Interview with Scott Levenson, CEO of Private Prep

We recently sat down with Scott Levenson, CEO of Private Prep, to talk about what truly personalized academic support looks like for today’s students. Private Prep is the most trusted private test preparation and college admissions company for families seeking personalized, one-on-one academic support, working with students across the country to build the skills and confidence they need to reach their full academic potential. 

We believe that where and how students learn makes a profound difference in what they are able to achieve. We were eager to hear how Scott thinks about the other half of that equation: the individualized human support that helps students do their best work, wherever they are. 

Q: What is the biggest misconception families have when they first come to Private Prep? 

A: That there is a one-size-fits-all path through high school and the college process. Families often arrive thinking they just need the right checklist: take these tests, join these clubs, write this kind of essay. But every student is different. A strategy that works beautifully for one kid can completely miss the mark for another. Our job from day one is to figure out who this student actually is and build a plan around them. 

Q: Where do you see students struggling most, and why? 

A: The pressure has intensified significantly. Students are juggling more than ever academically, and the college admissions landscape has become genuinely harder to read. A lot of the anxiety we see comes from uncertainty. Students are not sure what is expected of them, and when you do not have a clear picture of what success looks like, it is very hard to build toward it. That is where consistent, one-on-one guidance makes the biggest difference. It cuts through the noise and gives students something concrete to work toward. 

Q: How does the one-on-one model change outcomes compared to group or classroom-based test prep? 

A: The tutor meets the student exactly where they are. In a group setting, instruction has to target the middle of the room. One-on-one, we can move faster through what the student already knows, slow down on what they do not, and adjust the approach entirely if something is not clicking. The relationship also matters enormously. Students work harder for someone they trust and who they feel actually knows them. That is hard to replicate in a larger format. It is the

same reason great teachers in well-designed classroom environments can do extraordinary things: when the setup supports the individual, the student rises to it. 

Q: Private Prep works with students across a range of academic goals. What does the college admissions piece look like beyond test scores? 

A: Test prep is one part of a much larger picture. We work with students on everything from course selection and extracurricular strategy to essay development and interview preparation. What we are really helping students do is understand their own story and figure out how to tell it compellingly. The best college essays come from students who know what they care about and can articulate it clearly. That kind of self-awareness does not happen overnight. It develops through sustained conversation with someone who is paying close attention. 

Q: What is the most practical thing a family can do right now to set their student up for success? 

A: Start earlier than you think you need to, and resist the urge to treat every milestone as a crisis. The families who navigate this process most smoothly are the ones who have built a steady foundation over time rather than scrambling in senior year. Even a few conversations in ninth or tenth grade about goals, interests, and academic strengths can completely change the trajectory. The earlier a student has someone in their corner who knows them well, the more options they have later.