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Helene F.

College Essays, College Counseling, Writing, Public Speaking

College Essays, College Counseling, Writing, Public Speaking

$70/hour

5.0 (207 ratings)

  • 728 hours tutoring

    • Congers, NY 10920

About Helene

Bio

Welcome! I am a college counselor and a writing tutor/mentor for students of all ages. I have been doing this work since 2013. I help students improve their academic or creative writing and editing skills, and to become more confident, fluid writers. Additionally, I work extensively with students applying to college programs—undergraduate or graduate, and offer soup to nuts, front to back college counseling services. These comprehensive services are individualized to the needs, interests,...

Welcome! I am a college counselor and a writing tutor/mentor for students of all ages. I have been doing this work since 2013. I help students improve their academic or creative writing and editing skills, and to become more confident, fluid writers. Additionally, I work extensively with students applying to college programs—undergraduate or graduate, and offer soup to nuts, front to back college counseling services. These comprehensive services are individualized to the needs, interests, and requests of each client-student.

ESSAY WRITING
I help students with essays for college applications and for academic papers. My role is to guide students and support them through the writing process, and to help them craft strong, compelling narratives that hew closely to their own voice. For college applications, essays usually include the personal statement (i.e. Common Application), as well as supplemental essays, and a student resume.

Depending on how far along in the writing process someone is when I begin working with them, determines my role in the writing process. For example, students may need help brainstorming topic ideas, while others need help refining and revising the essay(s), or both. Many students (and parents) have commented that they feel better prepared for college writing after working with me on this process.

In my experience, I find that most essays require a minimum of three 1-hour sessions. The length of time varies from student to student, and often depends on the individual's natural writing abilities, and/or how much time they have to work on the essay(s).

COLLEGE COUNSELING (UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE)
I often conduct an initial search and/or review and refinement of a student's college list in order to ensure it aligns with the student’s interests, budget, academic record and any specialized needs. The search process can coincide with discussions and possibly research re: scholarships and financial overview. This may also include any other help, such as how to “visit” a college website, prepare and conduct an interview, craft a student resume, etc.

Additionally, when requested, I work students to help them select programs and/or courses that suit their interests, goals and competencies.

ORGANIZATION
Staying organized is half the game. I create—and share—a spreadsheet(s) that allows the student and their parents/guardians to stay on top of the application process. The spreadsheet lists names of schools, deadlines, what will need to be submitted, scholarship info, dates visited, etc.

TIMELINE
Creating a timeline allows the student (and parent/guardian) to keep track of when things are due. The list is tailored to the student’s particular to-do list and helps prevent missed deadlines, cramming and bottlenecking. Timelines usually list SAT/ACT test dates, FAFSA/CSS applications, scholarships, applications deadlines, dates to request letters of recommendations, etc.

COST
My rates are priced competitively. Please note that I do charge a higher fee for comprehensive College Counseling. Every effort is made to meet the economic needs of individual families. Please contact me for further information.

PROCESS
Sessions are conducted in-person for local students, as time and necessity allows. However, most of my sessions are conducted online in real time in Google Docs while speaking by phone or via Skype or FaceTime. This is a highly focused and effective approach to the work, and it saves on travel time, which can be crucial as most student’s are quite busy.

GENERAL COMPONENTS OF A COLLEGE APPLICATION
Personal essay
Supplement essay(s) [this varies from college to college]
Resume
2-3 letters of recommendation
Financial information (usually FAFSA/CSS)
Scholarships

Read more

Education

BA, SUNY Purchase College
Literature
City College of New York
Enrolled

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $70
  • Rate details: Contact me for details regarding in-person lessons and discount rates.
  • Lesson cancellation: 24 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 5/27/2019

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Subjects

Corporate Training

Proofreading

Proofreading

As a writer, plain language "translator," and cofounder of a health literacy organization, I have 30+ years experience reviewing and refining written work. I have also been the project manager for medical reviews of curricula and responsible for close readings and accurate revisions of text including academic papers, grant narratives, essays, websites, and more.

English

Literature,

Literature

I have a B.A. in literature, with a concentration in American Lit. and writing. I am currently enrolled in an M.F.A. program for creative writing. I have worked with many students to help them create effective academic and term papers. I help students improve their writing and editorial skills, catalyzing their ability to "translate" their ideas into powerful prose.
Proofreading,

Proofreading

As a writer, plain language "translator," and cofounder of a health literacy organization, I have 30+ years experience reviewing and refining written work. I have also been the project manager for medical reviews of curricula and responsible for close readings and accurate revisions of text including academic papers, grant narratives, essays, websites, and more.
Writing

Writing

I am an experienced writer and tutor, and work with students to help them improve and refine their writing and comprehension skills.

Homeschool

Writing

Writing

I am an experienced writer and tutor, and work with students to help them improve and refine their writing and comprehension skills.

Most Popular

Writing

Writing

I am an experienced writer and tutor, and work with students to help them improve and refine their writing and comprehension skills.

Other

College Counseling

College Counseling

I have worked with many students on essays and applications for both undergraduate and graduate colleges and universities -- to great success! This is my bailiwick. I help students craft strong, well-written and compelling essays. I focus on either or both general (or common) application essays, as well as required or supplemental essays, and ones for scholarships. I have worked with students applying to a range of schools, 2- and 4-year, public and private, small and large, including highly competitive schools.

Summer

Writing

Writing

I am an experienced writer and tutor, and work with students to help them improve and refine their writing and comprehension skills.

Test Preparation

College Counseling

College Counseling

I have worked with many students on essays and applications for both undergraduate and graduate colleges and universities -- to great success! This is my bailiwick. I help students craft strong, well-written and compelling essays. I focus on either or both general (or common) application essays, as well as required or supplemental essays, and ones for scholarships. I have worked with students applying to a range of schools, 2- and 4-year, public and private, small and large, including highly competitive schools.

Examples of Expertise

Helene has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 3 questions submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

See all of Helene ’s answers ›

Ratings and Reviews

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5.0 (207 ratings)
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Reviews

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All reviews creative supportive outstanding excellent

Featured review

Timely Assistance. Thank you!

Helene was a huge help in providing the right mix of guidance and push that my son needed to get the College Essay completed. As it turns into out, the finished product has exceeded my expectations and it is just in time. Incidentally, my son loved working with Helene.

Joseph, 7 lessons with Helene
Tutor responded:

Thank you, Joseph. It has been a delight working with your son and family. Wishing you all the very best, Helene

Great teacher with a big heart to help!

Helene helped my daughter with her UC PIQs and her Common App essays revisions and edits. We were on extreme time crunch but Helene understood our situation, was empathetic and so kindly accommodated us quickly and helped my daughter with the edits. She was patient and gave good suggestions on how to strengthen each essay. Guided her well, very positive, and gave detailed feedback. Very efficient use of time. We had four lessons. My daughter felt very confident with the end results and happily submitted her applications. She was well supported by Helene. I believe Helene’s own experience helping her daughter with the college app process couple years ago really makes her a great coach. She understands what the kids are going through and is very positively supportive. We are so thankful!

Debby , 5 lessons with Helene

Great helper, very friendly

Helene F. has helped me become more passionate about my college application essay by suggesting the exact changes I was looking for!

Busra, 2 lessons with Helene

Very helpful!

I highly recommend Helene. We worked on my college essays and personal insight questions. She is very friendly and easy to talk to. I have no doubt that she’ll help get your essays to where you want them to be.

Isabelle, 3 lessons with Helene

Patient and Knowledgeable tutor

Helene has been really great working with my daughter. She is very patient and helps her brainstorm ideas for her college essays. She has made this college application process much less stressful for my daughter and her essays look so much stronger and complete and it would have taken her a lot longer to get to this point if not for Helene's help.

Preethi, 5 lessons with Helene

Great tutor with passion and patient with student

I have spoke with her over phone before class starts with my daughter, and after the online class, I also ask how the student feels. Each time, I got very positive feedback. I am therefore highly recommend Helene!!!

Nancy, 11 lessons with Helene

Excellent 1st lesson

Helene is working with my 17-year-old daughter on college application essay and the advising on the application process. Following the first lesson my daughter was very happy with how the lesson went. Helen brain stormed with her on an essay topic which my daughter was excited about. Helene also reviewed our college list and gave tips and suggested additional colleges to consider. Overall, my daughter felt supported, encouraged and equipped with good tips and instructions on next steps. We’re definitely happy to continue with Helene! Thank you!!

Ronny, 9 lessons with Helene

Just what my son needs

Josh has just started with Helene, but he is very impressed. He really didn't know where to start with his college admission essay, and she led him through his experiences to get him started. I'm sure he'll have an awesome finished product.

Emily, 4 lessons with Helene

Knowledgeable and patient tutor

Helene is really knowledgeable. She always give me a lot of useful tips and teach me a lot of writing skills. As a college student, I have many papers to write every semester, and I am bothered by grammar mistakes and sentence structure. Helene is always so patient and help me to edit my work. She also teaches me how to use some tools in google drive . I really appreciate her help and I highly recommend her for college students .

Alice , 2 lessons with Helene

A great teacher

Helene helped me with my application essay and explained the format to me. She did a good job helping me develop a deeper understanding of it and I felt much more confident working.

Billy, 6 lessons with Helene
Contact Helene

Response time: 2 hours

$70/hour

Helene F.

$70/hour

  • No subscriptions or upfront payments

  • Only pay for the time you need

  • Find the right fit, or your first hour is free

Contact Helene

Response time: 2 hours