As any parent of college bound high school student can tell you, the preparation, application, and selection process for a four year college or university is full of excitement, pitfalls, and occasional disappointment, and on this rigorous journey one couldn’t find a better, more committed, or more attentive partner than Elaine Cataneo. Our twin sons couldn’t be more different in their scholastic interests, creative and extracurricular pursuits, and personal priorities, but Elaine guided each one expertly, with individualized goals that optimized their strengths and helped them refine their vision and understanding of the many options and challenges that come with selecting the right college or university. With great attention to detail, Elaine was able to connect to our kids emotionally and intellectually, and helped them navigate, over almost two years, this course with patience, humor, and compassion that never wavered. They both ended up in undergraduate institutions that proved to be perfect for them, and in the process learned so much about priorities, compromise, and gratitude. We couldn’t recommend her more wholeheartedly.

     Our daughter was fortunate to work with Elaine from middle school through high school. We know from first hand experience that Elaine takes the time to get to know a student and his/her strengths, how they learn best and then uses this knowledge to help them develop personalized strategies to be independent and more effective learners. Elaine is always enthusiastic and eager to help the student and this positive attitude resonates even when the student is stressed and just needs some help with a particular subject matter. Our daughter looked forward to each session with Elaine and developed a unique and special bond with her built on trust and support.

    Elaine motivated our daughter and encouraged her to do her best and helped her set goals and develop successful strategies whether it be for an English paper, math test or science assignment. In addition to subject specific lessons, Elaine helped our daughter work on time management skills, organization and ways to prepare for class which all made our daughter better able to take on the rigors of all her classes and made her a more successful student.  Finally, our daughter prepared for the SAT exclusively with Elaine. Again, knowing our daughter's strengths Elaine helped her develop test taking strategies during practice sessions that not only raised her scores but gave her the self-confidence to succeed on the SAT.  Our daughter earned an exceptionally high score on the SAT and was accepted into her 1st choice, a top tier national liberal arts college.

     My three children have all worked with Elaine and I highly recommend her.  My children all have different strengths and needs.  Elaine was able to bring out the best in all of them.  She also realizes that the kids are involved in different activities and is flexible with scheduling when necessary.  Even though her schedule is usually booked, she was always flexible and tried to find a way to rearrange her schedule depending on when my kids were "in season" with sports/activities. When it came time for ACT/SAT test prep she worked with each of my children, and I truly believed she was able to have each one reach their potential. My children enjoyed working with Elaine and found their time with her very productive. Sometimes it might have been to help with some organizational skills or improve their writing or to tackle that difficult to comprehend math topic.

Elaine took a lot of stress and guesswork out of taking the ACT exam.

     Both of our sons had a great experience working with Elaine Cataneo. Over the years she helped with subject tutoring as well as college exam prep/prep tests.

     Elaine has many unique qualities in that from the very beginning she establishes a warm relationship with each student. Our boys have very different personalities, learning skills and disciplines, yet Elaine was able to key in to each of their individual strengths and weaknesses and help build their confidence. I don’t know what we would have done had our boys not liked working with Elaine. She helped them relax and start to understand the nuances of testing and how questions were phrased and highlighting key words in order for them to have a concise and clear understanding of those sometimes complicated test questions.

     And the best part is that Elaine has her students’ best interest at heart. 

     We were very happy with our children’s growth and grasp of particular subjects as well as improvement in their college test scores.

     I cannot say enough amazing things about Elaine. Where do I start …
She has not only helped my daughter with her executive functioning skills as well as tutoring for a number of subjects, she has also supported her academic style and was extremely supportive and understanding. Elaine also went out of her way to help me understand where my daughter needs support and how I could help communicate to her teachers. She has helped her academically but even more importantly personally. Confidence and motivation are extremely hard to teach and Elaine’s way of understanding challenges is a gift.

     Elaine came highly recommended by several people in my area. All I wanted was someone to help navigate the process. There is so much pressure on these kids (and parents) with college, I wanted someone to ease the process. Elaine talked with us about exact needs and in the end we determined all Maggie really needed help with was the essay. The piece ended up being such a genuine and simple reflection of who my daughter truly is.  I think it was a major factor for all the great colleges she was accepted at. Most importantly- Elaine never once tried to get more sessions out of us etc. She was there to help. And when her job was done...she told us. Can't thank Elaine enough AND I have #2...coming down the road! 

     In high school, taking the SAT/ACT is probably the most important and most daunting 4 hours of your life and you really have no clue how to prepare for it. Luckily, Elaine knows everything about it, from content to test taking tips and effective study methods. I took the SAT both before and after working with Elaine and my score improved significantly - to 1540. I have no doubt her methods were effective, but it also made the process more enjoyable -er less painful. I was given a clear plan of studying that was sizable, but manageable. Sessions were structured, making them an effective and efficient use of my time and my parent’s money. As far as college essay assistance, I can put it very simply: Elaine was able to improve upon things that my parents, teachers, and college friends didn’t catch. As far as how successful it was? Well, I got into my number one college - US Air Force Academy. Elaine’s tutoring services are one of the few college preparation resources that I suggest my younger friends take advantage of as soon as possible. In my unprofessional opinion, two of three biggest things on college applications are your SAT/ACT score and essays (with grades being close behind) and because of Elaine I know I hit those out of the park.

     Elaine Cataneo has been our family’s tutor for 6 years. She supported two of our three children in math—for their transition from elementary to middle school and, for one of our kids, throughout his middle school years—and helped our oldest with both ACT prep and the college application process (essays and supplements). Not only did Elaine help both of my children content-wise (they always appreciated the clarity she brought) but she gave them confidence in their ability to be strong math students. I appreciated this quality of hers for my daughter, who grew to love math with Elaine’s help, moving on to do Math that I can’t even begin to understand in high school, and for my son who named Elaine as his favorite “teacher” throughout middle school. Like all good educators, she has the ability to see strengths in her students. My family loves Elaine. She has been a true gift.

     Elaine was so skilled at understanding each of our children, who they were as people, their strengths, weaknesses and their best way of learning.  She helped my son and my daughter each develop a strategy to achieve their best educational goals. She was great at identifying the best test for each child based on how they would perform and what they wanted to pursue in college.  She also set a course for what our kids needed to do in order to achieve the goals they had set for themselves.

     Elaine was integral in helping my son overcome severe writing issues in high school and facilitating the college application process. Her patience, persistence and experience allow students to find methods that best suit them to succeed. She breaks down the college application and essays into manageable components so students are not overwhelmed by the process. Beyond that, she helps students find their own voice to express who they are as individuals. This not only sets them apart from other college applicants but also instills confidence and pride. Six months before high school graduation I questioned whether my son was ready for college. He’s just completed his second year at Michigan State University, has made Dean’s List and acknowledges the skills he learned with Elaine are a crucial component to his success.

     Elaine began working with my oldest daughter years ago when she was in the eighth grade and needed some tutoring in math. At the time, my daughter wasn't thrilled about school or learning in general and she did not like the idea of a tutor at all, but Elaine's patience and ability to intuitively understand my daughter's needs won her over and gained her trust. When she started high school, Elaine continued tutoring her not just in math, but across her entire course load, teaching her how to tackle essays, study for tests, and how to plan and organize her time for projects. My daughter had an IEP but was shy and hesitant to remind teachers of her accommodations. Elaine taught her how to speak up and advocate for herself with a variety of teacher personalities- a skill that she has already been putting to use when communicating with various departments at her upcoming college. When it came time to start the college admissions process, I was overwhelmed and had no idea where to start. My daughter was worried that she wouldn't score well on the SAT and felt that she might not want to go to college at all. Elaine helped us through the process step-by-step, teaching my daughter the skills necessary to score really well on the SAT, find her voice and write a great essay, and stay on top of the many tasks required to successfully apply to college. Elaine's unwavering encouragement and support have boosted my daughter's self-confidence and independence. They have built a relationship which my daughter says will be for life.

Elaine is now working with my second daughter to begin her college admissions process and will work with my third daughter when it's her turn. 

It's hard to put into words just how valuable Elaine has been, not only to my girls, but also to me as a parent.

     At first glance, I was frightened by both the SAT/ACT test-taking process and the college preparation process. They seemed ugly and jumbled and tedious, but with Elaine’s guidance, my fears vanished. The entire college pathway felt straightforward and orderly, yet simultaneously free and enjoyable. Under Elaine’s wing I was able to learn about and express myself in new ways, drastically improve my scores, and achieve admittance into many of my desired schools. All the while, with Elaine’s counsel, I grew as a person, and for that I am immeasurably thankful.

     When starting out with the whole college search process, I was extremely daunted by the amount of prep and planning ahead of me with no clue where to begin. At first, Elaine and I worked on SAT prep, then transitioned into college applications. Having Elaine there to keep me ahead of deadlines and to advise and reassure me was exactly what I needed to wade through that notoriously overwhelming stream of essays, forms, and decisions. Elaine's guidance and kindness took away a lot of the stress and uncertainty of it all, and helped me find the direction that was right for me. I was able to come to a conclusion about which colleges I wanted to apply to, and, to the great surprise of all my friends and family, submit my applications two months early!

In high school, I started working with Elaine as a writing tutor. As I approached college she assisted me with the SAT and ACT as well as my college essay and applications. The greatest skill I learned from her was thought organization. Struggling with ADHD, writing has always been a weakness. Elaine allowed me to take my swarm of thoughts and organize them into a comprehensible essay. Initially I wasn’t sure I was going to get into college but I was accepted into multiple universities. Now, as a student at Michigan State University, I am writing papers in days which is a long way from staring at a blank page for weeks.

     A friend of mine highly recommended Elaine when I sought out tutoring for my struggling daughter.  At the time, my daughter suffered from low self-confidence and learning challenges.  School work caused her to emotionally shut down when it became challenging.  She certainly didn’t make it easy for Elaine to earn her trust.  However, Elaine’s patience proved to be key to building a relationship and teaching my daughter to approach her work in a different way.  Over time, she became an entirely different student.  Her anxiety and ADHD no longer controlled her learning capabilities. While her grades and studying habits have improved immensely, the real change was in her attitude towards learning and her belief in her ability to succeed.  I am incredibly grateful for all that Elaine has and continues to do to impact my daughter’s academic growth and development.

Elaine gave me all of the tools and confidence I needed to take the SAT exam.

     Ahmed adored working with Elaine. She was always insightful and responsive to our concerns. Tutoring him for three years, she went beyond the call of duty. She is very caring, patient, and was able to keep Ahmed afloat with his tremendous workload. By senior year she knew him well enough to help him every step of the way through the college admissions process guiding him to choose a college where he could excel academically and artistically. The skills she taught Ahmed helped him to find his confidence, independence, and success. She is the best!

     Elaine has tutored Carter for as long as I remember.  Very early on, I made her part of the village it took to raise him.  Not only did she coach him academically through high school and taking the SATs, she played a huge role in developing his confidence as a student and a growing teen.  Carter doesn't always listen to me but if Elaine says so, he's good to go.   We all need an 'Elaine' in our kids' lives.