Tutor profile: Anne R.

I just want to get a good enough MCAT score to get into medical school, but I have less than a month left and have been scoring in the 500s, what can I do to increase my score quickly & effectively?

I studied for the MCAT in 6 weeks and scored in the 90th percentile. 2 weeks before my exam I scored a 501 on an official practice exam. I buckled down and saw that I needed to work on strategy rather than content review and improved my score by 6 points in 1 week. Using my strategies and making studying more effectively I scored the highest out of all my practice exams on the real MCAT. It is possible to score quickly and well, it just requires dedication and understanding where your weaknesses are. I focus specifically on strategy, timing, and critical thinking to improve MCAT scores.

I have an essay and my teacher gave it back to be revised. I am looking to get a A+ but I don't know how to approach improving my writing?

I like to say that the hardest part of writing is starting! Once you have a first draft, or even an outline, it is much easier to edit and revise. If you have time, write a draft and leave it for a day or two. Then come back to it with fresh eyes to catch any mechanical errors, then read it with a critical lens. Who is your audience, the teacher or should it be geared towards the general population? Would a random person be able to find your thesis or understand your main idea? Do you have evidence to support your claims? As a writing tutor I am able to give you a fresh perspective and help you communicate the ideas in your head and translate them eloquently on paper.

How do I spot symbolism and metaphors in the book I am reading for class, Animal Farm?

Symbolism and metaphor are literary devices that help readers and writers understand the bigger meaning of texts. An easy way to spot symbolism or metaphor is to focus on specific characters, scenes, or dialogues. For example, in Animal Farm, the main character is a pig. Start by asking yourself "Why is the main character a pig, out of all animals?" or "Do pigs have any meaning beyond the text that the author is trying to convey?" From there, if your teacher has given you any secondary sources you can read about what critics have written about or come up with your own conclusion and find evidence in the story to support your idea.