Stuart Park
Expert GMAT Tutoring from a Harvard Grad with 99th Percentile Scores & Clients at All the Top Business Schools
Palo Alto, CA
Expertise
I specialize in GMAT prep and MBA admissions consulting. Over the past eight years, I have helped many clients achieve 700+ GMAT scores, submit successful MBA applications, and earn merit scholarships at great business schools. I graduated from Harvard with a degree in Applied Math/Economics, and I scored 760 the first time I took the GMAT, with 99th percentile quant and verbal scores.
In addition, I have extensive experience teaching online and in-person for Veritas Prep, one of the "elite" GMAT prep companies, and I have been ranked one of that company's top instructors in the world. I have also tutored 1,000+ GMAT clients in private sessions, including many who have already taken the most popular GMAT courses (Veritas, Manhattan GMAT, Kaplan, Princeton, etc.).
I am the author of the Simply Brilliant GMAT app for the iPad/iPhone. Providing in-depth instruction in the best GMAT data sufficiency strategies, the app can be found in iTunes or the Apple App Store by searching "Simply Brilliant GMAT."
I offer online private tutoring for clients all over the world, and I work with clients at all skill levels. In the last seven years, I've perfected a structured GMAT curriculum that is ideal for working online and that will help you reach your goals as efficiently as possible.
Recent clients have been accepted at top business schools including Stanford, Harvard, Wharton, London Business School, Chicago Booth, MIT Sloan, Northwestern Kellogg, UC Berkeley Haas, Columbia, Dartmouth Tuck, NYU Stern, Michigan Ross, UVA Darden, Yale, Duke Fuqua, UCLA Anderson, Cornell Johnson, Carnegie Mellon Tepper, INSEAD, UT McCombs, UNC Kenan-Flagler, Emory Goizueta, Indiana Kelley, Georgetown McDonough, Notre Dame Mendoza, Washington Foster, Vanderbilt Owen, Arizona State Carey, and USC Marshall among others.
See my complete credentials and dozens of client testimonials at www.simplybrilliantprep.com.
My rates for private tutoring sessions are lower than the rates you'll pay one of the big test prep companies for a tutor with comparable credentials. Private tutoring rates at the "elite" GMAT companies (including Veritas where I've taught for 7+ years) range from US$185/hour to US$225/hour. The elite companies require that their instructors and tutors have 99th percentile GMAT scores. Few of these instructors and tutors, however, have the 8+ years of experience teaching 1,000+ students that I have. The instructors and tutors at Kaplan and Princeton are not required to have 99th percentile GMAT scores. Even still, rates for Kaplan's least experienced private GMAT tutors range from US$143/hour to US$187/hour, and a commitment of 15 to 35 hours is required. At Princeton, rates for the least experienced private GMAT tutors start at US$150/hour, if you commit to an 18-hour package. Rates for tutoring with Princeton's most experienced GMAT tutors are as high as US$300/hour.
Teaching Methods
I conduct sessions online for clients worldwide using GoToMeeting. GoToMeeting is easy to use and free (I pay for the subscription), and it offers great whiteboard tools, PowerPoint sharing, and audio by telephone or through the Internet (VOIP). In our sessions, we can log in to review your practice exams together and identify areas to improve. I also have ebook copies of all the best GMAT books that we can bring up on-screen to review problems together. In the first session, you'll receive a 10-page document with GMAT tips, resources and math review, and we'll work out a plan suited to your needs. Using my comprehensive curriculum, I can either teach you with a structured lesson plan or target specific topics that you request. Overall, we can work together to (1) fill any content gaps you may have (e.g. math, grammar, etc.); (2) help you master the strategies associated with each GMAT question type; and (3) improve your speed / pacing.
Education
- A.B. cum laude from Harvard University in Applied Math / Economics in 1986
Professional History
- Founder at Simply Brilliant Prep in from 2007 - Present
About Me
I was one of the first people ever accepted for a joint MBA and Master's in International Relations at Yale. I did not, however, accept the offer of admission, and I became an entrepreneur in new media instead.
References
(3)
Charles T.
13:50 PM 26/Jun/15
Relationship: Student
Stuart Park of Simply Brilliant truly helped me through the entire b-school application process and is definitely someone I'd recommend working with.
Overall: Stuart helped me get through the entire application process. From GMAT prep, to essay reviews, to interview prep, to connecting me with other students - Stuart was a great partner to help me through an incredibly challenging process. Stuart helped set my mind at ease at a very stressful time for me. Stuart's essay/application assistance in particular was tremendously useful considering how labor intensive this area was for me. I highly recommend Stuart for application assistance of any kind, as well as GMAT assistance and interview practice.
My Background: I live in Denver, CO and came from a non-quantitative background with 5.5+ years of professional experience. I was focused on getting into a Top 20 program. I took a Manhattan GMAT course and was initially scoring in the high 500's. However I needed some more help improving my speed and math score. Additionally, I knew I could use an extra set of eyes on my applications and wanted to find someone with experience with business school applications.
My Prior Frustrations before working with Stuart Park: Before I found Simply Brilliant, I had worked with another professional tutor in math, however was unimpressed with that person's pushiness and general lack of caring. This other tutor never seemed to move at my own pace. He was always eager to setup additional sessions but always seemed to care more about the business (and the money) than the client. Additionally, this previous tutor didn't make an effort to acknowledge or appreciate the previous study tips I had received through Manhattan GMAT, instead insisting that his tactics were far superior. This way of belittling what I had already learned did not help with my progression or general morale.
GMAT Experience with Stuart: I began working with Stuart about 8 months before I took my final GMAT exam. We first focused on question types of the GMAT that I was struggling with. Stuart did a great job of diving deep into specific question types. I liked how he had a lot of the material and books that I already possessed, which made it easy for him to focus on a particular question I was struggling with. He also offered some really helpful suggestions about study technique and test taking strategy (timing, preparation, day of test mindset, etc.) that helped me mentally prepare for such a big test. In the end, I ended up getting a 670 on the GMAT. Because of how great Stuart was to work with on the GMAT, it was an easy choice to continue working with him for essay feedback and application advice.
Essay/Application Experience with Stuart Park: Stuart was especially helpful with reviewing my essays and giving me feedback on them. His flexible schedule and quick turnaround times with feedback were tremendous. I found myself applying to several schools each with a tight deadline. Additionally, I had a full-time job working 45+ hours/week. Stuart recognized this and cleared his plate to work with me at the times I was available. Stuart also took time up-front to understand what I wanted feedback on. I was very particular about the areas I wanted feedback. I wanted to make sure my voice was being represented in my essays. Stuart honored this and did not waste time in areas I was confident in. He also took time to explain his suggestions, which helped me understand where he was coming from.
Other Areas of Assistance: Stuart really went above and beyond to help me get into the schools I was interested in. We had several training sessions on interview preparation. Additionally, Stuart connected me with several students at a variety of schools I was applying to. This came in really handy when trying to research the programs and get to know current students.
Result: I was accepted to Kenan-Flagler Business School (UNC Chapel Hill) and Carroll School of Management (Boston College). BC offered me a $15k/year scholarship. In the end, I decided to attend Kenan-Flagler because the academic offerings aligned more with my interests and because it was a higher ranked program.
Things I really liked about Stuart Park:
- Essay writing suggestions
- Ability to adapt to my learning style
- Ability to give feedback based on what I was looking for
- Flexible schedule
- Competitive rates
- Ability to answer one-off questions
- Eagerness to learn my story and background
- Didn't nickel and dime me
- Genuinely cared about my success!
If you're looking for someone to assist with any part of the business school application process, I highly recommend Simply Brilliant and Stuart Park.
Lincoln W.
16:17 PM 27/Mar/15
Relationship: Student
I had been studying for the GMAT for about four months, and I was consistently testing around 680. Due to the lack of focus in my studying approach, I stopped seeing improvement in my practice test scores. Over the course of two months I did individual sessions and an accelerated group course with Stuart. He is an attentive teacher, and his approach is both strategic and comprehensive. With Stuart's assistance, I managed to get my score up to a 720 on test day, and I am now attending Columbia Business School.
Sam L.
18:58 PM 25/Mar/15
Relationship: Student
Prior to working with Stuart, I used the Manhattan GMAT self study curriculum and got a score of 680. Hoping to boost my score into the 700 range, I underwent the online private GMAT tutoring with Simply Brilliant. After working with Stuart for about 3-4 months, I was able to improve my score to 750, which is directly attributable to Stuart's help. I thought Stuart was a very patient teacher and a clear communicator. His well thought out curriculum and strong teaching skills helped me understand the nuances of harder GMAT questions and concepts. As a result, I was able to fill in gaps that I previously missed during the Manhattan GMAT self study and was able to get the higher score. In my experience, Stuart was very flexible with scheduling and I was able to get on his calendar even with short notice. Within 24 hours after my sessions, Stuart always followed up with practice questions to reinforce the content that we covered previously. Overall, I strongly believe that Stuart's services rivals the big name test prep services. Did I mention that his private sessions are a fraction of the price charged by Veritas and Manhattan GMAT? If you are looking for someone to help you get to the next level, I strongly recommend that you contact Stuart.
Charles T.
13:50 PM 26/Jun/15
Relationship: Student
Stuart Park of Simply Brilliant truly helped me through the entire b-school application process and is definitely someone I'd recommend working with. Overall: Stuart helped me get through the entire application process. From GMAT prep, to essay reviews, to interview prep, to connecting me with other students - Stuart was a great partner to help me through an incredibly challenging process. Stuart helped set my mind at ease at a very stressful time for me. Stuart's essay/application assistance in particular was tremendously useful considering how labor intensive this area was for me. I highly recommend Stuart for application assistance of any kind, as well as GMAT assistance and interview practice. My Background: I live in Denver, CO and came from a non-quantitative background with 5.5+ years of professional experience. I was focused on getting into a Top 20 program. I took a Manhattan GMAT course and was initially scoring in the high 500's. However I needed some more help improving my speed and math score. Additionally, I knew I could use an extra set of eyes on my applications and wanted to find someone with experience with business school applications. My Prior Frustrations before working with Stuart Park: Before I found Simply Brilliant, I had worked with another professional tutor in math, however was unimpressed with that person's pushiness and general lack of caring. This other tutor never seemed to move at my own pace. He was always eager to setup additional sessions but always seemed to care more about the business (and the money) than the client. Additionally, this previous tutor didn't make an effort to acknowledge or appreciate the previous study tips I had received through Manhattan GMAT, instead insisting that his tactics were far superior. This way of belittling what I had already learned did not help with my progression or general morale. GMAT Experience with Stuart: I began working with Stuart about 8 months before I took my final GMAT exam. We first focused on question types of the GMAT that I was struggling with. Stuart did a great job of diving deep into specific question types. I liked how he had a lot of the material and books that I already possessed, which made it easy for him to focus on a particular question I was struggling with. He also offered some really helpful suggestions about study technique and test taking strategy (timing, preparation, day of test mindset, etc.) that helped me mentally prepare for such a big test. In the end, I ended up getting a 670 on the GMAT. Because of how great Stuart was to work with on the GMAT, it was an easy choice to continue working with him for essay feedback and application advice. Essay/Application Experience with Stuart Park: Stuart was especially helpful with reviewing my essays and giving me feedback on them. His flexible schedule and quick turnaround times with feedback were tremendous. I found myself applying to several schools each with a tight deadline. Additionally, I had a full-time job working 45+ hours/week. Stuart recognized this and cleared his plate to work with me at the times I was available. Stuart also took time up-front to understand what I wanted feedback on. I was very particular about the areas I wanted feedback. I wanted to make sure my voice was being represented in my essays. Stuart honored this and did not waste time in areas I was confident in. He also took time to explain his suggestions, which helped me understand where he was coming from. Other Areas of Assistance: Stuart really went above and beyond to help me get into the schools I was interested in. We had several training sessions on interview preparation. Additionally, Stuart connected me with several students at a variety of schools I was applying to. This came in really handy when trying to research the programs and get to know current students. Result: I was accepted to Kenan-Flagler Business School (UNC Chapel Hill) and Carroll School of Management (Boston College). BC offered me a $15k/year scholarship. In the end, I decided to attend Kenan-Flagler because the academic offerings aligned more with my interests and because it was a higher ranked program. Things I really liked about Stuart Park: - Essay writing suggestions - Ability to adapt to my learning style - Ability to give feedback based on what I was looking for - Flexible schedule - Competitive rates - Ability to answer one-off questions - Eagerness to learn my story and background - Didn't nickel and dime me - Genuinely cared about my success! If you're looking for someone to assist with any part of the business school application process, I highly recommend Simply Brilliant and Stuart Park.
Lincoln W.
16:17 PM 27/Mar/15
Relationship: Student
I had been studying for the GMAT for about four months, and I was consistently testing around 680. Due to the lack of focus in my studying approach, I stopped seeing improvement in my practice test scores. Over the course of two months I did individual sessions and an accelerated group course with Stuart. He is an attentive teacher, and his approach is both strategic and comprehensive. With Stuart's assistance, I managed to get my score up to a 720 on test day, and I am now attending Columbia Business School.
Sam L.
18:58 PM 25/Mar/15
Relationship: Student
Prior to working with Stuart, I used the Manhattan GMAT self study curriculum and got a score of 680. Hoping to boost my score into the 700 range, I underwent the online private GMAT tutoring with Simply Brilliant. After working with Stuart for about 3-4 months, I was able to improve my score to 750, which is directly attributable to Stuart's help. I thought Stuart was a very patient teacher and a clear communicator. His well thought out curriculum and strong teaching skills helped me understand the nuances of harder GMAT questions and concepts. As a result, I was able to fill in gaps that I previously missed during the Manhattan GMAT self study and was able to get the higher score. In my experience, Stuart was very flexible with scheduling and I was able to get on his calendar even with short notice. Within 24 hours after my sessions, Stuart always followed up with practice questions to reinforce the content that we covered previously. Overall, I strongly believe that Stuart's services rivals the big name test prep services. Did I mention that his private sessions are a fraction of the price charged by Veritas and Manhattan GMAT? If you are looking for someone to help you get to the next level, I strongly recommend that you contact Stuart.