Online Geometry Tutoring: Minimize Frustration to Maximize Success

Pratishta graduated with a Bachelor’s from UCLA and a Master’s from New York University. Professionally, Pratishta is the Assistant Director of Beyond Akeela, where she oversees a residential summer college readiness program for neurodivergent teens. She has led numerous workshops on mock interviews, resume development, writing an effective college essay, and creating a road map from high school to college. She has helped 30+ students get accepted to the University of California Berkeley and New York University, among others. 

Pratishta’s passion for admissions counseling comes from her belief that every person has a unique, awesome story waiting to be shared. However, she acknowledges that effectively presenting these strengths can be challenging. Pratishta’s affinity for admissions counseling stems from her own journey of navigating the process alone. She gained invaluable insights, and it brings her immense joy to pay it forward by guiding students toward realizing their aspirations.

Pratishta’s teaching style focuses on strengths and building a strong relationship first. She is easy-going and loves having fun and getting to know every person she connects with. Pratishta thrives on structure and loves letting applicants take the lead while providing a lot of scaffolding. As a coach, Pratishta believes in meeting students where they are and helping them reach their best, helping them hone in on what they want to improve, and offering clear solutions to make progress together. Pratishta excels at breaking down tasks effectively into smaller steps, getting the difficult tasks out of the way first, and building in short breaks and fun activities during sessions. 

Outside of coaching, Pratishta loves to box, cook, hike, kayak, and discover amazing restaurants. She’s also an avid adventure sports fan and has been skydiving and bungee jumping.

Mark earned a Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University. His passion for helping students led him to become an admissions coach, aiming to make the college application process less stressful and daunting. Professionally, he has served as a consultant at IBM. 

Mark finds coaching to be dynamic and exciting. He believes it's enriching for both himself and the students; he helps ease their stress while they reflect, ask tough questions, and grow through the process. 

As a coach, Mark compares himself to a therapist; to help students achieve success, he aims to understand each one deeply. By doing so, he can help match them with the perfect college and enable them to build a more comprehensive application narrative. If a student is involved in a club, Mike enjoys learning about what inspired that interest. If students play sports, he determines whether that interest is driven by competitiveness or a desire for community. Mark believes every application should paint a clear picture so that the admissions board gains a sincere understanding of the student.

Marks believes that inculcating a growth mindset is incredibly important. He emphasizes that nothing is permanent and reminds students that their starting point isn't fixed; improvement is always possible with effort. 

​​In his free time, Mark enjoys going to the gym, long-distance running, recreational tennis, reading, writing short stories, and spending time with his two pet bunnies, Luna and Benny!

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.