FAQs

When you work with Cambridge Prep, you know precisely who will work with your child: a Harvard-degreed expert with over twenty-five years in the college admissions field and a proven, exceptional track record. 

Having been involved in the college admissions scene for over two decades, I've developed highly effective and efficient proprietary methods for the ACT, SAT, Subject Tests and application essays. I insist on working with only real, previously administered tests for best results.

With each student, my goal is to help define and reach college admissions goals as we move through the application process. I work individually, both in students' homes and online, to support each student's unique needs most effectively.

My approach is holistic: I help students not only with ACT prep but also with managing the college application process. I've been impressed by my students' collective performance, with most achieving score increases far beyond the norm and, more important, gaining admission to the colleges of their choice.

I've found that my strengths in standardized testing, creative writing, psychology and communication combine beautifully to support students in overcoming insecurities, learning difficulties and other obstacles that can interfere with standardized testing and college application success. Having worked with hundreds of students over the course of my career, I'm fully confident in my abilities to connect with and support high achievers, bubble-phobic students, and those with atypical wants and needs alike.

After starting my career as an SAT tutor for elite test prep companies on both coasts, I'm well versed in what it takes to succeed on the SAT. Over time, though, the open secret that the ACT is much more straightforward has gotten out, and I was one of the first to develop a proprietary ACT prep approach that yields surprisingly fast and impressive results.

In 2016, the College Board revamped the SAT again, this time to compete with the ACT, which for the first time had more test takers than the SAT. It's clear that the changes, such as eliminating the penalty for wrong answers and making the essay optional, are geared toward winning back those testers who've been choosing the ACT with ever-greater frequency. As such, as a master tester and developer of standardized test materials, I developed an approach that effectively works with BOTH tests, giving students flexibility and options should they decide to look beyond the ACT.

Since this process is implicitly personal, there's variation among students in what it takes to get ready for the ACT. Still, there are helpful checkpoints to staying on track.

First, we assess the college applicant's goals, schedule and comfort level with standardized tests. That discussion can start as early as sophomore year; fall of junior year is perfectly timely as well. And it's almost never too late to steer the ship in a better direction, even during senior year.

Next, we get started a few months prior to the test date. My favorite dates are April for the first go and September for the second. (Yes, students should expect to take the ACT twice! A third time is reasonable if there's a good reason for it.) June is also a popular date, and there are also test-taking opportunities in February, October and December.

We start with my diagnostic ACT, which is a real, previously administered test that works with my proprietary materials. Thanksgiving of junior year is a good time to take this. Depending on results and preliminary goals, we typically start weekly sessions in either December or January for the April test. This allows room for vacations and stressful academic periods. Sessions typically range from 1 1/2 to 2 hours, with between roughly eight and fifteen sessions to cover materials, boost scores and build confidence. 

Most students should expect to take the ACT twice, so it's best to spend between a couple weeks and a month or so to refresh and strengthen skills for the second test. If it's the September test, late summer is a good time to prepare, as are the weeks prior to the test.

Late summer is a great time to develop personal statements and supplemental application essays, one of my favorite areas of expertise. As with test prep, my proprietary approach has supported students in creating applications that are highly effective in engaging admissions officers and boosting admissions odds. After getting to know each other during weekly in-home test-prep sessions, we're well prepared to highlight what makes each student special and present that with joy, passion and style.

Historically, I've worked strictly in students' homes in and around Santa Monica with students attending Crossroads, Harvard-Westlake, Archer, New Roads, Marlborough, Marymount, Santa Monica High School and many more. Of course the pandemic changed the nature of the game, and I think we've all become comfortable working remotely. I'm no exception, and I now successfully work with families across the United States. 

Have more questions? Of course you do! Want to get started? I hope so! Just send a message with preferred contact information, which I'll be sure to return within 24 hours.