Columbia MD-PhD Student | 525 MCAT | 12+ Years Tutoring Experience

Isabella P.

I am an MD/PhD Student at Columbia University with over ten years of experience tutoring STEM, writing, and standardized test prep. My students span middle through graduate school and regularly improve by full letter grades in courses and/or by 10-20 points on standardized tests. I have particularly extensive experience working with traditional and nontraditional medical school applicants, including those shifting careers, reapplying, or retaking the exam.

No matter the subject, our sessions will be crafted around the student's goals and learning style; I have worked with some students to achieve specific short-term goals and have supported others over longer stretches of their educational journeys. STEM, in particular, can be daunting for many students. My goal as your teacher is to help you distill the important concepts, identify patterns in what can sometimes seem like a sea of details, and practice applying concepts to new scenarios. I try to tie what you are learning to real-world scenarios to help give context though which you can remember the details.

I scored 525 (100th percentile) on the MCAT - 132 (perfect scores) on bio/biochem and chem/physics, 131 CARS, 130 psych/sosc - and can help with any section. I raised my own score by 20 points in three weeks, and enjoy sharing those tricks with students. I particularly enjoy teaching CARS, as this was the section I struggled most with at first. I can also tutor college-level biology and chemistry and AP chemistry, biology, Spanish, and English - I scored 5s on all these exams.

Finally, I have significant experience writing and editing successful applications for schools, grants, and nationally-competitive fellowships. I view these essays as opportunities to showcase both your voice and vision for the world, all with an eye towards putting your best foot forward. Students whose essays I've edited have gone on to top universities and have received prestigious fellowships.

I look forward to working with you.