I had the pleasure of working with Stuart Park on both GMAT prep and MBA applications. While he was incredibly helpful on both fronts from a technical standpoint, what truly shined was his upbeat and encouraging attitude and demeanor during a tedious and stressful process. If you feel like you're missing something on one or both of these fronts, he is the consultant that will help you find and fill any and all gaps you might have. GMAT Prep - I had previously gone through the full Manhattan Prep Interact course. This was a nice introduction to the GMAT as a whole and a good launching point. However, their specific test-taking strategies didn't really resonate with me and I found myself plateauing in the mid-600s after three months of studying. Stuart took the time in our first session to really understand how had I approached the numerous practice tests and the live exam that I had already taken. I truly felt that he tailored the subsequent sessions to the key components that I needed to focus on to take my score to the next level. His previous experience working for Veritas as well as his research into the various test prep programs provided a truly aggregated and "best of all worlds" perspective that helped me to improve my score to a 730 (Q48/V42). More importantly, I found myself looking forward to working with him to glean new insights with direct correlation to success on a mentally-challenging exam. Beyond his technical expertise, he is truly a fantastic teacher. MBA Application - Stuart also helped to guide me through the MBA application process. Initially we met just to go over my goals, target schools, and approach to the application. While Stuart did not necessarily have familiarity with my desired profession (albeit it is not one of the more common paths in B-school), this actually worked to my advantage. He brought the perspective of someone from Adcomm who might not also understand my background. He asked leading questions to help me see my profile from the eyes of someone who doesn't know the context and jargon of my industry. Stuart not only helped me to shape my essays, but also offered numerous suggestions and gave lots of feedback on paring my statements down below the maximum word limit. While my friends and family would often provide general feedback or even specific thoughts on what they felt my essays were missing, Stuart took the next step to actually help me re-write the essays to bring the ideas to life. I also worked with Stuart on interview prep. It was great to talk to someone who lives and breathes this process to not only challenge me to think critically about my responses, but also to offer encouragement and support of my ideas and achievements. I truly believe that short of talking with the various schools' Adcomms directly, Stuart is one of the best MBA application resources out there. read more

I starting using Stuart's GMAT private tutoring services in early 2014. After working with Stuart for about 3-4 months, I improved my score to 750! Prior to working with Stuart, I had a score of 680, using the Manhattan GMAT self study program. I felt like I hit a road block studying on my own. Stuart seemed like a good choice given his tenured experience tutoring under other name brand test prep firms. Stuart was extremely helpful by clearly explaining the nuances of harder GMAT questions and concepts. He also offered numerous test taking tips, which helped me manage the pacing of my exam. Additionally, I used Stuart's consulting services for my USC Marshall application. I wanted another pair of eyes to review my essay and resume. He offered several very thoughtful suggestions and comments, which improved my application and helped me get an interview with the school. I am happy to say that I was accepted USC Marshall Full Time MBA program with a full tuition scholarship! I could not have done it without Stuart's help. read more

I'm a very conscientious person with strong study habits. I studied for the GMAT for about eight months and received a 550 on the exam, scoring much lower in the Quantitative section than the Verbal. My first choice school was UCLA and I knew I needed to retake the exam to increase my chances of being accepted. Prep courses run about $1,500 or more, but with Simply Brilliant Prep I was able to customize our tutoring sessions and review just the material that I was the weakest in. I was able to bring specific problems that I just did not understand, even after reading the answers hundreds of times. Stuart was able to phrase the answers in a couple different ways until it would finally click with me. He taught me how to recognize and approach certain problems. I found this to be invaluable. Through customizing the sessions, I also saved a lot of money versus paying a flat fee for a prep course. I retook the GMAT three months later and increased my score 110 points! I received a 660 and increased my score in all 3 sections (Analytical Writing, Verbal and Quantitative). I also recently received my acceptance from UCLA! Stuart gave me the quantitative help that I needed, along with the confidence to get the score that I knew I was capable of getting. Along with being very smart, Stuart is a great teacher - which is so important. He's very flexible with scheduling and his sessions are totally customizable. Stuart's tutoring sessions gave me the edge I needed to get the score I needed. read more

Having taken the GMAT once, and not achieving the score I wanted, I knew I needed to get more personalized instruction to really fill the gaps. Stuart really assisted in walking through my logic and seeing where I could correct flaws. For quant, it was general help in certain areas. Regarding Verbal, I was getting a new flawless RC and CR, but got 2/14 correct on SC...which obviously depressed my score on that end. After more practice, I was able to sustain the same RC and CR, and consistently hit 40+ on practice and the actual exam. Essentially, I have no reservations recommending Stuart, and know you'll get the same patient service and instruction that I received. read more

After taking a 6-week online course and multiple practice exams, I was still struggling with my quantitative score and unable to break 600 or get above 40 percentile on quant on my practice exams. Stuart's instruction was exactly what I needed to get over this hurdle. Rather that sticking to a predetermined, one-size-fits-all approach to study, together we identified my weaknesses and tailor-made a program that would address these issues. Quickly we found that my score on practice exams jumped easily 50 points when I was able to keep my time on each question down to 2 minutes. Working off of this, we focused less on studying each concept and making sure I knew EVERYTHING, and more on tips and tools that would help me keep pace on my exam. We went over easy properties that, if I could commit to memory, would save me precious seconds on each questions. Maybe even most importantly, we looked at ways to quickly eliminate some answer possibilities on difficult questions, hopefully giving me a 50% chance of guessing the right answer and moving on, rather than wasting 4 or 5 minutes trying to answer the question as I was doing previously. For my particular situation, this was a great strategy: I was just looking to improve, afterall, not get a perfect score. This approach, coupled with a strict study regimen, of course, worked wonders. I took my test this past weekend, and scored a 710 - a full 130 points higher than any score I had before studying with Stuart. Not only that, but my Quant score jumped from 40th percentile to 77th percentile. I highly recommend Stuart as a tutor, especially if you are looking for a tutor that can customize your study to your personal strengths and weaknesses. read more

I took the GMAT twice before seeking out a private tutor. I took a Kaplan course and it did not boost my score as I had hoped. I needed to increase my GMAT score 60 points. Stuart is thorough and EXTREMELY patient. I am HORRIBLE with numbers and a bit self conscious when it comes to math problems. Stuart was patient and VERY supportive. I took the GMAT for the third and final time and was able to improve my score exactly 60 points! I couldn't have done it without Stuart as my private tutor! read more

If you're taking (or re-taking) the GMAT, you need to call Stuart at Simply Brilliant prep. I took Stuart's 4-week online GMAT prep course and supplemented my prep with a few of his individual tutoring sessions. Stuart provides focused, personalized attention that is tailored to those areas where your preparation will produce tangible improvements in your GMAT score. Don't waste your time and money with costly one-size-fits all test prep mills. Spend your time and money wisely. Choose Stuart. With Stuart's help, I managed to increase my GMAT score by 80 points and gained admission to my first choice top-tier MBA program. read more

If you are going to hire a tutor, hire Stuart! After trying multiple other test prep companies and studying for close to a year without reaching my target GRE score, I can say without a doubt that Stuart's help and expertise is what made the difference for me. With his guidance, I was able to not only beat my target score, but get into my dream school! In addition to being extremely bright, focused, professional, and knowledgeable, Stuart is kind and patient. He really understands the emotional and mental side of the test prep game, one of the most critical pieces of this process to help you unlock your full potential. When I was stressed and anxious (many times), Stuart was there to not only provide practical, actionable, no-BS advice, but was also so positive, encouraging, and motivating, which was very refreshing and appreciated. Stuart's thoughtful and thorough approach makes it clear that he truly wants to help you achieve the best possible outcome in your MBA journey - I highly recommend Stuart! read more

I highly recommend Stuart for those seeking 1-on-1 assistance with their GMAT studies. Self study was only able to get me so far, and I had hit a wall where I was convinced I had reached my potential. One study session with Stuart obliterated that notion, and I was able to exceed my "best case" scoring expectations. The real value add comes from having an experienced pro that is able to analyze your problem solving abilities in real time, and diagnose how you can do things better and faster in ways that fit your idiosyncrasies. I was only able to spend 2 hours with Stuart, but I can say that it was easily worth 10 hours of self study. More importantly, he is able to give you psychological insights into why you aren't improving that a self study guide will never be able to provide you. Stuart is extremely personable, which makes a 2-hour session feel like 30 minutes. He's committed to keeping updated on your progress long after you leave his classroom. Finally, its a huge confidence boost to know you prepared with the best. I was sure that I did everything within my means to prepare for the test, and I am thankful for the results. read more

I first took my GMAT in 2007 after completing a prep course, but was not happy with my score (510). Now, two years later, I decided to give GMAT another shot. 6 weeks before I retook the GMAT, I realized I needed more help in order to achieve a solid score, and that's when I found Stuart. I met with Stuart for 2 hours a week until my test date, and I could not have been more pleased with the help I received. Stuart is professional, knowledgeable, and most important of all, personable. While it may be easy for one to find a tutor who is knowledgeable, in my opinion, it is not always easy to find someone who is knowledgeable AND a pleasure to work with. Stuart answered all of my questions with patience, and while I might have been able to solve a question correctly, he was able to show me how I could improve on my timing by solving it more quickly and efficiently, which is KEY to scoring well on the GMAT. I retook my GMAT last Friday and my score went up 60 points! If you're serious about scoring well on the GMAT, you should invest in Stuart's service. I promise you that you will not be disappointed! THANK YOU STUART! read more

Stuart was an INCREDIBLE help for me when I was applying to B. School. I bought the Veritas prep book set and went throughout those on my own and then did sessions with Stuart a couple times of week to go over those concepts again and go over topics that I was having more trouble with. Stuart definitely added much more than the book provided which was what was the most helpful- the Veritas books provide a good basic lesson but going over it in depth more with Stuart definitely was extremely helpful and definitely translated into a higher score. I also had Stuart help me with my essays for my applications which made a truly incredible difference. He was very prompt in sending back revisions and had great feedback regarding key elements that B. Schools want to see in the essays. I was also under a major time crush getting my essays done and he was very sensitive and prompt with helping me get it in on time. I have had many tutors in my academic career for SAT, AP, etc. and Stuart has been by far the most helpful and most straightforward in terms of going over things that are going to translate into better results. Also, if you are looking for some advice on applications/essays, I would HIGHLY recommend hiring him to help. I really don't think I would have gotten into Pepperdine without his help. read more

You have to go to Stuart if you want to do well on your GMAT! I drove four hours round trip once a week to see Stuart just because I knew he was the best. All in all, after only four sessions I was able to raise my score 40 points! Before I had met Stuart, I had taken a veritas course and self studied from the Manhattan books. I had been studying for the gmat for over a year and had hit a brick wall with my score. Within the first session with Stuart, I learned so many concepts that I had not fully grasped from the books or the class. Stuart is a wonderful tutor because he is able to simplify the process so you understand the concepts and feel comfortable answering even the hardest questions. The best part about Stuart is that he truly is a GMAT genius! Not only has he scored in the 99% on the test, but also he knows all the GMAT prep book inside and out so he can give you the best strategies. Stuart pays close attention to your strengths and weaknesses and teaches you how to mentally conquer the GMAT. It is rare to find tutor who is intelligent, helpful, motivating and who genuinely wants you to do your best. I only wish I had met Stuart earlier in my GMAT process. I would highly recommend Stuart to anyone taking the GMAT. read more