Search
Ben B.'s Photo

Beloved Yale Humanities Prof: Mentoring, Essays, Applications, Classes
Ben B.

5.0 (5 ratings)

8 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Instant Book

Hourly rate: $100

Claim a session with Ben B. that fits your schedule

Contact Ben for other availability

About Ben

Bio

As a beloved humanities professor with ten years of teaching and mentoring success at Yale, Columbia, and Deep Springs, I believe that seeking depth is the key to a meaningful life. To that end, I welcome students of all ages seeking mentorship, college and grad school counseling, writing help (academic, creative, and admissions essays), guidance in humanities or social sciences courses, and who seek to deepen as writers, thinkers, and individuals.

I have earned a reputation as a...

As a beloved humanities professor with ten years of teaching and mentoring success at Yale, Columbia, and Deep Springs, I believe that seeking depth is the key to a meaningful life. To that end, I welcome students of all ages seeking mentorship, college and grad school counseling, writing help (academic, creative, and admissions essays), guidance in humanities or social sciences courses, and who seek to deepen as writers, thinkers, and individuals.

I have earned a reputation as a transformational teacher (of subjects from the epic tradition to American literature to political philosophy to Bob Dylan) and an inspiring chosen academic, senior essay, and independent study adviser for dozens of students. I have a strong record of success helping students achieve their intellectual and professional goals with creativity, excellence, and fun. Education: BA, Yale; PhD, Columbia. Fellowships: Hums Postdoc, Whitney Hums Ctr (Yale); Nicolson, Ponsford, Core Preceptorship (Columbia); Owen (Johns Hopkins)

Sample student comment: "In addition to his passion, flexibility, and engagement as an instructor, [Ben] gives excellent feedback on papers, which is incredibly helpful [...] His feedback is very constructive, with notes on both the structural and sentence level that clearly demonstrate a serious engagement with your writing. The last strength I would attribute to [Ben] is his willingness to take his students seriously - he carries a great respect for our ideas and engages with our contributions in class, in discussion responses, and in papers without an ounce of condescension, which encourages me to make strong contributions, knowing that he will truly consider them."

Read more

Education

Yale University
Humanities
Columbia University
PhD

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $100
  • Rate details: I have some rate flexibility - please ask for options.
  • Lesson cancellation: 12 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 10/8/2025

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

Loading...

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Approved Subjects

Creative Writing

Creative Writing

I am a writer, humanities scholar and musician delighted to help students with creative projects of all sorts. I have an English PhD from Columbia in modern American literature - my dissertation focuses on fiction, poetry, and nonfiction prose - and I have taught over the last ten years at Yale, Columbia, and Deep Springs College, as well as for high school, continuing education, and prison programs. Over that time I have been a valued mentor and advisor for countless scholarly and creative projects. I am patient, non-judgmental, and easy to work with; I draw out each student's interests, help them discover what they most have it in them to say, where the work is leading them, and help them develop and refine their projects to their fullest potential. Many students have found me a transformative mentor. I am also a musician and poet, and know the creative life from the inside. Some of my formative poetry teachers included Louise Gluck and Henri Cole. I look forward to hearing from you!
Essay Writing

Essay Writing

I am a patient and highly successful writing teacher with 10 years of experience as a writing and humanities teacher at top universities (Yale, Columbia, Deep Springs) - but also high school and continuing ed programs - transforming students into excellent writers. I have an English PhD from Columbia, am a published author (Yale University Press) and have studied writing pedagogy and taught writing extensively. I will help you form and articulate your ideas, think about connections between them, and work towards a compelling and persuasive piece of writing of any type. I meet each student where they are, without judgment, and help them grow. Many students have found me to be a transformative teacher in their academic careers and lives. I hope to hear from you!
General Music

General Music

I have extensive training in general music (piano, theory, chamber, and conducting) at Mannes, Manhattan, Yale, and Aspen schools. I am an award-winning classical pianist currently teaching at Neighborhood Music School. A Columbia PhD, I have lectured and recorded works of Charles Ives. I also have twenty years of performance experience as a guitarist in rock bands, and I am a skilled experimental and blues-based guitarist with perfect pitch and great taste. I can pick out any song and analyze the feel and style of individual players. I’m an experienced, warm, patient teacher geared toward the needs of my individual students.
Personal Statements

Personal Statements

As a teacher at Yale and Columbia I have worked with numerous students and advisees to refine their personal statements for applications to fellowships and graduate programs. Many were admitted to prestigious programs. I also served for several years on the admissions committee for a highly competitive Yale first-year program and as a result have an experienced grasp of the key features of successful essays.
Piano

Piano

I am an experienced classical pianist and teaching artist at the Neighborhood Music School in New Haven, CT. I completed studies in piano performance, theory, conducting and chamber music at Manhattan School of Music, Aspen Festival, and Yale College with teachers including John Perry, Elizabeth Parisot, and Daniel Epstein. I appear on record with the Orchestra New England in works of Charles Ives.
Thesis Writing

Thesis Writing

I have advised numerous successful senior theses in the humanities and social sciences at Yale and Columbia. Example thesis topics include a little-known American philosopher, the writer William Burroughs's later novels, and Soviet educational psychology. My advisees have also won several prizes under my direction, including the top essay writing prize for Columbia sophomores and several prestigious grad school fellowships.
Art History
English
Government & Politics
Literature
Proofreading
Reading
Ben B.'s Photo

Questions? Contact Ben before you book.

Still have questions?

Contact Ben
Response time: 1 hour

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (5 ratings)
5 star
(5)
4 star
(0)
3 star
(0)
2 star
(0)
1 star
(0)

Reviews

Helpful and Attentive Proofreading Support

Ben was incredibly helpful with proofreading my graduate school personal statement. He gave clear, thoughtful feedback and made the session easy to follow. Highly recommend, especially if you want attentive and knowledgeable support!

Nigel, 1 lesson with Ben

Highly Recommend for College Essay Support

We had a great experience working with Ben. He was easy to work with and helped my son feel much more confident about his essays and college applications. Ben gave thoughtful suggestions and offered great ideas to make his essays stronger. We’re so glad we decided to work with him and plan to continue in the future!

Madiha, 3 lessons with Ben