Advantage Testing, New York

241 East 86th Street
Suites 2A, 2B, and 2C
New York, NY 10028

Phone: 212.744.8800
Email: newyork@advantagetesting.com

Arun Alagappan, President & Founder
Sarah Bernbach, Associate Director
Michelle Chasin, Associate Director
Patrick Connolly, Associate Director
David Riessen, Associate Director
John Roberts, Associate Director

Advantage Testing of New York has delivered outstanding educational services to the New York City scholastic community for more than 35 years. Launched by Arun Alagappan in 1986, Advantage Testing of New York has helped thousands of students from New York City independent and public schools to achieve their academic and professional goals.

Advantage Testing of New York maintains tutoring and administrative offices on the Upper East Side. We also have tutors who travel to students’ homes in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Students in other boroughs should speak with a program consultant to discuss tutoring options.

Working in concert with educators, counselors, and learning specialists, we develop individually tailored programs that are designed to complement a student’s schoolwork and achieve a consistent strategy for success. We offer tutoring for New York’s independent and selective public high school admissions exams, including the SSAT, the ISEE, and the SHSAT.

Each year, our tutors help Prep for Prep students prepare for standardized college admissions exams. We have also tutored classes of students enrolled in Harlem Village Academies and Eleanor Roosevelt High School, among others.

Tutors in New York

Arun Alagappan /

Arun Alagappan

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE, Mathematics, English, Admissions Counseling

J.D. from Harvard Law School.
B.A., magna cum laude, in Philosophy from Princeton.
Phi Beta Kappa; Outstanding Teaching of Harvard Undergraduates Award; Honorary Pi Eta Kappa Fellow; Former Student Volunteers Council Board Member; Former Director of the Jamesburg Correctional Institute for Boys Tutorial Program; Former Harvard International Law Journal Editor; Trustee on the Board of Prep for Prep; Former Vice President of the Board of Trustees of LEDA.
Founder and President of Advantage Testing and the Advantage Testing Foundation.

Visala Alagappan /

Visala Alagappan

Tutor of: SAT, ACT

J.D. from Harvard Law School.
M.A. in Classics from Oxford University.
B.A., with high honors, in Classics from Princeton University.
Certificate of Distinction from Harvard’s Office of Undergraduate Education for Excellence in Teaching; Teaching Fellow at the Paideia Institute; Harvard Law School's Negotiation Workshop and Advanced Negotiation Seminar Teaching Fellow; Trinity School Alum.

Iliana Amador /

Iliana Amador

Tutor of: Languages, Arts

Ph.D. in Art History from Stanford University.
B.A. in Art History from Havana University.

Joe Avellone /

Joe Avellone

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE, MCAT, CHSEE (TACHS, HSPT), Mathematics, Social Studies, Business

M.B.A. in Finance from New York University, Stern School of Business.
M.A. in International Affairs from Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs.
B.A. in History from Columbia University.
Money Marketers Thesis Award.

Sarah Bernbach /

Sarah Bernbach

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE, SHSAT, English, Languages , Admissions Counseling

B.A., magna cum laude, in Classics from Harvard University.
National Greek Exam Blue Ribbon.
Associate Director of Advantage Testing, New York.

Amelia Betancourt /

Amelia Betancourt

Tutor of: Languages

M.A. in Latin American Literature from Columbia University.
B.A. in Sociology from Boston College.

Lesley Blumenthal /

Lesley Blumenthal

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, GRE, MCAT, SSAT, ISEE, Back-to-School Program, English

B.A., cum laude, in History and Science from Harvard University.
John Harvard Scholar; Elizabeth Cary Agassiz Award for Academic Achievement of the Highest Distinction.

Rebecca Brown /

Rebecca Brown

Tutor of: Admissions Counseling

M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University Teachers College.
M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University Teachers College.
B.A. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.
Program Director of Advantage Testing's Interview Program.
Assistant Director of Advantage Testing's College Counseling Program.

Sarah Brown /

Sarah Brown

Tutor of: SAT, ACT

B.A., summa cum laude, in Medical Anthropology from Princeton University.
University Center for Human Values Thesis Prize; Stanley J. Stein Thesis Prize; Senior Thesis Prize in Anthropology; Rudolf Virchow Undergraduate Award; Climate Health Fellowship at the Institute for Diseases and Disaster Management.

Sarah Chapple /

Sarah Chapple

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE, MCAT, SSAT, ISEE, English, Admissions Counseling

M.A. in Literature and Writing from the Bread Loaf School of English, Middlebury College.
B.A., cum laude, in English from Princeton University.

Heather Chase /

Heather Chase

Tutor of: SAT, English

M.F.A. in Writing from Columbia University.
B.A. in English from Harvard University.
Phi Beta Kappa; John Harvard Scholarship for Academic Achievement of Highest Distinction; Elizabeth Cary Agassiz Scholar Award for Academic Achievement of Highest Distinction; Faculty-Awarded Merit Scholarship for Writing; Phillips Exeter Academy Valedictorian.

Michelle Chasin /

Michelle Chasin

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, SSAT, ISEE, English

M.P.A. from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.
B.A. in Religion from Barnard College.
Associate Director of Advantage Testing, New York.

Noah Chasin /

Noah Chasin

Tutor of: Admissions Counseling

Ph.D. in Architectural and Urban History from the City University of New York Graduate Center.
B.A. in Art History from Oberlin College.
Teaches at Columbia University in the Urban Design Program; Joint Appointment at Columbia’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights.

Carolyn Clancy /

Carolyn Clancy

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, Mathematics

M.A.T. in Secondary Math Education from Rice University.
B.S. in Civil Engineering from Villanova University.

Hannah Coleman /

Hannah Coleman

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, Science, English

M.S. (in progress) in Neuroscience and Education at Teachers College, Columbia.
B.A., magna cum laude, in Neuroscience from Dartmouth College.

Robert Colvin /

Robert Colvin

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, GRE, MCAT, SSAT, ISEE, Mathematics, Science

M.A. in Education from Saint Peter’s College.
B.A. in Earth and Planetary Sciences from Harvard University.
Maple Hill High School Valedictorian; National Merit Scholar.

Patrick Connolly /

Patrick Connolly

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE, SSAT, ISEE, Mathematics, Arts, Business, Admissions Counseling

M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
B.A. in Pure Mathematics from Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music.
B.M. in Piano Performance from Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music.
Former Ph.D. Fellow in Music at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives for Advantage Testing.

Matthew Demmer /

Matthew Demmer

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE, MCAT, SSAT, ISEE, TOEFL, IELTS, Mathematics, Social Studies, English

B.A. in English Literature and Philosophy from Georgetown University.
Studied Philosophy at King’s College London.
Phi Beta Kappa.
Assistant Director for International Programs and Director of Advantage Testing of the United Kingdom.

Chris Dolin /

Chris Dolin

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, SSAT, ISEE, Mathematics, Social Studies, English

M.S.W., Hunter College School of Social Work.
B.A., cum laude, in Government and Economics from Harvard University.
Co-founder and Former Executive Director of Creative Arts Workshops for Kids; Adjunct Lecturer at Hunter College School of Social Work.

Allison Evans /

Allison Evans

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, Mathematics, Science, English, Arts

M.F.A. in Painting from Hunter College.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Studio Art from Brandeis University.
B.A., cum laude, in Studio Art and Art History from Dartmouth College.
Adelbert Ames Award for Excellence in Fine Arts.

Adam Fisher /

Adam Fisher

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE, Mathematics, Science, English

M.M. from The Juilliard School.
B.A., cum laude, in Physics from Harvard University.
Harvard National Scholar; Magna cum laude Graduate of Horace Mann School; Joseph Chase Mathematics Award.

Alex Freedman /

Alex Freedman

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE, MCAT, SSAT, ISEE, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, English, Languages, Arts, Business, Miscellaneous

B.A., magna cum laude, in Music from Harvard University.
Dean’s List; Harvard College Scholarship for Academic Distinction; Robert C. Byrd Scholar; Arthur Smithies Prize; National Merit Finalist; AP Scholar with Honors; Harvard Book Award.
Head of Advantage Testing’s GMAT and GRE Programs.
Director of Advantage Testing of Westport, Advantage Testing of Philadelphia, Advantage Testing of Charlotte, Advantage Testing of Denver, and Advantage Testing of New Orleans.

Dan Freeman /

Dan Freeman

Tutor of: Social Studies

B.A., magna cum laude, in History from Harvard University.
Harvard College Scholarship for Academic Distinction; David McCord Prize; Quincy House Scroll; U.S. State Department Arts Envoy Grants.

Dana Gordon /

Dana Gordon

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, Mathematics, Social Studies, English, Business

M.A., with high distinction, in International Relations and Economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
B.A., magna cum laude, in Political Science and Economics from Johns Hopkins University.
Attended Ethical Culture Fieldston School.

Christine Houser /

Christine Houser

Tutor of: USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, USMLE Step 2 CS, USMLE Step 3, Selected Specialty Medical Board Examinations, Science, Social Studies, Admissions Counseling

M.D. from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
M.Phil. in Cognitive Neuropsychology from George Washington University.
B.A. in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Johns Hopkins University.
Columbian College Women’s Scholarship; National Institutes of Health Training Award; Board-certified Emergency Medical Physician.

Timothy Jensen /

Timothy Jensen

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, SHSAT, Mathematics, English

J.D. from the New York University School of Law.
M.S. in Elementary Education from Bank Street College Graduate School.
B.A., with honors, in English from Haverford College.

Cameron Johanning /

Cameron Johanning

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, English

A.B., cum laude, in English from Princeton University.
Certificate in Visual Arts from Princeton University; Mary John Goree Creative Writing Scholarship; Alex Adam ‘07 Award; Former Cameraman and Researcher for National Geographic Studios.

Alex Karol /

Alex Karol

Tutor of: USMLE

M.D. from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
B.A. in Applied Mathematics from Washington University in St. Louis.
Internal Medicine Resident Physician at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Danny Katch /

Danny Katch

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, Mathematics, Social Studies, English

M.A. in Education from Hunter College.
B.A. in History from Brown University.

Swati Khurana /

Swati Khurana

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, SSAT, ISEE, Back-to-School Program, Mathematics, Social Studies, English, Arts, Admissions Counseling, Miscellaneous

M.F.A. in Fiction from Hunter College.
M.A. in Studio Art & Art Criticism from New York University.
B.A., cum laude, in History from Columbia University.
Dean’s List; Gallatin School Valedictorian; New Visions Fund for Teachers Award; Grace Paley Fiction Fellowship; Center for Fiction Fellowship; Jerome Foundation Travel & Study Award to West Africa.

Mikki Kirdahy /

Mikki Kirdahy

Tutor of: Languages

M.A. in French from Columbia University.
B.A., summa cum laude, in French and Women’s Studies from Stony Brook University.

Steven Lewis /

Steven Lewis

Tutor of: SAT, MCAT, Science, Social Studies, English, Admissions Counseling

M.D./Ph.D. (in progress) from Stony Brook University.
B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from Yale University.
B.A. in History from Yale University.
Postgraduate Research Associate in the Yale Immunobiology Department; National Merit Scholar.

Peter Ligh /

Peter Ligh

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE, SSAT, ISEE, English

J.D. from Columbia Law School.
B.A. in Political Science from Yale College.
Partner at Eversheds Sutherland; former associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore; James Kent Scholar; Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar; former Managing Editor of the Columbia Law Review.

Meg Lord /

Meg Lord

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE, MCAT, SSAT, ISEE, English, Languages, Admissions Counseling

B.S., cum laude, in French from Georgetown University.
Studied Literature at the University of Paris, Sorbonne.

Charles Loxton /

Charles Loxton

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, Creative Writing Workshop, English, Admissions Counseling

M.F.A. from Columbia University.
B.A. in Philosophy from Vassar College.
Hertog Research Fellow; Columbia University Departmental Fellowship.
Chief Communications Officer of Advantage Testing and the Advantage Testing Foundation.

Henry Lynch /

Henry Lynch

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, PSAT, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, English, Miscellaneous, Languages

B.A. in Linguistics from Harvard University.
AP Scholar with Distinction; National Merit Scholarship Finalist; U.S. Presidential Scholar Semi-Finalist.

Michael McNabb /

Michael McNabb

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, GRE, MCAT, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Business

B.A., cum laude, in Anthropology from Harvard College.
Postbaccalaureate Studies at Columbia University.
John Harvard Honorary Scholarship; Detur Book Prize; ALEX Award for Academic Excellence from National Alliance for Excellence; John L. Miller Great Neck North High School Valedictorian; USA Today All-Academic First Team; National Merit Scholar; AP Scholar.

Tim Miller /

Tim Miller

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, Mathematics, Science, Business

M.A. in Teaching from Bard College.
B.A., with honors, in Mathematics from Washington University in St. Louis.

Marlene Morgan /

Marlene Morgan

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, Science, English

M.T.S. in the History of Christianity from Harvard Divinity School.
B.A. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University.
Priscilla Glickman ’92 Memorial Prize Winner; National Merit Scholar; AP Scholar with Distinction.

Drew Novins /

Drew Novins

Tutor of: Bar Exam, Law

J.D. from Georgetown University School of Law.
B.A. in History from the University at Albany, State University of New York.
Multistate Bar Exam Top 3%; Former Assistant Director of Admissions at New York Law School.

Matthew Pattillo /

Matthew Pattillo

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, Mathematics, Social Studies, English, Admissions Counseling, Miscellaneous

Ph.D. (in progress) in Philosophy from The New School.
M.Div. in Philosophy from Princeton Seminary.
B.A., with Honors, in Philosophy from Southern Methodist University.
National Merit Finalist.

Gabe Perez-Giz /

Gabe Perez-Giz

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, MCAT, Mathematics, Science, English, Miscellaneous

Ph.D. in Physics from Columbia University.
M.Phil. in Physics from Columbia University.
M.A. in Physics from Columbia University.
B.A. in Applied Physics from Columbia University.
Writer and Host of PBS Space Time.

Robin Pogrebin /

Robin Pogrebin

Tutor of: English, Admissions Counseling

B.A. in English from Yale University.
Reporter at The New York Times.

Marco Praderio /

Marco Praderio

Tutor of: Languages

Ph.D. in Medieval Literature from Columbia University.
M.Phil., with distinction, in Italian Literature from Columbia University.
M.A., with distinction, in Italian Literature from Columbia University.
M.A., summa cum laude, in Classics from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.
Simultaneous Interpreter and Translator for the Italian Embassy in Washington, the Consulate General of Italy, the Italian Mission to the United Nations, the Italian Trade Commission, and the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce in New York.

I-fan Quirk /

I-fan Quirk

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, SSAT, ISEE, Back-to-School Program, Creative Writing Workshop, SHSAT, Hunter College High School Entrance Exam, Mathematics, English, Arts, Admissions Counseling

M.F.A. in Film Production from New York University Tisch School of the Arts.
B.A., cum laude, in English and Theatre from Princeton University.
Allan Downer Thesis Prize; John B. Lynch Scholar; Tisch School of the Arts Dean's Award; Warner Bros. Post-Production Award.

Hector Ramos /

Hector Ramos

Tutor of: Bar Exam, LSAT, GRE, SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, Science, Social Studies, Business, Law

J.D. from Harvard Law School.
M.B.A. from the USC Marshall School of Business.
B.A., magna cum laude, in Philosophy, Political Science, and Psychology from California State University, Fullerton.
Horatio Alger Association National Scholar; UCLA Law Fellow Award; Cal State University Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement.; Harvard Latino Law, Policy, and Business Conference Co-Chair.
Associate Director of TRIALS.

David Riessen /

David Riessen

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, English

J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.
B.A., magna cum laude, in Psychology from Brown University.
Associate Director of Advantage Testing, New York.

John Roberts /

John Roberts

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE, SSAT, ISEE, Academic Writing Program, TOEFL, Mathematics, English

Ph.D. in English from New York University.
M.T.S. from Harvard Divinity School.
B.A. in English and Religion from Oberlin College.
Former Board Chair and Current Board Member of LEDA.
Director of Advantage Testing of the United Kingdom and Associate Director of Advantage Testing, New York.

Joshua Rosenblum /

Joshua Rosenblum

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, Mathematics, English, Arts

M.M. in Piano Performance from Yale School of Music.
B.A., summa cum laude, in Music from Yale College.
Phi Beta Kappa; Alumni Association Prize from the Yale School of Music; Ithaca College Choral Composition Contest.

Jordan Rubenstein /

Jordan Rubenstein

Tutor of: SSAT, ISEE, Mathematics, Science

M.D. (in progress) from Columbia University.
B.A., magna cum laude, in Neuroscience and Music from Amherst College.

Amanda Schaffer /

Amanda Schaffer

Tutor of: MCAT, Science, Social Studies, English, Admissions Counseling

B.A., magna cum laude, in History and Science from Harvard University.
Phi Beta Kappa; John Harvard Scholarship; Rona Jaffe/Radcliffe College Prize for Creative Writing; Detur Prize; Fitzgerald Foundation Award for Outstanding Woman; Stuyvesant High School Valedictorian.
Director of Advantage Testing’s MCAT Program.

Julia Schlesinger /

Julia Schlesinger

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, SHSAT, Hunter College High School Entrance Exam, TACHS, Mathematics, Social Studies, English

M.Ed. and M.A. (in progress) in School Counseling at Columbia University, Teachers College.
B.A. in African-American Studies from Yale University.
Graduate of Hunter College High School.

Mac Schumer /

Mac Schumer

Tutor of: Mathematics, Science

A.B., cum laude, in Chemistry from Harvard College.
M.A. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania.

Peter Sell /

Peter Sell

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, Bar Exam, Mathematics, Science, Law

J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.
B.A. in Rhetoric from the University of California, Berkeley.
Former Assistant District Attorney in Bronx County; Perennial Judge of the American Bar Association Moot Court Competition; Published in the New York Law Journal.

John Semivan /

John Semivan

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, MCAT, SSAT, ISEE, TOEFL, SHSAT, English

Ph.D. in English and American Literature from Brandeis University.
M.Ed. in Alternative Education from Harvard University.
B.M. from the New England Conservatory of Music.
Published Author in The New Republic and The Boston Exchange.

Ji-Hee Seuk /

Ji-Hee Seuk

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, Back-to-School Program, Science

B.A., magna cum laude, in History of Science from Harvard University.
Harvard College Scholarship for Academic Distinction; National Merit Scholar; AP Scholar with Distinction; Co-Director of Harvard Habitat for Humanity.
Head of Advantage Testing's High School Biology and Chemistry Programs.

Jed Sexton /

Jed Sexton

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, SSAT, ISEE, Mathematics

B.A. in Government from Harvard University.

Michelle Shafer /

Michelle Shafer

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE, SSAT, Academic Writing Program, Social Studies, English

Ph.D. in Theatre from Columbia University.
M.Phil. in Theatre from Columbia University.
M.F.A. in Theatre from Columbia University.
M.A. in Theatre from Columbia University.
B.A., magna cum laude, in English and Theatre from Bryn Mawr College.
Marjorie Hope Nicolson Fellow; Mellon Summer Research Fellow; Shubert Presidential Scholarship; Kaye Theater Award; Columbia University Travel Award.

Andrei Simion /

Andrei Simion

Tutor of: Mathematics, Business, Admissions Counseling, Miscellaneous

Ph.D. in Computer Science from Columbia University.
B.A. in Applied Mathematics from Cooper Union.

Thomas Socci /

Thomas Socci

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, MCAT, Mathematics, Science, Business

Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Columbia University.
M.A. in Science Education from Columbia University.
B.S. in Physics from Yale University.
Former International Academic Partnership Residential Science Workshop Designer and Director.

Jay Stull /

Jay Stull

Tutor of: SAT, ACT, LSAT, GMAT, SSAT, ISEE, LSAT Class, Mathematics, English

A.B., summa cum laude, in Government from Bowdoin College.
Phi Beta Kappa; Michael Francis Micciche III Memorial Award; Philip Henry Brown First Prize in Extemporaneous Composition; Hilmer Oehlmann Jr. Award.

Geoffrey Tanner /

Geoffrey Tanner

Tutor of: MCAT, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies

Ph.D. in Neurobiology from Harvard Medical School.
M.A.L.S. in Science from Wesleyan University.
B.S. in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry and Environmental Biology from Yale College.
Yale Club of New Haven Scholar; Most Promising Project Award, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Visiting Scientist on the Israel Family Foundation for Science at Phillips Academy Andover; Amity Club of New Haven Scholar.

Ziqi Wang /

Ziqi Wang

Tutor of: SSAT, ISEE, Mathematics, Science

M.D. (in progress) at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Yale University.
National AP Scholar; National Merit Semifinalist; Scholar-Athlete Honors all four years at Yale.

Kathy Yellen /

Kathy Yellen

Tutor of: Miscellaneous

M.S.T. in Early Childhood Education from Fordham University.
B.A., cum laude, in English from Tufts University.
Kappa Delta Pi; Head teacher at Garden House School of New York.