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Successful Students
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Taking SAT classes at ACI was one of the best decisions of my life! During my time there, ACI helped me reach my full potential by helping me to identify my areas of weakness and by giving me important advice and strategies. The teachers made class enjoyable but still productive, and everyone at ACI was devoted to helping all of the students succeed. ACI helped me exceed my goal and achieve a score that I had initially thought was impossible for me. Thanks to ACI, I no longer have to worry about the SAT!
Nahlee Lin
October 2011 SAT Perfect Score!!
Currently a Junior in High School
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Thanks to ACI, I was accepted to Harvard, Yale, MIT, Brown, Johns Hopkins, and received a full ride to USC and Regents Scholarships to all of the UC schools. I started going to ACI the summer before my sophomore year because I had seen what it had done for my brother Alex, who is an incoming senior at UCLA. While it had helped raise his SAT score significantly, I had no idea how effective ACI was until I had truly experienced it.
The first time I took a diagnostic test I scored in the 1700’s and became worried about how I would ever raise my score. I have always had a problem with motivating myself and that’s where ACI helped tremendously.
By going to an actual SAT class, I forced myself to work on the material not only in class, but also by doing the nightly homework that was assigned. Every week my scores steadily rose as I acquired a larger vocabulary from the flashcards and learned more types of math problems.
By the time I took the test in my senior year I scored a 2310. College admissions are becoming increasingly competitive, so getting a high SAT score has become an imperative part of the process. Thanks to ACI, I was accepted to Harvard, Yale, MIT, Brown, Johns Hopkins, and received a full ride to USC and Regents Scholarships to all of the UC schools.
However, ACI helped me in many more ways than just the SAT. I remember going into Kelly’s office at least once a week, discussing my college plans with her and asking for advice. She helped me decide what schools would be a good fit for me and gave me invaluable guidance on how to improve my resume and transcripts. It was her nurturing personality that made me more confident in myself and my abilities. I am truly thankful to ACI for all that it has done for me and I will always remember my summers there as
fun and rewarding.
Alicia Zhu
SAT Perfect Score!!
Accepted into Harvard, Yale, MIT, Brown, Johns Hopkins, USC (Full-Scholarship), All UC (Regents Scholarship)
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I could not have achieved a 2400 without ACI’s help. First and foremost, the teachers at ACI are excellent. They are funny while being educational at the same time, making classes really enjoyable. I never felt bored, even though we spend many hours in class. I think this engaging learning environment is what makes ACI so effective. I have been to other SAT prep centers before in the past, but ACI definitely stands out as the best.
Candice Kim
SAT Perfect Score!!
Accepted into Stanford University (Early Acceptance)
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ACI has been great in helping me improve my SAT score. After a few short weeks,
my scores have shot up nearly 300 points total.
The weekly practice tests allow us to get accustomed to the format and style of
the test, and daily vocabulary quizzes drill the words into our heads.
The teachers here all know what they are doing and play a huge role in our
improvement. All of the staff here are genuinely concerned about our education
and remain committed to ensuring our success.
Kevin Diau
SAT Perfect Score!!
Currently at Stanford University (Early Acceptance & Full-Scholarship) |
My name is Emily Chen, and I am a junior at Irvine High School. Two summers ago, I took SAT preparatory classes at ACI in Irvine. After studying diligently at ACI, I eventually got a 2400 on my SAT I and 240 on my PSAT.
ACI's teachers are highly experienced and very open to sharing their knowledge. They provided me with lots of helpful strategies and information that made excelling at the SAT easy. ACI's faculty and staff are incredibly approachable, supportive, and welcoming. At ACI, I truly felt more like a member of a family than like a student at an academy.
If you are in the market for an SAT prep school, I highly recommend ACI to everyone.
Emily Chen
SAT & PSAT Perfect Score!!
Currently a Junior in High School
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When I first came to ACI after finishing summer school at Walnut, I had little
or no expectations for the SAT. My original plan was to take it once and be done
with it. However, after coming to ACI, I was made aware of the techniques that
are applicable to the SAT and, most importantly, that it was possible and even
likely that you could achieve a good score with the right amount of work. The
teachers at ACI are all very entertaining yet knowledgeable about what they
teach. They are able to introduce us to complex grammatical or mathematical
problems without making the subject seem difficult or uninteresting. After my
tenure at ACI, I gained an awareness of what my problem areas were and how to
fix them. As a result, I dramatically exceeded my own expectations. Thank you
ACI!
Eric Bai
SAT Perfect Score!!
Currently at USC (Full-Scholarship) |
I began attending ACI in second grade; even in elementary school ACI provided me
with the skills I needed to excel in the classroom. The instructors and the
secretaries instilled in me a sense of confidence and a sense of determination
to set and reach formidable goals. My parents especially adored ACI because of
its personal attention; the director, Diane Sartor, kept in close contact with
them whenever I began to lose focus, ensuring that I continually worked hard. It
was no surprise that when it came time for SAT prep, ACI was at the top of our
list.
After my first diagnostic score of 1800, I knew I had a long road ahead of me if
I wanted to break 2100. The instructors at ACI simplified each section of the
SAT and taught me a few key techniques for achieving my goal. The course was
rigorous and the tests difficult, but in the end I knew I had made the right
choice in attending ACI. Thanks to ACI, I far surpassed my goal and achieved a
perfect 2400 on the SAT Reasoning Test. I recommend ACI Institute to everyone,
because unlike other institutions, ACI never fails to deliver the top scores it
promises.
Krystal Mak
SAT Perfect Score!!
Accepted to Duke (Full-Scholarship), UC Berkeley |
ACI is a stepping stone to success. ACI not only teaches you the fundamental strategies and concepts of the SAT but also molds you into a determined individual, ready to take on any challenge that faces your way. After my disappointing mock SAT test, I knew I had to get my act together. My goals were “simple”: UCLA or a 2000 on the SATs. Little did I know, my SAT scores weren’t as excited to jump as high as I had hoped. My confidence? Shattered. However, ACI’s dedicated staff team encouraged me to continue persevere—to fight the fight, to finish the race.
Like any experience, ACI is what you make of it. You have to dedicate just as much time and effort as ACI dedicates to you. One of the things I treasured most was ACI’s realistic optimism. Your college counselor analyzes your entire high school schedule and tells you what you need in order to reach your goals. ACI showers you with all the individualized attention you’ll ever need and answers every one of your questions without hesitation. What’s even better is the way ACI presents the SATs to you. It’s not as daunting when you have teachers actually making class enjoyable. SAT classes: fun? Quite unheard of. But at ACI, teachers are charismatic and energetic; it practically runs in the ACI family.
It’s safe to say that without ACI’s guidance, I would have been completely lost. After truly investing my time and effort accompanied by ACI’s boundless support, I was able to reach above and beyond my dreams. Initially, my goal was to attend UCLA, but I’m finally done fighting the fight; I’m on my way to Cornell. Thank you for all your help, ACI!
To all students aiming high: Work hard, play hard. Persevere and your efforts will pay off.
Aileen Chang
Accepted to Cornell
Los Altos High School, Class of 2011 |
ACI definitely put me on the pathway to success. At ACI, I not only learned everything I needed to know to earn a good SAT score but I also learned it in a way that helped me expand as a person; I'm more of a math person, but I can now say that I'm both a good critical reader and writer. Also, I feel that the staff at ACI cared for me and every other student on an individual level. They gave me the drive and motivation to achieve and surpass the score that I anticipated. Thanks ACI, I don't know where I would be without you!
Jason Chen
SAT 2360!
Currently a Junior in High School |
My first SAT scores turned out to be decent—they were not off the charts, but they were good in comparison to the average SAT score at my high school. I did not feel that I needed to attend an SAT prep class because I believed I could do no better. Fortunately, my parents signed me up for ACI's summer SAT prep class and I was proven wrong. I thought ACI would have monotonous classes and mechanical teachers, but in reality, the classes are enjoyable and the teachers are helpful and dynamic. The curriculum ensured that when it came time for me to take the SAT reasoning test for the second time, I would be completely prepared and have all the skills needed. I had believed that ACI would help me improve my score by 50 points if I was lucky, but in fact, ACI helped me improve my score by almost 200 points. Thank you ACI for helping me attain an SAT score I once believed to be unattainable!
Virginia Chiu
SAT 2350!
Accepted to MIT, Yale, CalTech, UC Berkeley, USC (Early Acceptance), UCSD (Full-Scholarship) |
When I first came to the United States as a high school freshman, I had difficulty acclimating to the American school system. However, thanks to ACI, I have gone from being an ESL student to gaining admission at MIT! ACI's ESL, Test Preparation, and College Counseling services have helped me get into the college of my dreams! Thanks ACI!
Sam Pan
From 1600 to 1950 Improved 350 Points!
From ESL to MIT in 3 Years! |
Dear classmates,
It’s the last stretch for us. We have given up Saturdays for diatoms, manga for London Dispersion Forces, and Chuck for Hamlet. We’ve honed our observation skills, not only analyzing our lives for that one perfect strand of personal essay material, but also analyzing ourselves and how we have grown into that student in which colleges delight.
We’ve come so far, and we’ve traveled for so long, that we would be doing ourselves an injustice to forego the latent value hidden within our personal essays, those precious and overwhelmingly profound ribbons of thought buried among the deceiving and dull words. Is it okay that we would let grammatical trivialities, and idiomatic mistakes, and syntactical errors obscure that latent value which we are trying to express through the unreliable written word? Have we come so far for this frivolous struggle with essays?
We must ensure that mistakes in words will not portray mistakes in character. We must find that tool which may erode away any imperfections, to reveal the jade encased in our grammatical stone shells. We must consult someone who has been so experienced in the erosion of stone, someone who can and indeed has extracted the jade within so many of his students, including me. We must venture to ACI to consult Chris Bonneau, who not only can polish our essays and fully rid them of idiomatic errors, but most importantly can draw out those aspects of our personality and life experiences which appeal to college admissions officers. With Chris’ help, we will stand out from that grey pool of applicants, and shine through the emerald rays of our exposed jade shards.
Chris’ guidance has been so fundamental to my early acceptance to Caltech. Because of Chris and the other dedicated staff members of ACI, I am hopeful of many other college acceptance letters to come. Friends, please do not allow your inherent value to be hidden within yourselves because you have not found a mentor who can help you reveal it to the world. Seek Chris’ guidance, and you will successfully voice your story to that dream college. I promise.
Sincerely,
Phoebe Ann
Phoebe Ann
Accepted to CalTech |
Walking out of Ms. Kimberly’s room, I dropped my first tear in 3 years. I was obviously going in the wrong direction when I thought I had plenty of time. My diagnostic test scores are lower than I expected, and my GPA was not meeting the requirements of my desired colleges. Unfortunately, I was not trying hard enough.
The hurtful reality hit me, and I was determined to fight for my future. I left ACI after 6 months of SAT class and 2 months of College Essay class. In February 2011, I received my acceptance letter from Emory University. If it were not for the wonderful education at ACI, I would not have had this opportunity to enrich my post-high school studies. Thank you ACI for giving me the best graduation gift ever!
Eva Zhang
From 1330 to 2020 Improved 690 Points!
Accepted into Emory (Nation Top 20) |
My school counselor didn’t believe I could handle a heavy class load in addition to SAT preparation. However, the nurturing staff at ACI made what otherwise could have been daunting college application process much more manageable. As a result of the director’s timeless, hands on guidance and counseling, as well as the teachers at ACI simplifying and explaining otherwise difficult SAT concepts, I earned a 2300 on the SAT and procured a full-scholarship at UCLA! Thanks ACI for believing in me!
Ryan Gao
From 1800 to 2300 Improved 500 Points!
UCLA (Full Regents Scholarship) |
The summer after my sophomore year, I reluctantly signed up for (what I thought would be) a long tedious summer filled with boring lectures and overbearing teachers. However, I recognized the fact that my test scores weren’t where they needed to be and I was willing to do what had to be done to improve. I walked into my first meeting with Ms. Kimberly frightened and worried – I walked out with a battle plan. I set a goal for myself: I wanted a 2300.
I was placed into the fast-paced Ivy class. The different teachers and their diverse teaching methods clicked with me. It wasn’t like typical school with lectures that put me to sleep; instead, each individual teacher’s innovative methods made learning bearable. The close-knit summer ’09 Ivy students also made class tolerable. Because of the excessive amount of time we spent together that summer, the entire class bonded; we helped each other out and the friendly competition motivated me more than anything else. Although I had my ups and downs, I got what I wanted. That October, I got a 2300 on my SAT I and I thank ACI for helping me achieve my goals.
Charlene Zhen
SAT 2300!
Accepted to USC (Presidential Scholarship) |
The SAT was definitely a challenge. It takes a great deal of concentration and
know-how to take a four-hour test and get every single question right. ACI's
practice tests, which were much harder than the real SAT, developed the mental
stamina and acuity needed to ace the SAT. The teachers were a big help, and
their varied teaching methods such as class games allowed me to learn the SAT
material in various ways. All the teachers were approachable and eager to help.
They paid great attention to areas of need; often times the writing Pam Rivera
would take twenty minutes to explain the grammar rule behind just one question.
Competition within the class was fierce. You often have students asking each
other how well they performed on each week's practice test, and the scores are
even posted publicly to give you that taste of competition. Definitely, ACI's
methods give you that thirst for competition when you prepare for the SAT.
However, the most memorable portion of the class was the self-confidence gained
as your scores increased week by week. True, the climb upward was painful and at
times frustrating, but in the end, the time invested in doing homework and
showing up for tutorial and taking practice exams was worth it.
I definitely recommend ACI institute to whoever is looking for SAT help. With
quality teachers, in-depth coverage of material, and fun employee staff barely
older than you are, ACI does deliver its promise of aiming ever higher.
Sean Lee |
Entering the doors of an unknown institution for the very first time in the
fourth grade, my life was introduced to ACI. At that time, I did not think that
ACI would have a striking impact on my life. However, now that I am matured, I
realized the mistake of my thought process. From learning what a gerund was to
listening to my SAT instructor lecture about mixture problems, I was able to
learn an impressive range of both mathematics and grammar.
Additionally, ACI’s
warm and positive learning environment allowed one to develop a special bond
with everyone including the staff, teachers, and the director. I really
appreciate and would like to thank ACI for giving me the opportunity to enhance
my academic record, giving me the audacity to apply to colleges that I believed
were outside my realm. Now I am heading to Cornell University with knowledge,
unique skills, and most importantly experience. My dream that was once
far-fetched has been fulfilled.
Vincent Tieu
Class of 2013, Cornell |
ACI: Where Dreams Come True
Desperately wanting to improve my SAT score, I reluctantly came to ACI the
summer before my senior year at Troy, believing that ACI would be just like any
other tutoring center – boring, ineffective, and chaotic. However, my experience
at ACI, from my first counseling session with Ms. Kimberly to my last SAT
lesson, was drastically different from what I expected. Unlike the counselors at
school, who are in charge of hundreds of students and may not have even known
who I was, Ms. Kimberly was able to tailor her advice specifically for me, based
on my grades, achievements, and goals.
Furthermore, the personal attention and
friendly environment at ACI encouraged me to maintain a positive attitude about
each SAT lesson. ACI provided me with detailed score analyses, in addition to
weekly practice SAT tests, to help me pinpoint my weaknesses and effectively
improve my score. Thanks to the experienced SAT teachers and current material, I
was able to improve my SAT score by a full 200 points, which encouraged me to
apply to the top-ranking universities in the United States. After being accepted
to several great schools, I am now able to fulfill my dream and attend MIT!
Tiffany Peng
Class of 2013, MIT |
I started attending ACI thinking that I would not learn anything new beyond the
SATs or SAT IIs, but eventually, I found myself using the skills I gained
outside the realm of standardized testing. Practice tests and timed essays
required the same skills as anything from high school, including history tests
and even writing a well-structured speech. Of course, these skills were not
easily acquired. They demanded unfailing focus in countless practice tests,
hours of homework, and results come about not only from the College Board, but
also in class: those tricky multiple choice tests don't seem so tricky, and
those essays looming over your head no longer stand in your way as a monumental
task.
ACI, however it may seem like a boot camp, is extremely caring. Keep in mind
that it is their task to whip you into academic shape, but also keep in mind
that you are not alone. Every student at ACI has, at one point, admitted that he
or she needs help. This collective humility among the students creates a
wonderful learning environment – one where students are unafraid to ask
questions of instructors and of each other. Classes are small, and instructors
are, therefore, more aware of the individual needs of the student, offering
personalized attention, if needed. The most important things I walked away with
from ACI were not just good SAT scores, but the patience and strategies to
tackle any assignment.
Kevin Chow
Class of 2010, HARVARD |
The first time I took the PSAT test, the score I received was mediocre. I knew
then that the SAT would be even harder and that I must prepare myself. My
friends recommended ACI. They warned me that it would be tough, but that I
wouldn’t regret my choice. The instructors and counselors helped me set a goal
of 700 while I was only in the range of mid 500s. After following their summer
program, I was able achieve a score beyond my expectations on the SAT Test, with
a verbal of 770 and perfect 800 on math. My gratitude goes to ACI for all their
up-to-date materials and weekly model tests in preparing me for the real SAT.
Lastly, thanks for making my dream of attending Stanford a reality!
Vicky Sun
Class of 2010, STANFORD |
Dear ACI, I just want to say how much I appreciate your being there for me
through all my challenges in high school and the SAT’s. I truly believe that my
time at ACI Institute was a crucial factor in my admittance to Harvard. ACI’s
classes have had a profound impact on the student I am today. In fact, I can
confidently say that I would not be the student I am today without ACI. Your
classes, and caring instructors, helped me master the study skills that I am
using today in college. Thanks ACI for giving me the confidence to succeed in a
very competitive world.
Christine Tsai
Class of 2010, HARVARD |
ACI has taught me that one’s success does not depend on whether one is more
gifted or privileged. Knowledge is acquired, and test-taking, in particular, is
a type of skill that can be and must be learned. ACI’s programs allow students
to acquire the knowledge and the familiarity with the systematic process of
learning necessary to reach any goal. I remember when school used to be a chore
because I felt terrible about math, despised homework, and dreaded test-taking.
All of it frustrated me to no end.
That changed when I began to attend ACI in middle school. I gradually discovered
that, having undergone ACI’s nurturing yet rigorous program, my schoolwork was
no longer challenging. I found that I often knew the material before my regular
classes went over it; I knew shortcuts; I had mnemonic devices and the vague
sense of “Hey, I’ve done this before!” that gave me the confidence I lacked.
I steadily ascended to the top of my class and remained competitive throughout
my high school career. After taking ACI’s SAT prep courses, my SAT score shot up
to a 2370. I scored 800 in both the Math and Verbal sections and 770 in Writing.
Based on my performance, I was accepted to New York University with a full
tuition scholarship.
ACI helped me to realize my true potential by empowering me with the skills I
needed to excel in school and beyond—I don’t think I can ever thank ACI enough
for all that it has done and will continue to do for me.
Szuwei Co
Class of 2011, NYU |
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ACI Programs
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