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UC PhD Candidate— Religion (Buddhism & Culture); Expert Writing Tutor
Susan Z.

4.9 (82 ratings)

219 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $65
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About Susan

Bio

I'm Susan!
I've been teaching and tutoring high school, college, and grad students to improve their writing for 15+ years. I have the experience and enthusiasm to help make writing papers less daunting, and to clarify class readings and key concepts across a wide range of Humanities and Social Sciences courses. I find it enormously rewarding to watch students grow in their thinking, learn techniques to improve their papers, and gain confidence in their understanding of a subject that...

I'm Susan!
I've been teaching and tutoring high school, college, and grad students to improve their writing for 15+ years. I have the experience and enthusiasm to help make writing papers less daunting, and to clarify class readings and key concepts across a wide range of Humanities and Social Sciences courses. I find it enormously rewarding to watch students grow in their thinking, learn techniques to improve their papers, and gain confidence in their understanding of a subject that initially may have been challenging. I provide expert help throughout the writing process, from initial research through final editing. With my support and guidance, your papers will be well-structured and make strong, grounded points. I've successfully worked with hundreds of students, particularly to improve writing skills, and have helped them flourish in an array of courses.

I also work with students on College and Grad School Application Essays, and the students I coach routinely get accepted to at least one of their top three choices. Additionally, I scored in the 99th percentile on both the SAT and the GRE and do test prep tutoring.

As a PhD candidate at University of Chicago, I taught courses at the College level for over 12 years in the areas of Buddhism, Asian Religions (including Hinduism; other Indian religions; Chinese religions: and World Religions), Cultural Studies, Philosophy, and Literature. As a tutor, I'm upbeat, patient, and remain intrigued by the subjects I teach. This keeps me attentive and versatile, so I can adapt my tutoring to each individual. I will do my utmost to tutor in a way that's useful for you, to improve not only your mastery of content and comfort with writing, but also to help you develop the abilities, habits, and confidence that will serve you throughout your years in school and after. I believe that all students can learn to write and express themselves more effectively, and that I have the skill and commitment to provide you with the guidance and insight to excel in your studies.

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Education

Wesleyan University
Religious Studies
University of Washington, Comparative Religion, with Honors
Masters
University of Chicago, History of Religions (specialization in Buddhism), PhD Candidate
Enrolled

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $65
  • Rate details: Please contact me to arrange a free 30-minute phone consultation to discuss your tutoring goals.
  • Lesson cancellation: 24 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 7/9/2024

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Approved Subjects

ACT English

ACT English

I'm a longtime Writing Instructor of 1st year college students, and have worked with numerous high school students on ACT test prep. I was 99th percentile scorer on my SAT and GRE exams. I'm a patient tutor who works with students in a manner tailored to their learning styles and goals.
ACT Math

ACT Math

I've tutored numerous high school students in all aspects of ACT test prep. I know the format of the test and the sections thoroughly and have a well-established method for working with students to improve their understanding of both the math concepts being tested, and the most effective strategies for tackling the questions. I'm patient, friendly, and aim to work with each student based on their individual learning styles.
ACT Reading

ACT Reading

I’ve been tutoring students for over 10 years, including in ACT and SAT test prep, and have taught college courses in literature and writing. I always gear lessons to the individual student’s needs and learning style. I was a 99th+ percentile scorer on my own admissions tests for College and Grad school.
Anthropology

Anthropology

As part of my coursework for my PhD, I took numerous courses pertaining to the study of culture and society and read widely (e.g., Durkheim, Mauss, Weber, Levi-Strauss, Geertz, Douglas, Foucault, Bourdieu, etc.). This material was the basis of one of my 4 qualifying exams (Classic Theories of Culture). For research on my dissertation, I did in-depth research on cultural studies to better understand the commodification of American religions and spiritual practices. I also did ethnographic research in Nepal on the Buddhist ritual whose transfer to the West is the topic of the dissertation.
Bible Studies

Bible Studies

As a PhD Candidate in History of Religions, although my specialty is South Asia, I was also required to have a solid grounding in Western religious traditions and have taken a number of courses that involved biblical study or comparative study of the bible with the scriptures of other traditions. In both World Religions classes I have taught, and in some Humanities courses, I've included portions of the bible on the syllabus, including sections from both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament.
English

English

I've been teaching and tutoring students in a wide range of Humanities/ Language Arts for over 10 years. I have formal training in writing pedagogy, and I enjoy helping students develop skills as careful readers and writers. I'm good-humored to work with and believe that the 1st step is to help students find a point of genuine interest in the material.
Geography

Geography

I have studied world religions and culture at the graduate school level, have travelled throughout Asia, and have read extensively in fields that require knowledge of, or include discussions of Geography.
GMAT

GMAT

My own quant scores on the GRE were in the 99th percentile, and I’ve been tutoring test prep for GRE and GMAT for over 10 years.
GRE

GRE

I have worked with students on GRE preparation for over 4 years. I myself was in the 99+th percentile when I took the GRE. I can teach all sections -- my math explanations are clear and I encourage students to do 'smart math' when possible. But I've found that the strategies I teach for the verbal sections are particularly helpful. On verbal alone, my students often see an increase in score that exceeds the average of what other students who have done test prep would get for the entire test.
Literature

Literature

I've worked as a writing instructor for numerous Humanities classes, and have also taught and designed my own courses. I can help you with close-reading, and with writing strong papers in literature courses.
Philosophy

Philosophy

I’ve taken numerous graduate-level courses in many areas of Philosophy; I passed (with honors) a qualifying exam in Philosophy for my PhD program; and have taught and tutored undergraduate and master’s level students in a variety of Philosophical subjects.
Proofreading

Proofreading

I've worked for a scholarly press in multiple capacities and have also performed quite a bit of free-lance copyediting. I have an excellent eye for detail, know both MLA and Chicago style very well, and can perform all levels of editing work, whether proofreading, copyediting, or more substantive editing.
Reading

Reading

I'm particularly skilled at helping college students develop an eye for close reading. I also enjoy working with high school students who want to develop deeper insight into the significance of the texts they're assigned. In both cases, I have experience with a broad range of material from the Humanities and Social Sciences and can assist in reading comprehension for a full range of students, whether they are struggling in a subject or are more advanced but wish to improve even further.
Religion

Religion

My BA, MA, and work towards a PhD have all been in Religious Studies. I have taught Buddhism, Hinduism, Intro to Religion, Asian Philosophy, and World Religions at several area universities, as well as at an international program in Nepal. I've presented papers in my field at national conferences. But more than being an expert in the field, I enjoy working one-on-one with students, based on their individual learning styles and goals.
SAT Math

SAT Math

I've tutored numerous high school students in all aspects of SAT test prep. I know the format and content of the test thoroughly and have a well-established method for working with students to improve their understanding of both the math concepts being tested, and the most effective strategies for tackling the questions. I'm patient, friendly, and aim to work with each student based on their individual learning styles.
SAT Reading

SAT Reading

I scored in the 99th percentile in the verbal sections of the SAT and GRE, and have previously taught SAT and GRE courses. I'm a practiced and patient tutor, who believes that working with students based on their individual learning styles is the best way to help students develop in areas they find challenging.
SAT Writing

SAT Writing

I am a Longtime Instructor of Writing for 1st year college students; have tutored numerous students in test-prep; 99th% scorer on SAT and GRE.
Study Skills

Study Skills

I have assisted numerous students at all academic levels with designing study plans that takes account of best methods for working without becoming overwhelmed, and learning to set reasonable daily goals that will provide a sense of achievement as well as motivation to continue to meet those goals.
World History

World History

As a scholar of the History of Religions, I have been in engaged in learning about civilizations around the world and the relationship between history, culture, and tradition. I am also skilled at analyzing primary sources from a variety of time periods and cultures
Writing

Writing

I'm a PhD Candidate at the University of Chicago and a longtime Writing Instructor of 1st year college students. I'm a patient tutor who works with students in a manner tailored to their learning styles and goals. In addition to teaching Writing,I have taught courses in Religion, Philosophy, and Humanities, and have worked with numerous undergraduate students on papers and helped MA students with their theses. I also work as a free-lance editor.
American History
Art History
Art Theory
European History
Government & Politics
Grammar
LSAT
Music Theory
Political Science
PSAT
Psychology
Social Studies
Vocabulary

Examples of Expertise

Susan has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 10 questions submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

See all of Susan ’s answers ›
Susan Z.'s Photo

Questions? Contact Susan before you book.

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Ratings and Reviews

Rating

4.9 (82 ratings)
5 star
(77)
4 star
(3)
3 star
(1)
2 star
(1)
1 star
(0)

Reviews

Caring and Professional

Susan is thorough. She is adept at analyzing my paper. She is honest and kind in her critique. She explains what she plans to do and why prior to taking on a particular task. Her tutoring style helps me write my paper and helps me become better overall in my conceptual and research skills. I enjoy our collaborations!

Colleen , 2 lessons with Susan

Wonderful teacher!

She is pro in her level of expertise. She helped me with my paper, and it was a beneficial process for me to learn something new. I would love to get more classes with her in the future.

Kamila, 4 lessons with Susan

Knowledgeable tutor

I consult with her when I am studying Asian Studies. Susan is an expert in asian studies and is truly passionate about the subject. Be aware, you will get that passion passed on to you! She makes sure that you understand the concepts, and more importantly, in holistic ways. You cannot avoid but ending up having much more nuanced knowledge and understanding about the subject. She is also very caring and patient. All of these mean that, by having her as a tutor, you will not just get a good grade from school, but learn the wisdom that has got her into her place now (a professional and expert in her field).

C, 3 lessons with Susan

Very Knowledgeable Tutor

My daughter is currently a prospective University of Chicago student. She wanted to improve her writing abilities at the college level while she is completing her senior year in high school. As a PhD candidate at a world-renowned university, Ms. Zakin has provided insight that no high school teacher can match. She has significantly helped improve my daughter's writing skills and I would definitely recommend her to anyone.

Tony, 41 lessons with Susan

Excellent tutor

Patient, meticulous, efficient! I picked Susan out of many tutors for her education. As an International student applying for a PhD, I couldn't have made a better choice: she helped me finalizing and reviewing docs and I hope to work with her in the future! Prices are right for her qualifications.

Lucy, 1 lesson with Susan

Great lesson

We had a great lesson on topics of eastern religious/philosophical themes!

Rahim, 5 lessons with Susan
Hourly Rate: $65
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