Hi, I’m Dr. Kevin Cooney, the founder of Write Start Prep, a test prep and college admissions service based in Sherman Oaks, California.

Drawing on my experience as a teacher and academic (Ph.D., UCLA), I prepare students in grades 9-12 to excel on the PSAT, SAT, and ACT Reading and Writing sections, and I guide 12th grade students in planning, developing, and finalizing their essays for applying to college.

When it comes to Test Prep, studies have shown that traditional 1-on-1 Tutoring is the most effective way to accelerate student learning and raise test scores.  That is certainly borne out at Write Start Prep, where 90% of students raise their SAT/PSAT Reading and Writing score by 50-60 points.  That individual attention to students allows us to pinpoint problem areas and develop new test-taking strategies.  At the same time, successful 1-on-1 test prep is, at the most basic level, interpersonal.  It's about getting to know each student and encouraging his or her confidence, motivation, and best efforts.

Studies also indicate that 1-on-1 College Essay Coaching correlates with a more streamlined writing process and higher-quality essays, which, in turn, can enhance a student’s chances of acceptance at Top Tier Colleges.  In the last 4 years alone, Write Start Prep’s College Essay Coaching programs have helped students gain admission to the following schools:

• UCLA, UC Berkeley, NYU, NYU Stern School of Business, Cornell University, Johns Hopkins University, Princeton University, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Michigan, Boston University, Northeastern University, Carnegie Mellon University, and University of Texas, Austin.

Successful essay coaching begins with listening to students as they consider their strengths and formative experiences.  It entails giving students the confidence to experiment, to be vulnerable, and to discover themselves in a unique way through their essays.

If that academic expertise and interpersonal focus sounds expensive, it's worth noting that my rates for 1-on-1 Tutoring and Test Prep are 20% lower than those of many other private tutors in Los Angeles, and my College Essay Coaching packages are more than 50% lower than those of similar private writing coaches (!)

After 12+ years of working with students 1-on-1, I have created an alternative, a series of Test Prep Video Guides focused on essential  Skills and Strategies for the SAT and PSAT: Punctuation, Grammar, Logic, and Reading.  Study when you want; pause when you want; watch it as many times as you need to.  These guides are a affordable way to self-study for the tests, and I hope they will become an important resource for students.

College Essay Video Guides are also available for students who need some input at various stages of the writing process but prefer to work independently.

In all of these ways, I believe Write Start Prep can truly be the right start for college readiness.

If you'd like to learn more or to take advantage of our free consultation, please fill out the contact form below and I'll be in touch within 24 hours.