I have two kids who are currently in 9th and 12th grade. Barun Academic Center has been a part of their lives since they were in elementary school. As a result, both kids have a solid foundation in math and their writing skills are outstanding. My freshman kid is in pre-calculus right now, and says that class is the easiest of all of the subjects. My 12th grader finished High School Calculus AB and BC (by junior year) getting one A and 3x A+ for those 4 semesters. Because of all of the supplemental math drilling from Baruns, she said calculus, was pretty easy for her. In addition, my eldest kid's writing skills have grown so much through the years while taking various writing classes at Baruns. Baruns has outstanding teachers for writing (among their favs are Stark, Hughes and Jelnick) as well as the math subjects (S. Yoon, et., al). My eldest was able to publish a clinical case report study in a medical journal as a senior in high school. The medical Doctor who reviewed the article prior to publishing, was amazed at her writing process. Much of this development in her writing ability, we attribute to her years spent in supplemental writing classes provided by Baruns. My kids have also benefited from other classes offered such as SAT prep (boot camp), Biology and Chemistry prep. All helpful in allowing my kids to feel comfortable in those classes when taking them in high school. The principal, Ms. Yuri will treat your kids as one of her own, once you are enrolled in any class. She is tenacious, yet loving and will never let your kids slide in to mediocrity, academically. We appreciate all that she has done for our kids and our family. read more

I attended Barun academy from 5 to 18 years old and I can say that it has prepared me for the rigorous academic courses not only in high-school /middle-school but throughout a great university as well. The majority of my time at Barun consisted of Writing and Math courses throughout elementary, middle, and high school. The preparation and high expectations of success worked excellently to make kids like myself become high achieving especially in the academically competitive city of Irvine. It helped me excel in APPAS, GATE, honors, and bridge exams. In addition, the SAT courses did an amazing job of familiarizing me with the test and preventing test fatigue by having us take constant practice exams. I was very satisfied with my scores and grades throughout my education and I can not thank Barun, specifically Yuri (the lady in charge), enough. Yuri wants the best for her students and this was portrayed through her understanding, caring, yet firm personality. She stresses the importance of learning and this is also representative through the teachers selected for the academy. Barun was different from the other prep centers because of the level of unmatched dedication and involvement that Yuri had in every single student's path. Besides all of my achievements, Barun revives a happy childhood memory in retrospect. I highly recommend checking out Barun because it is truly unique. read more

Though she may seem intimidating at first, the principal, Ms. Yuri, is passionate about kids, learning, and helping them achieve well. This tutoring center lays down a great foundation for kids to build study habits and help families stay informed on the ever evolving and highly competitive sphere of higher education. She has given our family invaluable advice on college apps and even grad apps. We are happy to support and recommend Barun to anyone! read more

Great place for kids to develop learning skills. Their staff is very helpful and made it interesting for kids to learn.

To be honest, I do not want to write a generic review. A year ago, I was hesitant to write anything. Having now spent one year at UCSD, I understand that going to Barun was a special phase of my teenage years. Let me explain: I was struggling with my English in 7th grade when my my mom (being the caring person that she is) signed me up for an English course at Barun. I absolutely hated the fact that I had to go to Barun! For two years I took English courses at Barun and read a multitude of HIGH SCHOOL/COLLEGE LEVEL novels. I was in 7th and 8th grade during this time of my life. Before I entered high school, I took a geometry course with Mr. Jelnick at Barun. To this day, I don't believe I have found a better math teacher. Mr. Jelnick was exceptional, and I am glad I had the honor of sitting in his lectures. I returned the following summers and took an algebra and a precalculus course with him. As a result, I received an A+ in all math courses I took in high school (I ended HS as a valedictorian, 4.5 GPA). About SAT prep: It is absolutely crucial to get a good score on the SAT if you have any ambitions of being admitted into a highly competitive school. With Barun's fleet of lecturers, all students are equipped with enough ammunition to not be afraid of the SAT. 1) Mrs. Meyer is VERY helpful in teaching you crucial writing techniques. She does this by helping you spot mistakes on the SAT. The techniques she taught me in 11th grade still come into play when I write 27 page papers in college. 2) Mr. Yoon is no doubt the most interesting and honest mathematician I have been acquainted with. Because you are tested on math that you should already have background in, Mr. Yoon's lecture is a close second to Mr. Jelnick's (and I am a mathematics major who has had exposure to many extraordinary math teachers/professors). It is only fair that I crown Mr. Jelnick as the best math teacher because he taught me "new" material, whereas Mr. Yoon taught me how to deal with "SAT tricky" material. I call Mr. Yoon an honest man because when he shows you solutions, he is not afraid to show you how to take a shortcut (thus, he admits that he is not "taking the long way"). This helps especially in a test like the SAT, where timing really matters! 3) Mrs. Yuri Chung complements Mrs. Meyers flawlessly. She supplies her students with more than 5,000 vocabulary words that show up time and time again. Not only do her vocabulary words show up on the SAT exam, they will make ANY human sound intelligent and well educated. Yuri will also help you spot the mistake I made in the last sentence! Barun's arsenal of extraordinary and exceptional teachers make learning accessible and easy. You can build your future at Barun (for me, I would not be attending UCSD if it wasn't for Barun). Over the years, Yuri has become my mentor and someone I regularly meet with for advice. After spending some time in college, I understand now that Barun is worth its weight times infinity in gold. read more

Barun Academic Center - YOU CAN'T DIVIDE BY ZERO. I still have this pic, from July 6 2016. Mr. Yoon's lectures were always intellectually challenging. - Test Preparation Near Me - Irvine, California

After 8 years of being a student at Barun, I can truly say this experience not only changed the way I learn and study in class, but it changed my attitude on life. Mrs. Yuri has a passionate drive with everything that she does and she instills it into every student. Whether it's the math placement prep courses, the writing classes, or the SAT boot camp, the courses at Barun are definitely worth it and the teachers are amazing. The summer math courses helped me prepare for the class I would take that fall and get a head start. In my writing classes, I was able to hone my essay writing skills and literature analysis. The teachers give helpful feedback on the essays which I believe helped me become a better reader and writer. You definitely have to put in the work, but it was well worth the effort. I was able to maintain straight A's in high school and score 1500 on my SAT on the first try. While six hour SAT practice every Saturday morning was tough, it became easier every week. As a kid, pages and pages of fraction packets felt impossible, but again, they become easier every time. That is really the core of what I learned through Barun: constant practice and endurance. I am incredibly grateful for my experience at Barun and the way it shaped my academic experience, from middle school, through high school, and finally, the daunting college application process. I could not have done it without Barun and Mrs.Yuri! read more

I am so glad I sent my kids to Barun Academy. School is amazing and staff is so kind. I highly recommend Barun Academy to everyone.

Best tutoring in Irvine! Mrs. Yuri provided me with so many resources, and guided us through the college application process. She is amazing, and I highly recommend them to everyone. read more

We registered for a reading/writing program about a year ago for my 5th Grader with a $1000 fee. I and my friend sent both of our boys together. Complete mistake! Boyes hated it! The Indian lady teacher did nothing special. Read the textbook in class and then did the worksheet! No discussion, so review, no nothing! Boys were good at school and A students in reading/writing. We thought this class can give them some extra challenge but nothing was special for over a thousand of the dollar! read more

I went to get some information about the center. The lady in the front ( I can't recall her name) made me feel that I am the worst mom in the whole word. Yes, I may not know the system or my kid could be behind but that is why I am here for to learn! The center might be very prestigious with 33 years reputation and many succesful IVY league entries , I have nothing to say about that but as a mom who knows minumum about college education system , I deserved to be informed more in detail with basics. read more

Honestly, there are few people who have been as influential in furthering my education as Yuri (she heads the program). Firstly, being a first generation student, I really had no knowledge about undergraduate education, and had few places to gain it. Her crash course really opened my eyes to critical information that I now realize was very important. Information from this meeting was crucial to my high school success. Yuri does her research diligently and stays up to date with current patterns and statistics, ensuring that you are receiving the most important and relevant information. Trust me, you do NOT want to miss this meeting. Secondly, the design of her courses really works as she promises. I personally raised my score by over 500 points. Looking back, I wish I had been better about doing the homework that was assigned to me, as I know I could have increased my score even more. Thirdly, there is something about how Yuri truly believes in her students and how she expects nothing but excellence from them that really brings out their best. She cares about every single individual and their unique story and background. Yuri goes beyond the call of duty in her care for her students. She enthusiastically answers any and all questions you have, even if it has been several years since being in her course. Not to mention, she still remembered my name. My only regret is that I didn't know about her program and hadn't sought out her insight earlier. Overall, I am very thankful for having enrolled in her SAT program. Yuri and her staff really do a phenomenal job preparing the students in all required areas for the exam. Needless to say, my sister enrolled in the program after my incredible experience and also got a great SAT score. I am now instructing that my youngest brother take her course. My family and I are thankful for this amazing program. read more

My first experience at Barun started when I was in 9th grade. When my mom brought me to the dim lit 'prison,' the dungeon like appearance of the place seemed to melt away after I saw Yuri, the self proclaimed principal of Barun Academy. Her bright cheery personality sucked us into her tutoring service. She put on a facade of being an extremely well educated, experienced tutor; she gaudily-almost in a bragging manner- hung up Ivy League flags in the foyer-as if SHE would be our one way ticket to a brighter future! Anyway, my mom payed the whopping 600$ for the writing class I wanted to attend in order to help my English grade; the classes were a nightmare. The teacher basically read off the same Spark Note analysis of the books-Nectar in a Sieve, Pigs in Heaven, etc- that were part of the curriculum; I personally found this word for word oration of the teacher's lessons since I-being the inquisitive mind I am- wanted to research the book in an in depth fashion and stumbled upon SAME, WORD FOR WORD Spark Notes. So...as a recap, you are paying 600$ for a Spark note translation + an additional 48$ for the four paperback, chapter books that are part of the required reading. Apparently, the books have to be purchased through the school, rather than finding a cheaper alternative at the online Barnes and Noble-Yuri muttered something about standardizing the book. You would think that a staggering charge of 600$ would include all of these charges and expenses. Oh well. At least they give a free linen bag and a white binder with our names. Sometimes, if we were lucky, the teachers would give out dum dum lolipops as a snack. I am surprised they didn't charge us for the air we breathed; or even billed us for sitting at their desk; 48$ for four books is absolutely ridiculous, from my point of view. Do NOT, under any circumstances pay for these boring, insipid, trite, hackneyed, unsubstantial services; it is a ripoff for 600$-your time and money are better suited at a more well established tutoring service. The tutors at Barun are teachers at High schools who basically tutor there as a second job. And from the long hours of 4 to 6, the school has nothing to offer except tired teachers, who are really overtaxed after their own personally long day of teaching students at their respective high schools. read more

I spent many weekends here preparing for SATs. Even though Yuri imposes a dictatorship on her institution, it worked. The studious ones saw their scores climb steadily and will definitely tell you Barun made a difference. Yes it's expensive, but what tutoring center isn't? I challenge you to find one that won't try to suck the money out of you. They're trying to do a business, not charity work. If you want to save the money, stay at the after school programs at your school. Yuri's really cool and will take extra time out of her class hours to help her students. She offered to critique our college admission essays and it wasn't during class times either. I had randomly phoned in to see if she had time to read mine, and by the time I got there a line had formed already. Even though she charges a s*** load, you can tell she genuinely cares about her students. She read our essays in the lobby and gave us one on one advice. How many tutoring center will do that? Yuri is extremely well educated, something you'll realize as soon as you speak with her. read more

So this review is long overdue. Just to inform all of you guys who are interested in Barun for the SAT prep, it is very hard and grueling, but it is effective! I came in during my sophomore year summer in high school and took the practice test. I scored around a 1400-1500. I don't really remember. However, my score that I submitted to colleges was 2180. This is a huge jump of over 600 points. Without Barun academy, I would have been way too lazy to study vocab words, grammar, and math problems. The thing about the SAT, you can practice it! The more you practice the better your score will be. I know tons of smart people who could only score 1900-2000 by studying on their own. This is a decent score but if they would have went to Barun, they would have easily got into the 2200-2300 range, without a doubt. Yes the course is basically summer long, but it isn't too bad. Sign up with a few friends and it's pretty fun actually. Just make sure you do your homework and study the vocab because if you don't then the Prep course won't be as effective. And if you study hard enough then your junior year summer you can just chill out and relax and never have to worry about the SATs again! So overall I definitely recommend the SAT prep course simply because it worked for me! And I was one of the average students in the class. They expect you to at least score a 2100 on the SAT. My sister who also took the course scored a 2340! I'm pretty sure she scored a 1600-1700 on the first practice test. Now, I go to UC Berkeley and she goes to Stanford so it ended up working for us. Talk to Yuri. She knows what she is doing. She sends people to top rank universities like nobody else. Cheers read more

I took several classes here and it really helped me in school. Before going to high school, I took an English class during the summer. We read books and wrote essays, just like we would do in school. If I didn't take that summer class, then I would have struggled a lot in my English class. Also Yuri, the director, is very helpful and honest. She would counsel me what classes I should take and how to prepare for college. She also helped me write my personal statements for my applications. She also cares a lot about her students. She knows every students' names and asks how we are doing. I know if I need any advise or help I could always go to her for help. read more

You can't go wrong with Mrs .Yuri. If u want your kids to succeed in school come check this place out. My son said it was the worse summer of his life. And then the straight A's and he realized 2years later it was this place that shape his academics. Your also going to love the yearly Saturday college info day. That speech Mrs Yuri provides is not only valuable. But a wake up call. Bottom line Mrs Yuri is very resourceful. My son was not the best student. He never had a "I want to be able to be on top." After the long hours of math homework over summer and hours of reading and figuring things out. He now learned to get to the point. He sharpened up. I mean Getting A's became easy. Thanks to Barun. It open our eyes how to succeed. So Son realized Barun helped allot even we did this after school during the school years. What people don't know is that public school in Irvine will have guidelines. Minimum guidelines that will not be able to qualify for higher education. To qualify to top 50 universities requires much more. Thanks to Mrs Yuri we found out what needs to be heard. What ever grade your child is in. come check it out. If the phone puts you in voicemail just be patient and Mrs Yuri will make the time. She treats your kids as if it was her own. This place will make a difference for you as parents and most importantly our kids. Brighter future. My son asks me that he wants to attend Barun this summer 2019. Amazing. And so proud. Thank You Mrs Yuri. read more

Let me start off by saying that I was asked to write a review years ago when my youngest brother went for tutoring but kept putting it off for various reasons. This in no way influences my review. I actually mention it because it just goes to show how much Yurie really cares about each student. After so many years, she still remembered who I was. ( And to be fair, I don't think they had a Yelp page when I went). I've graduate college a few years back so my memory of the SAT prep is a little hazy. But that might be a good thing because it just goes to show that the classes really aren't that bad. I remember there was a LOT of homework and things to do but in the end that's why you're going there. Preparing for the SATs is basically just practice, practice, practice and Barun pretty much forces you to do this. And you know, what? Their methods actually worked. I took several SAT prep courses before (at least 3 I believe) and while they helped a little, I got stuck at around 1700-1800. Barun pushed me up past the 2100 score and that was really want I really needed. Barun also offers other classes. I took their personal statement writing class and it was super helpful in getting those college admission papers finished early. The class helps you realize what those letters are for and how to best make yourself appear like a viable and interesting candidate to universities. They definitely help you bring out your own voice and personality in your writing. I will say one last thing about Yurie. She was an awesome and sweet woman who always patiently waited for my parents (usually my dad) to pick me up. I was that kid who was (almost) always the last person to leave because we lived pretty far away and my parents were usually busy. She didn't seem to mind much having to wait up to 45 minutes for someone to pick me up. And it was always really nice talking to her. Yuri is truly dedicated to teaching children. read more

I moved to the U.S almost 3 years ago as a junior in high school and I needed an immense amount of help to get my reading and writing skills to a par level. When I came to Braun, not only did I do that, but I also was able to raise my SAT score by almost 600 points. Mrs. Yuri knows every single one of her students and exactly what they need to do to improve. Frankly, I think it's amazing how she manages to do this. She has helped me become more independent. I now attend a great University and have tested out of most English classes. I, definitely, would not be in the position I am in right now if it weren't for her guidance. read more

Ms. Yuri really cares for her students. She helped my son in his SAT and college applications. I couldn't thank you enough.

Ms. Yuri is brilliant, compassionate and caring. She helped me with my kids and has made a world of difference. Ms.Yuri will guide you to excellence to meet your goals. It's about helping your kids survive beyond college and being a successful adult. read more

Barun helped me get almost a perfect SAT score (1580/1600) back in the day. Admittedly, it was about 16 years ago in the year of our lord 1999-2000, but the results still stick out in my failing old man memory. I also achieved a perfect score in SAT II Writing 800/800 and a pretty high math score after a few months here. Did we like it as kids? Absolutely not--I wished I was at home playing video games instead of being hounded by Yuri to do this or that. Even with an ear-to-ear grin, we all thought she was evil. And good test scores did not automagically admit me to the Ivy League or make me a successful person. Could I have found test score success elsewhere or on my own? Maybe. But when so many things in life don't do what's advertised on the tin, it's refreshing to think back to Barun Academy and feel good that (my parents) got value for their money. read more

Ms. Uri is amazing! Barun helped both of my daughters dramatically improve their SAT scores. The program is a lot of work, but it is definitely worth it. My daughters are now both at top schools and are very grateful to Mrs. Uri for helping them achieve their goals. read more

I have been taking my son and daughter to Barun for almost eight years now. My daughter started going there since fourth grade, and I saw a big change in her writing and academic skills. Later on, we signed up my son as well and he also improved in all aspects. Ms. Yuri has helped my daughter tremendously with her transitions through elementary, middle school, high school, and now when she is applying to colleges. When we took her to the SAT program, it paid off when my daughter received higher than a 1500 on her first attempt after taking the class. Ms. Yuri is knowledgeable, resourceful and gives genuine support. We highly recommend Barun. read more

I have been a student at Barun for 11 years now: as a first grader multiplying mixed fractions and dividing decimals, to a sixth grader expanding his literary toolbox to include forms such as syntax and diction, and just recently as a high school student preparing for the SAT I. I'd like to talk about this last topic specifically. Before entering Yuri's SAT I Preparatory course, I took an SAT I diagnostic test in the June of my junior year. My score was 1850. While taking Yuri's SAT I course - reviewing vocabulary terms, mathematical concepts, and reading diverse literary passages ranging from the 17th century to contemporary works - I saw my score improve on a sturdy and steady basis. After 8 weeks of preparation, I took the SAT I in October and received a 2370. Needless to say, I am happy with my score. Barun is efficiently and effectively run. Whenever I was absent - whether it be due to water polo practice or a performance at Carnegie Hall - Yuri would always have my homework and classwork ready for me when I came in next. If I couldn't come in for several weeks due to an illness or unforeseen circumstances, then Yuri would always mail home my homework and classwork. I appreciate that the teachers at Barun want to help their students grow and thrive academically and as independent thinkers. They stay after class to answer questions and help each student identify and correct their respective weaknesses - mine was dipole movements and their respective calculations in addition to writing sharp and concise conclusion paragraphs. It's only now that I've realized: learning truly does take practice. I've always seen heavy coursework not just as a challenge, but also as an opportunity to expand my mind with hard work and perseverance - not unlike preparing for a swimming meet or practicing for a performance. I wouldn't have learned this anywhere other than at Barun. I highly recommend attending. read more

For nearly 7 years, I have attended Barun Academic Center. And let me tell you, Barun has been a solid investment. I have taken Critical Writing courses from sixth grade onwards, math courses including Algebra 2, Geometry, and Calculus BC AP, advanced science courses like Chemistry AP, and the SAT I Bootcamp. Having been a student of all of these classes, I wholeheartedly recommend Barun to anyone and everyone looking to prep for next semester's material, to supplement their education during the school year, or to boost their SAT score. My SAT I score was an okay-but-not-competitive 1710 when I started. Knowing that my score needed work, I signed up for Barun's SAT Bootcamp. Eleven weeks of intensive preparation later, I received a 2370. Because of my 660 point increase in my SAT score, I was able to gain admission to Columbia University (my dream school!). What did those critical eleven weeks at Barun entail? -8 Weeks of Critical Reading, Math, and Writing lectures (including weekly quizzes, homework, and over 5000 vocabulary flashcards) -14 Practice Tests (full-length, with immediate scoring and test review) -20 essays (with individual essay workshops) -Weekly Grammar and Vocabulary Lectures Barun's SAT Bootcamp is not for the easygoing student. However, if you're reading this review and seriously considering Barun, then I'm sure you're willing to work your butt off for a score that can get you to your reach schools. Yuri, the principal of Barun, and all of the teachers (all experienced teachers with proven track records) are certainly more than capable and committed to give you personalized attention and education. If the flu, all-day marching band practice, or tennis meet keeps you from attending your classes at Barun, then your classwork and homework are ready to go when you walk in the door the next time. If you're struggling with antiderivatives, electrolytic and galvanic cells, or even establishing a great hook for the SAT essay introduction, teachers are more than happy to sit with you before/after class and help pinpoint why and how you can improve. Barun has the resources and support to help you succeed academically. Work hard, persevere, and sign up for classes to see real results. I highly recommend Barun. read more

Barun was the perfect place for me to go for SAT prep. I knew that I would never be able to get myself to study on my own, and other SAT prep places did not give me as many tools to succeed. Yuri was great at motivating me to continue working hard week after week. She gave us countless practice problems and vocab words to study and they were incredibly helpful on the actual exam. The endless hours of SAT prep paid off, and helped me improve my score by nearly 800 points. I ended up only missing one question on the SAT in the Critical Reading section, and I couldn't have done it without Barun. read more

I learned about Barun Academic Center from my brother, who also took a class to improve his SAT score. Nearing the end of my junior year, before I attended SAT courses at Barun, I took my first SAT test. "Wait a minute, you took your first SAT at the end of your JUNIOR year?" Yes, I did, but I'll get to the point soon enough. When I took the test, I had no background knowledge about the SAT except from a meager PSAT test that I took a year prior. From the test, I received 1180 out of the 1600. It was not a terrible score for me at the time, but I knew I had to work on something to increase it soon. So, to seek help, I attended the SAT courses Barun offered. I sacrificed my 2018 summer to join Ms. Yuri, Mrs. Myers, and Mr. Yoon in hopes to learn tactics and essential skills. I felt reluctant to study vocabulary words and finishing homework assignments, but Ms. Yuri taught us how important it is to keep our minds active and rolling. And it worked. By the time I finished the October test, my score boosted 200 points. I nearly had a perfect score on my math section (790). Barun allows me to surpass my own expectations through ambitious dedication and straightforward guidance. I reached the 96th percentile nationally, and I am graciously satisfied with the score. Knowing that I began with a low score with such a limited amount of time, it is relieving to know that Barun can guide me into the SAT in depth. read more

Don't think this center is good with higher grade education. Quality is going down, feel like a waste of money, and they charge ridiculous amounts!! read more

Barun Academy, in particular Yuri, changed our lives. I realize that sounds "over-the-top" and cliche, but it's the honest truth. We are a homeschooling family and like most independent, non-conforming and self reliant parents of home schooled children we were taking our own path. It was a fluke that we stumbled upon Barun for our eldest's SAT prep. My son and I sat in Yuri's first college talk, I with much apprehension thinking their must be a better way and my son either scared or bored that his summer was suddenly going to be spent doing the least exciting thing imaginable. None the less, I signed him up and as any skeptic, began my own quest to discover whether Yuri was spouting truth or just selling snake oil. My research and diligence lead me to conclude that Yuri is correct and the instructors at Barun teach for one purpose - to help your student succeed. Based on her wisdom, I began giving college prep seminars to our home school community, my son attends UC Berkeley as a Computer Science Major and a year later we signed my daughter up as well; she now attends RISD. We have another daughter in 7th and a son in 6th - both will attend Barun in due time. My daughter already has her eyes set on Stanford. Had we, as a family, continued down our previous path none of the preceding accomplishments and dreams would have occurred without Barun. I cannot thank Yuri and Barun enough....it truly was a life changing experience. read more

Barun is an ideal tutoring institute for all level students, from elementary up to High School. Student can be ahead of their pack in early classes and have confident in their studies. The director, Yuri, cared about the students and I personally really appreciated Yuri. She is very approachable and is very hands-on with students. My two daughters studies at Barun for the past six years. If your son/daughter is struggling with studies at school, I definitely recommend Barun to your attention read more

I have been a student at Barun for 11 years now: as a first grader multiplying mixed fractions and dividing decimals, to a sixth grader expanding his literary toolbox to include forms such as syntax and diction, and just recently as a high school student preparing for the SAT I. I'd like to talk about this last topic specifically. Before entering Yuri's SAT I Preparatory course, I took an SAT I diagnostic test in the June of my junior year. My score was 1850. While taking Yuri's SAT I course - reviewing vocabulary terms, mathematical concepts, and reading diverse literary passages ranging from the 17th century to contemporary works - I saw my score improve on a sturdy and steady basis. After 8 weeks of preparation, I took the SAT I in October and received a 2370. Needless to say, I am happy with my score. Barun is efficiently and effectively run. Whenever I was absent - whether it be due to water polo practice or a performance at Carnegie Hall - Yuri would always have my homework and classwork ready for me when I came in next. If I couldn't come in for several weeks due to an illness or unforeseen circumstances, then Yuri would always mail home my homework and classwork. I appreciate that the teachers at Barun want to help their students grow and thrive academically and as independent thinkers. They stay after class to answer questions and help each student identify and correct their respective weaknesses - mine was dipole movements and their respective calculations in addition to writing sharp and concise conclusion paragraphs. It's only now that I've realized: learning truly does take practice. I've always seen heavy coursework not just as a challenge, but also as an opportunity to expand my mind with hard work and perseverance - not unlike preparing for a swimming meet or practicing for a performance. I wouldn't have learned this anywhere other than at Barun. I highly recommend attending. read more

I enrolled in Barun for SAT prep in the summer of my junior year and will never regret it. Although the thick homework packets and copious vocabulary to be learned may seem tedious, they are indeed efficacious. They are formatted just like the SAT, and working on these same types of questions every week enables you to fully understand and implement the quick-and-easy techniques taught. Also, every Friday is dedicated to taking an actual practice SAT exam, and tracking your progress, even if minimal, every week provides the needed confidence for the actual test day. The difference between my SAT score before and after enrolling was around 700 points! Rigorous practice, which can only be received through a prep course like the one offered at Barun, can be accounted for such a significant jump in scores. To enforce that all work is legitimately done is the awesome Principle of Barun Academic Center, Yuri. You are greeted by her inviting smile right after entering, but don't think that she's easy-going and/or just cares about attracting students. NO! She is very attentive to each one of her students, knowing everyone in the SAT boot-camp's names by the second day amid all her other tutoring students'. She is the one who not only administers the practice exams every Friday, but also takes the time at the end to go over student's questions and explain to them why a particular answer is the best answer. She has high expectations for all her students. If anyone is not doing their very best, she will let them know, pushing them - along with everyone else - to realize their best potential. Right off the bat you know she's strict, but this strictness gets the job done! Furthermore, Yuri's genuine helping nature shines when, after you finish with all the SAT prep, she constructively critiques your personal statement drafts. She knows what each college/university wants, and doesn't shy away from crossing your whole draft off if it doesn't meet the requirements. She forces you to think deep within yourself to make your essay truly personal and unique to who you are. In addition, like a friend, she indulges in your excitement when you write an outstanding essay shows how proud she is of you. She takes the time to meticulously read the essays of everyone who comes in, and oftentimes nearing the deadlines, there are crowds of previous students now applying to college in her front office. She made my own personal statements a 100X better (I'm not exaggerating), after much critiquing, but the final product was totally worth it! All in all, Barun provides you with a toolbox of helpful techniques to assure success in the SAT and the potent principal Yuri further propels you to success. In guiding you to write expressive but succinct personal statements, she augments your chances of getting into good universities, brightening your future. read more

Barun is exactly what the typical Irvine student needs to pull ahead of the pack and become confident in his or her studies. My daughter took writing and math when she was in first grade, and her skills improved by leaps and bounds. I personally really appreciated Yuri, the director. She was very approachable and was very hands-on with the students. I could tell that she cared about the students. All tutoring services are an extra expense, but when you're in a cutthroat school district like IUSD, you have to do everything you can to help your kids stay on course and hopefully, pull ahead. I thought Barun did that for my child and I'm signing her up for the summer session. read more

For the past ten years, my three children have been enrolled in various summer classes at Barun Academy. The programs never disappoint us because they provided help and insight towards the rigor of the upcoming coursework. All three children have done very well thanks to the extra help from Barun. It is definitely money well spent. Yuri is very well versed with all aspects of education and has a lot of tips to help our kids get ahead of the pack in a very competitive Irvine environment. Yuri's energy and genuine passion permeates through her work. She really cares about these kids at Barun. Our sincere thanks to Yuri and Barun Academy. read more

Miss Yuri is an angel. I've been with her ever since I was a freshman and she helped me all the way to my college applications. She truly has a loving heart and wants the best for her students. To me, she has become another member of my family and not only cared about how I was doing academically, but most importantly how I was doing in maintaining my physical and mental health in the midst strenuous high school schedule. Words can never describe the gratitude I have more Miss. Yuri and Barun Academic Center for preparing me for college and beyond in life. I highly recommend that you take advantage of this opportunity and trust in Barun Academic Center to help you grow mentally and become the best person you can be. read more

When I first enrolled my two oldest children into Barun Academy, I did not realize what a great impact it would have on them! My first, utmost priority has always been my children's education, and Yuri, the principal at Barun Academy, made it possible. Through rigorous courses of elementary APAAS, middle school GATE, and high school AP classes, there is not one semester in which I did not seek Yuri's sound, professional advice. Many private college prep advisors charge exorbitant fees for such advice. But Yuri does as a service to her students. She really wants to see her students succeed! She understands an individual student's ability precisely and even advises which classes to take at school. Not only does she give the student's academic advice, she also gives valuable life lessons, which kids tend to listen to better than parents. She is firm, sharp, and has vast knowledge of how to have the upper hand in our highly competitive college admissions process. As Barun helped my two children to be admitted to Ivy League schools, now I completely trust Yuri with my youngest child as well. read more