The College Lad Team
Nick - Team Lead
After studying English and Economics at Georgetown University, I started writing and teaching in 2013.
My own writing has been featured in print and on screen, everything from educational blogs to web comedy series to white papers. I work with both students and professionals to build what may be the single most significant skill in work and learning environments: written communication.
On the test prep side, I trained with Revolution Prep (as part of their boutique Ivy Insiders program), The Princeton Review, and LA's Compass Education before teaching independently. I developed my own simplified, straightforward curriculum that helps students of all abilities with reliable strategies for shoring up mistakes and perfecting performance over time.
At the same time, I think good teaching is more than making students memorize a system. While it's nice to know there's record of proven success behind our teaching strategies, I believe what makes for good teaching is personalization.
I've carefully curated a team of teachers who share in that belief. We'll work with you to find the best fit.
You can meet the rest of the teaching leads below!
Tara S.
Fulbright Scholar. Creative Process Expert.
After graduating from Northwestern University in 2017 with a degree in Communications and English, Tara was selected as an AmeriCorps Teaching Fellow and trained in a one-on-one teaching program that’s “the most competitive of such programs in the nation, more competitive than admission to Harvard Graduate School.”
Subsequently, used her Fulbright to teach writing to high school students in the Czech Republic.
Tara's Approach: "I’ve learned to decode and analyze what institutions and organizations seek in applicants. To appeal to admissions officers, essays must be strategic—but they also must be authentic. Together, we’ll navigate your writing journey from start to finish. I’ll walk you through brainstorming and writing exercises to get you started. Once you’ve written a draft, we’ll revise and polish the essay until it sparkles and shines."
Anna L.
James Joyce Scholar & SAT/ACT Math Whiz
Anna is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and Northwestern University, where she majored in Neuroscience, Film, and Philosophy.
After teaching math at an inner-city public school in Chicago to a diverse pool of students representing many different backgrounds and learning styles, she resumed teaching test prep (she considers SAT Math and ACT Math her specialty).
As with many of our teachers, though, Anna is a polymath, also working with students on writing, especially literary analysis essays where her experience as a Joyce scholar shows.
Anna articulates our teaching philosophy well: "I love being able to empower my students to reach their fullest potential, and see learning as a process of encouraging a student's natural curiosity about the world."
David H.
Professional Creative Writer & Educational Product Manager
David joins our team with a professional background in both creative writing and product management.
He graduated from UCLA (with honors) in English literature, before earning his Writing MFA at Sarah Lawrence College in Writing. In the competitive NYC market, David worked 1-1 with clients on SAT/ACT Reading, college counseling (including essays), and creative writing projects.
His other interests include film, video games, and technology.