I have not only gained support in academics, college apps and SAT prep but also grew personally with the value and culture Mrs. Kim and the faculty set up during my time in XL Learning Center. I attended the writing class, SAT classes and received help while completing my college applications. Mrs. Kim and the faculty focuses on finding what each student needs and cater towards their specific goals. I was challenged to find the most effective way to approach my study habits and also had fun learning with my friends. I highly recommend if you are looking for a place that genuinely cares for your career path! read more

Meeting Mrs. Kim was truly a blessing! She helped me out not only in my SATs but also in my college search. Mrs. Kim really cares and connects to each students and I am so happy that I had her as my teacher. In such supporting atmosphere where the whole staff believed in each students potential, I was able to raise my scores to where I wanted them to be. Through Mrs.Kim's guidance, I was able to get into my dream school and she was so supportive and proud of my college decision! Mrs. Kim is more than my teacher but she is also my life mentor: when I have problems in life, she is one of those very few people who I can always reach out to and she will walk me through the situation. I am very lucky and thankful to have met her!! She is the absolute best and I would really seriously recommend going to XLLC! read more

I've been teaching math here for over a year and the director has a lot of my respect. I often see Mrs. Kim go above and beyond for her kids, pushing them where they need to be pushed and supporting them where they need to be supported. I leave late sometimes (past 9 PM) and I would often see her still working to help students with their college applications, their national merit scholarships, and practically anything they need along the way to ensure success. "It's not just a job or business, it's the future of the person." That's what I get from my observations of how much she pours out into her students. Along the way, there also seems to be a community that forms within XL students as well. Students seem to develop a cohort and help one another through this academic phase in life and they are all delightful. They are encouraged to stay at XL to study as well, especially if it's difficult to study at home. Some students have found this to be rather productive. Sometimes, they also get a little help from peers or other teachers in doing so. The academic rigors and demands for many students can be a stressful burden both emotionally and mentally. It's times like this that the support of such a cohort can offer some relief and support to strengthen and sharpen one another's resolve. XL has been known, even critically acclaimed, for success in developing a strong writing foundation for students. It stands above the rest in content, methodology, its unique approach, and more. I am personally excited to be a part of developing the mathematical foundations to a similar caliber for the students at XL as well. My very first student, all I heard was that he was not very math-oriented and so he struggled in math. He came in the first day with his head hung, dejected, and also professed the same thing about how he's just terrible at math. Within 2 months of our SAT math prep, I found him to be a very bright person. I would be upset whenever I think about how much he must have gone through to truly believe that he was not smart. While there might be some who are bad at math, this kid wasn't one of them. He was getting it. He was understanding and learning everything at a good pace. Perhaps no one truly ever taught him "math". By that 2nd month, he would always come in with his head held high and a joyful smile in anticipation of learning. Ultimately, he made it to a good college and is pursuing his dreams now. This kid's smile resulting from gaining confidence is a fond memory that I carry from XL. My experience of XL gives a 5-star rating for simply this reason: There is high academic rigor involved, but just as important, the students are also loved. I wouldn't work there if they weren't. read more

This place will take your money and not offering any college consultation. College consultation is 10,000 per high school kid which I paid in full. Counselor does not have my kid's best interests and not qualified for such services. Do not put your kids there...... read more

This review is LONG overdue but now that people read yelp for literally EVERY business establishment, it's necessary. I literally could not write an essay nor were my math skills where they needed to be as a freshman entering into high school. So much so that I even failed any kind of placement exams into nearby high schools such as Troy. Somehow, I ended up here at XL where Mrs. Kim and her staff definitely took the time to work with me and made me confident in my writing and computing abilities. So much so that after two years at XL, I became an editor for the high school newspaper the first year I joined and became co-editor in chief the following year. Not only that I was able to place as a National Merit Scholar. Every year, without fail, Mrs. Kim and all her staff went above and beyond to make sure every student who wanted to put the effort into learning and even those who were resistant at first, received not only lessons to improve study habits, SAT scores, and school grades but practical skills such as interview skills, networking skills, and many other real world tools needed to succeed. Don't question it. Just enroll! read more

I first came to XL the summer before my high school sophomore year for SAT prep. SAT prep at XL provided me with skills that extended beyond a simple standardized test - the process at XL manages to hone in on the strengths and weaknesses of each specific student. The teachers are very genuine, and Mrs. Kim is familiar with the performance of each student; this is significantly different from a lot of other places that have created a system out of this test. As an incoming college freshman, I still find myself using the strategies that XL Learning taught me almost three summers ago. Although I didn't end up utilizing my SAT score, the knowledge I acquired at XL helped me achieve a perfect 36 on the ACT. I want to further emphasize that the process at XL isn't a mindless sludge against the standardized testing system; it's a refinement of the skills to be a better student. Mrs. Kim was also my college counselor for the past college application season (2017-2018). I'm eternally grateful to not only my parents for finding an incredible and authentic mentor but also Mrs. Kim for taking the time to find the best college fit for me and approaching my applications tirelessly. With the help of Mrs. Kim, I was accepted to MIT (EA), Stanford, UC Berkeley (Regents), UCLA (Regents), and more. Mrs. Kim was fundamental not only to my success in college applications but also to my development as a young woman; she has always been one of my biggest supporters and has shaped the way I view myself. There's no one else I would have trusted with the intricate and intimate process that is college apps; this is the place I rave to all my incoming senior friends in hopes that they take the step in enrolling. This is the place to go! read more

XL Learning Center is truly a place that encourages learning, motivates students, and gives immediate results. Over the past few summers, I took a few classes at XLLC that helped me perform better in my classes, as well as prepare for college. Under the guidance of Mrs. Kim and other teachers, I was able to improve my SAT score and my writing technique, which proved valuable in my college application process. Looking back as a college student, I know I would choose XLLC over and over again. Thank you XLLC! read more

Mrs Kim has been so great & encouraging to the parents and students. She sincerely wants us to be the best we can be. She gave us her perspective of our kids that was so helpful and insightful. At times, she would be candidly honest in how we as parents maybe handicapping them. However, I appreciated her honesty. Her experience with working with so many kids for so many years are proven in her success stories (which includes my own kids). Her SAT2 and help with college admission was priceless. read more

Want results? You go to Mrs. Kim. Ask her students. I am sure most of them go to a Top 50 University. With her help, I got into UC Davis. Try a class. You will see right away that this place is not your average tutoring center and will soon realize that the teachers genuinely care for you. They go above and beyond to help you achieve your academic goals. Go to XL, apply yourself and you will excel in your classes and your SATs. Just wait and see. P.S. if you're horrible at writing essays and hate receiving your paper with red ink all over it.... Take the writing classes at XLLC especially the Intensive Writing Program. In college, you will write papers 24/7 and I can say for a fact that Mrs. Kim's method of writing WORKS. I use the same method I learned in high school while going to XLLC and applied it to my writing classes in college and guess what.... A- for all my writing classes. Trust me... XLLC is effective and proven to work. read more

Mrs. Kim truly values her relationship with each student and motivated me at a time in my life when motivation was hard to come by. If your kid puts in the work, she/he will undoubtedly see their scores climb. No young adult wants to spend hours a day (and night!) on their preparing for the SAT, which to me is still a largely pointless exercise, but Mrs. Kim makes it worthwhile. Her techniques/strategies, coupled with some serious focus, will have your kid going through sections more quickly and confidently. Personally, the greatest thing about my time at XL was that not only did my SAT score jump over 40% to somewhere in the 80-percentile, but I also gained a mentor-like figure. In fact, I still keep in touch with Mrs. Kim every now and then even though I no longer am a student. During my time at XL with Mrs. Kim, she taught me discipline, helped to reframe my perspective, and facilitated friendships that I maintain today. She sees things most people do not see in themselves and has a natural ability to bring the best out of people, which is especially important as a high school student. With her, you can expect honesty, warmth, and the occasional stern but nevertheless keen eye. (: I also would not be surprised if she read this review and messaged me about a misplaced/missing punctuation mark or poor grammar. read more

I came to XL since middle school for vocab and writing class and until my college application. Mrs. Kim still is my mentor because she genuinely cares about each one of her students' future even after their time at XL. Mrs. Kim and her XL staff teach different studying or SAT/ACT techniques that are taught nowhere else but only at XL, and they are the best shortcut to succeed in your academics. If you really want to see the progress, XL is the place to be! read more

To preface this review, I have worked at XL Learning Center for two years. It is an understatement to say that I have enjoyed my time here at XL- much as others have said prior to my review, there exists much more than simply a learning center tending to students' academic needs here. XL Learning Center, for lack of better words, is a community, one in which students slowly become better accustomed to and quickly learn to appreciate. Many of my students that have now gone off to prestigious colleges still write back to me- one such student has been an exemplar during the current Covid-19 2020 pandemic in that they have established a Masked Heroes Initiative fundraising page via GoFundMe, raising thousands of dollars to provide health care workers with the proper equipment necessary for their daily rigorous schedules. This is just one example of a student who has found initiative in themselves to go above and beyond in their community who has graduated from XL Learning Center- I could go on. I have cherished the time at XL Learning Center in many ways, beyond it simply being a gratifying and fulfilling job aiding in students' academic progress. I used to attend XL Learning Center as a student myself during my middle school years. The director of the center, Mrs. Kim, was my direct teacher back in the day and quite literally upended my entire writing process for the better. I am so much more confident in my writing ability now and it helped a tremendous amount learning how to write better from Mrs. Kim as I breezed through all my English classes throughout high school due to her writing classes. I used to complain about the difficulty I saw with the writing class that I attended, but I realize today that Mrs. Kim was challenging the 8th-grade students and me to think like high schoolers and critically analyze- something that many other learning centers I went to did not decide to do. This level of respect from Mrs. Kim pushed me to become the best possible writer I could be, and I implement Mrs. Kim's writing techniques in the work I do for the students and for the higher education I will be pursuing in the near future. There is a rare quality found at XL that not many other institutions can boast to possess- care and value. Mrs. Kim and the XL staff provide for students in many ways beyond simply teaching them invaluable academic skills- she and the staff devote their time to making sure each student understands and promotes character while simultaneously helping them to achieve their academic goals. The students become stronger, more independent individuals who can be proud of their academic achievements- all while learning important life lessons that will extend beyond just the classroom. As an educator here, I get excited knowing that I leave a profound influence in my students- the students who pass through XL's doors might not see their own changes, but I see the full transformations that each one of them takes while maturing and learning through our intensive programs. XL Learning Center has made me both a better student and educator, and I cannot thank the people who work here and provide such a caring culture here enough for providing the means for me to excel in both areas of my life. I recommend XL Learning Center to those who want to better themselves in more ways than just academic knowledge- the placement of value and level of care bestowed upon each student here allows for them to grow to become strong community-minded individuals with positive influence and impact. I am thankful for XL Learning Center and I am glad I decided to enroll in its academic program many years ago. read more

This Learning Center was very beneficial to me. I came from a small town outside of Chicago, IL and didn't know anyone. The atmosphere urges you to work hard, and the teachers and coursework definitely helped me achieve an SAT & essay score that I wanted. It definitely is a must! read more

I first attended XL Learning Center throughout my sophomore year, visiting sporadically to take practice SAT tests. Soon, over the summer, I took the accelerate SAT program and enjoyed every moment of it. The staff here has been incredibly helpful like they genuinely cared about how each of us did academically. With my experience, it seemed very intimate, becoming closer with each teacher every passing day. The teachers, especially Mrs. Kim, helped me learn skills that I apply to everyday things, not just a simple standardized test. Almost every day, there was some memory that my friends and I look back on that make us laugh. It's a great environment to learn and somewhere I go to for guidance. read more

My time at XL Learning Center was marked by the unconditional support and dedication of all of the teachers, especially Mrs. Kim. Amidst the hectic process of preparation for college, she took the time to get to know me individually and cater her guidance and teachings according to the nuances of my character. The sheer detail and personalization are effective qualities that would be hard to come by anywhere else. This, compounded with their values of diligence and discipline, yields incomparable results. Mrs. Kim is truly one of the most patient and genuine mentors I have had the privilege to work with, and I am endlessly grateful for how much she has helped me grow both academically and mentally through her tireless efforts. Under her honest tutelage and encouragement, I have been able to find my own voice and thrive. tldr? Go to XL! read more

XL an excellent route for alternative education, and Mrs. Kim and faculty have set up a wonderful support system for their students. Their principles for discipline, diligence and a can-do attitude have been a source of inspiration for their students and they strive for all to reach their maximum potential. Mrs. Kim and the XL Learning Center delivers results. I was a student of hers some time ago and without her tutelage (especially with writing), I would not have had the opportunity to go on and pursue the education that I wanted for my future. Plus, she is just about the coolest person ever. =) She has been one of my biggest supporters and anyone who has worked with her will tell you that she holds so much love in her heart for her students. I cannot recommend this place enough. Go and try it out if you want to see excellent results. read more

Mrs. Kim's rigorous program in XL Learning Center is a disciplinary program that boosts your SAT score (my main focus), but also teaches the kids how to grow as mature adults. The variety of class choice ensures the kids to be ahead in their classes, only being taught by the most qualified and friendliest of teachers. XL is a great learning environment, and allows students to learn how to get the upper hand in their classes. read more

XL provides an environment that allows students to realize their full potential. I came in as a sophomore athlete who put little thought into my academic future. Mrs. Kim helped push me beyond what I had believed to be my limits. I boosted both my SAT score by 400 points and my GPA to a college standard. If it were not for the hours that I put in here, I probably would not have been accepted into the university of my liking, nor would I have developed the necessary skill set to excel at once I got there.  Above all, Mrs. Kim treats her students like family and truly cares about their well-being; she takes the time to develop a relationship with each of her students and checks up on them well after they have graduated high school. Mrs. Kim was the life coach that I needed at a critical time in my adolescence and the success I have found has been in large part due to her guidance. read more

XL Learning Center is one of the best places to get into college. All of the teachers there are friendly and make sure that their students strive to be some of the best educated scholars out in the world. There are a variety of classes to take that improve your informational learning outside of school. While learning with the teachers, the students are very welcoming and are fun to hang out with when taking breaks and having fun outside of learning as well. Even when there are no classes, students are free to work on school work and anything that they are working on in order to get things done on time. This place is well worth it and worth the time. read more

I have beem to many sat prep centers and my conclusion is that xl learning center is incomparable. The teaching staff is professional, caring and effective, and Mrs. Kim's hands on approach is remarkable. The sat writing teacher in particular is extremely talented and surprisingly winsome. Five stars without a doubt! read more

Between the summer of sophomore and junior year, my daughter attended another well known SAT Boot Camp program. However, her SAT score was not what we had anticpated. For the summer between junior and senior year, we searched for and interviewed several other SAT Boot Camp programs. After discovering XL Learning Center, and meeting with Mrs. Kim, our search ended. We immediately were impressed with Mrs. Kim's ability to relate to us, and after reviewing my daughter's academic record, she told us what a reasonable SAT score goal would be for her. My daughter quickly warmed to Mrs. Kim, and was very happy to attend a SAT class that was definitely not boring. The techniques she learned in the class will be helpful to her in her college classes and professional career. My daughter did realize a 170 point improvement in her SAT score, which has increased her chances of acceptance at her college of choice. Bottom line: Just send your student here. You won't regret it. Thank you. read more

If you're looking for the best SAT prep courses and the best college application essay help, look no further. Mrs. Kim and her well-qualified staff provide all the tools and skills you need to survive the SATs and make it in one piece to the college of your choice. I met Mrs. Kim at a young age and was one of the fortunate (and exclusive) few who learned writing skills privately under her tutelage. These skills have carried me through junior high, high school, university, law school and even now, in my professional career. Lucky for you and all the others who have passed through XL, Mrs. Kim opened XL to the public, offering writing and SAT classes taught by Mrs. Kim herself and a staff that she hand-selects. XL's classes and consultation services will equip you with everything you need to know to score well on the SATs and write effective college application essays. But most importantly, you will establish strong, solid writing skills - an invaluable asset that will have you coming back to see her year after year. And maybe even writing a Yelp review to share the wealth. read more

XL Learning Center has been grateful to me and my family including my younger brother and 2 younger cousins. If you do not want to waste your time and money for studying SAT and College Application, then XL Learning Center is the best place to maximize your potential to fulfill educational goals. I have been to other SAT places, and I can guarantee that you will see improved results by sticking with XL methods and advices given by teachers in XL. In addition to SAT and College Application, there are other classes and tutoring programs that provide reliefs on educational burden for all the core classes. Let me tell you one more time. If you want the best learning experience and maximize your time and money, GO TO XL. People assume that XL is all about Mrs. Kim, but XL is more than Mrs. Kim. XL is a place of learning for devoted students that actually are motivated for success in education and in life. FYI, I have the utmost respect for Mrs. Kim's passion and dedication to not only produce numbers but also finished products of students with diligent work ethics and better character traits. Trust me, GO TO XL! read more

Their strategies are very effective in making my test taking abilities much faster. I never knew I could skip so many parts by using their shortcuts and still get the right answer. Mrs. Kim's teaching combines a great sense of humor with a deep understanding of the subject to provide the perfect lesson. read more

XL has great teachers! It's my second home during the summer. The classes are challenging but worth the work. Now I feel much more prepared for the school year! read more

XL Learning Center is the best place to go for extra support in school academics, SAT prep, and college applications--especially college essays. I feel that the educators at XL truly care about the students which results in great support, motivation, and effectiveness! I attended XL in high school for help through SAT preparations, college essays, and private tutoring. Not only is XL filled with great instructors, but it is a community rooting for your success and taking all the necessary steps to help improve your grades or scores. The support provided for writing essays was intensive but effective. I learned writing skills here that I still use today and feel so fortunate to have found this gem of a learning center! If you are looking for a place that improves scores, supports improvements, builds character, challenges you to become better, and cultivates great writing skills, go to XL! read more