James completed his Bachelor’s degree from Brown University and is a JD candidate at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. Having achieved perfect scores on the math section of the SAT, ACT, and SAT Math Level II, along with 99th percentile scores on the SAT and ACT, James found his passion for guiding students toward similar academic success. Over the past four years, he has successfully mentored hundreds of students to reach their academic goals and has acccumlated thousands of hours tutoring test prep.
James specializes in tutoring math, with a focus on pre-algebra, algebra I, and algebra II. He also excels in ACT, SAT, SSAT, and ISEE test tutoring.
As a tutor, James places a strong emphasis on student success and individuality. In his first lesson, he collaborates with the student to establish goals. Then, he tailors each subsequent lesson according to these goals to optimize each student's potential.
James's key strength as a tutor lies in his resourcefulness. Leveraging practice problems, official full-length tests, and concept-driven questions, he ensures that students have comprehensive tools and ample opportunities to master their subjects and achieve academic excellence.
As well as being a math whiz, James is an accomplished All-National Orchestra First Violinist and CT All-State Associate Concertmaster.
Jennifer completed a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago before earning an MBA from the University of California, Davis. While at the University of Chicago, Jennifer served as an interviewer and project coordinator for prospective students. She has played a vital role in the admissions process for thousands of applicants and has helped them get into the University of Chicago and UC schools.
Jennifer's coaching approach is deeply rooted in her own experience navigating the college application process. Having been through it herself, she understands the stress and challenges students face. She strives to be the mentor she needed during that time, believing that with the right guidance and support, students can approach their applications with confidence and ease. Her coaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of process and structure to ensure each student has the right infrastructure and support to succeed.
As a coach, Jennifer is personable, cares deeply about students on an individual level, and values open communication. She takes the time to understand what excites them, what drains them, and what they're curious about, believing these inputs are key to uncovering their strengths, growth opportunities, and the environment that best supports them. She meets students where they are, taking the time to tailor her approach effectively.
Despite her friendly demeanor, Jennifer maintains a strong level of discipline in reaching goals and commitments. She treats her students with respect, allowing them autonomy as emerging adults. Considering this, Jennifer adopts a blended coaching style, checking in frequently to ensure students feel confident about their goals while also holding them accountable, ensuring they can navigate challenges on their own with resilience and determination.
In her free time, Jennifer enjoys exploring new coffee shops and cafes in her neighborhood and the broader SF Bay Area, attempting new crafts and DIY projects, and spending quality time with her toy poodle and husband.
Pamela has earned a Bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a PhD from Stanford University, where she served in admissions as an Application Reader. In this role, Pamela made admissions decisions and was part of a 40-person committee. This experience gave Pamela a profound understanding of institutional priorities, class balance, and the nuanced factors influencing admission decisions. Professionally, Pamela is an Admissions Interviewer at Stanford University School of Medicine.
As a first-generation international student, Pamela understands the challenges applicants face without access to resources. This personal history fuels her passion for ensuring that aspiring students are well-informed about the expectations of college admissions officers, recognizing the often opaque nature of the process.
With a background deeply rooted in education and academia, Pamela has witnessed the transformative power of learning throughout her professional life. She strategically emphasizes the importance of working hard and smart, instilling a holistic approach to the application process in her students. She navigates the complexities of the admissions process, acknowledging that merit is not the sole determinant.
Pamela's impressive track record speaks volumes, as applicants she has coached have gained admission to prestigious institutions such as Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Duke, Penn, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, UCLA, Berkeley, Emory, Vanderbilt, and many others.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Pamela leads an active lifestyle immersed in nature, residing in the woods and engaging in hiking, rock climbing, running, and various outdoor pursuits. Complementing her coaching role, she dedicates time to teaching in prisons and volunteering as a Search and Rescue aid.
We take academic enrichment and your child’s learning seriously – all Foundation Learning tutors have extensive tutoring experience.
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Our proprietary matching process helps us determine which tutor would fit your child’s needs best. You and your child’s preferences, needs, goals, and availability factor into every decision we make. This process ensures the tutor we match you with is the best person to help your child further their education.
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