About Us
SEE College Prep is the largest not-for-profit organization focused on SAT preparation in California, and the second largest in the United States. SEE programs have served more than 500 educationally disadvantaged high school students, and will expand this upcoming summer to serve more than 800 educationally disadvantaged high school students at twenty program sites across California. Ultimately, SEE aims to reach 10,000 students nationwide each year by 2014.Recently, SEE tied for second place from more than 100 entries in Stanford University's BASES Social Entrepreneurship Challenge with an Echoing Green Fellow. SEE is largely self-sustaining but has also raised more than $55,000 from outside sources. Our biggest contributors to date are The College Board and Stanford University President Hennessy.
SEE College Prep is the largest not-for-profit organization focused on SAT preparation in California, and the second largest in the United States.
SEE programs have served more than 500 educationally disadvantaged high school students, and will expand this upcoming summer to serve more than 800 educationally disadvantaged high school students at twenty program sites across California. Ultimately, SEE aims to reach 10,000 students nationwide each year by 2014.
Recently, SEE tied for second place from more than 100 entries in Stanford University's BASES Social Entrepreneurship Challenge with an Echoing Green Fellow. SEE is largely self-sustaining but has also raised more than $55,000 from outside sources. Our biggest contributors to date are The College Board and Stanford University President Hennessy.
Our History
SEE College Prep was founded by Stanford undergraduate Garrett Neiman. In 2006, while Garrett was a senior in high school, he began tutoring high school students on the SAT as a way to get out of working part-time at McDonalds. A year later, after taking a course at Stanford on social entrepreneurship, Garrett founded SEE using his McDonalds savings to pay for initial supplies and expenses.During the summer of 2007, SEE's successful pilot program consisting of a single class in Southern California grew into serving 120 underpriviledged students across multiple locations in 20098.In 2009, SEE tripled in size to serve 360 disadvantaged students, nearly 1% of the market in California. This coming summer, SEE plans to host 18 programs across California to serve over 500 disadvantaged students.Within the next five years, SEE plans to aggressively grow to reach 20,000 students - half of the eligible population in California, with the ultimate goal of expanding nationally to service the 1 million students who lack the resources to fully prepare for college.
SEE College Prep was founded by Stanford undergraduate Garrett Neiman. In 2006, while Garrett was a senior in high school, he began tutoring high school students on the SAT as a way to get out of working part-time at McDonalds. A year later, after taking a course at Stanford on social entrepreneurship, Garrett founded SEE using his McDonalds savings to pay for initial supplies and expenses.
During the summer of 2007, SEE's successful pilot program consisting of a single class in Southern California grew into serving 120 underpriviledged students across multiple locations in 20098.
In 2009, SEE tripled in size to serve 360 disadvantaged students, nearly 1% of the market in California.
This coming summer, SEE plans to host 18 programs across California to serve over 500 disadvantaged students.
Within the next five years, SEE plans to aggressively grow to reach 20,000 students - half of the eligible population in California, with the ultimate goal of expanding nationally to service the 1 million students who lack the resources to fully prepare for college.
Our Vision
We believe that every student should have the opportunity to attend the college that he or she deserves.We have never turned away a student who could not afford an SAT preparation program, and we currently operate the second largest non-profit focused on SAT preparation in the United States.
We believe that every student should have the opportunity to attend the college that he or she deserves.
We have never turned away a student who could not afford an SAT preparation program, and we currently operate the second largest non-profit focused on SAT preparation in the United States.
Our Work
Our ImpactFor us, Maria's story is typical: over the past two years, we have helped 250 students improve their SAT scores an average of 240 points. When 240 points is greater than the difference in average SAT scores between NYU (1960) and SUNY Binghamton (1730), the results can be staggering: attending a college where the average SAT scores are 200 points higher is worth an additional $100,000 in lifetime income, and our students who attend private colleges typically qualify for $200,000 in grant aid.Maria is among 40,000 California SAT test-takers from low-income families who score, on average, nearly 300 points lower on the SAT than their wealthiest peers. At a cost of just over $100 per student, our SAT preparation programs eliminate nearly 90% of this gap and help prove, once and for all that all students can succeed if given the opportunity.
Our Impact
For us, Maria's story is typical: over the past two years, we have helped 250 students improve their SAT scores an average of 240 points. When 240 points is greater than the difference in average SAT scores between NYU (1960) and SUNY Binghamton (1730), the results can be staggering: attending a college where the average SAT scores are 200 points higher is worth an additional $100,000 in lifetime income, and our students who attend private colleges typically qualify for $200,000 in grant aid.
Maria is among 40,000 California SAT test-takers from low-income families who score, on average, nearly 300 points lower on the SAT than their wealthiest peers. At a cost of just over $100 per student, our SAT preparation programs eliminate nearly 90% of this gap and help prove, once and for all that all students can succeed if given the opportunity.
What Motivates Us Maria joined Upward Bound after she decided she didnt want to end up like her uncles who died in prison. Maria deserved the bestshe worked hard and earned straight Asbut no one from Maria's high school ever attends a top college. When we met Maria, she was a student government leader, a Varsity athlete, and well liked by her teachers. But she was frightened of the SAT, and her previous scores showed it. During our five week SAT preparation program, Maria raised her SAT score 240 points, bringing her within range of the averages at UCLA, where she will be a freshman next year.Our ProgramSEE College Prep trains top undergraduates to deliver quality summer SAT preparation programs to disadvantaged high school students. SEE has created a 5-week, 42-hour program and curriculum it carries out through partnerships with existing college preparation programs that lack the resources to fully prepare their students for college.
What Motivates Us
Maria joined Upward Bound after she decided she didnt want to end up like her uncles who died in prison. Maria deserved the bestshe worked hard and earned straight Asbut no one from Maria's high school ever attends a top college. When we met Maria, she was a student government leader, a Varsity athlete, and well liked by her teachers. But she was frightened of the SAT, and her previous scores showed it. During our five week SAT preparation program, Maria raised her SAT score 240 points, bringing her within range of the averages at UCLA, where she will be a freshman next year.
Our Program
SEE College Prep trains top undergraduates to deliver quality summer SAT preparation programs to disadvantaged high school students. SEE has created a 5-week, 42-hour program and curriculum it carries out through partnerships with existing college preparation programs that lack the resources to fully prepare their students for college.
Garrett Neiman, founder and President of SEE, is a senior at Stanford and a perfect 2400 scorer on the SAT. An accomplished fundraiser, Garrett has raised $15,000 for Chinas orphanages and $55,000 for SEE College Prep. He has also personally taught more than 100 of SEEs students. In the past, Garrett has advised the National Director of SAT Programs and Googles Education Applications Team, interned at the U.S. Department of Education, and collaborated with Stanford and Harvard faculty on an education research project. Currently, Garrett is a Voting Member of Stanford Universitys Trustee Development Committee and Public Service Student Advisory Board.
Alexander Berger is a junior at Stanford majoring in Philosophy. Over the past two years, he has conducted research on the growth of charter school management organizations in California and the factors influencing court decisions in education finance cases around the country. Along the way, Alexander interned in the Education Program at the National Conference of State Legislatures and took a quarter off to volunteer for a charter school organization in India.
Jessica Perez, Executive Director of SEE, is a senior at Stanford majoring in English. A Quest Leadership Scholar and Gates Millennium Scholar, Jessica has returned the past three summers to work at her alma mater, South El Monte High School. Jessica has helped hundreds of students navigate the college admissions and financial aid process; she has also taught SAT prep through SEE. Jessica's efforts have inspired many students to attend college, and she has personally helped low-income, minority students gain admission to Stanford, Yale, UC Berkeley, and other prestigious institutions.
Michel Lee is currently a sophomore at Stanford University. Originally from Central California, she is a product of both of large public and small private schools. Her interests include philosophies of education, religious history, and vegan cooking. Michel serves as the Campus Recruitment Director for SEE.
Brittany Vo is a sophomore at Stanford University and will likely major in Biology. She has been with SEE since last summer as a tutor and volunteer/staff recruiter. Her interests include education, youth development, public health, and international development in general. In the future she wants to practice medicine in the U.S. and internationally. During her free time, she likes to read, listen to music, play the piano, and play water polo.
Francine is currently a Sophomore at Stanford University, and intends to major in Economics and minor in Education. She is largely interested in youth development and its social psychological, psychological and economic determinants. As the Associate Director of Recruitment of the Human Resources Team, Francine is primarily involved in filling SEEs staff positions throughout the academic year and for the Summer SAT Prep Program.
Jessica Jones is an MBA candidate at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. She completed her undergraduate education at Harvard University, from which she graduated Summa Cum Laude, and has worked for both Bain & Company and Firestone Walker Brewing Company. Before joining SEE College Prep, she led several youth and educational organizations as a Teacher for Summerbridge Cambridge, as a consultant to Larkin Street Youth Services in San Francisco, and as the Bay Area Regional Director for Inspire Inc., a non-profit consulting company. At Inspire Inc., she nearly doubled the number of clients served per year, created an intensive six-week training program for Case Team Leaders, and led the local offices strategic planning initiative.
Joy Zhang is currently a senior at Stanford University majoring in Human Biology and minoring in Economics. Prior to joining SEE College Prep, she had worked in southern India to help develop an English curriculum for an orphanage and school of about 90 students. She has also been a strong advocate for hepatitis B prevention as an intern with the Asian Liver Center and as a member of the SF Hep B Free Speakers Bureau.
Eric Fong graduated from UCLA in 2008, majoring in Biochemistry and Economics. During his time at UCLA, Eric was a William Sharpe Fellow and was heavily involved with the Student Research Program. In addition, he worked with UCLA Hospitals Emergency Prepardness group where he was able to blend his two interests. Previously, he interned with Baxter Health Corp and PricewaterhouseCoopers while working in a diverse range of roles. Currently, Eric is a Technical Services Analyst with the DoubleClick group at Google.
Tara Gu is a sophomore at Stanford University majoring in Public Policy and a 2390 scorer on the SAT. A staunch believer in social activism and community organizing, Tara has raised $20,000 to build a well in the village of Kibwezi, Kenya, and has collected and shipped over 40,000 books to construct the first public library in the eastern provinces of Kenya. Tara has a diverse variety of teaching experience, ranging from private music lessons for adults during the summers to teaching at elementary after-school math programs during the school year. In her free time, Tara is an epicurean eater and a kid at heart.
Rahul Agarwal (Curriculum Director) is a senior co-term student at Stanford majoring in Computer Science. He has been passionate about education his entire life, and he was a computer science Section Leader for six quarters. Rahul also worked with Stanford's EPASA Summer Academy, where he designed math and elective curricula and taught classes to middle school students from East Palo Alto. He is currently a TA for a graduate level Computer Science course.
Amy Do, Vice President of Communications, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Dartmouth. As president and founder of Dartmouth's Society of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Amy organized events for students and faculty, led fundraisers, and published a journal of undergraduate research. Amy is the former chair of Wishing Well, a nonprofit organization devoted to granting wishes for child hospital patients and their families. Amy built her teaching skills as a peer tutor, study group leader, and Academic Coach for high school students from under-resourced schools. Amy now works at Google as a Relationship Manager for Google Ad Words clients. She received two Google Online Sales & Operations Gold Awards for outstanding individual contribution.
Jeff Margolis is a recent Ph.D. recipient from the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Originally from a suburb of Chicago, Jeff completed his undergraduate studies at Northwestern University. Jeff has always shared his love of education with others, serving as a tutor and guest speaker at local schools. He began at SEE as a SAT tutor, helping his students from Stanford Upward Bound and the East Palo Alto Boys and Girls Club achieve an average 260-point increase on their SAT scores. This past year, Jeff planned the first SEE Scholars Program to provide top students with an opportunity to explore their academic interests through faculty-sponsored research projects at University of California Irvine and California State University Fullerton. Jeff is excited to take on the position of Vice President of Development in 2010, spreading awareness of the need to for equal access to education including SAT preparation programs.
Cristiana Giannini is a junior at Stanford majoring in Political Science and Comparative Literature. Last spring she helped SEE prepare for the BASES Social-E Challenge, and this winter she is working in fundraising efforts on the development team. Cristiana just got back from a quarter abroad in Italy, where she taught Italian language classes to newly arrived immigrants. She spent two years at the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford, where she worked with a professor on an upcoming publication. She has also tutored for various non-profits.
Kathy Cooper, Managing Director of the M&A Development Team, graduated from Stanford University in the spring of 2009 with a major in Civil Engineering. She has worked at nonprofits in Belize, Mexico, and the Philippines doing water, environment, and energy projects. During her time at Stanford, Kathy helped to coordinate Camp Kesem, a one-week summer camp for children from families affected by cancer. Kathy will begin Teach for America training in June, and plans on working for two years teaching middle school science in Denver, Colorado.
Our Advisory Board includes a diverse group of experts from business and education non-profit sectors.Jeannie Rosenthal - Founder and Former Executive Director of Lets Get ReadyChris Bischof - Founder, Principal, and Board Chair at Eastside Preparatory SchoolLance Fors - Former CEO Third Wave Technologies, Board Chair at SV2Barbara Kibbe - General Partner at Monitor Group, Former VP at Skoll Foundation
Our Advisory Board includes a diverse group of experts from business and education non-profit sectors.
Jeannie Rosenthal - Founder and Former Executive Director of Lets Get Ready
Chris Bischof - Founder, Principal, and Board Chair at Eastside Preparatory School
Lance Fors - Former CEO Third Wave Technologies, Board Chair at SV2
Barbara Kibbe - General Partner at Monitor Group, Former VP at Skoll Foundation
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