This course teaches the same software programming language used to build companies like Facebook, Yahoo, Wikipedia, and WordPress. Students learn the syntax and problem-solving skills, but more importantly, they learn to put it all together by programming an MVP of Facebook and the backend software that powers it.
“Academic criteria are important to Yale’s selective admissions process, but we look at far more than test scores and grades… every applicant brings something unique to the admissions committee table.
Perhaps one application stands out because of sparkling recommendations, while another presents outstanding extracurricular talent; maybe your personality shines through a powerful written voice.”
“Even perfect test scores don’t guarantee admission. Far from it: 69% of Stanford’s applicants over the past five years who scored a perfect score on the SAT were rejected… we’re also looking for evidence that this young person has a passion, that he or she will bring something to our community that is unique.”
All universities, especially the top ones, look very closely at the extracurricular section of the application to differentiate candidates. In many cases, as publicly stated by Yale and Stanford, students can beat students with higher GPAs/SAT scores by demonstrating outstanding extracurricular abilities. Admissions officers want applicants who can demonstrate their real–world talents and ability to grow beyond the classroom. This is what our Software Development class does. There’s no better way to demonstrate a student’s outstanding extracurricular talent than by being able to take a blank text editor and building an MVP of Facebook before the age that Mark Zuckerberg did.
Almost every student writes about the same things for their college admissions essays: volunteering, leadership, family experiences… To stand out, an admissions officer must be able to envision what a student can achieve after graduating from the university, and that means students must write about their proven ability to achieve into the future. Thus, we focus on having students build real-world projects over simply memorizing syntax. This is the foundation for gaining more achievements, doing better in competitions, and landing an internship at a young age, which means more meaningful experiences to draw from in their essays.
Nothing is more impressive on a college app than a real internship at a real company doing real work – not filing papers and getting coffee. The problem is that it’s very difficult to land internships doing actual programming, especially in high school when students haven’t had the right training. We provide that exact training, teaching students syntax and how to build an actual software/web application. This allows them to demonstrate outstanding skills that they are capable of applying in the real world, not just in the classroom.
Recommendation letters are one of the most important differentiating factors for university acceptance. A good one can help a student stand out, and a mediocre one is just as unhelpful as a bad one. This course is a safe and fast-paced learning environment where students are learning very intense material and, more importantly, making their mistakes with us. This way, when they are in moments where it counts (internships, other extracurriculars, competitions, in front of coaches), they aren’t learning but instead are focused on impressing.
Doing well in hackathons and coding competitions or winning highly coveted scholarships or grants are important in the eyes of a college admissions officer because it gives a student’s application credibility. Credibility is one of the best ways to stand out and give them an edge. Our programs are designed to sharpen their thinking skills and provide them with valuable information that they can use to win more competitions, scholarships, and grants – ultimately bringing more credibility to their college application.
The whole point of AP and Honors classes is that a student can show universities they are capable of material above and beyond their current age group. This is no different. Our course is based on building an MVP of Facebook, where they learn how to build the backend software that powers the application. Students must solve real problems and devise real solutions beyond college-level material, pushing their critical thinking skills and intelligence to a higher level. This helps them stand out where it matters most – in the eyes of the admissions officer.
This class is project-based. Students learn how to build an MVP of Facebook and the back–end software that powers the application. By going through and building it from scratch, they’ll gain direct experience solving problems, coming up with solutions, using syntax, and all the most important concepts they have to know in order to be self-sufficient and build any web-based application in the future.
So many students are taking programming classes right now who can write code but can’t build anything. There’s a difference between being able to know the definition of what something is versus being able to use it to actually create something functional. Unfortunately, most students receive an incomplete understanding of the language from other programs because they are never taught how to use it to build something. In this course, we teach the syntax and how to use it to build a complete web application and the backend software that powers it.
No matter what a student does in life, it will for sure involve problem-solving and critical thinking. These are skills that need to be practiced, honed, and challenged to grow. Our classes exercise that part of the brain heavily. Students leave our class as better problem-solvers and more creative critical thinkers based on the fact that we solve real problems involved in programming.
There are many students taking multiple programming classes where they learn the same things over and over again without being able to build anything significant. Our course is a one-stop shop: students who complete it will be completely self–sufficient in all the important concepts of PHP and MySQL. We teach all the fundamentals, advanced concepts, and syntax – and, more importantly, we teach you how to use all of this to build actual software/applications.
The reason students get bored in classes and programs is that they can’t necessarily grasp the importance of what they are learning and doing. It is difficult to be engaged in the learning process when we don’t understand the purpose of what we’re doing and why the skills or knowledge are significant; this leaves students with a sub-optimal, unengaging learning cycle.
Our course addresses this by having students build an MVP of Facebook and the backend software that powers it. This way, they not only learn the syntax but remain engaged in and excited about the class.
The benefit of our program is that it provides an experience that will be academically enriching and professionally useful. Students leave this class with truly practical, valuable, and marketable skills they can rely on for the rest of their lives.
We have honed our teaching style, curriculum, and teacher quality for 10+ years, so we have no problem insuring your money with a 100% money-back guarantee.
We’re so confident that this is the best class you and your student will have ever attended
that we’ll give you $100 cash on top of your money-back guarantee.
*For group classes, students must attend at least 80% of the classes in a course. For 1-on-1 classes, the request must be made prior to the start of the fifth class.
Introduction / Set Up Server & IDE
PHP Fundamentals
PHP Fundamentals
PHP Fundamentals
SQL / MySQL Fundamentals
SQL / MySQL Fundamentals
Facebook the Project Begins / Creating Registration & Log In Function
Creating Registration & Log In Function
Creating the Profile Photo &
Personal Info Function
Creating the Profile Photo & Personal Info Function
Creating the Profile Wall &
Search Function
Creating the Profile Wall &
Search Function
Creating the Friend Request &
Public News Feed Function
Creating the Friend Request &
Public News Feed Function
Creating the Like Functionality
All of our classes are done completely online, fully remote. We have class options on both weekdays and weekends. Classes can be done in small group (2–5 students) or 1–on–1. All depending on availability.
There are 15 classes total in the entire course, and each class is typically 2.5 hours.
Classes during the school year (Fall/Winter/
Spring) are typically 1x/week for 15 weeks.
Classes during the summer are typically 3x/week for 5 weeks.
Our classes are offered year-round and we often have multiple classes running in the same week, but at different times. To get the most up–to–date information on current and upcoming classes, fill out the enrollment form below and our class coordinator will reach out to you as soon as possible.
Class options can be customized around the
availabilities of the students. All you need to do is tell
us when your student is busy, and we’ll work to find a class timing that will work for their schedule. We can customize.
All of our classes are done online and are backed by our 100% Money–Back Guarantee. Classes are possible all days of the week, during all times of the day (morning
to evening), and can occur as frequently (1x,2x,3x/
week, etc.) as requested, and happen throughout the
entire year – depending on availability.
All you need to do is fill out the form below, and our team will do our best to find a time that works for
your schedule.
My 10th grader took the PHP & MySql software development course in Fall 2021 with Zenith Academy. It turned out to be one of the best class she has attended for computer programming. It really helped setup the important foundational concepts for her and then progressed forward towards end-to-end website/portal building including databases. In-detail discussion over concepts in the class. Teachers are very patient and knowledgeable. If she needed additional clarification, teachers encouraged those questions and re-explained the concepts. My daughter learned and enjoyed thoroughly. I would highly recommend this course.
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My children love Zenith. My daughter is a Sophomore now. She joined back when she was in 8th grade. She enjoys the different programs that Zenith offers. As parents, we like that Zenith helps her explore career choices such as business, technology, and medical fields. We like the service so much, that our 7th grader son is now also enrolled in the program. We highly recommend Zenith.
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My son took two courses at Zenith - Web Development and Software Development. These courses are not just about learning computer language, but more about applying those skills in developing real life applications. At the of the course enterprise quality applications were built. This whole process has helped in improving problem solving skill.
Instructors at Zenith are very knowledgeable and true professionals, understand how to pace the program still keep students motivated. Highly recommended!!!
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My 12-year-old son loved the "Programming - Web development " and "Programming - Software development" classes by Zenith prep.
We took 1:1 class for Web development and instructor taught the concepts very nicely. The exercises after the class were very helpful to strengthen the foundation.
We opted for group class in summer for Software development. The class was very interactive and the concepts were explained with good examples. The practice exercises helped my son to think logically and solve the problems on his own and address any gaps in understanding in class reviews.
At the end of the programming courses, my son has developed very good foundation and lot of interest in programming.
Being software professionals ourselves, me and my husband really liked the way the course content was laid out to cover the concepts in a way kids can understand and learn without getting overwhelmed. We highly recommend the computer programming classes from Zenith prep for 6th graders to high schoolers. The content and interactive sessions, practice exercises differentiate the course from other online courses.
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We are very happy with Zenith Prep Academy. My kids loved the Zenith programming class. They proactively worked on their homework in advance of the next class, and could not wait for the next class. Unlike prior programming classes they took, which were superficial and overly theoretical, the Zenith class actually taught them how to build something tangible, bolstering their conference and excitement about CS. The TAs are excellent and helpful too. I work in software, and can see how the curriculum has been crafted and iterated upon several times to have maximum learning impact. Thank you Zenith!
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My son took Web Development and Software Development classes offered by Zenith Prep Academy, and I am sure that it is worth every penny! It was not the first coding class we tried, and my son is naturally interested in this topic but Zenith Academy classes not only lighted his interest several times more but brought him on a completely different level. He was ready to fly on his own. He built his website and started working on his own projects learning more and more AFTER all classes ended. I have never seen him waiting for every next class so badly, and he really was sad when classes stopped. We even suggested to build next class, for example, for Java programming. We would take it without hesitation!
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My son, who was 8th grader, took Software Development and mini-MBA and he loved both classes. The content was designed appropriately to his age and presented in a way of challenging but not overwhelming. Not only did he grasp the concept in these areas, he also gained confidence and sense of accomplishment. I would recommend the class to the kids who have curiosity to explore outside of curriculum at regular school.
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Our son is very interested in computer science and technology. He has taken some coding classes and cyber security classes during previous summers and has always been disappointed.
He really liked this class. He was excited for it each and every day. He felt challenged and engaged. He even brought his computer on vacation and made sure he was ready for class while we were away.
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As someone who has personally taken courses at Zenith Prep Academy, I can definitively say that it's been one of the best experiences of my life. I have never seen a course so well-designed and well-executed like the ones offered at Zenith. Whether it's the instructors or the material itself, there is something about these courses that makes the student want to keep learning.
I took the web development and mini-MBA courses at Zenith and I was expecting to just learn the basics; however, our instructor taught us much more than I had expected. Not only did we master the basics, we dove into the deeper nuances of programming as well.
The best part about attending Zenith is that your instructors truly care. The class size is relatively small, so if there is something that is confusing to understand, help is readily available. Not only do your instructors care, but they are also super passionate. Believe me, you're not in a room with someone just reading a script or speaking in monotone. The instructors love what they teach and they are just as excited as you when they come to class.
If you're looking for a course that teaches you more than just the cookie-cutter basics found in a textbook, then Zenith Prep Academy is the place for you.
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My son, 14 years old, took the Mini MBA 1 program last spring at this Academy and a Web Development (Front End) class this summer. Best investment of our time and resources we have been able to gift him so far! I wish we knew about this place before, when our daughter was his age. College choices and possibilities would probably be much wider for her...
These are some of the challenges we have been facing before discovering this program and the transformation we observed:
Our son has been a talented and creative fun child, who's enthusiasm about exploring possibilities has been steadily going down the more time he has been spending in a public school, doing homework and studying for good grades...
It got to the point that when he was interested (or when we were on top of his responsibilities), he would get straight A's- usually just towards the end of the school year, and when not interested or monitored constantly, he would get C's and even D's... Always getting distracted, forgetful and bored...
After only one class at Zenith, he got inspired not only about researching new possibilities, solving real problems but also, he got excited about life in general. He even started working out in the gym ( his own initiative!) and moving up in Kung Fu . A's were not a chore anymore but a natural byproduct of his newly found enthusiasm and confidence. His work was done still in school and we have been able to have very lively and mature conversations at home, including conversations about his business 🙂
At the age of 14, my son has an understanding of business that many business owners like myself can be jealous of. He also became very good in negotiation and quite impressive at understating human psychology ( may it be a warning to you if you don't want your kids become confident and powerful)
He talks about Mr. Frank Song as the "coolest guy and a mentor" 🙂 This aspect is what I value the most about our experience with this place. We appreciate Mr. Song's generosity immensely. There aren't many people who will take time to listen to a teen as an equal, and help bring the best out of them in all situations... This is priceless to me. All of the people Mr. Song brings to inspire and teach at the Academy are high quality, educated, successful young people who are still able to connect with the teens but have a wealth of real life academic and business experiences, to help the teens dream and grow big.
I am very excited where my teen is heading. Thank you Zenith Academy!
Klara F., Lafayette
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"Pardon me if I misuse any tech jargons or terms. My work focuses on the business aspects of operations so I only understand programming in general terms.
My son started with Zenith at 12 years old. Though he is very smart, he lacked the proper motivation to guide him to become all that he is capable of. Traditional programs bored him leaving him unchallenged, but Zenith Prep was the answer to identifying his strengths and allowing him to blossom.
Fast forwarding over a year later, he has grasped and combined programming languages such as SQL, PHP, CSC, and HTML in a MySQL database. Just today, he was taught Java-script and has started to incorporate J-script into his arsenal of programming language toolbox. To be able to distinguish and separate the proper use of each language is a defeat on its own. My son does not utilize any drag and drop shorts cuts but writes the codes himself. I am proud he has shown such dedication to learning and utilizing so many languages and hope he can share his knowledge through various volunteer venues in the future.
Not only is programming a basic skill to know but our children's future will be immersed in programming-related life on every business and personal level. My wish for my children is experience not only programming but grasp business understanding so they have the option and knowledge to best choose their career path in the future. Only through hands-on experience and exposure provided by Zenith would I feel that I have done my duty to guide my children to gain the opportunity to "learn" what their passion is about themselves."
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My son enjoyed the one-on-one Software Development class. The curriculum was carefully designed to teach him the fundamentals, get him the logic thinking behind the coding, analyze the mistakes he made and provided good coding practice along the course. He also got the personal attention and feedback in the private on-line class. At the end of the class, he was proud of himself that he not only learned a new computer language but also built a website that he had never thought he could.
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Zenith Prep Academy is a very professional yet student interest led counseling centre. I was very impressed with their approach which combines best practices with helping a student excel in their area of interest. The counselors are very well informed and are prompt to respond to any questions we have. The whole effort of the team is encouraging the student to work hard and develop successful practices which will lay a foundation for future success.
My son took their Web Development Class online and is very happy with his experience. He was very motivated to work hard in the class. The IA's in the class were very good to work with. I especially loved the detailed feedback after the class, which focuses not only on the technical part but also on the work ethics and tips for a building successful work habits. He is now looking forward to the Software Development class.
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My son (age 15) took the Zenith Web Development class and really enjoyed it. He had no software experience but came out with the ability to build a full functioning website (even learning completely online thru Covid). He has always been against any type of tech class but ended up really happy he had taken this one. The instructor was great at teaching the kids the building blocks and then having them use the blocks to create their final design. Would totally recommend this class!
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My son just took a software development course from Zenith during 2021 summer as he is coming to 9th grade. He told me that he really likes the course; in fact, after the course he becomes more motivated in coding that he is exploring more in other online coding classes. The teacher is very knowledgeable and my son learned a lot from each of the class sessions and looked forward to the next class session during the course. I was hesitated at first with the online/virtual course, but it turns out surprisingly very good and convenient especially during the pandemic. In fact, during the course, we needed to take an unexpected trip to Houston for 3 weeks and having 3 people in a hotel room with remote working and learning were a bit challenge, but we did it with a breeze. Thanks to the flexibility on virtual class and excellent teacher! On top of that, Zenith was also accommodating on early class sessions since my son’s school started earlier than others’ so that my son can finish the course before his school started. Thanks so much to Zenith team!!
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My son took a Web Development class from Zenith Academy during the summer of 2021 before he started to 7th grade. We were hesitant with the online course but it worked so well and my son developed a very good foundation. This year he is taking a computer science class at his school. It goes like a breeze for him since he already learned a lot about HTML/CSS/Javascript at web development class with Zenith Academy. The teaching instructor was excellent and Kevin Hong was incredibly helpful. He identified my son's strengths and weaknesses and helped him to work on them. It was excellent teamwork! My son can't wait to start Software Development class with Zenith Academy and improve himself through the field he wants to focus on.
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Enrolling your child is simple!
After that, consider your child enrolled!
We work with your 6th–12th grade child to get into an Ivy League / Top 25 university or AT LEAST a tier or 2 better university –
If you’re not completely satisfied with the work we do between now and when you press “Send” on your child’s application, we’ll give you every cent of the money you’ve paid us–even if we’ve worked together for multiple years.
