

SAT PREP & UNIVERSITY TOURS
UTAH & CALIFORNIA
A 22-day SAT Prep Program









SAT Prep & University Tours

Program Details
Dates: | July 12 – August 2 |
Duration: | 22 days |
Tuition: | $6,295* |
Arrive: | Los Angeles, CA |
Depart: | Los Angeles, CA |
*Students are responsible for getting to and from Los Angeles at the beginning and end of the program.
By The Numbers
80 Hours of SAT Prep
3 Full-Length Practice Exams
10 Individual Tutoring Lessons
7 College Campus Visits
4 National Parks and Monuments
3 College Dorm Stays
3 Great Cities
Program Overview
This unique program blends individualized SAT test prep, multiple university admissions tours, and visits to some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the world. Beginning and ending in Los Angeles, California, our unforgettable adventure takes us to Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles and combines visits to some of the United States’ most prestigious universities, exploration of Utah and California’s National Parks, and stops at unbelievable sightseeing locations, all while weaving daily SAT prep into the itinerary.
The SAT has long been the gatekeeper to the most prestigious universities in America, and an elite score on the exam can be a priceless asset to any college application. Your Higher Ground Learning test prep instructor has years of experience, top scores, and a degree from an Ivy League School. But it’s not just about credentials. This entire trip has been designed to deliver world-class preparation under the backdrop of some of America’s most stunning and iconic locations. We’ve created the most desirable classroom imaginable to maximize engagement and leave students with both a mastery of the SAT and lasting memories of adventure and exploration.
Higher Ground Learning
Higher Ground Learning provides the instructors, curriculum, and post-trip engagement for this program. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Higher Ground Learning has been teaching test prep on five different continents for over a decade. The company, led by Executive Director Eric Brown, consistently delivers elite SAT programs to some of the most prestigious international schools in the world. A graduate of Princeton University, Eric and his expert team is constantly innovating their approach to give students the latest in curriculum, diagnostics, and strategies for the best possible chance of success on the ever-evolving SAT. Despite international acclaim, the company hasn’t lost touch with it’s local, independent roots and strives to give each student a customized personal path to maximize results. Eric will be the lead instructor on this trip and will get a chance to work with each student individually for several hours to craft a unique plan to correct specific weaknesses and build on existing strengths. Higher Ground has always prided itself on having enthusiastic, engaging and entertaining instructors, and Eric is the quintessential example.
SAT and University Highlights
- Receive SAT Test Prep with World Renowned Higher Ground Learning Instructors
- 80 Hours of Total Commitment to SAT Instruction and Practice
- Admission Tours of Six Universities Including Stanford, Berkeley, USC, and UCLA
- Take Three Full-length Diagnostic Exams with Detailed Analysis and Breakdown of Student Strengths and Weaknesses
- Receive Dynamic Classroom Instruction Providing a Fantastic Coverage of Specialized Test Content as Well as Proven Strategies for Success.
- Get 8 Hours of Individualized Instruction Giving Students Detailed Attention to Their Specific Needs While Crafting a Personalized Strategy for Optimal Scores
- Post-trip Access to a Proprietary Online Platform with over 2000 Test Questions, Including Detailed Answers
- Post-course Follow-up Session is Accessible from Anywhere in the World to Refine the Perfect Testing Strategy and College Application Approach.
- Get a True College Experience While Staying in Dorms at Some of the Nation’s Top Universities
Travel Highlights
- Hike to the Iconic Delicate Arch in Arches National Park at Sunset
- Take in Stunning Vistas of the Colorado River Carving Through the Red Rock Desert of Canyonlands National Park
- Stand Under the Shadow of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley
- Explore San Francisco Including the Golden Gate Bridge and Famed Muir Woods
- Explore the Wasatch Mountains and View Wildlife in the Great Salt Lake Basin.
- Wander Through Iconic Yosemite and Arches National Parks
- Experience the Magic of Universal Studios and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Live, Eat, and Study in U.S. College Dorms
- Visit Stanford, Berkeley, Univ. of Utah, USC, UC San Francisco, and UCLA
Photo Gallery
Program Details
Los Angeles and Salt Lake City
Our 22-day adventure begins at the Los Angeles International Airport and continues with a short flight to Salt Lake City where life is truly elevated. The city sits at an elevation of 4200 feet with the soaring peaks of the Wasatch mountains as a stunning backdrop. Fittingly, we stay in the same dorms at the University of Utah that served as the Athlete Village during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
Our week in Salt Lake City is intense as we begin a rigorous schedule of SAT prep. The week begins and ends with a 3-hour proctored practice test. We base out of Higher Ground Learning, a world-class test prep organization. It is here we go through hours of testing, classes, one-on-one tutoring, and homework sessions. Even with the hours of study, there is still time to enjoy the stunning locale each day as we participate in afternoon excursions to take in the stunning views, historic landmarks, and fresh mountain air.
Arches National Park
Southern Utah’s world-renowned red rock formations come into full view as we celebrate a week of hard work with a trip to one of the most iconic national parks in America. We experience Arches’ most famous vista with a sunset hike to Delicate Arch. No trip to Moab is complete without stopping at Dead Horse Point to view the breathtaking panorama of Canyonlands National Park. Our time in Utah comes to an end as we catch a flight to San Francisco, get back to our prep work, and tour some of the most prestigious universities in the world.
San Francisco
Our next program section is in the San Francisco Bay Area, home to such world renowned academic institutions as Stanford, San Francisco State University, and the University of California Berkeley. We will tour them all. It is during this section that the SAT instruction becomes more specialized and individualized. We meet regularly with our instructor to receive personalized tutoring based on their most recent practice test results. We have a robust number of homework assignments tailored to the specific issues arising in each tutorial session. When not in tutoring or doing homework, we go on college tours at Berkeley, Stanford, and other area universities while also taking in sights such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, and the redwoods of Muir Woods. After five days of rigorous SAT prep and city life, we head to Yosemite National Park for a brief and tranquil respite.
Yosemite National Park
In Yosemite, we are all humbled by perhaps the most dramatic scenery in the world. Massive vertical walls of granite and a stunning glacier-carved valley is our setting for our next 36 hours. We stand in the shadow of the famed El Capitan and take in Half Dome as well as Yosemite and Bridal Veil Falls. Yosemite’s grandeur adds a truly majestic exclamation point on our unique blend of studying and adventure.
Los Angeles
From Yosemite, we return to the coast where we tour the picturesque University of California Santa Barbara on our way to thriving Los Angeles. The UCLA dorms are our new home for the last week of our trip and we continue the rigorous regimen of tailored individual SAT instruction. When not studying this week, we tour the campuses of UCLA and USC and take in the sights of Los Angeles. We also take a culminating exam to appreciate the full scope of our progress and to highlight any final areas that still need work in the last few days. Finally, we celebrate our course completion with a day at famed Universal Studios followed by our group’s final night’s “feast”. After 80 hours of testing, classes, tutoring and homework, multiple college tours and visits to some of the world’s most iconic natural wonders, we head for home with incredible experiences, lasting friendships and poised for future success on the SAT.
Program Reviews
Meghan’s experience far exceeded our expectations and we are so lucky that she picked ARCC. Not once were we concerned about her safety. The experience that she has taken away will most certainly help her later in life as she prepares for college and travel abroad.
— Parent of Meghan K., Columbus, OHOur daughter said the trip was “amazing” and exceeded expectations. She attended with a friend but enjoyed meeting all the other students and plans to stay in touch with many of them. She thought her leaders were excellent
— Parent of Karen S., Dogingtown, PAARCC Truly does something incredible. Their way of incorporating so many inspiring activities in a single amount of time is awesome. You truly find yourself in a way you would never expect.
— Annabelle M., Carmel, INMy college application went very successfully. I applied to Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, Georgetown, USC, Claremont McKenna, Boston College, UVA, UNC Chapel Hill, and UC Boulder. I was accepted at all of them and decided to go to Stanford.
— Tomas F., Bogota, ColombiaI just got my SAT scores and it went much better than I thought – I got 1560. Your tutoring clearly worked if it made me improve my score by 120 points.
— Matt F., Barcelona, Spain
Common Questions
Test Preparation
Who will be teaching the course?
The course will be predominantly taught by Eric Brown, the Executive Director of Higher Ground Learning. He will be assisted by members of his elite team. Eric will run all classroom hours and each student will be able to meet with Eric individually for several hours.
What is the instructor/student ratio?
Our group sizes will be between 8-12 students to find a perfect balance between good social dynamic and sufficient attention given to each student.
How customized is this instruction?
Everything will be crafted to the specific needs of the students. We keep class sizes small so that even the group instruction can be adapted to exactly what will be most beneficial to the class.
My son/daughter knows they need work in a specific area, can you provide that?
Students will receive a substantial amount of individual instruction as well as homework assignments uniquely tailored by the instructor to focus on their individual improvement areas so they get tons of practice in exactly the right areas.
How many hours of test prep are there in total? How do the hours breakdown?
Each student will receive at least eight hours of individual sessions. Additionally, the trip will feature three full-length practice tests with detailed score reports. There will also be twenty hours of classroom instruction and the formal work with an instructor present will total over forty hours. In addition, the students will be assigned specialized individual practice in conjunction with the individual sessions. These assignments will range from 30-40 hours depending on each student’s needs and pacing.
Where does the test prep occur?
We will have dedicated classrooms in all locations including the college campus stays. Additionally, the students will have access to a properly structured study space if they do not want to do their individual work in their dorm rooms.
Is there any followup tutoring after the course/trip?
Yes. The course includes a follow-up meeting with the lead instructor, Eric Brown. This can be done through video chat, so it is accessible from anywhere in the world. The students can refine their strategy right before the sit for the exam or parents can get good recommendations about the best college strategy moving forward. The time can be spent however the parents and students see fit.
How will I know if he has improved?
The diagnostic tests will provide detailed quantitative results for each student. Additionally, the follow-up meeting with the lead instructor after the course will allow for valuable insight into each student’s progress throughout the course.
Travel and Logistics
Where will we stay?
Students will mostly stay on campus in double occupancy college dorms. Additionally, there will be some nights spent in hotels, specifically around the visits to national parks.
What will we eat?
Most meals will be provided by a college meal plan. In these settings, there are usually plenty of diverse options every single meal to accommodate different tastes and potential dietary restrictions. There will also be a small number of meals out at restaurants or prepared by leaders.
Who are the leaders?
ARCC, with almost 40 years of trip leading experience, will supply the trip leader for this program. This trip leader will be responsible for trip logistics, group dynamics, driving and organizing day to day activities and outings. The ARCC leader will partner with a Higher Ground Learning Instructor who will provide expert SAT test prep instruction and tutoring for the duration of the program.
How does travel work? Does ARCC buy my ticket to Los Angeles?
The trip begins and ends in Los Angeles. Specifically, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). It is the student’s responsibility to arrange travel to LAX. All other transportation, including flights during the trip, is included.
Can my child use their cell phone?
Students will have access to their phones every day, but there may be certain times, such as when studying or in class, when cell phone use is inappropriate and therefore restricted.
Do I need to bring my computer?
A computer is necessary to access Higher Ground Learning’s online platform in order to do homework and independent study.
What additional expenses are there?
While this is an all-inclusive program starting and ending in Los Angeles (you are responsible to get to/from Los Angeles), we suggest bringing spending money for items such as extra treats or souvenirs. Otherwise, all food, lodging, transportation, activities, etc. are included in the tuition.
How do you get around?
Most of our travel is by 15-passenger van. We also take two short flights from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City and from Salt Lake City to San Francisco. These travel costs are included in the tuition.
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