Success

Four Measures of Success of Dr. Pace’s Programs

1. Point Increase

Point increase is a primary measure of the success of a test-prep program.

The Following Sample of Students Attended Dr. Pace's 25-hour SAT Academic + Retreat Seminar in the 2009-2010 school year

National Merit Winners:

Shannon Keenan +390 point increase, Nazareth Academy
Kyra Krass +110 point increase, Nazareth Academy
Melanie Sweeney +160 point increase, Nazareth Academy
KC Farrell - - 290 point increase, Mount Saint Joseph Academy

Notable SAT/PSAT Point Increases by Students in the 2009-2010 School Year:

Jessica Eng +380 point increase, Saint Hubert's
Hannah Farrell +260 points, Mount Saint Joseph Academy
John Doherty +310 points, Roman Catholic
Brianna Kain +320 points, Saint Basil Academy
Tracey Wong +220 points, Council Rock North
James Innes +230 points, Bishop McDevitt
Ashley Debilzen +300 points, Nazareth Academy
Alicia Roselli +340 points, Nazareth Academy
Patrick O’Brien +300 points, Cardinal Dougherty

Statistical data from Dr. Pace’s 25-hour “Combined SAT Academic and SAT Retreat Seminar” is as follows:

Average Point Change: 180 point increase

Seniors: 160 point increase
Juniors: 182 point increase
Sophomores: 210 point increase

Of the Catholic High School participants in Dr. Pace’s summer 2008 Combined Program: 95% showed an overall increase in total point change; 5% stayed the same—that is, between -10 and +10 Statistics on Dr. Pace’s High School Entrance and Scholarship program

The average TerraNova National Percentiles of the students who took Dr. Pace’s academic and holistic programs were two times higher than the average National Percentiles of their classmates at their parish schools

Alyssa McFadden was accepted at Mt. Saint Joseph Academy and Gwynedd Mercy Academy. Alyssa was also invited to sit for the Neumann Scholarship. She will attend Archbishop Wood. Alyssa looks forward to being a part of their new "strings" program.
Devin Norton will attend the Peddie School.
Nolan Iorio will attend Holy Ghost Prep.
Samantha Eberle was accepted to all schools she applied to. Samantha will attend Mount Saint Joseph
Karli Pensabene was accepted to Mount Saint Joseph Academy and Gwynedd Mercy Academy.

2. Scholarships

Another important measure of the success of a test-prep program is whether or not the participants are awarded scholarships.

Mary Harkins, Principal of Archbishop Wood High School, reports that approximately 80% of her National Merit candidates have taken Dr. Pace’s SAT Retreat, which is regularly offered at Archbishop Wood.
A group of thirty-three 8th grade students who took Dr. Pace’s Dragon Slayer Series received over $146,000 dollars in scholarship money. Among those scholarship recipients is Christine McLane. Mr. and Mrs. McLane wrote this letter to Dr. Pace:
"Our daughter, Christine McLane, is a current 8th grade student at St. Cecilia School in Fox Chase. She attended your Whiz Kids program and your HSPT prep class. I wanted to inform you that Christine was accepted to NazarethAcademy and St. Basil Academy. Her performance scores and her performance ratings on the entrance exams were extremely high. She was awarded a $6,000 scholarship to St. Basil Academy due to her high scores. Christine also sat for the scholarship exam at Little FlowerHigh School and was awarded a $14,000 scholarship for her academic performance on the exam. We wanted to share this great news and to thank you for your wonderful prep classes. We feel that your guidance and instruction assisted Christine in achieving her goals. Christine will definitely be attending more of your classes throughout her high school years. Thank you so much!"
Kyle Eng - Connelly Scholarship for 4 years, attending Archbishop Ryan
"Thanks to Dr. Pace's SAT Retreat seminar, I learned more than how to successfully answer the test questions. As a class we were taught how to calm our nerves, gain confidence in our abilities and many other things along the way. The program is definitely a unique approach to SAT prep, which is what makes it so helpful. I truly feel the seminar gave me an edge in the college admission process and helped me gain admission to the schools of my choice. I will be attending George Washington University in the fall on an academic scholarship, and I also received money from all the other schools I was accepted to." - Gabrielle Geonnotti, Nazareth Academy 2010
More testimonies are available throughout this web site.

3. Far-Reaching Effects

Students and administrators, alike, notice that the positive effects of Dr. Pace’s holistic programs extend far beyond standardized tests.

Mary Kate Gasiewski, Nazareth Academy, class of 2010, went up 290 points on her SAT. She offers this testimony about the far-reaching effects: " Dr. Pace’s SAT Retreat program, with its encouragement of an all-around healthy lifestyle, teaches through life lessons, lessons that will get you through not only the SAT but also through a handful of situations. The retreat helped me realize what to expect of myself mentally and how to prepare myself physically and emotionally. It taught me essential tactics that will undoubtedly help me with future problem-solving."
George W. Bur, S.J., President of St. Joseph's Preparatory School, Philadelphia, and founder of the Ignatian College Connection Program: "Pat's SAT Retreat program assures uncertain students that they have what it takes for the grueling SAT exam. The program encourages them to reach the peak of their potential by teaching them traditional spiritual techniques not only to reduce anxiety but also to engage the positive energies that are gifts from their Creator. Students learn, moreover, how to prepare in the weeks leading up to the SAT, just as an athlete might prepare for competition, making use of proper diet, exercise and rest. Their interest in achievement on the SAT encourages students to learn important spiritual skills that will be with them for life."
Mrs. Sheila Amrhein says this about the broad effects of Dr. Pace’s holistic high school entrance program: "Dr. Pace charters new territory in test preparation. Helping your child identify some of the "emotional dragons" preventing personal best achievement is invaluable. This holistic approach has application in all aspects of life and it was particularly helpful to share the experience with my son."

4. Sampling of Schools

One measure of the success of a program is the number of schools that use it. The following is a sampling of schools that have used Dr. Pace’s programs:

Saint Basil Academy High School, Fox Chase Manor, PA - Read St. Basil's letter of recommendation regarding the SAT Retreat Program
Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster, PA
Nazareth Academy High School, Philadelphia, PA
St. Joseph's Prep, Philadelphia, PA
Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls, Philadelphia, PA
West Catholic High School, Philadelphia, PA
Villa Maria Academy, Malvern, PA
Rome Catholic, Rome, NY
Cardinal Dougherty High School, Philadelphia, PA
The Ignatian College Connection at St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA
St. Cecilia School, Philadelphia, PA
Holy Martyrs School, Oreland, PA
Queen of Peace School, Ardsley, PA
St. Martin de Porres School, Philadelphia, PA
Presentation BVM School, Cheltenham, PA
Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Miami, FL
The Mary Louis Academy, Queens, NY
Fontbonne Hall Academy, Brooklyn, NY
Saint Saviour High School, Brooklyn, NY
Bishop Kearney High School, Brooklyn, NY
Xaverian High School, Brooklyn, NY
St. Joseph of the Palisades High School, West New York, NJ

Articles about Dr. Pace's Programs

"Tests Measure Many Things and Prepping Can Help"
Dr. Pace's Published Response in the Wall Street Journal (6/3/09)
Putting God To the Test: God and the SAT As published in the September/October 2007 issue of Momentum Magazine - the journal of the National Catholic Educational Association.
God and the SAT: Spiritual/Academic Retreat at TMLA
As published in the August 23, 2008 edition of The Tablet - the weekly newspaper of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Presentation and Events

National publishing company links Dr. Pace's SAT Retreat to website: http://www.osv.com/ParishNav/FaithFusion/Resources/forCatechists
Saint Cecilia Home and School- Wednesday May 5, 7 p.m. Dr. Pace describes the goals and benefits of her new spiritual-academic Learning Skills Program
Saint Basil Academy Parents Club - Tuesday May 11, 7:30 p.m. Dr. Pace describes the goals and effects of her Combined SAT Academic and SAT Retreat
Presented on the SAT Retreat to the Saint Joseph's Prep Mothers Club on February 10, 2010.
Dr. Pace’s programs and products were presented at the Philadelphia Archdiocesan Elementary School Book Fair on October 12, 13, 15.
Presentation on the SAT Retreat, November 6, 2009: Region 3 NCEA Regional Meeting for Catholic High School Principals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Presentation on the SAT Retreat, November 17, 2009: Philadelphia Archdiocesan Secondary School Principals Meeting

Dr. Pace presented her successful programs at the NCEA Convention in Anaheim, CA on April 15, 2009. See the photos below.

NCEA Presentation Photos