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Award-Winning Essay Editing Tutors

Melinda

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Melinda

PhD
Melinda's other Tutor Subjects
PSAT Writing Skills
SAT Reading
ACT Reading
SAT

I love to help students to do well on the SAT and ACT Verbal, Reading, and English sections. I have tutored these areas of standardized tests for more than 3 years. My approach is not "standardized" because I enjoy working one-on-one with clients to tailor learning experiences that address each pe...

Education

University of Pennsylvania

PhD

Martin

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Martin

PhD
Martin's other Tutor Subjects
PSAT Writing Skills
SAT Reading
ACT English
SAT

A strong essay isn't just error-free — it needs a clear argument, logical structure, and sentences that earn the reader's attention. Martin's doctoral training in English sharpened his ability to diagnose where a draft loses momentum, whether the problem is a buried thesis, weak transitions, or para...

Education

Duke University

PhD

Yale University

PhD

Patrick

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Patrick

PhD
Patrick's other Tutor Subjects
Elementary School Math
TOEFL
SAT Reading
ISEE- Middle Level

After serving as an intelligence officer in the Air Force for seven years, I completed a doctoral program in American Literature at UNC-Chapel Hill. Since then, I have edited a literary journal, managed a research center, and published several peer-reviewed articles on American autobiography, fictio...

Education

Princeton University

PhD

Patrick

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Patrick

AM
Patrick's other Tutor Subjects
Middle School Math
Geometry
Algebra
Quantitative Reasoning

I am a retired teacher who tutors and writes and who has had decades of success motivating and preparing people for a range of tests and tasks. I also walk/jog 50-plus miles a week, do yoga, and exercise my critical thinking skills regularly. My students since 1979 have ranged from middle school ur...

Education

Yale University

AM

Linford

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Linford

MDV
Linford's other Tutor Subjects
SSAT- Upper Level
SAT Reading
ACT English
ACT Reading

Good essay editing goes beyond fixing commas — it means diagnosing whether an argument actually holds together, whether evidence lands where it should, and whether the writer's voice comes through clearly. Linford earned two master's degrees that required sustained academic writing at Northwestern a...

Education

Yale University

MDV

Millersville University of Pennsylvania

MDV

Robert

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Robert

Undergraduate Degree
Robert's other Tutor Subjects
Middle School Math
Geometry
Algebra
SAT Subject Test in Literature

Emerson said that the secret of education is respecting the student. I have the greatest respect for that part of the human spirit that is curious and wants to learn. I find that if students feel they are listened to and heard, this allows them to feel encouraged. When they begin to understand th...

Education

Harvard University

Undergraduate Degree

Cynthia

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Cynthia

BS
Cynthia's other Tutor Subjects
Statistics
Middle School Math
Geometry
Elementary School Math

I am a graduate of Emory University, where I received my Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology with a minor in Dance and Movement Studies. Throughout college, I have trained extensively tutoring students of various ages across many subjects. As an "Emory Reads" tutor for four ye...

Education

Emory University

BS

Dr. Réagan

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Dr. Réagan

Master's
Dr.'s other Tutor Subjects
Statistics
AP Environmental Science
AP Biology
Environmental Science

Editing an essay well means more than fixing commas — it means tightening argument structure, eliminating redundancy, and ensuring every paragraph earns its place. Dr brings decades of academic writing experience across four graduate programs, including work at Columbia, which sharpened his eye for ...

Education

Columbia University

Master's

Troy

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Troy

AB
Troy's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Geometry
Algebra

Good editing goes beyond fixing commas — it means evaluating whether each paragraph actually advances the argument and whether the evidence supports the claim being made. Troy reads student drafts with an eye for logical gaps, weak transitions, and vague thesis statements, then explains the reasonin...

Education

Rice University

AB

Susan

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Susan

MED
Susan's other Tutor Subjects
College Algebra
Trigonometry
Pre-Calculus
Middle School Math

I love participating in learning with other people. This is why I have been a high school teacher for 20 years and why I am a tutor now. One of my major skills as a tutor is breaking down skills and concepts into small parts to identify exactly where someone is struggling. I can do this with organi...

Education

The New School for Social Research

MED

Oberlin College

MED

Meet Our Expert Tutors

Connect with highly-rated educators ready to help you succeed.

Andrew

ACT English Tutor • +9 Subjects

I hold a B.A. from Yale University and an M.A. from the University of Connecticut. In addition to teaching at both the high school and college levels, I also spent many years working in advertising (where I was a Vice President at two New York City agencies), health insurance administration, and as a newspaper editor. I have published a novel, have my own blog, and over 125 personal commentaries in both newspapers and on education websites.

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Josephine

Middle School Math Tutor • +6 Subjects

Hi! I am Josie, and I am a first year medical student at Indiana University School of Medicine. I graduated from the University of Notre Dame in May 2025 where I studied neuroscience and Spanish. I am passionate about tutoring because I love to work with students to help them achieve their goals and prosper. I am lucky that academics have come pretty naturally to me, so I want to share some of the tips and tricks that have helped me with other students. I have five years of experience tutoring middle school students, and I have also taught 1st graders in the past. I usually tutor math ranging from elementary school up to Algebra 2, but have also tutored biology, Spanish, and helped with essay-writing. In my tutoring sessions, I emphasize practice and autonomy to help the students learn material without me doing the work for them. I like to help them understand why a certain process or mechanism works. I can't wait to get to know my students! :)

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Maddy

Middle School Math Tutor • +26 Subjects

My job as a teacher is to collaborate with a student to overcome a challenge. Do you want to write a term paper? Great! Do you want to learn how to use a semi-colon? Let's do it! I'm on your side. With every lesson, I meet students where they are and together we tailor our lessons to fit their skills, interests, and needs. By approaching lessons collaboratively, we create an environment that emphasizes progress over perfection and uses their existing strengths to build new skills.

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James

Elementary School Math Tutor • +17 Subjects

I've been lucky to have attended some fine educational institutions, though I don't come from the kind of background where such opportunities can be taken for granted. I believe every student should have the same opportunities as I've had, and I want to do everything I can to make those opportunities available to every student.

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Kirstine

SAT Reading Tutor • +16 Subjects

Hello! My name is Kirstine (Kyr-STEE-na). I am excited to meet and talk about your learning needs. A strong working relationship is important for your success. What are your dreams and goals, your strengths and challenges? What kind of learner are you? You should know what kind of teacher I am! I'm a retired Dance and Theater educator, with thirteen years of service in public education. In the decades before I got my teaching license, I worked as a teaching artist in the Twin Cities and the New York City metropolitan area, teaching hundreds of students, pre-K to adults. I am also an actress, and I look forward to returning to the stage as the world opens up! My areas of expertise include English Literature, (BA, Carleton College, 1983), Acting and Shakespearean performance (National Shakespeare Conservatory, 1991), and Educational Theater (New York University, 1997). Educational Theater encompasses a wide variety of practices, including, but not limited to performance skills. Theater and drama modalities are used around the world to enhance learning across the curriculum. We can find ways to use those learning tools, if you are interested! I offer particularly strong skills in language and literacy. I provide my students reading and writing support in traditional and non-traditional ways, often using speaking and listening (two under-appreciated aspects of literacy) to explore language, meaning, story, and structure. We'll find ways for you to succeed, as the learner YOU are. Let's read together, write together, think together, and build your success. You can do it! I can't wait to get started!

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Theresa

AP English Literature and Composition Tutor • +8 Subjects

My love affair with language began in 8th grade when, as I read short stories, I saw how word-crafting could issue in what I call 3-D thinking. Good writing breathes sharp life into ideas, fosters synergy across them while creating new thought patterns for writer and reader. Throughout my 25 years of teaching and tutoring college students at an Ivy League university and at other local institutions guiding them through class essays, research projects, honors and masters theses, and graduate school personal statements--I always found joy in helping students discover what they wanted to sayand to express themselves coherently and persuasively. I hold a B.A. in English from Fordham University summa cum laude and in 1998 I earned a Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania. In the course of completing my doctoral project after a long pause from grad school to raise my son, I cultivated the ability, and empathy, to look at academic challenges resourcefully from both sides of the desk. Given that my research on Hamlet was highly interdisciplinary-- joyous and original--I have carried that intellectual exhilaration into all my work as a lecturer, writing specialist, tutor, academic advisor and administrator, always urging students to seek out more conceptual connections and to write as integratively as possible. Currently I am working part-time by choice, but my staunch resolve that the pen is mightier than the sword remains intact and never fails to excite me. I want to share my excitement, expertise, and love of writing with you--and am ready to motivate you and empower you, as I have done so for numerous students, to write your best thinking!

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Thomas

Essay Editing Tutor • +6 Subjects

I love literature and reading and writing -- they've been central to my life since early childhood -- and I hope as a tutor not only to help students improve their skills in these areas but to instill in them a similar kind of lifelong affection for these pursuits. I believe that reading and writing are key not only to enjoying a broadly fulfilling and exciting life but also to performing effectively in virtually any kind of serious job. As a kid, my dream was to become a writer of fiction -- novels and stories -- and I majored in English and creative writing in college. But then it was literature that led my life to take a different, unexpected path. At Princeton, I had to write a senior thesis, and the topic I chose was native American prose literature -- novels, poems and other writings that hugely enhanced the love of nature and wilderness that I had already acquired through hiking and camping trips with my father. Instead of wanting to write fiction, I became an environmental advocate, and wanted to write about wilderness and environmental issues. So, I moved from the East Coast to Montana for graduate school, where I studied wilderness and wildlife management issues and earned a Master's degree in natural resource conservation. For decades ever since I have made my living primarily as a communicator, through writing as well as public speaking. Every job I've had depended on my ability to write well, from working as an editor of technical research papers for the US Forest Service; as communications director for an environmental protection group; as a press secretary in a Presidential campaign; as an international publicist for a PR firm in New York City; as an aide in the Montana Governor's Office; and as a self-employed lobbyist and campaign manager for numerous large corporations and small nonprofit groups. I also taught public and media relations at Carroll College in Montana and have done a fair amount of freelance writing along the way, with essays published in diverse outlets including Western Wildlands, the Journal of Soil & Water Conservation, Range magazine and Playboy. My love of reading and literature has never ceased. I am always reading at least one good book at a time, and I still write almost daily. On the side, I recently have edited two books for publication and have written several grant proposals. I look forward to sharing my passion for learning with students through the Varsity Tutors program.

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Ben

Middle School Math Tutor • +44 Subjects

I have an undergraduate degree from Brown University where I double majored in International Relations and History of Art and Architecture. I also have a certification in teaching English as a foreign language. My favorite subjects to tutor are Russian, Japanese, and English, but I also am available to tutor in math (elementary to calculus), science, and SAT/ACT/AP prep. I have over five years of experience in both in-person and online tutoring, and I am passionate about helping students reach their academic and personal goals. I lead students to success by sparking their interest and making the subject fun to learn.

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Curran

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +37 Subjects

As a professional educator with over a decade of experience, I specialize in delivering personalized, high-impact instruction across the humanities, test preparation, and college readiness. I've taught everything from early literacy and middle school ELA to AP-level history, civics, and economicsand I've guided students through the full academic journey, from mastering foundational skills to crafting standout college essays and preparing for the SAT, ACT, and AP exams. My background spans elite classrooms and enrichment programs alike: I've taught in college-preparatory high schools, developed curriculum for national nonprofits, and designed one-on-one tutoring plans for students ranging from advanced learners to those seeking targeted support. I bring a calm, structured, and student-centered approach to every sessionhelping students build confidence, sharpen their critical thinking, and reach ambitious academic goals. Whether your child is preparing for a top university or looking to deepen their academic engagement, I offer rigorous, thoughtful instruction with results you can trust.

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Marcia

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +21 Subjects

Learning is exciting! Anything new that you learn - an idea, a skill, a fact - changes you and paves the way for the next new idea, skill or fact to come along. I love learning. I love helping other people to learn. Be patient! Learning isn't always easy. (Teaching isn't always easy either.) So, be patient. Students need to be patient and teachers need to be patient. Sometimes, a new idea seems too challenging. That's the first time you see it. The second time, it starts to become more clear. Sometimes, our brains just need a little time to absorb. So, be patient! It will come.

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Frequently Asked Questions

A tutor can work with you to identify the core argument you're trying to make and help you craft a thesis that's specific, defensible, and compelling. They'll guide you through organizing your essay logically—ensuring your introduction hooks readers, your body paragraphs support your thesis with clear topic sentences, and your conclusion reinforces your argument rather than just summarizing. This personalized feedback helps you move beyond formulaic essay structures to writing that actually persuades.

Many students have interesting thoughts but struggle to support them with relevant evidence and logical reasoning. A tutor helps you learn to select the strongest examples, explain how each piece of evidence connects to your thesis, and anticipate counterarguments. They'll show you how to move beyond simply listing facts to building a chain of reasoning that makes your argument inevitable—which is what separates a good essay from a great one.

Effective revision isn't just fixing typos—it's rethinking your argument at multiple levels. A tutor can teach you to revise in stages: first looking at big-picture issues like organization and argument strength, then refining paragraph flow and clarity, and finally polishing grammar and style. They'll help you develop a revision strategy that works for your writing process, so you're not overwhelmed and you're actually improving the essay rather than just changing words.

Writer's block often stems from unclear thinking rather than lack of ideas. A tutor can help you work through this by using strategies like outlining, freewriting, or discussing your ideas aloud before you write. They can help you identify whether you're struggling with understanding the prompt, developing your thesis, or structuring your argument—and then address the actual problem. This personalized approach gets you unstuck and moving forward faster than staring at a blank page.

Grammar is foundational—errors distract readers and undermine your credibility—but style and voice are what make your writing memorable and persuasive. A tutor helps you prioritize: in early drafts, focus on getting your ideas down and organizing them clearly; in revision, strengthen your argument and clarity; only in final editing should you polish grammar. They'll also help you develop an authentic voice that fits your audience and purpose, rather than writing in a stiff, overly formal tone.

MLA, APA, and Chicago style have specific rules, and getting them wrong can cost you points. A tutor can teach you the fundamentals of whichever style your assignment requires—how to format in-text citations, create a works cited or references page, and integrate quotes smoothly into your writing. Rather than memorizing every rule, they help you understand the logic behind citations (giving credit, helping readers find sources) so you can apply it correctly and confidently.

Literary analysis requires moving beyond plot summary to examining how an author uses specific techniques—imagery, dialogue, point of view, symbolism—to create meaning. A tutor helps you learn to choose precise textual evidence, explain what that evidence reveals about the author's purpose or theme, and avoid over-interpreting. They'll teach you to write about literature analytically rather than emotionally, supporting your interpretations with concrete examples from the text.

Generic feedback like "needs more detail" or "awkward phrasing" doesn't tell you how to improve. A tutor provides specific, actionable feedback—pointing out exactly where your argument weakens, suggesting how to strengthen a particular paragraph, or showing you why a sentence is confusing. They also help you understand the underlying writing principle so you can apply it to future essays, turning feedback into lasting improvement rather than just fixing one assignment.

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