~ A CLEAR ADMIT EXCLUSIVE ~
Today we’ll conclude our series on GMAT test preparation companies with a look at Test Prep New York, a unique firm that works closely with students on a one-on-one basis not only to prepare them for the content of the GMAT exam, but also to address issues of test anxiety, poor concentration and lack of confidence.
Test Prep New York was founded several years ago by Bara Sapir, a former Princeton Review instructor. Sapir had worked for Princeton Review while in graduate school in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and later in New York City. In her work with students, Sapir quickly began to find that she needed to tailor her tutoring to help individuals who didn’t fit into the mold of a big test prep company. Her innovations led her to found Test Prep New York, whose programs incorporate relaxation and hypnotic techniques to help test-takers reduce stress and build confidence.
In the interview that follows, you’ll learn more from Sapir about the company she founded and what sets it apart from other test preparation offerings on the market.
Clear Admit: How many of your instructors work with students preparing for the GMAT exam? Who are they? What are their qualifications? What markets do they serve?
Bara Sapir: We refer to our instructors as specialists, and a small number of them focus on GMAT prep. (Test Prep New York prepares students for a wide range of exams in addition to the GMAT.) Some of our GMAT specialists have PhDs in cognitive linguistics or English, some have MBAs and others have PhDs in math. They all have experience tutoring the GMAT. I myself work with GMAT test-takers, and I am also a certified hypnotist, neurolinguist and Reiki practitioner.
We are bringing in top people who have a top educational background, but what we feel is most important is their ability to communicate information and to teach. We won’t even hire someone unless we know that he or she is going to be able to impart change and help students be their best high-performing selves. In terms of the markets we serve, we are based in New York City, but we also have tutors in Washington, DC; Boston and Chicago and work internationally through the use of technology that allows us to do distance learning.
CA: Describe the type of candidate you feel would be best served by Test Prep New York’s approach to GMAT prep? What sets Test Prep New York apart from other test prep companies?
BS: Getting the student into the best mindset for the exam definitely differentiates us from other educational companies. We deal with the student where they are going to be most open to being their best test-taking self. For some students that’s getting them to relax. We also will teach them guided visualization, EFT (Chinese meridian acupuncture without the needles), sound therapy and biofeedback. Basically, we use a series of scientifically proven effective tools.
For each student, it’s going to be a different protocol – kind of like going to a doctor. Our services are most akin to those of a motivational coach or sports psychologist. It varies from student to student how much we get involved. We get calls from students who understand the material but just can’t perform, so with them we would use some of the holistic techniques I have mentioned. Other students have many more issues with content, in which case we take a more traditional content-based approach to test preparation.
The other piece is really looking at who the student is and where he or she is coming from. For instance, if a student isn’t a native English speaker, he or she is going to have some real difficulties with the exam. So we examine what the nuances are for someone for whom English is a second language. We give our test-takers the tools they need to be like a scientist to get through the test. I really believe that all students would be served best by our approach because it is so customized and truly focuses on an individual’s needs.
CA: What are the various package options you offer? Who do you think are the ideal candidates for each offering?
BS: Over time we have moved away from package options. Basically, all of our services are offered on an hourly basis. Test-takers sign up for a certain number of hours, and together we determine exactly what techniques to employ to best prepare them for the exam. I would say that the average student would probably benefit most from working with me for one to two hours and then working with another of our team of specialists for anywhere from five to 10 hours. If the student really knows the content well, she’s probably looking at a total of about six hours. But as you can see, it’s very customized to each student.
I should note that we also get a lot of students who have gone through other test preparation programs. It’s not unusual for us to see a student who has gone through a big course or three, only to find that their scores have hit a plateau. More than 50 percent of our clients have gone through other companies, and many have gone through more than one.
CA: How do you determine the exact curriculum for each individual student?
BS: We have a two-part intake process. The first part prospective clients can take at home. It’s comprised of a series of questions about how they take tests and how they have performed in the past.
The second part involves taking a diagnostic test – a real test they get from the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), which administers the GMAT. We would then look at the results to see how they are answering questions, what kind of wrong answers they have, how are they are getting certain questions right or wrong. We would look at that in both the math and verbal sections of the test.
We also look at the chronology of their right and wrong answers. Are they losing steam at a particular point? Getting the ninth question in every section wrong? This helps us assess their biorhythm. After this initial intake, I then meet with each individual for 45 minutes and assign them to the appropriate specialist on our team.
It’s clearly not a one-size-fits-all solution, so we look closely at the strengths and weaknesses of each client. If the student is doing fine with the math and struggling with the verbal, then the majority of our work with him or her will be on verbal. Everything is driven by what the student needs.
In terms of the content-based portion of our test preparation, we use real tests from GMAC as well as materials that we have created to help students build skills. We have an online component that contains about 5,000 questions, so they get quizzes, drills and homework they can utilize.
CA: Does Test Prep New York have anything new on the horizon? Planned expansion to new markets?
BS: I think that we will respond to the GMAT if the GMAT were to change, but we have a winning formula right now. So I can’t think of anything specific that we are going to roll out. Although we do have a range of audio products that we are going to make a more concerted effort to distribute more widely.
CA: What is the cost of your services?
BS: When you buy a bulk number of hours, the price winds up going down. If someone signs on for 10 hours, our rate is $250 an hour to work with a specialist. The rate for our holistic piece is more expensive, but you’re never talking about very many hours there. Rarely do I work with a client for more than five hours doing holistic work. Of course, that work actually extends into other skills – performance, interview skills, relaxation – so it has value beyond preparing for the exam itself. But a lot of our clients don’t deal with the holistic component at all.
CA: Anything you’d like to add?
BS: I think what’s critical is that we have the best materials, we have the best instructors, and it’s a comprehensive program that is customized for each student. Because it is so comprehensive, it really provides a top-shelf service for people looking to be as prepared as they can to take the GMAT.
To learn more about Test Prep New York and the GMAT test preparation services it offers, click here or call (646) 290-7440.
Read the full article: GMAT Test Prep Company Profile Series: Test Prep New York