The People Behind The Playbook
PLAYBOOK instructor Julian. Motivator of teenagers. Archenemy of standardized tests. And part-time graphic designer. (Well, he doesn’t spend all his time tutoring.)
At THE PLAYBOOK, we believe exams like the SAT and ACT are simply games with their own rules of engagement—nothing more, nothing less.
Whatever skills tests like the SAT claim to assess—math aptitude, reading ability, some mumbo jumbo about “critical thinking”—has absolutely no bearing on real life.
Tests aren’t measures of intelligence or aptitude. Tests are hurdles to be leapt over and put in the rearview mirror. At THE PLAYBOOK, we take the official SAT and ACT exams every time the tests are offered to deepen our expertise, and we hire actual SAT and ACT writers to uncover little-known test secrets, including the way the SAT develops its notoriously tricky trap answers. When you learn THE PLAYBOOK, our insider knowledge becomes your insider knowledge. We teach proven methods for tackling every question you’re guaranteed to face, so you can march into the test with confidence, momentum, and every key strategy fresh in your mind.
Oh, and One More Thing:
We’re not boring! We realize most teenagers would rather watch C-SPAN or undergo dental surgery than prep for the SAT or ACT, which is why we make learning to ace these tests as interactive and engaging as possible. Do our instructors sing and dance? No. Most can’t even do the “Running Man.” Do our courses feature Cirque du Soleil-like pyrotechnics? Nope. Couldn’t get it past insurance. But what all of our prep programs do include—our weekend Boot Camps, our special combo classes, and our one-on-one tutoring—is a commitment to motivating students through patience, empathy, and a much-needed sprinkling of humor.
Prep Options
Choose the program that fits your needs, then learn THE PLAYBOOK for maximizing your score.
ACT Boot Camp
The ultimate weekend prep course, led by a nationally-recognized expert on the ACT.
SAT Boot Camp
The ultimate weekend prep course, led by a nationally-recognized expert on the SAT.
“We’re so thankful to have The Playbook as our exclusive prep partner. Jared and his team have been beyond dedicated to our school, even helping students outside of class with free academic support and admissions advice. And our average SAT and PSAT scores have soared. The Playbook’s Future National Merit Scholars program doubled our number of National Merit Scholarship winners, and the vast majority of our juniors improved by 100 to 300 points over their previous SAT score.”
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Holly Barbarossa
The Mary Louis Academy (New York City)
Locally-sourced. Eco-friendly. And 100% non-GMO.
Our instructors are natural teachers passionate about helping students succeed.
Leonard
Yale-educated. Crazy about chess. And hoping to carve out time to begin indoor climbing.
Corinne
Duke-educated. Super into skiing. And head over wheels for roller derby.
Liam
Princeton-educated. Keen on cooking. And always first on the dance floor on every occasion.
Maku
William & Mary-educated. Wild about world travel. And ardent fan of every show on HGTV.
Julian
UCLA-educated. Totally into tech. And proud papa to Mr. Business, a debonair French bulldog.
Luisa
Harvard-educated. Equally passionate about neurobiology and hip-hop. And currently learning Portuguese.
Talk with a Teacher, Not a Telemarketer
Our advisors aren’t salespersons. They’re professional educators with years of experience helping families navigate the test prep and college admissions process. Connect with us for free—no obligations or strings attached. Schedule a consultation.