August 25th, 2022

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This Fall, we are excited to introduce the Sparks Program, B2A’s exclusive middle school college counseling program! Work with our experienced college admissions counselors to help your middle schooler explore their interests and identify their passions, setting them up for a successful academic and extracurricular journey ahead!

 

We are often asked, “how soon should we start planning for college?” Our answer is always “the earlier the better!"

 

What sets successful students apart are that they have a good idea of what they are interested in and what they are good at by the time they reach high school. They are then able to start building a strong, focused academic and extracurricular resume right from 9th grade.

 

How are they able to do that? Through exploration and identification in earlier years.

 

What top colleges want are students who have a genuine passion for life and a real thirst for learning! These qualities don’t magically form overnight but rather slowly develop right around middle school. With our thoughtful and strategic guidance, your middle schooler can discover their passions and even career paths early, acquire the necessary academic and behavioral disciplines needed to rock their high school years, and develop into self-driven leaders that would impress college admissions officers at any college!

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Inquire today how the Sparks Program can give your middle schooler a head start in college planning, and in their future careers!

February 26th, 2022

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Let us help you plan for summer break 2022! 

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Join us in our most popular season and make the most out of your summer break. 

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Register by March 31st to get a 20% early registration discount!

February 19th, 2022

Berkeley² Academy did it again! Congratulations to our B2A Class of 2022!  

 

We've had yet another record-breaking college acceptances this year for our students who received professional and strategic guidance for their college applications under our popular Gateway Program and other college admissions services.

 

Students, don't go about tackling your college applications alone. We are here to walk you through them and get you top results! Parents, improve your students' admission chance and higher scholarship offers with the top quality application they will produce with us.

 

Did we mention we are now accepting registrations for Class of 2023 Gateway Program? Registration is first come first serve, and sooner you register the higher your chance of being matched to the counselor of your choice. Some parents register years in advance to secure these counselors. Hurry and request for your favorite counselor today!

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Once again, congratulations to our amazing students. We are so proud of you all!

January 19th, 2022

Our popular College Admissions series is back!

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Each year, Berkeley² Academy assists numerous students in gaining admission into selective universities and programs. Director James will be presenting during the webinars, sharing strategies learned from years of successful admission experience and giving you advice on how to snag a coveted spot in one of the extremely competitive schools and programs.

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This is a FREE webinar series! Space is limited. RSVP here!

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"College Admissions 101"​

Time:

Thursday, February 3rd, 7-8pm CT

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"Secrets to Ivy Leagues"

Time:

Thursday, February 24th, 7-8pm CT

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"BSMD, BS-DDS, PHARMD ADMISSIONS"

Time: 

Thursday, March 17th, 7-8pm CT

October 16th, 2021

 

Congratulations to Berkeley² Academy's Class of 2022 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists! 

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More Berkeley² Academy students qualify for the National Merit Scholarships each year, and we are so proud of the hard work they've put in to make it onto this distinguished list. 

September 22nd, 2021

Join us in celebrating the opening of our new Westlake office!

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We appreciate all your patience while we move and remodel our Westlake Office to better serve you and your student.

 

With its more convenient location at

3736 Bee Caves Rd. Suite 10

Austin, Tx 78746

(Walking distance to Westlake HS and in the same plaza as Texas Honey Ham),

we hope to help even more students and parents in their educational journey towards college!

 

As a token of our appreciation, we are offering you a special promotion!

 

Call (512-347-7575) or email (westlake@b2aprep.com) us at the Westlake office to make a purchase in one of the amounts below to receive a gift card*! This is a perfect opportunity to register for our popular programs and receive a gift card to use for future test prep, tutoring, or college admissions needs or to gift to friends!

 

Spend $3000, Get $500 Gift Card 

Spend $1000, Get $150 Gift Card

Spend $500, Get $50 Gift Card

 

We are currently registering for all Fall Programs including: 

 

• Weekend SAT/ ACT Classes

• 6-Week Cram Sessions for SAT/ACT

• Gateway Program (12th Gr.): College Application Guidance

• Steps Program (9th-11th Gr.): College Admissions Planning

• Hourly College Admissions Services 

• Tutoring for ALL Subjects 

 

*This promotion will expire on Thursday, September 30th. The gift card will be provided upon registering for any current or future programs and can be used for any future purchases at Berkeley²Academy on or after October 1, 2021. Gift cards are not redeemable for cash. This promotion is only available to students in the Westlake area who register with the Westlake Office. Limit of 1 gift card per registered student. 

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May 26th, 2021

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As of May 26th, B2A has decided to open limited in-person classes for the SAT AM classes. 

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The qualifications for the students to be approved for In-Person classes are as follows:

• Fully vaccinated

• 10-week Registration

• No Travel Plans during the Summer

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We have made our decision based on the survey we have sent out earlier this month and have reached out to students who have qualified.

 

If you think your students qualify based on the above, please email your respective branch. 

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We understand our decision may not satisfy everyone but we have made this decision with the safety of our students and staff in mind. Thank you for your understanding.

April 1st, 2021

Berkeley² Academy did it again! Congratulations to our B2A Class of 2021!  

 

We've had yet another record-breaking college acceptances this year for our students who received professional and strategic guidance for their college applications under our popular Gateway Program and other college admissions services.

 

Students, don't go about tackling your college applications alone. We are here to walk you through them and get you top results! Parents, improve your students' admission chance and higher scholarship offers with the top quality application they will produce with us.

 

Did we mention we are now accepting registrations for Class of 2022 Gateway Program? Registration is first come first serve, and sooner you register the higher your chance of being matched to the counselor of your choice. Some parents register years in advance to secure these counselors. Hurry and request for your favorite counselor today!

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Once again, congratulations to our amazing students. We are so proud of you all!

September 15th, 2021

Our popular College Admissions series is back!

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Each year, Berkeley² Academy assists numerous students in gaining admission into selective universities and programs. Director James will be presenting during the webinars, sharing strategies learned from years of successful admission experience and giving you advice on how to snag a coveted spot in one of the extremely competitive schools and programs.

​

This is a FREE webinar series! Space is limited. RSVP here!

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"College Admissions 101"

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Time:

Thursday, September 30th, 6-7:30pm CT

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"How to Afford Your Dream School"

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Time:

Thursday, October 14th, 6-7:30pm CT

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January 14th, 2021

Our popular College Admissions series is back!

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Each year, Berkeley² Academy assists numerous students in gaining admission into selective universities and programs. Director James will be presenting during the webinars, sharing strategies learned from years of successful admission experience and giving you advice on how to snag a coveted spot in one of the extremely competitive schools and programs.

​

This is a FREE webinar series! Space is limited. RSVP here!

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"College Admissions 101"

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Time:

Thursday, February 4th, 6-7pm CT

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"Secrets to Ivy Leagues"

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Time:

Thursday, February 25th, 6-7pm CT

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"BSMD, BS-DDS, PHARMD ADMISSIONS"

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Time: 

Thursday, March 18th, 6-7pm CT

April 4th, 2020

 

1.) Live classes that allow for real-time interaction

For online tutoring, we are currently using Google Hangouts, Skype, and Zoom (your preference). ​

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We will move to a physical class at any time once the COVID-19 situation is deemed safe.

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2.) Small classes for increased accountability and individual attention

In smaller classes, students receive individual attention directly from teachers.

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3.) Support from a physical office that allows for material pick up

In order to encourage social distancing for everyone’s safety and health, we have set up No-contact Drop-off / Pick-up Station at each of our branches.

 

Though all transactions can be arranged online, if you prefer to drop off a check or cash for payment, or would like to pick up physical materials for curriculum or tests, please call or email us so we can prepare ahead to make your visit as efficient as possible. 

 

4.) Quality service you can only get at B2A

Expect the same quality as on-site classes you expect from B2A with top instructors, top curriculum, and top student care. 

Marth 18th, 2020

 

At Berkeley2 Academy we care very much about the health and well-being of our students and staff, and we are monitoring the COVID-19 activity closely and taking actions to ensure safe learning space for everyone.

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Out of the abundance of precaution, we will be conducting all classes and 1:1 tutoring and counseling online temporarily until further notice. 

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We offer online registration: https://www.berkeley2academy.com/register and online payment as well. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the nearest Berkeley2 Academy center.

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Thank you for your cooperation to help ensure the safety and health of everyone. We pray that the Coronavirus is controlled soon. 

Marth 13th, 2020

 

As global concern about the current COVID-19 outbreak grows, we at Berkeley2 Academy want to take proper precautions to ensure the health and safety of all our students, their families, and staff.

 

Since the virus is highly contagious and there's currently no vaccine, we all need to:

 

1. Stay home if you are sick. 

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If you experience cold flu-like symptoms, or simply a running nose, please stay home. Because the coronavirus produces cold-like symptoms in 80% of infected individuals, it's important to remain at home when ill regardless of how mild your symptoms are.

 

2. Refrain from visiting the workplace after traveling to an infected city or high-risk country.

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Effective immediately, any staff/students or anyone in the family who has completed travel to either a Level 2 or Level 3 country OR believe they may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus will not be allowed to return to our center for a 14-day period. The current list of Level 2 or Level 3 countries may be found on the CDC information for Travel Page here. We ask that you stay home to rest and fully recover before returning to class.

 

3. Lastly, we ask everyone to follow the following steps to prevent the spread of any viruses.

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Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. (We have sanitizers ready at each branch.)

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Stay home when you are sick.

Cover your mouth and nose with the inside of your elbow when you cough or sneeze.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

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We'll ensure the workplace has alcohol-based hand sanitizer at the front desk and regularly lysol all surfaces. 

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Thank you for your cooperation to help ensure the safety and health of everyone.

February 8th, 2020

 

Berkeley² Academy did it again! Congratulations to our B2A Class of 2020!  

 

We've had yet another record-breaking college acceptances this year for our students who received professional and strategic guidance for their college applications under our popular Gateway Program and other college admissions services.

 

Students, don't go about tackling your college applications alone. We are here to walk you through them and get you top results! Parents, improve your students' admission chance and higher scholarship offers with the top quality application they will produce with us.

 

Did we mention we are now accepting registrations for Class of 2021 Gateway Program? Registration is first come first serve, and sooner you register the higher your chance of being matched to the counselor of your choice. Some parents register years in advance to secure these counselors. Hurry and request for your favorite counselor today!

January 17th, 2020

 

Each year, Berkeley² Academy assists numerous students in gaining admission into selective universities and programs. Our college admission experts will be presenting during the seminars, sharing strategies learned from years of successful admission experience and giving you advice on how to snag a coveted spot in one of the extremely competitive schools and programs.

​

Space is limited. Register here!

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DALLAS SEMINAR

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A Complete Guide to College Admissions

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Time:

Sat, Feb 29, 2020 3 PM – 4 PM CDT (seminar in English) & 5 PM – 6 PM CDT (seminar in Korean)

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Location: 

Berkeley2 Academy Plano 

4017 Preston Rd #544

Plano, TX 75093

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Secrets to Ivy League Admissions

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Time:

Sat, Mar 21, 2020 3 PM – 4 PM CDT (seminar in English) & 5 PM – 6 PM CDT (seminar in Korean)

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Location: 

Berkeley2 Academy Plano 

4017 Preston Rd #544

Plano, TX 75093

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BSMD, BS-DDS, PHARMD ADMISSIONS

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Time:

Sat, Apr 18, 2020 3 PM – 4 PM CDT (seminar in English) & 5 PM – 6 PM CDT (seminar in Korean)

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Location: 

Berkeley2 Academy Plano 

4017 Preston Rd #544

Plano, TX 75093

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AUSTIN SEMINAR

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A Complete Guide to College Admissions

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Time:

Sat, Feb 22, 2020 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM CDT 

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Location: 

Berkeley2 Academy Northwest Austin

12871 Research Blvd #105

Austin, TX 78750

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Secrets to Ivy League Admissions

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Time:

Sat, Mar 7, 2020 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM CDT 

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Location: 

Berkeley2 Academy Northwest Austin

12871 Research Blvd #105

Austin, TX 78750

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BSMD, BS-DDS, PHARMD ADMISSIONS

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Time:

Sat, Apr 4, 2020 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM CDT 

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Location: 

Berkeley2 Academy Northwest Austin

12871 Research Blvd #105

Austin, TX 78750

May 21st, 2019

 

Read the article by clicking on this link.

March 14th, 2019

 

We were approached by a major media, KXAN, to share our insight on the recent admission scam.

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Read the article by clicking on this link.

November 15th, 2018

 

Get crucial tips on how to secure and choose the best financial aid packages for both public research universities and highly selective, top-tier, Ivy League colleges! This FREE seminar is designed to give you and your student the most relevant, practical advice for affording your dream college.

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Learn about the following:

College Tuition Trends - Find out how recent tuition and board costs compare to those in the past

Types of Financial Aid - Discover the different types of financial aid and how they apply to you

Financial Aid Checklist - Learn which documents you need (based on your status)

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DATE:

Sat, December 8, 2018

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST

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LOCATION:

Aldersgate United Methodist Church (behind Krogers)

3926 Old Denton Rd.

Carrollton, TX 75007

September 25th, 2018

 

Berkeley2 Academy's College Admission Seminars are back!

Explore with us the newest trends in college admissions and helpful application tips/tricks for selective universities like the Ivy Leagues!

These FREE seminars are designed to help you and your student have the upper-hand when tackling the high-stakes challenges of college admissions.

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Expert Tips on College Admission Strategies

Saturday, October 13th 4-6 pm

 

Plano Chinese Alliance Church
5025 Custer Rd. Room #123
Plano, TX 75023

Each year, Berkeley2 Academy assists numerous students in gaining admission into selective universities and programs. Our college admission experts will be presenting during the seminars, sharing strategies learned from years of successful admission experience and giving you advice on how to snag a coveted spot in one of the extremely competitive schools and programs.

July 5th, 2018

 

We are now opening registrations for the Fall 2018 semester! Take advantage of the school semesters to get in-depth coverage of the SAT/ACT through our Test Prep classes, boost your GPA through High School Subject classes, and build Math/ELA foundations through 3-7th Grade Enrichment Classes!

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10% Early registration discount is offered until July 27th. We have limited seats, so register today to secure your spot in the class!

May 10th, 2018

 

Come meet the Plano instructors, attend a free college admissions seminar, and win raffle prizes.

There will be a 20% Grand Opening registration discount PLUS $50 B2A giftcard for you and each friend you refer!

 

FIRST 50 RSVP GUESTS WILL RECEIVE A SPECIAL GIFT!

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College Admissions Roadmap:

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The Complete Guide to College Planning

This is a free college admission seminar for students of all grade level and their parents and is open to the public. Come listen to the seminar and enjoy other promotional offerings on our Grand Opening day of our Plano branch!

 

 

Taking a step in the wrong direction can cost you your dream college down the road.

 

With 9 years of college admission experience in getting hundreds of students into top colleges and programs, Director James Seo will lay out the complete road map for you to help you reach your final destination: your dream college. Wherever you are on this road of college planning, he will show you the next step you need to take to best situate yourself towards that acceptance letter.

 

Seats fill up quickly. RSVP here. 

 

Location:

4017 Preston Rd. #544

Plano, TX 75093

 

Time:

Saturday, May 26th

3:00-6:00 PM

 

For any questions, please call us at 972-515-0330 or email us at plano@b2aprep.com.

March 7th, 2018

 

Each year, Berkeley2 Academy assists numerous students in gaining admission into selective universities and programs. Our college admission experts will be presenting during the seminars, sharing strategies learned from years of successful admission experience and giving you advice on how to snag a coveted spot in one of the extremely competitive schools and programs.

​

Space is limited. Register here!

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DALLAS SEMINAR

Time: 

Sat, March 24, 2018 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CDT

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Location: 

Plano Chinese Alliance Church

5025 Custer Rd, #123

Plano, TX 75023

February 14th, 2018

 

Congratulations to our B2A Class of 2018 on their college admission decisions! Many of our students were admitted to highly selective colleges and programs, and we're still waiting to hear back from regular decision acceptance results.

Check back with us for more college admission updates!

February 7th, 2018

 

Each year, Berkeley2 Academy assists numerous students in gaining admission into selective universities and programs. Our college admission experts will be presenting during the seminars, sharing strategies learned from years of successful admission experience and giving you advice on how to snag a coveted spot in one of the extremely competitive schools and programs.

​

These FREE seminars are designed to help you and your student have the upper-hand when tackling the high-stakes challenges of college admissions.

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Space is limited. Register here!

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Time: 

Sat, February 10, 2018.  6:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST

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Location: 

Berkeley2 Academy: Northwest Austin

12871 Research Boulevard Suite 203

Austin, TX 78750

January 24th, 2018

 

We are excited to share with you that Berkeley2 Academy is expanding to Dallas! We feel so blessed to have been your trusted partner in college prep and admissions for the past 9 years in Austin through our two locations. With our third location in Dallas, we hope to reach more students and help them maximize their potential to help them get into their dream college! Thank you for your continued support.

 

We will also be holding seminars in Dallas! Join us and learn about the newest trends in college admissions and helpful application tips/tricks for selective universities like the Ivy Leagues. These FREE seminars are designed to help you and your student have the upper-hand when tackling the high-stakes challenges of college admissions.

 

RSVP is now available here.

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Time: 

Sat, February 24, 2018 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST

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Location: 

NewsKorea Seminar Room

2000 Royal Ln. Suite 200

Dallas, Texas 75229

July 7th, 2017

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B2A alumni Jason Zhao was admitted to several top-tier universities! We interviewed Jason and learned about his experiences with Berkeley2 Academy and the uniqueness of his college admission essays. 

 

 

B2A: "What schools and programs are you admitted to?"

 

Jason: "So I was admitted early action to Stanford University and then in regular decision, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, UPenn, and UT [Austin]. And then for UT, it was Plan II and Business Honors."

 

B2A: "What’s your intended major?"

 

Jason: "So at Stanford, they don’t have to declare majors until Junior year, so that’s one of the reasons I applied to a lot of those schools. They give the opportunity to explore. So for me, I know the general area I want to go into- I like business, I like technology, I also like math, but also I’m very interested in humanities and philosophy. So that’s kind of an opportunity for me to explore and then I’ll figure that out as I get into university. So I didn’t declare [but] I put economics because a lot of the activities I’ve been involved in are business-related, when I applied, but for actual major, I don’t have an actual major declared yet."

 

B2A: "What do you think made your application so successful in getting admitted to these top colleges?"

 

Jason: "So I’d say that if I had to pick one thing it would not necessarily be the things I did in high school because I know a lot of people that do more impressive things than I do and I also don’t think it’s grades. I think the most important thing for college applications just for any person in general and what makes anyone stand out is the essays and their voice and their personality so a lot of times people are very successful and they’re great people but if you don’t show that on the application then you can’t get in because every is special and unique but how can you present yourself as special and unique so in my essays I tried to not overthink them. It’s about what I want to show them- it’s not about how do I impress the college but how do I express myself."

 

B2A: "What did you end up writing your essays about?"

 

Jason: "So for the Common App essay, a lot of them are very serious, like “What is a big failure in your life?”. To be honest, I haven’t experience a tragic event in my life so I didn’t want to make something up. I wrote about something I care about personally, even though it’s not super impressive... I play pickup basketball every Friday with my friends so I wrote about that and I was honest and I didn’t try to make myself sound like a superhuman. I just try to let my genuine self come across."

 

B2A: "Did you have a strategy with your application?"

 

Jason: "For every essay, I tried to say something new but in the same voice. So you don’t want to have a very serious essay and then try to be funny- you should have the same personality and that’s easy if you are just honest since you have one personality and that’s who you are. In every essay, I tried to highlight something new- in one essay, I show this is who I am casually, this is who I am intellectually, this is who I am in business, and so on. You shouldn’t be repeating yourself over and over again... there’s no need to say that you’re curious in five different essays."

 

B2A: "What programs did you do at Berkeley2 Academy and how did they help?"

 

Jason: "I did the Gateway program, which covers pretty much the whole college application. The main thing I liked about that is the dichotomy of a counselor that knew you really well, and knew your voice, so she could tell me “Oh, Jason, that’s not you...” or “This is you and you need to put more of it...” and that was one perspective but on the other hand you have essay specialists who could review grammar and structure who didn’t know you at all."

 

B2A: "Would you recommend B2A to people?"

 

Jason: "Yeah! In fact, someone just texted me 20 minutes ago! So yes... I would."

 

B2A: "Was there anything fun about the application process for you?"

 

Jason: "It was really stressful but also really enlightening because I never write about myself. In classes, when my teachers would ask me to write about myself, I didn’t really know what to write. So those two months when we were talking about essays, I thought a lot about who I am and it was really helpful because now I think I am a lot more introspective. In school we always write academic essays, which doesn’t always encourage students to put their voice in it, not much humor or personality, so that was a skill I gained from that process."

 

B2A: "Do you have any tips or advice for college applicants?"

 

Jason: "Sometimes people come into the process thinking they have to fit into a certain mold when that is the exact opposite of what colleges are looking for. You can’t fake anything so just do what you like to do, don’t waste your time, but make it meaningful. There’s not one thing that can make or break your application- it’s four years of stuff, doing things you enjoy, doing things that are meaningful."

 

B2A: "What are you most excited about for your future?"

 

Jason: "For Stanford, it’s meeting new people. Everyone at Stanford has their own story. And just for the future, I’m excited to find something that I love to do. For now, I’m interested in a lot of things but I feel like that will coalesce at Stanford because maybe after working on research projects until 5am you’ll realize that’s not what you want to do for the rest of your life so I think that’s what I’m most excited about: figuring out who I am."

May 3rd,  2017

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Congratulations to our B2A Class of 2017 on their college admission decisions! Many of our students were admitted to highly selective colleges and programs, and we're still waiting to hear back from regular decision acceptance results. Check back with us for more college admission updates!

March 13th,  2017

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With a total of 180 RSVP's, we had a record-breaking number of respondents and attendance to our third College Admissions Seminar: The Secrets to Ivy League Admissions!

 

At this seminar, not only did James Seo, Director of Berkeley2 Academy, helped students and parents gain first-hand knowledge of the complex series of steps that is conducted at a number of prestigious universities, but also B2A's Head Gateway Counselor and former Dartmouth College Admission Officer, Kendall Forbes, presented in this seminar where students and parents were able to hear information directly from a college admissions officer's perspective. 

 

Our last seminar, held on April 1st, will unveil admission tips and strategies to BS-MD, Dental, and Pharmacy Programs. So future doctors, dentists, and pharmacists, make sure to RSVP!

 

Thank you to those who've attended, and see you all again at our last seminar of 2017!

February 22nd,  2017

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Thanks to everyone’s support, we have successfully completed our first seminar of the College Admissions Series!

 

A total of 130 students and parents joined us!

 

We would like to thank all those who have attended and participated in this first seminar and will be looking forward to meeting everyone again back on March 11th for our second seminar “The Secrets to Ivy League Admissions”!

 

Seats are limited, so please RSVP.

 

To look at our full 2017 college admissions seminar schedule, click on the picture.

May 20th, 2016

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B2A Alumna Gloria Su has had the AMAZING accomplishment of being admitted to 5 of the 8 Ivy League Universities! We sat down with Gloria to discuss her B2A experience and learn more about what made her application so special!

 

B2A: "What do you think makes Berkeley2 Academy special?"

 

Gloria: "I think just the wealth of resources here. Obviously, there's essay specialists, there's tutors to help you if you want to boost your scores, there are counselors who have just graduated from a lot of these schools that you're applying to, and they're really nice and personable!"

 

B2A: "What other programs did you do besides the Gateway Package?"

 

Gloria: "In addition to the Gateway Package, I also did a few tutoring sessions here for my SAT."

 

B2A: "What kind of help did you get with the Gateway Package?"

 

Gloria: "With the Gateway Program, I had a really awesome counselor and she helped me with editing all my essays, and I got a lot of advice on how to prepare for interviews and what to focus on on my essays and resume editing."

 

B2A: "What was your SAT score?"

 

Gloria: "I got a 2250, and Berkeley said 'You can do better than that!'. I kind of grumbled about it at first. I got a 2350 the time after. I think that really helped, and it's nice to have that little push."

 

B2A: "What was your first Gateway meeting like?"

 

Gloria: "My first Gateway meeting was with my parents and Emily. The college admission process is pretty intimidating at first. I literally had no idea what I was doing. My parents really didn't have any idea, so it was good to sit down with Emily and make a plan and basically gauge what schools would be a good fit for me, which would be reaches, and safetys. Basically, we set out a plan. I came in a little late in the summer, so we set a plan on how to accelerate my process and make sure I was meeting all my deadlines. So, it was really helpful to have a schedule laid out for the long term."  

 

B2A: "And what about the subsequent meetings?"

 

Gloria: "My subsequent meetings were basically just me and my counselor. They were really personal, one to one, and she would always check in to see what I was doing. Basically, they kept me on top of my things, which is really, really helpful. I probably would have procrastinated until like the night before! It was really helpful because I got tons of editing on my essays. They don't tell you what to write; they don't tell you 'this is what you need to write'. They ask you to brainstorm with them, and then you pick a topic that is interesting and also meaningful, personally. Then, they have you write the essay, and then they just do tweaking which is what I think should be done. College counselors shouldn't be writing your essays. So yeah, I thought that was really helpful. That was what my meetings were like."

 

B2A: "What do you think was the one most helpful thing about the Gateway Program?"

 

Gloria: "Probably focusing on a specific topic for your essays. That, I found, was the hardest part. Writing it afterward was really easy because once we found something I was passionate in that fit the essay prompt it was really easy, but finding that is really hard because sometimes you're really off focus or you find something that isn't that meaningful so you have a really bad essay. The Gateway Program really helped me pick out a diamond in the rough."

 

B2A: "What schools did you apply to?"

 

Gloria: "I applied to all the Ivies in addition to a few other schools like UT, Rice, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, and Washington University in St. Louis."

 

B2A: "And which ones did you get into?"

 

Gloria: "I got into five of the Ivies -- Harvard, UPenn, Dartmouth, Cornell, and Brown. I also got into Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, Rice, and UT."

 

B2A: "Which one do you think you're going to attend?"

 

Gloria: "I think I will be attending Harvard in the fall. It's always been the top of my list; I loved it when I visited." 

 

B2A: "What do you think made your applications so successful in gaining admission?"

 

Gloria: "I think it was, first of all, my essays. I wrote about things I really cared about, so I thought that was really important. I wrote about gender equality in debate. That was something that I really noticed in the debate world. And also, about my mission trips to Harlington Country. Those are two huge aspects of my life that I really cared about and was passionate about, and I think that showed. Then also, haveing well-rounded activities. I did a lot of activities in high school and they were activities that I really cared about and I stuck with because I liked them and genuinely enjoyed them. Also, I think getting great teacher rec."

 

B2A: "Do you have any advice for other students who are going to be applying to college next year?"

 

Gloria: "Good luck! It is a process, but in the end, it is well worth it and you will find a place that matches you."

 

B2A: "Given that the admission rate for Asian American students is lower and it's harder to get in, did you keep this in mind when going through high school or choosing different activities to participate in?" 

 

Gloria: "That was definitely always in the back of my mind. I knew it was going to be harder no matter where I applied. That didn't really change the types of activities I was in. I just knew I needed to work extra hard at everything, so I tried to do that. Besides knowing that I had to work extra hard, it didn't affect or alter in any way what I had to do."

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April 5th, 2016

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From now until 5/24, current and past B2A students are invited to take part in a Rate-to-Win contest. 10 winners will be drawn and will receive either a $20 gift card to Starbucks or a pair of movie tickets! To enter, just follow and review Berkeley2 Academy on the sites listed on the attached poster, email us to verify your review(s), and wait for the winners to be drawn and announced on 5/26! Good luck! 

February 3rd,, 2016

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Congratulations to the NINE Westwood High School students to get perfect scores on ACT or SAT in 2015! We're so glad for all of you and very proud of the four who are Berkeley2 Academy students, too. All of the practice and hard work that these students put in really paid off!

January 20th, 2016

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Company Overview

REAL Capital Group is a leading real estate investment firm focused on acquiring, developing, and managing high-quality real estate. Austin 360 Home specialize on professional brokerage service and property management.

 

Business Internship Opportunity and Scope

 

Company Marketing

Develop marketing strategy

Create and maintain company websites

Conduct inbound marketing

 

Property Management

Market property for lease

Assist in property maintenance and client management

 

Investment Analysis

Analysis investment opportunities and markets trends using CCIM data analysis model

 

Email Lynn Yuan at lynn@austin360home.com to apply!

January 12th, 2016

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A big "Thank You" goes out to all the students and parents who attended our seminar at McNeil HS on January 7th. With an amazing turnout of ~120 students and parents, the seminar was a big success! We were excited to answer all your questions about the redesigned SAT, the new PSAT, and college admissions. It's always a huge pleasure for us to be able to share our years of educational experience with new students and parents. We also invite all of you to meet us one-on-one for a consultation during which our directors will be able to discuss how your child can overcome the specific challenges he/she faces in attaining his/her college admission goals and where we can answer any other questions you may have. Our goal is always to maximize students' individual potential and help them excel in all their educational pursuits.

December 22nd, 2015

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Congratulations to our B2A Class of 2016 on their early college acceptances! Many of our students were admitted to some of the nation's top universities and programs. We're still waiting to hear back from regular decision acceptance results, so check back with us for more college admission updates!

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Wilson N. - Stanford (REA)

Daniel W. - MIT (EA)

James C. - Rice (ED)

Hannah W. - Rice (ED)

Alay S. - Johns Hopkins (ED)

Jenli D. - John Hopkins (ED with scholarship!), UT Austin, Texas A&M, UT Dallas

Sarah K. - UT Austin (Dean Scholars Honors), UTD McDermott Semifinalist

Alex W. - UT Austin (Business Honors)

Gloria S. - UT Austin (Health Science Honors)

Spoorthi D. - UT Austin (Health Science Honors)

Bob L. - UT Austin (McCombs)

Brandon L. - UT Austin (Biomed Engineering)

William L. - UT Austin (Comp Sci), Texas A&M (Comp Sci)

Sarang J. - UT Austin (Biochemistry), Texas A&M (Chem Eng.), UT Dallas (Chem Eng.)

Shabad A. - UT Austin (McCombs)

Valentina N. - UT Austin (McCombs), Indiana Univ.

Adhithya B. - UT Austin

Sameer B. - UT Austin (Engineering)

Haesong L. - UT Austin (Comp Sci)

Kenneth L. - UT Austin (Comp Sci), Texas A&M, Purdue

Haarika S. - UT Austin (Comp Sci)

Jared M. - Texas A&M (Engineering)

Allen W. - Texas A&M (Comp Sci)

Haerin K. - Texas A&M

Hyewon N. - Texas A&M

Phillip A. - Texas A&M

Khunal P. - Texas A&M, UT Dallas

Sameera A. - Baylor

Ben A. - UT Dallas

Rishab P. - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (w/ scholarship!)

October 2nd, 2015

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We are excited to share with you about our recent feature on the Community Impact Newspaper! What started as a small business with hopes to offer resources to the next generation of immigrant families is now a two-branch business with greater resources and services to provide for a wider audience! We are so thankful for this growth and we promise that we will continue to strive for excellence and commitment to maximizing each student's potential. Thank you once again for choosing Berkeley2 Academy! We could not have done this without your trust! 

September 4th, 2015

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A neuroscience lab at the University of Texas is looking for teenagers (14-18 years of age) to participate in an electroencephalography (EEG) listening experiment. This would be a great opportunity for kids to see what scientific research looks like, especially for those considering neuroscience and/or research as a possible career path! During the EEG, participants will be asked to categorize different sounds after watching a silent Netflix movie or television show of their choice with subtitles. Participants will also be compensated $15/hour for their time.

August 11th, 2015

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Thank you, everyone, again for the generous donation of $202 for World Vision from our Grand Opening. We have matched this amount 100% to donate a total of $404 to World Vision's "Where Most Needed" category! We are also excited to share with you that we will be sponsoring 3 children, giving them better access to clean water and food, healthcare and protection, and education. World Vision will also work with these children to provide tools and training so they can become self-sufficient. We hope to continue to participate in charity work and help children around the world gain access to top education as our students do with us here in Austin!

April 16th, 2015

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Berkeley2 Academy's Northwest Branch will be moving to a *NEW* location!

 

The address is: 

12871 Research Blvd. 

Austin, TX 78750

 

We will be officially moved in by the end of April.  Please give us a call if you have any questions.

March 29th, 2015

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Thank you, everyone, for coming to our Accelerated BS-MD, Dental, and Pharmacy College Admissions Seminar! We had a great turn out with 150 students and parents who RSVP'd.  

 

We will be holding another College Admissions Seminar Series in the Fall so be on the lookout for the announcement!  

 

To get all the latest news and announcements, subscribe to our B2A Newsletter in the footer.  We periodically send newsletters to our subscribers to notify them of any upcoming events and on any Berkeley2 Academy news. Subscribers will be the first to know when to RSVP for the seminars, so you can ensure a seat for you and your family.

 

As always, we want to thank you for all the support!