Like any other high school junior going into his/her senior year, I was insecure about my SAT…read morescores and if my current score would get me into a good college or not. Before going into Elite's summer SAT boot camp of 2015, I took the test once and got a score of 1760 without any formal preparation for the exam. Upon signing up for Elite, I had to take a diagnostic test, which scored me somewhere in the high 1500s... I was told that Elite tests are generally more difficult than the actual tests, which was one of the reasons why I greatly admire this program. I knew that by signing up for this program, it would challenge and push me to learn more about and do better on the test. For my particular program, everyone was broken up into several classrooms, each with approximately 20 students. We had 4 teachers: one for math, one for writing/grammar, one for critical reading, and one for vocabulary. On the first day, we were given a backpack, 2000 flashcards with vocabulary, and workbooks to use in class and as homework assignments. The program was 8-weeks long with each day filled with a certain schedule. Every Monday, we would take a practice SAT exam (including writing) and the following day, we would get back the results and assess our errors. Test corrections were due at the end of the week. Every day, we were also assigned to learn 50 vocabulary words and be tested on 40 of those 50. Certain days of the week, there was also writing assessments, math assessments, and reading assessments. We had to score an 80% or better on all of the tests; otherwise, we would have to stay after class approximately a half an hour to an hour to relearn and retest on the material. Doing this for 8 weeks was quite intense... but I definitely got into the groove of it eventually. My scores on their tests did increase, and I was able to learn the structure of the test and understand what I needed to work on to improve my score. Ultimately, my scores in math and writing did go up, but my scores in reading remain around the same since the beginning since reading is something that requires yourself to focus and really work at to assess and understand the context of passages and articles. I had Ms. Jennifer Lambertis, Mr. Jihwan Kim, Mr. Bill Wang, and Mr. Turner as my instructors for these subjects. All did great and brought me to a greater understanding of all test elements except for Mr. Turner, who I believe fell short a bit, mainly because reading is such a broad and subjective area to teach and also to improve upon; also, he taught and brushed through many topics fairly quick and his reasoning for each answer was explained but it was difficult for me personally to grasp and fully understand how he concluded to the answers. Everyone else was fun and engaging, and I was able to take back a lot from what they taught me. Some were more stern than the others, but they all ultimately got me to push myself to improve on the other areas. In the end, I took the test another time (2 months after the program ended), and I scored a 1830 with areas in math and writing improved, but reading remained the same. This is accounted to many factors that I would blame myself for (not properly preparing, worrying too much on extracurricular activities, etc.) , but I must say that SAT scores are not everything that colleges look for. I did ended up getting into all of the schools that I applied to and I believe that it is due to holistic review of each college applicant. I know that Elite can also provide further assistance with these areas as well, but I did not take up on that offer and all of the applications by myself. I do have friends that have had remarkable SAT score increases due to this program; therefore, in judging the program in their goal of getting their members a better score on the SAT and a quality education of the material on the SAT, I would like to give them a high rating for all that they do because it is absolutely outstanding. Special shout out to Ms. Karen Kim, who works at the front desk and manages most of the workings of the building. :)

Customer Service Complaint - Northridge Location…read more I called the Northridge location to ask about their programs, consultation process, and fees. Unfortunately, the customer service I received was very poor and made the process unnecessarily difficult. Mr. Kim, the administrator, was very rude and would not provide any information over the phone until I registered online. After I completed the registration, he called me back but still did not provide the information I was requesting. Instead, he only asked whether I had received the email. I specifically asked whether the consultation was free, but he would not answer the question and repeatedly redirected me to the emails. I also asked whether he could answer a few basic questions before scheduling an appointment, but again, he refused to provide any information and continued directing me back to email. He would not even explain what types of programs they offer. When I asked to speak with a supervisor or someone in management, I was told, "Let's not go there." I found this response extremely unprofessional and dismissive. Customers should not have to register, schedule an appointment, and go through multiple steps simply to obtain basic information about services, programs, and consultation fees. The staff should be educated and prepared to answer basic questions and provide appropriate customer service. I then called the Wilshire location, and the experience was completely different. The staff there provided all the information I needed over the phone, including payment information and details about the programs. They were helpful, professional, and respectful of my time. The Wilshire location saved me a significant amount of time simply by answering basic questions over the phone. I strongly recommend that the Northridge location review its customer service practices and provide additional training to its administrative staff. The contrast between the two locations was significant and very disappointing.

Our son liked math but never did exceedingly well in the subject at school. A friend of the family…read moretold us about Mathnasium so we tried the one here in Northridge California. We immediately liked the owner and instructors! Our son enjoyed going every week, we even walked 1.5 miles each way twice a week and he never complained. That's unheard of for a fifth grader, but he honestly liked the environment, the instructors and definitely the snacks! His school didn't give homework so he only worked on the curriculum that Mathnasium provided and we weren't really able to determine if Mathnasium was truly effective until he got his end of the year repot card. For the first time, he received "exceeeding" marks ONLY in math! And even more indicative of Mathnasium's effect is the glowing progress reflected between his midterm and end of the year marks. He did a little over seven months, twice a week consistently at Mathnasium and I'm honestly really pleased with the progress he made! The best part is that he sincerely enjoyed his time there this school year and wants to continue! Much gratitude and love for everyone at the Northridge Mathnasium!

Mathnasium is great for boosting your child's math skills with dedicated tutors and a solid…read moreprogram. But while they solve equations inside, you'll be left solving a real puzzle outside--the parking lot. Think of it as your own geometry test... with no solutions!

My daughter has been attending sessions at the Northridge location for almost a year now and I have…read moresee so much positive improvement in her Reading comprehension and writing. Michele and the entire team there are wonderful to work with and I am so grateful for how much they have helped my daughter improve.

We've had such a great experience with Sylvan! Everyone is always so kind, professional, patient,…read moreand understanding. I really appreciate how they take the time to work with my daughter individually and figure out exactly what she needs to be successful. They truly care about helping her build her skills and confidence, and they make sure she gets the support she needs. I'm so grateful for all the encouragement and dedication they've shown her. I would definitely recommend Sylvan to any parent looking for extra support for their child!

Branden is the BEST instructor at Blueprint. He goes above and beyond to make sure you are prepared…read morefor the test. For example, I had a tough time with a few different concepts. Not only did he email me back and forth with detailed explanations but he also met me before class to go over the difficult topics. Moreover Blueprint's online interface is GREAT and super user-friendly. One thing I would say is it seems like you get as much as you put in. If you put in hard work, you will reap the rewards.

I took the class and did not know what I was getting myself into, especially after the first…read morepractice exam to establish a baseline score. After scoring the exam I knew I needed a lot of work to get even a decent score. However, over the next three or so months Branden Frankel was able to break down a lot of the concepts for me and I was able to improve my score by 18 points by the end of the program. He was very entertaining and funny and very knowledgeable about the material. He provided help even before the class began and was willing to stay after as well to help out with any problems. Overall I had a great experience and would recommend this prep class, especially with Branden.

Great community, Great Values, Great People!…read more My younger brother goes to C2 Education Porter Ranch and there has been a lot of management change and I would love to point out that C2 has been working harder than ever recently! There is a great new director Stephanie and she has been doing such an amazing job with getting to know the students. I know that there was a lot of past issues with the old director Linda, but with all the current staff, my younger brother has been doing amazing and definitely is getting more out of the classes! It's also nice cause once in a while they will give out free donut bites and coffee :))

My son enrolled in the summer SAT program at C2 Education, but the experience was deeply…read moredisappointing. The program lacked structure, placed too many students in a single classroom, and offered little to no individualized support. His SAT score showed no improvement, and in the end, we wasted both time and money. Despite having remaining tutoring hours, the center manager, Linda, kept pressuring us to purchase even more. She assured us the hours could be used for other subjects or types of tutoring--but later failed to honor that promise. It became clear that C2 was more focused on making sales than on actually helping students succeed. In contrast, we were referred to LA Tutors123 by a friend--and the difference was night and day. My son received personalized one-on-one tutoring, and within just three months, his scores jumped to an SAT 1540 and ACT 35. As a result, he was accepted to Brown, Cornell, and several other top-tier universities. Ultimately, with less time, less money, and far more effective, customized instruction, my son was able to reach his dream. I'm sharing this to help others avoid the same mistake we made. Not all tutoring centers are created equal. Choose one that genuinely prioritizes the student's growth--not just their wallet.

They are very professional and detailed. I love there strategic approaches on teaching my 5 year…read moreold daughter(Kindergarten )and 6 year old daughter(First Grade)! they are very engaging and lovely staff. Christina has been a great influence in my daughters academic success! She is amazing and we look forward to A+ tutoring again in the new school year!

I would give more than 5 stars if it was an option Sonya…read moredid a great job teaching my 5th and 6th graders how to become professionals in their writings. They enjoy every minute with her. She's not just a tutor but a great friend and a very funny person. I can hear the excitement in her voice when teaching the kids. For a homeschooling mother I would go with them blindly. They communicate very well. Great service all in all. Thank you for the great service.

Passed my California Real Estate Exam on the first try today!…read more The Realty Academy made the material easy to understand and, more importantly, easy to remember. Armando uses real-life examples that help concepts click and stick long after class is over. The classes, study materials, and practice exams gave me the confidence I needed going into the test. If you're serious about passing, I highly recommend The Realty Academy.

Realty Academy made this whole process way less stressful. Armando is super helpful, keeps you…read moreengaged, and makes the material easy to understand. Him and his team are very supportive and respond right away to call or text. Passed 1st time!

Will tutored me to help improve my SAT score…read more He taught me excellent strategies and tricks to perform better in the Critical Reading section. He quickly diagnosed errors that I was making, and was able to give specific suggestions on how to fix them right away. He showed me multiple techniques for how to read the passages effectively, what to underline, how to make sure that I finish under time, etc. With Will's help, I was able to raise my score on the new SAT by more than 150 points to a score in the 99.8 percentile! I highly recommend his services to anyone looking to improve their SAT score.

Will's help led me, an international student who began SAT prep less than 2 months before taking it…read moreand attended a school that didn't emphasize standardized test taking skills or subject, to score within the 95th national percentile. He carefully broke down questions and taught me invaluable strategies for test taking, and I'd highly recommend him to anyone seeking standardized test preparation.