Why choose YEL?

Getting accepted to college today is harder and more competitive than it has ever been.  The best universities in the country routinely receive more and more applications each year than the previous.  While there are many factors that determine admission, no single factor gets a foot in the door quite like a high standardized test score.  The GPA, extracurricular activities, community service, unique life experiences - all of these are important but with one crucial difference.  They're a lot more difficult to change or cultivate.  A good GPA takes years of hard work and concentration and requires perseverance in both good and bad classes.  There's no magic formula for guaranteed success.  With standardized test scores, however, the story is different.  With the right commitment, preparation, and mindset, a score can change in a matter of hours and elevate a previously sub-par candidate to acceptance status.  Of all the factors driving the decision to accept or reject, none is more subject to change and improvement than the standardized test score.  This is a fact.

What parents want more than anything is the peace of mind of knowing they've done everything they could to set their children up for good lives.  This is exactly what YEL provides - peace of mind.  Peace of mind that your child is receiving personalized, caring attention and the best test preparation available.  Peace of mind that your child is building the confidence and skills needed to dramatically improve test taking abilities.  Peace of mind that your child is maximizing his or her chances of admission to the nation's best universities.  And of course, peace of mind that you have done what you could to ensure that your legacy, hard work, and achievements are carried on to the next generation as well.  

The test prep industry is vast and much of it corporate.  Tutoring centers like Huntington, Kaplan, Sylvan, and a slew of others have established test prep machinery and have become masters at grinding students through it in order to maximize billable hours.  There's no real personalization or investment in your child that occurs there.  Your child is just like every other child, exposed to the same program, receiving the same level of attention, and overall, of not much significance or importance  At YEL, however, it is different.  It is not about quantity but quality.  Each student and each session is unique.  The YEL tutoring experience as a whole is much more than an education in test taking, strategies and tips.  Rather, it is a relationship that addresses the needs of the whole child and ensures that each student leaves each session feeling more confident about the test, about his or her abilities, and about the future in general.  It is a profoundly competent and convenient experience, but one that is also efficient.  Results and improvements become tangible right away.  By investing in YEL test preparation, you are both maximizing your child's chances of getting into a top tiered university and providing a tutoring experience unlike any other.  

From 2008 to 2022, I was a full time high school social studies teacher. Every one of those years, I connected with my students, motivated them, and pushed them to believe in themselves. I worked with every type of student across a wide range of abilities and learned how to meet them at their level.

My first experience with standardized tests was in high school. They seemed easy to me, natural. I did really well. So, it made a lot of sense to help prepare others for them, which I started to do in 2007. Since then, I’ve taught hundreds of students how to break down these tests and know exactly what they’re being tested on. And since 2022, I’ve made this work my exclusive focus.

Every new student is a new relationship. I discover a student’s strengths, weaknesses and passions and use all of them in crafting a personalized approach to help them reach their fullest potential. Through a combination of content review, test taking strategy, and confidence building, I elevate each student’s belief in themselves.

As a parent of four students myself, I understand firsthand each parent’s desire to help their young ones thrive, take on challenges, and grow up confident, self-assured, and successful. This is the essence of Your Examined Life, and it is my promise to you.