Homeschool Support: Supplemental Learning Today, Success Tomorrow

Bria is a distinguished alumna of the University of California, Berkeley, earning both a  Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees. While at UC Berkeley, she served as a mentor and application guide for students within TAMID.

Bria intimately understands the stress and uncertainty of the college application process. As an only child, she lacked a role model to turn to for advice, ultimately navigating the process without the guidance she now provides. This personal experience fuels her passion to be that guiding light for others.

As a coach, Bria excels at being supportive and giving constructive feedback. When editing resumes or essays, she always tries to do what she calls a compliment sandwich – start with a compliment, add what needs to be changed/fixed, and then end with another compliment. Bria knows criticism can sometimes come off as harsh or offensive, even if it is not meant to be, so she found this is a good way to get the message across and have students feel good about themselves and their writing.

When working with students who are hitting a learning block,  Bria uses positive reinforcement and encouragement to remind them of their end goal and that all their hard work will pay off. She is always optimistic, outgoing, kind, compassionate, and empathetic.

Outside of counseling Bria is a travel agent as a side hustle because she is passionate about travel and helping others travel, too. She’s been fortunate enough to visit 26 countries so far! When she’s not working or traveling, she loves to cook and bake, hike and be in nature, spend time with friends, watch TV, paint, and do puzzles.

Zina has a Bachelor's degree in Theater Studies from Yale University and a Certificate in College Counseling from Columbia Teachers College. As a National Merit Achievement Scholarship Winner, Zina believes in education's power to create infinite opportunities. She has worked at Yale University as a part of the admissions team, corresponding with prospective theater studies students to answer questions and give personalized department tours. With over ten years of experience as an academic tutor and mentor, Zina has developed a deep understanding of the admissions process and what it takes to succeed. Whether working in career readiness or education access, she loves helping students of all ages reach their full potential and express their points of view. 

Throughout her college career, Zina has had incredible opportunities to travel, study her passions, and create art – and she is passionate about helping young people access these opportunities. Zina believes that the self-reflection and organizational skills students learn through college application will serve them during college and beyond.

As a coach, Zina prides herself on building strong relationships with her students by asking questions that help them grow, not just as applicants or test-takers but as people. Zina has coached international and domestic high school students through the college application process and has worked with current college students on graduate school, internship, and job applications. Her greatest strengths as a coach include providing accountability, essay editing, resume editing, SAT and ACT prep, and interview prep. 

With Zina's guidance, her students have gained admission to several top colleges across the country, including Harvard University, Stanford University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Northwestern University, Georgetown University, and Duke University, among many others.

In her spare time, she enjoys writing, traveling, cooking, and trying to find the best restaurants in New York City.

Zina's Pro Tip?

The admissions process is a two-way street. Students should think hard about what they want in a college to show how their perspective aligns with the school they're applying to!

Dante earned his Bachelor of Engineering with a focus on Nuclear Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He has been tutoring students since high school, throughout college, and into his professional career. Alongside tutoring, Dante currently works as a Mechanical Design Engineer and Nuclear Analyst for Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL).

Dante's passion for tutoring stems from his genuine love for learning. Once he masters a topic, he eagerly shares his knowledge, finding joy in witnessing the moments when students grasp challenging concepts and gain confidence. He is a firm believer that everyone deserves access to quality education, regardless of their background or abilities. Dante specializes in tutoring AP classes.

Dante stands out as a tutor because of his a​​daptive pace teaching style: what is considered a goal changes depending on how the student learns. While he focuses on setting realistic and SMART SMART (Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic/Relevant Timely) goals, he is extremely understanding and willing to adjust these goals. Additionally, Dante’s tutoring is centered on the belief that any progress is valuable and worth celebrating, no matter how incremental. He emphasizes the importance of reflecting on past achievements to appreciate the progress made and to inspire further growth.

Some of Dante’s greatest strengths as a tutor include his ability to read students’ emotions, allowing him to identify when a problem is particularly challenging for them, even if they don’t express it directly. He is also attentive to the importance of breaks, recognizing when students need a moment to step away from the material. Allowing students a few extra minutes to focus on something else and discuss their day can significantly aid in problem-solving. Additionally, Dante knows when it’s best to call it a day, understanding that a good night’s sleep can help the brain process and synthesize the information learned. He believes that this rest is crucial for returning to the material with a refreshed and more effective approach.

In his free time, Dante enjoys playing board games and video games, doing karaoke, playing instruments, writing music, acting, and singing. In fact, he’s writing his own musical that has already been performed by some talented actors, and he hopes to have it produced one day!