Carla Barry has spent more than fifteen years helping students conquer the SAT and ACT, and she believes every student can earn a great score with the right strategy and a little bit of grit. A University of Miami graduate, she discovered her own love of test-taking while studying for the LSAT and MCAT, while simultaneously helping students prepare for the ACT and SAT. She quickly realized her passion lay in the challenges of the standardized test-taking process. Her approach pairs a student's classroom foundation with the critical thinking and test know-how that lessons in schools rarely have time to cover, the skills that turn a good score into a great one. She has spent thousands of hours getting to know the intricacies of what the SAT and ACT reward in terms of knowledge and test-taking skills, and she conveys that wisdom to her students in a fraction of the time.
Carla often works with students from Berkeley Prep, Tampa Prep, the Academy of the Holy Names, Jesuit, Carrollwood Day School, Plant, Palm Harbor University High, Admiral Farragut, and many more, while also coaching students across the country over Zoom. Her students routinely reach 99th percentile scores, earn Bright Futures scholarships, and go on to secure entrance to Ivy League schools, accelerated 7-year medical programs, and competitive universities nationwide. She also guides students through the full college application process, from application forms to polished personal statements.
What she loves most is the moment the nerves fade, and students realize they can accomplish their goals. Living with her husband and two children in downtown Safety Harbor, Carla brings warmth, patience, and real strategy to every session, so students can apply to college with genuine pride and confidence.
