The Independent Learner Program
Learning that ignites potential.
The Independent Learner
High school students are paired with an expert mentor to build meaningful STEM and public service projects that stand out on top college applications worldwide.
The Confident Learner
Develop essential habits of mind, work, and self-direction, empowering students with results-focused frameworks, hands-on activities, and public speaking skills that support school, college, and career success.
The College Process
Individually tailored for 11th and 12th-grade students and their parents who plan to apply to American and international colleges and universities.
Our Mission
In a future defined by rapid technological change and global competition, we aim to provide students opportunities to develop discipline-based ideas and build the confidence to communicate their thinking with clarity and purpose.
This philosophy shapes our programs, The Confident Learner, The Independent Learner, and The College Process.
We prepare students for the flexible, interdisciplinary environments in which success depends on the ability to pivot, collaborate across fields, build, measure, and test solutions that often emerge from the unexpected.
Over 500 students have used their independent projects as the centerpiece of highly competitive college applications, gaining admission to Ivy League and other elite universities across the United States and internationally.
Our methods have proven highly effective, which is why students and families return for mentorship and advisement for years beyond their first experience. — Dr. Valerie Feit
Big Ideas, Real Impact.
Cultivating Individual Potential for Meaningful Achievement
Dr. Valerie Feit, Founder and Director
“Our students are prepared for the future.”
What Makes Us Different?
Built by an Expert
Dr. Valerie Feit is a recognized authority in gifted education, reflective learning, and the integration of AI into PBL. Her book, Student Research for Community Change, is used in teacher training across the USA.
Research-Based Curriculum & Developmentally Tailored
Each session is taught by an experienced teacher who is certified in the Independent Learner and Confident Learner methods.Focus on Strengths & Interests
We start with your child’s unique talents and interests and apply those strengths to academic and real-world challenges.Parents are Partners. We respect parents' roles and provide individualized, actionable guidance and feedback.
We are AI pioneers who have led in the development of AI educational practices to enhance and support student learning.
Dr. Valerie Feit with Parents as Partners.
Our programs:
The Independent Learner
Grades: 10th and 11th
Format: 30 sessions × 60 minutes (online) annually.
Outcome: Portfolio + Video + Certificate - Ready for the College Application Process
Taught by: ILP-trained mentors
The Journey
Identify strengths and talents
Review academic record and extracurricular activities
Develop a strategic, thematic, real-world project that highlights and builds on accomplishments
Practice public speaking and learn advanced presentation techniques
Identify college and career pathways
Prepare a portfolio that showcases student strengths and accomplishments
Tuition: $9,900 full academic year
$5,900 two-semesters
$3,900 10-week condensed program
$250. per hour educational advisement
Please note:
Once we assess your needs, we will create an individualized proposal and tuition packet.
The Confident Learner
Benefits: Public speaking, build confidence, learn easy-to-use lifelong learning strategies for success at school and college.
Grades: 4 through College
Format: 9 sessions × 50 minutes (online) annually
Outcome: Portfolio + Video + Certificate
Taught by: ILP-trained mentors who coach, focusing on learning engagement and achievement
The Journey
Thinking About Thinking – “Who am I as a learner or candidate?”
Practice Makes Progress – Mastery through strategy
Connecting Ideas – Building my future by linking knowledge and applications
Growing Big, Bold Ideas – How to harness creativity in action
Listening & Working Together – Collaborative intelligence
What Is Fair? – Ethical reasoning for the common good
How Have I Grown? – Self-assessment & reflection
Looking Back to Learn Forward – Course debrief & review
Sharing My Story – Presenting growth to parents
Tuition: $1800
The College Process
Grades: Juniors and Seniors
Format: Online meetings (weekly or bi-weekly) from February through December
Outcome: Portfolio + Video + 5 Primary College Essays
Taught by: ILP-trained mentors who coach, focusing on the development of a unique and effective application.
Outcome: Applications that strategically highlight strengths, interests, accomplishments, and demonstrate the thinking that competitive colleges and universities seek in their best students.
Tuition includes complimentary, scheduled parent meetings.
The Journey
We offer a comprehensive set of college application services:
Strategy
College list
College and university program advisement and selection
Essay support through the submission of applications
We continue to advise you through your acceptances, final decision, and success!
We are always happy to answer questions.
Next Steps:
After speaking with you about your child and your goals, we provide feedback, recommend an individual plan based on our conversation, and present it to you.
We are happy to work collaboratively with Chinese educational counselors.
The journey begins with a 20-minute, Complimentary Parent Meet-and-Greet with Dr. Valerie Feit and Jing WEN, who will translate for us.
There is no obligation. Please contact us to schedule a meeting to speak about your child and your needs.
Tuition: $8,900 February - June, August - December
$4,900 10-week condensed program (Strategic review, 1 main essay,
and 4 supplemental essays)
$250. per hour educational advisement
The first meeting lasts 20 minutes and is complimentary.
Meet the Team
Valerie Feit, Ed.D.
Founder and Director of Education and Curriculum
Dr. Feit is the co-author of Student Research for Community Change (Teachers College Press, Columbia University, 2020), a foundational text on inquiry-based civic learning. She is a nationally recognized expert in enrichment education, student talent development, and strategic program design. Her students have been accepted to the most competitive colleges in the U.S. and internationally.
Dr. Feit served as Director of K-12 Enrichment Education and Co-Director of Counseling in the Rye Neck Union Free School District ranked in the top 2% of school districts in the USA. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University and a Master’s in School Counseling from the College of New Rochelle.
Authority Magazine
The New York and New Jersey Social Studies Teacher Association
Westchester Magazine Feature
PATRICK ARDINGER
Lead Teacher and Professional Development Coordinator
Patrick Ardinger, M.A., is a
Stanford University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in English. He specializes in global ethics, storytelling, and the expository writing style that stands out in college essays. For the past seven years, Mr. Ardinger has served as the Middle School Lead Teacher at the San Francisco Schoolhouse. As a progressive trailblazer, he developed a multi-disciplinary, project-based curriculum that connected classroom learning to real-world applications.
Zifeng TANG
STEM Advisor and ILP Teacher Certification Trainer
Zifeng TANG is fluent in his native Chinese and English. He is a graduate of New York University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He is currently pursuing his second Master’s degree at Columbia University to prepare for a career at the nexus of climate change, public health, biomedical science, and business.
Zifeng advises ILP students on expanding their scientific thinking and aligning high school science exploration with university-level expectations.
An Independent Learner student won the Princeton University Prize in Race Relations for her project collecting English-language books for orphanages in Japan. She was accepted to Dartmouth College and the University of Pennsylvania. She chose UPenn, where she is currently a political science major.
JOHN DALTON
Founder and Director of Strategic Development and AI Integration
John Dalton is a founding advisor and lead mentor with the Independent Learner Program. He is a graduate of Brown University, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Literature and a Master's degree in Applied Mathematics. He received his MBA from Columbia University. Mr. Dalton has deep experience at the intersection of business, policy, and education. He has worked with students across disciplines, supporting them in developing socially impactful research and translating ideas into action. He is instrumental in facilitating expert partnerships and community-based collaborations that enhance the civic and career relevance of ILP projects. His work emphasizes real-world outcomes, preparing students to enter college with a demonstrated record of critical thinking, leadership, and public engagement.
JING WEN (Lark)
Chinese Cultural Liaison, Program Administrator
Jing Wen is an educator and cross-cultural program leader with more than two decades of experience in international education, nonprofit initiatives, and academic exchange between China and the United States. Fluent in Mandarin and English, she has designed and led academic, cultural, and service-learning programs that promote global competence and cross-cultural collaboration.
Jing has taught English and Chinese language and culture at Nanjing University of Finance and Economics for over 20 years and has held visiting scholar appointments in Canada and Macau. She has also designed executive training programs with SUNY Global Center and Nassau Community College, serving clients including BlackRock, Pfizer, and Sotheby’s.
She holds a Master’s in American Literature from Heilongjiang University, a Certificate in Chinese and American Studies from the Johns Hopkins–Nanjing Center, and a Bachelor’s in Education from Qiqihar University.
Nicole Pereira
STEM Mentor and ILP Teacher Certification Trainer
Nicole Pereira, an Independent Learner Program (ILP) alumnus, holds a Master’s in Molecular and Integrative Physiology from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s in Neurobiology from the University of Wisconsin. Nicole is passionate about advancing science through research, education, and mentoring. As a research consultant, she guides ILP students in designing and implementing community and laboratory-based science projects. Additionally, Nicole critiques science research reports and assists students with science competition display boards.
Mentored by Dr. Feit, Nicole’s research journey began in high school, where her award-winning experiments ignited her passion for science. In college, she honed her skills as a research assistant, mastering the scientific method, literature writing, and poster design. Her role as a Peer Learning Volunteer further inspired her to promote accessible science education, leading her to teach at a low-resource elementary school while completing her Master’s at the University of Michigan.
Dedicated to empowering students, Nicole helps them explore their interests, build confidence, and make meaningful contributions to science.
Dr. Valerie Feit and John Dalton visit high schools in Nanjing, 2025.
Let’s connect…
Contact us for a complimentary consultation and discover how our tailored programs can fit your educational goals.
Our Expertise
Our multidisciplinary team combines decades of experience in learning design, data analytics, and organizational development. We stay ahead of emerging trends to ensure every program is relevant, engaging, and measurable.
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