About Be College Wise
Be College Wise, founded in Riverside, California is a teacher-created and teacher-driven SAT prep company. Our philosophy is to make affordable and effective SAT prep available to all students, regardless of income. Using College Board materials, (click here to learn more about the College Board), we have built a comprehensive curriculum plan designed around the learning styles of high school students. This curriculum, in conjunction with our superb and experienced teachers gives us a highly successful equation.
An interactive classroom: The Be College Wise program is designed to model an interactive classroom. We use direct instruction, guided practice, group & individual work. Our teachers use a tough love policy; no off task behavior is tolerated. Our hands-on test scoring allows us to highlight students’ simple bubbling errors as well as being able to teach them the importance of prudent test taking strategies. We also listen to our students. At the end of each 4-week class, students fill out a course and instructor evaluation. The program is modified continually based on valuable student suggestions.
Tough Love: We teach our classes like all good teachers conduct their classrooms, with good old fashioned "tough love". We expect our students to remain on task at all times; pay attention to the instructor and do the assigned work. We do not allow cell phones, iPods, or socializing in class. Any inappropriate behavior will be gently but firmly redirected. If not corrected, the student will be asked to leave and we will refund the tuition. Our students are giving up a most valuable asset, their time; they have the right to have an orderly and controlled learning environment! It is our responsibility to provide this for them.
College Board materials: The use of the College Board materials gives our students the advantage of practicing with curriculum that has been used on previous actual SAT tests. Students are working math problems, grammar usage, analyzing reading passages, and using essay prompts that have been used on prior tests. All our weekend full length practice tests were recently administered as real SATs. This technique alone differentiates us from our major competitors, most of whom write their own tests. Because of copyright laws they cannot use even ONE real SAT question, never mind a whole test!
Live, sleep, breathe SAT: We practice the “immersion” philosophy of education. Our 4-week course ends just before the SAT test. During the weeks preceding the test we encourage the students to practice, practice, practice….live, eat, sleep and dream SAT questions! Students are recommended to do 30 minutes of practice per night. To facilitate this we provide the students with a homework log. We highly promote parent involvement in the practice process. We invite parents to the beginning of our first session to hear our educational model and encourage their child to put as much effort as possible during the next 4-weeks.
Endorsement by the Academic Community: Be College Wise is supported and recognized by local counselors and universities as a successful and reputable program and company. For 3 years, Be College Wise has been contracted with UCR for their Federally Funded Upward Bound Program and has been invited to present several times to UCR Summer Academy for Advanced High School Students.
Results: Our average increase for students who take our 4 week SAT prep course is 250 points. One student increased her score so dramatically (by 590 points) that the CollegeBoard delayed releasing her score by two weeks to do an integrity check! If students follow our recommendations, pay attention in class and engage in the program,they are sure to see results!
The course is a great review. Students will achieve an increase of 200+ points if they are actively engaged. It is not just a given to you. You have to work! However they give you all the tools possible”
- Reese Estrada, Eleanor Roosevelt HS
Sign up today and take a step toward a brighter academic future!
