One-On-One Personalized HSPT Tutoring

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!

Sebastian completed his bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Chicago. While he currently works as a research manager for ECHO-Chicago, in partnership with the University of Chicago Medicine, he has been tutoring for five years. He initially began tutoring to simply help his friends and family achieve their educational goals before extending his support to other students. Sebastian has successfully assisted students in gaining admission to esteemed universities like the University of Chicago, Princeton, and Yale.

Sebastian's enthusiasm for tutoring comes from witnessing students transition from unfamiliarity to expertise in a subject. He specializes in ACT and SAT preparation.

Sebastian employs a student-led tutoring style, engaging students with questions and allowing them to guide the material discussion to ensure they get maximum benefit from the sessions. He complements this approach with feedback, suggestions on topic areas, and study tips to enhance the tutoring sessions. Recognizing the intricacies of standardized tests and college applications, Sebastian maintains a light-hearted approach, fosters a supportive environment, and always lends an empathetic ear. He guides students through learning blocks with constant encouragement and diverse resources.

Among Sebastian’s standout traits as a tutor is his ability to simplify complex concepts. As a firm believer that all knowledge is interconnected, he makes difficult content relatable to students to ensure they are able to process it in their own way. 

Having lived in Chicago for 10 years, Sebastian loves exploring the city’s food scene and biking along the lake in his free time.

Nailah earned a BA from Brown University, where she served in the Brown Elementary Afterschool Mentoring program and the Brown Tutoring Corps. She has also served as a teaching associate at the National Presbyterian School. Having personally experienced the intricate and often overwhelming college application process, Nailah empathizes deeply with students. Her passion lies in providing guidance, ensuring that every student, regardless of their background, has the necessary tools to succeed and find their perfect college fit. 

Driven by a lifelong commitment to serving others, admissions counseling has become Nailah’s platform for channeling her passion for higher education. Her love for education and natural inclination towards organization and project management enable her to structure the college application process and alleviate students’ stress through strategic planning. The joy and fulfillment she experiences when students reach their milestones is immeasurable as she merges her skills with her passion for helping others.

Nailah’s teaching style fosters motivation, provides reassurance, and builds strong relationships with students. She believes in empowering others by creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment where students feel valued and respected. Nailah is highly perceptive and quickly recognizes when students feel overwhelmed or stressed. When this happens, she prioritizes offering encouragement and reassurance, helping them overcome obstacles and believe in their abilities. 

Furthermore, Nailah aims to establish a positive rapport with students, which allows for open communication and mutual trust. She believes in giving students autonomy, allowing them to take ownership of their journey and make decisions that are best for them while offering support and expertise to navigate the complexities of the process effectively. Nailah is always open to feedback from students, seeing it as an opportunity for growth and improvement. By actively listening to their input, she can better tailor her teaching approach to meet their needs and empower them to achieve their full potential.

One effective tactic she utilizes to keep students motivated is celebrating milestones throughout the college application process, regardless of their size. She firmly believes in the power of positive reinforcement to bolster motivation and self-esteem. By acknowledging and celebrating each achievement, Nailah provides students with the encouragement and recognition they need to stay motivated and engaged in their journey toward college admission.

As a counselor, Nailah serves as a candidate’s biggest cheerleader and demonstrates unwavering support at every turn. She is honest and empathetic and believes in transparent and compassionate communication to ensure students feel heard and understood. Above all, Nailah's priority is to convey to students that she is here to support them wholeheartedly. 

When she’s not working, Nailah loves sports, especially college women’s basketball and track and field. You can often find her playing volleyball and working out. She also likes to read non-fiction books and loves musical theater. She grew up acting, singing, and dancing and loves all the performing arts.