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About Us

About Us

Brilliant Education Group began as a spark, a vision to help more students reach their maximum academic potential. Our passionate instructors — who have scored in the top 5% of their subject matter — are committed to innovations, techniques, and curricula that deliver the highest results for any and every student. Our classes, which are provided both in-person and online, are rich with strategies that propel students through graduation and into the colleges of their dreams. 

Through a comprehensive yet methodical approach, Brilliant Prep has helped thousands of students improve their SAT/PSAT and ACT scores, excel in their core classes, and conquer the college application process, giving them a distinct advantage in college admissions and financial aid awards. Unlike cookie-cutter programs, Brilliant Prep is customized for each student’s educational goals, grade level, and schedule. We also incorporate online instruction, video content, and livestream events into our programs so that students who “graduate” our prep classes are supported through the very last step of their high school journey.

Headquartered in North Dallas, Brilliant Prep offers a turn-key solution that goes far beyond just test prep. Start with our academic tutors to build a strong foundation in math, science, reading, and writing. Augment those skills with innovative test-taking strategies and a confident mindset to earn top SAT and ACT scores. Then polish your college applications with our expert college consultants for a brilliant finish to your high school career.

Our Philosophy

We believe that the best way for students to excel on college preparation exams is to believe
that they can. Our triple-test prep philosophy breaks the process down into three simple parts,
which, together, amount to a successful student.

Through comprehensive instruction and numerous practice tests, our students receive the instruction they need to feel relaxed and prepared on test day. Our key strategies help students score high on both the ACT and the SAT/PSAT so that they can win the best college scholarships and gain acceptance into their dream school. After all, high test scores set our students apart during college admissions.

We want our students to perform Brilliantly, and with our instruction, they can!

Our Trailblazers

Ratnakar Poduri
Co-Founder and Chief Instructor

Ratnakar Poduri, Co-Founder and Chief Instructor of Brilliant Education Group, is a teacher, author, and an engineer with a mission to help students advance their lives through education. Having aced the ACT and SAT himself, he knows how important solid standardized test scores are for college admissions. After earning his Masters in Mathematics from Indiana University, Poduri spent nearly two decades preparing students for college entrance exams. During this time, he also pursued a full-fledged career in management consulting with major corporate companies such as HP, Accenture, and CapGemini. By using a comprehensive approach that goes far beyond that of traditional test prep programs, Poduri has personally prepared over 3200 students for their SATs and ACTs. When he works with his students, he not only teaches them the required skills and strategies to score well on the exams, but he also gives them the confidence needed to excel in any endeavor. When he’s not geeking out, he likes to spend time with his two beautiful daughters, watch all kinds of sports, and solve crossword puzzles.

Robert Schombs
Co-Founder and Chief Tutor

Robert Schombs is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Brilliant Education Group. He is a graduate of Cornell University, having earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and Master of Arts in Science and Technology Studies. While at Cornell he designed and taught First-Year Writing Seminars and taught SAT prep for the Princeton Review. After graduation, he founded Reason Prep, an SAT/ACT test prep company, and helped thousands of students improve their scores. He also built a test prep YouTube channel that has been viewed for almost 10 million minutes. His teaching philosophy is based on three practices: constant improvement, self-knowledge, and a relentless drive for fundamentals.

Murli Manickam
Co-Founder and Advisor

Murli Manickam is the Co-Founder and Strategy Advisor for Brilliant Prep. He has spent 25+ years in executive and management positions for Global 50 firms and startups. He uses his experience as an entrepreneur and startup consultant towards the growth and future of Brilliant-Prep. His successes earned interest from multiple global technology conferences where he was invited to present/publish white papers. He has spent years as a mentor, teacher and coach for higher education students at places like Blinn College and others. He has held board and advisory roles at companies like Cliqr (acquired by Cisco), Innowera, RCI, Pinnacle Seven, Gems (acquired by EDS/HP) and others. He has the heart of a technologist and the mind of a businessman, which is reflected in all his ventures. He earned his MS in Computer/Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University.