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MD Student | STEM Tutor | Admissions & Essay Coach
Elika A.

5.0 (6 ratings)

33 hours tutoring

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Hourly Rate: $60
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Response time: 3 hours

About Elika

Bio

Hi! I’m a current MD student and USC Neuroscience graduate (magna cum laude) with nearly a decade of tutoring experience. I’ve worked with middle school, high school, college, pre-med, and medical students in biology, chemistry, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, psychology, algebra, writing, and other STEM subjects.

My goal is to make challenging material feel manageable. I help students recognize patterns, break complex problems into smaller steps, and understand why an answer is...

Hi! I’m a current MD student and USC Neuroscience graduate (magna cum laude) with nearly a decade of tutoring experience. I’ve worked with middle school, high school, college, pre-med, and medical students in biology, chemistry, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, psychology, algebra, writing, and other STEM subjects.

My goal is to make challenging material feel manageable. I help students recognize patterns, break complex problems into smaller steps, and understand why an answer is correct rather than simply memorizing a solution. I then have students work through problems independently so we can identify exactly where they’re getting stuck and build confidence from there.

For science courses, I combine clear explanations with active recall and practice questions to strengthen understanding and retention. For math, I help students recognize problem types, choose the right strategy, and develop a repeatable approach they can use independently on homework and exams. Sessions are tailored to each student’s course, goals, and upcoming assignments or tests.

I also have several years of experience with writing and admissions coaching. I help students with brainstorming, outlining, revision, and proofreading, with particular experience in college and medical school applications, personal statements, activity descriptions, and interview preparation. I focus on strengthening the student’s ideas and writing while preserving their individual voice.

Whether you’re preparing for an exam, trying to improve your grade, strengthening your foundation, or polishing an application, feel free to message me with what you’re working on and where you’re getting stuck. We can use your current homework, study guides, or course materials to determine the best place to start.

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Education

University of Southern California
Neuroscience
University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix
MD

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Approved Subjects

Algebra 1

Algebra 1

I have seven years of one-on-one math tutoring experience working with middle and high school students, including students in Algebra I through coursework support, homework help, and exam preparation. I teach core Algebra I topics including linear equations and inequalities, systems of equations, graphing, functions, exponents, polynomials, factoring, radicals, and word problems. My approach is to identify gaps in foundational skills, teach students how to recognize problem types and choose an appropriate strategy, and then have them solve similar problems independently so I can correct misconceptions and build confidence. I also completed advanced mathematics through AP Calculus I and II and complex analysis by high school graduation and have seven years of experience tutoring SAT and ACT math.
Algebra 2

Algebra 2

I have seven years of one-on-one math tutoring experience and have specifically tutored students in standard and honors Algebra II through coursework, homework support, and exam preparation. I teach the full Algebra II curriculum, including functions, systems of equations, quadratics, polynomials, rational and radical expressions, exponentials, logarithms, sequences, complex numbers, and related graphing and problem-solving skills. My approach is to teach students how to recognize problem types and select an appropriate strategy, work through representative examples with them, and then have them solve similar problems independently so I can identify and correct remaining misconceptions. I completed AP Calculus I and II and a capstone course in complex analysis by high school graduation, and I have also spent seven years tutoring SAT and ACT math, which regularly requires mastery and application of algebraic concepts.
Biology

Biology

I have seven years of one-on-one STEM tutoring experience, including working with high school students in biology and AP Biology through coursework, homework support, and exam preparation. I have extensive academic training in biology, including graduating magna cum laude from USC with a degree in Neuroscience, completing the pre-medical curriculum, and continuing advanced study of human biology and physiology as a graduating medical student. I help students understand biological processes conceptually, connect related topics rather than rely on memorization, and then apply those concepts independently to practice questions and course material. I also earned a 5 on the AP Biology exam and have experience helping students strengthen their study strategies, test-taking skills, and overall performance in biology.
Chemistry

Chemistry

I have seven years of one-on-one STEM tutoring experience, including working with high school students in general and AP Chemistry through coursework, homework support, and exam preparation. I tutor core chemistry topics including atomic structure, periodic trends, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, reactions, gases, thermochemistry, equilibrium, acids and bases, and related quantitative problem solving. My approach is to break multi-step problems into manageable steps, teach students how to recognize which concepts and equations apply, and then have them work independently through similar problems so I can identify and correct misconceptions. I earned a 5 on the AP Chemistry exam and later completed extensive chemistry coursework as part of my Neuroscience degree and pre-medical curriculum at USC, where I graduated magna cum laude.
College Counseling

College Counseling

I have 4 years of experience providing one-on-one admissions coaching and application editing to 10+ students across undergraduate, medical school, and residency admissions longitudinally, including guiding high school students through the college application process. I have helped students successfully develop Common App personal statements, supplemental essays, and activity descriptions, as well as plan extracurricular involvement and manage application timelines. My coaching process includes brainstorming with students, identifying their strongest experiences and themes, developing an essay outline, and providing both developmental and line-by-line feedback through multiple drafts while explaining the reasoning behind each recommendation. As a USC graduate and graduating MD student who has personally navigated competitive undergraduate and medical admissions, I combine firsthand peer admissions experience with individualized coaching designed to strengthen each student's application while preserving their authentic voice.
Essay Writing

Essay Writing

I have four years of one-on-one experience coaching students through essay writing, including personal statements, supplemental essays, application essays, and other structured academic and admissions writing. I help students move through the full writing process by brainstorming ideas, identifying a clear central theme, creating an organized outline, developing effective paragraphs and transitions, and revising multiple drafts for clarity, structure, and impact. My teaching approach combines developmental editing with detailed line-by-line feedback, while explaining the reasoning behind each revision so students learn how to strengthen their own organization, argument, sentence structure, and voice. I graduated magna cum laude from USC with a degree in Neuroscience and am currently a graduating medical student, and my academic training has required extensive experience with analytical, scientific, and professional writing.
Grammar

Grammar

I have four years of one-on-one writing and editing experience helping students improve grammar, sentence structure, clarity, and overall written communication across academic and application-based writing. I work with students on subject-verb agreement, verb tense, punctuation, sentence fragments and run-ons, word choice, pronoun use, parallel structure, and other common grammatical errors. My approach is to identify recurring patterns in a student’s writing, explain the grammatical rule behind each correction, and then have the student apply that rule independently so they can recognize and correct similar errors in future work. I graduated magna cum laude from USC and am currently a graduating medical student, and my academic training has required extensive experience producing and revising clear, precise written work.
Microbiology

Microbiology

I have 3 years of experience tutoring microbiology as a peer tutor in medical school, helping other medical students strengthen their understanding of clinically relevant microorganisms and infectious disease concepts. I tutor topics including bacterial structure and classification, viral replication, fungal and parasitic infections, antimicrobial mechanisms and resistance, pathogenesis, and the relationships between organisms, clinical presentations, and treatment principles. My approach is to organize organisms into clinically meaningful patterns, explain the mechanisms behind disease and antimicrobial therapy, and then use practice questions and case-based reasoning to help students apply the material independently. As a graduating medical student with extensive coursework in microbiology, infectious disease, immunology, and pharmacology, I'm comfortable teaching both foundational microbiology and its clinical applications.
Personal Statements

Personal Statements

I have four years of experience coaching and editing personal statements for approximately 10 students and applicants across undergraduate, medical school, and residency admissions. I have worked on Common App essays, medical school personal statements, supplemental and secondary essays, activity descriptions, and residency application writing, with particular expertise in helping applicants turn their experiences into clear and compelling narratives. My process begins with brainstorming and identifying each student’s strongest experiences and themes, followed by outlining, multiple rounds of developmental editing, and detailed line-by-line feedback on structure, storytelling, clarity, and flow. As a USC graduate and graduating MD student, I combine extensive application-writing experience with a collaborative approach that explains the reasoning behind my edits so students strengthen both their final essay and their writing skills while preserving their authentic voice.
Proofreading

Proofreading

I have four years of one-on-one editing and proofreading experience helping students strengthen academic essays, personal statements, supplemental essays, and other application-based writing. I review writing for grammar, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, word choice, clarity, consistency, and overall flow while also identifying areas where organization or phrasing may weaken the message. My approach is to explain the reasoning behind each correction, point out recurring error patterns, and help students develop strategies for independently proofreading and revising future work. I graduated magna cum laude from USC and am currently a graduating medical student, and my academic training has required extensive experience producing and carefully revising clear, precise written work.
Psychology

Psychology

I have seven years of one-on-one tutoring experience and have worked with students in AP Psychology as well as college-level psychology courses through coursework support, exam preparation, and concept review. I teach AP Psychology topics including research methods, biological bases of behavior, cognition, learning, development, personality, social psychology, psychological disorders, and treatment, with an emphasis on applying terminology correctly to AP-style questions. My approach is to help students organize the large volume of material into meaningful connections, distinguish commonly confused concepts, practice retrieval and application, and then work independently through multiple-choice and free-response questions. I earned a 5 on the AP Psychology exam and later graduated magna cum laude from USC with a degree in Neuroscience, giving me extensive academic training in behavior, cognition, and the biological foundations of psychology.
Writing

Writing

I have four years of one-on-one writing and editing experience helping students strengthen academic, personal, and application-based writing. I work with students on brainstorming, organization, paragraph development, transitions, sentence structure, grammar, clarity, tone, and revision across multiple drafts. My approach is to explain why specific changes improve the writing, identify recurring weaknesses, and have students apply those strategies independently so they become stronger and more confident writers. I graduated magna cum laude from USC and am currently a graduating medical student, and my academic training has required extensive experience with analytical, scientific, and professional writing.
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Hourly Rate: $60
Response time: 3 hours
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