Without Stellar GRE, I wouldn't have gotten the GRE score that I did, and I probably wouldn't be matriculating at an M7 MBA program this fall. After months of test preparation, feeling discouraged and exhausted, I found Orion and Stellar GRE. He gave me new tools for the math section that helped me break through my plateau -- and even beat my target score. Orion is kind, creative, and -- in an over-saturated, over-promising industry -- unique. Not only does his approach cut through the usual ineffective clichés of test prep ("skip the hard questions"); it actually works. If you're feeling discouraged, reach out to Stellar GRE for a class, private tutoring session, anything: Orion could be the difference between you and your dream school this fall. Thank you for everything, Stellar GRE. read more

There's simply no GRE coach better than Orion Taraban. I say that as the longest-practicing academic coach in the greater San Francisco Bay Area (since 1978). A Princeton grad and clinical psychologist, Orion also knows how to help GRE takers deal with the stress of taking the darn test out of the way, and what to do if anxiety hits during the test itself. Very helpful tips for turning anxiety off during a test-taking experience. I understand he has an online GRE prep program. I would seriously check that out. I imagine it's superlative. read more

Orion was an incredible tutor to work with to improve my GRE score. I opted to have individual tutoring sessions with him due to my individualized need to drastically improve my Quantitative score - which I'm happy to report drastically improved! Orion is a patient, direct, and encouraging tutor. His strategic framework for how to approach the GRE was incredibly helpful - if you put in the work to understand and leverage his strategies, you can't fail! In addition, Orion understands the mental challenge posed by the GRE, and recommended incredibly helpful techniques to overcome the anxiety and stress of taking a standardized test. Do what Orion says, and you too will get the score you need to achieve your graduate school goals! Thanks, Orion! read more

I was very pleased with Orion's course. I'll also update this post with results after I take the test in a week. Orion's approach just worked for me. He doesn't romanticize the test--he simply offers a pathway to get through it,, get the result you need for your target schools and move the hell on with your life. If you're after a no-nonsense way to improve your GRE score, I would recommend the course without reservation. I saw a significant increase in my scores between the first week's assessment and the full-length practice exam 8 weeks later. read more

Now that I've finished all of my apps and am starting to hear back from PhD programs, I can finally write this review! I looked around for a private GRE tutor in the Bay Area and Orion was the one that was closest to me and whose availability worked well with my work schedule. Other tutors were really far away and/or did not have any availability. I started working with him twice a week in early October with my test date being in the first week in November. Orion is a great tutor. He really knows how this test works and gives you strategies to tackle the different types of questions quickly. The private tutoring helped a lot as he was able to pinpoint my problem spots. I was having trouble pacing myself and getting through the problems quickly and he watched me go through the problems and let me know what I was doing wrong and strategies I could use to better pace myself. This is just one of many examples of the helpfulness of the sessions. After working with Orion, I raised my Quant score by 7 points and my Verbal score by 6 points which bumped me up to the competitive percentiles I needed to complement my grad school apps. If I had more time to work with Orion, I'm sure I would have had a higher score, but I got the scores I needed within a month when most people take at least 2-3 months to prep for this test. He really made this very long, laborious process fun and engaging and the structure of each session and the homework was exactly what I needed. He also does consulting on your statement of purpose, which was also very helpful. Private tutoring can be expensive, but it was definitely worth it the time and money. read more

I took Orion's Winter 2019 course. I had been studying through Magoosh for 3 months and wasn't getting the results I wanted. I picked Stellar GRE because it was the cheapest in the market with good reviews. I was NOT disappointed, and despite the lowest price point for GRE prep, it's probably the highest quality instruction you will ever get. He knows everything on the test from front to back, and will make sure you will get the best score in the most time-efficient way as humanely possible. Just some of the tips he gives is worth the money alone. I got a perfect score on the writing section and I absolutely would not have done that without Orion's help. He does have a system to take the test, and since I had been studying with Magoosh, it took some time to unlearn how Magoosh (and likely every other GRE prep system) teaches in order to learn his tactics. Trust his system! It statistically works. If you haven't done any GRE prep yet, Stellar GRE is a good place to start and finish; if you have done some prep, still take his course! He makes himself really available to you and your concerns. Even though it is a class environment, you can tell he really takes the time to address your particular trouble points individually if you ask. Also he's just a super cool dude. His classes are engaging and funny. Orion is your guy! read more

Orion is an incredible tutor with deep knowledge about what it takes to crack the GRE. He helped me improve my quantitative score by 6 points in one month. Prior to choosing Orion, I went through a full test-prep course. If you are comparing your options, know that I personally did not find the large test-prep courses nearly as helpful (or impactful) as a couple of sessions with Orion. Orion uses a test-taking driven approach - meaning that in between each session, you're taking real, generalizable tests. Then, you spend the time debriefing and problem-solving - filling in the gaps where they need to be filled. This was exactly the surgical approach I needed and it helped me narrow in on exactly what was causing me trouble and work through it so that on test day I could perform. Orion prepares you and coaches you like you are an athlete getting ready for big game day. He also has great advice and methods for working through test anxiety. I highly highly recommend Orion! read more

If you're going to take the GRE, you NEED Stellar GRE!!! I could not have taken the test without Orion's platform. It quite literally saved my sanity, and I am matriculating at my dream school! read more

I struggled with the GRE and Orion made it easy for me to understand the problems. Before Orion, I took a group class for the GMAT and GRE and it just wasn't the best way for me to learn. The GMAT was really difficult for me and that's why I switched to the GRE. Even after taking the GRE group class, my score did not increase. I needed a personalized program and Orion was the answer. Orion helped me increase my essay to a 5 (93 percentile) and increased my quant score by 9 points. He taught me tricks for math problems that didn't require me to have a lot of math knowledge which was amazing. The way he teaches is really practical and he really knows the strategy that will help you succeed. I highly recommend Orion and have already spread his name to my friends. I am still hearing back from schools, but so far I was accepted to USC, my top choice! Thank you, Orion! read more

After studying for the GRE for copious amounts of time without seeing growth nor results, I came to Orion frustrated and unsure sure of what to do next. Orion assured me that with his guidance and commitment to his strategies and study plans that the results would come. Orion has deep understanding of the GRE as well as what skills and knowledge are necessary for success. After working with Orion, both my verbal and quant scores went up by +5 points, putting me in the range for all competitive MBA and grad programs that I was applying to. I truly cannot recommend Orion and Stellar GRE enough! read more

SIGN UP NOW! Orion is worth the money. I originally did another test prep service (which I won't name) but I ultimately ended up getting a private tutor because the pace of the class was all over the place and it didn't help at all. Orion is patient, kind, and has a great sense of humor. He kept me motivated and always tried to lift my spirits when I got back a practice score that wasn't what I wanted. Ultimately he helped me get into my dream school!!! The biggest mistake you'll make in the graduate school process is not booking Orion as your tutor. read more

After struggling with a GMAT prep course provided by Manhattan, I decided to take another route. Like you are doing, I went on yelp to read reviews about prep companies and found Stellar GRE/Orion. Orion's GRE prep course is nothing short of stellar (pun intended). Throughout the course, he tackles problems, simplifies questions, and provides key strategies/tips/tricks for success for all three sections (verbal, quant, writing). I went into the course with minimal prior knowledge about the GRE and was immediately put to ease by Orion's thorough and well thought out lesson plans. Things to note: - showing up to the classes is half the battle. After class, there is assigned HW that builds on the lessons Orion discusses. - DO THE HW, ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS. After each class, I would review the prior weeks HW assignment to ensure I had mastered all concepts before touching the current HW assignment. - timed sets: Orion harps on doing all questions as timed sets. This is imperative and I would recommend this. Lastly, Stellar GRE/Orion is a single person prep service, but do not let this fool you. Orion's response time to e-mails is lightning quick and he genuinely cares about you both during and after the prep course. TL;DR - this is an incredible prep course (taught by a genuine, caring, and smart instructor who has proven success personally and with his students) that will ultimately help you with the GRE. Sign up for the class, pay attention, put in the work, thank Orion later. read more

I took Orion's class during the June 2020 session (virtual due to COVID) and cannot recommend this class enough! Orion truly understands how the GRE test writers think, and is equally good at imparting that thought process to his students as a patient and insightful instructor. He has a very efficient and structured approach to both the Verbal and Math sections, and by the end of the course you should be able to answer the vast majority of questions with Orion's strategies. (Of course, if you're gunning for a very high math score, you'll have to also put in your own time on the remaining "left field questions".) While the class is demanding, it is delivered in a way that is totally manageable. You'll still get up to speed on all content you're responsible for, but the most important thing is to learn how to think like Orion and therefore think like the test makers. And don't even worry about the writing - follow his methods and you're golden ;) read more

I would strongly recommend Orion to anyone looking to drastically improve their GRE score or efficiently tackle the test with a one-and-done approach and a high percentile result. I opted for the private tutoring route, and while not inexpensive, the instruction is well worth it. Orion has deep knowledge of the GRE and will craft a tutoring experience that emphasizes approach and strategy. In contrast to other test preparation services, which equate a high score with a necessary conceptual/theoretical understanding (especially regarding quant), Orion teaches to the intricacies of the test. His approach is efficient and effective, clever and backed by data. Additionally, Orion brings humor, wit, smarts, and an invigorating energy to what I imagine could otherwise be a pretty dry process. I'm confident I would not have achieved a perfect verbal score and top-percentile quantitative score on my first sitting without his help. read more

I don't often write Yelp reviews, but wanted to highlight the incredible impact Orion's instruction has had on my GRE performance. After struggling with prep books and online courses, I realized how unnecessarily complex I was making my GRE prep, conflating processes and therefore incorrectly solving problems. Orion helped me simplify my strategy and, through an iterative process of identifying core concepts and common mistakes to avoid, helped me gain my confidence with test taking. Additionally, he helped mollify my test taking anxiety through identifying fail safes. I'd highly recommend anyone to sign up for his tutoring sessions, which offer a holistic approach to tackling this often arduous test prep process. My test scores have incrementally improved and this would not have happened without his guidance. I've found that larger company materials tend to over complicate prep and answer descriptions to practice problems (at least to me), which exacerbated my prep. Orion simplified and ensured I grew more keenly aware of how to take the test. Thank you, Orion, for helping my increase my chances of success in this often intimidating process. read more

I used Orion's services to improve my GRE score as well as help with doctorate program applications. GRE tutoring: Orion is super entertaining and makes learning GRE strategies and concepts fun. He is a great teacher and identified ways to maximize my test taking efficiency which resulted in a 9 point improvement in my quant score and a 5.5 on the writing section. Graduate School Applications: Orion is super knowledgable on what graduate school admission committees are looking for in a statement of purpose and personal statement. We had several meetings where we worked together to revise my statements until they were ready for submission. Happy to say that because of Orion, I got accepted into my top choice graduate school! Thanks so much Orion, you are the best! read more

Orion has the GRE down to a science. He is wildly knowledgable about how to be successful on this test, unlike anyone I've ever met. I worked with other renowned tutors for months before discovering Orion and he doubled my improvement in half the time. I achieved my goal score thanks to Orion, and he made it fun, too :-) read more

Orion was a fantastic instructor. He knows the GRE like the back of his hand. He's intellectual, engaging, and is great at explaining things. The course was extremely valuable. Various efficiency strategies for the verbal, quantitative, and writing sections were taught, reinforced, and practiced throughout the 8-week course. Practice sets (homework) were given weekly, that progressively increase in length and difficulty. He also educates you about the graduate school process in the final class. The course was extremely helpful and effective. It's important to understand that these strategies MUST be practiced. Put in the work, and by the end of the course you'll be able to recognize the types of problems and use the correct strategies taught throughout the course to solve them correctly and efficiently. 5 stars. read more

Orion's Stellar GRE class was worth the time and money. He has spent years hacking the test and passes on an efficient methodology for GRE studying that improved my scores substantially week by week. He facilitates the class holistically so that not only do you learn techniques to solve individual problems but also strategies for taking the whole test, reducing anxiety, and staying attentive. Uniquely, the class was engaging and built community and camaraderie. I'd recommend this to anyone who would benefit from a classroom environment to study for the GRE. read more

This was everything I could hope for in a GRE class. Orion both teaches you everything that you need to know while being engaging at the same time. There are several things that you learn from him that you just don't find out when you're studying on your own. The class really prepared me for the GRE. Highly recommend taking it! read more

If you are trying to get the most out of your GRE score, you should definitely take Orion's 8-week course. Orion's class provides a great source of materials in a well-designed course, which increases the pace and workload as you go. But most importantly, Orion gives you an insight to the exact methods and strategies needed to ace the test and makes sure you will use them in the best way possible given the time limit. Also, the fact that Orion is a trained psychologist really helps to overcome some of the mental challenges the test contains, all while being hilariously funny, very communicative and attentive to feedback. As a bonus, you'll even get some tips on how to write your graduate school application essay! read more

Take this class! Orion is a fantastic teacher whose years of experience in teaching, dissecting the GRE, and refining a tried-and-true approach for conquering every question type is more effective and efficient than other classes and/or solo training from books. Orion doesn't have students waste time learning all the formulas; instead, there are simple problem-solving methods that are faster and more reliable. As a psychologist, he provides excellent advice to improve one's mindfulness to calm nerves and sustain attention on game day. He also fosters a friendly classroom environment that made the sessions really enjoyable. I couldn't recommend this class more. read more

I can tell you this much: Your decision IS a great one if you choose to work with Orion. His teaching methods are not only effective, but extremely efficient. He is very strategic in assessing where your weaknesses are and focusing on them. He saved me hours of attempting to reteach myself all of the concepts/equations/formulas/etc. Instead, he laid things out in a very comprehensive and memorable way, complete with random facts and historical backgrounds of the concepts (great for cocktail parties) which made them stick. When I took my diagnostic, I think I got 8 out of 40 quantitative problems correct....maybe (no judging). On our last session, I got 6 out of 40 incorrect. That should speak for itself. Oh, and I got the score I was aiming for, with a few extra points on top! He's awesome. read more

I worked with Orion over the span of a few months. I can't emphasize enough how great it was to work with him. My GRE scores increased drastically. I was able to score well on the exam thanks, in large part, to working with him. He knows so much about the exam itself and about unique testing strategies. I know that many of the things that he taught me are things that I likely wouldn't find anywhere else. Working with Orion is absolutely worth the investment. He was a true pleasure to work with. read more

Orion is a gash-danged rockstar. His lessons structure the format of the GRE in a way that's digestible and approachable for students at any level of preparation. I found myself excited to not only attend each class, but to also implement what I learned when practicing on my own. By the time I took the exam, I felt dialed and it showed. I received a 6 on my written section (99th percentile), and dramatically raised my verbal and quant scores as well. Enough so that I earned admittance to Stanford this fall. Beyond all that, he's an incredibly personable and wildly interesting human. Would DEFINITELY recommend to ANYONE who's considering taking the GRE. read more

I can't recommend Orion highly enough. The man knows the GRE inside and out and he has a flair for reducing the most convoluted topics into comprehensible ideas. However, smarts are par for the course for any perfect scorer. What sets Orion apart from the pack is his ability to transform what could easily be an academic chore into a fascinating game. After a few weeks, I was looking at the test VERY differently. Not only did this make the prep process a lot more fun, but I saw a dramatic increase in my scores as well. And, at the end of the day, that's what it's all about, right? Well worth the time and money. I don't know what I would have done without him. read more

Orion is the kind of math teacher I wish I had had at school! He explains in a clear and easy to understand, logical way, is very patient and incredibly good at making you feel like you are achieving your goals. I had to take the GRE (which I have never done before, being from outside of the US) and from the diagnostic test he increased my score by around 400%. I would recommend Orion as a tutor with full confidence! Really one of the best teachers I have had - can't thank him enough! read more

Working with Orion was really a pleasure. He was enjoyable to work with, sincerely encouraging, and knew his material backwards and forwards. I considered taking an online prep course, but I'm so glad I chose not to! The tutoring I received from Orion was personalized to fit my weaknesses and strengths in a way that an online program never would be. By the time I sat for my exam, I felt confident with the material. In the end, I achieved scores competitive enough to apply to the top tier graduate program in which I was interested. I definitely owe this in part to him! read more

Whoever you are, whatever you'd like to do, if you're planning on taking the GRE, I recommend Orion fully and wholeheartedly. Orion's calm, compassionate manner, combined with his knowledge and methodology, make him simply unparalleled. The GRE is a hurdle nearly all aspiring graduate students dread (I know I did). Having taken the SAT, LSAT, GMAT and now the GRE, I can say from first-hand experience that test prep tutors are plentiful and are often just as effective as independent practice. This is not the case with Orion. Orion will teach you strategies for, and give you insights into, the GRE you will not get anywhere else. I give Orion 5 stars only because Yelp doesn't offer a higher rating. read more

I highly recommend Orion, for all the reasons others have mentioned, but particularly for his ability to tailor his teaching to best address individual weaknesses. Specifically, I came to Orion answering quantitative questions with decent accuracy but only completing about 13-14 questions in the time limit. After 2 months with Orion, I could answer all 20 in a section without losing accuracy. Orion uses time in his sessions very efficiently. He really helped me improve my speed by identifying common question "tricks" and by showing me alternative, faster ways to solve problems. He truly has an adept, all-around understanding of all sections on the test and is well worth the investment. read more

I took Orion's 8 week GRE prep course 9 weeks before I was scheduled to take the exam. I hadn't prepared at all. Orion is a true expert and master of this exam--in his course you will gain access to wisdom and little-known insight about the test, its scoring, and how to strategically attack it. My roommate was taking the Princeton Review online class at the same time, we would compare what we were learning, and it was clear that Orion's curriculum was superior. This showed in my final GRE scores, and I can safely say I dominated the essay sections by using his strategies. If you're looking to hack the GRE, learn to deal with test anxiety, and get the highest scores possible through the most clever approach to the test, you want Orion on your side. read more

I don't write reviews on Yelp - which is just one of the many testaments to how phenomenal a teacher Orion is. Plainly and simply, Orion breaks the GRE down into a comprehensible set of ideas to tackle, one at a time. This test is extremely predictable, with a few slight variations on the same theme over and over again. Orion helps you see this, and instead of trying to impart an impossible amount of knowledge, helps to lay the solid foundation needed to equip you with the skills to adapt to the exam's ways. I wouldn't be thorough if I didn't mention the mental preparation with which he helps you as well. This exam is not only a test of knowledge and (supposedly) intelligence, but is also an exercise in self discipline and focus. He makes sure to cover that aspect as well, making sure you are as fully prepared as possible. All in all, I can't say enough about Orion and his program. Whether you're looking to improve your score or simple get back into "test taking" mode after a long hiatus from school, Orion is an excellent tutor. read more

Before taking Orion's 8-week GRE prep class, I had self-studied a bit and was debating between continuing to self-study and taking his class. I already knew the Quant concepts and just needed more preparation for the Verbal and Writing. All in all, I am glad I took Orion's course. I learned things that I would not have otherwise with just my prep books and practice exams, specifically: 1. Pacing - Orion's class slowly increases the workload so that you are prepared to take the 4-hour exam without burning out 2. Writing - he teaches you exactly what you need to write a perfect-score essay and provides very detailed constructive feedback. My GRE writing improved dramatically within 3 weeks. 3. Time-saving strategies - even if you know HOW to do all the quant/verbal problems, Orion teaches you how to do them QUICKLY. I learned a lot of shortcuts and answer-elimination strategies that were helpful on the exam 4. Identifying "bad" vs. "least bad" answers - helpful for me on tricky verbal questions where all of the answer choices seemed wrong 5. Insights on graduate school - from how to craft your application to thinking about whether grad school is worth the investment for your specific situation After Orion's course, I felt solid on the GRE concepts and was confident going into the exam. I ended up scoring higher than I anticipated, and I am really grateful for Orion and his class. Thank you Orion! read more

I worked with Orion to prepare for me GRE. He did a fantastic job of raising my verbal score, which was dismal to begin with. In fact, my quantitative was actually stronger than my verbal when I first saw him. When I took the test, I actually did awesome on my verbal, better than my quantitative score. I was thoroughly satisfied with my score. After taking the GRE, Orion helped with my grad school applications by reviewing and critiquing my essays. After a few meetings, my essays are now in top notch shape and I am feeling confident about my applications. Nothing but good things to say about Orion. He's a really smart guy, has a good sense of humor, knows how to motivate people, and is in general a pleasure to work with. 10/10 from a satisfied customer. Worth every penny! read more

Orion worked for my test prep company in New York City, and I highly recommend him. Orion understands how to connect with and motivate people to move them through their difficulties towards confidence, higher test scores and - ultimately - acceptance into their top schools. He knows his material, and he knows how to teach it. His success rate with his students was fantastic. They did phenomenally well, and they all said he made the process easy. read more

I would hands-down recommend Orion if you are looking for a GRE tutor. I took his 8-week group class and I am so thankful that I did. He really cares about his students and makes all of the material really approachable. I definitely felt significantly more confident both with my skill levels and my test-taking abilities after I left his class. read more

Orions class was excellent - he helped me raise my combined verbal and math score by 15 points. Very thoughtfully curated class with homework that is designed to complement the lessons. He really focused on what you need to know for the test emphasizing the most frequently appearing concepts and problem types. I would absolutely recommend this class to anyone planning on taking the GRE. read more

This is a great class. Orion is a wonderful teacher. This class skips all the nonsense and focuses on what it takes to get to your goal. How to reverse engineer the problem to get to your answer in quickest time possible. Quite literally! I cannot recommend this class enough if your goal is to get the highest score possible on the GRE. read more

If you are debating between self-studying and taking Orion's StellarGRE course, then I was in your same situation. I considered self-studying because I already understood the test's math concepts and just needed more practice on verbal. After taking the 8-week prep course and the GRE exam, I am so glad I took the course. Orion offers lessons that you can't get from self-studying, including: 1. Pacing - he slowly ramps up the workload so that you don't burn out during the 4-hour exam 2. Awesome Essay advice - he teaches you exactly how to craft a perfect-score essay 3. Time-saving Verbal & Quant strategies - even if you already know HOW to do the quant problems, he will teach you strategies to solve them even more quickly 4. How to identify "bad" and "least bad" answers - really helpful for those crappy verbal questions where all the answer choices seem wrong 5. Advice and insights on grad school I didn't particularly feel "solid" on taking the GRE going into the course. I'd still make an occasional careless mistake on a Quant problem, and I felt my verbal score depended heavily on whether or not I happened to know the vocab words in that section. After the class, I felt very solid and confident taking the exam, and I scored higher than I was hoping for. Thank you Orion!! read more

Orion is a thoughtful and competent GRE tutor. He works with your toward your goals and helps you identify and correct weaknesses (although he would never call them that) that are standing in your way. Also, Orion always has helpful insights into the workings of the test and how to make the test work for you instead of against you. He knows all there is to know about the GRE and his coaching was much more effective for me than the Princeton Review book I was using before. I highly recommend Orion as a GRE tutor. Anyone who needs assistance on the test, no matter how little or how great, he is the man to help you. read more