I was very lucky to have studied with Keith from Chicago. I initially met Keith through the…read moreManhattan GMAT class pack in which he was the instructor, and later took a few private classes with him to improve my understanding.   Overall, Keith is a very efficient and to-the-point instructor. I was quite confident in math but was making unnecessary mistakes so Keith pinpointed it to exactly where it was and provided CUSTOMIZED study plans for me based on my goal and schedule. As for verbal, he was instrumental in teaching me how to read and answer the question.   My first practice test was in the 600, and with the help of Keith and many hours of hard work, I increased a score of 100+. I would highly recommend Keith to any student who would like to learn and achieve a good score.   Manhattan GMAT also offers one of the best online platforms. It syncs up with the book and the explanations really helped me understand why an answer was right, and better yet, why other answers were wrong. In addition, you can use the report feature to see your overall performance and area of improvement. I would recommend taking a GMAT course with Keith through Manhattan. Thank you Keith!

Quick Summary: Best in-person GMAT prep course in Chicago…read more Dan is awesome. --------- Lots and lots of detail: Teaching: 10/10 Dan. Bartz. I owe a LOT to him. He was a huge part in the 90pt increase from my first attempt to my second attempt.* He scored in the 99th percentile (several times), so yes, he's insanely smart. As a teacher, top notch scores will only get you half way to five stars. Dan's personality gets him the rest of the way and more. During my prep, I asked a lot of basic questions (trust me), but Dan always had a patient and thorough response. In class, he aimed for true comprehension. No matter how complex or simple, if we weren't getting it, he found another way to teach the concept or open up the problem. He was very conscious of varied learning styles and backgrounds in the room and made an effort to find opportunities to tailor a message. In addition to being incredibly approachable, Dan is very engaging. The Manhattan classes have a card system so all students "poll in" an answer to questions (makes sense since you can't skip an answer on test day!). He'd use this and other techniques to get the class involved. This engagement really helped keep my energy up and stay mentally present for three hours after a full day of work. He was available at any point during the course or while studying after the course ended. He wanted to help us succeed and whatever he could do to help, he would. Did I mention he's just a really nice guy? He's just a really nice guy. As we approached the end of the course, everyone had different time lines. Some were ready to face the GMAT monster. I was not. I met with Dan to create a personalized game plan for life-after-Manhattan. He went over my strengths and weaknesses and we created an outline for what turned out to be four more weeks of studying. I was planning on evenly studying Q/V and focusing on my weaknesses within those topics, but Dan suggested that I be more in the 75/25 range. It paid off! After sitting the test a second time, I maintained my Verbal percentage from the first try, but increased my Quant percentage by 37 percentage points. My overall score went up 90 points! Dan's guidance heading into the homestretch was priceless. I honestly don't think I could have cracked 700 without it. *I'm sure someone out there would want me to say that this isn't guaranteed, and no, I don't work for Manhattan GMAT. --------- Materials: 10/10 Studying for the GMAT is intense, but the order and depth of the materials broke down the concepts into digestible segments. You could all but feel the building blocks stacking as you worked through the books. The syllabus was also a godsend. I thrive on structure and deadlines (I realize that makes me sound super awesome); free form studying is not for me. The detailed syllabus kept me on task and progressing logically for nearly over months. The 14 or so books are great. Some thick, some thin. Some you'll use once, others replace your best friend (don't worry, your real best friend will forgive you). Each major concept has its own book, and you work from basic concepts to full-blown convoluted and mean GMAT questions on each topic. The syllabus ties it all together and tells you where to go and when. Then the online resources tell you if you should go back and review anything in particular. --------- Online Resources: 9/10 Manhattan GMAT has all the resources you'd expect (practice questions, CATs, videos, etc.). The OG Archer is a really great tool. Even with Dan's urging in class, I really only started using it after my class but I wish I would have taken advantage of the Archer sooner. The analyses available for both the Archer and practice tests were very insightful and helped me focus my attention on what mattered. I gave the Online Resources a 9/10 since there were a few quirks in the system, specifically in the OG Archer, that I found clunky and a bit annoying. To really work on a specific area (number properties, anyone?), there are some focused sets of questions organized by topic. Once you've started in one of these sets, clicking next will give you the next problem in the OG, not the next question in the focused set. I ended up opening a browser tab with the list of questions in the focused set, and a second tab with the OG up. Also, as you are clicking next or loading a new question, the full page reloads and scrolls you back up to the top so you have to scroll down again. Both are minor annoyances, but when you're trying to make the most out of limited study time, it would be really helpful to move through the Archer smoothly. --------- My brief history with the GMAT (for credibility, I guess): 12/12-4/13: Took an in-person course with a company in Chicago 4/13: Official GMAT (low 600s) 10/13: Demo'ed a class with another company; wasn't feeling it 10/13: Demo'ed a class with Manhattan GMAT; felt it 10/13-1/14: Took an in-person class in Chicago 1/14: Official GMAT (low 700s)

I took a very comprehensive PMP test prep class with Francis (Fran) Mies about a month before I…read moretook the PMP V6 test. Passed first time, no problems. The class was fantastic about prepping you with all the info you need to pass the test and for helping to understand what you need to do to succeed in applying for the test as well. Online content was a great augment to in-person training.

I took the Project Management Academy Boot Camp January 4-7 of this year, and I can't say enough…read moregreat things about this training! The Boot Camp helped me pass my PMP exam (passed on January 10th). Francis Mies is a great instructor who really knows how to break complex subjects down into understandable parts. He got us prepared for the exam by giving us test-taking tips, and focusing on subjects that the PMP asks about. Also, the materials that were given (handouts, study guides, etc.) were CRUCIAL in passing the exam. I want to thank Fran for getting me prepared for the exam. I highly recommend all aspiring PMPs to take this training!

I took the Blueprint class in October for the December 2013 LSAT. I did extensive research before…read moreselecting Blueprint as the company to help for my LSAT Preparation. Prior to this class I had never opened a LSAT Prep book or even seen what type of questions would be on the LSAT. I was told by others that it is unlike any standardized test I had ever taken. I wanted to start on a clean slate. From the research that I had done, most people who selected Blueprint increased their score by an average of 11 points. The instructors bio on the Blueprint website, which you should check out by the way, also helped in humanizing them and injecting a sense of humor to such a challenging task. Patrick was our instructor for Blueprint Chicago and let me tell you, he is extremely intelligent and patient. Unlike most geniuses who make you feel inferior due to their high acumen and intellect, Patrick was the complete opposite. We learned a lot in this class and had fun doing it. Patrick would come early to answer any questions or stay late just to be sure you really got it. You have to do your part and actually prepare and study outside of class as well, but it was nice knowing that if we have any questions about the homework he would be able to break it down so we could understand where we may have missed something. I actually enjoy Logic Games now, I know it sounds strange but that's how amazing Patrick was in breaking it down and making it enjoyable. I would highly recommend taking the course with Patrick and I am glad he was our instructor because he really was super nice, funny, and patient. I was able to increase my score by more than the 11 point average and I know for a fact that it would not have been possible without Patrick and the Blueprint team. Patrick is an excellent teacher and you will not regret your decision.

I took Blueprint's Summer 2014 Prep Class in preparation for the September 2014 LSAT, and I have…read moreabsolutely no regrets. It was a solid investment of both my money and, more importantly, my time and efforts. Patrick is a wonderful teacher, mentor, and friend. He genuinely cares about each of his students; he paid attention to our individual needs and concerns in a way that didn't at all take away from the entire group's classroom experience. While very intelligent, Patrick is also extremely patient and down to earth, which really adds to the comfort of the learning environment. Patrick explains the mysterious complexities of LSAT logic in a way that is simple to understand, and he goes out of his way to ensure that everyone has a solid grasp on the material. He's easily accessible by email and phone and always willing to help; nearly every class meeting, Patrick arrived a few minutes early and stayed at least a a few minutes late to answer any questions that hadn't been asked during class. I admittedly didn't always do all of the assigned homework, so I strongly advise that you do it to make sure you're taking full advantage of the class. Try to make it to every lesson, as it's a lot more fun to learn the material with Patrick than it is to study any missed lessons on your own. Also, be sure to check out all the available resources online - the sample problem sets and additional practice tests were tremendously helpful, so I'd recommend doing as many of those as possible. And don't worry about the 4-hour class length. Thanks to Patrick, class goes by a lot more quickly, painlessly, and enjoyably than you'd think.

I attended the November 2025 PMP prep class with John D through Project Management Academy, and I'm…read morehappy to share that I passed my PMP exam in January! This program was absolutely worth it. The structure of the course made a huge difference in how I approached studying, and John D did an excellent job breaking down complex concepts in a way that actually stuck. The biggest value for me was the practice exams and informal quizzes. They were key in helping me recognize patterns, build confidence, and feel fully prepared going into the exam. By the time test day came around, I felt ready. I also really appreciated the cohort experience. Being part of a group that was equally committed and supportive made the process more motivating and a lot less overwhelming. Highly recommend Project Management Academy--and especially John D--if you're serious about passing your PMP. -- Dawn G.

I took the CAPM course in Jan 2024, instructed by Michael Giacalone. He was very friendly, patient,…read moreand knowledgeable. Thanks for being a great instructor.

Took a free seminar here the other day, and was really impressed. The lady that ushered me into the…read moreseminar (a bit late, ooops!) utterly friendly and helpful. Their list of classes looks excellent, and I got a line on an InDesign user group that got me excited about what I do for a living again, which is great. I'll be back, for classes, networking and FUN. Gorgeous space in the Fine Arts building, and a really great vibe here.

Super practical... the instructors are showing you how to do this in Photoshop, do that in…read moreInDesign, and splitting them into beginner/advanced courses makes it helpful for a beginner Adobe user like me. But I could tell during an advanced session even the experienced students were taking notes and following along. It's really awesome to see how receptive students can be when instructors are so knowledgeable and "into it." I attended Adobe Days 2015 in Chicago where you eventually pick and choose smaller sections to go to. These were just as practical as the speakers were whipping out their laptops and showing you on the big screen what to do. FAQs at the end in case you have questions, and they're more than willing stay after the session to answer questions and help people out - you can tell they genuinely enjoy doing it too. The facility/computer rooms are also gorgeous/comfortable. 5 stars all the way.

My uncle lives in a house that he nearly single handedly built himself in the woods of Vermont…read more It's sturdy, beautiful, and expertly crafted. So I thought, "surely I must have some of this handiness in my previously totally non-handy self." But before I plunked down thousands of dollars for lathes, circular saws and other manly machines you can buy at Home Depot, I thought I'd test the waters with a woodworking class. Finding one in Chicago proved harder than expected until one say I saw a flyer at a local coffee shop advertising Woodsmyths. It sounded like exactly what I'd been looking for: hands on, experience with a variety of common woodworking tools, and a mix of instruction and projects. The class started out fine enough: there were about 10 people, we read some handouts, received some brief instructions, then got down to business. I liked that we'd get to work on things ourselves that we'd then take home to keep, but the instruction left a lot to be desired. The teacher is a bit eccentric and seemed more concerned that everyone finished their projects than whether they actually learned anything. I felt rushed, didn't feel encouraged to ask questions and when I did, the instructor often just fixed my problem for me instead of showing me how to do it. After 10 weeks and $350, I had three items I'd crafted mostly myself: a toolbox, a simple bookshelf and a storage box-style end table. The last of these I really liked and still have, the others didn't survive my most recent apartment move. And disappointingly, I don't feel like I really learned all that much. The teacher was a stickler for safety (a good thing), so I feel mostly comfortable operating woodworking machines. But I don't feel like I know better now than I did before the class what to do with them. I know Woodsmyths also offers a more advanced class that people seem to take, so maybe others had better experiences that I. So if you can't find any other woodworking class options, it may be worth giving this one a go. But don't expect to be anywhere but a tiny step closer to building your own cozy bungalow in the New England woods.

Anyone who is taking this furniture making class is probably not looking to start a career as…read morewoodworker. I signed up for the the class to scratch my wood working itch to see if it might turn into a cool new hobby. I was hoping to learn some things about building furniture and seeing if it was something I want to explore further. The intro class is a 10 week program and I made it to week 5 before throwing in the towel. Neil has no business teaching anything. The guy has a major anger and control problem. The class is run from a converted garage behind his house and he doesn't have enough tools to accommodate everybody in the class. Space is tight. Which is manageable and means we had to take turns and learn to work as a group so we all didn't need the same tools at the same time. Not a big deal. However he made it a huge deal. He micromanaged everything to the point of driving quite a few of us insane. He's like the Anal Retentive Carpenter on an angry coke binge. By week 3, he didn't know any of the names of us dudes in the class yet he knew all of he names of the women in the class. Why? Because he was routinely hitting on them in pathetic ways. And probably burning mental images of them into his brain for lonely nights at home when his internet connection goes out. Week 1: The completely useless and extremely painful safety lecture. He talked for 3 hours about: really nothing. He told drinking stories and babbled about nothing that really had to do with safety. Captain Obvious. There wasn't much useful safety content. It was painful to sit through. I assume he doesn't lead by example since he violated all of his own safety rules routinely. Week 2-4: We started on a shelf project. Most of the components were precut and the bulk of experience was sanding things with an orbital sander and drilling screws. Think graduate level Ikea assembly. During the drilling part, he handed out a bunch of phillips driver bits that are used in drills. These are $.99 pieces. He handed out five of them and when we were cleaning up, we could only find four of the five. He went on a tirade that we weren't respecting his tools and had all 7 of us crawl around on the floor for 20 minutes looking for it. We never found it. Neil found it later - in his own pocket when he was doing laundry. When anyone asked questions about anything, he would get really agitated. Like we were dumb dumbs for not knowing wood is sold in 1/4 lengths. Duh. The following week, we were measuring pieces for our shelf project using a tape measure. We had a tape measure we were sharing among the group. Neil walked by our work bench and asked who was using the tape measure. None of us responded because none of us were using it. He went insane. He started yelling and screaming about keeping the work area clean. He started cussing like a scene from The Exorcist, opened the door to the shop and then chucked the tape measure out into the street. This is the same guy who the previous week gave a lecture about respecting the tools and had us crawling around on the floor for a $.99 piece. The guy has no business teaching. There are plenty of other good working schools in the city where you can learn the skills of a potentially very rewarding hobby.

This is an ideally located North side school that trains students on how to sterilize instruments…read moreused at hospitals, run by the knowledgeable John Ocansey and his lovely daughter Julie. Not only does he do the training but he (and Julie) goes the extra mile by helping each and every student get a job in the medical field after they graduate. One caveat here, there is no such thing as a guaranteed job! Nobody can offer you that. So the graduate MUST be flexible in regards to where they're going to work, which might mean traveling to a location that is out of the way or working inconvenient hours in order to be flexible. But once you get that experience you'll have a much better chance of getting a better position in the future. John is a man of many talents, he recruits, trains and places students in a field where there is currently a limited shortage. Both him and Julie are approachable and open to helping anybody who has a serious commitment for entering the medical field. So if you're currently unemployed seeking a fulfilling position in the medical field go see John and Julie Ocansey at AIPS, you'll be glad you did!

I love making things with my hands; I love the sense of accomplishment it gives me. My grandmother…read moretook up upholstery in her 70's and made some beautiful pieces, one of which I inherited. The fabric on the piece isn't really my style and I decided that if it was going to be re-done, I wanted to be the one to do it. There aren't many places to learn upholstery. I am lucky to live a few blocks from the shop; my classmates weren't so lucky, they all lived at least 20 miles away. I wasn't sure what to expect with the beginner's class, so it's worth noting that in the beginner class you most likely won't work on an actual piece of furniture.* What you will do is complete four projects that give you the skills to move on to actual furniture. The class is very hands on, you will thread a machine and start sewing in your first class. There are no prerequisites for this class; half of us hadn't used a sewing machine before. Owning a garment machine, there were a few things that took getting used on upholstery machines. There are two instructors; Jeff, the owner, taught my class and one of his staff taught the other. I can't speak to the other teacher's style, but Jeff is very laid back and a firm believer of learning by doing. Jeff is very generous with his time, knowledge, tools and materials; many students don't finish all of the projects in the allotted class time, but you're welcome to come back and finish after your session is complete (provided there's room). You're always your harshest critic, but I was so flattered when the manfriend thought my final project was something I had bought. I really loved this class and can't wait to start the intermediate class. The intermediate is like an independent study, you bring the piece you want to work on. If you've meandered by and seen the work in the window on Lincoln, those are student pieces. * One project is a bar stool cover. If you've got a piece to work on, you can use it. TIP: There's a lot of close work in the class and it's easy to get into a groove. Wear comfortable clothes you wouldn't mind getting dirty and bring your glasses, water and a snack.

I just took the "Beginners' Upholstery Class" with Jeff Kraut and LOVED it!…read more The class covers upholstery techniques that can be applied to automotive upholstery, furniture upholstery, and bag making. It is taught on industrial sewing machines (no previous sewing experience necessary). I already knew basic sewing and I definitely picked up lots of new tricks/techniques. Some of the topics we covered: * setting up the machines and basic sewing. * quilted stitching on vinyl (like on the back of a car seat or stuffed chair) * adding piping trim * zipper installation and sewing a small case * stapling construction and making a panel (like recovering a chair seat or a car side panel) * beginning pattern making and making a seat cushion Projects might vary a little from class to class. I've posted photos of my work. The class was Mon & Wed, 7-9pm for 5 weeks. It's located just down the street from Trader Joe's on Lincoln. Easy parking & near the El. You can get more info from Jeff at canvasboss@yahoo.com. I'm looking forward to the advanced class!