In their own words
Testimonials
Each entry opens with the passage the student or the studio pulled out; the rest of what they wrote, and the advice they left for students behind them, is one tap away.
41 students, written after they left. Most were collected while the organisation was called Global Prep Academy, which is the name they use.
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Andrew Chae La Canada High School
I started coming to GPA in 10th grade. At the time, I had very few activities; previously, I wasn’t one to join very many extracurriculars …
I started coming to GPA in 10th grade. At the time, I had very few activities; previously, I wasn’t one to join very many extracurriculars. However, I learned while attending how important they were and how much one could learn from them. For instance, I learned about border crises around the world, I learned the significance and implications of American politics, I learned about social issues such as homelessness, drug addictions, and school-to-prison pipelines, and how they are the result of a failure in the past to help those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. Furthermore, I learned and developed useful skills that will continue to help me throughout college and later in life, such as Photoshop, public speaking, website building, and more. Before I found GPA, I expected to attend any decent college I could get to with hopes of attending a UC school without considering what the programs had to offer and what I would get out of attending there. However, instead, I will be attending the University of Pennsylvania in an accelerated, dual-degree program focused on energy research. I am endlessly grateful for how much GPA shaped my high school experience and will continue to shape my college experience.
Advice to students
Don’t worry about coming up with topics for your supplements and essays so early on. Rather, focus on developing your own image through creating and participating in projects, developing skills, and becoming educated on essential topics. The writing portion for your application will come a lot easier if you have more that you can talk about.
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Favian Busnawi West Ranch High School
I joined GPA relatively late in the application process; regardless, they were able to make sure my application and essays were as good as they could be …
I joined GPA relatively late in the application process; regardless, they were able to make sure my application and essays were as good as they could be. GPA not only helped me do well on the SAT, but they also helped me figure out the type of college that would fit me and specific programs that interested me. The SAT classes allowed me to get a 1440 when previously I was stuck at around the mid 1300 range. GPA goes above and beyond in comparison to other college prep institutions because they give you the tools necessary to help build your portfolio to stand out in the admissions process: we are not simply numbers anymore. David and Myra run an amazing program that builds leadership, allows the student to pursue their passions, and provides the tools & resources necessary to impact a community. They are beyond knowledgeable with the college process, with years of experience under their belt, and understand how the process itself is changing and modernizing. Because of their expertise and help throughout, I have been accepted into one of the top colleges in the US and am basically paying nothing. GPA has been one of the greatest investments my family has made, as I don’t think there are many (if any) places that can help a student grow and shine in the application process.
Advice to students
Some advice I would give to a junior in high school is that it is never too early to start preparing for the strenuous application process. I started very late and had to work very hard to get involved with projects that would strengthen my application. One thing I learned while in GPA is that the top colleges no longer look at students strictly through their numbers (i.e. class rank, GPA, SAT scores); they look at how the person is an investment. GPA will help you start projects that will legitimately have a purpose, unlike school clubs, and because of this, I strongly believe that starting early will help you create the best projects possible.
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Wendy Kim Lehigh University, Class of 2020
“I’ve known David since sophomore year of high school, but it genuinely feels like we have known each other for much longer. I remember our AP Euro and U.S …
“I’ve known David since sophomore year of high school, but it genuinely feels like we have known each other for much longer. I remember our AP Euro and U.S. History lessons—I hated the subject, but David made them as painless as possible. And during those hours together, we formed a relationship that I’m certain will last a lifetime. David isn’t your average teacher; instead, he strives to educate students and help us become our very best selves, beyond standardized scores and grades. Global Prep Academy helped me realize that yes, grades are important, but they are not everything, and they certainly do not define you.
Before coming to Global Prep Academy for my college applications, I was completely oblivious and lost (still lost, but improving). David and Myra helped me discover new colleges and programs outside of just UCs and Stanford. We took trips to visit campuses near us and applied to fly-in programs. The entire experience of college apps was stressful, yet one of the best few moments in my life. Even after graduating high school and going off to different colleges around the country, I still feel close to the people in my graduating class who I spent time with during SAT and college apps. We suffered together but also created lasting memories, and I am forever grateful that my parents forced me to get a “tutor” for AP European History in 10th grade.”
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Young Kim Bucknell University, Class of 2021
“GPA offered me the space to figure out what impact I wanted to have on the world.”
“I remember the exact words that David had said to me when we first met: “My goal for you is not to be the smartest person in the room but the most interesting.” In this moment, I knew that I had found someone who had finally cared about my future and my wants.
As a student who was invested into my future education, I had just thought that a high GPA and a long list of generic clubs were enough to ensure an acceptance from top universities and Ivy Leagues. Santa Clarita parents and school counselors had perpetuated this false statement that “All the colleges want are high achieving, well-rounded students with a long list of extracurriculars and high GPAs.” I was so used to cultivating a false image of a perfect student that I had really lost sight of what I liked doing and what I was good at. I was a shell of a student who was just looking for a career choice that would make the highest earning salary.
After a whole semester of struggling with AP European History, I had finally realized that there was no way for me to be successful without outside help. A group of my friends and I had found David through a mutual friend and had nothing to lose— at this point we were helpless and wanted any help we could get. What I received in return was much more than just AP European help. What had started out as something nonchalant had become something that would change the trajectory of my future. I began to become engaged more and more everyday. A subject that I had once despised had become one that I couldn’t stop thinking about. With each session, I began to learn more about the world and about current issues. David taught with vigor, emotion and excitement that had made me want to reciprocate his energy. I had never seen a teacher so invested into my future. David did not care about how many hours we spent learning something, he cared about whether we understood the concepts— and he wouldn’t give up until he did.
With that, I was fed up with our high school education system. I had wanted to care, but our schools gave us packets of work that had no meaning and lacked any depth. None of the work challenged me to think in a critical way about the world— or even about the subjects that we were learning. I wanted to become exactly what David had said. I no longer cared about being the smartest person in the room but I wanted to become the most engaged, and the most interesting. I began taking more and more courses at GPA, including SAT, numerous other AP classes, and college apps. Throughout it all, David and Myra were there to help me with each and every step. In addition to AP and SAT classes, I began to learn about the world. Attending Global Leadership, Take Action and SAT camp (yes, even SAT camp) had begun to help me contextualize issues that were taking place within our global community. Every time I stepped foot into GPA, I had stepped out of my Santa Clarita mindset and had begun to become involved interested in my global community. With the help of David and Myra, I’ve been able to attend multiple festivals as a environmental volunteer, engage with global leaders, attend marches and protests and (most importantly) become an engaged global citizen.
Due to my experiences at GPA, I am now a Markets, Innovations and Design major at Bucknell University and I could not be happier. GPA offered me the space to figure out what impact I wanted to have on the world— and for that I will be forever grateful.
If I can offer one piece of advice to any high school student in any grade: become engaged and be an active part of your education and your future— it is never too late.”
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Matthew Ludovico George Washington University, Elliott School of International Affairs, Class of 2021
“It’s never too late. Although it is more ideal to become more engaged with the world earlier on, sometimes the odds don’t work in your favor. Do not be discouraged …
“It’s never too late. Although it is more ideal to become more engaged with the world earlier on, sometimes the odds don’t work in your favor. Do not be discouraged. I didn’t even begin to care about the world or take advantage of the resources GPA had until later into my junior year. Although I regret that I hadn’t been more engaged earlier on, I am happy that I didn’t just give up. GPA does a great job of making up for lost time as long as you have the determination to better yourself as a person and as a global citizen. It’s more important that you had some progress than no progress at all. Better late than never at all.
Trust the process. You may have thought you would never leave California for college or thought you would be attending an Ivy League when you first started the process. Things change—embrace it! Despite how difficult and straining the college process was, I am forever grateful for it. It taught me more about myself than any other experience I have ever had and taught me to dig deep down inside myself to figure out who I was as a person and who I wanted to be in the future. If it were not for this intense process, I don’t think I would have ever had the self-discovery that I had during the college application process. I ended up where I was supposed to be and I’m so happy to be where I am, even though it wasn’t where I thought I would end up when I first started the college process. The process works and the late nights spent working on essays and balancing high school will be worth it, trust me.”
Where do I even begin when it comes to the amazing place that is GPA? There are not enough words for me to describe my experience here as well as my endless appreciation for the amazing people that I have met at GPA.
I first met David in the spring of my sophomore year, which was during the time that GPA was just being created. A couple friends and I were seeking help for our AP European History class, as we found that our high school class simply was not preparing us enough for the AP test, and a friend suggested that we get in contact with David. What started off as AP Euro tutoring has turned into a lifetime of learning and growing. David turned a boring, ancient European history class into something where we could connect the past to modern day times. He taught with such passion and vigor that made me made me more passionate and excited to learn. I can say without a doubt that I have never met someone like David. David truly changed me and made me realize how I had been living in a tiny bubble my entire life. Before I met David, I never cared about what was going on in the world and I never had my own opinions and beliefs. As cliché as it may sound, if it were not for GPA, I never would have become the person I am today.
GPA is a “prep academy” (I use that term quite loosely as GPA with modern decor and a welcoming atmosphere completely contrasts that of a traditional prep academy) that creates a global centric community in a valley that is so ignorant and close-minded. Once I step into GPA, I leave behind the narrow-mindedness and shallow perspective that SCV promulgates and join a community of global leaders and people who want to change the world. GPA offers a plethora of classes that I took full advantage of—SAT camps, Global Leadership and Take Action. Take Action and Global Leadership helped me realize my passions and also helped me figure out what I wanted to do with my life. GPA has taught me that there is so much more to the world than Santa Clarita. GPA has broken the academic and social stereotypes that have been created by this valley and taught me to forge my own educational path. They taught me that colleges don’t want people with only high GPAs and involvement with Key Club or NHS, but rather want interesting students who want to change the world.
I would like to highlight one experience that I had during my high school career that I think is essential to understanding the academic environment that SCV creates. During the spring of my junior year as I was picking classes for my senior year, my high school counselor said to me:
“Do you even want to go to a four-year university? With these class choices, you are not going to get into any university because you’re not as well-rounded and competitive as the other applicants.” (despite the fact that I had above a 4.0 GPA and had an extensive list of extracurriculars)
With GPA’s help and constant support, I can proudly say that, despite what my high school counselor thought, I am now attending the George Washington University studying at the Elliott School of International Affairs, which is ranked as one of the top ten International Affairs schools in the world. I am forever grateful to David, Myra, MJ, and GPA for making me the person I am today. I would like to thank them for their endless support and love throughout the years.
I can say without a doubt that Global Prep Academy is cultivating world leaders that will truly change the world for the better.
Advice to students
a Junior (or younger) in high school to prepare for applying for college
There are two pieces of advice that I wish I had been given when I was going through the college process:
It’s never too late. Although it is more ideal to become more engaged with the world earlier on, sometimes the odds don’t work in your favor. Do not be discouraged. I didn’t even begin to care about the world or take advantage of the resources GPA had until later into my junior year. Although I regret that I hadn’t been more engaged earlier on, I am happy that I didn’t just give up. GPA does a great job of making up for lost time as long as you have the determination to better yourself as a person and as a global citizen. It’s more important that you had some progress than no progress at all. Better late than never at all.
Trust the process. You may have thought you would never leave California for college or thought you would be attending an Ivy League when you first started the process. Things change—embrace it! Despite how difficult and straining the college process was, I am forever grateful for it. It taught me more about myself than any other experience I have ever had and taught me to dig deep down inside myself to figure out who I was as a person and who I wanted to be in the future. If it were not for this intense process, I don’t think I would have ever had the self-discovery that I had during the college application process. I ended up where I was supposed to be and I’m so happy to be where I am, even though it wasn’t where I thought I would end up when I first started the college process. The process works and the late nights spent working on essays and balancing high school will be worth it, trust me.
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Rachel DeGuzman University of Puget Sound, Class of ’21
“They opened the world to me. They vocalized and emphasized the need for underlying passion. They worked to uncover and manifest this passion in their students, in themselves, and in GPA.”
“They believed in my writing.”
“Now, my first year at college takes place at The University of Puget Sound. You’ve probably never heard about it - I didn’t. But it’s perfect. In every way. Seattle is a thirty minute drive up the 5-North. Point Defiance, a national park that consumes an entire section of the peninsula, is a 5 minute drive from my school. The Puget Sound, not the ocean or the sea, is a twenty minute walk away from campus. The water is calm and honest, the seasons are vibrant, and the sunsets and sunrises stain the sky with the purest concentrates of light. I see clear progress in my academic abilities, my capacities to understand the world and people around me, my interactions, my mental health, my art, my writing - my everything. I finally feel like I am where I need to be. Thank you.”
GPA gave me clarity in my college process. Throughout high school, college loomed over my head - not entirely close, but certainly close enough to feel the gravity and weight of the choices I had to make: what college do I go to? Will I get into college? Is there truly a school out there for me?
Am I prepared for this?
David and Myra showed my options beyond the obvious UCs and the hopeful (but highly unrealistic) Ivy’s. They helped me with my SAT scores, both old and new. They taught me how to work with the system to exploit the system in hopes that my fellow peers and I can better it. They believed in my writing. They opened the world to me. They introduced me to Malala, Tankman, and Ai Wei Wei. They vocalized and emphasized the need for underlying passion. They worked to uncover and manifest this passion in their students, in themselves, and in GPA. They shared their books, their time, their space, their lives in hopes that we, their students, go to college.
For this, I am always grateful.
In my senior year of high school, college became the one concern and the one conversation. Aside from my close friends, people at school competed, obsessed, and bled over that one slot at Stanford or Columbia or MIT. There was no community. There were only numbers - hours of volunteering, number of positions held, 2400, 2400, 2400. However, GPA offered me something that I never knew I’d miss so much: a community.
Now, my first year at college takes place at The University of Puget Sound. You’ve probably never heard about it - I didn’t. But it’s perfect. In every way. Seattle is a thirty minute drive up the 5-North. Point Defiance, a national park that consumes an entire section of the peninsula, is a 5 minute drive from my school. The Puget Sound, not the ocean or the sea, is a twenty minute walk away from campus. The water is calm and honest, the seasons are vibrant, and the sunsets and sunrises stain the sky with the purest concentrates of light. I see clear progress in my academic abilities, my capacities to understand the world and people around me, my interactions, my mental health, my art, my writing - my everything. I finally feel like I am where I need to be.
Thank you.
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Jasmyn Choi Wesleyan University, Class of 2022
“I had people who cared about me, people who supported me. As cheesy as all of this may sound, I believe in the power of spaces and what they can cultivate. For me, I had made another home of GPA, and it was bittersweet to leave.”
“So much pressure is put on the idea of ‘College’- don’t idealize it so much. It’s really just another 4 years of your life, but you don’t want to waste them rotting in some huge lecture hall with no real skills for the ‘real world.’ Know what you want and don’t just go to college to delay reality but go with specific goals in mind.”
I didn’t know much about, well, anything before coming to GPA. All I knew was little bits of myself, and I also didn’t know how much more of myself I had to discover. To be honest, I was a bit overwhelmed when I walked into GPA for the first time. I was clearly passionate about the world but with no outlet- I had never been in a space where people actually got things done.
My mom was actually the one who dragged me here- she heard about GPA by word of mouth and really just wanted me out of the house. I resisted at first, I was sick of studying and I didn’t think GPA was different from any other prep place in the area. I didn’t care for the SAT, grades were trivial to me. Sure, I’d always gotten good grades, but I was so burnt out and so tired of grades being emphasized. Grades were divisive by nature, and sought to encourage competition rather than learning for the sake of learning. All high school really taught me were creative ways to cheat, not anything with real substance.
So when I first came to GPA, David took me to a room and asked me what bothers me. The only thing floating around my mind as a poor high school junior was grades, so that’s what I said. In that sitting, we bounced around ideas, complaints about the school system, and like that De-grade was born. And that was the start of it.
From then on, I watched myself and GPA grow side by side. We went from Global Leaderships in that small classroom to a whole new section being built in GPA. I remember brainstorming for projects during the day and coming back to dance at night. All my memories in this space are precious, and I wonder how different I would be if I never discovered GPA and if GPA hadn’t helped me discover me.
I had people who cared about me, people who supported me. As cheesy as all of this may sound, I believe in the power of spaces and what they can cultivate. For me, I had made another home of GPA, and it was bittersweet to leave. I knew I was coming here with the intention to bust out of SCV, yet I never thought I would make something here that I would be so sad to leave. GPA looks a lot different from when I started coming here, and I don’t know a lot of the new people who hang around here. Still, the energy is the same, and I hope it stays like that going forward.
Advice to students
Don’t decide before the universe does- meaning don’t put limits on yourself. Apply for colleges you think you could never get into, colleges you’ve never heard of, colleges David told you about days before the deadline (just don’t apply to UCs). Take chances, and be okay with being uncomfortable. God knows you’ll have to get used to it.
You never know where you’ll end up, but you’ll be okay wherever you go. You’ll end up where you need to be, and you will become a better version of yourself no matter where you go. So much pressure is put on the idea of “College”- don’t idealize it so much. It’s really just another 4 years of your life, but you don’t want to waste them rotting in some huge lecture hall with no real skills for the “real world.” Know what you want and don’t just go to college to delay reality but go with specific goals in mind.
Be sure of yourself. Don’t invest so much emotionally into the application process, because you’re going to get rejected unless you’re really lucky. Be okay with rejection because it is not a reflection of you. Colleges have messed up selection processes, and they favor rich, white, legacy, private school kids and that has nothing to do with you being “stupid” or whatever. It’s just the process and that’s just how life works, people in positions of power have the advantage and all the cheat codes. You just have to be prepared to be frustrated by it.
Above all, take care of yourself. Straighten your back when you’re studying or doing work. Drink water. Get sleep. Eat healthy. Nothing is more important than your health, both mental and physical. Especially not college.
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Neha Vyas Duke University, Class of 2022
“Not only did GPA help me create the best applications, they also enabled me to broaden my perspectives. Here, I was encouraged to express & develop my viewpoints, and most importantly, put them into action.”
Currently in Medical School at USC’s Keck
I remember the day I first stepped into GPA like it was yesterday. Walking a few steps behind my mom, I was ready to be written off as a “failure” or a “disgrace” again, like the previous institution I went to had heavily implied. When David approached me, I was ready to give my GPA, SAT score, AP scores and be met with a sigh and look of disappointment. Instead, David asked me about my passions, the programs I was considering, the organizations I was a part of. I kept waiting to be asked my stats, but that wasn’t the priority of what he wanted to know about me. At the end of our meeting that day, David asked me what colleges I was thinking of. I listed 8-10 colleges, and he immediately responded “We can do that.” That was the very first time someone had believed in me.
GPA helped me get through college applications in the least stressful manner possible. Under David and Myra’s guidance, I was able to navigate the process of writing the 650 Common App personal statement and plethora of supplements. I am thankful for David’s neverending help, which extended past midnight for several of my applications, and Myra’s kind advice while filling financial aid documents and crafting my resume. Not only did GPA help me create the best applications, they also enabled me to broaden my perspectives. Global Leadership cultivated my global knowledge and motivated me to challenge social inequities. Here, I was encouraged to express and develop my viewpoints, and most importantly put them into action. I am beyond grateful to Myra and David for helping me find my passion for immigrant rights, and convert my passions into a concrete project: We Are Not Aliens. GPA allowed me to define myself through the issues that deeply mattered to me, instead of only my SAT and AP scores.
Today, I am at Duke University because David and Myra saw through the numbers that defined me throughout my high school career. I am here because they were confident enough to believe in me, when I could not do the same for myself. Thank you David. Thank you Myra. Thank you GPA for everything.
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Sabby Acosta University of Michigan, Class of 2022
“Everyone at GPA guided me to get ahead in thinking about my future and helped me realize what I really wanted in a college—not for the name, but because it fits me.”
“Everyone at GPA guided me to get ahead in thinking about my future and helped me realize what I really wanted in a college—not for the name, but because it fits me.”
Without everyone form GPA, I wouldn’t be where I am today. My senior year at Global Prep Academy made it all the more memorable.
David and Myra, along with everyone else, guided me through senior year. Whether it was studying for the SAT or writing college apps or even for emotional support, they were always there every step of the way. To make things even better, the atmosphere of GPA and the intricacy of how everything was displayed gave the place a hip, cool vibe. The moment you walk through the doors of GPA, you wouldn’t think that it was a place that had anything to do with school- they were on a whole other level.
At the beginning of senior year, I felt lost, and I didn’t know where I wanted to go, nor did I have the confidence to apply to my top schools. I remember, staying at GPA late in the night doing college apps. David works one-on-one with people in order to help come up with amazing ideas on what to write. He is one of the most intelligent people I know, and I would have never been able to start an essay without him. Not only does he help with college apps, but he works with everyone on the SAT and guides people in the right direction on building your resume- from clubs, to events, to service projects, pretty much anything. And Myra is no less, she stays till late in the night, helping students with essays and college apps, teaching the math portion of the SAT, and she is always there for emotional support. She is the backbone of GPA.
Everyone at GPA guided me to get ahead in thinking about my future and helped me realize what I really wanted in a college—not for the name, but because it fits me. Everyone at GPA is encouraging, uplifting, and supportive of your goals. It is a safe environment to express who you are. David and Myra are truly the best people in the world, and I can never thank them enough for how much time and dedication they put in for me.
Shoutout to Amy, Mithara, and Lauren for being the best people in the world, who dedicated their time to everyone. Thank you for those late nights, and coffee shop brainstorms They are the brightest, most amazing women I have ever met, and I wouldn’t be where I am today if everyone wasn’t there. Thank you for everything.
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Emilio Gutierrez Lopez DePaul University (Vincent DePaul Scholar), Class of 2022
“Thanks to GPA and its programs, I got accepted into 12 of the 15 schools I applied to. GPA gave me the necessary resources and knowledge to begin my journey to college as informed as possible.”
“Thanks to GPA and its programs, I got accepted into 12 of the 15 schools I applied to. GPA gave me the necessary resources and knowledge to begin my journey to college as informed as possible.”
As a student at GPA, I grew both academically and personally. Going to this institute was an eye-opening experience through its activism in our community. Within the first month, my SAT score increased by 300 points. GPA changed my way of thinking for the better and allowed me to see things in a different light. David and Myra care dearly for their students and will always go out of their way to make sure one is satisfied. Thanks to GPA and its programs, I got accepted into 12 of the 15 schools I applied to. GPA gave me the necessary resources and knowledge to begin my journey to college as informed as possible.
What advice would you give a Junior (or younger) in high school to prepare for applying for college?
To prospective students of GPA: Try to be as active in your community as possible in order to expand on your extracurriculars. Don’t ever miss an opportunity to chase after something you’re passionate about. Not only because it will make you a unique applicant among the thousands of other applicants you are competing against, but because you should show colleges your personal initiative. You must prove to colleges why they should invest in you, and Global Prep Academy is there to help you do that.
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Jaden Nguyen Gonzaga University, Class of 2022
“GPA helped me find a school that I am happy and proud to be attending.”
“Do not feel down about a rejection because that school is definitely missing out on something by not accepting you. Visit as many of the schools as you can so you can get a feel what the campus is like because when I visited Gonzaga, I knew that it was a perfect fit.”
GPA was a home away from home. I still remember my first day walking in and being super overwhelmed. I remember David was leading the Global Leadership class, and he was talking about the Trump administration and who he was going to be filling his cabinet with. I felt like I was in the wrong building, and I needed to text my mom to get our money back because I was going to die. But things turned around because Myra and David pushed me to read some news and to pay attention to what is happening in the world. Now I feel like I am awake because I was sleeping on all of the chaos that is happening in the world and in politics.
I spent way too much time at GPA, but that never stopped me from going back to spend even more time there. I spent countless hours studying, attending classes or working on college applications. Any time I needed help David or Myra were there to help me, even if involved an entire section of Spanish due in a week.
GPA helped me find a school that I am happy and proud to be attending. Gonzaga was not on my radar until David told me to take a look at it. Honestly, at first I when he said Gonzaga, I had no clue what he was talking about, but I looked it up and liked what they had to offer. When I was accepted and visited, I fell in love with the sense of community and the small class sizes and knew that it was the place that I wanted to call home for the next four years.
Honestly, I love GPA so much, and I do not know how to put it into words. I am forever thankful that I was able to attend GPA.
Advice to students
a Junior (or younger) in high school to prepare for applying for college
Relax. Do not start stressing about scores and grades. I am not saying to not care about your grades or scores; I am saying work as hard as you can to get the highest grades and scores that you can but in a way that is healthy and sustainable. High school is rough and can be very boring, but finish it in the best way possible. Do not be afraid of failure because that is the only way to learn. Do not feel down about a rejection because that school is definitely missing out on something by not accepting you. Visit as many of the schools as you can so you can get a feel what the campus is like because when I visited Gonzaga I knew that it was a perfect fit.
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Rojie Malki-Hajjar Stanford University, Class of 2022
“Their education is practical and daring. The whole team is dedicated to bring your creative ideas to life.”
“Explore beyond the high school education system and find things that truly interest you because that’s the first step to find the right program/college. Also, be unique and set yourself apart from the other 2 million people applying to college. Get deeply involved in your interests and be creative!”
In late September, a month before my Questbridge finalist applications were due, I decided to go to GPA for the first time. David completely changed my idea of the ideal college application. On the first day, he convinced me to withhold my application from Questbridge and apply through the Common App to give myself more time to work on my applications. For the next two months, GPA provided me with the right environment and resources to build a college application that I felt represented me. More than that, I learned a lot at GPA. Their education is practical and daring. The whole team is dedicated to bring your creative ideas to life.
Advice to students
a Junior (or younger) in high school to prepare for applying for college
Explore beyond the high school education system and find things that truly interest you because that’s the first step to find the right program/college. Also, be unique and set yourself apart from the other 2 million people applying to college. Get deeply involved in your interests and be creative!
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Tammy Chung Yale University — Humans of GPA, $280,000 grants & scholarships (no class year listed)
“GPA’s flexibility within programs, including College Curation and Global Leadership, allowed me to explore diverse areas of study …
“GPA’s flexibility within programs, including College Curation and Global Leadership, allowed me to explore diverse areas of study. From participating in introductory coding classes to adopting basic sewing skills, I was able to engage in student-led projects that challenged me to research, collaborate, and communicate with students and communities located fifty miles away from my hometown. My passion and aspirations to become a healthcare provider expanded. GPA taught me that becoming a doctor isn’t simply following a track and passing a test. It’s about understanding the high stakes and problem-solving America’s expensive and unworkable healthcare system while realizing the pressing absence of empathetic communication between patients and caregivers. From drafting a bill that outlines America’s new healthcare system to highlighting mental disorders by manually sewing a makeshift 3-D model of Winnie the Pooh, GPA showed me the importance of ‘creating value’ in the most memorable, exciting, and challenging ways.”
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Bridget Yang Caltech — Humans of GPA, HS Class of 2020
“The first time that I walked through GPA’s doors I was what college admissions officers would describe as a typical cookie-cutter/try-hard Asian kid: high GPA/test scores, officer positions in school clubs, internship experience, etc …
“The first time that I walked through GPA’s doors I was what college admissions officers would describe as a typical cookie-cutter/try-hard Asian kid: high GPA/test scores, officer positions in school clubs, internship experience, etc. I thought I had my life all figured out: become valedictorian, go to Stanford, then medical school. However, when I walked out of GPA’s doors for the last time (well, hopefully not the last), I realized how much I had changed. I felt a greater sense of uncertainty looming over me. I don’t mean this in a bad way; I just felt (and still do feel) that no one career, major, or path could encapsulate all that I wanted to do for the world after coming out of GPA. GPA not only helped me survive the hellish college application process, but it also taught me how to be a global citizen and turn my passion into action. I left GPA as a published scientific researcher, author, and app designer. I left GPA with a better understanding of politics, sustainability, and who I am as a person.
When it was time for me to actually choose which college I would attend, I really, really struggled. This went on for over a month, but ultimately I committed to Dartmouth...then I changed my mind and committed to Caltech! I originally didn’t even want to apply to Caltech because I thought that I would just be wasting my time and my parents’ money applying to a school strictly for godly geniuses. But David and my parents encouraged me to shoot my shot, so I added it to my college list and submitted my application (with really low expectations). I’m really glad that I did because in hindsight, even though people think I’m not “geeky” enough for Caltech, it actually is perfect for me and my future aspirations.
I definitely could not have gotten into all these amazing schools if it wasn’t for GPA (in fact, I wouldn’t have even applied to most of them because I wouldn’t have known any better). GPA helped cultivate my love for learning, not the book-type-learning (I already do too much of that on my own) but the hard-skills learning. GPA also, as generic as this may sound, helped give me the confidence that I can do anything that I put my mind to.”
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Maisy Lewis Wesleyan University — Humans of GPA, $160,000 grants & scholarships (no class year listed)
“After joining GPA, my interests transformed into passions, so when I had to make my college list it was easy …
“After joining GPA, my interests transformed into passions, so when I had to make my college list it was easy. My calling was in science, environmental activism, climate change/global warming, social justice, and art, so I picked out schools with programs that supported these paths. Because of GPA, I realized that these disciplines all intersect and that in order to solve these interdisciplinary problems I needed to approach them with multidimensional solutions. Additionally, I now understand the stakes of these global issues, and that in order to find a solution, we must act now.”
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Caleb Kim Drexel University — Humans of GPA, $173,000 grants & scholarships (no class year listed)
“The best thing GPA probably did for me was helping me discover what I was passionate about …
“The best thing GPA probably did for me was helping me discover what I was passionate about. I had absolutely no idea what area of study I wanted to pursue in college, probably because I had no experience actually working on anything meaningful. Through working on a bunch of projects with an actual purpose, I discovered that I’m super passionate about marketing, management, and communications, and will be pursuing all three and more in college. If I hadn’t gone to GPA, I probably would’ve just pursued computer science for a couple of years at some random college, before realizing I have no passion for it and dropping out/restarting my education from square 1 and a boatload of debt. It also helps that 99.99% of individuals from GPA are just about the most kind/amazing/helpful individuals you’ll ever meet and are some of the best friends I got. They made the college application process a whole lot less stressful and actually enjoyable, somehow.”
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Nakya Higgins School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Humans of GPA, $180,000 grants & scholarships (no class year listed)
“I personally feel my time at GPA was incredibly beneficial. The moment I started I was taught about the necessary skills it took to get into college …
“I personally feel my time at GPA was incredibly beneficial. The moment I started I was taught about the necessary skills it took to get into college. Formulating projects with my peers that later became friends allowed me to have more of a sense of professionalism. With the meetings we held and research done as a unit, we were able to showcase successful projects. Some like Artivism which allowed the community to get together after the horrific incident at Saugus High school. We came together showcasing art as a way of expression during those dark times. And because of these projects, I feel it has made a difference in our lives as students. Allowing us to gain insight into the world in a whole new view that is not taught in the doors of our public schools. We have more of an opportunity as students to strive for more that is not provided in our schools including coding classes, a business class called hustle 101, videography, SAT prep, and help with college essays. You have an opportunity to understand what it is like to learn how to work with others in a more efficient way. They teach you how to create websites to showcase a more professional portfolio of the accomplishments you will continue to make.”
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Vibhu Venkatesh Otis College of Art and Design — Humans of GPA, Presidential Scholar $92,000 (no class year listed)
“As someone on an art/design career pathway, let me talk about something neat I learned about at GPA: Rebranding …
“As someone on an art/design career pathway, let me talk about something neat I learned about at GPA: Rebranding. And no, I don’t just mean creating new, attention-grabbing visuals and vibes for a professional brand (though that is definitely something that I learned to do while at GPA). Here’s what I’m saying: Global Prep Academy rebranded so many things about college and the future for me from the moment I walked in two years ago, as a closed-off art kid who said “sorry” too much and feared thinking about the future.
GPA rebrands education as a means of exploring global issues and learning relevant hard skills, rather than a soulless measure of grades and numbers. GPA rebrands leadership as a way to utilize compassion as a means of helping others and creating value, not as a means of getting more CSF points. GPA rebrands creative passions as something absolutely CRITICAL to the rapidly approaching future of jobs and movements, not a childhood phase that we should grow out of.
After watching GPA rebrand so many things that I had taken for granted before, I decided that it was time to rebrand myself. While at GPA, I grew not only into a visual storyteller and commentator but also an experimentalist with curiosities about all things design. I learned how to develop communication skills with amazing GPA peers and I now never apologize for being loud about the things I want to be loud about. I started to tap into my empathy to connect with real-world issues and ideas through collaborative, hands-on projects that were integrated with GPA’s wonderful classes.
And two years later, GPA has guided me effectively not only through the college application process but has also guided me to become someone who I feel proud of. I now feel excited to head off to the art school of my dreams (OTIS) and the future beyond that, and I sincerely couldn’t have done it without my GPA family.”
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Jane Lewis Smith College — Humans of GPA, $228,000 grants & scholarships (no class year listed)
“I spend most of my time outdoors, farming, and beekeeping. It’s what I love to do. I didn’t know I could turn my passions into more than that until I joined GPA …
“I spend most of my time outdoors, farming, and beekeeping. It’s what I love to do. I didn’t know I could turn my passions into more than that until I joined GPA. When I didn’t know how to build a website, the people at GPA didn’t hesitate to sit down with me and teach me how. They included me in their projects and supported me as I heard back from colleges. And when I created my first community project, over 20 students joined me. It’s a safe haven in the middle of Santa Clarita.
I became a motivated young person who is literally willing to risk my life for the issues I care about. I built a website which I didn’t think I could do, I have a packed resume before I’ve even graduated high school, and I live every day in search of something new to create. I don’t “do things” just to add to my college application. I do them because I care about them. I learned how to effectively communicate my ideas and visions; I think that’s the most important thing you can learn as a young person. Thank you, David, and GPA for everything.”
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Juliana Lozada Columbia University – Sciences Po — Humans of GPA, $58,000 grants & scholarships (no class year listed)
“Global Prep Academy encouraged me to deeply understand the issues beyond what was covered in news headlines. We dove into the niches of complex global discussions, from the fourth industrial revolution to institutionalized racism …
“Global Prep Academy encouraged me to deeply understand the issues beyond what was covered in news headlines. We dove into the niches of complex global discussions, from the fourth industrial revolution to institutionalized racism. I became more aware of my position to create change from where I am. Having a better understanding of my position in the world influenced me to pursue a unique international academic experience between Columbia University in New York City and Sciences Po in Reims, France. Global Prep Academy has fostered in me a love for learning beyond the classroom. I became more aware of myself and my capabilities to curate solutions that my community needed. My time at Global Prep Academy has been extremely transformative not only in the college process but also in preparing for a career in the fourth industrial revolution. I did not have the most outstanding GPA or SAT score, but David, and my family at GPA, believed in me and my ideas. Global Leadership with David made me think more about issues that are taboo to be discussed at the dinner table or current events that were left out of my history textbook. I was so honored to be part of a unique community of student designers, video editors, project managers, and more working with each other to put together well-branded projects to intersect our interests and skills with serving the community. GPA was with me in the wee hours when submitting college applications, preparing for internship interviews, and applying for scholarships & conferences. GPA is my home forever, and I’m eternally grateful for the people that made it my home.”
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Jamie Chung UPENN, School of Nursing
I met David and Myra the summer before my senior year through my mom’s friend. As the first in my family to attend college in the states, I needed genuine college counseling and guidance to pull through the college process …
I met David and Myra the summer before my senior year through my mom’s friend. As the first in my family to attend college in the states, I needed genuine college counseling and guidance to pull through the college process. By then, I had heard enough about Korean private academies/ “hagwons”, such as Elite, putting intense pressure on students to get into top colleges, scamming parents with an expensive cost for college counseling, and rewriting students’ personal statements to leave no trace of their identities. When I learned about David and Myra’s reasonable cost for college counseling with unlimited applications, I realized they were different. David and Myra didn’t ask me what my gpa was or what my extracurricular activities were on our first meeting, but asked what I envisioned pursuing at my future college and whether I looked at any colleges besides the ones in CA. They used big words like “return on investment” and “pre-professionalism” and enlarged the scope of my college search. They provided me with options and respected my thoughts as we held meaningful conversations each week.
David and Myra not only revised my college essays, but also looked into fly-in programs, messaged me scholarship opportunities, and helped me decipher my family’s tax forms when I applied for financial aid (those notorious hagwons would charge extra for this). They understood the mental and physical stress seniors faced, and it was comforting to know that we had supporters who cared about us. David created a safe space for open discussions about our personal statements. By peer reviewing other students’ essays, I was able to reflect on my own and be inspired by others.
GPA taught me to think critically and act responsibly. It was this mindset that GPA ingrained in me which led to my acceptance at University of Pennsylvania. David’s all-nighters editing our college essays and Myra’s constant updates regarding college deadlines showed me that they were altruistic people who wanted the best for their students. I am utterly grateful for David and Myra having confidence in my capabilities and helping students realize their potential both emotionally and visibly with an abundance of college acceptance letters by the end of year.
Advice to students
a Junior (or younger) in high school to prepare for applying for college
I will leave you with three pieces of advice.
1. Confront the culture of comparison. You may already know some people who have stellar SAT scores, college essays planned out, and majors decided. As you embark on the college application process, you may think to yourself “How does everyone else have everything together and I don’t?” Don’t worry, because everyone will get there at his/her own pace. Even if you are set on a college or a major, keep an open mind and continue to explore. Would you be surprised if I told you the college I will be attending wasn’t initially on my college list and it was the last application I decided to write?
2. Surround yourself with nourishing people. Like the students and teachers at GPA! It helps to work on your personal statements at a place where everyone is focused on accomplishing the same thing you’re working on. You can also receive firsthand advice from the experts there. Don’t go to your high school counselor who degrades your personal statement and says “you’re not writing enough about yourself”. Work with the people you feel are most helpful and knowledgeable about the process and most importantly, know you.
3. Pessimism of the mind, optimism of the will. Keep in mind of your grades and accomplishments, but don’t give up hope. Be mindful of college acceptance rates, but don’t label yourself based on college tiers. There are no silver bullets to writing college applications, but bring an open mind and a whole heart to each moment and have faith in yourself. I have faith in you.
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JP Flores Occidental College
PhD University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
PhD University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Looking back, I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today without David, Myra, and the rest of the prakses (in my day, it was called GPA!) staff. Years ago, they helped me navigate college applications, scholarships, financial aid, and standardized testing, but more importantly, they believed in me and gave me the confidence to pursue opportunities I never thought were possible. They weren’t just preparing me for college, they were preparing me for life! For being a global-minded citizen.
Since leaving prakses, I’ve graduated from Occidental College with a BA in Cell & Molecular Biology and Minor in Public Health, earned my Ph.D. in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and have been fortunate to receive incredible opportunities, including the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Fellowship, and a Fulbright Scholar Award award to conduct research in Milan, Italy. Beyond research, I’ve been able to launch an award-winning science podcast, found a nonprofit, build science communication and policy initiatives, and work to make science more accessible to communities around the world (check out my work at jpflores.rbind.io).
Looking back, I realize that all of those accomplishments were built on the foundation that prakses helped me establish. The mentorship, encouragement, and genuine investment they showed me extended far beyond the college application process. They helped me believe that I belonged in spaces that once felt out of reach.
I still highly recommend prakses to students of all ages. They don’t simply help you get into college, they invest in your future, challenge you to dream bigger, and equip you with the tools to succeed long after you’ve submitted your applications. I’ll always be grateful that David, Myra, and the entire prakses family were part of my journey.
Advice to students
a Junior (or younger) in high school to prepare for applying for college
My advice would be to not regret anything during high school. Remember that you are trying to build a resume for yourself for colleges. Take the classes that interest you and challenge yourself, join clubs you want to be a part of, volunteer, but most importantly, be a worldly person. Know what’s going on in the world and try to make it a better place. This is what colleges want.
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Jake Gomez Colgate University
Global Prep Academy is hardly a "strict" SAT tutoring institution. You don’t go there to memorize and recite; you go to engage and discuss …
Global Prep Academy is hardly a "strict" SAT tutoring institution. You don’t go there to memorize and recite; you go to engage and discuss. Throughout your time at GPA you may well find yourself in an SAT class or an AP Language prep class. However, what you will come out with from a GPA education is, of course, the necessary tools to score well, but more importantly, you acquire skills that allow you to see your environment through an array of different lenses. Throughout my years at GPA, I learned three invaluable lessons: think creatively, speak thoughtfully, and act globally.
What advice would you give a Junior (or younger) in high school to prepare for applying for college?
If I were to give advice to students in high school, I would tell them to constantly evaluate your wants and aspirations. Figure out the things that you like. Nod your head to the people who tell you what path to pursue, and realize that upon leaving high school, your life becomes solely yours. Make your decisions out of your own curiosity and for the sake of your own happiness rather than the happiness of others. Mom and Dad will get over it.
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Sophia Badalian University of Oregon
I would not describe the faces of Global Prep Academy merely as staff or students, but rather as a family …
I would not describe the faces of Global Prep Academy merely as staff or students, but rather as a family. The kinship I witness and feel throughout the GPA team is unmistakably reflected among the dozens of people who spend their time there. Originally I had enrolled into just the
SAT Prep classes. My scores were improving every week and over the course of just two months, I raised my score over 400 points.
I then decided to take the College Apps class. Whenever I went in, there was always someone eager to read over my essays and help me with financial aid applications. David is the most intelligent person I know and he is a mentor who willingly bestows his knowledge upon his students. There is a strong presence of cultural diversity within the walls of GPA, something that is lacking in this town, but is the reality of the world outside of Santa Clarita. GPA has molded me into the person I am, academically and individually, and I am forever grateful that I will be able to bring this personality with me wherever I go. I am proud of my decision to further my education at the University of Oregon this fall, and that is all thanks to Global Prep Academy.
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Ryan Antepara (UNIVERSITY OF UTAH, DAVID ECCLES SCHOOL OF BUSINESS)
I originally shared my college journey with a different company and while I was there, I was often told not to apply to certain schools because it would be a waste of time. They said I was not good enough …
I originally shared my college journey with a different company and while I was there, I was often told not to apply to certain schools because it would be a waste of time. They said I was not good enough. It came to the point where I was being told to apply for schools that I learned I wouldn’t like and they categorized me from my recent education; it was at this time I decided to try GPA. From the first day, David and Myra treated me like family and truly seemed interested in getting to know my story. They also were interested in fitting me with a perfect school. I received support that I never had before and they stood with me every step of the way as I did apply to all the higher schools. With the assistance of the GPA team, I was admitted to Utah, Babson, Boulder, Syracuse, and Indiana. These were all schools that were originally considered reach schools. GPA gave me confidence and assisted me in the most life altering process of my life.
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Marquessa Bryce UC Irvine
Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would actually enjoy going to SAT prep, but GPA is not your typical SAT prep.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would actually enjoy going to SAT prep, but GPA is not your typical SAT prep.
Friend: “What are you doing after school?”
Me: “I’m going to my SAT place.”
Friend: “But you’ve already submitted college apps…”
GPA summed up into three words is scholarly, safe, and social; that’s why I keep coming back.
Without the countless hours put in by David, Myra, and Robby to not only prepare me for the SAT but also assist me in the college application process, I never would have been admitted or would have received scholarships from some of my top college choices.
Advice to students
a Junior (or younger) in high school to prepare for applying for college
Look beyond the UCs when applying to college because there is no guarantee that you will be admitted, regardless of grades and extracurriculars.
Colleges want to admit someone who is interesting, so if you aren’t interesting, do something, and make yourself interesting.
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Nilu Karunasiri UC Irvine
GPA has given me much more than I signed up for, and for that, I could not be more thankful. Aside from the scores and college admissions GPA led me to, GPA led me to believe in myself as David and Myra did in me …
GPA has given me much more than I signed up for, and for that, I could not be more thankful. Aside from the scores and college admissions GPA led me to, GPA led me to believe in myself as David and Myra did in me. With an incredible leap of faith, those two put a group of eager, silly, wild, and wonderful kids in my hands to teach. After getting to know each and every student, watching them learn, struggle, grow, and blossom, I have solidified my dream of becoming a teacher and hope to change lives just as my teachers, David and Myra, changed mine. They trusted me to teach and lead and prepare curriculum long before I was ready to trust myself, but the opportunity they gave me quickly transformed me into the teacher they saw in me from the beginning. Now, preparing lessons, teaching the kids and keeping them engaged is second nature and I can’t bear to think about leaving the kids as I go off to college. What I get to do at Global Prep Academy truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity. For David and Myra to take a chance on me, trust me and lean on me to guide the little global preppers into brighter students, was a real blessing. Thank you David and Myra for giving me this gift and for letting me take the reins. I have tried to better the little preppers’ experience there as much as I could, and I hope to have lived up to what you both thought I could do. I will forever consider GPA to be a place where I grew up and I will forever remember David and Myra as very special people who can create wonders with what they have. They changed me into the teacher I had always wanted to be, and I will look up to them always after what they’ve done for me. My love for those two and GPA will only grow, thank you for making me a part of this family.
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Amy Kim Yale University
Where do I even begin to describe a place that has become my second home for the past two years? …
Where do I even begin to describe a place that has become my second home for the past two years? Where I cultivated some of the most genuine friendships with all kinds of interesting people, discovered my interests in global education and fashion, received full support from a team of inspiring teachers, and most importantly, learned how to care about the world?
My first encounter with GPA consists of my mom and I stumbling upon a building with a small logo of a globe on the front door. As it was my junior year in high school, it was almost time for me to take the oh-so-famous SAT, and we were looking for a place that would help me get a substantial score. Gateway didn’t answer our call, but GPA did (thank the heavens). This simple yet significant twist of fate landed me in a place that has opened my eyes to the bigger world outside of grades and Key Club.
Ironically, I only spent roughly two months in SAT classes at GPA. Instead, with the rightful guidance of David and Myra, the two most dedicated and inspiring people in my life, I spent most of my two years here taking Global Leadership and Take Action workshops. Instead of mechanically solving math problems for two hours, I watched documentaries about the dangers of fast fashion. Instead of memorizing the facts of our beautifully structured government system of checks and balances for my AP U.S. History course at school, I questioned why there were only eight Supreme Court Justices for several months when Obama was still granted the right to choose the next Justice during his presidency. I was becoming a whole person; one with a heart to care, a brain to question and think critically, and a body to take action against the injustices in our world that I was gradually learning about here.
From holding my very own fashion show and overcoming my self-doubts to getting the very inspiration while sitting on the grass bench in the green room to write the essays that got me to where I will be in exactly 23 days (Yale - Boola Boola!!), GPA has done more for me than I could express in words.
The adults here are not just teachers who help raise our grades; that is only a small percentage of what they do. They fully invest their time and efforts to make each and every student that enters through the door a whole-rounded, active global citizen. They are our friends and our biggest fans sitting in the bleachers, waiting for us to discover how much potential and influence we have over our communities.
I love GPA, I love David, I love Myra, I love the home in which I have made incredible, unforgettable memories.
Advice to students
a Junior (or younger) in high school to prepare for applying for college
that I wish someone told me when I was preparing for the next stage of my life
Explore, take risks. Both physically and mentally. Even though you planned to stay in California for college, explore different states and environments from that you lived your entire life. Even if you think you have a dream school and need to search no more for colleges, still be on the lookout for a variety of options. The college application process is unpredictable, so don’t be so set on a single decision from the very beginning. Explore the boundaries of your education and you’ll realize that there are no such things; your interests and passions can extend from graphic designing to women’s rights. Take advantage of the different opportunities that GPA offers for you with an open mind.
Love and appreciate the process. As hard as it might be, appreciate the chance to look back on your life and see how far you’ve come along this journey. We’re so absorbed in moving forward and quickly that this is a great time to just slow down and self-reflect. The college application process is a bumpy, arduous process that helps you figure out where you come from, and what kind of person you want to be in the future. The astounding self-discovery is so rewarding that the sleepless nights of balancing college essays and school will soon be forgotten.
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Connor Williams USC, School of Cinematic Arts
I’d like to start by saying that Global Prep Academy has single-handedly helped me receive acceptance letters from my dream schools, and I can’t thank them enough.
I’d like to start by saying that Global Prep Academy has single-handedly helped me receive acceptance letters from my dream schools, and I can’t thank them enough.
Before I came to GPA I was lost in a sea of college applications with no escape in sight. But over the course of the next few months, they helped guide me through the application process and stood by my side every step of the way until I finally opened those large envelopes.
I’ve had a passion for filmmaking ever since I was 9, and I had known that the USC School of Cinematic Arts was the ultimate goal. I would get so excited at the prospect of attending that I would sometimes get lost in daydreams, always making sure to snap myself out by remembering just how impossible it is to be accepted. But Global Prep Academy had a different approach; they actually encouraged me to believe that, with enough effort, I could make this dream come true. And so that’s what I did; I poured everything I had to offer into every essay, every short answer, every creative resume, and every video project. But I was never taking on this challenge alone: GPA was there every step of the way, helping me find my unique voice in my essays and bringing everything I submitted to a whole new level.
One of my biggest fears when I enrolled in the GPA college application classes was that they took place in a group setting. Going into my application process, I had always thought that I needed a one-on-one advisor to help me through the process, and I actually had been working with one over the phone for a few weeks when I first considered GPA. However once I started my classes at GPA, I realized that they had designed the group setting not only out of practicality, but also as an effort to improve all of our applications through shared experiences. I truly believe that the group setting of the college classes improved not only every one of my college essays, but also invigorated my writing style itself. Additionally, every member of the GPA family was dedicated to aiding my success, and if one-on-one meetings would achieve that, they would set it up.
I can’t recommend Global Prep Academy enough. Because of their help, I will be attending the USC School of Cinematic Arts, and I can’t thank them enough for making my dreams come true.
Advice to students
a Junior (or younger) in high school to prepare for applying for college
I procrastinated working on my college application until the middle of the summer before my Senior year, and that’s perhaps one of my biggest regrets. I entered the college application process with no idea of how stressful my next few months would be. Since I was applying to mostly film schools, my applications were extensive and my deadlines were sooner - a combination that would soon prove to be deadly. So my advice to anyone in high school - no matter their age or grade level - is to start now.
Freshmen: start to find schools that you may be interested in, majors that catch your eye, and start working on making yourself an ideal applicant. Even though it may be too early to start physically writing your application, it’s never too early to start getting involved in extracurriculars or making an impact on your community through clubs. The very first item on my extracurricular list for every college I applied to ended up being my 4-year volunteer member of the tech team at my church. That long-established commitment to both community service and to what I loved doing showed colleges that I’ve been serious about my passion for years.
Sophomores: begin to look deeper into the processes of YOUR college application process, because everybody’s is different! How many colleges will you apply to? How many essays will you need to write? Will you have to complete supplemental applications for certain majors? Even though your answers to these questions WILL change as you continue the process, it is extremely helpful to get ahead of anything and everything that you will face, and begin mentally preparing yourself for the workload.
Juniors: it’s time to get working! Believe it or not, college is right around the corner and application process is upon you! I would recommend for juniors to start looking into their essays during their winter break, and to create deadlines for yourself that will ensure you finish everything ahead of schedule. I already know what you’re thinking, “I’ll just leave them for the last minute, it can’t be THAT much work.” My response to that surprisingly common sentiment is this: yes it can be that much work, and often it is.
Luckily, Global Prep Academy is here to help you through all of the stages of the complex college application process. They’ll be by your side (just as they were by mine) from the moment you consider a first college to the day your letter arrives in the mail. It’s never too early to get started, so what are you waiting for?
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Zoe Oketch Willamette University
Studying for the SATs is difficult in and of itself but finding a place that gives great SAT tutoring is even more challenging.
Studying for the SATs is difficult in and of itself but finding a place that gives great SAT tutoring is even more challenging.
I spent almost two years at various SAT prep classes, but my score was seemingly stagnant. One day in my AP Literature class, a group of my friends were discussing what time they should all meet up at this place called “GPA”. Not wanting to feel out of the loop, I turned to my friend Amy and asked her where they were talking about. She told me that GPA was this amazing prep school that had chill people, incredible teachers, and a super cool aesthetic. I was in. Before I even reached home, I called my mom at school and told her all about it. I knew that this was going to be the place that changed my life as well as my SAT scores. GPA is filled with some of the greatest people you will ever meet. My SAT score improved by over 400 points; yet what I was taught at GPA not only benefited my SAT score, but also the way I performed at school. My only regret is that I wish I had found GPA sooner. I will never forget the incredible experiences I’ve had at GPA and all that I have been taught!
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Madi McCullough UC Santa Barbara, Honors Program
Most people come to GPA with a specific purpose; for me this purpose was to improve my SAT score …
Most people come to GPA with a specific purpose; for me this purpose was to improve my SAT score. I raised my score significantly because of the SAT classes, but more importantly I gained a love for the GPA atmosphere and for learning. David and Myra pushed me to look deeper into who I am and more broadly within our global community. These skills extend beyond the SAT test to aid me in college applications, personal life, and my world. In short, erase everything you have grown to associate with learning. From learning to analyze modern literature (movies, broadcasts, etc.) to studying modern heroes such as Banksy and Malala, GPA is about growing and redefining yourself and your world outside of a classroom, and thus experiencing real education.
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Stephanie Keith University of Oregon
I met David completely by accident. He came into the nearby restaurant at which I worked, as any regular customer would. However, my encounter with him was anything but regular …
I met David completely by accident. He came into the nearby restaurant at which I worked, as any regular customer would. However, my encounter with him was anything but regular. He talked with me about anything and everything in such an interesting way that really made me want to open up and share my life story with him on the spot. He left me his business card and told me to come check out GPA, and after he left, I thought he was too good to be true. I thought he was a scam. But after I asked around at school, it turns out that he was even better than what I had thought.
I started taking courses over at Global Prep Academy and within the first week, he had me already starting to question the way I think and learn. With the help of his classes, my SAT score went up 300 points, and I actually wanted to learn more grammar rules and vocabulary. He made the classes (and I use the term “classes” loosely) so fun. I couldn’t believe it. Not only did my SAT score go up, but I was simultaneously meeting new friends from different schools and finding unique relationships I never would have had the opportunity to make otherwise.
David was always there for me and he offered his advice wherever I let him. He and Myra helped me with countless school essays and college applications, letter of recommendations, and not to mention, he was always there the night before a big test, to give me an eventful summary for a boring book that I was forced to read by my English teachers. It is because of people like David and Myra, that I am actually excited to continue my education and become a more worldly student. Sitting in on things such as the Global Leadership Club meetings and hearing these amazing stories about people like Malala, Banksy, and Ai Wei Wei have influenced me for life. Because of the knowledge I learned at GPA, I have decided to double major in Business and Environmental Studies at The University of Oregon. I want to do more for the world, and help lessen my impact on it.
Hearing David talk about anything and everything makes me feel excited for life and what my future holds. He has served as a second father figure in my life, and he was there for every event from my senior prom to graduation. I am so blessed and extremely lucky to have met David when I did. He is one of those people who has extremely impacted my life and will always be my go to guy to call when I am confronted with a big decision. Global Prep Academy is more than just an educational institution; it really is another home, another family. I am going to miss the time that I have spent there, but I know that I will never hesitate to call and visit. The knowledge I have learned from David and Myra has shaped the way I think in incredible ways, and I will always strive to be the most interesting person in the room.
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Sean Park Cal Poly Pomona, Food Science
My journey at GPA started in a review class for the AP U.S. History test. A man with some tasteful fashion proposed this crazy idea of reviewing the AP test curriculum for U.S. History in a course of 5 weeks …
My journey at GPA started in a review class for the AP U.S. History test. A man with some tasteful fashion proposed this crazy idea of reviewing the AP test curriculum for U.S. History in a course of 5 weeks. At that point I thought to myself, “What has my mother gotten me into?” However, as the first sentences came out of that man, David’s mouth, I knew I was covered. I never thought that in all 11 years of going to school, I would genuinely enjoy learning.
I came into SAT class with big expectations. Those expectations were exceeded because I learned more than just how to read and write. We were constantly taught new methods and tricks to tackle the grammar and critical reading portions of the SAT. Unlike other SAT institutes, David taught us about global current events and iconic people who impacted the world, such as Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani teenager girl who fought for women’s educational rights against the Taliban; Tank man, the mysterious man who halted an army of Chinese tanks headed towards Tiananmen Square; and Banksy, the famous street artist who expresses his attitudes towards global problems through graffiti. These examples came especially in handy when we were tasked with the writing section of the test. After just one week of class, my test scores had dramatically changed. David challenged us to always strive for better scores and set new goals in life. GPA is invested in not only making you a smarter person, but also a global citizen.
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Richard Dong University of Colorado, Boulder
GPA is an amazing place. Otherwise, I would never waste time writing an essay for the person who, in our first meeting, called me a “chicken”. I was an international student who came to America trying to reach my college dream …
GPA is an amazing place. Otherwise, I would never waste time writing an essay for the person who, in our first meeting, called me a “chicken”. I was an international student who came to America trying to reach my college dream. Therefore, I was feeling shame about my English and afraid to talk with local students. However, David gave me the courage and confidence to choose to study in large classrooms rather than one-on-one teaching. He made me open my mind, and I made more and more new friends, learning more and more about different cultures. I got out of my small Chinese international student group and out of my old traditional Asian worldview. He also helped me understand that a math person also can fall in love with liberal arts. This school is not only a perfect place to improve your SAT score but also a place make you a Global Prepper.
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Justin Lin Chapman University
GPA is so much more than just a place to boost an SAT score or catch up on homework. It was a place that truly, genuinely cared about me and my future in all aspects …
GPA is so much more than just a place to boost an SAT score or catch up on homework. It was a place that truly, genuinely cared about me and my future in all aspects. Whether it was a low math score or personal issues, I could always count on going to GPA to seek advice. Even though I discovered GPA considerably late compared to my other classmates, I was able to boost my SAT score by over 300 points in less than 3 months of help and also get accepted into 16 of the 22 schools I applied to. The SAT Prep classes boosted my scores far more than I could ever imagine, and I honestly don’t even know how high my score would be had I had all the right amount of support and help prior to testing. Through the combination of prep classes (college apps and SAT) and constant guidance from David and Myra, I was able to change my academic future from mediocre to far better than I could have ever done alone or with the help of another prep center.
GPA isn’t a prep academy that takes all your money and throws you some flashcards and a study book. The needs of each and every student, and I mean EVERY student, are always met (if not exceeded) to guarantee the student’s success. Every teacher at GPA takes the students’ needs as if it were their own and truly does their best to maximize the students’ success. I can recall numerous times where I stayed at GPA well past midnight with David working on my college applications and personal essays, going over every detail to make sure there isn’t a single mistake or sentence that could be improved. The best part is that this wasn’t just an extra service provided to me. This was extra work that David and all of the other teachers at GPA would do for the dozens of other students also in the college application phase.
To me, the best part about GPA is that all of your needs are taken not only seriously, but personally. You can really tell that David and Myra truly care about not only your academic but also LIFE success, and they take your needs and requirements as their own.
I cannot thank GPA enough for everything that they have provided me. Because of them, I have countless things that I’ll take with me within and beyond the classroom for the rest of my life.
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Heather Hong Baylor University
Honestly, I don’t know where I’d be without GPA today. From the SAT classes to AP review sessions to clubs like Global Leadership and "It’s ACT," GPA has taught me how to think differently and challenge myself in every aspect.
Honestly, I don’t know where I’d be without GPA today. From the SAT classes to AP review sessions to clubs like Global Leadership and "It’s ACT," GPA has taught me how to think differently and challenge myself in every aspect.
I used to think that if I wanted to do big things, I would have to travel the world and help every country. But they taught me that wasn’t the case. Last September, GPA and Global Preppers (that’s us) went around the local areas around us and volunteered to fundraise for Box City, a city event that donates money to homeless shelters. GPA ended up donating $5,000. We made our own difference just in our own small town.
To go off of this, GPA has some adventures of its own. In the past, we’ve gone to 626 Night Market to explore different cultural food, visited multiple college campuses like USC, UCLA, Occidental, & CalTech, held Christmas parties, and even had late night movie adventures. You bond with so many other Global Preppers during this time and create friendships that you thought you never knew you could have. GPA was like my second school for me.
Not only was this place like a second school to me, but it was also like second home. If I had a problem with anything, I knew where to go. The people there were always willing to help in any way possible. They had people who would constantly care for me, and made sure that I became the best version of me possible. But most importantly, I could be myself there. You learn best when placed in a comfortable environment, and GPA was that place for me.
I cannot thank GPA enough for all that they’ve done. The only sad regret that I have is that I didn’t meet them sooner. To David, Myra, and MJ, I thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for the many lessons, late night talks, laughs, tears, and smiles that you’ve given me in the past year and a half. You’ve taught me how to challenge myself and strive for anything that I want to be. Because of you guys, I feel ready to take on anything. Love you guys so much. :) Once a Global Prepper, always a Global Prepper!
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Helen Gu UC Santa Barbara
I have had a fair share of experiences at other SAT bootcamps that did not benefit me or my SAT score at all. I was exhausted and wanted to give up until my friend introduced me to G.P.A.
I have had a fair share of experiences at other SAT bootcamps that did not benefit me or my SAT score at all. I was exhausted and wanted to give up until my friend introduced me to G.P.A.
Unlike other brainwashing tutoring places, G.P.A. saw me as a person and strived to not only better me as a student but also as a young adult by increasing my awareness for current events occurring around the globe. When I first met David he insisted on knowing my interests and my story. This gesture surprised me because in the past other tutors had not taken the time to get to know me and instead treated me as a simple chess piece in their game of "How many vocabulary flash cards will it take for her to get a perfect SAT score?" David on the other hand, is utterly enthusiastic and passionate about teaching. When he teaches he is full of energy and it is obvious that he truly loves helping kids like me. With his guidance my SAT score skyrocketed by hundreds of points in a matter of weeks. I enjoyed coming to SAT class so much (something I thought I would never say) that I also decided to receive college counseling from him. David was so awesome and took me through the entire college application process step by step. As the oldest child in my family I had no idea what I was doing, where to start, or even what types of colleges would be the best fit for me. David helped me compose a list of universities based on my preferences such as my interests in art and human interaction, location of the school, and the size of the school. After I had my list of universities, David helped me shape a unique college application that stood out from thousands of other students' applications. The college application process was the most stressful thing I had ever done, but with David’s help I was confident when applying to my schools. I am now an incoming freshman at UCSB and I could not be happier. Without David’s help I would not be where I am today. He was there for me for one of the most important journeys for my future and I couldn’t have done it without him. And although my SAT and college application journey is over, I know I can always go to David for his advice and wisdom in any given situation.
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Brendan Jung UC Santa Barbara
I have known David for more 4 years now. I first met him at another hakwon or korean after school program as a freshman in high school. I still remember to this day everything he has told me since our first encounter …
I have known David for more 4 years now. I first met him at another hakwon or korean after school program as a freshman in high school. I still remember to this day everything he has told me since our first encounter. Current events class was amazing and it was different from any of the after school classes I have done. I have been several hakwons and met multiple tutors but never a tutor, mentor, teacher and person like David. He is the greatest mentor I have met so far in my life that guided to become not only a better student but also a better person. I value his incredible knowledge in literally everything, and he is someone that I am comfortable talking with.
Later he left and I stayed at the same hakwon where I met him. However, during early senior year, I found out that David made his own hakwon. I felt that I needed his guidance once more to go to the college that best fits me. When I met him again, it was like a breath fresh air. Ever since then, GPA literally saved me. The current event classes and It’s Act were classes that were both enjoyable and beneficial. I made new friends frequently and learned about global crises that needed to be addressed by today’s youths. I honestly feel that the education I was getting in my high school was dull compared to the exciting things I learned from David’s classes. Furthermore, I gained more skills that were useful to me in GPA. I never knew that I did not have the skills to read and analyze a text correctly. I believed that the methods I learned from school would suffice, but I was blatantly wrong.
Learning from David and the classes I took in GPA were crucial moments in my life. Coming to GPA and meeting incredible people here changed my future plans and perspective on life. I am excited to apply the skills and knowledge that I gained from David in my college years and beyond.
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Hanna Yoon Haverford College
I met David (pronounced dah-veed) in a newly painted, slightly run down white classroom in Northridge, California. It was my first “current events class” and within the first minute, David’s lecture had me hooked …
I met David (pronounced dah-veed) in a newly painted, slightly run down white classroom in Northridge, California. It was my first “current events class” and within the first minute, David’s lecture had me hooked. Every Saturday, yes, on Saturday, I was in that classroom for three hours with about 5-7 other kids to hear about what recent events had happened and to discuss them. David didn’t just teach us about the events, but made sure to drill in the significance of an event, what implications it held and thus, what controversies may start due to them. It was in that class that I learned the importance of critically thinking. The first thing we did at the start of each Saturday session was to visit a few online news sites from CNN, BBC, New York Times, and Al Jazeera to check out the biggest headlines. Biggest lesson from doing that? Noticing that the headlines range in topic from site to site, that each nation has a subjective view in the news it portrays to its audience and how the information is portrayed.
My mind was opened – to corrupt events in the world I didn’t know about, to stories behind individuals who deserved to be recognized, to think in perspectives outside of my box, to engage. David would pick out articles for us to read and we nit-picked those bad boys word for word, sentence by sentence. I didn’t just learn about current events in there; I learned how to analyze texts and assert my opinions. We would watch movie trailers and analyze them as a text, watch the latest documentaries about hot topics, a movie that won an award, anything that turned us into actively engaging individuals.
Not only has David been ah-mazing at reading over my college application essays (and I really do mean reading over; he’ll give you the ideas but it’s up to you to put them in your own words) but he also provided the crucial moment that opened up what I hope will become my lifelong passion: human rights activism. The hours that I spent with him in and outside of the “current events class” made me step out of the oblivion that the rest of this world lives in, away from the infinite events happening around us every single minute. Along with other stimuli and encouragements, I’ve since fostered a most strong desire and passion to be a knowledgeable, global citizen, to apply myself in all the different areas of the world. Sounds vague, but my dream is that big that it just can’t be summed up in a couple words of a career description.
Trust David with your critical thinking. Trust yourself with your knowledge. Look past all of his charming wit and lose yourself in the information he’s giving you. Whether you decide to accept it or not, it won’t be feckless.
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Hannah Park UC Berkeley
GPA truly changed my view of the value of an honest education and my knowledge of the world around me.
GPA truly changed my view of the value of an honest education and my knowledge of the world around me.
From the beginning of high school, I thought I would only ever be average. Average grades, average SAT score, average college, average life. But, from the moment I stepped into GPA, David saw my potential, invested, and truly believed in me. From SAT courses twice a week and countless hours of college application editing, I finally felt like a hard-working student and an intelligent human being. SAT classes not only consisted of an interesting, fun, and different way of learning, but also of cultural and current events happening around the globe. I learned about the most influential people that I had never heard of before. David teaches in a way that inspires and engages every type of student. In the classroom, he creates bright, young students ready to take on the next chapter of their lives.
SAT courses at GPA immediately increased my overall scores, unlike the school-district-promoted, cookie-cutter courses I had previously been overpaying for, and I learned how to speak my mind through well-written essays, unlike the overused template taught in high school. I highly recommend
David for SAT courses, college application mentoring, and AP Literature classes.
I am so thankful for my friends who introduced me to David and GPA because it is hard to imagine what my future would have been without the guidance, support, and knowledge these people have given me. From the moment I stepped into GPA, I knew that GPA was anything but average.
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Edward (Tedward) Yoo USC
I took the current events class and, often times, David would assign writing in order to enhance our writing and critical thinking skills. I used to feel so ignorant beause I just didn’t know …
I took the current events class and, often times, David would assign writing in order to enhance our writing and critical thinking skills. I used to feel so ignorant beause I just didn’t know. Each of the events had incredible intensity and important significance in all of our lives. I could not believe how indifferent I was to the world around me, and I believe that the class really broadened my point of view. The value of that class, then, was far beyond a simple medal, a certificate, or a résume for the future; the class helped me to discover who I am today.
I also took the AP World History class. For eight weeks, we had covered all of the materials that are taught to the students at school, and I did not feel stressed out like I normally would while listening to my school teacher speak. The class actually became fun and the facts that I learned suddenly became interesting because the teacher actually linked each part of history to another parts of the history, eventually leading to our generation. Everything connected and things became more relevant to our current moment.
During my Senior year, I did college applications with David. He helped us to discover who we are and what we want to show to the colleges about us, and reviewed every single step of the applications — from the Date of Birth, to the awards, and finally to the essay. He recommended which universities to apply to depending on our vision of college life and our characteristics. We were enlightened to the fact that it did not matter whether a school had the title of “Ivy League” or not; we grew to realize that each school has its own values that should never be overlooked. I had many schools to choose from, but decided to attend USC. I am so glad for David.
Parents have written too — two of those are on the home page.