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Top-tier Admissions, Test Prep, and Essay Support from Former Prof.
Holly R.

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4 hours tutoring

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About Holly

Bio

Hi, I'm Holly!

I'm a professional tutor, admissions consultant, academic coach, and former professor. I received my B.A. in Russian at Bowdoin College and my M.A. and Ph.D. in Comparative Literature / American Studies at Indiana University. Afterwards, I served as a professor at the University of Maine for five years before pivoting to 1:1 education full time.

To each tutoring session, I bring 10 years of college-level classroom teaching in English, Literature, American Studies,...

Hi, I'm Holly!

I'm a professional tutor, admissions consultant, academic coach, and former professor. I received my B.A. in Russian at Bowdoin College and my M.A. and Ph.D. in Comparative Literature / American Studies at Indiana University. Afterwards, I served as a professor at the University of Maine for five years before pivoting to 1:1 education full time.

To each tutoring session, I bring 10 years of college-level classroom teaching in English, Literature, American Studies, Communication, and Media Studies, 5 years of professional college admissions advising, 15+ years of writing tutoring, and 10+ years of academic mentorship / coaching experience.

College Application Essays
As a professional admissions consultant, I know the college application process inside and out. I'll help you understand what role your college essay plays in the full application, how to build a winning essay strategy, how to manage complex deadlines, and how to get your essay(s) polished and ready to submit.

For Students with ADHD or Executive Functioning (EF) Challenges
I guide students with ADHD or EF challenges to tap into the experience, knowledge, and resilience they already possess. We work together to see past blocks and self-sabotaging habits to truly unlock their gifts and meet their goals. Clear structure and scaffolded meetings help students stay organized and on track and make measurable progress between sessions.

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Education

Bowdoin College
Russian
Indiana University
Masters
Indiana University
PhD

Policies

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Approved Subjects

ACT English

ACT English

I have worked for 5 years as a principal SAT/ACT tutor at Signet Education. Never fear, my grammar and vocabulary tips make acing the English section manageable and painless! In our sessions, I'll assess your areas for improvement in 1) content, 2) strategy, and 3) performance, and then design a custom prep plan to help you reach your target score. Recent student ACT successes: HC went from a 31 to a 34 by building his stamina and attention to detail. LB went from a 28 to a 33 by conquering his test-day jitters and overthinking. LS went from a 25 to a 29 by tweaking her timing and learning to “think like the test.”
ACT Math

ACT Math

I have worked for 5 years as a principal SAT/ACT tutor at Signet Education. In our sessions, I'll assess your areas for improvement in 1) content, 2) strategy, and 3) performance, and then design a custom prep plan to help you reach your target score. When tutoring for the math section, I work to narrow the scope of new information so that we only focus on the most relevant material (including using DESMOS calculator strategically) for maximum results. Recent student ACT successes: HC went from a 31 to a 34 by building his stamina and attention to detail. LB went from a 28 to a 33 by conquering his test-day jitters and overthinking. LS went from a 25 to a 29 by tweaking her timing and learning to “think like the test.”
ACT Reading

ACT Reading

I have worked for 5 years as a principal SAT/ACT tutor at Signet Education. In our sessions, I'll assess your areas for improvement in 1) content, 2) strategy, and 3) performance, and then design a custom prep plan to help you reach your target score. Expert tutoring from a PhD and former professor, tailored just for you! Recent student ACT successes: HC went from a 31 to a 34 by building his stamina and attention to detail. LB went from a 28 to a 33 by conquering his test-day jitters and overthinking. LS went from a 25 to a 29 by tweaking her timing and learning to “think like the test.”
ACT Science

ACT Science

I have worked for 5 years as a principal SAT/ACT tutor at Signet Education. In our sessions, I'll assess your areas for improvement in 1) content, 2) strategy, and 3) performance, and then design a custom prep plan to help you reach your target score. Although the Science section is now optional, some basic strategy pointers can make a quick and significant boost to your testing profile! Recent student ACT successes: HC went from a 31 to a 34 by building his stamina and attention to detail. LB went from a 28 to a 33 by conquering his test-day jitters and overthinking. LS went from a 25 to a 29 by tweaking her timing and learning to “think like the test.”
College Counseling

College Counseling

As an admissions consultant with Signet Education, I've guided over 100 students and families to research colleges, build a college list, develop an application strategy, and complete applications. Recent acceptances include: Stanford, Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, Brown, UChicago, Georgetown, NYU, Boston College, and others.
Essay Writing

Essay Writing

I've tutored writing for over 15 years, while honing my own writing skills as a graduate students and professor. I bring these skills and teaching insight to help students tackle their essays for high school and college coursework, addressing common problems like writer's block and procrastination.
Executive Functioning

Executive Functioning

For the last 5 years, I have served as a top Academic Coach at Signet Education, helping high school and college students develop skills to improve organization, planning, and confidence to manage their academic lives. I take a strengths-based approach to my EF tutoring so that students tap into their personal 'superpowers' to tackle their challenges.
GRE

GRE

I am a staff GRE tutor at Signet Education and have led GRE workshops online, including one for the McNair Scholars program at Boston College. In my tutoring, I'll assess your areas for improvement in 1) content, 2) strategy, and 3) performance, and then design a custom prep plan to help you reach your target score. Expert tutoring from a PhD and former professor, tailored just for you!
Literature

Literature

I have a PhD in Comparative Literature and American Studies from Indiana University. There, I received department- and university-wide awards for teaching excellence. I approach the study of Literature from a place of curiosity and joy and hope to inspire the same in my students.
LSAT

LSAT

When approaching the LSAT, I offer students common-sense strategies to build their logical reasoning ability, think like the test, and manage their time effectively. In our sessions, we will review practice questions to diagnose common causes of error and identify your unique testing style. Then we'll design a custom prep plan to hit your target score. I have scored a 177 on Official LSAT Practice Tests and bring my love for logic puzzles to each session!
Personal Statements

Personal Statements

I've tutored writing for over 15 years, all while honing my own writing skills as I earned my PhD in Comparative Literature and worked as a professor at the University of Maine. I bring these skills and teaching insight to help students prepare application essays for college, summer programs, or scholarships. My experience as an Admissions Consultant at Signet Education ensures that my students prepare strategic essays with maximum impact.
SAT Math

SAT Math

I have worked for 5 years as a principal SAT/ACT tutor at Signet Education. In our sessions, I'll assess your areas for improvement in 1) content, 2) strategy, and 3) performance, and then design a custom prep plan to help you reach your target score. When tutoring for the math section, I work to narrow the scope of new information so that we only focus on the most relevant material (including using DESMOS calculator strategically) for maximum results. Recent student SAT successes: HB went from a 1350 to a 1500 by identifying key patterns of error and working to correct them. LF went from an 1130 to a 1250 by nailing down a pacing strategy and filling gaps in her content knowledge.
SAT Reading

SAT Reading

I have worked for 5 years as a principal SAT/ACT tutor at Signet Education. In our sessions, I'll assess your areas for improvement in 1) content, 2) strategy, and 3) performance, and then design a custom prep plan to help you reach your target score. Expert tutoring from a PhD and former professor, tailored just for you! Recent student SAT successes: HB went from a 1350 to a 1500 by identifying key patterns of error and working to correct them. LF went from an 1130 to a 1250 by nailing down a pacing strategy and filling gaps in her content knowledge.
Study Skills

Study Skills

For the last 5 years, I have served as a top Academic Coach at Signet Education, helping high school and college students develop skills manage their academic lives. When coaching students to improve their study skills, I take a strengths-based approach, allowing them to tap into their personal 'superpowers' to tackle their challenges. This includes identifying their preferred learning modalities and using research in learning science to inform study practices.
Thesis Writing

Thesis Writing

During my time as a professor the University of Maine, I advised MA and undergraduate Honors theses and served as a committee member for PhD, MA, and Honors theses. This exposed me to a wide array of projects in the humanities and social sciences, and also gave me insight into what advisors and committee members are looking for. I also ran several dissertation writing groups while earning my PhD, which gave me extensive experience helping students overcome Writer's Block and procrastination.
Grammar
Proofreading
Vocabulary

Examples of Expertise

Holly has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 1 question submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

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