Contact Doctor SHSAT

Most families who contact Doctor SHSAT are not yet sure what they need — they simply know the SHSAT is coming and want an expert opinion. Every initial conversation with Dr. Stuart Donnelly is free, confidential, and low-pressure. On a 20 to 30 minute call or Zoom session, he will ask about your child’s current grade, recent report cards, the specialized high schools on your shortlist, and any diagnostic or practice-test scores you already have. From there he can give you a realistic picture of the score gap to the Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, and Brooklyn Tech cutoffs, a recommended timeline, and an honest read on how much work is involved. If online tutoring fits your schedule better than in-person sessions in NYC, he will explain exactly how those work too.

Timing matters more than most parents realize. The SHSAT is administered in October, so ideal prep begins six months earlier — in the spring of 7th grade for accelerated students, or at the latest in early summer before 8th grade. That window allows for a full diagnostic, steady content review across Math and ELA, and several timed practice tests under exam conditions. Families who start in August or September can still see meaningful gains with an intensive plan, but the earlier Dr. Donnelly can build a baseline, the more room there is to raise a composite score into competitive territory.

Common consultation questions include: How many sessions will my child actually need? Is a 490 realistic from a current 420? What’s the difference between private tutoring and a large prep course like Kaplan or Khan Academy? How do you handle motivation when a 7th grader isn’t excited about extra work? Dr. Donnelly answers each of these directly, drawing on more than 20 years of results with NYC students. As an Oxford Ph.D. who personally handles every enquiry, he typically responds within 2 to 4 hours during the day and by the next morning for evening messages. You can start by filling out the form above, calling 917-568-2473, or reading the detailed FAQs and tutor biography first — whichever feels most natural.