PrepNow Tutor - Divya N.
A tutor and admissions consultant, Divya has over nine years of experience working with students of all ages. She has extensive educational training: both a BA in English literature and a BS in community health with a focus in health planning and administration from the University of Illinois; an MPH from the University of Michigan; and a Virtual Data Analytics and Visualization Certificate from Emory University. “Writing has been an instrumental component of all my work with UN agencies, CDC, the DOD, and several private organizations,” Divya says, when reflecting on her career. “I really love writing, and I enjoy teaching others to write even more.” Since 2020, in addition to tutoring various writing forms, Divya has coached foreign medical graduates applying to match US residency programs and guided high school students into their top-choice college programs.
While Divya has always enjoyed helping others with their writing, she started formally consulting when a friend’s daughter asked for Divya's help with her applications. “I really enjoyed working with her, so I started to market myself to other students,” Divya says. “In the first year, I had a handful of students, and it has just grown organically from there.” Divya recognizes how important a strong education is and is honored by the potential to impact the trajectory of so many people's lives. Though she loves working with students on all kinds of writing, she’s most drawn to guiding students through the admissions landscape. “I especially enjoy the process of getting to know my students' interests and brainstorming with them about how to present themselves in the best light on their applications,” Divya says.
Divya views admissions consulting as a form of ongoing mentorship. “For instance, I tell my students to think about the network they will have after college, too, and if they are applying to the right schools in the right locales to build that network,” Divya says. “That's a big lesson I learned throughout my own journey. For me, supporting students to achieve their goals is a way of having a positive impact on the world, one person at a time. It's also deeply meaningful to be a small part of someone's journey to success.” Above all, Divya loves sharing the knowledge she’s gained so her students don't go through the same struggles she did.
As a child of immigrants, Divya has extensive experience working with international applicants and understands their struggles and how to ensure they make their dreams a reality. She has also supported her students with financial aid applications and scholarship essays, and is especially experienced in the fields of health, medicine, and engineering. “We grow so much in college and build the grounding on which we’ll later stand. It's important to choose a place that cultivates the roots of who you become in the future,” Divya says.
An avid cyclist, Divya once cycled from NYC to SF. “Cycling continues to bring me a lot of peace and joy,” she says. “There's nothing like a bike ride on a beautiful day.” Divya also loves to sew, draw, paint, and make jewelry. Divya has lived in five countries.
