Recognized for excellence in individualized SAT and ACT preparation, Personalized Prep is expanding its tutor team and virtual scheduling to bring its student-first model to more families nationwide.
-- Personalized Prep, an award-winning test preparation and academic tutoring company founded in 2013, has been named the Best SAT and ACT Tutoring Company in California of 2026 by BestofBestReview.com. Alongside the recognition, the company announced an expansion of its tutoring team, hiring additional tutors who have scored in the 99th percentile on the exams they teach, and expanded virtual scheduling to serve students nationwide.
Founded and led by CEO Sean Yen, Personalized Prep develops customized learning plans through diagnostic assessments, data-driven study strategies, and one-on-one coaching. While the company also offers comprehensive college admissions counseling, its primary focus remains helping students maximize their potential on the SAT, ACT, PSAT, AP Exams, LSAT, and ISEE through individualized instruction rather than one-size-fits-all programs. The announcement reflects the company's continued commitment to providing personalized preparation to students through both in-person and virtual instruction.
A Response to One-Size-Fits-All Tutoring
For years, many students have entered large tutoring programs that follow fixed curricula regardless of individual strengths, weaknesses, or learning styles. Personalized Prep was established to offer an alternative. Every student begins with a diagnostic assessment that identifies where they stand and where the greatest opportunities for growth exist. From that starting point, tutors build a study plan tailored to the student's goals, timeline, and preferred way of learning.
The approach applies across the company's full range of services, from standardized test preparation to general academic tutoring and college admissions counseling. The company emphasizes that meeting students where they are, rather than requiring them to adapt to a rigid system, produces stronger and more durable outcomes.
Mentorship as the Foundation of Learning
Personalized Prep frames its work as mentorship rather than simple content delivery. Tutors build relationships with students, encourage accountability, and instill study habits intended to last well beyond a single exam. According to the company, confidence is often the missing element in a student's performance, and addressing it unlocks measurable gains.
"Education is not about finding the smartest students. It is about helping every student discover what they are capable of," said Sean Yen, CEO and Founder of Personalized Prep. "When students gain confidence, higher scores and stronger outcomes naturally follow."
That philosophy is reflected in the company's motto: "Keep an Open Mind. Stay Positive. Never Give Up." The phrase serves as a reminder to both students and tutors that progress is a process rather than an instant result.
Data-Driven Plans and Family Communication
A central feature of the Personalized Prep model is transparency. Parents receive regular updates on their child's progress, students receive clear action plans, and every lesson is designed around defined goals. The company tracks performance over time so families can see how a student is advancing rather than relying on a single score at the end of a program.
This structure is intended to combine the personalized attention of a boutique operation with the organizational rigor typically associated with large national companies. By matching students with tutors based on both academic needs and personality, the company creates an environment where students feel comfortable enough to take risks and ask questions.
Measurable Results
Since 2013, Personalized Prep students have achieved an average ACT score improvement of 6.3 points and an average SAT score improvement of 213 points, with students averaging a 30% GPA increase through academic tutoring. Ninety percent of the company's students have been admitted to their top-choice schools.
One former student described the experience this way: "Prior to going, I felt hopeless. I tried books, online resources, and even Princeton Review without seeing significant improvement. After only a few months with Personalized Prep, my ACT score increased from 25 to 34, I was accepted to the college I wanted, and I earned merit-based scholarships. It was the best decision I ever made."
Other families have reported similar outcomes, including an ACT increase from 22 to 32 through individualized tutoring, and a student who scored 28 on a first practice ACT and 35 on the first official exam.
Guidance Through the College Admissions Journey
Beyond test preparation, Personalized Prep provides college admissions counseling that includes college selection, application strategy, essay development, interview preparation, and extracurricular planning. By combining tutoring with admissions guidance, the company offers families a single support system throughout high school and the transition to college.
The goal is to make the admissions process more manageable while helping students present themselves authentically and pursue schools that align with their strengths, interests, and long-term goals.
Recognition for Student Achievement
The Best SAT and ACT Tutoring Company in California of 2026 recognition from BestofBestReview.com reflects Personalized Prep's commitment to individualized instruction, diagnostic assessments, one-on-one mentorship, and measurable student progress.
The award follows more than a decade of student-centered instruction built on personalized learning plans and close communication with families. Personalized Prep continues to help students throughout California and across the United States navigate standardized testing and the college admissions process with greater clarity and confidence.
Looking Ahead
Personalized Prep is actively expanding its team, bringing on additional tutors who have scored in the 99th percentile on the exams they teach and who share the company's mentorship-first approach. Each new tutor is trained in the company's diagnostic and progress-tracking methodology so families receive the same individualized experience regardless of which tutor they work with.
The company has also expanded its virtual scheduling, giving families nationwide flexible access to one-on-one instruction alongside its in-person offerings in Southern California. The company views this growth not as a departure from its founding principles but as a reaffirmation of them, a reflection of its belief that every student learns differently and deserves a path built specifically for them.
About Personalized Prep
Personalized Prep is a test preparation and college admissions company based in Costa Mesa, California. Founded in 2013, the company specializes in SAT, ACT, PSAT, AP Exam, LSAT, and ISEE preparation, academic tutoring, and college admissions counseling. Using diagnostic testing, data-driven study plans, and one-on-one coaching, Personalized Prep builds individualized strategies tailored to each student's goals and learning style, serving students in person and virtually with flexible scheduling and close communication with families.
For additional information, visit personalizedprep.com or contact sean@personalizedprep.com or call (626) 758-8198. Families can also learn more through Personalized Prep's Google Reviews and Yelp profiles, where clients have shared their experiences with the company's personalized approach.
Contact Info:
Name: Sean Yen
Email: Send Email
Organization: Personalized Prep
Website: https://www.personalizedprep.com
Release ID: 89198937
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