How does telephone/video tutoring work?
Although some students and parents initially balk at the idea of remote tutoring via telephone or video, those who have tried it have been overwhelmingly delighted! (See Results and Testimonials and feel free to ask for references from students and parents around the country.) CollegePrepExpress is proud to offer a twentieth-first century model of 1-to-1 teaching and learning that is cost- and time-effective, enabling students to have lessons right out of their homes, boarding schools, or wherever else they have their cellphones, landlines, and high-speed internet connections. Moreover, because of the added convenience that works both ways, telephone tutoring is offered at a reduced rate (see Pricing & Value). In an era of increasingly hectic schedules for both students and parents, remote tutoring offers tremendous convenience and savings in travel time and gas! For students opting to use the telephone, the call is free (i.e., CollegePrepExpress pays for the call). For those those with the technology, voice and video conferencing via the internet are available via Skype, AOL IM, and iChat. Whichever way, the student and tutor will refer to the same text, problem, or homework assignment, etc.--a hard copy of which both parties will have on hand--alleviating the necessity of being in the same place. That is, both the student and the tutor will have the same version of the text book, or faxed worksheets or assignments, to discuss and work on. Both the phone and the computer are tools that make it possible for busy students and parents to squeeze valuable tutoring into already full days and evenings.
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How does Guided Self-Study work?
An exciting and economical new SAT prep plan intended for independent and self-motivated students and parents looking for a more affordable option than a full-blown class or private tutoring, Guided Self-Study is a highly effective way to raise SAT and ACT scores. For less than 25% of the cost of most other SAT and ACT study plans, Guided-Self Study offers complete and rigorous preparation for students who can hold themselves responsible for completing weekly assignments in The Official SAT Study Guide over a 9-week period prior to their SAT or in The Real ACT Prep Guide over a 4-week period prior to their ACT. Students are instructed to take each of the practice tests (just as in SAT Class, ACT Class, or private tutoring), one per week; to download, study, and review the extensive and copyrighted Notes on the Practice Tests from the password-protected section of this site (covering strategies; vocabulary; math facts and concepts; and grammar and writing rules, tips, and hints); and to discuss problem areas, specific questions, and goals in 20-min weekly telephone consultations. Students enrolled in this plan are also entitled to unlimited email access, both to ask questions and to stay connected and motivated. Designed by a high school English and math teacher and SAT coach with over 20 years of teaching and tutoring experience as well as a Ph.D. in education, Guided Self-Study is designed to be both COMPREHENSIVE and MANAGEABLE -- it is a tremendous opportunity for students to receive the finest SAT preparation available anywhere at a small fraction of the typical price! Click here to enroll online.
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In what subjects and grades do you provide tutoring?
All one-one-one tutoring comes with unlimited telephone and email access to the tutor between sessions. All our tutors are ivy-league educated and have graduate degrees, and most tutoring is done by Dr. Mike Youmans, Ph.D., Founder and Founder of CollegePrepExpress. We offer tutoring in-person and over the phone in the following areas:
- All middle school and high school math courses (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, & pre-calculus)
- All middle school and high school English and history courses, including writing, critical reading, vocabulary, and grammar skills
- Study Skills, organization and note-taking techniques for all classes, grades 6-12
- Motivation and time-management
- Using computer technology to accomplish and excel in school work
- While we prefer to work with students over a period of time to achieve long-term academic goals, we also work with students on an "emergency" basis for a given test, essay, research paper, or "crash course."
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For which standardized tests do you prepare students?
- SAT, Math, Verbal, and Writing
- ACT (all five tests)
- SAT Subject Tests in the following subjects:
- English Literature
- Math Ic
- Math IIc
- Biology
- American History
- MCAS for middle and high school students and SSAT
- GRE, LSAT, and GMAT
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How much does a typical student improve on the SATs?
While students exhibit a wide range of improvement depending on their desire and motivation as well as their starting point score, a typical student will improve by a good 100 points per section with the recommended number of sessions. As with learning a musical instrument or playing a sport, the most important factor is how much effort a student is willing to commit between tutoring sessions. Some outstanding students went up more than 400 points on the old 1600-point exam, and one spectacular student improved by more than 500! See the Results section of this site to read what parents, students, and colleagues have said about our services as well as to view a cross-section of student SAT progress charts.
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What scores did you get on your most recent standardized test?
Founder and Founder, Mike Youmans, Ph.D., took the GREs in 1994 as part of a doctoral program application (the GREs can be thought of as the SATs for graduate students, with an extra section in logic, using the same 200-800 scale) and had the following scores:
- Math: 800
- Verbal: 710
- Logic: 800
See complete résumé.
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What is your basic method for SAT and ACT preparation?
Those who understand the true nature of the SAT and ACT know that there is a finite body of material to know. This explains why these exams produce such accurate and reliable scores, even if they do not measure intelligence or correlate with any meaningful life outcome.  But because they always presents the SAME MATERIAL (see student testimonials on the Results page), they do provide colleges with reliable measures of how much of this material a student knows (a well-known joke in the industry is that the SATs measure how well you'll do on the SATs!). Consequently, we primarily work with students out of The Official SAT Study Guideand The Real ACT Prep Guide (which contain actual SATs and ACTs), exposing students to this particular finite body of material and enabling them (and their parents) to see their incremental improvement as they learn from their mistakes. We also draw on Mike Youmans' 20 years of experience as a math and English teacher and his lists of strategies and vocab building materials (available online to enrolled students) to deepen students' essential knowledge base for the exam. The best vocab book on the market for college-bound high school students (i.e., those  intent on scoring high on the SATs) is Princeton Review's Word Smart. You can order any of these three titles from Amazon.com at 20% off the list price.
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Where does tutoring take place?
In-person tutoring primarily takes place in students' homes, schools, or local libraries. Of course, telephone tutoring can take place wherever a student has access to a phone (CollegePrepExpress pays for the call).
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How does essay editing work?
Essay editing usually begins with a phone call or email exchange, where the goals and scope of the work are discussed. Students then use a credit card or PayPal account to purchase time (checks are also acceptable, but must be received before editing begins), and then email (Mike@CollegePrepExpress.com) their draft(s) for editing, which range from simple proof-reading to substantial critiques and rewrites. A final edit is then emailed back to the student with extensive comments, analysis, and a revised version of the essay. Typical turnaround time is 48 hrs. Express orders for urgent deadlines can be arranged. See the Essay Editing section of this site for more details.
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What times are available for tutoring and how does scheduling work?
Almost any time from 7AM (for early birds who want to think best before school starts) to 10PM can be arranged. To schedule an appointment, either email Mike@CollegePrepExpress.com or call 413-329-7540. Scheduling priority is given to students who purchase packs, i.e., who make a commitment to come regularly, and the rest are arranged on a first-come-first-served basis.
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Do you give small group lessons?
When a group of like-minded students (or their parents) want to form a small study group-- say, for SAT prep, ACT prep, Algebra 2, American History, Writing, Study Skills, or learning to use computer technology--- we have arranged small group sessions at a special group rate, depending on the number of students and the location of the lessons (students who host a small class receive a 20% discount). It also makes sense, for example, for a group of friends to meet weekly with a tutor for one to three months before a standardized test for intense, closely monitored preparation. See also the Class page. Email Mike@CollegePrepExpress.com or call 413-329-7540 if you have a group of students in mind.
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Can you help students with unique learning styles and across different achievement levels?
Absolutely. Founder and Founder Mike Youmans, Ph.D., brings 20 years of classroom and 1-on-1 experience to bear in meeting each student at his or her level. With a specialty in Secondary Curriculum and Intruction, he can cater the teaching and learning to meet the needs of students with a range of learning challenges and across the entire spectrum of academic and standardized testing achievement.
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Where have your students gone on to college?
In recent years, students with whom we have worked have gone to the schools listed below, among many others.
- Barnard
- Boston University
- Brandeis
- Brown
- Carnegie Mellon
- Columbia
- Georgetown
- George Washington
- Harvard
- Johns Hopkins
- New York University
- Quinnipiac
- Rose Hulman
- Syracuse
- Princeton
- Trinity
- University of Chicago
- University of Connecticut
- University of Maryland
- University of Vermont
- UPenn
- Vanderbilt
- Yale
- Yeshiva University
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Have your students and parents been satisfied with your services?
Based on the number of unsolicited thank-you cards and calls from students and parents as well as the fact that we frequently work with younger siblings after tutoring another member of a family, we'd have to offer a resounding YES! See the Results section of this site to read what parents, students, and teachers have said about CollegePrepExpress services as well as to view a selection of student SAT progress charts.
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How much do your programs cost and how can I make payments?
You can choose to pay via check (made out to CollegePrepExpress), which must be received before lessons can begin , or to make secure electronic payments using PayPal, a free online service that allows you to pay by credit card or bank account. See Prices & Value.
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Do you offer a discount rate for multiple hours per week or multiple children per family?
Yes! Click here for complete pricing information.
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Do you offer an incentive for referrals?
Yes! CollegePrepExpress offers $25 for each new student you refer (i.e., who has at least one lesson) for tutoring, $50 for each class participant, and $20 for essay editing customers. Simply have the new student mention that you referred him/her, and we'll credit your account or write you a check--if you're worried they may forget to mention your name, send us an email to claim your cash! Alternatively, if you get permission from friends to have us contact them, send an email with their information. Ambitious students can use this program to get all their College Prep FOR FREE. Click here for more.
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Do you offer financial aid?
Yes. CollegePrepExpress is committed to helping ALL students, regardless of socio-economic status, get into college! Need-based financial aid is available by request on a first-come-first-served basis..
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What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellation Policy: CollegePrepExpress will grant a full refund for any and all cancellations up to 48 hours before an appointment, a 50% refund for cancellations between 48 and 24 hours before, and no refund for cancellations within 24 hours of an appointment. See Terms.
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Do you have an online appointment calendar I can check?
Yes!!
CPE Appointment Calendar
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