Problem
Maya, a genial, capable, creative, and astute then-11th-grader was preparing to complete college applications, which meant she’d need to have ACT or SAT scores at the ready.
Her parents had hired tutors, before, but their methods didn’t seem to jibe well with Maya; her test scores hadn’t improved, and she didn’t think she was learning much from them. Maya wanted to earn what her family had dubbed “a super score”, which would give her a competitive edge. (Unfortunately, I’m not at liberty to share that score with the public, but I will say it’s definitely above average.) Because we didn’t have much time to prepare, I didn’t think we’d be able to earn that score, but I was willing to try.
The Process
June 2017, Maya’s mom, Rachel, reached out to get help for Maya, who wanted to prepare to crush the ACT, as it’s commonly believed that the ACT is more straightforward than the SAT. (This used to be true.) Because the format of the diagnostic test was particularly overwhelming for Maya, and because the ACT and SAT are almost on par with each other, I had Maya, also (on another day) take an SAT diagnostic. After reconsiderations (and sprinklings of faith in my judgement), the family decided to shift gears, foregoing focus on the ACT to make SAT preparation the focus of our time together.
Maya and I met for our first learning session on July 8, 2017. For the 8 weeks we worked together, we met twice each week, with most sessions lasting 1.5 hours; 2 sessions lasted 2 hours each.
We tackled prescriptive writing tenets, vocabulary augmentation, intermediate algebra, and personalized test-taking strategies. Quite a bit was stuffed into each session, but Maya took it all in stride.
Our last session date was October 4, 2017.
Results
Our last session date was October 4, 2017. November 2017, Maya sat for the SAT. She didn’t earn her super score, but she came so close to it that I can smell it. (Oh, how I wish I could share.)
- Increased score by 200 points
- Acceptance to 1st Choice Institution
- Hours Purchased: 31.75
Earned Merit-Based Scholarship
Maya’s family paid relatively few college-related expenses because Maya’s SAT scores and other attributes helped her earn a full-ride scholarship.
Admission to Preferred Institution
Maya earned a coveted spot at Spelman College.
Paying for tutoring was a huge investment for me and we had tried other tutors without much success. Kenisha was different, and I trusted her to get through to my daughter from the very beginning. She is warm, yet firm. Nurturing, yet holds students accountable. I especially appreciated how professional she was in all aspects of the business. I HIGHLY recommend her if you are looking for an excellent SAT tutor that will go the extra mile to make your young person feel welcome and important. Priceless!
Rachel B.
Proud Mother of Maya Otey