Without question, engaging Scott was the most valuable educational investment I made to support my child. It's not cheap, but the outcome is extraordinary. The impact Scott had on my son went well beyond college essay preparation/production. Pre-Scott, my son could barely write a coherent sentence and through the magic of Scott's teaching methodology and in a relatively short timeframe, the improvement was dramatic. The counsel, candid discussions, and direction Scott provided paid huge dividends in the classroom and in daily written communication (emails, texts). My son became a more confident writer and student which of course, carried over to everyday life. As he heads-off to college in the fall (UCLA), I'm forever grateful to Scott for the life-changing role he played in preparing my son for the next chapter and beyond. read more

Scott worked with my daughter during her senior year to help with her college applications and essays. He guided us through the entire process and went above and beyond on the deadline days. Scott helped my daughter think through her experiences and interests and figure out how to apply them to all the different application prompts and questions. He was dependable and present in all of their sessions to make sure the work got done. My daughter really struggles with deadlines and time management and Scott was really patient and gave a lot of good advice and guidance. In the end she was admitted to her top choice. We were very happy to work with Scott and would be happy to work with him again in the future. read more

**Scott is the BRILLIANT STUDENT WHISPERER!!** We first sought his services years ago, when my son needed to improve his scores for admissions applications to independent high schools. Fortunately, my son is quite bright--but he suffers from ADHD and lack of self confidence. Scott immediately bonded with him--he's pretty amazing in his talent for putting kids at ease and finding their strengths--and he set up a super effective study and skills-building test prep schedule for my son. Scott also gave him super smart inside knowledge on how to pace himself, with strategies for both answering multiple choice questions as well as managing testing time constraints. My son improved his scores by 50%!! And my son thinks of Scott as a true friend and mentor, as well--trusting his judgment and sage advice completely. Fast forward, my son is now applying for colleges and that lack of self-confidence has returned. On top of that, he's super stressed out and depressed about the whole process and his ability to get into the colleges he'd aspired to get into, even though his grades and test scores should admit him into some pretty good schools. Again, Scott to the rescue. He helped my son really think deeply and analyze what he wanted out of a college and his future. And Scott knows SOOOOO much about *all* the different colleges and their academic environments, teaching atmospheres, stress levels, and the kinds of students who might succeed there--he is able to give great advice about what might be the best fit for someone, based on their personality and abilities. Scott was able to get my son to step outside of himself and his insecurities, and come up with a plan for his future that he feels confident about pursuing--most of all, a college plan with options that my son truly believes will make him happy. We can't say enough wonderful things about Scott except that we feel blessed and lucky to have him in our lives. THANK YOU, SCOTT!! read more

In the world of college counseling, fit is everything. The difference between your average admission consultant and Scott Cowan is the difference between resignation and inspiration. As an admission essay coach, I regularly encounter clients who have found their experiences with packaged-service college counselors dispiriting or anxiety-inducing. These clients either sought out or were directed towards college counseling at a point in their lives when the emotional stakes could not be higher-having pinned much of their self-esteem on their interaction with a presumed, "gatekeeper." Regardless of intention, the feedback these students receive is unfortunately experienced as a critique of their self-worth and potential. The student retreats, sometimes in tears, reluctant to invite anyone else into a process that has now feels loaded with external and internal judgement. This is the true opportunity cost of a bad fit. Collaborating with Scott and observing his process, I can say without hesitation that your child's college journey could not be in better hands. Beyond his decades of insight into the intricacies of an opaque admission landscape, Scott brings an exuberant joy, compassion and intentionality to his work. His high-octane approach and emotional attunement to adolescent development is ideally suited to sparking lightbulb moments of self-insight, goal-formation, and game-planning. Using wisdom and playfulness he meets his students wherever they happen to be, helping each chart a joyful and stress-alleviating course towards self-actualization. One particular occasion stands out when I had the fortune of directly benefiting from Scott's expert approach. Working with a particular student who had an "all or nothing" mindset towards a particular school, Scott equipped me with strategies and language for helping expand the student's horizon. Using Scott's approach, the student discovered a wide range of fantastic programs to become excited about, resulting in an outcome where the student had greater agency and excellent options to choose between. At a critical life juncture where it can be easy to lose perspective, Scott helps students see the water in the fishbowl. His emails to students are admittedly long, but always on point. He never stops thinking about how best to help his students, providing the kind of hyper-personalized no-holds-barred action plan that they are unlikely to have received anywhere before. Between irrepressible humor, nudges, and straight-talk, students recognize instinctively that they have a mentor, rather than a gatekeeper, in their court. As anyone lucky enough to have had one knows: the right mentor, at the right time, is priceless. read more

Scott worked with my son who has so many things on his mind, mostly a lot of self-induced pressure and worry about his future. Scott gave him concrete and realistic advice that widened my son's perspective and helped him solidify his college essays. Through this experience, we got to know Scott not only as a very competent and knowledgeable college guru, but also as a compassionate, generous and caring human being. What a perfect combination! If I had more kids, I would, without a doubt, hire Scott again. And again. And again. read more

Scott is an AMAZING tutor and human being. He just bursts with enthusiasm and energy that is infectious and propels his students (and in our case my daughter) to work hard both during sessions with him and also follow-up homework. In our case we were behind the eight ball in terms of SSAT tutoring having been given the advice to wait for the fall. Scott took up the challenge and patiently, steadily, but with intensity, energy, and purpose taught my daughter the math concepts, test strategies, etc. that she needed help with. The end result I could not be happier with -- I feel like Scott allowed my daughter to achieve her potential on the test. I would go back to Scott in a heartbeat for the SAT, and as importantly, for guidance and counseling. Scott's empathy and intuitiveness really allows him to get to know his students, which is not only critical for teaching but also for helping provide real advice on schools. You can't get any better than Scott is all I can say -- he puts his whole heart and energy into his work, all of his passion, and the results speak for themselves. He is very special and worth every penny. read more

My child attended a weekend SSAT prep course with Scott, and we got so much more than expected. Not only did he get a full practice test, but also multiple handouts, practical (down to multicolored pens) strategies, test-taking tips, and a yummy lunch. After the practice test, Scott even offered to evaluate essays and send out the results via mail. Though the test is months away, his tips and strategies will be invaluable as we continue our preparation. That's Scott for you - a phenomenal tutor who overdelivers with a smile! read more

WORTH. EVERY. PENNY. WOW!! If you're reading this, you are probably like I was, reading all of these positive reviews and wondering whether so many, many extremely positive reviews mean that working with Scott would work a miracle for my child to reach their goals? The answer is YES! Scott makes miracles happen through the care and intention he puts into really getting to know his students and thereby motivating them and laying the learning foundation for them to make the miracles happen. My daughter learned so much from Scott as she prepared for the SSAT. Beyond the dream SSAT score results (which speak for themselves at 96th TOTAL score percentile with 98th percentile in Reading section alone!), she learned so much advanced math while joyfully laughing and working with Scott, that she recently surprised me by acing an external school assessment to place into Advanced Geometry (beyond Algebra I) while just still at the start of her 8th grade school year. I looked through all the amazingly positive reviews again and I can't say enough about the lasting, authentic, sincere, coaching and mentorship Scott continues to give to my daughter! It is a mentorship and real friendship that I'm sure will continue into high school and into her SAT, college prep & planning. We would only ever send her to Scott. He's like her Merlin, Yoda, or Captain Picard for all her academic dreams and goals. By the way, one unique perspective I can offer on this review that may not be covered in other posts, is that Scott is the one to pick if you want your child with someone who has experience working with diverse students from different cultural, racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds. Beyond the picture of Dr. King in his living room, Scott is knowledgeable about diversity programs like ABC, selective talent searches like CTY, HBCU (yes, he's even visited!), and ready to recommend exploring top flight academic private high schools which even we hadn't even yet considered when our daughter was working with him on her SSAT prep. The value your child gets in working with Scott is so varied and deep...I can't believe I've written such a long review but there aren't enough words to express how strongly I'd recommend Scott. read more

I came to Scott Cowan for tutoring services, but what I've experienced over the past few months after working with him, has far exceeded my expectations by leaps and bounds. When I first came to Scott Cowan, I was very tentative about my test taking abilities and very uncertain about my experience and future as a graduate student. However, having spent significant time under Cowan's wing, I feel that my confidence has grown and I no longer fear my whole graduate school application process. I will share with you my experience with Scott and why I recommend him for your next tutoring session. Scott is incredibly organized and therefore passes this standard along to his students. Before we met for our first tutoring session, Scott asked that I put together a list of potential graduate schools, any and all GRE study materials, writing samples, current resume, transcripts, and potential statements of purpose. Essentially calling me out on my claim to being this super organized student and putting my butt into gear. I gathered all of these materials into a black leather planner that I now have and am utilizing daily. Upon our first meeting, once I gathered all of the above materials together, we sat and chatted. We shared our common interests, our academic commonalities (we're both history majors and thus history nerds), and other academic/career related stories, essentially getting to know one another in a teacher like grasshopper type way. I really enjoyed the fact that I felt safe around Scott and it was easy for me to open up to him about my test-taking anxieties and prior mishaps with standardized testing. After our first session, which was crucial in that we established a teaching module and dynamic that best suited my learning style, we essentially went to work. Scott gave me very focused homework assignments to address my weaknesses and to build up my confidence. He also gave me some positive mantras and constant positive feed back in order to work on my issues with test anxiety. We are now in crunch time as I gear up for the GREs and 5 graduate school applications. Once again, Scott has been there with me all the way, sending me email updates, tasks, and tips and keeping me motivated. I consider my choice to hire Scott Cowan as my tutor, the best choice I've made thus far in this whole process. Its nice to have someone in your corner, cheering you on, and keeping you on track, especially if you're someone like me who has a lot on their plate. I consider Scott as someone who is providing me with peace of mind during this stressful time in my life. He has done a marvelous job so far and I look forward to working with him for the next few months until all grad applications are in and tests are taken. Thank You Scott for such a positive learning experience! read more

While there may be other tutors out there who have a comparable amount of knowledge as Scott, I doubt very much that any of them have Scott's extraordinary abilities to put students at ease and *communicate* that knowledge effectively. Scott isn't cramming information into students; he is helping them grow and learn and develop the tools to reach their full potential. He is infinitely patient, fun, caring, and focused. Scott's unique combination of people skills, education, experience, compassion, and smarts make him not just an excellent choice, but the *only* choice that makes sense, when it comes to selecting a tutor. read more

Scott Cowan is the owner of SFCLS and was my tutor for the GRE over the past month. I've not taken the test yet (that'll happen tomorrow) but I do feel more confident after sitting with Scott in several two-hour tutoring sessions covering algebra and geometry. Scott is knowledgeable and perhaps more importantly he works hard to make you feel the same - even if, as in my case, math is definitely NOT your thing. He's friendly and approachable and if I had to do so again (which I pray I never will) I'd use him again. read more

Scott was recommended to me by a fellow doctoral student and I have had the privilege to work with him on several of my dissertation chapters. He is a wonderful person to work with, who provides you with very useful feedback, and even structured tutoring session. He has no problem with advanced doctoral writing, as well as assisting with developing your own personal style of writing. He is flexible and reasonable, and worth every penny! I highly recommend him for any type of writing and editing assistance! Way to go Scott. read more

From our to-be-freshman son: Scott helped my parents and me so much in my college search. He had me work and complete different parts of applications in a way that made me stay on track without becoming overwhelmed with the deadlines. Also, I felt it was an asset to have a private counselor because there was more time to explore what kind of college experience would be best for me. I was happy to have enough acceptances to great schools so that I got to chose my college in the end and I'm very happy to be starting my freshman year there soon. From Mom: Working with Scott made the entire college search and application process less stressful. I felt that Scott really got to know our son and made great recommendations for him. There are so many wonderful schools out there but (as first-timers) we had to find the ones where our son would feel most comfortable and where he would have the best chances for success. It felt like we had a good balance of reach schools and safety schools, and based on the acceptances (plenty, but not all), Scott accurately assessed our situation. I am so grateful for all of Scott's wisdom and guidance! From Dad: There were several junctures (mostly deadlines) in the process where we needed Scott's full energy on something immediately. He was always there and always thoughtful and thorough. He was flexible with our son's busy schedule, and made the weekly time together happen consistently. Scott has a great attitude about finding the best fit for a student, placing that metric above maximizing prestige, etc. read more

My children have been going to Scott for a year. He helps them on SAT/SSAT preparation, reading and writing. Scott is very knowledgeable, patient, friendly and dedicated. He knows very well how to deal with teenagers especially on when/how to encourage and motivate them to reach their full potential. They have also established good study habits with Scott's guidance. Actually, Scott is much more than a great tutor. He really cares about his students and always thinks about what the best is for them. My son has gotten many informational and meaningful academic advice from him including high school class selections, extracurricular and summer activities. I highly recommend Scott as a tutor and academic counselor. read more

I cannot even remember how I found Scott, but I am very glad I did. scott worked with our son over the summer on SAT/ACT prep, and during this time it was clear that he level of individual attention he was giving to our son was tremendous. I had been working with my son on SAT preparation for over a year, but after realizing that we weren't really getting anywhere, decided to locate a tutor. It was clear that Scott was taking a very unique approach which identified our son's weaknesses and focussed on those. His test scores improved dramatically, much more than I expected. I cannot recommend Scott highly enough. Brian read more

Scott Cowan. In these past two years, he has been much more than just an SAT tutor and college counselor to me, but also an awesome go-to person and really just an all-encompassing friend. An excellent test tutor and helped me raise my score by about 200 points, and I didn't even work with him for that long before taking the test! He has the strategies and really helps you out, all while sometimes providing yummy food and life chats! I was very thankful to have him as a tutor for this. Then for college counseling, he was especially helpful in my applying to specialized European liberal arts schools, and reviewing my application essays and supplements for both US and European schools many many times. I don't think I would have made it where I am without him! Adjectives to describe Scott: amiable, knowledgeable, understanding, full of life, patient, hard-working, kind, HELPFUL in all different contexts, oh the list goes on! I know we will keep in touch for long and I cannot wait for him and his wife to come visit me in the Netherlands! In all honesty I could not imagine a better tutoring/mentoring/college counseling experience and I am very appreciative to have had such a lively, engaged, and connected person to help me. Thank you Scott! read more

I came to Scott for help for my personal statements for graduate school. As English was my second language, writing was not my strongest subject. However, Scott was a great help to me. He guide me to organize my idea and provide wonderful feedback. Even though he is extremely busy with so many different things, he always manage to get back to me as soon as he can. With his help, I was able to not only complete my personal statement but grow as a writer. Although I am still in the process of getting all my personal statements and my applications done, he has already been the biggest help I can ever ask for. I will update on my graduate school status once I get notification from the schools I apply to. Most importantly, you will not regret to choose Scott as your tutor because he has the passion to teach his students and he want to see them succeed. read more

I was in a pinch right before the busy holidays to find my 13 yo daughter solid tutoring help for her high school entrance exams in SF. I Yelped and came across Scott Cowan's reviews, which were glowing, personal, and very thoughtful. I checked out his inviting, well organized website where his services and rates are outlined (his hourly rate shocked me at first, but after our experience, I can see that it was worth every penny). Scott was flexible in working with us in coming up with a tutoring plan that was both effective for my daughter while meeting our budget concerns. After each tutoring session with Scott, it was obvious that my daughter was uplifted, happy, and more confident. Scott is excellent and thorough at communicating and following up via phone and email. His emails were detailed, guiding, and included many study tips. My daughter just took 2 exams last week and although we do not know the outcome, I am more than happy to write this 5-star review of Scott. read more

Scott doesn't only teach the most effective SAT problem solving techniques, but also motivates a student to manage their time and improve their academic performance in general. I started meeting with Scott because my mom facilitated it, and stayed because he made me realize I had more potential than I had initially thought. In addition to notably refining my tactics in reading comprehension, writing, and mathematics, Scott held me accountable for my weekly reading and for building my vocabulary. Aside from SAT tutoring, Scott served as a better college counselor than any counselor at my high school. He helped me weigh my options based on my GPA, my possible new SAT score, the student population size I'm most comfortable with, the university ratings, and university costs; assisted me in constructing a list, and offered concrete tips on how to apply and positively stand out. While working with Scott I observed not only my rapid advancement on an educational level - my mindset about my capabilities and myself changed. Before the summer of junior year I settled for mediocrity, good but not great grades, and would describe myself as overall lazy. Scott gave me that boost I needed to see my potential and I immediately perked up, got a job, made a perfect report card, talked to university admission counselors to put face to my application, and got accepted to Chapman University where I am now thriving. I am very lucky and grateful that my mom found Scott and I honestly believe that I wouldn't have gotten so far so quickly without his support and advice. read more

Scott was a great match for our son, who worked with him for the independent high school admissions process. Scott set up a realistic study plan for the independent high school entrance exam (SSAT) and recommended great fit schools. He also provided our son with helpful interview and essay writing tips. Our goal was never to get our son admitted into a specific school. To us, the best fit was most important. Ultimately our son was admitted into his 1st choice school, which happens to be one of the most competitive in SF. Most importantly, Scott focused on the long term picture, setting our son up for future success that will serve him well way beyond the high school admissions process. There is no doubt that Scott's fees are high. We are cheapskates in every other aspect of our lives but felt the investment in working with him was worth it. Thanks Scott! read more

Scott is officially the "teen whisperer." He truly has a gift as a teacher. He calmed my stressed out 8th grader about SSATs by gently teaching her tricks and tips about the test in only 2 meetings. And although she hasn't taken the test yet, I'm confident she will raise her score. I sat there and saw the connections and learning take place. She left the last session saying "he makes this process almost fun." I know. Unbelievable. I agreed to see Scott before I found out the price of the sessions. When I found out, I was speechless. It was much higher than I thought I'd spend. BUT...(and this is a big but) I honestly think he packed in more in those 2 2-hour sessions than she got in her 2 week-long summer camp. AND she gain confidence and insights into what she will write for her essays and say at her interviews. AND she is looking at schools that we hadn't thought of. I can now say that these sessions were WORTH IT. Give him a call. Make the decision for yourself. read more

If there were more stars to click, I'd give Scott as many as possible. We first went to see Scott when our son was finishing 6th grade to start getting ready for the SSAT - it was too early, and we all realized that our son wasn't there yet. Scott was very helpful in our decision to put tutoring on hold. We waited until mid-7th grade, and our son started seeing Scott again. By then, our son was ready to focus and get to work. Scott's approach to understanding our son and building trust was impressive. Scott was able to get him in a comfortable mental and physical place (even offering him freshly cooked snacks most of the sessions since he goes to Scott's straight from school) so that he felt encouraged to learn. What we like about Scott is that he assigns a proper amount of homework, expects it to be done, and checks in with our son via text or email. He's also always available for questions via text or phone from our son. Plus, our son has never once refused to attend a session with Scott or given us pushback on getting Scott's assignments done. As other reviewers have said, Scott is the teen whisperer and although he 'works miracles', Scott himself will tell you that as long as your kid commits to the process and spends the time, these miracles work. Scott certainly will give your child the tools, techniques, and confidence they need to be successful on the SSAT and also as important during their school year. Scott is extremely well versed in a variety of subjects and general knowledge, and although we've only interacted with him for SSAT prep and admissions help, we've seen him tutoring kids and young adults on many topics (SAT, ACT, GRE, AP classes, etc). Plus he's a blast to talk to - Scott can talk about any subject you'd like. As others mentioned, Scott's rates may seem pricey at first, but I can definitely tell you that you get what you pay for, and if you consider how many hours your kid will spend with Scott over time, including the follow ups, check-ins, practice tests, and other work outside the weekly session, it's a very fair deal. The best proof of Scott's success for us is a 68% increase from our son's baseline test to his latest SSAT test in 7 months. We couldn't be happier with our decision to work with Scott. If you're looking for a tutor that will 'get' your kid and transform them into avid learners, Scott is the one. read more

I worked with Scott to shore up my final plan and studying for the GRE, which I took to get into business school. I only met with him for two full sessions and worked with him for less than a month, but even that made a big difference! I had struggled for years with the GMAT and GRE, but did the best I've ever done (including practice tests) on the final test! Even though I did have extra time the last time I took it, I truly believe that Scott's tutoring and advice was instrumental to my success. He helped me understand concepts I was struggling with, shore up test-taking strategies, and perhaps most importantly, helped put me in a winning mind-set going into test day (visualizing success, how to deal with anxiety, etc). I highly recommend Scott for any individual trying to conquer the GRE! read more

NEUTRAL THIRD PARTY. Our oldest son just went through the daunting process of applying to college and I am happy to say is committed early to his top choice school. We began the process of looking for a counselor Junior year to help us navigate the new and foreign world of test taking, essays, deadlines, interviews and all the rest of it. I knew when I talked to Scott that he was the perfect fit for us. His calm demeanor and sense of humor make him an excellent partner and resource for parents and his kind but firm tone make him a great mentor for students. You can tell from the first form your student fills out that Scott really wants to know who they are and what makes them tick. This whole experience is so different than when we applied to college and seems to have gotten a lot more stressful and intense with time. It was nice at various tricky points to have a neutral third party like Scott to bounce ideas off of and to keep things in perspective. He obviously could see ahead an help us avoid rookie logistical mistakes, but probably the best thing my son got out of this relationship was improved writing skills. As a Math and Science focused student, the prospect of writing multiple essays was a bit overwhelming for him and we knew would be a time consuming process. Scott worked with Zach all along the way and we saw marked improvements over time - that is a skill he will take with him to college and part of the reason we felt we could justify the cost of full service counseling. Good luck to you if you are reading this! It is a fun and exciting chapter in life and having a guide like Scott can help you enjoy the ride a little more than you might otherwise. PS -We live outside SF so had a few meetings in person but did much of the work via Skype and it was no problem read more

Scott was extremely helpful in the college application process. He was the person I trusted the most in looking over my essays before I sent them off. He gives his personal advice for where you stand with your college list and helps to realistically set goals for you. I appreciated all of his help :) read more

Scott is currently helping me study for the GRE, and I am very happy with the quality of his tutoring. He has great study tips, and frankly, is fun to talk to. I highly recommend him. read more

Scott has been enormously helpful both tutoring my daughter for the SAT test and SAT subject tests as well as counseling us on the college application process. He has a thorough understanding of the overall SAT/college application process and is able to provide excellent advice on when to focus on SAT studies while balancing that effort with ongoing school work. He was also able to provide us with valuable information about the "right fit" colleges for our daughter as well as keeping her motivated to complete the various essays that accompany the multiple applications she has submitted. With Scott's assistance, I believe my daughter has achieved very good SAT test scores and the early response from her first choice college has been excellent. I strongly recommend you contact Scott when you are seeking a tutor/counselor for the college test prep/application process. read more

I found Scott about a month before I took the GRE and he was a great help in allowing me to reach my goals. Working with him twice a week over that month raised my over all score by 10 points and allowed me to score a 5 on the Essay portion. Class locations are perfectly located and I highly recommend him. read more

Although each session may be pricy, the results are priceless as I've improved my SAT scores as well as got into my top choice schools! (Including my number 1 school!) I've been working with Scott for a few months of my senior year, but it feels like I've known him for much longer. Scott's warm and inviting personality eases the anxieties of college prep, and that's saying a lot for someone who sees a therapist every week. (haha!) Scott guided me through the process of school selection and the crazy application stresses, while giving me plenty of tips along the way. There's really not much he can't help you with in terms of your preparation for your future endeavors in education. Scott understands the fact that every student is different and he caters to the different styles of each student. After submitting my applications, I could feel 100% confident that what I've written was authentically me. Through working with Scott, I feel that I've not only gained a mentor but a friend who I know will always support me. I highly recommend seeing Scott if you want to make the most of your potential and amplify your strengths. read more

Scott's insight has been indispensable in my pursuit towards very competitive grad school programs. Through our work together, we've developed an action plan that plays to my strengths and works to develop areas that I need to improve (GPA and GRE scores). Thanks to Scott's help, I am well on my way to getting into my favorite schools. Always a pleasure working with this guy. read more

In high school tests were hard for me. I suffered from test anxiety and never did as well as I wanted to. I started going to Scott for SAT prep. His lesson plans are rigorous but very beneficial. I made more progress with Scott in just 3 months than I had after a year studying with a different tutor. I raised my SAT score my 220 points from May of my junior year to October of my senior year. Scott understands the SAT and what it is looking for, and with some decent effort on both our parts, I did tremendously better on it under his guidance. Scott is not only a great teacher when it comes to SATs and standardized tests but also a very devoted mentor in the college application process. Many times Scott sat with me at his dinning room table for 4 or 5 hours, revising college essays so they were polished and concise. Scott truly wants his students to succeed. He is one of the most dedicated tutors I've ever met. In a addition to his tutoring skills, Scott is a friend. He followed up with me just two months into college and genuinely wanted to know how I was adjusting. He cares about his clients passionately throughout the entire application process and gets you the results you want. read more

Very forthright person that actually talked me out of tutoring because his opinion was that my test scores were sufficient. He then proceeded to advise me on the application process very thoroughly. In the few minutes that we spoke, I was left with the certainty that he is very well versed in the academic world and would serve as a good guide. read more

Wow- finally the help I needed! This is a scary time to be out there looking for a job, however with Scott's support, I was able to do so with much confidence. Scott helped me to write an amazing cover letter and resume (that actually was full of all truths). Throughout the entire process, Scott was patient, kind, in the moment and very encouraging! I have never had a true passion for writing, but Scott was able to help make the act of writing a cover letter and resume interesting and enjoyable. He asks great questions that truly get you thinking. And along the way he provides sweet little grammar lessons that for some reason stick. With Scott's help I was able to land a terrific job and I imagine I won't need his services for a while, but for anyone out there struggling to sell themselves on paper- I recommend spend some time with Scott. read more

Scott was the coach, tutor, guide and friend that our son needed to prepare for high school placement testing and applications. Our son learned so much from Scott about study habits, math and vocabulary, test taking and managing the stress of the high school process. His humor and compassion gave our son the resources and confidence to succeed and enjoy the learning process. And he achieved top scores on not one but three placement tests (SSAT, the Lowell test and the exam for Catholic schools). Scott's support, energy and availability to our son and to us was a huge help. We will be back to Scott for our other children and certainly for college! read more

Scott Cowan is an amazing tutor and a wonderful person. My daughter wasn't happy about her SAT score and wanted to take it 2nd time in the 12th grade. At this point I realized that attending a good private school is not enough for the purpose of getting a solid knowledge and started looking for a good tutor. I did the research, left a few messages and even made 1 appointment. And then Scott Cowan called back. I didn't check his website yet, just read the great Yelp reviews, thus I had no idea what his rate was. Very lucky, as I wouldn't have called then ;))) During our most informative conversation I realized: that's the kind of tutor who can do wonders and we need him no matter what. I am happy I made this decision as it was worth a lot more than the money paid. Scott's efficiency is outstanding. Scott was also very flexible with us. Besides, he does so much more than just tutoring. He guides, follows up, checks in on the progress, encourages, and gives those little pushes (so much needed for the kids inclined to procrastination) to ensure as much progress as possible. My daughter feel enlightened and empowered after each session. He also gave us lots of priceless information on college choices and a good fit. I'd highly recommend Scott! read more

Scott is tremendously empathetic, cheerful, upbeat, knowledgeable, and ethical, and was a great sounding board for my daughter as she went through the painful process of selecting an Early Decision target. Among other things, Scott suggested a school that we hadn't thought of. We toured it and my daughter (and we) loved it. He also made helpful suggestions regarding her application; but he knows that the application must reveal the student's own voice, and he will never overstep the bounds appropriate for a college counselor. I recommend him highly. read more

I would highly recommend Scott Cowan as an academic tutor. He helped my daughter navigate and prepare for the SAT and ACT process, specifically instructing her and giving her practice in her areas of deficit. He also assisted her in the challenging process of applying to colleges, and helped her think through her ideas when writing her college essays. She has always attended public schools, and Scott was able to provide her with the 1-1 attention, that she has never experienced in school settings. We thank him for his role in helping her be accepted Early Decision to her her first choice school, Wesleyan. read more

My son worked with Scott to prep for the SSAT and learned so much from him about study habits, test strategies, advanced math, and vocabulary building. Scott makes study sessions fun and interesting, and knows how to motivate even the most unmotivated teen to crack the books. If you're committed to raising your SSAT or SAT score, writing that killer admissions essay, or fine tuning your resume and cover letter to find your dream job, Scott is your guy! read more

I was referred to Scott to help my son achieve higher scores on his SSAT. We contacted Scott a little on the "late" side and he only had a couple of months to work with him. In two months time, my son was able to raise his scores high enough to gain him admittance into his first choice high school. The high school application process in SF is very stressful but Scott communicated with my son often and always took a moment to call my son directly the morning of the tests to wish him luck and give him last minute tips and encouragement. read more

Currently me and some of my friends created a SAT prep group with the help of Scott and we are seeing changes in our learning already! We all come from low income backgrounds, we don't have the opportunity to the best resources because we obviously are not able to always afford them most of the time. However, we are all determined to obtain a better future for ourselves and the people that love us, and Scott is really understanding of our struggles and where we come from. He teaches us well and he's very funny and caring. He gives us that motivation to keep succeeding and to acquire good study habits on our own too! Personally, with the struggles I face, it is easy to give up on my education, when really that is key to my success. And I am blessed to have met Scott, for he was a great asset in order to boost my confidence and motivation to continue to pursue my dreams. I never knew I would have so much fun learning and studying for the SAT! SCOTT COWAN IS THE REAL MVP! read more