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STEM College Counselor & Essay Specialist, Career Development
Valerie L.

5.0 (837 ratings)

6,273 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $150
Contact Valerie

About Valerie

Bio

I believe we have far more power to shape our lives than we often realize — and through my own career and educational transitions, I've lived that truth.

My path has included reinventing myself several times, from industry professional to research and consulting hydrogeologist to college counselor, career coach, and science writer. I hold a BS in Environmental Science from New Mexico Tech, an MSc in Earth Sciences from the University of Waterloo, and bring 14 years as a consulting...

I believe we have far more power to shape our lives than we often realize — and through my own career and educational transitions, I've lived that truth.

My path has included reinventing myself several times, from industry professional to research and consulting hydrogeologist to college counselor, career coach, and science writer. I hold a BS in Environmental Science from New Mexico Tech, an MSc in Earth Sciences from the University of Waterloo, and bring 14 years as a consulting scientist and 12+ years coaching students and professionals.

As a college counselor and National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, I begin where a meaningful life path actually takes shape — not with "the right school," but with the student.

A common approach jumps straight to restrictive strategy: where to go, what to do, when to do it. As that demanding focus becomes entrenched, there's no room to consider who the student is becoming as they grow into their character, values, and strengths. Strategy without self-knowledge is putting the cart before the horse.

I start somewhere else. Together, we explore how a student's values have shaped their strengths and sense of purpose. Confidence becomes the foundation — and strategic decisions become purposeful, whether leading to a best-fit college, trade school, or something else entirely.

Parents tell me this approach is a breath of fresh air. Students move forward with clarity instead of anxiety, family pressure eases, and decisions reflect who your student actually is. All my students have been accepted to a well-respected program that a best-fit, nearly all at their first choice, including Harvard, Columbia, Tufts, NYU, BU, and Villanova.

I also provide career coaching, STEM tutoring, and writing support. Ask me about my Summer Writing course and companion eBook!

I'd love to learn about your goals and how I can best support you.

Read more

Education

New Mexico Institute of Technology
Environmental Science
The University of Waterloo
Masters

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $150
  • Rate details: Please contact me for my rates for Core Subject and STEM Tutoring that begin at $80/hr.
  • Lesson cancellation: 24 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 12/19/2023

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Approved Subjects

Career Development

Career Development

With more than 12 years of experience as a career development coach and a professional background of 20+ years in business and science, I am uniquely qualified to guide clients from college students to senior executives with a particular specialty in STEM and STEM-related professions. My own career as a research and consulting environmental scientist, including operations management serving Fortune 500 companies and academic research for a major university-industry consortium, gives me firsthand understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and pain points my STEM clients face. My process is comprehensive and personal. Using assessments tailored to your individual needs, we identify your values, strengths, and career interests, then build a clear vision and strategy, from targeting the right sectors and networking effectively, to crafting targeted resumes, CVs, and cover letters, and preparing for interviews. As a national board certified health and wellness coach, I also bring a whole-person perspective to career development, addressing the occupational, financial, and personal dimensions of your professional growth. All of my clients have successfully identified an authentic career direction and developed the strategies to achieve it. Together we will weave your values, character, life experiences, and aspirations into the next chapter of your story.
College Counseling

College Counseling

With 12 years of experience as an academic coach and college counselor, I guide high school students through the entire college application process — from early "I'd love to go there" instincts to thoroughly researched, well-matched final choices. My process is comprehensive: evaluating degree programs, developing a priority college list, navigating the Common App, meeting application deadlines, and coordinating with high school guidance activities. I also help students take a deep dive into majors, minors, research and internship opportunities, career potential, and campus culture — so their choices are informed, not just aspirational. Where useful, I incorporate assessments such as the combined MBTI/Strong Interest Inventory to help students develop genuine self-awareness about their values, strengths, and interests — the foundation for both strong applications and smart college choices. The students I've supported have applied to a wide range of schools — from Ivy League universities to competitive private colleges, large public research institutions, and smaller private colleges. All of my students have been accepted to a program that fits them well, and nearly all have been accepted at one or more of their top choices.
ESL/ESOL

ESL/ESOL

I have tutored ESL at the university level for a variety of students who spoke English as a second language, including native speakers of Asian, Middle Eastern, and European languages.
Essay Writing

Essay Writing

As a college and career coach who specializes in application essays and supplemental questions, I work with students to craft writing that authentically represents their character, values, interests, achievements, and goals — giving them the strongest possible voice in a competitive process. My approach is comprehensive. Beyond the essays themselves, I help students clarify their academic and professional goals, develop a list of colleges and universities that are a genuine fit, and navigate the full application process. That big-picture perspective makes for better, more focused essays. The students I support apply to a wide range of schools — from Ivy League universities to competitive private colleges, large public research institutions, and smaller private colleges — including Harvard, Princeton, Northeastern, University of Michigan, Purdue, and Coastal Carolina University, among many others. Most of my students have been accepted at the university of their first choice. AI can support the writing process, but a college essay must reflect your own thinking, voice, and story, and that's exactly what I help students discover and express. Every client also receives a complimentary copy of my eBook, The Writing Framework: 15 Steps to Your Strong Five-Paragraph Essay, a guide I created to support students through the writing process independently, between our sessions and beyond.
Study Skills

Study Skills

I am qualified to tutor study skills for several reasons. I successfully completed a bachelor's in environmental science and a master's in earth science as an a student. During my work on my master's, I was a teaching assistant who successfully helped college freshmen learn how to think about learning the subject they studied and how to study the material. Two of my recent students were not doing well in their classes. As their academic tutor, I identified how they learn -- comprehend, process, and anchor information -- and helped them become self-aware around their individual learning style. I then developed a learning/study strategy that worked very well for them both. In fact, one of these students just improved her test scores, going from a C to a 96% after just two tutoring sessions with me and implementing her new learning/study strategy.
Web Design

Web Design

I have more than eight years experience creating websites using content management systems, such as WordPress and Hubspot. I design, create graphical and written content, and build websites. My clients are from a range of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) industries.
Writing

Writing

With more than 20 years of experience in essay, professional, and technical writing, I help students craft personal statements and application essays that are polished, authentic, and genuinely theirs . My approach is collaborative and deadline-driven: I have never missed a deadline with a student, and I won't start now. Parents can count on me as a reliable partner throughout the process, not just a session-by-session resource. My background as a scientist and business writer sharpens my ability to help students identify their strongest argument, support it with the right details, and communicate it clearly to any audience. Strong grammar, editing, and vocabulary skills round out what I bring to every session. While AI can be a useful support tool, real writing growth comes from doing the thinking and decision-making yourself. I help students develop the skills and confidence to own their writing — so the ideas, the voice, and the work are genuinely theirs. Every client also receives a complimentary copy of my eBook, The Writing Framework: 15 Steps to Your Strong Five-Paragraph Essay — a guide I created to help students build confidence and skill between our sessions and beyond.
ACT English
Algebra 1
Algebra 2
American History
Art History
Biology
Chemistry
Ecology
English
Geography
Geology
Grammar
Prealgebra
Proofreading
Reading
SAT Reading
SAT Writing
Spelling
Vocabulary
World History
Valerie L.'s Photo

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Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (837 ratings)
5 star
(816)
4 star
(15)
3 star
(4)
2 star
(1)
1 star
(1)

Reviews

Knowledgeable and patient tutor / college counselor

Valerie worked with my daughter for college applications, essays, and supplements. We engaged Valerie to work on one essay with my daughter initially and we were with so impressed with her knowledge in the process and how patient she was. Eventually, we've asked her to work with my daughter for 10+ applications and the related essays and supplements. We are grateful to have engaged Valerie and we'll be connecting with her again in few years for the same process for my son. Thank you so much, Valerie!

David, 19 lessons with Valerie
Tutor responded:

Thank you, David! It has been my pleasure to work with your daughter and you. It is very rewarding for me to positively impact the students and families I support. I'm looking forward to the time when I meet your son and help with his college applications. Warm wishes to all of you.

Extremely Helpful

Valerie did an amazing job helping my daughter refine her college essays. She is very knowledgeable, reliable and flexible. My daughter is now very confident about the essays she will be submitting. Valerie helped eliminate some of the stress of applying to college. We highly recommend her.

Joy, 4 lessons with Valerie
Tutor responded:

Thank you, Joy! It is a pleasure working with your daughter, and I am very happy that our work together supports her confidence about her path forward.

Wonderful tutor

My college-aged son says, "She is just what I need." I am so thankful that he and Valerie connected as we have been trying to find someone for a long time. I think that speaks for itself!

Sara, 4 lessons with Valerie
Tutor responded:

Thank you, Sara! I am looking forward to continuing to provide support for your son. He is a pleasure to work with!

Perfect tutor!

I was extremely nervous about my environmental science paper and was on the brink of giving up. Valerie quickly changed my mindset! She was very patient and made sure I was confident in what I was writing. 5 stars isn’t enough for her rating. Thanks again!

Mercedes, 2 lessons with Valerie
Tutor responded:

Thank you, Mercedes! I am happy that our work together provided you with a positive outcome. Best wishes in your new career!

Patient and tactical tutor

Valerie was very patient in getting our first call set up to discuss how she could help our daughter. Once we set up our first session our daughter said she felt so much better about doing her book report because Valerie created a working document to follow in getting the book report done. She broke down the work into smaller pieces that were manageable and helped her know what to do.

Gisele, 6 lessons with Valerie
Tutor responded:

Thank you, Gisele! It was my pleasure to help your daughter to excel in a project that was important to her.

Insightful

While Valerie brings many skills in terms of subject/technical knowledge, she is even more valuable for her insights into your child and the stage he/she is in as a learner.

Victoria, 98 lessons with Valerie
Tutor responded:

Thank you, Victoria! It is a genuine pleasure being able to contribute to the academic and life success of your children.

Very Talented

Valerie has been helping our family for years now with many different subjects and now is helping our daughter manage her college workload. Valerie is very talented at breaking down information into manageable pieces while helping to provide a better understanding of the content.

Mary, 226 lessons with Valerie
Tutor responded:

Thank you, Mary! Getting to know and helping your family has enriched my life!

College application summer prep

Valerie is helping my daughter prepare writing for college applications. She is very knowledgable and also relatable. She works in a clear process and makes continued progress. My daughter enjoys working with Valerie and recognizes how her writing and organizing are improving. Valerie has alleviated a lot of the stress of college search and preparation for the application process.

Shandy, 8 lessons with Valerie
Tutor responded:

Thank you, Shandy! It is a pleasure to be helping your family with this important transition in your daughter's life. She is a pleasure to work with, and I am excited to see where her college path leads her.

Above and beyond

Valerie is a superb. Her and her work truly embody what it means to be a professional. She is thorough, patience and offers invaluable insight. She is also a great source of inspiration and encouragement! I highly recommend her!

Noor, 3 lessons with Valerie

Calm, helpful, great help with study skills

Valerie has been helping our daughter with general study skills, Earth Science content, and organizing her writing. Our daughter's science grade has improved, her confidence has as well, and she feels much more organized heading into a rather large first research writing assignment. I look forward to seeing the end result of this.

Michele , 8 lessons with Valerie
Hourly Rate: $150
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