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In 1986, as a sophomore at Yale University, I tutored my first high school student at his home in Woodbridge, Connecticut. Ever since then, I’ve recognized the power of one-on-one tutoring. Each student possesses specific goals, a unique learning style, a distinct personality, and personal strengths and areas for improvement. Only through one-on-one tutoring can a student’s needs be fully assessed and a customized plan be created.
I believed so firmly in the effectiveness of private tutoring that two years later I started Summit Educational Group, a company committed to providing one-on-one, in-home test preparation and academic tutoring. Back then, in-home test prep was a novel concept, and while Summit has had many imitators over the years, we’ve stayed ahead by dedicating ourselves to consistently evolving and refining every aspect of our service: our pedagogical approach, our customer care, our course materials, our technology, and, most importantly, our tutors – the face and heart of Summit.
Today’s testing and admission landscape seems to be in constant flux, and the movement toward test-optional admissions has intensified the competition for limited spots in selective colleges. Low double-digit and single-digit admit rates, once attributed to only the most elite schools, are now common among selective schools. (Harvard, Princeton, and Yale all saw admit rates below 5% for their 2025 classes!)
One thing is certain: Excellent grades in rigorous courses is paramount, and high scores on standardized tests are a major plus. Both demonstrate to colleges that students are ready to thrive on their campuses.
To help this next generation of students stand out academically, Summit offers a comprehensive set of individualized, one-on-one test preparation and tutoring services, delivered both in-home and online.
- Test Preparation. Maximize test scores on the SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE.
- AP Course and Exam Preparation. Ongoing course support and/or focused prep for the AP exams.
- Academic Tutoring. We offer expert, caring tutors for almost every academic subject.
- Peak Math and Writing. One-on-one tutoring programs designed specifically to accelerate student performance in math and writing.
- Academic Manager. An academic coach who teaches students to stay organized and stay engaged with classes, homework, and tests.
I’m very proud that 85% of our families are referred to us by their friends, school counselors, private consultants, learning specialists, and others. It means that we’re doing well by our students and families and the rest of our constituents.
I often tell our team here that I want Summit to be the best test prep and tutoring company. Not the flashiest and not the biggest – but the best. And to be the best, in my mind, starts and ends with a focus on the individual student.
I wish you and your student the best of luck through what can be both an exciting and stressful time, but a time that almost always ends in a rewarding and fulfilling way. We’ll always be here for you along the journey.
Sincerely,
Charlie O’Hearn
Founder and Board Chair
Summit Educational Group, Inc
