One-on-One Science Tutoring: Ace Classes and Tests With Foundation Learning

Alexa earned her BA from Brown University and has assisted over 1600 students who have been accepted into institutions such as Stanford University, Georgetown University, UCLA, and UC Berkeley. She has served as a University of Southern California college adviser at Wilson High School in Long Beach, CA, for two years. In this role, she has assisted and mentored students on the college application process, including completing college applications, financial aid applications, scholarship applications, resumes, and more.

Alexa's personal journey through the college admissions process was not without its challenges. She relied on a strong support system of family, friends, and educators, but often found the available resources to be disjointed or out of date. This experience ignited her passion for creating greater access to the nitty-gritty details of the admissions process. Her goal is to empower students with the knowledge and confidence they need to navigate this important milestone in their lives.

Alexa's coaching style is characterized by openness and encouragement. She fosters self-motivation in students, viewing her presence as a reminder of their commitment to their aspirations. While she encourages autonomy, Alexa is not hesitant to address any shortcomings in meeting deadlines, fostering open communication to optimize the quality of work produced together. Her flexible approach accommodates students of varying confidence levels and familiarity with the application process.

Central to Alexa's methodology is her goal-oriented approach, emphasizing the significance of the larger academic journey and the rewards of perseverance. She effectively motivates students by highlighting the unique opportunities awaiting them. She encourages exploration through resources like "A Day in the Life of a College Student" to deepen their engagement with the process. Alexa prioritizes understanding and building upon each student's strengths and knowledge, creating a supportive and enriching environment. While she infuses her interactions with warmth and humor, she remains serious and direct when needed. Building meaningful connections with students is fundamental to her approach, ensuring a personalized and effective college application experience.

Outside of academia, Alexa finds joy in nature, whether it's reading outdoors or feeling the grass beneath her feet. She cherishes time spent with loved ones, engaging in board games, or sharing meals together. She has also recently discovered a new love for old arcade games, especially Galaga!

Victoria holds a Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University. As a first-generation college graduate, she understands students' challenges when navigating the admissions process. In her own experience, she was forced to find outside resources. Even in college, she networked to find alumni and professionals working in government to help her with job applications. Victoria completed approximately 100 informational interviews over four years, and now she wants to help students in the same place that she was in by becoming their guide and resource. Professionally, Victoria works at the US Department of State - Bureau of Diplomatic Security.

As a coach, Victoria’s teaching style is structured. She excels at helping students with ideas and an outline/plan without doing the work. Victoria likes to be a support system, encouraging people to do their best by being there for them when they need her and being a sounding board to make sure applicants are confident in the decisions they are making (i.e., ensuring that an essay topic is the right one, choosing what to put on a resume, etc.) 

Victoria is motivated by deadlines; she finds that having a set schedule and clear expectations helps students stay motivated, too. She considers herself Midwest-friendly. She is outgoing and always happy to help or be available when needed. Victoria is respectful, positive, and realistic. She is always looking for solutions to problems and sticking to a plan.

When she isn’t working, Victoria enjoys lifting weights, watching sports (basketball, baseball) and reality TV (Housewives, Selling Sunset, Vanderpump Rules, etc.), journaling, visiting museums, and trying new restaurants and coffee shops.

Prior to attending the University of California, Berkeley, to obtain his Bachelor of Arts, Sebastian completed his Associate of Arts from Mt. San Antonio College. Before attending Berkeley, Sebastian served as a head counselor for Eduexplora, where he mentored over 150 students from Latin American countries. During his time at Berkeley, Sebastian was an Undergraduate Research Apprentice and Undergraduate Student Admissions Advisor, where he guided prospective and current applicants through the undergraduate admissions process.

As a low-income student who navigated the complexities of the application process with limited resources, Sebastian developed a deep passion for admissions counseling. Despite these obstacles, he received crucial guidance from a few mentors who believed in his potential and helped him gain admission to college. This experience instilled in him a profound determination to pay forward the transformative impact that mentorship and support can have on student success. Sebastian's passion for admissions counseling is rooted in his desire to level the playing field for students from underprivileged backgrounds. He firmly believes that every student deserves access to the resources and support necessary to pursue higher education.

As a coach, Sebastian is outgoing, empathetic, and driven by the genuine desire to see every student succeed. He maintains a warm and approachable demeanor, creating a comfortable space where students feel valued, respected, understood, and supported. He openly shares personal stories that students can relate to, emphasizing that challenges and setbacks are part of the journey to success. 

Sebastian believes that effective teaching begins with active listening, understanding the individual needs and learning styles of each student, and tailoring his approach accordingly. He also believes in the power of constructive criticism, which he always delivers with empathy and respect. By helping students identify their strengths and weaknesses, he enables them to take proactive steps toward their personal and academic growth. Emphasizing the importance of self-reflection, he also encourages his students to critically evaluate their own progress, fostering a deeper understanding of their capabilities and potential. 

Outside of coaching, Sebastian enjoys going to the gym, reading books, and playing FIFA. He is currently also learning Portuguese, which takes up a lot of his free time!