Elite Educational Institute, better known as simply Elite, is a test preparation institution that covers anything from basic high school tutoring to college consulting. In Arcadia, it is one of the most popular options for summer prep when it comes to the SAT. Each summer, hundreds of Arcadia students spend thousands of dollars and varying hours learning and practicing for the important exam. The real question: is Elite Prep really worth it?
Different Programs
Elite offers various SAT prep programs during the summer, consisting of various class times and intensities that claim to improve your skills and scores. Some examples are the SAT Summer Boot Camp, SAT 1500+ Boot Camp, and SAT Weekend Prep. These various courses include study books from the Elite Prep company that cover all sections of the exam, and weekly practice exams are given as well. Elite also provides free diagnostic exams and a consulting session before committing to a summer-long program. For more information, visit Elite’s website at eliteprep.com!
Josie - SAT Weekend Prep
When I took the SAT prep course from Elite, I was also juggling summer school and summer assignments for the upcoming year. Additionally, I didn’t feel that my score needed an extreme boost after taking the initial diagnostic test, so I felt that the Weekend Prep course would allow me the most flexibility if I could stay disciplined and consistent throughout the summer.
The SAT Weekend Prep only required me to be at the Elite classroom two days a week: Friday afternoons to take my vocabulary quiz and practice exams, and a full day on Saturdays to go over homework, review the exam, and have lessons in all subject areas. This meant that there was a lot of self-responsibility to study on my own during the week and dedicate time to constant concept review.
I’ll admit, my motivation definitely decreased as the summer progressed, but I was fortunately able to pull through and end up with a score that I was satisfied with by August. However, I don’t recommend this course plan for people who cannot handle as much flexibility and would do better in the long run with rigid instruction. Furthermore, there is simply no way for daily lessons such as during the SAT Summer Boot Camp to equate to only one long day of class, as it’s easier to lose focus and slack off with so much freedom.
Elite offers various SAT prep programs during the summer, consisting of various class times and intensities that claim to improve your skills and scores. Some examples are the SAT Summer Boot Camp, SAT 1500+ Boot Camp, and SAT Weekend Prep. These various courses include study books from the Elite Prep company that cover all sections of the exam, and weekly practice exams are given as well. Elite also provides free diagnostic exams and a consulting session before committing to a summer-long program. For more information, visit Elite’s website at eliteprep.com!
Josie - SAT Weekend Prep
When I took the SAT prep course from Elite, I was also juggling summer school and summer assignments for the upcoming year. Additionally, I didn’t feel that my score needed an extreme boost after taking the initial diagnostic test, so I felt that the Weekend Prep course would allow me the most flexibility if I could stay disciplined and consistent throughout the summer.
The SAT Weekend Prep only required me to be at the Elite classroom two days a week: Friday afternoons to take my vocabulary quiz and practice exams, and a full day on Saturdays to go over homework, review the exam, and have lessons in all subject areas. This meant that there was a lot of self-responsibility to study on my own during the week and dedicate time to constant concept review.
I’ll admit, my motivation definitely decreased as the summer progressed, but I was fortunately able to pull through and end up with a score that I was satisfied with by August. However, I don’t recommend this course plan for people who cannot handle as much flexibility and would do better in the long run with rigid instruction. Furthermore, there is simply no way for daily lessons such as during the SAT Summer Boot Camp to equate to only one long day of class, as it’s easier to lose focus and slack off with so much freedom.
Jenny - SAT Summer Boot Camp
Planning to utilize my summer effectively, I enrolled in both a summer school class and Elite’s SAT Afternoon Boot Camp. A determining factor that influenced me to choose Elite’s 4-day per week option was their organized and approachable instruction plan. Although it was demanding to attend summer school every morning and head straight to Elite Monday through Thursday, the schedule became a habitual pattern in no time.
The SAT Boot Camp comes in two different options, including a morning option Monday through Friday (8:30am-1pm) and an afternoon option Monday through Thursday (2:00pm-6:30pm). Despite the slight difference in time commitment and total expense, the material and pace of learning is generally similar. Specifically for the afternoon plan, students take a practice exam on Monday and review the test with each class on Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday, students attend two classes per day and learn new lessons. With a rather intense schedule composed of exams, multiple quizzes, and daily homework, students are propelled to use their time wisely in preparation for their upcoming SAT test.
Reflecting on my experience, I recommend the afternoon boot camp as a beneficial option to hone one’s test-taking ability and SAT preparation. Elite’s challenging yet reasonable schedule allowed me to steadily approach my goal score with sufficient time while enjoying Fridays off. The SAT Afternoon Boot Camp is a favorable option for students who plan to also attend summer school and are determined to stay diligent with both course loads.
Final Verdict
Based on our experiences, Elite’s Summer SAT Programs proved to be worthwhile in our academic journey. Both the SAT Weekend Prep and Afternoon Boot Camp kept us accountable and ultimately pushed us to increase our test scores. However, we mutually agree that Elite Prep is not mandatory to score higher and reach your aspiring test result.
Despite the benefits we have reaped through this experience, we believe the programs are overpriced (around $1500-$2700). The relatively high cost may be a deciding factor for many students and families, as there are plenty of more affordable options available such as self-studying with Barrons or Princeton Review’s SAT prep books, Khan Academy’s free resources, or even hiring a private tutor for more individualized instruction.
Key strategies Elite emphasizes is taking countless practice exams, analyzing why, how, and what questions you got wrong, building time-management, and expanding attention to detail. Ergo, students who already carry a strong drive to create their own SAT prep schedule and commit to persistent practicing will be as successful as those who enroll in Elite. Attending Elite does not guarantee a good score, and doing so certainly requires sufficient effort on your part. Take everything into consideration to help you make the most suitable decision.
We hope you enjoyed this article. For more content on how to find your academic success, check out some of our articles here on StarryScholar. If you have any questions/comments, feel free to leave them in our “Community Discussion” tab, or email us at @[email protected]! Remember, you got this ☆
Planning to utilize my summer effectively, I enrolled in both a summer school class and Elite’s SAT Afternoon Boot Camp. A determining factor that influenced me to choose Elite’s 4-day per week option was their organized and approachable instruction plan. Although it was demanding to attend summer school every morning and head straight to Elite Monday through Thursday, the schedule became a habitual pattern in no time.
The SAT Boot Camp comes in two different options, including a morning option Monday through Friday (8:30am-1pm) and an afternoon option Monday through Thursday (2:00pm-6:30pm). Despite the slight difference in time commitment and total expense, the material and pace of learning is generally similar. Specifically for the afternoon plan, students take a practice exam on Monday and review the test with each class on Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday, students attend two classes per day and learn new lessons. With a rather intense schedule composed of exams, multiple quizzes, and daily homework, students are propelled to use their time wisely in preparation for their upcoming SAT test.
Reflecting on my experience, I recommend the afternoon boot camp as a beneficial option to hone one’s test-taking ability and SAT preparation. Elite’s challenging yet reasonable schedule allowed me to steadily approach my goal score with sufficient time while enjoying Fridays off. The SAT Afternoon Boot Camp is a favorable option for students who plan to also attend summer school and are determined to stay diligent with both course loads.
Final Verdict
Based on our experiences, Elite’s Summer SAT Programs proved to be worthwhile in our academic journey. Both the SAT Weekend Prep and Afternoon Boot Camp kept us accountable and ultimately pushed us to increase our test scores. However, we mutually agree that Elite Prep is not mandatory to score higher and reach your aspiring test result.
Despite the benefits we have reaped through this experience, we believe the programs are overpriced (around $1500-$2700). The relatively high cost may be a deciding factor for many students and families, as there are plenty of more affordable options available such as self-studying with Barrons or Princeton Review’s SAT prep books, Khan Academy’s free resources, or even hiring a private tutor for more individualized instruction.
Key strategies Elite emphasizes is taking countless practice exams, analyzing why, how, and what questions you got wrong, building time-management, and expanding attention to detail. Ergo, students who already carry a strong drive to create their own SAT prep schedule and commit to persistent practicing will be as successful as those who enroll in Elite. Attending Elite does not guarantee a good score, and doing so certainly requires sufficient effort on your part. Take everything into consideration to help you make the most suitable decision.
We hope you enjoyed this article. For more content on how to find your academic success, check out some of our articles here on StarryScholar. If you have any questions/comments, feel free to leave them in our “Community Discussion” tab, or email us at @[email protected]! Remember, you got this ☆