from four to forty times what is spent on preparation. In short, good preparation more than pays for itself. If you are planning to spend $80,000 on State college or $200,000+ on private college, a few thousand dollars is a relatively small expense in order to (1) earn a place in the most advantageous school possible for the money; (2) prepare the student to participate fully in college level discourse on the day he or she arrives; (3) give the student confidence to earn high grades; (4) give the student analytic tools, study skills and verbal confidence to tackle college with less stress; (5) earn tuition remission or incentives that vastly outweigh the cost of a preparation that provides all these other benefits!