Skills are learned, not inherited. Nowhere was that apothegm proven more true than at Dr. Li’s math/english SAT summer camp. I went to it for the first time in July of 2016. High school was fast approaching, and the last thing I wanted to do was tell people I went to “math” camp over the summer. My fear was palpable as I entered Dr. Li’s classroom on that summer day, but as quickly as it came, it was gone. What was cringe-worthy, soon became fun; I eventually learned to love my sessions at Dr. Li’s over the next weeks and summers.

It was Monday, June 19^th. I went to the bus stop at around 7:25 am, and there was a silver Ford van that was our “bus” waiting for me. I got in, and there were a few other people already inside. There was barely any space. It was made worse when, at the next stop, 4 more people came in, making the van at capacity. It’s going to be a long two weeks, I thought. Once we arrived, I felt even more isolated. People seemed to know each other, and were talking, while I just sat there. But the instruction from the teachers was worth it.

Last Summer, I could attend Dr. Li’s SAT Prep class for only two weeks due to my distance. This past August, about one year after I took the class, I took the SAT and received a 1590, with a 800 on math and a 790 on English. I got a 8/6/8 on the essay portion. I wish I could have a longer exposure as the learning impact goes well beyond the SAT score.

With the restructuring of the SAT and my lack of improvement to begin with, I thought I could not possibly score well. I knew I didn’t need a perfect score to enter my dream school of UC Berkeley, but I was not going to score even a 1560, the equivalent of a 2300. Dr. Li’s class gave me the motivation and strategies I needed to improve on the SAT.

Name: Anuhya P.

School: Centennial High School

Hi Dr. Li! This is Alicia, a current sophmore from Kentucky. I just wanted to write in and say thank you! I got my SAT score back the other day and it was a 2400!!!

I just wanted to say thanks, since I couldn't have done it without your camp! I'll be back for the 2016 summer camp to practice for the PSAT!

--Alicia

Note: Alicia's brother John was our first student who scored 2400 10 years ago (2005). Here is his historical testimony.