Allison

Certified Tutor

I recently graduated from Washington and Lee University with a Bachelor of Sciences in Biochemistry and a minor in Philosophy. I am currently applying to medical schools in hopes of attending in the Fall of 2015. Helping my younger brother manage his genetic disorder, in addition to years of teaching special needs students at summer camp, has inspired me to pursue a career as a Pediatrician with a focus in Medical Genetics.

Helping others through education has always been important to me; I have steadily held peer-tutoring positions at every stage in my own schooling since middle school. At Washington and Lee I became the first ever teaching assistant for an Introductory Biology lecture course, helping students to think critically and develop research grant proposals. I was also a teaching assistant for Introductory Biology laboratory courses. In addition, I mentored struggling local middle school students during an after school program created to inspire students to develop skills for their futures.

My undergraduate biology research background lends itself not only to tutoring in Biology but also in Critical Reading and Writing. I really enjoy helping students with the Writing section for Standardized Tests, because I think that it is so valuable for students to learn the most effective way to express their ideas to others. My greatest strength as a tutor comes from my ability to understand the material through the student's point of view and construct metaphors to help them to also understand, and not just memorize, the material. I hope to teach my students critical thinking skills that will help them both to conquer Standardized Tests and to succeed in life. In my spare time, I enjoy volunteering at free clinics in the Richmond area, running, learning to cook, and playing pickup games of soccer.