Hey! My name is Serena and I’m a sophomore at Vassar College majoring in biochemistry. I actually entered college as a history major and switched to biochemistry after my first semester. I understand science can be really confusing, and I’m super excited to help students work through these difficult concepts. I’m interested in tutoring biology, chemistry, anatomy, and history. I can also help with AP or regents test preparation, as I have a lot of experience with these exams. At Vassar, I’m part of several STEM focused clubs. I’m a co-chair of the Biochemistry Majors Committee, where we plan fun events like study sessions and research mixers for all of our majors. Also, I’m the Vice President of our American Chemical Society Chapter, where we recently demoed a really cool elephant toothpaste reaction. I’m also an intern for the Dutchess County Department of Health and work on improving public health literacy. I’m really excited to work as a research assistant this summer at Vassar and would love to answer any questions about what it’s like to “do science” in a professional setting! In my free time, I love to run, read, and crochet. I also really enjoy doing any sort of puzzle, and I love competing with my parents on the Wordle. I look forward to working with all students and am excited to help everyone find what learning style fits them best!
If you have a specific tutor in mind, you're welcome to request them directly — we'll confirm whether they're available and the right fit for your student. Otherwise, Ryan writes a personal email to understand your student's needs, learning style, and goals — then handpicks a tutor from the roster. You're not filling out a form and getting assigned randomly. If the first tutor isn't the right fit after the first session, we'll find you a better match at no extra charge.
Yes. Many families start with a single session to see how the tutor and student connect before committing to a regular schedule. There's no pressure to book in advance — reach out and we'll set something up.
Yes. Many of our tutors are strong across several subjects, and sessions can cover more than one if that's what the student needs that week. Flexibility is built into how we work.
Most of our tutors continue working through breaks, either online or in-person at the college if the tutors remain on campus during that vacation. We'll let you know in advance if a tutor has a gap in availability and arrange coverage with one of our other tutors — in-person or online — in the required subject.
Occasionally, if the student lives very close to the tutor's campus. Most sessions take place on or near the college campus or online. This keeps sessions in an academically focused environment — which tends to produce better results.
The families who see the biggest results are the ones who commit to a regular cadence — typically once, twice, or three times a week. One-on-one tutoring with a student from an elite college, who genuinely understands the material, is a fundamentally different experience from a tutoring center or an app. Most of our clients stay with us for multiple semesters.
Email Ryan@ShiresTutoring.com and mention which tutor and college town you're interested in, or fill out our Request a Tutor form. We typically respond within one business day.
That depends on where your student is starting and how consistently they show up. Serena will identify the specific gaps, focus sessions on them, and adjust as the student progresses. Families who stick to a weekly schedule typically see meaningful progress within four to six weeks.
Email Ryan@ShiresTutoring.com and mention you'd like to work with Serena at Vassar College, or fill out our Request a Tutor form — you can also click the Request a Tutor button at the bottom of this page. We'll follow up within one business day to confirm availability and schedule your first session.