PROGRAMS

SAT I, AP Exam, SHSAT & SSAT

At Concepts and Patterns, we train students to study smart. Each of our SAT I and AP Exam courses begins with coverage of fundamental concepts central to each standardized test. Once a solid conceptual foundation is built, we help students recognize patterns in the test, encouraging them to think like a test-maker. Finally, by working through problem sets and mock exams, we train students to analyze recurrent patterns in their answer choices and reduce errors.

COLLEGE CONSULTING

Entrance to a top university is determined by more than just grades and test scores. We guide our students through every aspect of the admissions process including selecting the right college, brainstorming and editing their personal statement, tailoring the application for each school, crafting a resume, and registering for scholarships and financial aid. This individualized and comprehensive approach helps each student gain the best chance of reaching their dream school.

Open library and homework assistance

At Concepts and Patterns, we recognize the importance of schoolwork in addition to studying for standardized tests. Therefore, every student enrolled in any of our programs is offered complimentary access to our open study library staffed with teaching assistants who help with school work for a variety of subjects.

2019-2023 Results

While some preps focus on only top performers, we ensure that all students perform at their peak.

Results? 92% of our students score above 1500 on the SAT I, and

94% get perfect scores in the SAT II subject tests.

“Every student counts.”

2025 spring ProgramS

What makes our program effective

• Thorough coverage of fundamental concepts

• Extra help sessions at no charge

• Strikes and bonus incentive system

• Score improvement guarantee

volunteer service

C&P is a certifying organization of the President's Volunteer Service Award, an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) administered by Points of Light. Through a shared mission of inspiring more to answer the call to service, the President's Volunteer Service Award celebrates the impact we can all make in bettering our communities and our world. 

The President's Volunteer Service Award recognizes United States citizens and permanent residents of the United States that have achieved the required number of hours of service over a 12-month time period (July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020), or, for the Lifetime Award, more than 4,000 cumulative service hours over a lifetime.

For each of these awards, individuals are recognized according to the following award criteria.

• Young Adults Ages 16-25

  Bronze: 100 – 174 service hours 

  Silver: 175 – 249 service hours 

  Gold: 250+ service hours 

• Teens Ages 11-15

  Bronze: 50 – 74 service hours 

  Silver: 75 – 99 service hours 

  Gold: 100+ service hours 

Please contact us for more information.

Click here to PVSA website

About Us

Phillip Ha

Phillip Ha is the founding director of Concepts and Patterns. Phillip oversees all programmatic aspects of the academy, develops the standardized test prep course curriculum, and teaches the foundational SAT I & AP classes. With more than 18 years of teaching and mentoring experience, Phillip has guided over 950 students in New York and Virginia, helping them gain entry into their dream colleges, including Stanford, MIT, Harvard, Yale, and Columbia University. Over the years, Phillip has mastered the art of test-taking, having scored in the 99th percentile of the SAT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and DAT. Prior to founding Concepts and Patterns, Phillip was a cancer researcher at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and worked in the patent field at Covington and Burling, the largest law firm in Washington D.C.

Dr. Ji Chang

Dr. Ji Chang is a co-founder of Concepts and Patterns and directs the college admissions program. Ji is also an Assistant Professor at the New York University College of Global Public Health (click here). With more than 16 years of teaching and mentoring experience, Ji combines her passion for youth with insights from the field of higher education. Ji has a Ph.D. in Public Administration from New York University, an M.S. in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University, and a B.A. in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley.