— CHICAGO NORTH SHORE · COOK COUNTY
Test Prep, Tutoring & Admissions.
On the Chicago North Shore.
Expert 1:1 tutoring for North Shore families across every goal: Digital SAT and ACT prep, college admissions counseling, K–12 academics, AP support, and private-school admissions. One-on-one, in your home from Winnetka to Highland Park or live online, from a team that stays with your student year over year.
RESULTS · CHICAGO NORTH SHORE
100–500
Point gains for ConnectPrep Chicago North Shore students
97%
Full-program students admitted to a top-3 choice
1:1
Private tutoring only — no group classes, ever
17+
1300
TOP NORTH SHORE PUBLIC AVG SAT
Top
0.1%
OF STUDENTS ADMITTED TO TOP-3 COLLEGES
500
HIGHEST SINGLE-STUDENT SCORE IMPROVEMENT
1400
NORTH SHORE INDEPENDENT AVG SAT
17+
YEARS SERVING COOK COUNTY FAMILIES
Full-Service Support on the Chicago North Shore
ConnectPrep is not an SAT-only shop. Families from Winnetka to Highland Park work with us across the whole academic arc, from sixth-grade study skills to a finished college application, with one team that already knows the student. Here is what each program looks like locally.
Digital SAT & ACT Prep
One-on-one Digital SAT and ACT prep built on a full Bluebook diagnostic, weekly sessions, and real full-length practice tests. Illinois gives every junior a free SAT on a school day each April, so on the North Shore the SAT is the default test and a strong score is expected. We build each plan backward from a student’s college list and around the New Trier, Highland Park, and Deerfield calendars, so prep peaks for that April sitting and the August and October national dates instead of colliding with AP season. Elite Bootcamps push students targeting 1500+ / 34+.
Compare the SAT and ACT →College Admissions Counseling
Full-service counseling for grades 9–12: school-list strategy, essay development, activity and honors positioning, interview prep, and start-to-finish application management. In a market where New Trier, Highland Park, and the North Shore independents each send large cohorts to the same selective colleges, the real work is differentiation — helping a strong student in an exceptional pool build an application that reads as exceptional. Counseling bundles with test prep so score goals map to target schools from freshman year.
Explore admissions counseling →K–12 Subject Tutoring
Every grade and subject — math through BC Calculus, the sciences, writing, and world languages — plus homework support and study-skills coaching, all from one consistent tutor who stays with the student year over year. Many families start here in middle school around Winnetka, Wilmette, and Glencoe, then layer in test prep and admissions as the student reaches the upper grades.
See K–12 tutoring →AP, Honors & National Merit
Score-5 AP strategy aligned to each school’s syllabus and the May exam window, plus PSAT and National Merit prep in the fall of junior year. New Trier, Stevenson, and Glenbrook students routinely carry five or more APs; we help them protect GPA and test scores at once, planning around the exact weeks when AP exams, finals, and the SAT collide.
AP & National Merit prep →Private School Admissions
ISEE and SSAT preparation plus full independent-school admissions advising for families applying to the North Shore and Chicago independents — Loyola Academy, North Shore Country Day, Regina Dominican, Woodlands Academy, Latin, and Parker. We handle the entrance test, the student essays, and the parent statement, and we know how each school reads an application.
ISEE & SSAT admissions →Graduate & Professional
GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, and JD-Next tutoring with integrated admissions advising — the same 1:1 model and senior tutors, for the college students and working professionals in North Shore households.
Graduate & professional prep →Executive Function & Learning Support
Organization, planning, time management, and focus coaching — built into the academic work rather than sold as a separate track — including support for students with ADHD, IEPs, and 504 plans across the New Trier Township, District 113, and Glenbrook districts.
Learning support →BS/MD & Specialized Tracks
Combined-degree BS/MD medical advising, NCAA athletic-recruiting strategy, and transfer applications — the highest-stakes paths we advise on. They start early, often sophomore year, with a plan that lines up coursework, testing, research, and essays.
BS/MD advising →Career Coaching
For older students and young professionals: résumé and interview coaching, internship strategy, and career-transition support for the next step after admissions.
Career coaching →The North Shore year, by season
We plan every program around the same local calendar, so testing, APs, and application deadlines reinforce each other instead of colliding.
PSAT/NMSQT and National Merit qualifying, the first national SAT and ACT sittings, and early-action and early-decision deadlines.
Midyear reports, regular-decision deadlines, and prep for the spring tests.
The Illinois school-day SAT in April, AP exams in May, the May and June SAT and ACT, and junior planning.
The August SAT, Elite Bootcamps, and college-essay drafting before senior fall.
What Makes ConnectPrep Different on the Chicago North Shore
Most companies sell a national curriculum and a single test. ConnectPrep is built around one North Shore student at a time: their schools, their calendar, and every goal from a first diagnostic to a finished college application.
We Teach, Not Just Review
Every session builds genuine understanding, not passive review. Whether it is the Digital SAT’s adaptive structure or a hard unit in AP Chemistry, we break down exactly what the material demands and how to master it efficiently.
Personalized From Day One
Every student starts with a diagnostic, so we see precisely where points or grades are slipping. The program is built around those specific gaps, never a generic template, and it adjusts as the student grows.
One Team, Every Service
SAT and ACT prep, college admissions, K–12 tutoring, AP support, and private-school admissions all live under one roof, with one tutor who stays with your student year over year instead of a rotating cast.
Test Prep and Admissions, Bundled
Score goals are calibrated to your target schools from the first session. Families who need both testing and counseling often find our integrated program costs less than hiring a separate tutor and an independent counselor.
— OUR PROCESS
How ConnectPrep Works on the Chicago North Shore
1
Free Consultation & Diagnostic
Free 30-minute call with founder Jeremy Fine. We review your student’s current score, target schools, and timeline — then run a full Bluebook diagnostic to map exactly where points are being lost.
2
Custom Weekly Program Built
Your tutor builds a week-by-week plan around your target test date, North Shore’s AP calendar, and Central Suburban League sports schedule. Sessions run 60–90 minutes — in your Chicago North Shore home or online.
3
Practice, Track & Adjust
Full-length Bluebook practice tests administered throughout the program. Post-test reviews go question-by-question on every missed item. Plans are updated every two weeks based on real data, not gut feeling.
4
Test Day. Score. Done.
Most Chicago North Shore students test at their own high school (New Trier, Highland Park, Deerfield, and Glenbrook among them). We simulate real conditions — Bluebook app, timing, and pacing — so test day feels like practice, not a surprise.
— SCORE CONTEXT
What SAT Score Do Chicago North Shore Students Actually Need?
Illinois gives every junior a free SAT on a school day each April, so on the North Shore the SAT is the default test and a strong score is expected. Top publics like New Trier and Highland Park post averages around 1300, and the area’s independents compete around 1400. For students targeting Ivy and peer-tier programs — the schools most Chicago North Shore families are aiming at — the competitive threshold is 1500 or above.
That gap between the North Shore mean and a competitive application score sits squarely in the 100–500 point improvement range ConnectPrep targets. Every program starts with understanding where your student sits today and what score they need for their specific college list.
| SCORE | CONTEXT | TARGET SCHOOLS |
|---|---|---|
| 1500+ | 99th percentile range | Ivy / peer tier |
| 1400–1499 | Area independent-school mean / strong | Top-25 universities |
| 1300–1399 | Above the local average | Top-50 universities |
| 1250 | North Shore public average | Broad match range |
500 POINTS · 99TH PERCENTILE
“Working with Chris and ConnectPrep was a game-changer for me. Chris generously provided various resources that I utilized to the fullest extent, resulting in a 500-point increase in my SAT score, placing me in the 99th percentile. I’m incredibly grateful for Chris’s expertise and patience throughout the process. If you’re looking to truly improve your scores, I wholeheartedly recommend Chris and ConnectPrep.”
— Graham Z., ConnectPrep Client · the Chicago North Shore
— WHEN TO START
The Three Windows for Chicago North Shore Students
The Chicago North Shore school calendar adds real pressure points. AP exams in May, Central Suburban League fall sports, and the March SAT all compress prep windows in ways a national calendar ignores.
Strongest setup. Most runway.
Builds to the March SAT junior year with full time to adjust. Accommodates AP and sports calendar. Students enter junior year with a baseline score to build from.
Three uninterrupted months into August or October test date.
The most common ConnectPrep entry point. Focused summer prep with enough runway for the fall test cycle.
Compressed but achievable.
Less margin for an adverse test day. December SAT is the final realistic window for most juniors applying early action.
— COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions from Chicago North Shore Families
Everything from one team: 1:1 Digital SAT and ACT prep, full college admissions counseling, K–12 subject tutoring, AP and National Merit support, private-school (ISEE/SSAT) admissions, graduate and professional test prep, and executive-function coaching. Most families combine two or three of these over time, with one tutor who already knows the student.
Both. ConnectPrep tutors travel to homes across the North Shore, from Winnetka to Highland Park, for weekly 1-on-1 sessions, and the identical program runs live online when a sports season, exam week, or tight schedule makes that easier.
Yes. Full-service counseling covers school-list strategy, essays, activity and honors positioning, interview prep, and application management for grades 9–12. Families often bundle admissions with test prep so score goals map to a real college list from the start, which usually costs less than hiring a separate tutor and independent counselor.
Both the public schools (New Trier, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenbrook North and South) and the independents, including Loyola Academy, North Shore Country Day, Regina Dominican, and Woodlands Academy. We plan around each school’s AP calendar, midterms, and athletic seasons.
Yes. Executive-function coaching (organization, planning, time management, and focus) is built into the academic work rather than sold separately, with support for students who learn differently across the New Trier Township, District 113, and Glenbrook districts.
Yes, every Illinois junior takes a free SAT on a school day each April, so the SAT is the default test here and a strong score is expected. Most North Shore students start prep the summer before junior year to be ready for that April date, and every program opens with a free 30-minute consultation with founder Jeremy Fine plus a full Bluebook diagnostic.
Beyond the SAT: Full Academic and Admissions Support on the North Shore
Most families come to ConnectPrep for the SAT or ACT and stay for a decade. The same senior instructors support your student from middle school through graduate admissions, and programs are frequently bundled so score goals and college strategy are built together from day one.
SAT & ACT Prep
+250 avg SAT+5 to 7 ACT1:1 prep built on a full diagnostic, a custom week-by-week plan, and full-length practice tests reviewed question by question. Top recorded gain is 500 points, and every program carries a score improvement guarantee. Elite Bootcamps serve students targeting 34+ or 1500+.
Compare SAT vs ACT →College Admissions Counseling
97% top-3 placementFull-cycle counseling from 9th grade to decision day: college list architecture with acceptance probability modeling, the Common App personal statement with unlimited revisions, every school-specific supplement, activities and extracurricular narrative strategy, EA/ED/ED II planning, financial aid and waitlist management, and mock interviews.
Explore admissions counseling →BS/MD Direct Medical Programs
2 to 7% acceptanceCombined-degree medical advising with placements at Northwestern HPME, WashU, BU, and UIC Honors. We build a genuine medical identity years ahead of the application: original research, clinical shadowing, health nonprofits, plus a 1550+ SAT target and MMI and traditional interview preparation.
Explore BS/MD advising →K-12 Subject Tutoring
Every grade and every subject: math through Calculus BC, all sciences, English, history, computer science, and world languages, across Common Core, AP, and IB curricula. One consistent tutor, in home or online, with ADHD and dyslexia expertise, IEP review, and teacher collaboration built in.
Explore subject tutoring →AP Exams & National Merit
98% score 4 or 5Score-5 strategy across every AP subject, from Calculus AB and BC to Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Language, History, Computer Science, Government, and Statistics, aligned to each school’s May exam window. PSAT trajectory planning runs from 9th grade with state cutoff analysis for commended and semifinalist standing.
Explore AP prep →Private School Admissions
99th percentile SSATISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, and TACHS preparation paired with day and boarding school admissions advising, including school list strategy, application narrative, and interview practice for independent school applicants.
Explore private school prep →Graduate & Professional
GMAT 760MCAT 501 to 519GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, and JD-Next preparation with integrated MBA, medical, law, and PhD admissions strategy. Results include a 760 GMAT into Wharton, Booth, and Cornell, an 18-point MCAT gain into UMich Medicine, and simultaneous PhD offers from Stanford CS, MIT, CMU, and Berkeley.
Explore graduate prep →Executive Function & Learning Differences
Instructors trained in ADHD, CAPD, dyslexia, and executive function deficit build the full academic operating system: organization, task sequencing, focus, test anxiety management, and self-advocacy. Includes IEP and 504 advocacy plus College Board and ACT accommodations requests.
Explore learning support →Career Coaching
$22K avg salary gainSupport continues past graduation: ATS-ready résumé rebuild, LinkedIn overhaul, behavioral and technical interview preparation, live mock interviews, and offer negotiation. Students average six weeks to an offer and three times more interviews.
Explore career coaching →Hundreds of Five-Star Reviews and Counting
ConnectPrep is rated 5.0 across Google, Thumbtack, and Care.com, with reviews independently verified by Trustindex. Every result below comes from a real ConnectPrep family.
- Google 5.0 ★
- Thumbtack Top Pro, 10 yrs
- Care.com 5.0 ★
- Verified by Trustindex
“ConnectPrep has been incredible. I raised my SAT score to a 1580. Bethany showed me how to deconstruct each section of the test, and their resource guides go far beyond anything I received from school.”
TJ Tyler
SAT 1580 · Cornell, Columbia, Yale
“Chris was outstanding with test prep, helping our son raise his SAT score by over 200 points. Jeremy guided us through every step of college advising, leading to acceptances at Georgetown, Rice, and Emory with significant merit scholarships.”
Abbey
SAT +200 · Georgetown, Rice, Emory
“Elena was outstanding: honest, encouraging, and she knew exactly how to push my son. He was admitted to Michigan’s Ross School of Business, his first choice, along with UVA, WashU, and NYU Stern.”
Rajiv Nair
College admissions · Michigan Ross
— FREE CONSULTATION
Your Student's Best SAT Score
Starts in Chicago North Shore.
Talk with ConnectPrep founder Jeremy Fine about your student’s current SAT score, target colleges, and timeline. We’ll recommend an honest path — whether that includes ConnectPrep or not.
Call (914) 288-5718 · [email protected] · the Chicago North Shore & online nationwide
ConnectPrep’s Chicago North Shore program is part of our broader SAT tutoring service areas — covering Cook County, Westchester, NYC, Northern New Jersey, and online nationwide. · View full SAT prep program