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Our Services

We offer the following services:

One-on-one and Small Group Test Prep

All Academic Subjects, including

Academic Skills

Motivation

We’ve scoured the available research to determine the most effective actions students can take to get motivated. We discuss the techniques with students and guide them toward increasing their ability to self-motivate and achieve success.

Our Guarantee

We like to keep things simple. If you work with one of our tutors for 15 hours or more, and your score does not improve by 150 points on all three sections of the SAT or 3 points on the ACT, then you will get as many tutoring sessions as you need, at no cost, until you do go up by that amount. (Excluding students who have a 2100+ on their diagnostic SAT or 31+ on their diagnostic ACT.)

Mindset

All of our students take a quiz to determine their “mindset profile,” which teaches them about their overall attitude toward learning. Research has shown that people that see mistakes as opportunities to learn are better equipped to master challenging subjects. Our tutors are trained to communicate in ways that develop such a “growth mindset.”

Learning Style

All of our students take a “learning style assessment,” which helps them understand how they best learn new things. Students learn the best study techniques to use based on their individual learning styles.

Organizational Skills

For some students, lack of organizational skills is a serious impediment to academic success. We are ready to help. We can work with students to develop organizational habits that work, from creating effective planners and binders to organizing their desk and their lockers.

Study Skills

We teach students a 12-question process for understanding and remembering anything they learn in school. The 12 questions include: thinking about the big picture, organizing information effectively, identifying essential information, visualizing information, and more. We also work on preparing for tests in specific subjects most effectively.

Time-Management

We help students prioritize their tasks by creating to-do lists and using their planners and calendars to spend their valuable time on tasks that will bring them the greatest results.

Habit-Formation

Habits are a crucial element of successful learning and test-taking. We’ve dissected the SAT into 50 “Cue Routine Reward” habit loops that students can easily understand and apply. Our emphasis on habits is based on research that shows the extent to which unnoticed habits inform most of our everyday behavior.

Iterative Quality

Our brains are mysterious organs, but one we thing we have learned about them is that the first “look” at an object (or test question) is often not enough for full comprehension. Most students don’t quite realize that, and they therefore skip questions that they can actually get right. We teach students to utilize the iterative quality of our brains to get more questions right.

Intuitive vs. Deliberate

Decades of research has shown that our brains think in two dominant modes: the intuitive (“System 1”) and the rational (“System 2”). The SAT seems constructed to fool our intuitive brain into making the kinds of mistakes it so often makes. We teach students how to recognize those mistakes and over-ride them with deliberative, systematic ways of solving problems.

Pareto's 80-20 Rule

Pareto’s 80-20 Rule states that 80% of our productivity comes from 20% of our effort. We apply this to how students study and take tests, guiding them toward maximizing their learning and their timing on standardized tests.

Motivational Research

We’ve scoured the available research to determine the most effective actions students can take to get motivated. We discuss the techniques with students and guide them toward increasing their ability to self-motivate and achieve success.

Spaced Repetition

Spaced repetition is a learning technique that incorporates increasing intervals of time between subsequent review of previously learned material in order to exploit the psychological “spacing effect”. We use free online software that harnesses the power of this learning technique to maximize vocabulary memorization for the SAT and other standardized tests.

Year-Long Program

This unique program is designed to guide students through every aspect of their junior year of high school. Our most qualified and experienced tutors will meet with the student once per week for the entire academic year, either in-person or on Skype.

Junior Year

Junior year of high school is perhaps the most important year of a child’s pre-college education. The stakes are high, the competition is intense, and navigating the academic terrain is increasingly difficult, both for students and their parents. Furthermore, the breakneck pace of technological and social change has made it difficult for many parents to even understand their teenagers’ world and its obstacles. We can help.

Mindspire's Academic Mentors

All of our mentors have proven their ability to succeed in the most competitive academic environments. They are experts in providing support to juniors in the following 4 fields:

Academic Habits

Subject Knowledge (Tutoring)

Life Skills

Test Prep

Upcoming Classes and Events

For the October 6 SAT:

For the November 3 SAT:

Small Group Classes

Small group classes are a cost-effective alternative to one-on-one tutoring. Students can receive the individual attention they need without the premium cost of a personal tutor. Our standard small-group class meets 6 times for 2 hours each session. Students will complete 5 full-length practice tests and receive detailed score reports for each one. During the sessions, we will review the practice tests and all necessary techniques, tips, and strategies. .

Upcoming small-group classes schedule:

Costs for our small group sessions are as follows::

We will form a class whenever we have 2-4 students who have matching test dates and availability. Classes are held weekend afternoons or weekday afternoons or evenings. We do our best to find times that work best for all students in the group.

Referral Bonus: If you find a friend to join the class, you will receive $50 off your tuition for the class.

To register for a small-group class, please fill out this form:


    • Monday
    • Tuesday
    • Wednesday
    • Thursday
    • Friday
    • Saturday
    • Sunday

Mindspire SAT and ACT Bootcamps

Mindspire's SAT and ACT Bootcamps are one-weekend workshops that arm students with proven strategies for every question they'll encounter on the day of the test.

They are taught by expert instructors who have gotten perfect scores on the SAT/ACT. Mindspire instructors have a minimum of 5 years experience teaching and tutoring these tests, with proven results. Selected topics include how to:

One Weekend. One Guru. Every Strategy You Need To Know.
All for just $165.

Upcoming Bootcamp Sessions:

March 30-31: ACT Bootcamp (for the April 13 ACT) (REGISTER)
April 20-21: SAT Bootcamp (for the May 4 SAT) (REGISTER)
May 25-26: ACT Bootcamp (for the June 8 ACT) (REGISTER)
Held in Chapel Hill. Exact location TBD.

Resources

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About Us: Services | Blog | Resources | Video | Upcoming Events

What Can Mindspire Do For You?

Upcoming Classes and Events

December 1 and 2: ACT Bootcamp

9am to 1pm both days, $165
Held at our office in Chapel Hill

December 15: FREE Mock ACT or SAT

Held at our office in Chapel Hill

January 12 and 13: SAT Bootcamp

9am to 1pm both days, $165
Held at our office in Chapel Hill

January 26 and 27: ACT Bootcamp

9am to 1pm both days, $165
Held at our office in Chapel Hill

18 Hour SAT Class + 4 practice tests

Sundays, 1-3:30: January 13, 20, 27; February 3, 10, 24; Mar 3
Held at the Chapel Hill-Durham JCC
Cost: $399
For the March SAT

18 hour small group class*:
For the Jan 26 SAT

Tuesdays or Thursdays, 6-9pm
December 18, 27
Jan 3, 8, 15, 22
Held at our office in Chapel Hill

18 hour small group class*:
For the February 9 ACT:

Mondays, 6-9 pm
January 7, 14, 21, 28, 31 (Thursday)
February 4
Held at our office in Chapel Hill


*small group classes are 2-4 students,
with prices as follows:
2 students: $999/student
3 students: $799/student
4 students: $649/student

Get Scores UP -- Guaranteed

  • Our proven and innovative approaches have resulted in average score increases of 80 points per section on the SAT and 5.5 points per section on the ACT.
  • We use detailed score analysisClick to Expand software to pinpoint the areas where students can gain the most points.
  • Our guaranteeClick to Expand: If our 15-hour one-on-one tutoring package doesn’t result in a 150 point increase, we will work with you at no cost until you do go up that much. (Even to a 2400!)

Become a More Effective Learner

  • Our strategies improve overall academic performance, not just scores on tests. Our clients consistently tell us that school grades started to go up when they started working with Mindspire.
  • We teach students how to:

Amazing Tutors

All of our tutorsClick to Expand:

  • have scored in the top 99th percentile on any test they teach.
  • are dynamic educators, who communicate clearly and know how to engage students.
  • love what they do, and their passion inspires their students.
  • are trained in more than just test prep. They are skilled in teaching about organizational skills, study skills, time management, and moreClick to Expand.
  • and have at least three years experience tutoring and/or teaching.

Innovative Approaches

We’re constantly reading and researching and thinking about how to improve what we do. We have developed unique and powerful ways of improving test performance, such as:

Academic Mentorship Program

  • A year-long programClick to Expand designed to guide students through the most difficult year of high school: junior yearClick to Expand. Our academic mentors are our best tutors, and can help students in the following four areasClick to Expand:
    • Core Academics: math, English, science, and history
    • Test Prep: SAT and ACT Prep
    • 21st Century Skills: Communication, Leadership, Self-motivation
    • Academic Habits: Organization, Time-Management, Study Skills
  • A one-of-a-kind program. We know of no other company that offers tutors trained and skilled in every aspect of the Junior Year of high school.

Small Group Classes

Small group classes are a cost-effective alternative to one-on-one tutoring. Students can receive the individual attention they need without the premium cost of a personal tutor.

Each student in our small-group classes receives all of our materials (our proprietary manuals, practice tests, and worksheets).

Our standard small-group class meets 6 times for 2 hours each session. Students will complete 5 full-length practice tests and receive detailed score reports for each one. During the sessions, we will review the practice tests and all necessary techniques, tips, and strategies.

Find out MoreClick to Expand

Mindspire SAT/ACT Bootcamp

Mindspire's SAT or ACT Bootcamps are momentum-boosting weekend seminars designed to make sure students march into the SAT or ACT with every key strategy fresh in their minds.

Students receive Mindspire's prep materials, vocabulary list, practice tests, and copies of essays that have earned perfect scores on actual SATs.

Mindspire SAT/ACT Bootcamp
One Weekend. One Guru. Every Strategy You Need To Know.

Find out MoreClick to Expand
Our core beliefs are:
  • Intelligence can be developed.
  • Effort brings success.
  • Every student is unique.
  • Great teaching makes a big difference.
These beliefs are infused into everything we do, which leads to higher test scores but also to stronger core academic abilities.
What Our Clients Say
  • We all want to thank you for all your guidance and coaching. Arushi and Aditi benefited tremendously from your coaching.
    — Kamal G., father of two students
  • I hereby offer the strongest possible recommendation on behalf of Mindspire. My daughter’s experience was excellent, and the results were exceptional. She improved her self-confidence, her scores, and carried lessons learned from Shahar into her SAT II exams, wherein she scored mid-700s. My daughter actually enjoys taking these exams now!
    — Dr. Ron A. (father of student)
  • Shahar was extremely flexible and responsive to our request to “take Jon as he is” and found creative ways to make the experience of preparing for the tests as pleasant as possible. He helped Jon to increase his confidence, learn pitfalls and how to work quickly, and to have a great relationship with an older peer who respected his priorities.
    — Genevieve D. (mother of student)
  • Our daughter’s SAT score was 300 points higher than her PSAT score, thanks in large part to the excellent tutoring she received from Shahar Link. He was friendly, down-to-earth, and easy to communicate with.
    — Henry and Jodi M. (parents of student)
  • Shahar motivated Lee and helped him prepare for the challenge, making things much more interesting than they would have been without his insight. He was an excellent role model and helped Lee build his confidence before the test. I really think he helped Lee go into the test with the attitude to do great. We would highly recommend Shahar as a top notch tutor and we sincerely hope he continues to be involved in Lee’s life for years to come.
    — Sonia H. (mother of student) (parents of student)
  • Working with Mindspire was such a comfortable experience. Shortly after Shahar (the tutor) got to know my children he was very clear about how much time he needed to work with them and about what we should expect. It took all the stress out of the process for my kids and me. We are thrilled for Campbell (got a 'superscore of 2380 on his SAT) and very grateful to you. Its hard to put into words for you just how much we appreciated you.
    — Susan C. (mother of 2 Mindspire students)
  • I would strongly recommend Mindspire for any student preparing for the SAT. Shahar was able to quickly assess my son's learning needs and make an individualized prep plan. He exceeded our expectations with his genuine concern, mock SAT exams and building his self esteem.
    — Ann R. (mother of student)
  • I am grateful for your expertise and the results that you helped Nick achieve but even more appreciative of the positive influence and impact that you've been as a role model for him. You inspire and motivate; truly a gift.
    — Darcia S. (mother of student)
  • Shahar's visit to my classroom was incredibly helpful for all my students, and for some it was even transformational. They came away from his talk feeling encouraged and inspired.
    — Cotton B. (Assistant Principal of High School)

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