One-On-One SSAT Preparation To Maximize Your Score

Lizette earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan before completing a Master of Arts from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Professionally, Lizette has over a decade of experience in higher education, having served as Assistant to the Dean at the University of Texas and Associate Dean of Student Development and Records at Morton College.

As a first-generation college graduate, Lizette is committed to helping others reach their potential. She understands that while some students have clear goals, others may need guidance. She enjoys being part of their decision-making process and assisting them through uncertainties.

As a coach, Lizette is known for being outgoing, understanding, and passionate. She is dedicated to finding solutions and maintaining a glass-half-full outlook. Her teaching style is centered around the individual student; she meets them where they are, learning about their interests and motivations to help them excel. Lizette empowers her students to believe in their own “magic” and provides the tools needed to stay on track and succeed.

Outside of teaching or coaching, Lizette enjoys watching college football, reading books, going to the beach, exploring natural trails, and traveling! One of her fondest travel memories is riding a camel across the Sahara Desert during a vacation to Morocco.

Jade holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Religion from Boston University. While there, she earned a scholarship to study in Cambodia and Vietnam, received the President’s Volunteer Service Award, won four academic awards, achieved high honors, and secured a U.S. government scholarship for teaching English abroad. With 12 years of tutoring experience, Jade volunteered as an English teacher for immigrants, served as a professional tutor mentor, and was a teaching assistant in Vietnam through a Fulbright scholarship. Despite facing obstacles from a limited educational background, Jade's success story is a testament to the transformative power of mentorship and education. These challenges fueled her determination to create a positive impact in the lives of students facing similar struggles.

As a tutor, Jade’s mission is to offer the same unwavering support and encouragement that proved instrumental in her own journey. She specializes in SAT and ACT tutoring, with an emphasis on the English, Reading, and Writing sections, as well as English, history, sociology, and anthropology courses at all levels, including AP and IB.

Jade employs an empowering and personalized tutoring style, fostering a supportive and collaborative learning environment. In her approach, she recognizes each student's unique strengths and challenges, celebrating both small and significant achievements to boost confidence and underscore the progress made through practice. Empathy, patience, and practicality are also major components of her tutoring style, as she emphasizes both academic success and holistic development, including critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By fostering open communication, she encourages students to express their challenges and questions. With a focus on active participation and critical thinking, she aims to instill confidence and a passion for learning that extends beyond the tutoring sessions. 

Jade’s greatest strength as a tutor is her adaptability. She develops personalized learning plans and utilizes diverse resources to address the unique needs of individual learners, ensuring that the tutoring sessions align with their goals, preferences, and interests. She strongly believes that clearly defined and personalized goals give students a sense of purpose and direction. 

In her free time, Jade enjoys collecting passport stamps, gardening, ballet, paddle boarding, and practicing chado (a traditional Japanese tea ceremony). She immerses herself in art, explores the realms of literature, and treasures the beauty of learning languages. On a rainy day, you’ll find her cozily curled up with a book and a tea latte.

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.