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Bowdoin Student & St. Paul’s Alum | Essay Writing & Common App
Serena L.

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About Serena

Bio

Hi! My name is Serena, and I am a current sophomore at Bowdoin College, pursuing a double major in English and Government & Legal Studies.

I attended St. Paul’s School, a boarding high school in Concord, New Hampshire, where I graduated with first testimonials (honors) and distinctions in Humanities and Dance, and was awarded the Dance Prize. At Bowdoin, I was offered a position as a staff writer for the college newspaper’s Arts & Entertainment column during my first year.

I have...

Hi! My name is Serena, and I am a current sophomore at Bowdoin College, pursuing a double major in English and Government & Legal Studies.

I attended St. Paul’s School, a boarding high school in Concord, New Hampshire, where I graduated with first testimonials (honors) and distinctions in Humanities and Dance, and was awarded the Dance Prize. At Bowdoin, I was offered a position as a staff writer for the college newspaper’s Arts & Entertainment column during my first year.

I have engaged in editorial work since high school, serving as a peer editor for both friends and younger students. Over the years, I have gained professional tutoring experience with high school students, which has taught me how to create lesson plans tailored to individual needs. This summer, I worked extensively in one-on-one sessions with students preparing to attend boarding or private schools. Our sessions focused on analyzing and annotating summer readings, strengthening essay-writing skills, and engaging in guided discussions to ensure a smoother academic transition.

I am also very familiar with the Common App, supplemental essays, and the college application process, having completed it myself not long ago. In addition to Bowdoin, I was offered admission to other prestigious institutions, including Emory, Colgate, and Colby.

I primarily teach one-on-one sessions, as I believe this format is the most effective for achieving each student’s personal goals—whether perfecting a personal statement or improving academic writing. Regardless of the objective, I approach every session with patience, dedication, and enthusiasm.

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Education

Bowdoin College
English
Bowdoin College
Enrolled
St. Paul's School
Other

Additional Languages

French
Mandarin Chinese

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Approved Subjects

English

English

As a current Bowdoin College English and Government major, I specialize in helping students master academic writing, literary analysis, and college application essays. Having successfully navigated both elite boarding school (St. Paul's) and top-tier college admissions (Bowdoin, Emory, Colby), I offer unique insight into crafting compelling written work. My tutoring approach focuses on developing critical reading skills, building strong essay structures, and refining analytical writing - skills I've honed as a peer editor, newspaper writer, and private tutor. I particularly enjoy working with students on close reading techniques and helping them articulate sophisticated arguments in their writing.
Essay Writing

Essay Writing

As a current Bowdoin College sophomore double-majoring in English and Government, I’ve successfully navigated competitive admissions twice—first to St. Paul’s School, then to top colleges like Bowdoin and Emory. My tutoring focuses on strengthening academic writing: I coach high school students in close reading, annotation, and essay development to deepen critical analysis and argumentation. With experience as a peer editor and Bowdoin newspaper writer, I help students refine structure, evidence integration, and clarity—skills essential for boarding school transitions and college applications. My approach combines recent admissions insight with targeted writing strategies to build academic confidence.
Grammar

Grammar

As a current English major at Bowdoin College and having graduated with distinction in humanities, I bring both academic expertise and practical tutoring experience to grammar instruction. I've helped students master grammatical concepts through personalized lessons that improve their writing clarity and precision. My approach combines rule-based instruction with real-world application, drawing from my experience as a peer editor, newspaper staff writer, and private tutor. I specialize in making complex grammar rules accessible while showing students how proper usage enhances their overall writing effectiveness.
Proofreading

Proofreading

As an English major at Bowdoin College with extensive editing experience, I provide meticulous proofreading for academic papers, college essays, and application materials. My expertise was developed through multiple roles: serving as a peer editor at St. Paul's School, writing for Bowdoin's newspaper, and tutoring students in writing fundamentals. I specialize in catching grammatical errors, improving flow, and strengthening arguments while preserving the writer's voice. My dual perspective as both an editor and published writer allows me to offer practical, actionable feedback that elevates any text.
Reading

Reading

My expertise in deep textual analysis was forged through St. Paul's Harkness method, where I mastered evidence-based discussions of complex works like Heart of Darkness and The God of Small Things - skills that give me an edge in Bowdoin's English seminars. I bring this same rigorous approach to tutoring, teaching students my proven annotation system to uncover layers of meaning in texts, track literary devices, and build thesis-supporting evidence. As both an avid annotator and writing tutor, I've helped students transform their reading process through margin notes that identify patterns, questions, and connections. My method bridges the gap between Harkness-style close reading and college-level literary analysis, equipping students to engage critically with any text.
Writing

Writing

As a Bowdoin English major and writing tutor, I specialize in helping students strengthen their writing while preserving their authentic and unique voice. My approach combines rigorous academic training in structure and analysis with attention to each writer's individual style and thinking. Having guided students through everything from literary analysis to essays, I'm particularly skilled at helping writers articulate complex ideas without losing their authentic tone. My experience as a peer editor and Bowdoin newspaper writer has shown me how to refine grammar and argumentation while maintaining the writer's personal expression - a balance that earned my own essays admission to top colleges.
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Hourly Rate: $45
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