Jadyn

About Me

I have over a decade of experience sharing my love of writing with students, most recently as an English professor at a university in Tokyo, as a Fulbright Scholar in Greece, and as a language assistant with the Spanish Ministry of Education. As a tutor, I've helped students write everything from argumentative essays on Shakespeare’s comedies to medical school personal statements, as well as the gamut of undergraduate admissions materials. I have a bachelor’s degree in English from the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College, as well as a certificate in publishing from City College.

Tutoring Style

I listen to what my students care about and encourage them to get “passionately curious” about their world. I believe that difficult prompts are triumphs waiting to happen and that the student is the rubric against which success is best measured, even in the competitive world of college admissions! I’m assiduous when it comes to increasing students' confidence, because I think it’s a privilege to aid people in both expressing their ideas and understanding new ones, especially as citizens of the world pursuing collegiate futures. I ensure that my students understand the whys of the language and not just the hows to guarantee precise usage in limited prompts. When it comes to college admission materials, I’ve helped students find their voices as they write uncommon Common App essays (without resorting to gimmicks), and as they tell the stories of how they came to apply to their dream schools in their personal statements.

Success Story

College admissions writing gives students the opportunity to gush about their passions, to present themselves in a unique light, and—most importantly—to hone a skill that will serve them for the rest of their academic and professional careers: marketing themselves to someone else's specifications.

One student I helped through the college admissions process had written over sixty pages of application materials for various programs. Many of the questions were similar and just needed to be whittled down to word-count specifications—with the exception of Yale's micro questions (200 character limit!). Showcasing additional facets of herself in such a small space was a challenge, but as Shakespeare said, "brevity is the soul of wit." Together, we made her application shine! Though she ultimately decided to attend UC Berkeley instead, she enjoyed the challenge of Yale's short prompts. After all, it can be more difficult to write a shorter response than a long one! 

I've also been able to help students who have mastered the sciences in their STEM courses, but feel less confident in their writing abilities. One student, applying to UC San Diego as an astrophysics major (and as an out-of-state applicant), was thrilled when we took the stress out of the process. We tackled each essay one step at a time, and he discovered a talent for exceptional diction and clever turns of phrase. We got his essays to a place where he was proud—and he later reached out to let me know that his dream school application had been successful!

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Hobbies & Interests

I’m an ardent traveler. I’ve been to thirty-five countries so far, and have lived in six! I used to swim competitively, and I always try to spend time near the water when I’m traveling, whether swimming, kayaking, or walking along the coast. I have a background in children’s publishing, and I enjoy reading and writing fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, and even fanfiction! I prefer to multitask while watching TV, working with my hands to make folded book art or crocheting while catching up on my favorite animated shows and movies. I love Broadway musicals, too—just don’t ask me to sing!

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