Judy L.

I was raised in the beautiful Pacific Northwest but was born in South Korea. I’m a National Merit Scholar (awarded to the top 1% of U.S. high school graduates) and have accepted over $200,000 in merit-based scholarships and grants. I’m a published academic researcher with peer-reviewed contributions from my time at Harvard and ongoing collaborations with tenured faculty at UCLA and the London School of Economics. I come from a lineage of scholars, so the pursuit of higher education has always been a core value in my family. When I’m not working, I enjoy hiking around LA, singing with the Angeles Chorale, and spending time with loved ones.

I specialize in advanced test prep, executive function coaching, and study skills—earning consistent 5-star reviews from both parents and students for my rigorous yet compassionate approach. I’ve spent over a decade helping students from middle school through college excel in standardized test prep, essay writing, and time management. My SAT students have seen score increases of up to 500 points and have gone on to attend top institutions including Cambridge (UK), Cornell, Georgetown, Scripps, and Sciences Po (Paris). I especially enjoy teaching the social sciences, history, and mathematics.

I believe academic excellence is rooted in psychological safety and a strong, trusting student–parent–teacher partnership. I’m a firm advocate for integrating psychosocial tools to build sustainable study habits and long-term intrapersonal resilience. With my background as a practicing clinical hypnotherapist, I’m particularly skilled at supporting neurodivergent learners and students navigating academic anxiety or perfectionism.