Columbia SIPA Graduate | SAT, ACT & College Essay Tutoring

Jacob A.

I am a recent Columbia SIPA and Sciences Po graduate with advanced degrees in international affairs and a 3.96 GPA, and I have spent the past several years working across four continents in research, policy analysis, and program management. My academic background includes coursework in economics, political science, international development, and quantitative methods, and I completed my dual degree program entirely in French at Sciences Po in Paris, giving me native-level fluency in the language. I am approved to tutor in French, SAT Reading, SAT Writing, ACT Reading, ACT English, and Writing, and I bring a rigorous academic foundation to each of these subjects.

While my tutoring experience has been primarily informal, I have consistently helped peers, colleagues, and younger students with writing, test preparation, and academic skills throughout my academic and professional career. I have worked one-on-one with students on essay structure, argument development, and clarity of expression, drawing on years of producing high-stakes written work for UN agencies, government ministries, and graduate-level academic audiences. My approach is diagnostic and student-centered: I begin by identifying exactly where a student is losing points or struggling, then build a targeted plan around those specific gaps rather than applying a generic curriculum.

What sets me apart is the combination of academic credentials, real-world professional writing experience, and genuine fluency in French developed through immersive study and daily life in Paris. Whether working with a high schooler on SAT Reading strategy, an adult learner building conversational French from the ground up, or a college student developing their academic writing voice, I adapt my style to what each individual student actually needs. My goal in every session is for the student to leave with something concrete and immediately applicable.