I had a great experience working with John. He provided me with good input and I was accepted into many t10 schools.

I had such a great experience working with John. He provided support throughout my entire college application process and always made time to meet with me. His guidance was crucial to my acceptance into my dream school. I cannot be more thankful! read more

Mr. Gardezi has been extremely supportive, helpful, informative, and encouraging throughout my entire college admissions process. He has enabled me to write my best essays, provided strong support through extracurricular development, brainstorming, and drafting, and is someone I cannot recommend enough. His support has helped me achieve my dream acceptance to UPenn! read more

I had an amazing time working with John Gardezi throughout my college admissions process and was accepted into my dream school. He is incredibly knowledgeable on what admissions officers are looking for and his expertise is reflected in the suggestions and guidance he provides. John has very fast response times, flexible with scheduling, and is incredibly attentive with his work. If I had to redo my entire college admissions process there is no one else I'd rather choose to work with than John. read more

I attended this academy when it was near starting up and it was always good and only got better (cause i obviously stuck with them) In my opinion the reason why this academy worked for me was because the principal isn't some old Korean guy hiring random teachers to fill classes to make some money. He was one of the best teachers I have ever had and because he teaches, he knows WHAT WORKS for students and what doesn't. Bottom line is, the classes are fun, and the classes brought me the results I wanted. I couldn't ask for more. p.s. I still keep in contact with the teachers, which helps because advice from someone who's tread your path only ripens read more

It was a wonderful experience working with Waheed in Edvanced Leaning. He provides excellent college counseling service that helped boost my college essays, alone with helping me compare and contrast schools that would fit me good. (especially my offer to UCLA). I would highly recommend his service to highschool students around the nation. read more

I attended Edvanced Academy from the summer after my sophomore year to the end of my senior year. I have nothing but praise for this outstanding institution. Before coming to Edvanced, I went to both Harvard Square and Alpha Academy. Both were good places with the same goals, but it was their methods that fell short. I am a student that needs a small and intellectually stimulating environment in order to flourish. While Harvard Square's curriculum was challenging and the teachers knew what they were doing, I was deprived of individualized attention with their cramped classes. Additionally, I was constantly surrounded by students who clearly did not enjoy being there, not that I blamed them. How many teenagers can truly say they love going to SAT and tutoring classes ? On the other hand, Alpha Academy provided smaller classes and an charismatic and fun director that easily made you feel comfortable and at home. The problem here was that in an effort to make us enjoy being there, with constant jokes and stories that often took up more than half of class time, I did not improve. I did not dread going to Alpha Academy, rather I looked forward to the lax, light environment and realized that this was wrong. Edvanced Academy is the perfect balance of everything that a student needs to prosper in not only their standardized testing, but schoolwork as well. The work is challenging, the teachers have high expectations of you, and you might feel overwhelmed sometimes, but these masters of their subjects will do anything to help you conquer your academic fears even if it means extra classes, private help, and out of class texts, emails, or facebook messages. I am not an outstanding student. I do not excel at math, science, or really any particular subject. I entered Edvanced Academy with about a 1700 average SAT score, and left with a 2090. Inspired by the balance of charm and rigor of writing and essay teachers Roi and Sara, I earned an 800 in the writing section and an 11 on the essay. Every single one of their instructors has a gift of connecting with their students; they are loved by all, but with this they also have the ability to train, shape, and work you until you've done the absolute best you can do. Edvanced has done for me what no one institution has ever done, and that is help me to raise my expectations of myself, to realize that through grueling hard work and practice you can make yourself proud of your own work. Thank you Tommy and teachers, I would not have been accepted to my dream school without you. read more

Edvanced Learning is the cream of the crop when it comes to test preparation. I attended this academy for the SAT Summer program and wow, what a summer it was ! The teachers here are consistent, hardworking, and masters in what they teach. Not only do they provide students with useful strategies and lessons, but do it in an easy to understand way. It's obvious that these teachers truly love what they do. Granted, SAT is not the most exciting thing to teach, but these instructors have cracked the code when it comes to teaching. Their lectures are filled with knowledgeable and invaluable lessons that can be applied to both SAT and school work. However, this academy is not all talk; it has the numbers to prove it. After the 8 week program, my score increased more than 400 points. Many of the students break the 2000 barrier and are even well into the 2200-2300s. The classroom ratio is usually around 1:8, so each student gets undivided attention. Each student receives books that contain countless lectures, vocab lists, and writing strategies. In one summer, a student usually goes through about 15 practice tests (including the diagnostic tests and classwork packets). I am very fortunate to have attended Edvanced. All prospective students can be rest assured that their expectations will not only be fulfilled but exceeded. There is no other SAT prep that can compare to Edvanced ( yes, that includes Elite ;) ). ps Edvanced offers many other classes such as AP Calc, AMC, and various SAT Subject tests. read more

John is the best college counselor you can find. He is a Harvard graduate himself. Not only does he know the college admission process well and stays on top of your child's application progress, but he also has an amazing work ethic. He met with my son to give guidance on his essays, late at night when he was on vacation, to ensure that my son's application progress is not impacted. As a result, my son got into one of the most prestigious universities (HYPSM) EA. I highly recommend him for anyone seeking a college counselor who is not only knowledgeable but also cares about your child. read more

I was recommended to come to this academy by a close friend, and I was very surprised by what I found. Not only was I greeted with an incredibly friendly smile, but with a clean, cozy environment with teachers who actually took their time to know us. Because the classrooms were smaller, with less people, there was a smaller student-teacher ratio, allowing for more one-on-one help. I instantly saw my SAT score shoot up in less than a week, and I had fun doing it. The teachers knew their subjects, and discovered fun and exciting ways to teach, though the subject itself may not be as exciting. One thing that made Edvanced Learning an amazing experience was that I not only learned academic classes, but also life lessons which I have kept in the back of my mind throughout my high school career. The teachers also try their hardest to help their students, even those who have 'moved on' , such as practice tests, and other take-home materials. This academy truly has their eyes on molding each of their students into the best of their capabilities, not just to see bigger numbers. read more

I had such an amazing experience at Edvanced Learning! John was able to give guidance to craft the perfect college essay, and he was a very big reason I got into my dream school! I am still amazed at how laser-like focused our brainstorming sessions were as we strategized the best story for each college essay question. The college process can seem very confusing, and I don't know what I would've done without Edvanced Learning! Thank you, John! read more

I am very glad that I got to work with Waheed in Edvanced Learning and he is very patient, helpful with every aspect of college application. He is also very flexible with schedules and would help any time needed. I am very grateful and I highly recommend Waheed and the program if you look for any help in applying colleges. read more

If you are looking for a tutor or SAT test prep, your search is over. After watching friends and family go to (and hate) other places, I heard about Edvanced and decided to check it out. Unlike anywhere I have seen, the teachers here truly care about you and are determined to help you do your best. The classes are small so you always get personal attention from teachers who definitely know what they're doing. I went to Edvanced for tutoring in AP classes and for SAT prep. During that time, I got multiple 5's on my AP tests and a nearly perfect SAT score. When it came time to apply to college, Edvanced helped me with the process and I was accepted to every school I applied to, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Georgetown, Berkeley, and Duke. I could not have achieved any of that without the help and support of the teachers at Edvanced. Looking back, I have nothing but praise. read more

I have been going to Edvanced for a few years now, and it has given me some of the best experiences of my life. Not only have the teachers taught me the curriculum that I was there to learn, but they have also taught me many life lessons and morals that I remember to this day. Edvanced is an all around amazing academy. In every course that it offers, from Precalculus, to Advanced Placement and to SAT, Edvanced gives personalized tutoring and teaching that you can never get anywhere else. Although the homework is demanding, the students all benefit from the rigors of the courses. The teachers are hands on and caring. Unlike many other SAT or tutoring academies, the teachers treat you like their family and not just a student with a price over his/her head. The teachers are willing to push you until you succeed. Any student that is fortunate enough to stumble across Edvanced Academy's path will encounter a learning experience that is priceless. read more

I've never had any sort of tutor or attended any sort of academy before. I took the summer SAT prep class and it was great! The teachers genuinely care for you and try to help and support you in whatever you do. You build bonds here you can never forget. Not only that, my SAT score improved over 300 points! read more

I was that kid that went to like nine different SAT tutors and had difficulty learning because of my strange attitude towards people telling me what to do and had a hard time grasping the idea of going home everyday and spending the rest of my waking hours doing homework or preparing for the quizzes the following day. I was referred to this place by an older family member whose study skills were somewhat lacking but managed to do fairly well here. I decided to give it a shot and it was amazing. The teachers are great and there aren't any "cool kids" in the room to bring down the whole class, and the classes are sized for quality not quantity which is very comforting knowing that they actually care about your education. Oh, and when the class does well, the head director (a man named Tommy Shin who is literally THE nicest person i've ever met) there surprises you with like sundaes and what not. Even though I didn't completely take advantage of my time there, I still learned a lot and remember what the teachers there taught me. Waaay better than the Elite centers or the other main stream SAT tutors, I actually attended them and I almost had a aneurism from the way the teachers treated the class. This place treats you with respect, dignity, and trust. They even let you go to the restroom!! (unlike Elite) Sign up quickly! the class fills up surprisingly fast! Oh, and forgot to mention, This place isn't just a SAT tutoring place, sorry if there was any confusion, they help tutor for all kinds of tests. read more

I started coming here after a disappointment from another academy. Least to say, I was more than satisfied with Edvanced Learning. Tommy Shin, the owner and head honcho of this place is amazing. He really cares about his students and does his best to help them succeed. From teaching his students, arranging classes with other teachers, and even just advice on school and life: it's evident that Tommy truly cares for his students and will go the extra mile to help them stay on track and feel valued. Not only Tommy though, but all the teachers here are experts in the areas they teach (graduating from UCLA, Harvard, UCI, etc). Tommy does extensive interviews and screening before hiring a new teacher; furthermore, he hires teachers that can actually connect with their students and not just ramble on or belittle the students. The prices here are beyond reasonable too. And you really get your money's worth. The SAT preparation classes here really do help you. You're given teachers that thoroughly explain concepts and problems to you; moreover, after each practice test, you get an analysis of the type of questions you miss, and your overall progress as well. I highly recommend Edvanced Learning. Best decision you will make. read more

Edvanced Academy has been a huge part of my life and I am so grateful to have found this place. Before attending Edvanced, I took Summer and Fall SAT bootcamp at Elite. My SAT score improved 200 points over the course of 6 months but I wasn't satisfied. I decided to try out Edvanced Academy's Winter SAT bootcamp for 2 weeks and my SAT score immediately improved 100 points. I also struggled in Calculus at school and Edvanced was able to prepare me very well for my exams. The teachers are amazing and I actually looked forward to attending classes! What worked for me at Edvanced was the fact that the practice tests matched the difficulty of the actual tests. I felt like I wasn't able to improve much at Elite because a lot of the material presented to me was a LOT harder than what I would actually be tested on and I even had a teacher tell me I wouldn't see any problems like those on the actual test. The curriculum at Edvanced was challenging but I actually felt like I was improving day by day. I felt very welcomed at Edvanced and everyone there is extremely supportive. Not only was I a student at Edvanced but I also had the opportunity to work here for a couple months as an office secretary. Tommy is not only a wonderful teacher but a great boss as well. He is so committed to helping his students and at the end of the day he's a great friend as well. He goes out of his way to help everyone because he wants all of his students to succeed. I've gained so many different skills by attending Edvanced and I am forever thankful. I had a truly positive and wonderful experience with Edvanced and I strongly recommend all students to attend Edvanced Learning Academy! read more

This Tutoring place is amazing! Not only do they have tons of subjects, but their classes are small allowing students to easier understand the subject. All the teachers are friendly and become friends of your own as well. When coming to class I feel like I'm going to my second home. They have a nice environment and I really enjoy coming here. I highly suggest anyone to come here! read more

I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Waheed during my college application process. He not only helped me choose the right schools to apply to based on my goals and interests, but also created an academic resume with me and, most importantly, helped perfect my UC and Commonapp essays. Waheed's hours were very flexible, and he was always only one quick text away from anything I needed. Since we met over Zoom calls, it was very convenient to go over my essays. I was able to work from the comfort of my own home, which saved a lot of time, something that was especially crucial during college application season. I found Waheed to be extremely patient and willing to revisit my essays countless times until I was completely satisfied. I went through draft after draft with him, and each time I could see that he genuinely cared about perfecting my writing. Waheed is an excellent writer and editor, and really focused my essays so that I was able to present the best version of myself to the colleges I applied to. College essays are a major part of each student's application process, and are one of the main ways colleges get to know each student beyond their numbers. I really believe that Waheed helped get me into my dream schools, and that my college acceptances might have been much different had I not gotten the chance to work with him. I was accepted into all six of the UCs I applied to, including UC Berkeley and UCLA. I will be forever grateful that Waheed helped me get into universities where I know I will receive a world-class education. I highly recommend Waheed, and look forward to working with him again when I apply for medical school. read more

I am a parent with a senior athlete at Los Al high school.. It was late February, just 2 weeks before the next SAT, kind of late in the game, but I was desperately looking for someone to help my daughter increase her SAT score, she only took the test once last year and needed to increase her score. I came across Edvanced Learning and read all the amazing Yelp reviews about Tommy and thought it was probably too good to be true as I took my son 5 years ago to many very prestige SAT PREP courses that were very pricey and who "claimed" to be good yet never proved themselves worth a penny! When I first called Tommy, he didn't answer.. I said to myself.. I knew it, too good to be true, but I was desperate so I left a message. Within 10 mins or less Tommy returned my phone call.. I explained my daughters situation, he admitted he was very busy but he kindly asked to meet us right away with the small window he had open. After meeting Tommy he accepted the challenge of helping my daughter, in a private one on one setting due to the short time she had... Only having met with my daughter 4 times (1 hour each time) to prep for the SAT that was in 2 weeks, he gave her such amazing info.. She was able to raise her score by 100 points!! When I asked my daughter what she thought of Tommy her first response was, "He is ok.. Just your normal typical smart guy." LOL but after meeting with him just the 4 times then says she loves his teaching method, and he relates everything to her sport, which helps her understand concepts a lot better! and wishes I would have found him sooner!!! 2 weeks ago she asked me if I can call and ask Tommy to help tutor her in all subjects in order to help raise her GPA as she enjoys working with him. I said he may be busy but he may have other tutors to help and she said... NOOO I like Tommy, I'm used to him :) With that said, Tommy gladly accepted again :) my daughter now sends personal texts to Tommy asking if her homework is correct LOL and never hesitates when I say it's time to go meet Tommy :) I can go on and on about how grateful we are to have found "Tommy" But I will let you see for yourself. He is a VERY busy man.. Yet willing to make the time for you.. He is MORE than just your typical smart guy, he is caring, and personal and wants your child to succeed. I wish more people were like him!! read more

My son went through the SAT program and scored a perfect 800 in math and over 2000 on his SAT over all. I can't say enough about Tommy. He was a great leader, teacher, and mentor. A wonderful role model for our son. I highly recommend Edvanced Learning! Oh, and by the way, my son didn't hate going! read more

I attended Edvanced for SAT class before my junior year and for Pre-Calculus help during the school year. All the teachers genuinely cared for us. I made close friends with my class and formed bonds and memories that I will never forget, both with my peers and with the teachers. The small class setting ensured that each of us got the attention we needed to improve with every day, and the friendly competition and positive encouragement that Tommy encouraged us with pushed us to want to do our best and to want to reach our full potential. We all wanted to work hard because we never wanted to disappoint Tommy and all the staff, and they never failed to encourage us and bring out the best in us. I started off with a score well below the 2000s and while I didn't reach my goal when I took the SAT the first time, the second time I took it my score improved 100 points from when I first took it. Altogether from the first practice SAT I took in June 2013, I improved almost 500 points. read more

I brought my child to Edvanced in November of last year because he was struggling with math. For the past past few years, we had been going to several other tutoring academies but struggled to find a tutor who could address my son's problems with math while understanding his emotional and social needs. Thanks to the high-quality 1:1 tutoring our son received, his math grade has improved dramatically, and he is developing a strong foundation in the mathematics that no teacher or tutor to date has been able to nurture. In addition to tutoring, we've received great advice on how our soon should balance his academic and extracurricular responsibilities, so he can take advantage of the opportunities we have provided for him. I would definitely recommend Edvanced to any family seeking high-quality tutoring and counseling for their child. The Executive Director, Waheed, is very personable and is passionate about helping students achieve their full potential. He was able to understand our son's needs very quickly and craft an academic tutoring plan that has been tremendously helpful. He is a Harvard grad, OC native and skilled educator who loves to see his students win. If you're looking for a tutor in the Long Beach/OC area, I highly recommend Edvanced. read more

As a parent, I like my kid to learn while she is interested, motivated, and being happy. Edvanced Learning is such place!!! My older daughter took the SAT course from them and got accepted by her dream school(UC). My other daughter took AMC math course in last summer from their Cerritos office and she is so interested In her high school math now that she is often challenging her math teacher during class. read more

I've been to couple different SAT prep classes but this academy was the best place for me. Unlike other academy, i felt like i was being cared. Teachers were really nice and friendly who motivated me to work harder, not just giving me tons of work and forced me to study. Teachers were experienced and knew everything about SAT. This academy helped me to achieve my SAT score and i was able to meat good people. I still contact with the teachers to get advices with my college life . read more

Took SAT classes the summer before my junior year. They have amazing, caring teachers and an effective program. Cathy, the critical reading teacher raised my score from a low 600 to a 760. And James, the math teacher, is one of the best math teachers I've had the pleasure of learning from. I also took a summer AP Calculus AB class from him that is proving to be very helpful as the shool year started. I recommend Edvanced over any other SAT prep that just overloads you with hw. read more

Through Edvanced Learning, I was so lucky to be able to receive an opportunity in the UC Berkeley Pre-Medical Honor Society program. In my mind, it was very clear that I wanted to pursue the medical field, but never before have I been surer in my path. The speaker Jami Wang enlightened me to a lot of information that I have not known previously such as how it is better to maintain a personal connection with your professor and that you should double dip in classes to save time and stress. She also talked about what it truly takes to become a medical student which was extremely helpful. I love going to school, all of my science classes, and actually studying itself. Jami really cemented my decision. In addition, she provided a comfortable atmosphere where we don't feel intimidated by a higher figure, and that made it a lot easier to participate in order to maximize the effectiveness of this program. That's only the first workshop as well so I can't wait for the rest! I also feel that mentorship program is extremely valuable since we have a personal mentor that we can personally connect with to guide us through the path to medical school. Overall, I'm extremely thankful to Edvanced Learning and the society for providing me with an opportunity to succeed. read more