May 29, 2010

I was able to improve my scores on my SAT enough to increase the amount of my scholarship!  Also, with the helpof my improved scores, I was selected to be one of the 50 students selected to be part of the honors program at my college.  

The tips Kathryn offered me, the practice tests to build my speed, and the study guides for vocabulary words and grammar helped me to increase my scores.

~Rochelle M. (SAT)  [Rochelle is now a member of the University of the Incarnate Word's class of 2014]

April 26, 2010
Kathryn was extremely helpful and very wonderful to work with.  She was able to answer all my questions and she gave me helpful strategies to take the SAT.  I believe knowing that I didn't have to answer every question really improved my score.  If I didn't know how to do a problem, I could get easy points by "shopping for points"!
~Lauren M. (SAT)

April 6, 2010
    Steven has made tremendous improvement, he went up 350 points! More importantly, the confidence and test strategies will help him from this date forward. We were very happy with not only his score, but his attitude. Not once did we have to hound him to study. You provided such clear expectations and he could see the results himself. I really like the way you focus on the student, not the parents. I liked the weekly emails keeping us abreast of what was reviewed so I felt in the loop without hounding him. What a great experience! 
I think the one on one tutoring with the question analysis was the most helpful. He also learned a lot about writing timed essays.
We loved your program; Steven did great and has so much confidence now.  It has really helped him feel ready to tackle the next hurdles of applying and choosing a college. With his score, he has so many more options.
Thank you!
~Janet I. (Parent of SAT student)

April 2, 2010
    It was a positive experience all around.  Kaley thought very highly of you and enjoyed going to the sessions.  I appreciated all the detailed e-mails.  I really think that the “Jump Start Program” that she went to at the end of last summer was a great class.  It was the first time she met you.  If you offer it again please send me a flier and I will pass it around to my friends.  It was very informative and helpful.  I think kids of all skill levels can benefit from it.
    The strategies provided and the suggestions for reading and research to best prepare for the essay were what I think contributed most to Kaley’s success.  I think her determination was a big factor as well.
~Christine O. (parent of SAT student)
[Kaley's scores went up a total of 460 points:  110 points in Critical Reading, 210 points on the Writing section, and 140 points in Math to a near-perfect 770!]

March 10, 2010
Kathryn was such a big help!  Thanks for making everything make sense and making sure I understood everything before we moved on!  The strategies that have helped the most are: recognizing traps, knowing what to expect, simplifying everything, using vocabulary stories to relate the words to real life and make it fun to learn new words, and having essay topics in mind for the essay part of the test.
~Lauren R. (SAT)

March 8, 2010
Kathryn was a fantastic tutor.  She was able to compress the ins and outs of the SAT into a manageable work load.  The test became less daunting of a challenge and she truly raised my confidence in my ability to take the SAT.  Learning the many tricks and tips of the SAT make the test that much easier and a manageable task.
~Steven I. (SAT)


January 20, 2010
Kathryn was great at understanding what I needed help in and also it was fun.  Practicing for the SAT was actually sort of fun.  I believe that understanding how to take the test and knowing the material help bunches.
~Jessie P. (SAT)

Kathryn is very personable, organized and confident in her abilities and results.  She clearly communicated to the student and instilled confidence in the student.  I would certainly recommend Kathryn (and will send our younger daughter to her in a few years)!  Jessie benefited most from the repeated test-taking and understanding strategies for answering questions.  Jessie felt ready and capable of achieving a good score.
~Bob & Tracey P. (parents of SAT student)


December 19, 2009
As always, Kathryn is an excellent writing coach.  I now have essays that are more than what I could have written on my own, but they're somehow still intrinsically mine.
~Rebecca N. (Edited Graduate School Grant Proposal) 


December 17, 2009
I am very glad that I got to work with Kathryn because she was not the conventional LSAT tutor that I was used to.  She did not bombard me with various techniques or rules, but she helped me approach each question in a methodical/logical manner.  Her energetic and positive coaching style always brought me reassurance and encouraged me to want to do well.  Kathryn is a wonderful, bright and kind tutor.  I highly recommend her if you want to improve your confidence and logical reasoning skills.  Thank you Kathryn for all your support!

I believe the combination of my diligence and Kathryn's method of visualizing each stimulus helped me improve my score.  By visualizing each stimulus, I was able to better comprehend each question and not have to rely on various techniques.  Kathryn also taught me the importance of reading critically and "shopping for points."
~Wana L. (LSAT)


December 7, 2009
Kathryn successfully prepared me for the GRE.  She is structured in her work which helps the session move smoothly.  Because of her impressive qualifications for this job, she was always able to answer my questions and explain them to me.
Understanding the format of the test contributed most to my higher scores.  Kathryn progressively introduces all the strategies in a comprehensive manner.  She assigned an appropriate work load keeping me challenged and growing my confidence.  When I took the test, nothing was a surprise and that hugely reduced my stress.
~Katie W. (GRE)


December 1, 2009
    Kathryn helped and guided me through the overwhelming SAT experience. I felt comfortable with her, and she is an amazing teacher. She not only taught me the basic tricks and traps of the test, but she guided me through the strategies and helped me learn how to best take the test. She taught me the way I learned best, she didn’t just explain things or read things out of a book, she explained them to me in ways my mind would understand them best. She helped me realize my weakest and strongest areas. Because I felt so comfortable with Kathryn and genuinely respect and like her, I was able to better grasp and listen to what she was telling me. The strategies she taught me not only greatly helped and improved my SAT, but are also helping me in school and on regular exams. Kathryn is someone I greatly respect and admire, and I really enjoyed and benefitted from working with her. 
    I think doing the practice tests over and over helped me increase my scores. I didn’t just read about the strategies and tricks, but by doing the practice tests I was able to apply them and understand when to use them. The timed practice tests also helped me get used to the time restrictions I would experience on the real SAT. Also learning what to look out for and how to go about answering the questions helped improve my scores.

~Riley C. (PSAT and SAT)


October 28, 2009
Kathryn proved to be as stubborn as I am, and I mean that in the best way.  She dug in every time I got stuck, and got me past every hurdle we encountered.  Kathryn's mastery of the material and ability to explain it in a way that made sense to me contributed most to my success.
~David M. (GRE)


October 27, 2009
I am very happy to have had this chance to work with Kathryn.  I feel I am in the best possible place I can be going into my test and I have the confidence to do the best that I can.  With a new mindset and understanding of how the test works, I can give myself the best chance to pick the correct answer.
~Dean K. (GRE)


October 11, 2009
Thank you for all of your help on my essays!  I enjoyed working with you as always.
~Remi L. (College Applications)


October 8, 2009
Kathryn is amazing!  She is no nonsense yet fun, brutally honest yet motivational and intelligent beyond words.  She has an amazing gift of being able to draw out and motivate her students.  She pushes them to go outside their comfort zone in order to be as successful as possible.  Her passion for her students and what she does is apparent in the first few minutes of meeting Kathryn.  Her unique strategies for teaching are excellent.  My son is so confident after working with Kathryn that he is actually looking forward to taking the SATs and incorporating everything he has learned from her.  Kathryn has outstanding follow up and has kept me so well informed every step of the way.  It truly goes without saying that I would highly recommend Kathryn and College Prep Tutoring to anyone and everyone.
My son's practice score improvement was due to Kathryn's teaching style in terms of approaching the SATs from a completely strategic position.  She had creative, fun, yet challenging ways of teaching my son how to take the test and consistently reinforced those ways.  Kathryn's organized, focused manner of teaching was instrumental in my son's practice score improvement.  I look forward to seeing his actual SAT score!!
~Karen C. (parent of SAT student)


October 7, 2009
Kathryn was patient, responsive, and she ameliorated the stress of the GRE.  Without her tutoring, I would likely still struggle with the basic concepts.  Going into the first practice test blind, I performed poorly.  With Kathryn's guidance, my eyes opened to tricks that brought the GRE down to earth.  Her gentle support through the math was especially helpful, while the verbal techniques brought me to the zenith of my testing abilities.
~Jeremy G. (GRE)
[Jeremy saw a 510-point improvement in his scores and earned a 740 on the Math section of the GRE!]


October 7, 2009
Kathryn was always extremely positive and focused on helping me prepare for the test.  She realized my abilities and pushed me to maximize my performance.  I think that going over each practice section I did with my tutor was extremely helpful to my understanding of the test material.  Also the mock, proctored test was very helpful.

~Chad D. (SAT)


October 7, 2009
I really enjoyed working with my tutor because it was a positive, beneficial experience for me.  She was very helpful, caring, and made almost every lesson funny or interesting to learn.  I think reviewing the different strategies that were right for me to use helped my score a lot -- and doing plenty of practice.
~Rachel F. (SAT)


October 7, 2009
Kathryn's plethora of knowledge and grasp on a myriad of subjects enabled me to get the scores that I wanted to achieve.
~Shaudi M. (SAT, ACT, and SAT IIs) 

[Shaudi is now a member of UC San Diego's class of 2014.]

October 5, 2009
My tutor is fantastic.
~Taylor W. (SAT)


October 4, 2009
Her energy creates a dynamic learning environment.  Kathryn is informed and good at explaining.  My score improved because I learned methods for reducing effort in finding answers, practiced my skills on a regular basis, and received great feedback on my writing samples.
~Alex C. (SAT)
[Alex's score increased 230 points to a near-perfect 2320!]

October 4, 2009 Kathryn's profound knowledge of the SAT has been the most significant factor in my score improvement.

~David C. (SAT)  [David is now a member of the class of 2014 at Holy Cross.]


October 3, 2009
I am very pleased with my tutoring experience with Kathryn.  I have improved from my PSAT scores by nearly 400 points and I believe that working with Kathryn has given me the best opportunity to do my very best on the SAT.  I would recommend her to anyone.  I think my scores improved because of my level of comfort in working with her as well as some really helpful strategies in taking the test.  I feel that I was in a motivational atmosphere and I was confident that I would succeed.
~Dominic L. (SAT)


August 15, 2009
I really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and the fast-paced teaching style.
~Danny M. (SAT)


August 15, 2009
Good tips, easy to follow your thoughts.  I feel more prepared for all components of the SAT.
~Kaley O. (SAT)


July 5, 2009
Kathryn’s personable nature and one-on-one teaching style make studying for the SAT comfortable and fun. Her true strength is teaching strategies for taking the test. With her help, I broke the 2000 barrier and was accepted at NYU, BU, SU, Drew University, and three UC schools.
~Samara M. (SAT)
[Samara is now a student at UC Santa Cruz]


June 23, 2009
Though I haven't ever worked with a professional tutor, I am under the impression that Kathryn was as good as a tutor can be.  Even if she wasn't a master on some of my hard Calculus topics, I was still much better off by taking this short course with her [to prepare for my SAT II Math 2].  My point total rose from the practice tests I took, and I have every reason to believe that I did better on the test than I would have without the help.  Thank you Kathryn!
~Dominic L.  (SAT II - Math 2)


June 20, 2009
Jack enjoyed every session! He was calm and eager to try the test today.  He said he felt totally prepared to face the questions!  Last night, he was relaxed and had no trouble sleeping.  This is due to your excellent instruction, and inspiring coaching.
~Dru A. (Parent of CHSPE student)


June 13, 2009
Thank you so much!  Kathryn was extremely helpful on both my test prep and my personal statement; it improved so much...  I felt prepared going into the tests and felt that I did the best I could have (hopefully in the 90th percentile)! 

~Rochelle M. (SAT IIs, ACT, SAT, and College Applications) 

[Rochelle is now a member of the University of the Incarnate Word's class of 2014]

March 4, 2009
Kathryn did a good job preparing me for the tests.  She clearly understands the exams and has no difficulty in transferring her understanding to the student.  I do not believe that I would have achieved my lofty goals without the assistance of Kathryn.
~Matthew M. (GMAT and GRE)

January 9, 2009

I came to Kathryn because I needed not only a high score on my GRE’s, but help with my personal statement, and general advice on the graduate school admissions process.  Not only was she able to advise me on every issue I had, she did so knowledgeably, thoroughly, and enthusiastically.  She was simultaneously my coach and my teammate, not just my tutor.  Her complete understanding of the GRE testing requirements and clear method of explaining her personal test-taking tactics gave me confidence during the tutoring sessions, during my practice at home, and on test day.

    Even if I hadn’t received the excellent GRE scores that I did, I would still recommend Kathryn’s services, simply for the personal confidence she imbued in me.  After working with Kathryn, I felt prepared to not only do well on the GRE’s, but to do well as a graduate student – a gift I consider to be priceless.
    Beyond her professional obligations, Kathryn took a personal interest in my academic success, and nothing felt better than getting an email the morning of my test with the subject, ’GOOD LUCK ON YOUR TEST!’

~Rebecca N. (GRE and Grad School Applications)
[Rebecca was accepted to her first-choice Ph.D. program at Indiana University]


November 11, 2008 

The personalized tutoring that Kathryn has offered me has not only prepared me to do well on the GRE but also given me the confidence that is key to mastering any standardized test.  Her strategies are simple and effective and she allows the student to move at their own pace.  Kathryn helped me to focus on the quantitative section of the GRE that I had found particularly difficult.  Through our sessions, she quickly identified my weaknesses and tailored the lessons to fit my needs.  Now, I am not only scoring very well on that section, but also enjoy doing it!  In a month's time, I am more than ready for my test.  Kathryn's patience and investment in the student is what makes her stand out among tutors.(added November 14, 2008)
    Hiring Kathryn as a tutor was the best thing I could have done in preparing for the GRE.  The methods she employed were understandable and efficient, and she gave an in-depth analysis of test strategy that worked to my benefit on test day.  In only 6 weeks, I improved my scores each time I took a practice test.  More importantly, my actual GRE scores surpassed the range that even we had initially anticipated!  A 720 on the quantitative portion and 1240 overall was not only amazing in comparison to where I began 6 weeks ago, but will open up an unlimited number of opportunities for graduate architecture school!
Thank you so much Kathryn!  I couldn't have done this without you!
~Mary S. (GRE)
[Mary's score on the math section went from 500 on her first practice test to a 720 on the actual GRE!  She is now in the graduate Architecture program at the University of Texas at Austin.]

November 1, 2008
With Kathryn's help, I achieved the score on my SAT that I had always wanted!  I came to Kathryn to receive help with my math section, but the improvement did not end there.  On the day of the test, I felt calm and very well prepared with Kathryn supporting me.  I went in the test aiming to break 2000... and I was absolutely elated when the scores came back and I had a 2240, with an 800 on my critical reading section!  I couldn't have done without Kathryn's help... Thanks, Kathryn!
~Mackenzie M. (SAT)
[Mackenzie's scores went up a total of 440 points:  90 points on Critical Reading to a perfect score of 800, 200 points in Math to a 680, and 150 points on the Writing section for a near-perfect score of 760.  She is now a member of Yale University's class of 2014]

 October 15, 2008
I really liked working with Kathryn for the PSAT.  Her tricks helped me to look at the questions from a different perspective.  I realized that once you know the tricks, it's not so much about knowledge, but more out-smarting the test itself.
~Remi L. (PSAT, ACT, College Applications)


October 8, 2008
I first took the 'Revolution Prep Class' and ended up getting a lower score than I did the first time I took the SAT.  But Kathryn turned around my attitude about improving my score and showed me how to get the score I wanted.
~Ryan G. (SAT)
[Ryan got into his first choice college!  He is in the Engineering-Electrical School at Cal Poly-San Louis Obispo.]


August 6, 2008
    Hiring Kathryn Adelstein as my GRE tutor was an extremely positive experience.  Through hard work, close supervision and guidance, I achieved a 260 point (or a 61%) increase on the actual GRE exam.
When I located Kathryn, my frustration level was high.  Tutors, classes, and self-instruction had all failed me.  I doubted that Kathryn's methodology would be any more successful and the price of private tutoring is daunting.
I decided to try one session.  It was immediately apparent that Kathryn is not your typical tutor.  She is intelligent, motivated, energetic, and has a plethora of innovative games and ideas to help you learn and memorize concepts.  Most importantly, Kathryn is an awesome tutor because she is passionate about education and actually enjoys (yes, I said enjoys) standardized tests.  During our first session she said to me, 'Standardized testing is just a game, but you can't succeed unless you learn the rules…and that's where I come in.'
Kathryn has the uncanny ability to adjust to meet her student's individual requirements. She is dedicated to improving every aspect of your test-taking needs and she tackles this hurdle by providing students with personalized approaches to memorizing facts and conquering concepts.  Kathryn not only concentrates her efforts on improving your weaknesses, but she also spends time capitalizing on your strengths. 
Kathryn is very dedicated to her students and I think that kind of support is crucial—it greatly increased my confidence, which had been flagging prior to my sessions with her. The day before the test, she made sure to call me with encouraging words and was very positive and enthusiastic the day I got my test results. I highly recommend Kathryn to students looking for a boost not only in their scores but also in their confidence.  
During the process of studying for an exam, Kathryn is your best friend and your competitor, your number one fan and your biggest critic.  She misses nothing and will go to any length to prepare you for the exam. 
    You're the best, Kathryn!!!
~Kendra N.
(Worked with Kathryn for 6 weeks to prepare for the GRE)
[Kendra was accepted into the #2 ranked program in the nation for Speech Language Pathology at Purdue University]