<p>For anybody that has taken SAT prep classes there, how are they? I am considering taking one for the Biology Subject Test. Are they effective? How are the instructors? Anything I need to know?</p>
<p>I’ve taken the SAT Elite thing in Northridge, CA and my friend took the Elite thing in Valencia, CA. </p>
<p>We both thought the teachers were nice, thoughtful, intelligent, but most importantly helpful. The kids were nice but competitive. And the atmosphere was good and comfortable enough to help us compete against each other but still learn and befriend one another. </p>
<p>For me, I just needed to apply what I learned from the Elite institute to my actual test-taking because while taking a 3 month course there, I didn’t improve my score at all. But after 3 months of rest, I opened my SAT Guide again, studied for a bout week, took a test and got a score of 2160, which is a 200 point increase from my dads in the summer with Elite. I took 3 more tests and they were all above 2160. But I know that it was because of the knowledge I gained from Elite that helped me improve. </p>
<p>But be aware that some Elite institutes are not as successful as others. I personally know that Valencia and Northridge are good. San Diego is very competitive (6 students from that city got a perfect 2400). But besides that I don’t know the individual branches of the institute. </p>
<p>Hope this was helpful</p>
<p>^Yes, 6 students from that center have received perfect scores on the SAT, but how many students have taken Elite boot camps/weekend sessions in total? Without context, that might as well be six students out of six thousand. Not so impressive now, is it?</p>
<p>I did summer boot camp at a NorCal location. It was helpful, yes, but absolutely not worth the price. The director was professional, but often provided terrible advice (e.g. “You aren’t ready to take the SAT in October; you won’t make it past a 2100. Keep on taking out Elite SAT classes until you’re ready!”)…which was a shamelessly transparent ploy to get me to keep feeding them money.</p>
<p>For the record, I scored a 2360 on the real deal. At Elite, I never scored above a 2020. Had I kept going with Elite, I would have wasted a significant amount of time (considering that weekend classes were 9 hours long) and a ridiculous amount of money.</p>
<p>tl;dr - Elite is only worth it if you have money to burn, time to sacrifice, and no motivation to self-study. Personal experience only.</p>
<p>I know about 6-8 kids took Elite this summer and winter, I don’t think Elite course helped them. Their SAT scores came in around 2000. It’s more efficient if you save the money and time and prep it yourself. Elite gives a lot of homework. Not worth it.</p>
<p>Did Elite at Anaheim (Summer Boot Camp on weekdays), was in the top class, scored the top score in the branch a couple times. I hit a 2290 once, and the rest of my scores were 2150-ish.</p>
<p>The teachers-- Pretty good. Some were more experienced than others, for sure. Interestingly enough, I got an 800 & 12 essay with the worst teacher (writing) and 720 with the best (CR). Math is self explanatory, but I picked up some tips that helped me go a bit faster.</p>
<p>The material-- Close enough to the SAT itself. But imo, get the books. Same thing, pretty much. Difference? Less money.</p>
<p>The students-- I’m not from Anaheim (just lived with my uncle during the time), but I made some pretty good friends. Not that you should be doing Elite if you want to make friends, but it was nice coming from a school that didn’t care if you did well to working around some pretty competitive (but still easygoing and funny) students.</p>
<p>However, I noticed there were a bunch of unmotivated kids, too, who simply were in there because their parents threw them in there, and scored no more than 1500 each time. Rich Yorba Linda kids… hmm. Yeah, you get a mix.</p>
<p>I agree-- if you want a good score and want to save money, just buy those prep books. </p>
<p>FYI, I got a 2270-- 720 CR 750 M 800 W + 12 essay</p>
<p>Should I be doing elite if I scored a 1900 on my first SAT? What should I do to get it to a 2100+? (if possible)</p>
<p>Honestly its only helpful if youre willing to put in the time and effort. It was really helpful for me because they maketheir tests significantly harder than the actual SAT.</p>
<p>On their tests i never got above a 2050 but on the real thing i got a 2240. </p>
<p>I went to the one on LA.</p>
<p>Sent from my SGH-T959 using CC App</p>
<p>@warlands719–
If you’re not very motivated and are willing to work hard to finish the assignments, then do it. I went from a 1900 on their practice test (2000 average in the official guide), to 2270, and hoping to do better on this Jan. one.</p>
<p>I think if you do the work, Elite gives you the ability to do better. If that makes any sense.</p>
<p>@warlands719: Personally I think the score deflation isn’t worth it. I started out at a 2020 on a different practice test, then took Elite’s diagnostic test and scored a 1950.</p>
<p>So I said screw it, I’ll just self study. I ended up taking all of one test out the blue book (kinda feel bad about buying so many books only to do fine without using them…), scored a 2280 my first time with a 790 CR 800 W with 10 essay and a 690 M. Don’t throw your money at them, throw your money into some books.</p>
Just saw this, I know it was posted 3 years ago but I just wanted to say that perhaps you got a 2280 because of elite. Their practice tests are a lot harder than the blue book so your Elite score was probably lower, not because they didn’t teach you anything but because their test it harder. Your success on the Blue Book could have been because of your Elite Prep.
Do you guys know the cost of the summer boot camp for Elite?
ELITE is very expensive. I’m currently enrolled and it costed my parents $2350. Honestly though, I was one of those Asian kids that got forced into ELITE by competitive parents. My personal opinion is that self-studying with a few test prep books would be a much better investment.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Closing thread. Any new questions should be a new discussion, and not reviving a 5 year old thread.