PrepMe Blog

27Apr/110

Student Spotlight: John Holland (who needed a 30+ ACT score and scored a 31 to boot!)

PrepMe student John Holland achieved a 31 (97th percentile) on the March 2011 ACT via the Michigan Merit Examination

We often receive emails and letters from families sharing their PrepMe success stories. Occasionally, we get call-ins, which are an ultimate pleasure.

A few weeks ago, the mother of ACT student John Holland phoned in and could barely contain her excitement. She quickly spilled the beans that her son John had not only achieved the 30+ ACT score he was looking for on his March 2011 exam, but also nabbed a 31—the highest composite score he had achieved to date. We were overjoyed for the family.

This past week, we interviewed John to learn more about his journey through PrepMe.

How did the ACT go?

Here’s my score breakdown:

PLAN (10^th)		ACT (11^th)		SCORE DELTA
Composite	25	Composite	31	+ 6
--English	21	--English	30	+9
--Math	29	--Math	30	+1
--Reading	22	--Reading	31	+9
--Science	28	--Science	31	+3
TOTAL				+ 6 POINTS

I also scored a 10 (out of 12) on the Writing section of the ACT on the March 2011 exam.

When I started taking practice tests through PrepMe, I realized my scores weren’t bad but they weren’t stellar either. As I progressed through the program, I noticed that my composite scores continually improved.

When I took the actual exam, I received a 31—a score that was higher than any score I had received on prior practice tests. In retrospect, I could tell the program paid off and that all of the skills that I picked up along the way were directly applicable on test day.

How do you feel PrepMe helped you the most?

The program not only introduced areas that I hadn’t touched upon in the classroom, but it also spent a significant amount of time reviewing areas that I hadn’t covered in a while such as geometry and comma rules. I found the review particularly helpful.

I was really glad for the quizzes. If it weren’t for the quizzes, then I would have just been pumping knowledge into my brain without any practice. The quizzes reinforced concepts and made me test-ready.

How would you compare our online courses to alternative test prep methods such as books and courses?

PrepMe was my main form of prep, but prior to starting PrepMe, I did peruse a few old ACT books that belonged to my older brother.

Reading a book doesn’t offer much flexibility. There’s no catering to the specific person. With PrepMe, I had lessons and quizzes each week that were based upon my strengths and weaknesses. Areas that I was weak in, I focused on heavily. Science—an area that I’m strong in—was not covered as much, which saved me time and allowed me to focus on higher priority areas.

Would you recommend PrepMe to others?

Yes, I would. Even if you are very smart, even if you have a knack for test-taking, there is always material that you’ve forgotten or areas that you haven’t learned. PrepMe really helps you develop your skills and raise your test scores.

What has a high ACT score enabled you to do?

It has helped me improve my chances of getting into my dream college: University of Michigan. Prior to enrolling in PrepMe, I already knew that I wanted to attend the University of Michigan. Based on my research, I knew that I would need a score of 30 or higher to be competitive in applying to that school. PrepMe prepared me adequately, and I genuinely felt it had a direct impact on me achieving my target score.

I want to thank PrepMe’s Advisors for helping me. On the day of my exam, I read an article from The Economist, per my Advisor’s tip. When I received my first Reading passage during the exam, I felt I understood it immediately after reading it through only once. I felt so ready to score well that day.

Special thanks goes to PrepMe as a whole for improving my chances of getting into Michigan—versus settling for another college that I wasn’t as interested in.

What are your post-high school plans?

To attend University of Michigan. Eventually, I want to go to graduate school and earn a PhD.

Is there anything else you’d like to add about your PrepMe program or experience?

(Mrs. Holland)

I liked that the program was really flexible. He’s a busy student, so it fit into his timetable. I also liked that I could sign up for PrepMe 9 months in advance. This way, whenever he had free time, he was able to squeeze in PrepMe studying here and there, over the course of several months.

I also really liked your reports. You guys are like professional naggers—in a good way, of course.

Also, I felt like everyone at PrepMe was very friendly. I can’t recommend your program and your company highly enough.

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24Feb/110

Student Spotlight: Kira Schott (who achieved a 97th percentile score on the SAT!)

PrepMe student Kira Scott achieved a 2200 (97th percentile) on the January 2011 SAT.

Today, PrepMe kicks off a new series entitled, “Student Spotlight” in which we profile some of our best and brightest students. The goal of this series is to impart nuggets of test prep and college admissions wisdom to the PrepMe community through sharing real-life stories, thoughts, and opinions from past and present students. Whether you are a student, a parent, or someone who just loves success stories, we hope you enjoy these posts.

You may remember Kira Schott from our last blog post. Winner of PrepMe’s Fall 2010 “Back to School” photo contest. Kira is no stranger to the PrepMe Team—in fact, we are huge fans of hers! Since winning our contest, she has gone on to have major success on the SATs and has started applying to colleges. We caught up with her last week to hear about her experiences with PrepMe.

When last we spoke, you were studying hard for the January 22nd exam. How did the SAT go?

It was great! My scores increased by 70 points. The breakdown:

When last we spoke, you were studying hard for the January 22nd exam. How did the SAT go?

It was great! My scores increased by 70 points. The breakdown:

How do you feel PrepMe helped you the most?

I think it was most helpful in finding my areas of weakness and focusing my study on those areas. The other option would have been to study using books—which would have been more difficult for me to figure out what to study most. PrepMe told me what I needed to work on. Also, I found the program flexible. It was easy to log on whenever I had free time to study.

How would you compare our online courses to alternative test prep methods such as books and courses?

Compared to books, PrepMe is more targeted. PrepMe chooses what I should study based on what I need to study.

I’ve never taken a prep course before, but friends told me it was like being in a regular classroom with other students. The teacher tells you what to study and I don’t think that would’ve worked for me. Because PrepMe is customized, you can make as much of it or as little of it as you see fit, which was perfect for my study style and situation.

Would you recommend PrepMe to others?

Yes, I would. It’s very flexible and looks at your specific needs. I think it would be a great tool for any student.

What has a higher SAT score enabled you to do?

I’m in the process of visiting colleges and researching engineering programs. All of the schools are looking seriously at test scores. I feel like I’m ahead of the game because of my high scores. That’s a plus.

What are your post-high school plans?

I want to go into engineering or some type of math/science-related field in college. I am still debating about whether to go to an engineering school or a broad liberal arts school. Wherever I end up going, I intend to be active in anything related to frontier science. For a career, I would like to write for a science magazine or perform research in a budding area such as renewable energy.

Is there anything else you’d like to add about your PrepMe program or experience?

PrepMe is a great tool with a unique edge. Thanks for creating it!

Congratulations on all of the success, Kira! The PrepMe team wishes you the best of luck in the admissions process, and we hope to catch up with you again when you have several letters of admittance in hand.

Stay tuned for next week’s “Student Spotlight.”

You may remember Kira Schott from our last blog post. Winner of PrepMe’s Fall 2010 “Back to School” photo contest, Kira is no stranger to the PrepMe Team—in fact, we are huge fans of hers! Since winning our contest, she has gone on to have major success on the SATs and has started applying to colleges. We caught up with her last week to hear about her experiences with PrepMe.

When last we spoke, you were studying hard for the January 22nd exam. How did the SAT go?

It was great! My scores increased by 70 points. The breakdown:

December 2010		January 2011		Score Delta
Math	750	Math	770	+ 20 points
Critical Reading	710	Critical Reading	740	+ 30 points
Writing	670	Writing	690	+ 20 points
TOTAL				+ 70 points

How do you feel PrepMe helped you the most?

How would you compare our online courses to alternative test prep methods such as books and courses?

Compared to books, PrepMe is more targeted. PrepMe chooses what I should study based on what I need to study.

Would you recommend PrepMe to others?

Yes, I would. It’s very flexible and looks at your specific needs. I think it would be a great tool for any student.

What has a higher SAT score enabled you to do?

What are your post-high school plans?

Is there anything else you’d like to add about your PrepMe program or experience?

PrepMe is a great tool with a unique edge. Thanks for creating it!

Stay tuned for next week’s “Student Spotlight.”

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4Jan/110

And the iPad goes to…

...Kira Schott of New Canaan, CT!

Congratulations to Kira for winning PrepMe's Fall 2010 "Back to School" photo contest! She bested hundreds of other PrepMe students with her innovative entries incorporating her passion for skating and, of course, the PrepMe logo. Below are photos from her winning collection:

Honorable mentions: Rodney Mosier (link to entry), Jacquelyn Wagner (link to entry), and Velvet Case (link to entry).

Not only did Kira submit some amazing photos, but she also offered some kind words about the PrepMe program:

Thank you for giving me the opportunity for success. I live in an area where students are expected to hire private tutors or take classes to prepare for tests like the SATs and the ACTs. PrepMe is a unique alternative. I am so happy to have found an individualized program that can help me work on the areas where I need improvement. I am confident that I will be prepared for the exams.

For her efforts, Kira will receive a brand new Apple iPad compliments of PrepMe.

Thanks to all students who participated!

Filed under: ACT, Photo Contest, PrepMe, SAT No Comments

14Oct/100

PrepMe Photo Contest Fall 2010!

In celebration of the beginning of what looks to be the beginning of a great school year, and the beginning of testing season, PrepMe is having another Photo Contest! And this time we've upped the ante: Grand Prize is an Apple iPad!

Win an iPad

This time around, there is a theme: "Taking it To The Streets." We want to see you showing off both your hometown and PrepMe colors boldly with photos of you out and about your town! The more creative you are in incorporating the word "PrepMe" somewhere in your photo, the better your chances!

(Optional) Also, we would love to hear about your great experience with PrepMe. So when you send us your photos, let us know about your experience with PrepMe.

The rules are simple:

Send us a photo at photocontest@prepme.com of yourself in your town incorporating the word "PrepMe" somewhere in the photo
You must have a shipping address located within the continental United States
You must be a member of our Facebook page (e.g., you must "like" PrepMe on FB)
Your photo must contain the word "PrepMe" somewhere in the photo (we will accept any photos with "PrepMe" incorporated in the photo, however you will have a much greater chance at winning if your face is somewhere in the photo. See previous entrants here and here.)
You may submit up to 3 photos to be considered for the Grand Prize (only 1 photo out of up to the maximum 3 photos will be considered for the prize)
Deadline to submit photo(s) to photocontest@prepme.com is November 15, 2010 at 12:01 am

Finally, a few regulations:

No profanity.
By submitting a photo, you give PrepMe LLC permission to use your photo and/or quoted text for publicity purposes.

Pretty simple!

So get out your cameras, let those creative juices flow, and have fun! Remember, the more creative the pic(s), the greater chance you have of winning!

We can't wait to see your great photos! Have fun, and good luck!

Cheers,

Matthew Hyland

Academic Counselor

PrepMe.com

email: mhyland@prepme.com

PrepMe Photo Contest Fall 2010!

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29Jun/100

BEHOLD! The New PrepMe.com!

Hello PrepMe Network!

Exciting things have been happening behind the scenes here at PrepMe, and I would like to give you a little taste of what is to come in the very near future!

Starting July 1, 2010, the PrepMe Virtual Classroom will roll out better than ever as our Engineering and Design Teams have been working hard to give the site a much needed makeover. So behold... (::drumroll::) ...the new and improved PrepMe logo!

...and the new logo is just the beginning! Below are a few teasers of what the new PrepMe Classroom will look like.

the new PrepMe Login Page
the new PrepMe Course List
the new PrepMe My Account Page
the new PrepMe My Schedule Page
...and many more changes which you will see starting July 1st.

We hope you enjoy the facelift to the Virtual Classroom. Our goal was to make the learning experience simpler and more efficient, maybe even more aesthetically-pleasing. As you poke around the new Classroom, please feel free to contact us at 1-877-PREPME-4 or support@prepme.com with anything. We welcome questions, feedback, suggestions for improvement, and even a simple "Thanks" to the people who made it all happen.

Signing off,

Matthew Hyland
Academic Counselor

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13May/100

Sound Advice from Stephen Colbert

Have you heard the word?

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Stephen's Sound Advice - How to Ace the SATs
www.colbertnation.com

If so, you are very well-informed Americans of the Colbert Nation. If not, listen up: Stephen Colbert speaks the truth because he has the facts. And Stephen’s Sound Advice is that you must ace the SAT’s or ACT’s if you want to get into your top-choice college and get a good job.

Luckily, although Stephen asserts that you must spend money to prep for the exam, PrepMe offers premium online test prep starting at $299. We also offer a 100% money-back guarantee: your scores will go up or your money back.

And, in tribute to the good people of Colbert Nation, we're offering a special 10% discount off of our courses. To take advantage of the offer, apply the code COLBERT during enrollment or mention "The Colbert Report" to your PrepMe Advisor (1-877-773-7634). Offer is valid through May 31, 2010.

Learn more about our course offerings by clicking here.

Oh, by the way, the 10% off applies to the 20-hour video tutoring package as well.

Filed under: ACT, College, Press, SAT No Comments

22Oct/092

Chicago Innovation Award – One Year Later

One year ago, PrepMe was honored and humbled by winning a Chicago Innovation Award for launching one of the ten most innovative products in the Chicagoland area in 2008. On stage, we thanked our families for their support as we built PrepMe and thanked our students for being our inspiration and the reason we are so excited about what we're doing.

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We were very flattered by the wonderful team at the Chicago Innovation Awards as they asked us to present one of the awards this year. One year on, we are over three times bigger than we were last year and have added new products for families (video lectures) and schools (Essentials). It served as a reminder to our team that we must continue innovating. All of the progress we've made is terrific, but we have so much more to accomplish.

Thank you again to our students. Your success is our success. You continue to show us that helping fuel dreams and open doors is one of the best jobs that anyone could ask for.

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19Oct/090

Great minds think alike: shopping cart and burger menu design

Our engineering team went out to lunch at a burger place we all love: The Counter. Why do we love it? Because it's personalized.

As we sat down to order, one of our engineers noticed how similar The Counter's system for placing an order and PrepMe's new shopping cart are. Try out our new course enrollment process and judge for yourself.

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15Oct/090

Fewer than 40% of U.S. Students are Proficient in Mathematics

Another day, another set of articles (CNN: Report card shows U.S. students need to improve math skills; WSJ: U.S. Math Scores Hit a Wall) about how our students are failing and falling behind their classmates around the world.

We can publish study after study with the same conclusion, and politicians can point fingers at each other all they want, but in the meantime our students will continue to suffer. Our children may not vote or pay taxes, but they are our future and we must invest in them. As trite as that sounds, we as a nation need to care - and do - more about education.

We have already proven that, in many situations, online learning is better than classroom learning. Let's use online learning to help more students in a hybrid environment that combines the benefits of both kinds of learning.

Those of us who are online educators must become even more vocal advocates for improving student outcomes. We must also remind others that this is not an "us vs. them" contest; this is about helping our students. Let's remember why we decided to pursue careers in education in the first place - to help students learn.

Best,
Karan Goel
CEO & Co-Founder

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11Oct/090

Last-minute PSAT Tips From PrepMe

You've studied. You've practiced. You've worked hard. Now it's time to show the PSAT who's boss. But don't let up now. A few small things just before the test can make a world of difference. Presenting PrepMe's last-minute tips for acing the PSAT!

1. Get a good night's sleep and eat a proper breakfast.

First, the basics. Sleep 8 - 10 hours the night before your test and make sure to eat a real breakfast the morning of the test. The best breakfast is one with a variety of foods that have carbohydrates, protein, and fat.

2. Be prepared.

Assemble all of your materials for the next day and have them ready to go right by your door or in your backpack. You'll need your picture ID, sharpened pencils, eraser, calculator, extra batteries, test registration form, and driving directions. It's a good idea to pack some healthy snacks for extra energy, as well.

3. Read and write something before you leave home the morning of the test.

This one can make a huge difference in the first hour of the test. Read a newspaper article, a short magazine article, or a blog entry and write a paragraph summarizing what you've learned. This will ensure your brain is warmed up and functioning well before you take the test. You don't want the PSAT to be the first thing you read or write that morning!

4. Keep your momentum.

Try to keep a good pace to avoid running out of time on the final questions. Remember, each question has the same value. If a certain question holds you up, it's better to leave it for later than to get bogged down in one tough question. As a rule of thumb, try to get through the first 10 questions in each section within the first 7 minutes.

5. The PrepMe Slogan: Prepare. Relax. Ace.

You've already prepared with the best. Now relax a little: make sure to watch some TV, read a book, or talk to your friends online. Do something that relaxes you. Then walk into that test and demolish it. The PSAT will be over sooner than you realize; stay calm and focused and you'll ace the test!

Now you're officially ready. Make us proud!

1. Get a good night's sleep and eat a proper breakfast.

2. Be prepared.

3. Read and write something before you leave home the morning of the test.

4. Keep your momentum.

5. The PrepMe Slogan: Prepare. Relax. Ace.

Now you're officially ready. Make us proud! Call us at 1-877-PREPME-4 or email your PrepMe tutor and let us know how you did and how we can help you with your upcoming SAT.

P.S. If you still need a little more practice, take a free practice test, play our vocabulary building game, or download our free calculator tools which are permitted on the PSAT!

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Older Entries »

Student Spotlight: John Holland (who needed a 30+ ACT score and scored a 31 to boot!)

Student Spotlight: Kira Schott (who achieved a 97th percentile score on the SAT!)

And the iPad goes to…

PrepMe Photo Contest Fall 2010!

BEHOLD! The New PrepMe.com!

Sound Advice from Stephen Colbert

Chicago Innovation Award – One Year Later

Great minds think alike: shopping cart and burger menu design

Fewer than 40% of U.S. Students are Proficient in Mathematics

Last-minute PSAT Tips From PrepMe

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