Offering extensive expertise in College Prep Services! The Village Tutors is fortunate to have an incredible team of tutors who offer expertise in a wide variety of service areas. This month, we are highlighting one of our tutors, Ann Wilson, and her expertise in the field of college prep services. As Ann shares, College Consulting at TVT is a fast-growing service that we typically recommend students begin during their junior year or earlier. This is to ensure that they will be ready to apply for the Early Action and Early Decision deadlines that begin in the fall. TVT’s college prep services model is unique in that there is no contract required, and families pay an hourly rate for as much or as little support as the student needs. The most common areas where Ann offers support include: School Advisement Many students whom Ann works with have IEPs and 504s. Because of this, Ann can help non-traditional students position themselves well for college acceptance while also advising on optimal schools for consideration. Criteria Ann considers when advising on schools in this way include: - Consistent accommodations for students - Disability support - Mental health support She also spends a lot of time helping non-traditional and traditional students identify majors that match well with their talents and interests. Ann will research majors, scholarships, and the culture of various schools, as well as create college lists that analyze areas such as safety, target schools, and reach schools. All of this information can then be taken into account for each student’s unique academic profile and custom recommendations. College Essay Writing Generally the most popular part of TVT’s College Consulting services is support on college essay writing. College essays are a critically important part of the application – both the main Common App/Coalition App essays along with supplementary essays for individual schools. Particularly for non-traditional students, it is important that they share their compelling stories. Ann often hears concerns from families that sharing challenges will decrease a student’s chances of acceptance, but the opposite is actually true. Ann shares her thoughts on the approach she takes to college essay writing guidance: “My coaching helps students identify topics that will reveal something unique about them, and my writing instruction helps them tell their story using narrative techniques that put readers into their shoes. One of the biggest challenges is telling a meaningful story in 650 words. My background in editing and creative writing enables me to make cuts in drafts that end up creating an even more impactful story while meeting the length requirements.” Ann can meet with parents to answer any questions and advise on how to best support their students through the process. Year-Round Academic Tutoring When school is in session, Ann also provides academic and executive function tutoring, both online and in person, for college students. This has given her a window into many colleges around the country, and helped her see unique features about various schools. Ann has the knowledge about which schools are more welcoming than others, which schools have more or less rigor, and how campus culture impacts student living experiences. She also sees which institutions offer good communication and support through their student disability offices. As Ann says, “These experiences and anecdotes help me communicate with students about what type of college experience they’re looking for. By being in touch with campus lifestyles, I can help students understand what they can expect as freshmen.” Ann meets with online students over Zoom from their dorm rooms, cafeterias, libraries, or wherever is convenient for them. What she and students discuss goes beyond basic homework completion and time management, as students appreciate her insights in all areas of college academics and lifestyles. One parent whose sons worked with Ann shares: “My sons both worked with Ann Wilson in high school and for college applications and she was a wonderful help. Ann continued to work with my son during his first year of college, including in the past few months when he was struggling to turn in assignments and stay focused. Ann was there for him, providing as much support and guidance as he needed on individual assignments, scheduling time to do work, and helping to motivate him. Ann has been able to forge a positive relationship with my son and to be there for him virtually to keep him on track. Without Ann's tireless assistance and check ins, my son would not have had such a successful year. We are so grateful and fortunate to have had Ann's expertise and caring assistance for my son during what has been a difficult year. I can't praise Ann highly enough - she has made a world of difference for us. Thank you.” We look forward to supporting your student and family through the entire college process! Contact The Village Tutors for more information. Comments are closed.
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