COLLEGE/APPLICATIONS ESSAY & PSAT/SAT PREP TUTORING
In addition to general writing tutoring, Joanna offers personalized guidance on college or other application essays. A graduate of Harvard College, Joanna has worked with numerous high school students on college admissions essays & supplements as well as with college/adult students on medical school, law school, or other graduate school personal statements. She has also provided help with other types of application-based writing for fellowships, programs, or grants. Joanna's work as a Writing Center Tutor at Harvard and an essay editor at IvyWrite have further informed her expertise in this area.
My Offerings:
COLLEGE ESSAYS
I offer both live tutoring and written feedback options for application essays. Live tutoring can begin at any stage of the writing process, but I only offer the written feedback (not live) option for completed essay drafts (it doesn't have to be polished, just completed!).
Live Tutoring (in-person or via Zoom)
- Brainstorming Stage: Working with students on writing exercises and strategies to aid in finding an essay topic; Analyzing sample essays.
- The Writing Process: Helping students express their unique voice and communicate their message clearly.
- Emphasis on structure, flow, and clarity.
- Involves teaching a mix of creative writing skills and more formal/academic essay-writing skills that will be useful in writing personal statements.
- Editing/Revision: Working with students on sentence-level edits, grammar, concision, clarity—ensuring everything in the essay ties together.
Written Feedback for essay drafts (not live)
- Includes in-line comments as well as general big-picture feedback for improvement (what's working well, what's not yet working well in the essay).
- Can involve multiple rounds of written feedback in response to revised essay drafts.
PSAT/SAT PREP
Not sure how to prepare for the new digital PSAT/SAT? I offer PSAT/SAT prep in Reading/Writing & Math, with emphasis on developing and practicing the skills/strategies needed to confidently tackle any type of question on the PSAT/SAT. In my tutoring, I aim to not just "teach to the test," but to help students develop reading & math skills that will serve them well in college and beyond.
To inquire about tutoring/rates, please send an email to joannalau01@gmail.com.
TESTIMONIALS
"Joanna was amazing at helping me with my college essay! She was attentive to the direction and overall message of my piece, which really helped me think about how it ties into my application as a whole. In addition, she was extremely nice and easy to talk to, which created a safe space to talk about my story. Through our virtual sessions, Joanna was able to dissect my essay paragraph by paragraph and make extremely helpful suggestions that helped seamlessly tie my narrative together. I can tell she is extremely knowledgeable, understanding, and wants the best for her students. This application season was extremely tough, and I definitely could not have gotten into such an amazing program at Cornell without her help. I am grateful for Joanna's efforts and highly recommend her!"
~ Kelly, accepted to Cornell University (Dyson School)
"Joanna was a great help in editing my college admissions essay. She walked through each paragraph of my essay to discuss its purpose in the essay's structure and to clear up my thoughts on paper. Initially, I had struggled with the theme of my essay and properly delivering it. However, Joanna provided thorough comments and insights which elevated my essay to get me accepted into my dream college, all while being incredibly kind and easy to talk to. She is knowledgeable and understanding, and I appreciate all the guidance she provided in my college application journey. For all this and much more, Joanna has my highest recommendation to anyone in search of a college essay tutor.
~ Jasmine, accepted to Cornell University early decision
"Joanna was an amazing teacher and editor in helping me write my college application essays and many other writing projects. She was not only extremely attentive when it came to discussing the structure of my essays, but she was also able to provide lots of insightful feedback on themes, word choice, and much more. In addition to her great expertise and teaching for essay-wriiting, Joanna is also extremely welcoming and easy to talk to, which allowed me to build a sense of confidence in my own writing. Without a doubt, I would recommend Joanna to anyone who's searching for an excellent writing tutor/editor."
~ Katherine, accepted to University of Rochester School of Engineering
"Joanna was a fantastic editor for my medical school essays. She was knowledgeable, prompt, and understanding. Her written feedback, both in-line comments and big-picture remarks, was thoughtful and thorough. Joanna paid careful attention to the structure and themes of my essays, which was particularly helpful in crafting an overarching narrative. My essays drastically improved from her insightful suggestions and comments. Overall, Joanna is an exceptional essay tutor, and I strongly recommend her!"
~ Lucy, accepted to Johns Hopkins Medical School