ACT Online Classes with Manhattan Review

In a world where the global economy is constantly changing, having a college degree has become more important than ever. This means that the college admissions process has become more competitive than ever. These days, a successful career does not simply happen, and it certainly does not happen overnight. Every step of the career you hope to establish must be carefully considered and planned out in detail order to set yourself up for the professional success you dream of. Taking the ACT is not simply about completing an examination—it's about strategically positioning yourself for exciting future successes and developing the life you want to live. At Manhattan Review, we offer comprehensive ACT prep classes designed to not only meet but exceed your academic ambitions, putting you in charge of your test preparation, as well as your future.

Best Instructors in the Business

The quality of an instructor can turn a good preparation course into an unforgettable one. That's why at Manhattan Review, we pride ourselves on hiring only the most gifted and talented instructors in the test prep business. We are proud to work with instructors who are not only remarkable teachers but who have also achieved impressively high ACT scores themselves. These knowledgeable and experienced mentors possess a wealth of practical insights, including helpful test-taking strategies, as well as a genuine commitment to seeing their students succeed.

ACT Online Courses – Advantages & Disadvantages

For many years, Manhattan Review has offered both in-person preparation courses and tutoring, as well as online prep. With the discovery of Covid in 2019 and the ensuing pandemic, the world experienced a global shift towards online learning options. While Manhattan Review will continue to offer in-person courses and tutoring in locations where there is significant demand, it is worth considering the advantages of online ACT preparation options. It is also worth considering where such services might fall a bit short of your needs or expectations. Here are a few advantages to virtual learning that are frequently mentioned to us by our online students:

More time to study

Travelling to a physical location to prepare for an exam is time consuming, and—thinking about the New York subway, the London Tube, or a car ride in LA—quite an inconvenient and potentially expensive undertaking. Many students are thrilled to ditch wasted travel time and spend the time they've gained on what really matters, which is prepping for the ACT. Some students even choose not to participate in online classes at home, but rather enjoy learning at their favorite internet café or coffee shop. Whatever your preference, you can save yourself time and unnecessary stress by utilizing online test prep options.

Increased flexibility

We know students have busier schedules than ever, what with classes, extracurricular activities, part-time jobs, and responsibilities with family and friends. Trying to fit an in-person ACT preparation course into your routine can be overwhelming and sometimes may simply be impossible. Our online courses allow students to prepare for the ACT on your schedule. If you have questions or worry you aren't understanding something, your instructor is always happy to assist you via email or during the next instructional session. Our online group courses are a perfect fit for busy students who are still very serious about attaining a stellar score on the ACT.

If an in-person class is offered at a specific location, this will typically occur at the same time every week. With our online courses, which follow the exact same syllabus as the in-person courses, you can choose between a variety of attendance and participation options, allowing you to select the one that best suits your personal learning needs, as well as your current schedule.

Lower Cost

While there are many advantages to choosing online ACT courses, perhaps the one that is most overlooked is the price. Since Manhattan Review does not have to rent expensive classrooms for virtual courses, we can pass on the savings to you. This means our online course is offered at a significantly lower price with the same content as our in-person class. If you are looking for a budget friendly, high-quality option, then our online ACT prep course is the best choice for you and your test prep needs.

While there is plenty to like about online prep courses, there may also be some potential disadvantages. These are some concerns that are occasionally mentioned to us by potential students:

Lack of Social Interaction

There is something undeniably comforting and familiar about in-person interaction. It's great to grab a coffee or maybe a meal with your fellow prep classmates after a lesson where you can rave about your amazing Manhattan Review teacher. We fully understand that this satisfying feeling can hardly be replicated online.

Having said that, there are many ways you can connect with and get to know your virtual classmates. One advantage of our online classroom is how easily breakout rooms can be created, enabling you to get to know more about your classmates as fast or faster than in a traditional classroom setting. 

Dependance on Technology

Many students worry that they might not be able to install the required programs to participate in an online course. While this could have been a legitimate concern years ago, technology has become so stable and easy to install that this is not a point of concern anymore. At Manhattan Review we use Zoom, a popular online teaching platform many participants already know from school. So, while there were valid concerns about online learning tech years ago, this is no longer an issue as systems become increasingly stable every year.

For Parents/Caregivers:

We are proud of the reputation we have developed for our very selective hiring process of instructors and tutors. Since Manhattan Review is a boutique test prep company offering customized ACT preparation, we have the ability to dedicate more resources than most firms to our hiring process. We expect two things from our instructors: a great ACT score and a passion for helping students obtain their own high ACT score through consistent progress and ongoing, personalized feedback. Ultimately, we only hire those instructors with both superb test-taking and teaching skills, ensuring our students receive the highest quality instruction, setting them up for their own ACT success. 

We have learned a great deal from our extensive experience in the test prep industry. Specifically, we understand that taking an exam and teaching others how to take it are two separate skills. Our instructors are skilled at tailoring the information they teach to each student's learning style, and the quality of our instructors is simply another reason Manhattan Review stands out from other test prep companies. 

To truly understand what makes Manhattan Review so unique, it helps to consider the origins of the firm. Manhattan Review was conceived and started at an Ivy League business school, specifically, Columbia University Business School in New York City. Manhattan Review's Founder was not only pedagogically trained but went on to become a leading academic, eventually accepting a position as a professor at a prestigious business school in Europe. The experience the founder gained by being an active member of collegiate hiring committees, as well as evaluating the teaching potential of countless applicants, cannot be overstated or acquired through other contexts. That is why Manhattan Review's preparation options are widely considered the best choice for serious ACT students.

Given the highly selective hiring process conducted by Manhattan Review, our instructors are more than capable of teaching all aspects of effective test preparation. This includes administering diagnostic tests, planning the most useful lessons, and guiding students through applicable test content. We strive to make sure each student receives the attention and expertise they deserve when preparing for such an important exam as the ACT.

What About Test-Optional Colleges?

As academic institutions attempt to move beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, many colleges are once again requiring students to submit standardized test scores—from the ACT or SAT—as part of their application. Some colleges, however, have chosen to remain test optional for another year or two. What does that mean for students preparing their college applications?

Simply because a college does not require a student to submit standardized test scores as part of their application does not mean test scores shouldn't be submitted. Test scores can make a big difference when it comes to scholarships. At many colleges, even those where admission is test optional, test scores may be required for certain scholarships or for admission to specific majors or honors programs. Private institutions or organizations that award scholarships may require test scores as part of their scholarship application. It is critically important to verify scholarship and financial aid requirements when applying to colleges, because even though the college itself might be test optional, applying for specific financial awards may require the submission of test scores. 

Test optional colleges do not require the submission of ACT or SAT scores, but should a student submit a score, it can and most likely will be considered. And this is a good thing! Consider the college applications of two high school students. The applications demonstrate nearly identical data as far as classes taken, grades received, volunteer hours completed, and the number and quality of extracurricular activities. Even though this particular college is test optional, one student chooses to submit her ACT score while the other student does not. 

Which student do you think has a better chance of being accepted? 

The one who provided more information to the admissions committee. Research from the College Board consistently demonstrates a correlation between standardized test scores and college success: students with higher test scores achieve higher college grades and they are more likely to return for their second year of college. College admissions officials know this, and when considering who to offer acceptance to, they will always prefer having as much information about a student as possible in order to guide their decision-making.

The bottom line is that as long as standardized tests exist, there are benefits to taking them. And given that standardized tests can be mastered with the guidance of skilled professional educators, there is no reason not to take this potentially life-changing exam and ultimately gain acceptance (and perhaps financial support) at leading undergraduate programs.