*Reduced rate since I’m new on Thumbtack.*
OVERVIEW:
Hi! My name is Jessica Welsh. I grew up in the UK then Weston, CT and went on to graduate Phi Beta Kappa and cum laude from Princeton, where I was an English major. I have tutored test prep and essay coaching since 2018, working with hundreds of students in meeting their academic goals. My approach is grounded in mentorship, an ethic shaped by being the oldest of four sisters.
I have worked with all types of students, including ones with learning differences, and am deeply invested in each student’s growth, tailoring my style to their unique needs and aspirations.
SERVICES:
- High school test prep: SAT, ACT (standard session length 1.5 hours)
- Middle school test prep: SSAT, ISEE, SHSAT and more (standard session length 1.5 hours)
- Admissions essays (college, high school) coaching (standard session length 1 hour)
*can include personal statement, supplements, additional elements of the application process (Activities Section, making lists and general counseling)
- General subject tutoring
- Writing enrichment
AVAILABILITY:
I work remotely 7 days a week from NYC via Google Meet.
RESOURCES:
Many SAT/ACT materials are available online, though depending on the student, I may recommend purchasing additional workbooks or resources.
PAYMENT:
I accept payment via Venmo or Zelle.
MY APPROACH:
For test prep, I assign students a diagnostic test to complete before the first session (if possible) so we have a baseline score. In the first session, I get to know the student and break down the test structure with them (parents are welcome to pop in for a meet and greet). We then move into a rhythm of targeting specific skill areas to improve in conjunction with completing more test sections and full practice tests. During and after each session, I track all missed questions and send a recap with assignments so parents can follow progress.
For college essays, in the initial phase, I get to know the student and the picture of their interests, academic record and extracurriculars. We review sample essays and I lead them through brainstorm exercises. Once we have selected a topic, we create an outline and the student writes a draft, which we edit until it is polished. If the student already has a draft, we assess it and move into the editing phase.
RESULTS:
For test prep, from my many years of experience, I have a strong sense of how much work is required for a student to reach their goal score. I have helped students in all score ranges reach their target scores - from ones aiming for near perfect scores to ones who have lower baseline scores but make dramatic improvements.
For college admissions, students I have worked with gained acceptance to top schools including Princeton, Columbia, UChicago, Georgetown, Northwestern, NYU, all UC schools, Big 10 schools and NESCAC schools, among many other schools of all tiers of selectivity.
MORE BACKGROUND:
High school awards and honors: class valedictorian, National Merit Finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, tri-sport athlete (soccer, basketball captain, All-State track/cross country), principal flutist with the GBYO Youth Orchestra, top placements in National French and Latin exams. My test scores were as follows: 2350 on the SAT, 35 on the ACT, 5 on 10 AP exams, 800 on Math/Biology/US History SAT subject tests.
Princeton awards and honors: Shapiro Prize for Academic Excellence, German Department Book Prize and Lewis Center for the Arts Award for Outstanding Work in Creative Writing.
Beyond tutoring, I have been a professional writer for film, TV and stage since 2019. I have written projects for most major studios, including 30+ episodes of TV, and bring this experience to my writing coaching.
TESTIMONIALS:
Parent of SSAT student: Marlowe got her SSAT scores back today. She did great! She raised her math score from 73% to 87% in 4 weeks of tutoring with Jess W. Amazing! Her total score went from 92% to 97%. She is thrilled. Thanks so much for connecting us with Jess. She went above and beyond even tutoring Christmas week while she was abroad. We are so appreciative!
Parent of ACT student (I first tutored the brother, then the sister): I want to thank you for all you have done with both children! I hope that you are available next year so that you can work with Caelan again…I know that Curran credits much of his success to you!
Parent of college student (I provided support for transfer applications): After an unhappy freshman year, my daughter was very nervous about the transfer application process but Jessica put her totally at ease. She was consistently kind and professional along every step of the way and showed much expertise in brainstorming and drafting essays. Though my daughter ended up with several great transfer options, she got into her dream school! We are so grateful to Jessica for her help in making it happen!
