Two High School North graduates are working together for Revolution Prep’s Ivy Insiders program. They are offering a free SAT workshop and practice exam on Saturday, July 30, at West Windsor Arts Center. Register online at revolutionprep.com/ivy/adeetee_b or call 877-738-7737.
The practice exam takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. An informal information session for parents will be presented in the lobby of the arts center from 9 to 9:30 a.m. Each family will receive a free score analysis after the practice exam. For students who want to continue the course, the fee is $599 for the group course. “The program hires college students who are in the top colleges in the country and scored in the top 99th percentile on the SAT to go back to their hometowns and create their own branch,” says Adeetee Bhide. “We find a location for the classes, recruit students, and teach the classes.”
Bhide was born in Madison, Wisconsin, and moved to West Windsor when she was in eighth grade and graduated from North in 2007. Her father, Rajeev Bhide, is a pharmaceutical chemist. Her mother, Dnyanada Bhide, is a computer programmer. Her younger brother Sachin graduated North in June and will study engineering at University of Illinois Urbana Champagne.
During her high school years she played the viola, tutored for A to Z mentoring, and was an officer of the Red Cross Club. She also ran cross country during her senior year. Bhide scored a 2330 on her SAT I, got a 700 or above on five different SAT IIs, and was a National Merit finalist.
She recently graduated summa cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis with a major in neuroscience and minors in psychology and anthropology. Her plans include getting her master’s degree at Cambridge next year and then her doctorate at University of Pittsburgh.
A long time student of Bharat Natyam, Indian classical dance, she choreographed for a Bollywood fusion dance team in St. Louis.
“I decided to teach SAT prep classes mostly because I love teaching,” says Bhide. “I’ve always been interested in education and am actually going to do my PhD in educational cognitive neuroscience (studying how people learn to read).” In college Bhide did literacy work in St. Louis public schools and worked as a teaching assistant at a Head Start day care facility affiliated with Washington University.
Aashika Shah was born in Bombay and moved to Plainsboro in ninth grade. Her father, Abhay Shah, a chartered accountant in India, died five years ago. Her mother, Sujata Shah, works for a CPA firm.
During her high school years Shah was involved in the environmental club, art club, and Red Cross. She volunteered for the Plainsboro Preserve, Plainsboro Library, and for Shadow Buddies, a program for special needs students. She pursued her interest in visual art and worked as an art teacher and manager for an art studio. She has worked as a math tutor.
“I enjoy teaching and working with young students and I also appreciate the importance of the SAT in college admissions,” says Shah. “I saw the Ivy Insiders program as a great way to help students in my hometown reach the colleges of their choice.”
Shah graduated in the top 20 of her class from High School North in 2010. She received a score of 2340 on the SAT (800 writing, 790 math, and 750 critical reading); perfect 5s on eight AP exams; and was a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship.
Now a rising sophomore majoring in materials science and engineering at Cornell University, Shah is a chair for the Society of Women Engineers.
“As co-managers Adeetee and I have had the chance to learn a lot about managing a small business and introducing a product, which, though firmly established in other parts of the country, is relatively new to West Windsor and Plainsboro.”
The team has already held free practice exams on June 5 at West Windsor Arts Center and on June 22 at Plainsboro Library. The four-week course began on June 26. The program also offers scholarships to needy families and the WWP team has already given three scholarships. They have already began teaching — and the results are in. “After just three classes, our students have already improved an average of 190 points,” Bhide says.
— Lynn Miller
SAT Workshop, Revolution Prep’s Ivy Insiders, West Windsor Arts Council, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor. Saturday, July 30, 9 a.m. Information session and practice exam presented by Adeetee Bhide, a graduate of High School North, Class of 2007; and Aashika Shah, a graduate of North, Class of 2010. Register. Free. 877-738-7738. revolutionprep.com/ivy/adeetee_b.
