The Method:
“Alice: Which way should I go?
Cat: That depends on where you are going.
Alice: I don’t know.
Cat: Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”
- Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland”
Evaluation:
The starting point for any program is to identify where the student is currently scoring. Free diagnostic tests for the ACT, SAT and other exams provide a baseline score, which we expand into a detailed analysis of the student's strengths and weaknesses.
Consultation:
The consultation provides us an opportunity to discuss the student's baseline results in the context of the student's goals for college. Depending on the student's initial scores (and other admission factors such as GPA, course rigor, their "hook", etc.) we offer recommendations on how best to reach the student's goals.
Our test prep package recommendations are primarily based on where the student is currently scoring vs. where the student would likely need to score in order to be competitive at his or her best-fit colleges.
When possible, we collaborate with the student's school or independent counselor prior to the consultation to ensure that our recommendations support the counselor's larger plan for the student.
We also take time to answer all the basic questions, such as:
How much improvement is possible?
When should I take the ACT, and how many times?
What is the difference between the SAT and ACT?
Will schools see all of my scores, or can I choose which ones to send?
Do I have to take Subject Tests?
What is a "superscore"?
Instructors:
Each student is paired with a verbal instructor and a math instructor (unless the student is completing a math-only or verbal-only program). We hold all of our instructors to the same rigorous guidelines:
scores within the 99th percentile of any subject they teach
past experience in standardized testing instruction
effective communication skills
ability to work with students of all ages and performance levels
Ongoing Support:
Fluid communication is the foundation of our personalized one-on-one programs.
Every college application process involves many moving parts: application lists change, GPAs rise, improved ACT & SAT scores open new doors, etc. Our senior staff works in conjunction with all parties involved (parents, college counselors, teachers, independent educational consultants, learning specialists, and others) to ensure that all aspects in a prep program are operating smoothly, speak directly to the student's strengths, weaknesses, and current progressions, and ultimately contribute toward the student's end goals.
No two programs are exactly alike, and once a program begins, our directors are continuously present to make any necessary adjustments for your student based on performance in lessons, homework completion, and practice tests. By monitoring a student's progress every step of the way, we are able to create unparalleled success for our students.
““Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.”
- Nido Qubein”