ISEE Tutoring Reviews & Parent Testimonials

“I was about to go with another company when I found Dr. Donnelly. After my son’s intro session, I knew right then and there that his methods were unique and he catered to the individual unlike many big companies, whose methods seem to only help a few people because of how general the strategies are. (I can say this because I used Kaplan twice before.) In ten weeks, he and his strategies took my son’s score from the 66th percentile all the way to the 92nd percentile!! I highly recommend Donnelly! And even if you don’t live nearby, he offers tutoring sessions over Zoom so don’t be shy to reach out to him if you need ISEE or SSAT help!”

“My daughter started with Stuart at the beginning of the summer and didn’t have any idea what to expect. Stuart was so incredibly helpful and was always understanding even when she had trouble understanding topics. His strategies were extremely helpful, and he has seemingly unending knowledge on every topic on the test. The one-on-one attention made it possible to focus on areas in which she personally struggled, rather than being forced to follow a curriculum in a larger group setting. After working with Stuart for about 2.5–3 months she took the ISEE, and I’m thrilled with her score, which wouldn’t have been possible without Stuart. Thank you so much for all of your help.”

“My daughter has worked with Dr. Donnelly for the last three months and it has been wonderful. Dr. Donnelly has been able to focus on her weaknesses and provide enormous insight. In addition, his advice with regards to strategy for the ISEE and SSAT has been invaluable. He is able to engage students and provide support well beyond other tutoring services. He is sincerely committed to student success and offers a personalized service with sound methodology. Within 3 months her scores improved significantly. In addition to all his talents… he is just one of those really smart people that can teach.”

“Stuart explained each concept in amazing thoroughness and also taught my daughter how to approach the ISEE and its individual questions. She had particularly struggled with verbal reasoning. She could ask Stuart any question and never had him not know the answer and he never made her feel dumb for asking the question in the first place. I have tried many different study programs and have never found one as helpful or as enjoyable (as enjoyable as the ISEE can get) as working one on one with Stuart. I hold him and his expertise in the highest esteem and would recommend him to anyone. You won’t be sorry for working with him.”

“My son worked with Dr. Donnelly over the summer. Dr. Donnelly has many tricks to simplify everything – from math equations to more detailed concepts. We met both in person and via Zoom. He provided all of the study material, was incredibly patient, and overall just a great instructor. I definitely recommend anyone whose child is taking the ISEE or SSAT work with Dr. Donnelly – you’ll see results.”

“Doctor Donnelly is simply the best tutoring service I have ever experienced. When most people are looking for a tutor, they generally head over to places like Kaplan because we have all heard of them due to their expensive marketing campaigns, but I wasn’t convinced – the value simply isn’t there. So that’s why I decided to give Doctor Donnelly a go instead. Dr. Donnelly is a professional every step of the way… He was patient, and funny, and knowledgeable in every section of the test and he was happy to explain things to me as often as my daughter needed without judgment. He is very personable and generous with his time. I have recommended Dr. Donnelly to at least three other people and they tell me they are just as happy as I am.”

“Dr. Donnelly’s private tutoring stands apart from other mainstream/commercial review programs because he isolates an individual’s weaknesses and tailors a successful review and test-taking strategy that conforms to an individual’s needs — rather than those of the masses. Dr. Donnelly was able to quickly understand and dissect my son’s thought process in order to help him break old habits and establish stronger test-taking skills so he could get that higher score.”

“Dr. Donnelly is a wonderful teacher. He is quick to pinpoint weaknesses and, in many cases, turn them into strengths. He always has a structured lesson plan and pertinent homework assignments and puts aside time in the lesson to go over “trouble problems” from the previous lesson. I highly recommend taking a prep course with him. His patience, humor, and kindheartedness make an otherwise uncomfortable standardized test almost enjoyable.”

“I highly recommend this service! I had private SSAT lessons with Dr. Donnelly during the Spring. Stuart was very helpful, patient, and flexible, and so knowledgeable! Just got my results back and I couldn’t be happier! I definitely would not have done as well on my exam without Stuart.”

“Dr. Stuart Donnelly gave me the confidence and the tools I needed to succeed and I really could not have done what I did without him. He is extremely knowledgeable on all things SSAT and is beyond patient. He is great at what he does and is super helpful getting his students to the next level. He is also very professional and organized. Would recommend Stuart to anyone who enjoys learning in a 1 on 1 environment and will put in the work he asks for!”

“Stuart’s strategies were very helpful in tackling the ISEE questions. After just a few meetings, I felt more confident approaching the exam. I just got my scores and I did very well!! Thanks for your help preparing!”

“Stuart is the kindest, most patient tutor I have ever encountered. No matter what your background is, whether your child has had SSAT training in the past or none at all, Stuart’s one-on-one approach is able to cater to the learning speed at which you need. He is also extremely good about scheduling a time that is fit for you. Altogether, I’m very glad I found Stuart!”

“Dr. Donnelly tutored my son. My son learned a few steps to help him solve the problems faster and correctly. Every lesson helped my son feel confident. My son constantly talks about how Dr. Donnelly has taught him skills that even transcend beyond the test that he is able to use in his classes at school. Dr. Donnelly was also very good at being able to work around a person’s schedule. I highly recommend him, he is a great tutor. Thank you Dr. Donnelly!”

“Dr. Donnelly helped build my son’s confidence, which improved his test taking substantially. He is no longer afraid of math because he taught him strategies to break down complicated problems into simple concepts. He also reviewed concepts my son didn’t know in depth, asking questions to make sure he understood. I strongly recommend Dr. Donnelly, he made test preparation enjoyable and fulfilling.”

“Dr. Donnelly is patient and supportive and is clear when explaining questions that were challenging. He also urged my daughter to work out questions on her own, which was extremely helpful. He created an atmosphere in which she looked forward to the challenge of each section on the practice tests, and she definitely felt more confident taking the test. If you need to prepare for a standardized test, you should definitely contact Dr. Donnelly.”

“Dr. Donnelly was patient, kind and willing to work with my son in various areas to help improve not just his score but his understanding of the questions. His schedule is flexible and he is willing to work with you to give you what you need. My son’s score went up dramatically and I would recommend Stuart to anyone.”

“Stuart is a brilliant tutor. He knows the subject matter, knows the specifics of the tests, and knows how to convey the materials to different types of learners. He also helps with overall test taking strategies and building confidence. Highly recommend for ANY test.”

“The fundamentals I learned from Dr. Donnelly were very helpful. I received the one-on-one attention that I did not receive in the Kaplan prep course. I did not feel embarrassed to ask basic questions. Dr. Donnelly was very patient with explaining concepts in detail until I understood. Additionally, he was always available via email or phone.”

“Dr. Donnelly is a great tutor and genuinely cares about you doing well in your exam. Thanks to Stuart, I was able to understand the concepts much faster than I would have on my own. He made learning easy and stress-free. His strategy for dealing with each section was also REALLY effective!”

“Excellent service. My daughter improved immensely because of her work with Stuart. She developed much better work habits and took control of her academics. Our experience with Doctor Donnelly was exceptional!”

“Thank you so much for all your help, time, and dedication. You’re truly the best!”

“Thank you for all your help! Hope you enjoy the rest of your summer!”