We asked SAT prep students to evaluate their experience. Here are some of their comments.
“The SAT Writing Preparation class helped me beyond the point of simply taking a test. The teacher’s unique pedagogy and professionalism drastically helped me improve a life skill rather than a way to handle an exam. I am very content and thankful for her lessons.” Tianda Deng, Stanford University
“Before I came to Mill Creek, English was definitely something that I was very reluctant to deal with. Any writing assignment that I had would be difficult for me because I always felt my writing ability was not up to par. MCA not only helped me to improve my writing ability, it also exponentially increased my confidence in communicating through writing, making the skills I learned influential pass the classroom to all aspects of my life.” Roger Chen, Stanford University
“Mill Creek classes follow a curriculum that is closely related to that of the local high schools, therefore, making it easy for students to relate to both courses. I was able to apply the knowledge I learned at Mill Creek to not just school but also to the SAT and other exams. I definitely enjoyed learning in such a friendly environment with teachers that truly cared about my academic achievements.” Elisa Ting, USC
“MCA has always been there for me whenever I was struggling in a class. The teachers genuinely care about my performance in school and are willing to work with me so that I am able to benefit as much as possible from the class. The SAT classes especially have helped me beyond the test, but in life by improving my vocabulary and writing skills.” Emily Sutedja, Cal Poly SLO
SAT Verbal I (Critical Reading / Grammar and Vocabulary)
“Instead of simply teaching strategies, the material itself is taught and the methods for learning vocabulary are helpful. Analyzing passages in class was very useful when taking the actual SAT, and the vocabulary was easier to recall.” (Brian C.)
“I would recommend this class because it teaches you ways to how to get around the vocabulary and reading comprehension passages. It also teaches you how to memorize. This class also gives vocabulary tests which are really good, and the homework teaches SAT secrets.” (Vikaas P.)
“I loved how we learned so many new vocabulary words. It really broadened my vocabulary bank! When I took the SAT, I was really confident when I saw the vocabulary words, and we had learned them. It was a really interactive and fun class. I learned a lot!” (Christine C.)
“This is such a good class. It helped me a lot in my vocabulary and I would like my friends to also get better vocabulary. I think that the environment of the class was not that good because we were frequently distracted by the music and the math classes around us.” (Harika K.)
“Ms. Johnson is very enthusiastic about teaching. Her classes are much more lively than any other class.” (Charlene C.)
“I improved my critical reading score a lot and improved my vocabulary. Thanks!” (George K.)
“I can’t wait to take the SAT again to see how much I improved in the critical reading section because I feel so much more confident than before in my worst area!” (Jill R.)
“Instead of simply teaching strategies, the material itself is taught and the methods for learning vocabulary are helpful. Analyzing passages in class was very useful when taking the actual SAT, and the vocabulary was easier to recall.” (Michelle L.)
“It helped my grammar a lot; so in addition to helping with my SAT score, it’ll help with my grammar in English class at school. I would recommend this class to my friends because it helped me almost double my score on the SAT and because I became a better writer. This class also helped my grammar and my understanding of standard English.” (John L.)
“You explained the grammar rules very clearly, and the examples you used really helped me remember them. I think this is a great class to attend if anyone is interested in improving their writing scores. I’ve been to other SAT classes, but this class helped me the most. Thank you.” (ChenChen B.)
“This class is extremely comprehensive and well-taught. The supplemental book that we used for the grammar portion was helpful because it went into much more depth and exposed us to questions much more difficult than in the actual SAT. The many essays also helped me to speed up my thinking and writing.” (Stephanie E.)
“I think it is really helpful in learning “real” English and recognizing the mistakes in everyday English. When I took the SAT last weekend, I realized that I identified many errors that I probably would not have recognized before. Of course, taking this course during Junior year with all the AP and Honors classes could be really exhausting, but in the long run, I think it’s worth it. Classes are helpful, and Mrs. Sabraw’s unique humor makes classes interesting. Helpful feedback and advice is given.” (Howard H.)
“Mrs. Sabraw was extremely fun to learn with. It’s amazing how she was able to make grammar something fun to learn. She also made remembering all the rules much easier with her witty memory by associations.” (Stephanie R.)
“I believe that Mill Creek Academy has helped me increase my test scores dramatically, and I am extremely grateful for it.” (Shamili J.)
“The SAT Verbal class was great! I had the opportunity to learn everything I needed to know about the writing section on the SAT I. I learned grammar, sentence and paragraph improvement. I also received a lot of advice on my 25-minute essay, which helped to improve my skills and write a stronger final essay. Mrs. Richey was very helpful and informative with her comments and scoring. The course not only improved my SAT writing score, but it improved my essay writing skills as well! Thank you Mill Creek Academy!” (Chelsea K.)
“At the beginning of my SAT Verbal Part 2 class at Mill Creek Academy, I did not understand or like grammar. By the end of the course, Mrs. Richey helped me gain much more confidence, just as she promised! This class teaches you lessons that you do not learn in school.” (William F.)
“The writing skills that I learned in my SAT writing class not only made me feel more confident in writing my essay for the SAT, they also made me feel more confident in writing any essay for any class in school!” (Julie Y.)
“The teacher [Mrs. Sabraw] is very dedicated to the subject she teaches, and I have improved my score more than 200 points from just one hour a class, one class a week in a three-month period.” (Frank L.)
“This class is filled with new, fresh grammar for students and preparation tests for the difficult writing SAT test. It is extremely helpful for those eager to achieve well on the SAT.” (Priyanka L.)
“My test score was way better. It improved from a 400 to a 750.” (Ellie P.)
“This class definitely offered additional insight into the subject areas of grammar and writing. If you have great grammar to begin with, the class helps you fine tune your ideas through several 25 minute essays that the teacher grades and hands back with comments. If you write great essays, then this class helps you develop your grammar and standard usage of English to use on the SAT II and for the rest of your life. It’s a win-win situation!” (Sara C.)
“Through my SAT I writing class, I was able to organize my thoughts within each paragraph and within the whole essay. I learned a lot in this class.” (Dipti K.)
“This class was amazing! I learned so many things I had never learned in any high school English class. Both my writing and my grammar greatly improved.” (Jane W.)
“Mrs. Sabraw was a great teacher and I wish I could have had her as my regular school teacher as well. She really helped me improve my essays and she made class interesting all the time. I really got a lot out of this class and I would recommend this to anyone willing to improve their SAT writing score.” (Tiffany G.)
“I will never forget the time I took my first practice SAT last summer and got a disappointing score and the weak essay rating of 6. However, with the outstanding teaching of Mrs. Sabraw, I improved my score radically by about 350 points in the writing section alone and an essay score of 10. Thanks to Mill Creek, I was able to get the score I dreamed about into a reality–without spending too much time.” (Benjamin L.)
“I was disappointed, because as a senior, I was still not done with my SATs. I had taken it three times previously and all three scores fluctuated in the same range. I enrolled in the Writing SAT class offered at Mill Creek Academy. Honestly, it’s the best class I have ever taken. I have taken a writing class at Excel Test Prep in the past; however, they did not help me as Mrs. Sabraw did. She spent countless hours grading practice essays and writing such helpful comments; it felt like one-on-one tutoring. My essay score jumped 2 grades and my writing score was the highest it has ever been. I wish I had taken Mrs. Sabraw’s class earlier because she is such an amazing teacher.” (Sonya J.)
“The SAT Writing class at Mill Creek Academy effectively reviewed the essential concepts and techniques for successful grammar and essay writing. The teachers are experienced instructors who understand student needs, and helps them overcome their difficulties. She also knows how to relate problems to excellent examples in life. Her teaching factored into my achieving an 800 on the SAT I Writing section, including a 12 on the essay. Mrs. Sabraw’s guidance and encouragement have helped me perform to my highest potential. Thanks for both the outstanding instruction and inspiration!” (Irving H.)
“Mill Creek was an excellent way to sharpen my writing and grammar skills. At school, they never really taught us specific rules for the English language; however, Mill Creek does. I took a different SAT prep course, but my experience at Mill Creek Academy was so much better. Unlike the other SAT class, the Mill Creek course prepares you well for the dreaded SAT. By the time I finished the course, I was confident in my abilities to perform during the SAT test as well as during school.” (Victoria G.)
“Taking the SAT Writing class at Mill Creek Academy was extremely beneficial for my preparation for the SAT. It gave me confidence in my writing skills and grammar. It prepared me for timed-writing assignments in junior year and made English one of my favorite subjects. I highly suggest taking an SAT prep class at Mill Creek Academy.” (John B.)
“Thanks to Mrs. Sabraw at Mill Creek Academy, I can proudly say that i increased my writing score significantly and achieved a wonderful SAT score.” (Anthony N.)
“The way we learned the information that we needed to succeed for the SAT was not only fast and efficient, but also it was fun and memorable. Now I don’t have to stress and cram for the SAT because the information is clear in my mind.” (Grace V.)
“The teachers are really focused and know exactly what to do to help their students improve. They can identify a student’s weakness and help him in those areas. Because of their attentiveness, I achieved a score on the SAT that I am satisfied with.” (David C.)
“Mill Creek Academy provides a fun yet intelligent environment to work in. The teachers know how to deal with their students’ needs. I think I will choose Mill Creek for my SAT Preparation.” (Raymond C.)
“Before I attended Mill Creek Academy’s preparatory courses for the writing and critical reading sections of the SAT, I had never been able to achieve a score above 700 on either of the aforementioned sections. Though I could write competently when given a substantial amount of time, say, six hours, I could formulate barely a sentence in the twenty-five minutes allotted to students on the SAT writing section. I am notorious among my peers for being the last one to turn in every in-class essay. However, after undergoing Mill Creek’s rigorous summer SAT writing and grammar class, I was able to churn out a satisfactory essay in the required time. Needless to say, my writing score was vastly improved. The course also provided an endless source of delight to me, as it expounded on one of the finer points of the English language: grammar. I have always been a stickler for proper grammar, even in colloquial English, so I was both elated and vindicated by Mill Creek’s similar insistence upon such perfection in our writing. Not to be outdone, the SAT I Verbal Part 1 class on the critical reading portion of the SAT was the predominant factor in ameliorating my critical reading score. Memorizing the various lists of vocabulary words provided to us and utilizing the proven strategies taught to us augmented my critical reading score considerably; I achieved a score that I thought I was incapable of attaining. I attribute my substantial improvement on the SAT critical reading and writing sections wholly to Mill Creek Academy’s thorough and effective SAT preparatory courses.” (Sarah F.)
“The SAT Verbal Prep class was very beneficial in the techniques they taught on active reading, allowing me to skim the passages and answer choices at faster speeds and to free up more time for double checking my answers. Memorizing pages of SAT words were also made easy by using the unique strategies they emphasized in their small classes. With MCA’s help, I was able to achieve a Verbal score that gained me acceptance into UC Berkeley, and other East Coast schools. Thank you Mill Creek Academy!” (Christopher H.)
“The writing class I took for the SAT was very helpful to me. The teacher led a class that was both fun and full of good material at the same time. I especially enjoyed the class discussions and the interaction between student and teacher. She even drew out some of the shy students into participation. I would take this class again.” (Josh C.)
“My daughter had outstanding results with Mill Creek SAT prep and writing courses. She writes with confidence and now uses much more sophisticated vocabulary. The teachers are excellent and the small class sizes are very helpful. I highly recommend Mill Creek Academy.” (Sheri K., Parent)
SAT Math
“Mrs. Lorenz’ SAT math class was great! I learned many new SAT strategies, acquired SAT experience and increased my confidence for the SAT. There was also a great review of past math problems. I would recommend this class at Mill Creek Academy.” (Jenny V.)
“The SAT math class helped my score go way up! I also got to see where I needed improvement and to work harder. Thanks Mill Creek Academy.” (Justin D.)
“Small groups and comfortable environment made everything casual and it was really worthwhile.” (Lahari R.)
“The SAT I Math preparatory class was a vital element in improving my overall score. Thanks Mr. DiPaola” (Victor L.)
“In this class, I was able to learn many math skills from Mr. Di Paola that will help me take the SAT. Whenever I had questions, he would explain how to get to the solution.” (Samantha G.)
“I liked my teacher and his method of teaching. It increased my understanding of math. The most important things I’ve gained are tactics and experience.” (Nishita P.)
“During this session, I learned many different strategies on how to make the math portion of the SAT easier. Mr. Di Paola made me think of problems in a different way that is easy to understand.” (Mark W.)
