Varna received a Bachelor of Science in Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology and English from the University of Michigan. After her undergraduate degree, she pursued a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Analysis at Columbia University before attending the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
Varna was a member of the admissions team at Columbia University, conducting admissions interviews for prospective students. She has coached many students through medical school applications helping with resume and CV development, personal statement writing, and interviews. As a member of the admissions team at Columbia, Varna conducted over 200 interviews, working closely with the department to field questions from prospective applicants throughout the admissions process.
Throughout her career, Varna has applied to undergraduate and top graduate school institutions, receiving acceptances from Yale, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and Dartmouth. With years of experience, she has learned what makes a strong personal statement, what admissions officers look for, and what makes someone stand out as an applicant. As a coach, she has helped students gain admission into the country’s top schools, such as Yale, Dartmouth, Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, Georgetown, and the University of Michigan, among others.
Varna’s favorite part of coaching college applicants is learning about each student’s spark. She is passionate about helping her students identify their “why” and helping them articulate that. To Varna, coaching is a unique opportunity to provide applicants with the tools to identify their passions, likes, dislikes, and what they want to accomplish in the short and longer term. She excels in helping candidates communicate their strengths meaningfully and effectively–employing her skills as an English major and writer to extract the most essential pieces of information to develop an authentic and impactful narrative.
When Varna is not coaching, she teaches yoga and enjoys writing about public health and medicine. She also loves cooking, exploring new restaurants, and going outdoors on long runs and hikes.
Varna’s Pro Tip?
There’s more than one way to achieve your goals. Having spoken to applicants from all over the world, you realize that every applicant shared a unique story. As a prospective student, it’s essential to understand that colleges look for more than a “perfect” applicant; they look for mission-driven individuals with experiences that demonstrate resilience, leadership skills, and a willingness to grow and learn.
Yanil earned a BA from Stony Brook University and an MA from Columbia University. At Columbia, she was the recipient of various awards, including the Certificate of Appreciation, EOP Achievement Award, Undergraduate Recognition Award, and Hispanic Heritage Month Award, all for her outstanding leadership and contributions to the school. She served as an application reader at Columbia, assessing candidates and making admissions decisions with other committee members.
As an application evaluator, Yanil determined students’ fit to join Columbia based on a holistic set of criteria, giving her unique insights into what it takes to succeed in competitive admissions. She has used this experience to guide students to admission to prestigious schools, including Columbia, Princeton, UMichigan, and others. At Columbia, Yanil has held a host of other roles, including Experiential Education Program Adviser and Assistant Director of Experiential Education.
Yanil is passionate about coaching students because it gives her a chance to help them discover and articulate their unique stories, passions, and potential. The college application process can feel overwhelming, and she loves guiding students through it with clarity and confidence. Yanil finds helping them identify the best fit for their personal and academic goals to be deeply fulfilling. Ultimately, she aims to empower students to step into the next chapter of their lives with purpose and excitement.
As a coach, Yanil’s greatest strengths are her empathy, attention to detail, and strategic mindset. She is able to connect with students on a personal level, making them feel understood and supported throughout the application process. At the same time, she likes to focus on the big picture—helping students craft compelling narratives while ensuring every aspect of their application is polished and authentic.
In her free time, Yanil enjoys reading, staying active through Peloton or new workout classes through ClassPass, trying new TikTok recipes, building Legos with her family, and practicing self-care.
Yanil’s Pro Tip?
Vulnerability makes a huge difference! Many students meet the "criteria" schools are looking for, but few share who they truly are in their application. The admissions panel should feel connected to you on a deeper level so that they’re more inclined to offer you acceptance!
Yashvi earned her BA from Cornell University, followed by an MBA from Columbia Business School. She has experience providing college application support through Minds Matter, a not-for-profit organization offering support to driven, low-income students. Currently, she is a Senior Business Operations & Strategy Manager at Integral Ad Science. She also serves as an alumni interviewer at Cornell University and Columbia Business School.
During her time at Cornell, Yashvi interned at notable companies, including Johnson & Johnson, KPMG, and Goldman & Sachs. She was also a member of the Sphinx Head Senior Honor Society, Co-Chair of the Student Activities Funding Commission, and Vice President of Internal Affairs for the Cornell Undergraduate Asia Business Society. At Columbia, Yashvi was a Business Analytics Executive Education Course Leader, as well as a member of the Silfen Leadership Series Student Board, Student Leadership & Ethics Board, and Hermes Society.
Yashvi’s passion for coaching college applicants stems from her own academic journey and the impact that mentorship had on her. As a first-generation student from Singapore, she understands firsthand how transformative education can be and how complex the application process can feel—especially when navigating it without a roadmap. The experience of getting into her top-choice schools reinforced how much strategy, storytelling, and self-awareness matter in crafting a compelling application. Her work with Minds Matter has also been particularly meaningful—supporting high-achieving, low-income students through the application journey has shown her how guidance and access to the right resources can change someone’s trajectory.
What excites Yashvi most is helping applicants tell their story authentically—not just listing achievements, but crafting a narrative that reflects their values, ambitions, and unique experiences. The college process can feel daunting, but Yashvi believes having the right coach can make all the difference. She loves being that guide, ensuring that students not only put their best foot forward, but also gain clarity on their own strengths and potential along the way.
As an experienced advertising technology professional, Yashvi brings a strategic, data-driven mindset to the coaching process—helping candidates position themselves effectively based on their unique strengths and experiences. She also deeply understands the importance of storytelling in applications, especially for those who may not be natural test-takers. She knows how to leverage strong essays to showcase student potential, ultimately securing admission to top-choice schools. This allows her to guide applicants in balancing their applications strategically so that their story, leadership, and unique perspectives shine through. Additionally, she understands the importance of timelines and ensures students stay on track throughout the process.
In her spare time, Yashvi enjoys exploring NYC, traveling, staying active through fitness and yoga, and reading books.
Yashvi’s Pro Tip?
Admissions are more holistic than people think. Many applicants believe they need a perfect GPA, test scores, or a long list of achievements to get in, but what truly differentiates candidates is a clear, authentic narrative. The most compelling applications aren’t just a collection of accomplishments—they tell a cohesive story about who the applicant is, what they care about, and how they would contribute to the school community. Admissions committees don’t just select the “best” candidates, but the right candidates for that particular program. Strong applicants should understand what makes a school unique and clearly explain why they are a good fit, beyond ranking or reputation.
Yazmeen earned a bachelor's degree with honors from the University of California, Los Angeles. With extensive experience in education, she is a seasoned academic tutor, college and private school admissions counselor, and Level 2 executive function coach. She has successfully coached students who have been accepted to the Ivy League, UC schools, and other top colleges.
Yazmeen’s passion for coaching comes from the opportunity to guide students through one of the most pivotal transitions of their lives. She finds immense fulfillment in helping students uncover their strengths, discover their aspirations, and articulate their stories in a way that resonates with admissions committees. Seeing students grow in confidence and ultimately gain acceptance to schools where they will thrive is what drives her work.
She has helped students secure admission to some of the nation's most prestigious institutions, including Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Caltech, Princeton, Brown, Cornell, Duke, Columbia, Dartmouth, UChicago, Yale, UPenn, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Michigan, Northwestern, WashU, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Rice, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Carnegie Mellon, Emory, and others.
As a coach, Yazmeen provides comprehensive support at every stage of the application process. Her expertise spans crafting compelling personal statements, essay writing and editing, and navigating complex application platforms such as the Common App and the UC application. Yazmeen uses structured techniques to enhance organizational skills and time management, helping students build strong habits that contribute to long-term academic and professional success.
When she’s not coaching, Yazmeen enjoys hiking, traveling, and practicing yoga.
Alice holds a Bachelor's degree from UCLA and a Master's from The University of Chicago. With over seven years of tutoring experience, she has honed her skills in test preparation, specializing in the SAT and ACT.
Alice is a dedicated educator passionate about guiding students toward academic success. Having worked in various tutoring agencies since completing her undergraduate studies, she has developed a unique approach to instruction. Alice excels in connecting with students, whether in a classroom setting, small group, or one-on-one, both in-person and virtually. Her strength is breaking down complex problems into manageable steps, making even the most overwhelming tasks approachable.
Her goal extends beyond preparing students for tests; she strives to instill a deep understanding of the subject matter, ensuring students can apply these concepts beyond the classroom. With a motto of meeting students where they are, Alice is committed to guiding them through their academic journey, helping them achieve their desired test scores and beyond.
Outside of tutoring, if Alice isn't reading a book in one of the many cafes in the Chicagoland area, she is exploring the rich food and music scene Chicago has to offer. She likes to attend intimate shows and eat good food with good company!
UC Irvine- Master's
Andy has a Master’s degree from UC Irvine and has over a decade of experience in SAT, ACT, and GRE tutoring. Andy loves to see learners push themselves out of their comfort zones and gain the confidence to reach their goals. In working with students of all backgrounds and abilities, from first-generation students to children of Ivy League alumni, their favorite tutoring moments are when candidates spot patterns in tests and therefore realize they have the skills to ace the ACT or SAT. This is why Andy focuses on strategy first, personalizing each learning plan to the candidate's unique strengths and goals.
Andy is passionate about helping students understand different ways to approach a problem or understand a concept - there's never one right way because everyone learns differently. They are skilled at helping students spot the differences between what they learned in classes at school and what to pay attention to on a standardized test. Andy also likes creating graphic organizers and other tools to help applicants stay organized and break the work down visually. Nothing makes them happier than congratulating a graduating senior – especially one who was nervous at the beginning of the school year – and seeing the excitement in their eyes when they talk about what's ahead of them.
Andy's greatest strengths as a tutor include empathizing with students, respecting their learning styles, and developing customized tools and strategies to help applicants stay organized and focused. Andy has helped students gain acceptance to several prestigious schools, including UC Berkeley, UCLA, NYU, and Northwestern University.
Outside of their work, Andy enjoys walking around Los Angeles, learning about local history, reading, and watching horror movies.
UCLA - Bachelor’s
Georgetown University - Master’s
Claudia holds a Bachelor’s from UCLA and a Master’s from Georgetown University. She has been a professional SAT/ACT tutor for almost 10 years. Students she has tutored have gone on to attend several top-tier universities, including UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, Georgetown, Princeton, Columbia, and Yale.
Professionally, Claudia is a Clinical Research Consultant for the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center. In this role, she embarks on various projects with her team so that up-and-coming medications and scientific devices can enter the market. Despite having a fulfilling career in research, Claudia dedicates time to education because she wants to nurture academic interests in young students.
In college, Claudia discovered her love for traveling. She studied abroad in England for two months and then backpacked through various European countries for a month. She also volunteered in Guatemala to provide medical care for the local community, where she discovered that she would like to pursue healthcare as a career.
As a tutor, Claudia is personable and friendly. She prioritizes establishing a relationship with her students and believes a good relationship between the tutor, student, and parent/guardian is necessary for trust and effective communication. She understands that each individual is unique, so she adjusts her teaching methods to accommodate each student.
Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Claudia spends most of her time exploring the outdoors, discovering great restaurants, practicing yoga, playing the piano/guitar/saxophone, reading fiction novels, or watching anime. She is always looking for new anime to watch, so if you have recommendations, let her know!
David graduated with summa cum laude honors from the College of the Ozarks, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art. He has been actively involved in the education realm since 1999; he began tutoring in 2005 and successfully owned and operated his tutoring business, HELP Tutoring, from 2009 to 2020. He has tutored approximately 500 students over the last couple of decades. David’s enduring commitment to tutoring stems from his joy in witnessing students succeed and the realization that tutoring is a powerful avenue to facilitate that success. David specializes in tutoring at all levels of math, up to Calculus 1 and SAT and ACT prep.
Motivated by a passion for inspiring students and helping them unlock their potential, he strongly believes that having a caring mentor invested in students' success yields benefits beyond the academic realm. As a tutor, David actively engages in his students' educational journeys. His genuine care for their success is evident from the start, as he assists them in charting a clear path to achievement. Employing a direct and uncomplicated tutoring style, David effectively identifies what truly contributes to student success and what doesn't. He identifies the root of students' challenges and fills in any learning gaps. Beyond immediate academic concerns, he emphasizes the broader perspective, aiding students in recognizing the significance of their education—whether it be meeting graduation requirements or acing standardized tests.
David ensures students grasp the real-world applications of these concepts and the enduring advantages of mastering them for long-term success.David excels at customizing his tutoring approach to suit the age and specific needs of his students. He has discovered that maintaining a blend of casual yet professional interaction is most effective, particularly when working with teenagers.When he’s not tutoring, David enjoys spending time with his wife and six kids. He also enjoys playing Madden football and has been DJing at various gigs for the past eight years.
Harvard University - Master’s
With a Master's degree from Harvard University, Eric is a supportive and effective tutor focused on helping students achieve their academic goals. He has over seven years of tutoring experience, working with students from diverse backgrounds, educational goals, and personalities.
Specializing in ACT studies, Eric has traveled the USA giving full-day lectures to schools of students on how to ace the ACT. He has studied psychology (including test construction/test making) and is ready to give students specific help on individual questions and test-taking tips that make taking the ACT much easier. So whether students aim for mastery, just enough for their dream school, or just a little advice, Eric is always happy to meet and work with students to achieve their goals.
When Eric isn't tutoring, he studies for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and plays board games. He loves board games, probably too much. Okay, too much (says his wife). Oh, and he makes a mean cheesecake.
Emory University - Bachelor's
Gabriella holds a Bachelor’s degree from Emory University. She is an expert in SAT and ACT test prep and is experienced in tutoring students one-on-one and teaching SAT workshops.
Gabriella’s passion for tutoring grew while working part-time in elementary school classrooms as an undergraduate. Since then, she has been committed to supporting students in their academic growth and helping them achieve their goals.
Gabriella approaches test prep by targeting students’ weakest subject areas and arming them with the necessary strategies to improve their comprehension and pacing on the test. As a positive and patient tutor, she builds on students’ foundational knowledge while also building their confidence. Her goal is to convert her students into empowered test takers by providing them with all the tools and support they need to succeed. Gabriella’s methods have produced positive results and feedback from students with increased scores and confidence.
In her spare time, Gabriella enjoys reading, writing, singing, and spending quality time with friends.
University of Pennsylvania - Bachelor's
Matthew is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He is an accomplished academic tutor and college admissions consultant with a wealth of experience and a passion for helping students succeed. Matthew has achieved a perfect score on the ACT and SAT subject tests and specializes in the mathematics and science sections. He also serves as a tutor and teaching assistant in various STEM subjects, including data structures and algorithms, machine learning, linear algebra, and calculus.
Matthew’s achievements include qualifying for the American Invitational Math Exam (AIME) four times during high school. He also served as a teaching assistant for Olympiad math courses at a renowned summer camp and has a deep passion for teaching higher-level mathematics.
One of Matthew's most notable accolades is his recognition as a U.S. Presidential Scholar by the Department of Education, one of the highest honors awarded to only 161 high schoolers nationwide.
Outside of academics, Matthew currently works in quantitative trading. He can offer valuable insights and guidance to students interested in pursuing careers in quantitative finance and software engineering.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Matthew has lived in Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Australia, where he bartended, surfed, and coached tennis. He's passionate about finding personal development through traveling, and he’s also a creative enthusiast in electronic music production.
Michael graduated summa cum laude with a 3.9 GPA and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. He owes much of his success as a tutor to his time at UMichigan and his rigorous course load. After achieving a 99th percentile score of 1530 on the SAT, Michael launched his tutoring career, guiding students nationwide to excel on both the SAT and ACT—he has over three years of tutoring experience.
Michael strongly believes that succeeding on the SAT and ACT is more than just studying content—it's learning how to think, especially on exams where the same concept could be tested hundreds of different ways.
As a coach, Micael excels at adapting his approach to their learning style. He is friendly, patient, and genuinely wants to see each student succeed. He ensures he is readily accessible and goes above and beyond to support students in achieving their academic goals.
In his free time, Michael enjoys cooking, playing tennis, and cross-country skiing. He is also an avid traveler and has visited Portugal three times.
Randee holds a Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Albany and Master’s degrees from Long Island University and the College of New Rochelle. With over 20 years of experience as a professionally trained SAT and ACT tutor, she has guided 250+ students to excel in their standardized tests.
Randee’s extensive background gives her a deep understanding of the challenges and triumphs involved in the SAT/ACT prep process. Her passion for mentoring students and helping families navigate the journey shines through in her approachable and upbeat tutoring style. She knows that the path to success starts with building confidence and breaking down seemingly larger tasks into manageable steps. Randee aims to make learning engaging and stress-free by infusing enthusiasm and encouragement into her sessions. This tutoring style ensures students approach these high-stakes exams with calm determination.
As a tutor, Randee excels at meeting students where they are. Whether they are just beginning their test prep journey or aiming to refine their skills to achieve a top score, she customizes her approach based on each student’s unique needs and skill levels. Fluent in all sections and question types of the SAT and ACT, her sessions focus on delivering clever strategies, practical techniques, and test-specific tips to build students' confidence, knowledge, and preparedness to excel on test day. Her lifelong learning mindset also ensures she stays ahead of the curve on test prep strategies, making her an invaluable resource for students aiming to reach their full potential.
Aside from helping students achieve their SAT and ACT goals, Randee loves spending quality time with family and friends, attending her kids’ sporting events, solving puzzles, traveling, soaking up the sun at the beach whenever possible, and enjoying Broadway shows. Her well-rounded interests and personable nature, combined with her love for learning, problem-solving, and making a difference, make her a relatable and inspiring coach for students and families alike.
Duke University - Bachelor's
Saumya graduated from Duke University, where she received the AB Duke scholarship. She has over a decade of tutoring experience, mostly focused on the ACT and SAT. Saumya taught her first math class when she was 14 years old and has been tutoring ever since. Professionally, Saumya works at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as a clinical researcher in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department. She leads several initiatives to improve reproductive health equity, and in her free time, she is an adolescent health educator. Her passion for education and access to education drives everything she does.
Saumya started tutoring the SAT/ACT shortly after taking the tests herself in high school. While preparing for the exams, she learned tips and tricks that helped her "crack" the exams and wanted to pass this information on to others. Saumya believes there is a clear difference between understanding the content tested on the SAT/ACT and how to take the exam. Instead of just teaching "exam hacks," Saumya loves helping students understand the "why" behind the solution and then employing exam hacks to help them solve problems more quickly.
Saumya loves teaching and seeing students reach their "breakthrough" moment. She is excited to get to know Quad students and help them through this process!
Outside of professional pursuits, Saumya loves spending time with her dog, Mallard. Mallard is a 10-year-old rescue and has always had the name Mallard, but Saumya thinks he was named because of his duck noises. Mallard will sometimes say hi through Saumya's computer screen! Saumya also loves trying new coffee recipes, playing guitar, and singing.
Tersoo is pursuing a Bachelor’s from Princeton University, where he excels and consistently holds a 3.9+ GPA. He is deeply passionate about education and learning in his personal and professional life, having undergone training as a tutor at Princeton's Learning Center. He broke the 1500+ threshold on his first and only SAT attempt, so he’s no stranger to a rigorous, skill-based approach to preparing for this exam.
Tersoo has a rich understanding of learning psychology which he constantly leverages in his pursuit of studying Computer Architecture and Quantum Engineering. Above all, Tersoo takes the utmost pride in his work as an SAT tutor as he seeks to enrich his clients with knowledge on tackling the SAT conceptually and time-efficiently.
While Tersoo is deeply academic, aspiring to attain a PhD in Computer Architecture, he also holds many creative interests, notably in fashion, graphic design, music, and photography. Whenever he is back home in Calgary, one of his favorite activities is finding vintage clothing at his local Goodwill with friends. He also prides himself in physical health as an avid weightlifter and recreational athlete.
When Tersoo isn’t studying, drafting new pieces for his up-and-coming clothing brand, or listening to music, you'll find him attempting a new squat PR or playing pick-up soccer with grad students.