Hello, I'm Jessica! I am currently finishing my last undergrad year at UC San Diego, where I major in Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience and minor in Sociocultural Anthropology.
I've always had a love-hate relationship with learning: hate because of the frustration that can come with it, and love for the satisfaction of finally understanding, or earning that first A in a difficult subject. Before college I was never taught how to "properly" study, so I struggled when classes got more...
Hello, I'm Jessica! I am currently finishing my last undergrad year at UC San Diego, where I major in Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience and minor in Sociocultural Anthropology.
I've always had a love-hate relationship with learning: hate because of the frustration that can come with it, and love for the satisfaction of finally understanding, or earning that first A in a difficult subject. Before college I was never taught how to "properly" study, so I struggled when classes got more difficult. What helped me be successful was 1) seeing tutors in the subjects where I needed help, and 2) developing study techniques that work for me. Studying is a skill, and like any skill it takes a bit of trial-and-error, plus lots of practice.
I like to use a variety of teaching/studying methods, tailoring a given session to the current stage of learning and goal, as well as the student's preferences and learning style. For newer material, that might be quizzing early understanding so we can dive deeper into the most confusing material. Sometimes it takes a few different approaches for a given topic to make sense. When trying to master more familiar material, I would instead begin the session with a quick review to identify any gaps in understanding, then move on to free recall and active learning techniques to solidify the material. When there are upcoming exams, sessions can focus on practice assessments to help get more comfortable with test formats or time constraints. I am also a huge fan of mnemonics and other "tricks" to remember hard material.
I am especially knowledgeable in biology, including neurobiology, ecology, and anatomy, and have specific experience in tutoring high school AP Biology. I also have experience in all phases of the college essay tutoring process, from brainstorming ideas to editing the final draft.
I hope to help you develop the study skills I wish I'd had in high school, and look forward to meeting you! Feel free to reach out with any questions or to schedule a session :)
