Alpha Academy – Katlyn Lee
Having been attending Alpha Academy for several years now, I can say that this tutoring center has taught me more than just SAT. The life lessons shared during class in my teachers’ stories have prepared me for the future not only academically, but also emotionally and socially. Certainly, instructors from every tutoring center seem to provide us with endless practice tests. However, Cobert Kim, Alpha Academy’s director and teacher, offers thorough advice while engaging people in class discussions, which make class enjoyable .
The students are not forced to remember dozens of words, but are trained to connect the seemingly confusing SAT to their personal life, allowing the information to be naturally easier to understand. Mr. Kim makes vocabulary words relatable to various personal interests, such as computers or shopping, and the lengthy, tedious reading passages so easily comprehensible.
During class, Mr. Kim assigns journal entries to students in order to know more about them. By writing these journals, students can openly express themselves By sharing the journals, students are able to become a close-knit family.
Some may consider Alpha too demanding for an average high school student. However, this tutoring center allows students to make new friends and gain more eye opening experiences, as well as improve their test scores.
Elite Educational Institute – Angie Zhang
I spent most of my summer vacation at Elite Educational Institute, and although I would rather have been having fun at the beach, I can’t deny the fact that Elite does indeed have an impressive teaching system for the SAT.
On top of teaching the basic knowledge needed to attain a good score, Elite offers an abundance of “short cuts” to help you get through the sections quicker and more accurately. The programs I received (for free!) for my calculator are ones that I will never give up and I even went as far as buying another calculator so that I wouldn’t have to clear all of the programs for a calculus test. These additions to my calculator helped me finish the SAT math sections with ten minutes to spare. They’re also helpful for the SAT II math test–just type in the equation, hit enter, and *bam!* there’s your answer.
I also vastly improved my critical reading score and now it’s my highest scoring section. Instead of merely teaching its students reading and math skills to score better, Elite dissects the test itself and makes students aware of its faults and loopholes. These “secrets,” of course, are not mine to tell, so I encourage you to go to Elite yourself to find out.
If you are looking for a SAT tutoring center with the single-minded goal of raising your SAT score, I believe that Elite is the place to go.
Lee’s Review – Austin Kong
I have been to my fair share of tutoring centers. Being a first generation Korean-American, I was forced by my parents to enroll in many off-campus classes in the hopes that I “go to Harvard.” I have been to XL Learning Center, P&J Academy, and Elite, but none of these centers come close to Lee’s in terms of hospitality and effectiveness.
My first class at Lee’s was an Algebra II/ Trigonometry class that was taught by the center’s owner, Mr. Lee. Other tutors simply give you practice problems out of a book and give an overview of the chapter. That was not the case for Mr. Lee. Dedicated and entertaining, Mr. Lee made that class genuinely enjoyable. During the class’s break time, Mr. Lee would even give the class snacks such as cake, just to make us feel at home. After spending more time with the staff, I quickly learned that everybody at Lee’s was just as kind as Mr. Lee himself.
Lee’s quickly became a second home to me. I felt as if its staff members were just as invested in my future as I was. When I told Mr. Lee that I had gotten into my dream school, he quickly planned a trip to Downtown Los Angeles, and treated me to sushi, ramen, macaroons, and coffee. It became apparent that these people genuinely cared about their students and that they were not in it for the money.
XL Learning Center – Gloria Kim
XL Learning Center was one of the many institutions I have gone to for help and improvement in various subjects. After having experienced numerous tutoring centers, I can confidently recommend XL to those seeking to excel in English and the SAT, particularly critical analysis.
Growing up in a Korean speaking home and in a predominately Asian neighborhood, the need to be outstanding in English was not really a primary concern; however with every new school year, the level of skills needed to comprehend honors and AP material skyrocketed and I finally grasped how crucial these skills were to my future. Almost every subject in school involved some form of English, whether it be reading, writing, or analyzing information, and I was relieved to have entered high school with sharply honed grammar, writing, and analytical skills drilled into me thanks to XL’s rigorous curriculum.
XL’s challenging classes balance both extensive learning and dynamic fun, keeping the classroom atmosphere enjoyable for learning. But what distinguishes XL from other learning centers is its homelike atmosphere. One of my most memorable experiences at XL was a free all-night “lock-in” class that Mrs. Kim and several teachers voluntarily opened. The fun, hard-core study session was an experience that confirmed my perpetual admiration for the hard work and dedication of the staff at XL.
