Macalester Grad: ACT/SAT & College Apps
Macalester Grad: ACT/SAT & College Apps

Macalester Grad: ACT/SAT & College Apps

contact for price

Services needed
Sorry this pro can’t do your job, but we know other pros who can.
Introduction
Hello! I'm Abby. I am a Macalester College graduate and have been working as a professional tutor and college counselor since 2015. I also have a Master's Certificate in College Counseling from the University of California San Diego. I got my start in the tutoring world through working at Lindamood-Bell Learning Center during college, and I quickly discovered my passion for helping students reach their educational goals. With experience in tutoring anything from reading and writing to ACT/SAT test prep and college apps, I enjoy helping students of all ages reach their full potentials. PACKAGE PRICING Prices listed are starting prices. I also offer package options that can bring the hourly rate of tutoring or counseling down if you are interested in purchasing more sessions up front. My areas of expertise are all things college prep and English: - General College Counseling - College Application Essays - The Common App - General Essay Writing - ACT Test Prep (All sections - English, Math, Reading, Science, & Writing Essay) - SAT Test Prep (Both sections - Reading/Writing, Math) - Literacy - Reading comprehension - Essay writing - Writing skills development College Counseling Services I Offer: ✎ Personal statement topics brainstorming to help you develop a compelling topic that makes your character, personality, and story stand out ✎ Outlining, reviewing, & perfecting application essays, including the important personal statement, supplemental essays, scholarship essays, summer program application essays, and more ✎ Academic evaluation to make sure you're taking the right classes that colleges want to see on your transcript ✎ Academic enrichment & study skills development to help you develop the skills that you'll need in writing, reading comprehension, organization, time management, and more to help you succeed as a college student ✎ High school course selection to help you determine the best course path for your college admissions goals ✎ Extracurricular activity research & planning to ensure your activities resume is well-rounded ✎ Major and career assessment to help you discover your passion and identify areas of interest to explore during college ✎ Summer program & internship opportunity research to help you gain some meaningful experience in your areas of interest outside of school ✎ Resume preparation to help your story stand out in a resume format ✎ SAT vs. ACT evaluation & test prep tutoring so that your scores match those of students at your top choice schools ✎ College list research & college tour planning so that you're finding best fit schools for you and your unique situation ✎ College application steps & timeline management so that you don't feel stressed out during the entire admissions process and know exactly what step to complete at each moment ✎ Letters of recommendation planning so that your teacher recommendations stand out as much as your personal statement does ✎ College admissions strategies development to help you come up with a big-picture plan for your applications and your education ✎ Common App review & guidance to ensure that you're confident with your entire application and can rest assured knowing it's been completed correctly ✎ Guidance & planning for paying for college if you have questions or concerns about student loans, grants, scholarships, etc. so that you can be at ease knowing exactly what paying for college will look like ✎ Scholarship research and application assistance to help you score some free money to put toward your tuition costs ✎ Continuous guidance on the college admissions process so that you get all of your questions answered, no matter how big or small As a certified college counselor, I am able to help with as much or as little of the admissions process as needed. College counseling looks different for each student, so I come up with a plan that is customized to each student’s needs. For some students, this will include minimal support reviewing application essays. For others, this may include more focused guidance through steps such as ongoing test prep for the ACT or SAT, identifying schools that will be a good fit, personal statements and supplemental essays, completing the steps of the applications, and more. I also have three years of corporate experience tutoring literacy and reading comprehension at Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes. I am trained in Lindamood-Bell's effective Visualizing & Verbalizing and Seeing Stars programs for literacy and reading comprehension development. Similarly, I have a lot of experience working with students with learning disabilities through Lindamood-Bell and with the college admissions process, which can have some unique hurdles for students requiring specific accommodations. By choosing to work with me, you will receive high-quality, one-on-one tutoring services that are individualized to your unique educational goals. Whether you have three weeks to prepare for the SAT or plan to take the ACT in six months, I'll craft the perfect plan for you, your goals, and your timeline. When I'm not busy working with students you can find me curled up with a good book or traveling to warm places. Feel free to reach out at any time - I'm accepting new students, and I do my best to be very responsive to all requests. I'd be happy to help you reach your goals! -Abby Purfeerst, Founder The Prepared Student ----- NO-RISK FIRST SESSION GUARANTEE: If you or your student are not happy with my services after your first session, I will not charge you for the session.
Overview

Hired 43 times

Background checked

1 employee

7 years in business

Payment methods

This pro accepts payments via Credit card, PayPal, Stripe, Venmo, and Zelle.

Top Pro status

Top Pros are among the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.

Top Pro Icon

2022

Top Pro Icon

2021

Featured Projects

14 photos

Reviews

Customers rated this pro highly for work quality, responsiveness, and professionalism.

Exceptional 5.0

22 reviews

5
100%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%

Read reviews that mention:


pro avatar
Sean F.
Nov 17, 2023
·

Hired on Thumbtack

Hired on Thumbtack

Abby was great to work with. Very responsive and knowledgeable on several aspects of SAT testing and College admissions. She got along great with my son and was able to keep things always moving forward and keep him motivated. Would definitely recommend her to anyone looking to get their child ready for SAT exam, or working on the College Applications.

Details: Selecting colleges • Completing applications • Preparing for standardized tests • Writing essays • High school Junior • Once a week • At the pro’s location • My home, venue, etc. • Remotely (phone or internet)

College Admissions Counseling
pro avatar
Bella H.
Nov 8, 2021
·

Hired on Thumbtack

Hired on Thumbtack

Abby is amazing! I went to her after I didn't receive the results I wanted with another tutor. She has been helping me with my ACT for the past few months, and I already have seen progress. She goes through every problem thoroughly and always make sure you understand. In addition, she has been helping me with my college applications as well. My college essays and writing prompts have exceeded my expectations. Highly recommend!!!!

Details: 11th grade • ACT • Reading • Writing • Math • At the pro’s location • My home, venue, etc. • Remotely (phone or internet)

Test Prep Services
pro avatar
John W.
Nov 2, 2021
·

Hired on Thumbtack

Hired on Thumbtack

Working with Abby has been amazing. She is positive, proactive and has really tapped into our daughter’s (sometimes reluctant) spirit to get things done. She has been a wealth of knowledge on schools that would appeal to my daughter, growing her application pool from 3-4 initial to over 10. And even though we started late with Abby, she was able to get our daughter organized and focused to complete applications for early admission. She has been very flexible, working around a busy teenager’s work, social and school schedule. Some sessions even on Sunday. We interviewed multiple online coaches, and Abby stood out for a number of reasons. She was able to delve deep and quickly into what our daughter needed, accomplishing a lot in short amount of time. She keeps us updated after every session with detailed notes and organized next steps. Highly recommend.

Details: Writing essays • Completing applications • High school Senior • Cadence recommended by professional • Remotely (phone or internet)

College Admissions Counseling
pro avatar
Dena c.
Sep 15, 2021
·

Hired on Thumbtack

Hired on Thumbtack

My HS senior finds her work with Abby valuable! From SAT support to college essays and navigating the common app-we couldn’t be more pleased! I highly recommend.

Details: Writing essays • Selecting colleges • Completing applications • High school Junior • Cadence recommended by professional • At the pro’s location • Remotely (phone or internet)

College Admissions Counseling
pro avatar
Andrea B.
Sep 14, 2022
·

Hired on Thumbtack

Hired on Thumbtack

My 17 year old son has only worked with Abby on SAT prep for a few sessions so far, but we are very happy. One of my son's main goals is test time management, and Abby is able to tailor his sessions to address time management while making sure he has a good grasp of the content. We really appreciate the summary Abby provides after each tutoring session so everyone is on the same page from session to session. Abby is very responsive and easy to communicate with. As added plus is that she makes invoice payment very easy online.

Details: 11th grade • SAT1 • Reading • Writing • Math • Not yet scheduled • Remotely (phone or internet)

Test Prep Services
Credentials
Background Check

Abby Purfeerst