Alice Silva
+160 in Math
“The program pushed me to stay on top of my studies, and it taught me the importance of time management.”
My name is Alice Silva, and I’m a 12th-grade student at School for Advanced Studies. Before joining Peace of Pi, I realized that my SAT math score needed a lot of improvement. I hadn’t studied algebra or geometry since middle school, and although I was taking calculus, many of the foundational math concepts felt distant. I had a 610 in math, which wasn’t enough for my goal of 100% Bright Futures. I wanted to give myself the best chance possible to succeed at that and to feel confident applying to top schools like UF, especially since their SAT requirements had become more competitive.
Before the program, I generally understood math well but had forgotten a lot of the specific material I needed for the SAT. Certain topics, like percentage questions, trigonometry, and pre-calculus, were difficult, and I struggled with them the most. I knew I needed more than just a quick refresher—I needed a structured program to really reinforce these areas.
When I first started the course, I had an idea of what to expect because I had a friend who had already done Peace of Pi during the school year. However, I definitely underestimated how intense it would be, especially since I took the course over the summer. There was a lot of homework, practice tests, and weekly meetings, and it required me to stay disciplined and manage my time well. It was tough, especially balancing it with summer travel, but I was committed.
The virtual group learning experience was better than I expected. I worked with three different tutors throughout the course, and all of them were excellent. They explained every concept clearly and made sure we fully understood the material before moving on. They were attentive and always available to help if I had any questions. I appreciated how straightforward and easy-to-understand their explanations were, which made a big difference when tackling challenging topics.
After completing the course, my math score jumped from 610 to 770—a 160-point improvement! My overall SAT score also increased from 1270 to 1410, which is something I’m really proud of. Thanks to that improvement, I now qualify for 100% Bright Futures, which is a huge relief, and I feel much more confident about applying to schools like UF.
Looking back, the hard work was definitely worth it. The program pushed me to stay on top of my studies, and it taught me the importance of time management. My advice to other students would be to understand that it’s going to be a big commitment. You have to put in the work, ask questions when you’re stuck, and trust the process. In the end, all the homework, quizzes, and practice tests will pay off!