San Diego GRE Prep
Hey there, future graduate school student! We've got a few options for you.
1. Vince's in-person GRE classes. They're limited to just 12 students per class to keep them fun, interactive, and engaging. Scroll down to check out the class schedule.
We have GRE classes every single month, so if you're looking for a later date, let Vince know.
2. Online GRE classes. Scroll down to learn about Vince's online GRE verbal course and our recommendations for GRE math.
3. One-on-one GRE tutoring for a completely customized experience. To see our GRE tutors' bios, locations, and pricing, click here.
Need help deciding on a plan? Contact Vince!
(Video: How the test prep business is like the pizza business)
GRE Class Schedule
GRE Verbal (Online)
Learn at your own pace with GRE Verbal Precision - my online verbal video course. Includes all materials and optional one month of weekly office hours with Vince.
Instructor: Vince Kotchian
Cost: $149 - $299
GRE Math (Customized)
Most online math courses are one size fits all. Not mine! We create a complete GRE math study plan based on your unique situation and skill level. Includes unlimited email access to Vince for fine-tuning. Optional one month of weekly live or online office hours with Vince. Once you sign up, we'll schedule a meeting or call to get started.
Instructor: Vince Kotchian
Cost: $229 - $449
GRE Verbal
Date: Starts Oct. 28th, ends Nov. 11th
Time: 5:45pm - 8:45pm
(Mondays) (3 Meetings)
Instructor: Vince Kotchian
Location: Vince Kotchian Test Prep
Cost: $350 (access to greverbalcourse.com is included)
Availability: 7 of 12 spots left
GRE Math
Date: Starts Nov. 6th, skips Nov. 27th, ends Dec. 11th.
Time: 5:45pm - 8:45pm
(Wednesdays) (5 Meetings)
Instructor: Vince Kotchian
Location: Vince Kotchian Test Prep
Cost: $550
Availability: 9 of 12 spots left
ABOUT OUR GRE CLASSES
What will this class cover?
GRE Math courses cover the math sections of the test and GRE Verbal courses cover the verbal and essay sections - taking both a math and verbal class will prepare you for the entire GRE.
After doing this for 11 years and working with all kinds of people, I'm really good at explaining the GRE. My expert advice combined with the opportunity to talk things through with me will raise your scores - as long as you're willing to put in some hard work. I'll cover both concepts and strategies and throw in every tip, trick, and hack I've learned over the years.
Here are a few of the takeaways:
- All GRE math concepts explained in simple terms
- How to precisely prove answers for vocab and reading passages
- How to deal with tricky critical reasoning questions
- How to make sure you're ready to write great essays
- How to develop good technique and strategy for verbal and math questions
- How to squeeze the most value out of practice questions through analysis
- How to effectively study outside of class
- How to decipher the GRE's patterns, logic, and rules
- How to analyze your practice tests and make better test-taking decisions
Everything we do is designed to maximize your test-day performance and your score.
What's included in the price?
- Weekly office hours with Vince.
- A 1, 2, 3, or 4 month study plan that covers every part of the GRE.
- All books and materials. (For online classes, these are shipped to you.)
- Hundreds of video explanations of GRE questions and concepts. In-person GRE Verbal classes include free access to my complete online GRE verbal course (normally $179).
What makes your classes different?
Long answer: Does your hairdresser do your taxes?
Short answer: I've been doing this for 11 years.
Test prep is not a common career, so most test prep teachers - especially those who work for big organizations - are working part-time while they finish grad school or look for a "normal" job in their field of interest. Once these instructors move on, the big company hires more newbies and the cycle repeats. This is why big companies and universities don't tell you who's teaching their classes.
Cost? Duration?
In-person GRE Verbal courses are $350 for 9 hours of class time, and in-person GRE Math courses are $550 for 15 hours of class time. Taking both a verbal and a math class will prepare you for the entire test.
When should I take a class?
It's better to take a class first and then study on your own as opposed to vice versa, because by taking a class, you'll learn how to study more effectively, with the right materials. The GRE is NOT about memorization - so don't worry about forgetting what you learned in the class if your test isn't coming up right away. In fact, you will really benefit from having some time to practice on your own after the class ends!
Who should NOT take the class?
Everyone, even high scorers, will probably benefit from a verbal class. Learning more precise verbal technique and analysis skills will raise your score, even if it's already high.
If you are very solid on math concepts, keep in mind that in GRE math classes we spend a lot of time teaching concepts. So, the main benefit to you might be the test-specific techniques we teach as well as the accountability and structure the class provides.
What's that, you say? You know your math concepts AND you have the discipline of a Navy SEAL? Then check out our customized math prep option.
Registration Form
Please Note: if you are not directed to a payment confirmation page when you submit this form, please scroll back down and double check your payment information.
San Diego GRE Tutoring
The most important question for you to ask, we think, is "Who will be the person tutoring me?"
Our competitors hire new tutors and give them a fixed curriculum to teach. We hire long-time tutors (average experience: 9 years) and trust them to adapt the tutoring to the student for a completely customized experience.
Look for each tutor's location and pricing in their bio.
Vince Kotchian
Vince: I grew up in small-town Connecticut and completed the honors program at Boston College, graduating with a B.A. in English Literature. I moved to San Diego in 2007, and I’ve been working full-time as a test-prep tutor ever since. Along the way, I've written some test-prep books and courses, but I still enjoy tutoring, even after 11 years. When a student texts me that she aced the test or got into her reach school, I still literally jump up and down and grin.
In my spare time, I like traveling using miles and points (Japan is our favorite country to visit), reading (favorite authors include Haruki Murakami, Karl Ove Knausgaard, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, and Philip Pullman), watching The Great British Bake-Off (and sometimes actually baking things), hiking and camping, and rooting for the Red Sox and Patriots. I live in the Kensington neighborhood with my hilarious wife and our crazy cat.
Vince specializes in working with GRE students applying to healthcare fields: SLP, OT, PT, PA, etc. His GRE tutoring rate is $180 / hour ($162 / hour for 10 or more hours) and he meets students in his Sorrento Valley office, or online. He has limited weekday availability only.
Vince also teaches all of our GRE classes.
Matt: I am originally from Hopkinton, Massachusetts - the start of the historic Boston Marathon. I went to college at Northwestern University, where I graduated with a degree in Theatre. After college, I wised up and moved to the warmer coast. I worked in Los Angeles for many years as a full-time SAT / ACT tutor and part-time arts educator.
I have been tutoring for over 10 years and have spent thousands of hours helping students improve their scores. Recently, I moved to San Diego after getting a M.A. in Education from Stanford University, and I currently work as a credentialed classroom teacher.
When I’m not working, I enjoy good books, performing improv comedy, surfing, watching Game of Thrones, and enjoying the charms of San Diego. I live in North Park, where I love to get out and take advantage of all the delicious food in the area. I am also a huge Boston sports fan - the Patriots, Red Sox, and Celtics are my favorite teams.
GRE tutoring with Matt is $149 an hour ($134 / hour for 10 or more hours). He meets with students in North Park, or online.
Matt Sheelen
Blake Jensen
Blake: I’m a native San Diegan, father, and an aficionado of basketball, vintage video games, pitchy karaoke, and lecturing my son on how much better Star Wars was "back in the day." I played college basketball at St. Mary’s College and Whittier College where I earned my B.A. in Psychology in 2002.
My most important college mentors were coaches and teachers, so once I realized I didn't want to chase the dream of professional basketball, it’s not surprising that I turned to teaching and tutoring as a career. After college, I taught high school chemistry and started doing some individual tutoring on the side. I realized both that I had a knack for understanding the psychology of standardized tests and that I preferred individualized tutoring to teaching in crowded classrooms of 35 students. Ten years later, I’m a full-time test prep tutor and I believe that makes a big difference in the kind of expertise and tangible results I can offer.
GRE tutoring with Blake is $149 / hour (or $134 / hour for 10 or more hours). Please note, the only time Blake is available for GRE tutoring is before 2 p.m. on weekdays.
He meets clients in his Rancho Santa Fe office or his Sorrento Valley office, or online.
Bronte: My fondest memories of growing up here in San Diego are the Sunday evenings I spent cruising the beaches of Coronado with a gyro in one hand and a portable camera in the other (the kind you had to drop off at CVS to get developed)!
After graduating from SDSU, I accepted my first job as a SAT/ACT instructor. I quickly realized that my ability to be meticulous, my passion for problem solving and puzzles, and my inherent drive to organize information allowed me to mechanically maneuver students through standardized tests.
After living in Denver for the better part of five years, I moved back here - as beautiful as a white Christmas was, I recently became an aunt and knew I had to get home to my family. You can still find me hanging out on the sand, although my portable camera has been replaced with a math book and my gyro with an acai bowl.
GRE tutoring with Bronte is $120 per hour ($108 / hour for 10 or more hours). She particularly loves helping students who struggle with math.
Bronte meets with students in her Point Loma office or online.
Bronte D'Acquisto
