Private Tutor in New York City
MY APPROACH
For over a decade, I have worked as a tutor, mentor, and educational advisor for a diverse group of students and families. My experience has brought a depth of professional knowledge to those looking to expand their minds, talents, and skills. I began my tutoring career prepping students for the New York City High School entrance exams—the ISEE and SHSAT. As a native New Yorker, I have a thorough understanding of the NYC school system intricacies, both as a student and educator.
Over the years, my main focus shifted to the ACT, SAT, and general college application process. In order to give my students the most precise guidance possible, I keep myself vigilantly up to date with both tests’ evolving material, formats, and policies -- including the new digital SAT and ACT.
In an effort to offer my students the best, most current, and "real" test experience practice, I am partnered with Test Innovators. This partnership allows me to utilize their company's digital material. Each of my students are given a private online account, where they have access to full length practice tests, thousands of practice exercises, analytic reports, and most importantly - they are able to gain experience learning the intricacies of the digitally formatted tests.
The heart of my method is based on catered lessons and the belief that everyone learns differently. Free from the social pressures and time constraints faced in classrooms, I can focus on each student's specific needs and tailor my approach to their unique learning style, be it visual, auditory, or kinesthetic. I provide a plethora of material to allow for maximum practice and format familiarity. Additionally, working one-on-one allows me to teach my students at their current proficiency level and steadily increase their understanding, building a stronger foundation in the process.
Experience has taught me that successful tutoring is rooted in trust. I pride myself on building unique and meaningful relationships with my students, and creating an environment where they feel comfortable to ask questions and explore their potential.
My ultimate goal is to help develop the practices and habits essential to success:
Organization, Time Management, Dedication, and Follow-Through.
MY SERVICES
ONE-ON-ONE LESSONS
Catering one-on-one lessons is the heart of my teaching approach. Having tutored over 150 students in New York City, I believe that students learn differently — there is no “one size fits all” mold. Curriculums and teaching styles need to be adjusted to suit the individual’s unique learning capabilities. Working with my students to find their learning style not only benefits their understanding, but gives them a sense of control and autonomy that can be used throughout their academic journey.
*All lessons are available either in-person
or online/zoom*
DIGITAL SAT / ACT TEST PREP
Preparing for standardized tests can be a highly stressful experience for many students. I believe the core of test prep success is building self-confidence, creating motivation, and reducing anxiety. By identifying their natural strengths, I can also assist in deciding between the ACT & SAT.
With the arrival of the digital formats of both tests, I believe it is of the utmost importance that students have access to digital material so they may practice the test as they will see it on test day. Each of my students are given a private online account, where they have access to full length practice tests, thousands of practice exercises, and analytic reports.
COLLEGE ESSAY EDITING
Tests, grades, and extracurriculars are essential assets in the admission process, but the College Essay is a unique opportunity for a student to share their personal character with the admissions board. A carefully crafted personal statement demonstrates a student’s creative abilities and gives a voice to their application. Through detailed conversations and precise editing, I help my student’s articulate their personal story and showcase their ability to thrive in a college environment.
HOMEWORK HELP
Whether a small math assignment, studying for a test, or writing an essay - I am committed to helping my students reach success and gain a greater understanding of concepts and material as a whole.
MY TESTIMONIALS
"We honestly couldn't have asked for a better tutor. Not only is Harley a lovely person, but she is super organized, efficient and thorough. Harley quickly identified my daughter's areas of strengths and weaknesses and gave her very specific strategies to improve her scores. She was always well prepared and up to date with College Board/ACT guidelines. Harley knows her stuff! My daughter really enjoyed working with her, and we’re all very happy with her results. We look forward to using her again for my son. We highly recommend!"
— Meredith, Parent (Brooklyn Technical High School)
"Doing well on the SAT is not a measure of how much algebra or geometry you know or how fast you can read--it's a measure of how well you know the test. This is exactly what Harley taught me when I worked with her in preparation to take my SAT. Starting off getting a 970 on my first practice test was incredibly demoralizing, but Harley always managed to lift me up and support me through my setbacks and frustrations. Harley is not only kind, compassionate, and a great overall teacher, but is a tutor who genuinely wants to connect with her students and understand them better so they can succeed on their test, which is a vital part of the college process. I know this because that is how Harley made me feel during the frustrating portions of studying for the SAT: she made me feel understood. Harley helped me learn, grow, and ultimately improve my final score to a 1440. None of this would have been possible without Harley's help and her knowledge of how the SAT is crafted, and I am still extremely grateful for her guidance to this day."
— Ellis, Junior (Beacon High School)
“Harley is simply the best. Both of my private school kids worked with Harley and I could not have been happier. She was able to connect on a one on one basis with each of my kids, even though they are very different people. She is kind, tough when she needs be, a great teacher, and more than anything, her manner and results gave my kids a lot of confidence. We worked with “fancier” tutor services before Harley, and in retrospect, it was wasted time. My kids improved a whole bunch on their tests from beginning to end, and that got both of them into their first choice schools. Honestly, no one better.”
— Dan, Parent (Riverdale)
“While I worked with Harley to prepare for my SAT, she effectively designed the tutoring sessions in a way that best fit my personal needs. She developed exercises and techniques that were not only extremely effective but stress relieving rather than stress inducing. She gave me an endless (when I say endless, I truly mean it!) amount of packets and materials that were targeted towards specific concepts and topics that I was struggling with. Harley was always willing to answer questions and successfully explained complex concepts in understandable ways. Most importantly, Harley was always there for me throughout every step of the testing process and it made all the difference. Our relationship became much more than just a tutor and a student, but rather Harley became an amazing guide through a stressful time.”
— Kayla, Junior (Eleanor Roosevelt High School)
Harley was an incredible tutor for my son. She got to know him very well and understood what he needed to bring his SAT scores up to a level he was thrilled with. She was not only concerned about his work and his scores but she had a way of making him feel calm during the stressful process - which sets her apart from all other tutors. We were very grateful to have worked with Harley!
— Janine, Parent (Beacon High School)
"When I met Harley, she impressed me with her intelligence, approach and compassion. She worked wonderfully with my daughter, pointing out specific areas of improvement, and tips on how to address those areas in a supportive, productive manner. And she got great results – my daughter raised her ACT score 4 points in 3 months!"
— Jessica, Parent (Baruch High School)
"I have used Harley to tutor both my kids for the ACT and have recommended her to several of my friends. Everyone loves her! Harley makes things easy to understand for her students, has enormous patience and truly cares about how her students perform. I wouldn't hesitate recommending Harley to anyone! They would be lucky to have her as their tutor!"
— Jennifer, Parent (NYC LAB School)
"Not only did Harley help me increase my ACT score by six points [to a 34], but she was continuously supportive and encouraging. I was always pushed to do my best and felt as though I was heard. Harley was also extremely organized and I learned skills for both the ACT and studying in general. She is an amazing tutor, and I was lucky to have her help throughout my studying process. "
— Elana, Junior (Bronx Science)
“Harley has an intuitive teaching style and is able to teach and explain material to your child in a way that makes sense to them. As all students learn differently, this is a great quality to have! She is a caring, patient, and result-oriented tutor!”
— Judy, Parent (NYC LAB School)
