hi!
ny name is jenna

i use she/they pronounsand work as a

Test Prep Tutor
Writing Coach
D'var Mentor

supporting students across skill sets —
from testing and admissions strategy to storytelling and personal reflection.

I am...

* an Ivy League graduate
🎓* a professor of writing
📚* a published fiction writer
and essayist
✒️* a Trinity School alum ('02) and two-time Hawley Prize Winner
🐯* a former tutor for Kaplan, Manhattan GRE, and smaller elite firms
🌟* a former ETS grader (#InsiderKnowledge)
🔑* a gender-affirming educator
🍭* a strategic communications consultant
🚀* a researcher, historian, and scholar
🎓

Tutoring
Mentoring
Coaching

I've worked for over 20 years with learners of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.I offer one-on-one:* test prep (SAT, GRE, GMAT, AP)* strategic admissions coaching
(US and Europe)* d'var Torah prep* college and grad school essay and portfolio prep* interview prep* writing coaching* subject tutoring* thesis (or dissertation) coaching* language tutoring (English + German)🌈✊🏾⚧️

I've got...

* 15+ years experience teaching @ universities in the US and EU
📚* proven success helping students gain admission to the Ivy League
🏫* a BA in History
from Dartmouth College
(summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa)
🎓* an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Virginia
(fully funded)
🎓* a positive review in The New Yorker
🌠* multiple writing awards and prizes (incl. a Second Round Selection at Sundance Screenwriter's Lab)
🎥* global experience
🌎* a tough-meets-tender approach🐻

the vibes

I help ambitious thinkers thrive — with smart strategy, clear goals, and a personal touch. Over the past 15+ years, I’ve worked with students at prep schools like Trinity and Dalton, mentored incarcerated writers in Virginia and Berlin, coached successful applicants to Ivy League and other top-tier undergraduate and graduate programs, and taught at major universities in the US and Germany. I’ve lived everywhere from the rural South to central London, and worked or traveled across Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas. My style is structured but collaborative, honest but gentle, and deeply invested in helping students succeed. 🎯


You’ve got big goals. My job is to help you reach them — with focus, feedback, and accountability. We’ll set targets, talk through roadblocks, build better habits, and maybe even laugh a little. Whether you’re applying to college, studying for the GRE, trying to make your writing ✨ sparkle ✨, or preparing a d'var Torah for your b-mitzvah — I’m here.


I don’t believe in generic coaching. I work with students across learning styles, identities, and goals — and tailor everything we do to who you are. That includes building trust, setting boundaries, and checking in about what’s working (and what’s not). Anxious overachievers might need support breaking free from formulaic essay writing or staying steady under pressure 😰, while multilingual learners may benefit from a focused strategy for the SAT’s Reading and Writing section. Together, we’ll develop custom approaches that actually work for your needs and life.


My approach is shaped by where I’ve been. I bring firsthand experience navigating elite academic environments: I’m a graduate of Trinity School, Dartmouth College, and the University of Virgina and understand the pressures, expectations, and anxieties that shape students' lives. I’ve also spent over a decade working with disadvantaged youth and incarcerated individuals, including some in maximum-security prisons. Other volunteer work includes coaching a 7th/8th grade girls lacrosse team and teaching skiing to teenagers, experiences that shaped my approach to tutoring as much as anything I’ve done in a classroom. 💫 I did my own b-mitzvah at B’nai Jeshurun in New York City, where I’m still an active member, and have since supported students across a wide range of Jewish communities — from isolated rural towns to major Jewish centers like NYC and LA.


All of that is backed by an interdisciplinary academic career. I have an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Virginia (a global top 3 program) and am completing a doctorate in American Studies at the Freie Universitaet Berlin, supported by the German Research Association. I’ve taught in History, Political Science, Cultural Studies, Journalism, and Literature Departments as well as at law schools, film schools, and music schools. I also run workshops in transformative and restorative justice. My professional background is in narrative strategy, storytelling, and strategic communications, all of which I bring into our sessions. My strengths? Getting students unstuck. Making writing less painful — and sometimes even fun. Helping people say what they really mean. Figuring out how to sound impressive without sounding fake.


If you’re looking for serious support with a personal touch — I’d love to hear from you. Contact info’s at the bottom 👇

working together

I work with students around the world — including many in Berlin and New York City, where in-person sessions are often an option. I’m fully available for Zoom-based tutoring across time zones and occasionally offer short-term intensives or travel-based arrangements, depending on timing and fit.


My services are tailored and thoughtful. I offer both hourly sessions and customized packages — from College Application Deep Dive to Grad School Gameplan, Essay Mastery to Thoughtful Oratory. Whether you're seeking long-term academic support, targeted admissions coaching, or help with high-stakes writing + speaking goals, I’m happy to design an arrangement that fits your needs.


Rates generally align with NYC independent school tutoring norms — typically $200–450/hour — depending on the scope and intensity of support. I’m also deeply committed to educational equity and queer-affirming mentorship. I reserve part of my schedule for sliding scale, barter/exchange, and community-supported sessions, especially for underrepresented students. Complimentary consultations are available to discuss goals, needs, and fit — please don’t hesitate to reach out.