Amanda graduated cum laude with a BS from Villanova University before pursuing an MBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. With extensive admissions counseling experience, Amanda's journey began with a two-year tenure on the Ross School of Business Admissions Student Committee. In this role, she served as both an interviewer and applicant evaluator. Additionally, she served as a College Coach with ScholarMatch, where she guided students in finding their ideal college fit, reviewed SAT/ACT policies, finalized college lists, edited essays, secured recommendation letters, and assisted with applications for financial aid and scholarships.
Professionally, Amanda’s career has spanned the financial, software, and nonprofit industries. Her experience includes marketing communications, program development, strategic planning, and new business development. She has worked for several notable companies, including JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley.
For Amanda, the most rewarding aspect of her work is passing along her skills and knowledge. She finds it extremely fulfilling to help change the trajectory of someone's future by laying down the foundation for lifelong learning by guiding students through college decisions.
As a coach, Amanda prioritizes collaboration and rapport with students, recognizing that trust is fundamental in these relationships. She maintains open lines of communication, ensuring students know they can always rely on her as she is there to support them on their personal journeys. She also excels at staying organized; she sets realistic goals and deadlines while maintaining high expectations for both her students and herself.
Drawing from her admissions experience, she knows committee members look for applicants who demonstrate genuine interests that align with their institution. She ensures each student's passion shines through in their applications and always highlights the positive aspects of their background.
In her free time, Amanda likes to travel, go on nature walks, practice yoga, and read.
"My superpower is my ability to help a student achieve what they're looking for and overcome any academic obstacles in the way."
Syed has a Bachelor's in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Lahore University of Management Sciences and a Master's in Mathematics for Teaching from Harvard University. With more than five years of experience, Syed is a highly qualified tutor with a strong educational background. His interest in tutoring first began when he noticed his junior students were struggling in Math. Recognizing his strong affinity for the subject, he was confident in his ability to help them overcome their challenges.
Syed’s passion for tutoring stems from his ability to empower students and help them overcome academic obstacles. He views this capability as a superpower that allows him to guide students toward their desired academic achievements. Syed's tutoring style is both comprehensive and engaging. During a typical tutoring session, he dedicates half the time to providing lessons and conveying information to his students. The remaining time is allocated for problem-solving exercises and an oral quiz, which he calls Skill-Check. This approach ensures students have a well-rounded learning experience encompassing theory and practical application. By instilling confidence in students and equipping them with the necessary skills, he contributes to their personal growth and enriches their lives.
To enhance the learning process, Syed assigns reading materials or problem sets for students to work on independently after each session. He tailors his lessons according to the individual needs of each student, taking into account their strengths and areas for improvement. Syed leverages various online tools to create effective teaching materials, including past papers, question banks, Khan Academy, Geogebra, Desmos, AOPS, NRich, and various other websites. He can access relevant animations, simulations, notes, and problem sets by using these resources, providing his students with diverse and interactive learning materials. As such, Syed is highly adaptable and resourceful. He understands that every student has their own learning style and tailors his approach to maximize their understanding and progress.
When he’s not tutoring Syed enjoys reading, playing chess, playing video games, and spending time with his two dogs.
Olivia holds a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University and is pursuing a Master of Arts at the University of Florida. With her background as a college adviser with the Duke College Advising Corps and admissions advisor at Sante Fe College, Olivia has successfully guided 60+ students into esteemed institutions, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University. With a deep commitment to education, Olivia also served as an Education Policy Fellow at the US House of Representatives.
Olivia's passion for coaching springs from her own transformative college experience, which impacted her academically, socially, and emotionally. As a result, she strongly believes all students should have the opportunity to experience undergraduate life to the fullest.
As a coach, Olivia strikes a balance between an easygoing attitude and inspiring students to reach their full potential. She takes the time to understand their interests and hobbies before tailoring her coaching style accordingly. Olivia finds that collaborative coaching/learning environments are most productive, allowing students to retain their unique voices and authenticity during the application process.
In her free time, Olivia enjoys staying active, listening to new music, reading, and spending time with her friends and family. She also loves being adventurous; she went skydiving with her dad when she was just 16!
Foundation Learning's English tutors have extensive experience in teaching or hold a college degree in a related discipline.
Parent involvement and check-ins are always welcome; we never want to leave you in the dark about your child’s progress. We always keep an open line of communication to ensure you can monitor your child’s progress.
Our proprietary matching process ensures students are paired with a tutor we believe meets their needs and preferences best based on the information you provide in the intake form. Our tutoring programs focus first on the areas where your child needs help most, then building on those skills for literary excellence. Tutors are picked based on student/family needs, preferences, and aspirations.
The tutoring plan that would suit your child best depends on the level and how much support they need, the area they need the most help with (such as reading comprehensively, effectively communicating ideas, writing essays, etc.), and their availability. If you’re unsure which plan would work best for your child, set up a call today to chat with us about your options!