Elite is probably the most radical choice for your childrens' SAT/ACT needs, but if you're not…read morewilling to pay the thousands of dollars for tuition and your child will be unable to handle nearly 5 hours of work, you'll have to think twice.
Elite is known to be a extreme form of a cram school similar to that of those in Asia, to instruct children to prepare for the SAT/ACT. It's a common thing everyday to walk into this place, you'll see portraits of very few kids smiling with a list of them getting incredibly high scores, in which also show which school they are attending now, and slogans for success and information about ivy league schools. I get it, this is to show that they've had success educating kids and they're mighty fine proud of that, but let's be honest, it is a little demeaning for other students struggling to make ends meet. In fact, I've overheard a parent teacher conference with the headmaster of this place (I will not say the name for confidentiality), and believe me, I've never heard so much bad mouthing about the student behind his back, such as how he/she is going to fail school and is never going to go to a "good" (which in their level is a Ivy League) school and he'll end up getting a job after high school. In addition, when I had my child go here, the workload was just unbelievable; I don't know whose idea it was, but he/she practically made my child work 5-6 hours on SAT prep material instead of the same school work that takes my child to college (also, if he failed to bring it, he would be subjected to detention/push ups/"demerits"). What is really disturbing is that there are also video cameras in each room and monitored by the staff; I don't care if it there was a stabbing long time ago, it's pretty invasive. Speaking of colleges, these people also look down on students who have no intentions of attending either UC or Ivy Leagues, regardless of the reason.
With all due respect, what I really think these people can try to improve on is their perception on reality and realize these students are just kids who are/aren't suited for the tremendous work load provided; does stuffing millions of questions and answers really help? Because I guarantee not every kid they see holds the 300 IQ they are dreaming about. Despite my tone, don't boycott or spit at the headmaster, because even I know these people are trying very hard to trickle one child to get into yale and princeton and it's really difficult to handle a bunch of kids (for the record, I was a tutor for a after school program and THAT was no easy job), especially for the headmaster, who has to deal with few troublemakers; but they should at least give a damn about those who won't make it to the big leagues or have troubles instead of berating them and casting them on the side so the vultures can pick them.
Bottom line? Parents, send your children here if you truly fear that your children may not become the next CEO, doctor, lawyer, etc., because this place is the 911 for that emergency; I will not lie that these people will literally work their fingers to the bone to stuff gargantuan amounts of assignments to show to you they really mean business, and that they are probably even better than any SAT/ACT prep schools. However, be cautious, because if you know your child is already struggling with the workload he/she has from school, then plan on your own discretion.
