My niece wrote this repost. She got into multiple Ivy Leagues including Columbia :)
Sasha tutored me for two years in mathematics, physics, chemistry, English composition, and SAT preparation. He also provided substantial guidance for my college essays and application process.
Sasha's tutoring helped alleviate the stress of a heavy course load in my junior year. His own academic achievements, such as graduating a year early from Johns Hopkins with a double major, was proof of his strong grasp of the subjects in which I was struggling. Sasha was able to explain and elucidate even the most difficult physics concepts in AP Physics C and AP Chemistry. Besides just understanding the subjects well, his teaching method focused on finding different angles to each concept and problem. He always strove to understand my comfort level and my current knowledge of a subject so that he could tailor his tutoring to me individually. Not only was he well versed in math and science areas, but also he provided extraordinary insight into my English essays and SAT reading composition questions. It wasn't until I began writing at Columbia did I realize how much my writing would have suffered without Sasha's help. The transition from formulaic high school essays into thought-provoking, layered, and elegant essays that my professors at Columbia demand was indeed difficult. Sasha's advice on my high school English essays opened new perspectives on writing that went beyond simple grammar corrections.
I entered the college application process the same way all of my classmates did: uncertain, confused, and stressed. For everything I had done in my four years--all, seemingly, for this one moment--it appeared as if the crucial decision rested on a matter of semantics. 640 words and a Why question. I approached Sasha looking for guidance on my common app essay and my Columbia application. At the time I didn't know what I wanted, or even Why Columbia. I sat down with Sasha with the sense of urgency that a competitive personality and high school environment had permanently imbued in me. But beyond the 640 words and the drive to distinguish myself from 33,000 other applicants, it was clear that I was lost.
Sasha never crafted a golden, perfect essay for me. He didn't simply focus on the essay I brought to him, he sought to understand me first before even looking at the essay. He saw greater horizons in me, and he refused to believe that all I needed was an edit.
Sasha, a few years my senior and a graduate of the same high school, knew the application process intimately from his experiences at Hopkins. He understood the pressure of an intensely competitive academic environment, at times more stifling than stimulating. Through insightful conversations and patient listening on his part, we discussed steamrolling through checklists, measuring myself with numbers and resume bullet points, and my eternal struggle to balance passions and academic conformity. I confided in him, and he, unlike other college advisors who demand thousands of dollars to mold students to an outdated formula, focused on expressing my individuality through my application while showcasing my accomplishments and talents. He asked me about what I wanted in my college, my environment, and my education. He asked me about what I wanted, period, and because of him I considered not only whether a college would accept me, but also whether it would fit me. Sasha invested himself in understanding my visions, my problems, and my experiences so that he could best mentor me. I firmly believe that the introspection I gained through him, coupled with his formal guidance on my essays, was crucial for my application.
Beyond the goal of crafting college essays which contained enough depth and distinction and interest, Sasha's advice on writing still aids me. He challenged me to look at myself differently through my writing. He had no qualms about telling me to scrap entire paragraphs and rewrite them. Once I got over my hang-ups on taking out a nice-sounding line, my writing became fluid. After talking with Sasha, all of my 640 words were different, and completely my own. I had written a common app essay which a friend later told me gave her goose bumps.
Conversations with Sasha provide interesting insights and reveal his intellectual passions. Sasha pursues many passions, and his understanding of the arts, sciences, and college trends allows him to relate to his students on many levels. He is wonderfully compassionate, always willing to offer thoughts, jokes, or advice on any matter. Through our time together, he became an amazing mentor and a friend, and someone I relied on during the most stressful time of high school. He was the only person who advised me in my college applications, and I know he pours just as much effort and sincere care into each of his other students. read more
