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Learn more about the upcoming changes to the SAT in one of our online courses, or sign up for a free consultation and diagnostic test.
Expert Instructors
We hire only the best instructors in their fields. With years of teaching experience in both in-person and online settings as well as the demonstrated ability to score in the top 1% of the tests they teach, our instructors are more than just experts: they're coaches, mentors, and lifelong learners themselves.
Comprehensive Curriculum
The Palermo Prep Guide to the SAT and ACT takes students behind the scenes and into the writers' room, exploring how these tests were written and revealing effective strategies for improving accuracy and understanding while minimizing the allure of trap answers. With over 1,500 questions adopted from previously-administered SAT and ACT tests and a vast archive of video explanations, our curriculum covers every problem type on both tests at every level of difficulty. Additionally, upon signing up, all students receive access to our Kindle Library, which includes textbooks in nearly every school subject and prep books from College Board, ACT, Kaplan, Princeton, Barron's, and 1600.io, among others.
Custom-Tailored Approach
Whether you sign up for a small group course or private tutoring with an instructor, every student receives detailed progress reports and personalized study plans designed to guide them through Test Day. From these materials, instructors create study plans for their students that serve as guides to explain not only what to study, but how to study in order to maximize efficiency and retention. When combined with expert instruction and the Palermo Prep Guide to the SAT and ACT, students improve an average of 200-400 points on the SAT and 4-5 points on the ACT.
Our Mission
Reviews
Trusted by Students and Parents Alike
Palermo Prep has been a Godsend to my daughter. She is beyond pleased and so are we. Her confidence and grasp of the material soared. Her instructor was extremely smart and helped her understand the topics at hand, from Physics to Chemistry to writing. We also took the SAT course and she went from 1,000 to 1,360! Thank you, Palermo Prep!
Meet Our Faculty
Sean Palermo, MPH
Yale University
Founder and Instructor
Subjects Covered:
SAT, ACT, PSAT, GRE, GMAT, HSPT, ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II/Trigonometry, Statistics, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Language and Composition, English Literature, Writing and Grammar, College Essay Writing.
Sean is a former private school teacher and child behavioral therapist specializing in autism, ADD, and learning differences such as dyslexia and dysgraphia. After publishing his thesis in pediatric psychiatry and graduating from Yale University with a Master of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sean became a behavioral therapist and private instructor for children with autism. At the same time, he began work in community outreach with a focus on K-12 education in low-income areas. These experiences gave Sean an appreciation for the value of mentorship and the power of education to open doors and change lives. For the past 12 years, Sean has been partnering with public and private schools alike to design SAT/ACT curricula, train instructors, and lead classes in an effort to help students from all walks of life achieve their academic goals. When Sean isn’t teaching, he enjoys writing, hiking, and astrophotography.
Dan Palermo, MD, MS, FACS
Michigan State University
Pre-Health Advisor
Subjects Covered:
Admissions counseling for pre-health students.
Dan earned his Master of Science degree in microbiology/biochemistry from the University of Virginia in 1979. He began his career as a molecular biologist specializing in gene expression in eukaryotic cells, working initially at Genentech and subsequently at the Upjohn Company as a senior research biochemist. His work resulted in co-authorship on numerous publications.
He subsequently left the lab and assumed the role of project manager for Pharmacia and Upjohn (now Pfizer) leading teams of scientists through the process of new drug development – from pre-clinical investigation to FDA approval.
In 1996, Dan left pharmaceuticals to attend medical school and earned his MD in 2000 from Michigan State University. He completed a surgical residency in 2005. Dan worked as a general surgeon at UPMC Northwest and was subsequently appointed as the Medical Director of Trauma Services there. Since then, he worked as the Chief of Surgery at his next two positions. From 2015 – 2019, Dan was also an adjunct professor of surgery for the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
Elise Roy, MFA
Oberlin College
Manager and Instructor
Subjects Covered:
SAT, ACT, PSAT, ISEE, Chemistry, Biology, English, US History and Government, Psychology, Algebra I and II, Geometry, Precalculus, College Essay Writing.
Elise earned bachelor’s degrees in neuroscience and flute performance from Oberlin College and a Master of Fine Arts from CalArts. Since she began her career in education, Elise has provided over 6,000 hours of private tutoring in test prep and academics and seen her students go on to attend Stanford, Yale, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Oberlin, and Harvard Business School.
Open communication with families and students is at the core of her approach, and she seeks to create a warm and friendly environment where students feel challenged and achieve their best results. Elise combines her knowledge of learning psychology and neuroscience with her vast experience tutoring students of all ages and abilities in order to design a unique curriculum for every student. Whether your student is tutoring for the SAT, AP Biology, or college essays, they’ll leave with academic skills that will serve them throughout their high school years and beyond.
Elise also has extensive experience working with students with learning differences and creates custom programs for students with ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, Asperger’s, and dyscalculia. Whatever your student’s background, Elise’s goal is to help them become more confident, independent, and academically capable. Elise is based in Los Angeles where she also works as a freelance musician in her free time and has an adorable dog named Cindy.
Justin Rufa, PhD, MS, MAS
University of Michigan
Instructor
Subjects Covered:
Algebra 2, Precalculus, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Physics, College Algebra, Linear Algebra, Calculus I, II, and III, Differential Equations
Justin is an advanced high school mathematics instructor who cares deeply about connecting with students and mentoring them along their educational journey. His own journey led him to the University of Michigan, where he earned a PhD in Aerospace Engineering, as well as the US Air Force Institute of Technology, where he earned a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he earned a Master of Aviation Safety. He has 2 years experience tutoring middle school, high school, and undergraduate mathematics ranging from Pre-Algebra to Differential Equations, and 5 years experience on the Mathematical Sciences faculty at the United States Air Force Academy teaching and designing courses ranging from Differential Calculus (Calculus I) to Differential Equations. With this thorough mathematical foundation, Justin helps his students to better understand fundamental and applied mathematical concepts within their current course and their math/science curriculum writ large while also preparing them for STEM major math courses at the undergraduate level.
Justin enjoys teaming up with his students to discover connections between academic topics and their daily lives as a catalyst for deeper conceptual understanding. Justin continually cultivates his own intellectual curiosity and perspective through reading non-fiction focusing on (auto)biographies and the history of the two most famous irrational numbers, 𝝅 and e. He also enjoys mountain biking, running, hiking, and watching college/pro hockey and football with his family in the shadow of the majestic Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs.
Charles Silber, EdD, MEd
Rutgers University
Instructor
Subjects Covered:
AP Statistics, Linear Algebra, Calculus I, II, and III, Programming in R
Charles received his undergraduate degree in mathematics from Rutgers University in 1972, before calculators or computers were common in the classroom. He was excited to learn from professors who taught with the same passion as the early great thinkers – mathematicians like Gauss, Euler, Newton, Leibnitz, Fourier, Archimedes, and Pythagoras – but his own teaching career had to wait until the right time.
Upon graduating college, Charles entered a small family-owned manufacturing company and devoted thirty years to building a successful business. During that time, Charles and his wife raised four children who currently range in age from 36 – 44 years old. Each of them are now established in careers that are perfect for who they are: a judge, a nanny, a vice president of a national custom clothier for men, and a paramedic/firefighter. Twenty years ago, when the time was right, Charles began to live his own dream by returning to Rutgers University and earning master’s and doctoral degrees in Mathematics Education.
As he loves to point out, each of their dreams were different as each of you are different. And like his own family, you’re all equally deserving of support as you seek your own pathway, which is why a student who loves Shakespeare but is taking Calculus because it is a required course, and a student whose passion is string theory will both receive from Charles the same guidance and support. Charles has the utmost respect for the teaching profession, and promises nothing less than his complete devotion to your understanding and success in mathematics as you work together.
Carl Libis, PhD, DA
Johns Hopkins University
Instructor
Subjects Covered:
SAT, ACT, PSAT, HSPT, ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, GRE, GMAT, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II/Trigonometry, Statistics, Pre-Calculus, Calculus I, II, and III, Abstract Algebra, Differential Equations.
Math has always been Carl’s passion. After graduating with doctoral degrees in mathematics from Idaho State University and the University of Alabama, Carl went on to publish research articles on topics ranging from Magic Squares to Fermat’s Last Theorem. Carl believes that mathematics is more than merely the manipulation of symbols according to rules. He shows his students how mathematics flows from one topic to another and builds on previous material. By integrating theory with application, he emphasizes real-world understanding that goes beyond rote memorization. Carl has taught mathematics for over 20 years and is currently an adjunct math professor at Johns Hopkins University. When he’s not teaching math, Carl loves to compete in handball and racquetball tournaments and has won several state and national titles.
Kristie Lino, BS
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Instructor
Subjects Covered:
SAT, ACT, PSAT, Biology, Psychology, College application counseling, High school math through AP Calculus AB, including AP Statistics.
Kristie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Brain and Cognitive Sciences from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in June 2021. Her interdisciplinary academic background spans coursework in electrical engineering, neuroscience, and women’s and gender studies (which served as her humanities concentration).
Throughout college, Kristie spent her summers partaking in engineering internships and a wide range of tutoring. This has included SAT prep, college application guidance, neurobiology mentoring, robotics and engineering design through various programs, and more. Kristie’s tutoring experience has largely been focused on high school students preparing for college. Kristie takes particular care to tailor lesson plans and strategies to students’ individual needs (including managing neurodivergence and/or mental illness in school). Having completed her final year of undergraduate studies online during the pandemic, Kristie is acutely aware of the experience of being a virtual student, and hopes to provide others with tips and strategies to boost productivity that aren’t at the expense of mental wellbeing.
Searching for an opportunity to explore an aspect of neuroscience through new lens, Kristie began working in an optical store, where she assisted with eye exams, cutting lenses, mounting, and adjusting frames. To feel inspired after work, Kristie enjoys learning new languages, eating new foods, and “slow traveling” to partake in the aforementioned activities. The next stage of her bucket list includes exploration of Thailand, Turkey, and Argentina.
Amin Bdeir, BS
Washington University in St. Louis
Instructor
Subjects Covered:
SAT, ACT, PSAT, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Precalculus, Calculus, AP Computer Science, Essay Writing, English, Spanish, Portuguese.
Amin graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. During his time at university, he spent over three years as a teaching assistant and tutor for mathematics and computer science students at Washington University McKelvey School of Engineering. Since graduating, Amin has continued to tutor students in an online setting, and deeply values creating the best learning environment for each student in order for them to achieve their highest potential. He is extremely passionate about helping others and seeing his students evolve. When Amin isn’t teaching, he enjoys making music, playing and watching soccer, hiking, and spending time with his family.
Benjamin Cattau, BS, PBD
University of Pennsylvania
Instructor
Subjects Covered:
SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT, ISEE, Biology, Physics, Algebra I, Algebra II, Trigonometry, Precalculus, Calculus, Essay Writing.
Benjamin graduated from Haverford College in 2017 with a BS in Molecular Biology and a philosophy minor. In 2019, he went on to complete a post-bachelors program in Chemistry, Physics, and Anatomy at the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences. While he was there, Benjamin worked at the U Penn Genetics and Immunology departments and contributed to the publication of papers in PNAS and Cell. At the conclusion of his work there, he prioritized his ongoing work in education, which he had continued since high school. There, he tutored physics and math, and in college, he supported students in biology and “Biology Super Labs.”
Benjamin has specialized in SAT and ACT instruction over the years, working to help students expand their opportunities for college admission. He has assisted many students through the test prep and college application process and is determined to help every student reach their goals. He loves helping students unlock their potential and develop their passion for learning, and believes that nothing is more valuable than the empowerment brought by education.
Online Group Courses
Small Group Courses consist of six online classes spanning three weeks. Instructors will cover the foundational content of the SAT or ACT as well as strategies for improving timing, accuracy, and retention in each subject. Assigned homework will include three previously-administered practice tests in addition to subject-specific problem sets based on students’ individual needs. Everyone who signs up will receive free course materials, a personalized study plan, and unlimited access to our Kindle Library.
Class Size
3-6 Students
Where
Online
Class Tuition
$500
Online SAT Courses
Tuesday/Thursday - 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm EST
November SAT Course (Registration Closed)
Classes run from
November 9 through November 25
For students preparing for the December 4th and 11th SATs
January SAT Course
(Registration Closed)
Classes run from
January 11 through January 27
For students preparing for the March 12th SAT
February SAT Course
(Registration Closed)
Classes run from
February 8 through February 24
For students preparing for the March 12th SAT
March SAT Course
(Registration Closed)
Classes run from
March 8 through March 24
For students preparing for the May 7th SAT
April SAT Course
(Registration Closed)
Classes run from
April 5 through April 21
For students preparing for the May 7th SAT
May SAT Course
(Registration Closed)
Classes run from
May 3 through May 19
For students preparing for the June 4th SAT
Online ACT Courses
Monday/Wednesday - 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm EST
January ACT Course
(Registration Closed)
Classes run from
January 10 through January 26
For students preparing for the February 12th ACT
February ACT Course
(Registration Closed)
Classes run from
February 7 through February 23
For students preparing for the April 2nd ACT
March ACT Course
(Registration Closed)
Classes run from
March 7 through March 23
For students preparing for the April 2nd ACT
April ACT Course
(Registration Closed)
Classes run from
April 4 through April 20
For students preparing for the June 11th ACT
May ACT Course
(Registration Closed)
Classes run from
May 2 through May 18
For students preparing for the July 16th ACT
June ACT Course
(Registration Closed)
Classes run from
May 30 through June 15
For students preparing for the July 16th ACT
Don't wait. Classes fill up quickly!
One-on-One Online Tutoring
6 hour program
This program covers roughly 1 month of private tutoring for a student who meets for an average of 90 minutes per week - usually enough time to turn a bad grade around or review 1 or 2 sections of the SAT or ACT. $200/hour
12 hour program
Over the course of 2 months of private tutoring or 1 month of accelerated study, academic students typically increase their letter grades in 2 or more classes, and test prep students are significantly more likely to break the 100-point improvement mark on the SAT and the 3-point improvement mark on the ACT. $190/hour
24 hour program
Intended for students who would like to meet for 90 minutes per week throughout the semester, this program is geared toward ongoing homework help and improvements of 150 points or more on the SAT and 4 points or more on the ACT. $180/hour
36 hour program
For semesters with 2 or more difficult classes, this program allots enough time for mixed weekly and bi-weekly private tutoring sessions, or 1 summer semester of dedicated SAT or ACT prep. $180/hour
48 hour program
At an average of 3 hours per week, this program is the perfect choice for a student who would like to meet with a tutor 2 or 3 times a week for 60 to 90 minutes for the duration of the spring or fall semester. $180/hour
60 hour program
During the spring or fall semesters, students will be able to meet with a tutor twice a week for 90 to 120 minutes. Summer semester students will have enough time to complete an accelerated course of SAT or ACT prep. $180/hour
80 hour program
Over the course of the school year, students will be able to meet with a tutor twice a week for 60 to 90 minutes. $180/hour
100 hour program
If you're signing up 1 or 2 students for the duration of the school year, this program will cover your every need. $180/hour
* Once purchased, program hours never expire and can be used to work with any available tutor. Students and their families determine the frequency and duration of private tutoring sessions when they sign up, and students who need a break from tutoring can pause any time and resume whenever they’re ready to return.
Group Rates
Starting from $40/hour
Split the cost of any private tutoring program with up to three friends.
* For more information about signing up with a friend, please contact us directly.