Inner Genius Prep

09/19/2025

Inner Genius Prep is excited to partner with the City of Santa Monica and the Police Activities League to offer a series of College Application Workshops to the community. We believe all students deserve access to higher education and the coaching that can help them achieve their potential. I’ll be focusing on the UC applications and Personal Insight Questions, as well as taking the time to meet with students individually and give them feedback on their essay drafts. I'm looking forward to getting to know each of the participants and helping them succeed on their college journey!

05/29/2025

Test Prep Tips from www.innergeniusprep.com: With More SAT Dates, Students Should Use Summer Test Prep to Optimize Their Score

Summer break is a great opportunity for high school students to prepare for the all-important SAT exam. Previously, students only had the option to take the SAT in late August and then had to wait until October for the next testing date. The addition of a September test date provides a sweet spot for students, especially rising juniors, to optimize their summer break to get an early start on SAT prep.

Prepping over summer and testing in fall of junior year maximizes opportunities to retake the SAT. Students can take the SAT as many times as they want without colleges and universities knowing because students get to choose exactly which scores to share on their college applications. The majority of students test three times and earn their highest score on their final test date.

Rising seniors who have not yet reached their score goal or are late to test can use the September test date strategically, in case they need to retest again before November 1st Early Decision and Early Action deadlines.

With the addition of the September date, test-takers now have more opportunities to gain their optimum score, opening the door to highly selective colleges and valuable scholarships.

The updated SAT testing dates for fall semester 2025 are: Aug. 23, Sept. 13, Oct. 4, Nov. 8, and Dec. 6

Summer test prep is a proven strategy to boost scores. If you’re ready to move the college admissions needle, Inner Genius Prep still has some slots available for summer test prep.

• Our expert tutors have been preparing students to ace the SAT and ACT since 2009, with average score increases of 200 points on the SAT and 5-7 points on the ACT

• Our students are consistently admitted to the most competitive colleges in the nation

• We believe in “Less Stress, More Success.” Being well-prepared helps minimize test anxiety and empowers students to succeed

Call 310 382-1077 or email [email protected] today to schedule your complimentary phone consultation.

To learn more about our test prep services and college admission successes, visit us at www.innergeniusprep.com

03/08/2024

Lisa Poliak featured on small acts of rebellion podcast -

Listen to small acts of rebellion, ep. 10, Lisa Poliak: Adversity to Advocacy here, or on your preferred podcast platform.  I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed on the podcast small acts of rebellion, focused on the intersection of professional and personal life. I discuss the importa...

02/22/2024

Breaking News: Yale to Require SAT, ACT Scores -

Yale University has announced it will require standardized test scores for admission beginning with the class entering in the fall of 2025, becoming the second Ivy League university to abandon its test-optional policies.

02/08/2024

College Admissions News: SAT & ACT Make a Comeback -

Informed by new research, Dartmouth College is the first in the Ivy League to reinstate standardized test scores as an admissions requirement, beginning with applicants to the Class of 2029.

01/24/2024

It’s a new year. Do you need a new resume? -

If the resume you have isn't landing you the interviews you want, the answer is yes. While you may not need a complete resume redo, it's time for a resume refresh.

01/18/2024

Why the SAT & ACT Still Matter -

With the majority of US colleges now test optional, should your student take the SAT or ACT? Recent reports in the New York Times and Forbes say yes!

01/03/2024

Summer Internship Season Is Happening -

While summer may feel a long way off, now is the time for college students to apply for summer internships. Landing an internship is crucial for building one’s resume, gaining professional experience and making connections that can lead to invaluable future opportunities, including job offers upon...

12/18/2023

Happy Holidays from IGP - https://mailchi.mp/innergeniusprep/celebrating-igps-student-of-the-month-6256180

12/13/2023

Summer Internship Season Is Now -

While summer may feel a long way off, now is the time for college students to apply for summer internships. Landing an internship is crucial for building one’s resume, gaining professional experience and making connections that can lead to invaluable future opportunities, including job offers upon...

10/25/2023

Learn How to Interview With Flair -

Rise above other candidates by being confident, comfortable and charismatic in any interview! Lisa Poliak, MFA, founder and director of Inner Genius Prep, in collaboration with University of Oregon's Alumni Network, is hosting a free webinar to teach you how to Interview with Flair. Lisa has been...

09/15/2023

IGP Featured in Unity Magazine: Teens and Stress -

I founded my company, Inner Genius Prep, to bring my holistic approach of Less Stress, More Success to all my clients, but especially my teenage clients. The many pressures of teenage life can lead to teens feeling stressed and overwhelmed, and they often lack the tools to express – or cope with...