PROGRAMS

SAT, AP Exam, SHSAT & SSAT

At Concepts and Patterns, we train students to study smart. Each of our SAT I and AP Exam courses begins with coverage of fundamental concepts central to each standardized test. Once a solid conceptual foundation is built, we help students recognize patterns in the test, encouraging them to think like a test-maker. Finally, by working through problem sets and mock exams, we train students to analyze recurrent patterns in their answer choices and reduce errors.

COLLEGE CONSULTING

Entrance to a top university is determined by more than just grades and test scores. We guide our students through every aspect of the admissions process including selecting the right college, brainstorming and editing their personal statement, tailoring the application for each school, crafting a resume, and registering for scholarships and financial aid. This individualized and comprehensive approach helps each student gain the best chance of reaching their dream school.

Open library and homework assistance

At Concepts and Patterns, we recognize the importance of schoolwork in addition to studying for standardized tests. Therefore, every student enrolled in any of our programs is offered complimentary access to our open study library staffed with teaching assistants who help with school work for a variety of subjects.

2026 summer ProgramS

What makes our program effective

• Thorough coverage of fundamental concepts

• Strikes and bonus incentive system

• Score improvement guarantee

volunteer service

C&P is a certifying organization of the President's Volunteer Service Award, an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) administered by Points of Light. Through a shared mission of inspiring more to answer the call to service, the President's Volunteer Service Award celebrates the impact we can all make in bettering our communities and our world. 

The President's Volunteer Service Award recognizes United States citizens and permanent residents of the United States that have achieved the required number of hours of service over a 12-month time period (July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020), or, for the Lifetime Award, more than 4,000 cumulative service hours over a lifetime.

For each of these awards, individuals are recognized according to the following award criteria.

• Young Adults Ages 16-25

  Bronze: 100 – 174 service hours 

  Silver: 175 – 249 service hours 

  Gold: 250+ service hours 

• Teens Ages 11-15

  Bronze: 50 – 74 service hours 

  Silver: 75 – 99 service hours 

  Gold: 100+ service hours 

Please contact us for more information.

Click here to PVSA website

About Us

Phillip Ha

Phillip Ha is the Founding Director of Concepts and Patterns. He oversees all academic and programmatic aspects of the academy, designs the standardized test preparation curriculum, and teaches the foundational SAT and AP classes. With over 18 years of teaching and mentoring experience, Phillip has worked with more than 1,100 students in New York and Virginia, helping them gain admission to top colleges and universities such as Stanford, MIT, Harvard, Yale, and Columbia.

Over the years, Phillip has developed deep expertise in standardized testing, scoring in the 99th percentile on the SAT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and DAT. His passion for logic, patterns, and the structure of high-level exams has led him to study these tests closely and refine a teaching approach built on precision, clarity, and strong conceptual understanding.

Before founding Concepts and Patterns, Phillip worked as a cancer researcher at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and later in the patent field at Covington & Burling, the largest law firm in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Ji Chang

Dr. Ji Chang is the Co-Founder of Concepts and Patterns and the Director of its College Admissions Program. She leads the academy’s college advising work with a thoughtful, student-centered approach grounded in years of teaching, mentoring, and higher education experience. She is also an Associate Professor at New York University College of Global Public Health (click here).

With over 16 years of experience working with students, Dr. Chang brings both warmth and strategic insight to the college admissions process. Her background in higher education allows her to guide students with a rare combination of academic depth, mentorship, and perspective, helping them build compelling applications that reflect their strengths, growth, and long-term potential.

Dr. Chang earned her Ph.D. in Public Administration from New York University, her M.S. in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University, and her B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley.