A family-owned and operated company, Higher Scores Test Prep is dedicated to treating each of our clients as a member of our own family. We know how important these exams are to a student’s future and are honored when families choose to prepare for the ACT & SAT with us!
Lauren Gaggioli, Founder of Higher Scores Test Prep & Host of The College Checklist Podcast
After graduating from New York University with her B.F.A. in Theater, Lauren moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. To make time for auditions during the day, she called upon her academic roots from her high school days and began tutoring the SAT and ACT.
She quickly fell in love – not with the exams, but with the feeling that she was helping students put their feet on a firm path towards a big, bright future.
(Ok, maybe she fell a little bit in love with the exams too. Her dad didn’t nickname her #2 Pencil Nerd for nothing.)
After 7 years working as an in-home tutor with a large test prep firm and then in her own independent tutoring company, Lauren distilled her experiences into the personalized test prep courses that are now available through Higher Scores Test Prep.
Lauren’s love of teaching and compassion for what students are facing in today’s complex, competitive college admissions landscape allows her to bring a little bit of calm to her corner of the college admissions process.
Learn more about our test prep courses! >>
Lauren is also the host of The College Checklist podcast. On the podcast, she interviews college counselors and other college admissions professionals, bringing timely, relevant information to today’s college bound families. You can subscribe to the podcast for free on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts!
Lauren lives in Carlsbad, CA with her husband Mike and their two energetic “babies” – Giada the Chihuahua and Captain Malcolm Reynolds their mischievous cat. When she’s not teaching, she can be found creating content for her fellow entrepreneurs, training for her next half marathon, or whipping up a new recipe in her teeny-tiny kitchen.
Bob Verbarg, Director of Finance
Bob retired in 2008 after 33 years in senior management positions with a national payroll processing firm. The family moved 7 times during that period and he is ever grateful to Francine and his children for their willingness to cheerfully relocate so often.
Bob has always enjoyed sports, particularly golf and tennis, but after a 2010 MS diagnosis he has been sidelined.
Because of Bob’s diagnosis, the Verbargs & Gaggiolis founded Team Bobby V to support Progressive MS Research. 11% of all of Higher Scores Test Prep’s profits are donated to the team each year.
Bob is very proud of Lauren for her dedication to her students’ success and for her entrepreneurial spirit in starting Higher Scores Test Prep and is proud to be a part of the team.
Francine Verbarg, Delivery Leader
While raising two wonderful children and living in three states of this great country, Francine became a highly organized and structured leader of the household. She further honed these skills as an advertising sales associate at the Los Angeles Times.
Francine’s attention to detail will ensure that your orders will be handled promptly and accurately. She is looking forward to serving you!
Let’s Chat!
We take our commitment to our clients very seriously and are happy to answer any questions you may have at any time. Please don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d love to get to know you.
