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Harvard PhD with 10+ Years of Academic Advising
Serge R.

5.0 (50 ratings)

248 hours tutoring

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Hourly Rate: $100
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Response time: 4 hours

About Serge

Bio

Hello! I'm Serge. I'm a Harvard/Cornell-trained tutor with over 10 years of experience in academic advising, college admissions, test counseling, and subject coaching. After graduating from Cornell, pre-med with a degree in Developmental Psychology, I went on to Harvard to pursue a master's and, later, a Ph.D. in Literature and Media Studies. I started teaching there and received numerous awards for excellence in pedagogy over the years.

No matter the subject, I believe in personalized...

Hello! I'm Serge. I'm a Harvard/Cornell-trained tutor with over 10 years of experience in academic advising, college admissions, test counseling, and subject coaching. After graduating from Cornell, pre-med with a degree in Developmental Psychology, I went on to Harvard to pursue a master's and, later, a Ph.D. in Literature and Media Studies. I started teaching there and received numerous awards for excellence in pedagogy over the years.

No matter the subject, I believe in personalized education tailored to your strengths and aspirations. My commitment is to help each student discover their potential and, with my help, achieve those goals they set for themselves. Whether you are writing research papers, preparing for exams, or working through college applications or essays, I will be delighted to join you at any stage of your process. Get in touch, send questions, and schedule your first session today!

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Education

(B.S.) Cornell University
Developmental Psychology, Pre-Med
(1) Harvard University, Comparative Literature
Masters
(1) Harvard University, Comparative Literature, Secondary in Film & Visual Studies
PhD

Additional Languages

French
Italian
Russian

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $100
  • Rate details: 1) The hourly rate includes 20 minutes of prep time. 2) My clients get extra support free of charge in addition to each session.
  • Lesson cancellation: 24 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 2/10/2022

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Approved Subjects

ADHD

ADHD

I have worked with numerous students of all ages who were struggling with their ADHD. Over the years, I have developed creative teaching strategies tailored to each student's learning style. I myself have ADHD and my own experience with it taught me to treat the condition as a superpower, rather than an affliction. Helping young learners overcome the stigma of disability is something deeply personal to me.
Anthropology

Anthropology

I’m a scholar of culture and theory with a Harvard PhD who has taught post‑modern, post‑colonial, and critical theory for 10+ years. My work bridges Comparative Literature, film studies, and cultural anthropology, focusing on how displaced and marginalized communities reinvent “home” and identity. I help students master key thinkers—from Lévi‑Strauss and Geertz to Foucault, Butler, and Clifford—while honing ethnographic writing, qualitative methods, and theoretical argumentation. If you need to untangle dense theory, craft field‑work analyses, or frame research through lenses such as structuralism, post‑structuralism, or decolonial critique, I offer practical frameworks and incisive feedback.
Architecture

Architecture

Knowledge of architecture is essential to anyone interested in understanding the intricacies of human interaction. This statement shouldn't come as a surprise, since we spend most of our lives in some kind of 'architectural' space. A portion of my academic research focuses on the role of architecture in modernist film and literature. Several years ago I was hired by Harvard’s Graduate School of Design to co-teach a year-long curriculum on the subject. This opportunity gave rise to two courses examining the intersection of visual arts and architecture through a variety of theoretical and historical texts.
Business

Business

Educator‑consultant with a decade of experience running entrepreneurship camps, coaching business‑plan competitions, and advising MBA applicants. I’ve helped high‑school startups win DECA and Diamond Challenge awards and guided college grads into top MBA programs (Harvard, Wharton, Columbia). Drawing on my research in business ethics and AI, I teach strategic thinking, lean‑canvas modeling, pitch‑deck storytelling, and admissions essay craft. Whether you’re refining a venture idea, prepping for case interviews, or polishing an MBA personal statement, I provide industry‑tested templates, market‑analysis tools, and actionable feedback to give you a competitive edge.
Career Development

Career Development

In recent years, I’ve helped clients gain acceptance to top-tier universities, including Cornell, NYU, Brown, UChicago, UPenn, Harvard Business, Claremont McKenna, Amherst, Tufts, Middlebury, Bard, and others. Applying to schools can be overwhelming, but, with the right mentorship, there are ways of making this experience as rewarding as possible. It is, after all, an opportunity to master oneself through writing, all the while becoming better at it.
Classics

Classics

Harvard‑trained classicist at heart! My PhD research in Comparative Literature draws deeply on Greek and Roman authors—from Homer and Euripides to Virgil and Augustine—and I’ve spent a decade guiding students through these texts in both translation and the original languages. I teach close reading, scansion, and rhetorical analysis, illuminating historical context while connecting ancient ideas to modern debates. Whether you’re translating Latin hexameters, parsing Greek syntax, or unpacking Aristotle’s Poetics, I provide clear grammatical explanations, cultural background, and discussion prompts that bring the classical world vividly to life.
College Counseling

College Counseling

In recent years, I’ve helped clients gain acceptance to top-tier universities, including Cornell, NYU, Brown, UChicago, UPenn, Harvard Business, Claremont McKenna, Amherst, Tufts, Middlebury, Bard, and others. Applying to schools can be overwhelming, but, with the right mentorship, there are ways of making this experience as rewarding as possible. It is, after all, an opportunity to master oneself through writing, all the while becoming better at it.
Creative Writing

Creative Writing

Harvard‑trained writer‑scholar here! I earned my PhD in Comparative Literature with a secondary field in Film & Media Studies and spent 10+ years teaching creative craft at Harvard, Cornell, and through my NYC‑based education consultancy. As both an artist and a storyteller, I guide writers in poetry, hybrid forms, memoir, and multimedia projects—helping them uncover authentic voice, sharpen imagery, and experiment with structure. My mentees have won Scholastic Art & Writing medals, placed in the John Locke Essay Competition, and secured spots in prestigious MFA‑prep programs. Whether you’re drafting lyric essays or immersive narrative nonfiction, I offer practical prompts, deep line‑level feedback, and revision strategies that turn inspiration into polished, publishable work. Let’s transform your creative spark into writing that resonates.
Drawing

Drawing

While my degree is in the Humanities, I am a practicing artist. I took and taught studio courses, working in various mediums. I specialize in painting and multi-media. In addition, while at Harvard, I worked as a studio assistant for an artist who mentored me in sculpture and drawing.
Elementary (K-6th)

Elementary (K-6th)

I have experience working as an education consultant for several K-6th homeschooled children, responsible for designing and implementing their study curriculum.
English

English

While at Harvard, I taught expository writing, literary analysis, and critical thinking to graduates and undergraduates in many varied courses and settings (a short selection below). Working closely with world-renowned faculty, I designed and implemented course curriculums, led seminars, ran essay writing workshops, organized brainstorming sessions, and performed meticulous editorial work on countless drafts entrusted to me for review. I held concurrent appointments as Head Fellow, Writing Fellow, Lecturer, and Academic Advisor and was awarded several distinctions in teaching by the dean. Many of my advisees received sought-after recognition for the essays they produced while under my tutelage. I have several years of experience tutoring standardized tests, specifically TOEFL, SAT, ACT, GRE, GED, GMAT, and various AP/IB Subject Exams. Lastly, I have previously worked with younger learners on academic enrichment, creative writing, reading comprehension, and SSAT/ISEE. Courses: Social Media & Popular Culture; African American Literature from the Beginnings to the Harlem Renaissance; Literature & Medicine; The Art of Film; Postwar American & British Fiction; Writing Across Cultures & Literatures of the World.
Environmental Science

Environmental Science

Harvard‑trained researcher with a degree in Visual & Environmental Studies and 10+ years of mentoring students on ecology, sustainability, and climate‑policy projects. I’ve coached AP Environmental Science classes to consistent 5‑scores, supervised Regeneron and science‑fair finalists, and advised campus sustainability initiatives recognized at the national level. My cross‑disciplinary method blends field techniques, GIS/data analysis, and clear narrative framing so students master both the science and its real‑world stakes. Whether you’re preparing for the AP exam, drafting a lab report, or designing an independent research proposal, I provide concise concept reviews, proven study frameworks, and step‑by‑step feedback that turn complex environmental challenges into confident, actionable understanding.
Essay Writing

Essay Writing

Harvard‑trained scholar here! I hold a PhD in Comparative Literature (Film & Media secondary field) and have spent 10+ years teaching and mentoring writers at Harvard, Cornell, and through my NYC‑based education consultancy. My students—from middle schoolers to graduate applicants—have earned medals in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, honors in the John Locke Essay Competition, and admission to Ivy‑League programs. I specialize in turning big ideas into clear, engaging prose: brainstorming, thesis formation, structural logic, voice, and stylistic polish. Whether you’re crafting a literary analysis, research paper, or personal statement, I’ll give you practical frameworks, incisive feedback, and the confidence to make every sentence count. Let’s elevate your essay from good to unforgettable.
Fiction Writing

Fiction Writing

I’m a Comparative Literature PhD (Harvard) and practicing fiction writer who has spent more than a decade mentoring storytellers at every level—from middle‑school novelists to graduate workshop participants. Drawing on my scholarship in narrative theory and my background in film studies, I help writers craft compelling plots, multidimensional characters, and vivid worlds across genres. Students I’ve coached have earned Scholastic Gold Keys, placed in national story contests, and been admitted to top creative‑writing programs. Together we’ll refine your story arc, tighten scene pacing, and elevate dialogue while preserving your unique voice. Whether you’re polishing short stories or drafting a novel, I provide incisive developmental edits and actionable techniques so your fiction captivates readers from the first line to “The End.”
Film

Film

My PhD is in Literature with a secondary concentration in Film Studies. I taught numerous courses in film history and film theory. I am also a practicing artist, working in various mediums.
High School Placement Test

High School Placement Test

Harvard‑trained PhD and veteran test‑prep coach with 10+ years of guiding students to standout scores across English‑language and independent‑school entrance exams. My background in Comparative Literature and linguistics lets me demystify grammar, vocabulary, and reading‑comprehension traps, while my math‑section strategies (quant reasoning, algebra, data analysis) boost accuracy and pacing for ISEE & HSPT. I’ve helped: • International applicants lift IELTS bands from 6.0 to 7.5+ through targeted speaking & writing drills • Middle‑schoolers jump two stanines on the ISEE and secure admissions to Dalton, Horace Mann, and Exeter • Ninth‑graders master HSPT verbal & quantitative skills, earning top‑10% national percentiles Sessions pair diagnostic analytics with customizable study plans, timed‑practice routines, and line‑level feedback—so every lesson directly addresses your highest‑value improvement areas. Whether you need a last‑minute IELTS writing polish or a multi‑month roadmap for selective‑school entrance, I provide clear explanations, proven test tactics, and the confidence to perform your best on exam day.
Homeschool

Homeschool

Over the course of 12 months during the pandemic, I worked as an education consultant, lecturer, and teacher for a high-profile NY family, whose youngest son I was homeschooling during transition from Elementary to Middle School. I was responsible for designing and implementing his homeschool curriculum, aligned with the requirements of the French Lycée of New York. I taught and evaluated all subjects, including French, Math, Reading, Writing, Art, Sports, and Enrichment.
IELTS

IELTS

Harvard‑trained PhD and veteran test‑prep coach with 10+ years of guiding students to standout scores across English‑language and independent‑school entrance exams. My background in Comparative Literature and linguistics lets me demystify grammar, vocabulary, and reading‑comprehension traps, while my math‑section strategies (quant reasoning, algebra, data analysis) boost accuracy and pacing for ISEE & HSPT. I’ve helped: • International applicants lift IELTS bands from 6.0 to 7.5+ through targeted speaking & writing drills • Middle‑schoolers jump two stanines on the ISEE and secure admissions to Dalton, Horace Mann, and Exeter • Ninth‑graders master HSPT verbal & quantitative skills, earning top‑10% national percentiles Sessions pair diagnostic analytics with customizable study plans, timed‑practice routines, and line‑level feedback—so every lesson directly addresses your highest‑value improvement areas. Whether you need a last‑minute IELTS writing polish or a multi‑month roadmap for selective‑school entrance, I provide clear explanations, proven test tactics, and the confidence to perform your best on exam day.
ISEE

ISEE

Harvard‑trained PhD and veteran test‑prep coach with 10+ years of guiding students to standout scores across English‑language and independent‑school entrance exams. My background in Comparative Literature and linguistics lets me demystify grammar, vocabulary, and reading‑comprehension traps, while my math‑section strategies (quant reasoning, algebra, data analysis) boost accuracy and pacing for ISEE & HSPT. I’ve helped: • International applicants lift IELTS bands from 6.0 to 7.5+ through targeted speaking & writing drills • Middle‑schoolers jump two stanines on the ISEE and secure admissions to Dalton, Horace Mann, and Exeter • Ninth‑graders master HSPT verbal & quantitative skills, earning top‑10% national percentiles Sessions pair diagnostic analytics with customizable study plans, timed‑practice routines, and line‑level feedback—so every lesson directly addresses your highest‑value improvement areas. Whether you need a last‑minute IELTS writing polish or a multi‑month roadmap for selective‑school entrance, I provide clear explanations, proven test tactics, and the confidence to perform your best on exam day.
Linguistics

Linguistics

Harvard‑trained scholar with a PhD in Comparative Literature and more than a decade of teaching language and textual analysis through a linguistic lens. My research spans structuralism, semiotics, and discourse analysis, while my classroom experience ranges from phonetics and morphology workshops to advanced seminars on sociolinguistics and translation theory. Multilingual (English, Russian, Ukrainian, French, Latin/Ancient Greek), I help students decode sound systems, parse syntactic trees, and trace how meaning shifts across dialects, media, and cultures. Whether you’re diagramming sentences for an intro course, tackling Chomsky’s minimalist program, or designing fieldwork on language contact, I provide clear explanations, rigorous methodology coaching, and targeted feedback that turn complex linguistic puzzles into confident mastery.
Painting

Painting

While my degree is in the Humanities, I am a practicing artist. I took and taught studio courses, working in various mediums. I specialize in painting and multi-media. In addition, while at Harvard, I worked as a studio assistant for an artist who mentored me in sculpture and drawing.
Personal Statements

Personal Statements

Harvard‑trained PhD and seasoned admissions coach here to make your story stand out. For 10+ years I’ve guided applicants to Ivy League colleges, top‑ranked MBAs, selective graduate programs, and competitive scholarships—including Fulbright, Schwarzman, and Rhodes finalists. My process pairs deep narrative strategy with line‑level polish: we’ll identify your core themes, weave experiences into a cohesive arc, and refine each sentence for clarity, authenticity, and impact. Students I’ve mentored have earned admits to Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Wharton, Oxford, and more. Whether you’re crafting a Common App essay, MBA personal statement, or fellowship narrative, I bring proven frameworks, incisive feedback, and insider insight to turn your application into a compelling, unforgettable read.
Regents

Regents

I have experience preparing High School students for their Regents Examinations (and similar state-specific exams) across all academic fields. As a New Yorker I am intimately familiar with all the intricacies of the test.
Russian

Russian

I am a native speaker of Russian, born in Kyiv, Ukraine. My graduate work is in Russian Literature & Language. I taught Russian at Harvard for several years. I also have experience working on language with younger learners.
Theater

Theater

I was always interested in theater and musical theater. As an undergraduate, I was determined to nourish this interest by taking at least one theater course each year. While some courses were heavy on theory and the history of performance, I particularly enjoyed those centered around production and acting. In one of my acting classes, we put on 'miniatures' (selections of scenes from well-known productions) and I was assigned Angels in America, a scene from which I 'produced' and 'directed.' In graduate school, I carried this experience over into a course titled American Plays and Musicals, 1940–Present.
Thesis Writing

Thesis Writing

Harvard‑trained PhD with a decade of shepherding students from first proposal to prize‑winning thesis. I’ve advised honors projects in literature, history, anthropology, economics, and STEM, guiding scholars who later earned departmental distinctions, publication in undergraduate journals, and top‑prize finishes in competitions such as John Locke, Regeneron, and the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. My process combines big‑picture strategy—defining a sharp research question, methodology, and literature review—with meticulous line‑level editing, citation rigor (MLA, APA, Chicago), and defense prep. Whether you’re structuring chapters, interpreting data, or polishing your arguments, I provide clear frameworks, targeted feedback, and proven revision techniques so your thesis is not just finished, but exemplary.
United States History

United States History

Harvard‑trained scholar and seasoned educator ready to bring America’s past to life. With 10+ years of teaching experience at Harvard, Cornell, and through my NYC‑based consultancy, I guide students from middle school through college in mastering everything from colonial foundations to contemporary policy debates. My interdisciplinary PhD work connects history with literature, film, and cultural studies, giving students rich context for primary‑source analysis, DBQs, and thematic essays. Whether you’re tackling AP U.S. History, crafting a National History Day project, or sharpening research papers on Reconstruction, civil‑rights movements, or U.S. foreign policy, I provide engaging narratives, critical thinking frameworks, and line‑level feedback that turn dates and documents into compelling stories—and higher scores.
Writing

Writing

While at Harvard, I taught expository writing, literary analysis, and critical thinking to graduates and undergraduates in many varied courses and settings (a short selection below). Working closely with world-renowned faculty, I designed and implemented course curriculums, led seminars, ran essay writing workshops, organized brainstorming sessions, and performed meticulous editorial work on countless drafts entrusted to me for review. I held concurrent appointments as Head Fellow, Writing Fellow, Lecturer, and Academic Advisor and was awarded several distinctions in teaching by the dean. Many of my advisees received sought-after recognition for the essays they produced while under my tutelage. I have several years of experience tutoring standardized tests, specifically TOEFL, SAT, ACT, GRE, GED, GMAT, and various AP/IB Subject Exams. Lastly, I have previously worked with younger learners on academic enrichment, creative writing, reading comprehension, and SSAT/ISEE.
ACT English
ACT Math
ACT Reading
ACT Science
Algebra 1
Algebra 2
American History
Anatomy
Art History
Art Theory
Astronomy
Biochemistry
Biology
Calculus
Chemistry
Differential Equations
Ecology
Elementary Math
Elementary Science
ESL/ESOL
European History
French
GED
General Computer
Geography
Geology
Geometry
German
GMAT
Government & Politics
Grammar
GRE
HTML
Italian
JavaScript
Latin
Law
Linear Algebra
Literature
LSAT
Microbiology
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
Music Theory
Philosophy
Phonics
Physical Science
Physics
Physiology
Political Science
Prealgebra
Precalculus
Probability
Proofreading
PSAT
Psychology
R
Reading
SAT Reading
SAT Writing
Social Studies
Spelling
SSAT
Statistics
TOEFL
Trigonometry
Vocabulary
World History

Examples of Expertise

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Serge R.'s Photo

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Ratings and Reviews

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Reviews

Extremely Helpful!

Serge helped my daughter with last-minute crunch college admission and scholarship essay reviews and revisions. He was knowledgeable and thorough. My daughter will continue with Serge until her college essays are done. Thank you, Serge!

Jenny, 35 lessons with Serge

excellent to work with Serge, to help make the college application essay process less daunting

Serge has his finger on the pulse of how to approach college essays with a decisive voice, that is neither self mythologizing nor meek.

Stephen, 3 lessons with Serge
Hourly Rate: $100
Response time: 4 hours
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