Tutor details
Katherine
Personal Statement
Dr. Katherine Fidler has over ten years of experience advising students and their families about the college application process. She approaches college advising with a deep appreciation for helping students articulate what kind of university will be the right fit and then constructing an application that highlights their academic and non-academic strengths, achievements, and aspirations. Making a decision about which colleges to apply to and ultimately attend can be a stressful time for the entire family, and Dr. Fidler helps to set up a plan and ensures that she is available to answer questions that students and parents may have while also communicating regularly with parents about their student’s progress.
She prides herself in crafting balanced college lists, collaborating with students and providing detailed feedback on essays, and helping students ask for letters of recommendation, email admissions officers, and prepare for interviews. Her students have received offers of admission to a wide range of universities and liberal arts colleges including Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Cornell, UPenn, Columbia, Duke, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Northwestern, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, Emory, UT Austin, Bowdoin, Georgetown, Boston College, NYU, Boston University, Northeastern University, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Virginia, Villanova University, Bucknell, University of Richmond, as well as many other colleges and universities. She has also worked with many athletic recruits, students submitting specialized applications for STEM programs and programs in the creative arts, and international applications.
Dr. Fidler received her PhD in African History from Emory University, receiving a U.S. Fulbright grant to conduct research in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. She has taught at the university level in both the United States and South Africa and, as a professor and now tutor, encourages a love of history and learning in her students. Dr. Fidler employs a compassionate approach rooted in knowledge to help students and their families successfully navigate the college application process from beginning to end.
Education
PhD: Emory University (2010) (History-African and European)
BA: Reed College (2003) (History)
Subjects
Awards and Recognitions
Fulbright (South Africa)
Mellon Dissertation Fellowship-2009
Testimonials
As my tutor, Dr. Fidler worked with me on developing my analytical and writing skills. My confidence as as a writer increased and I began to look forward to writing. Dr. Fidler has continued to mentor me through my time as a scholar athlete at Seton Hall University. Thanks to her guidance and support, I am much more confident in the classroom and excited about continuing to pursue my academic interests. ~Kaylyn S.
It is not an exaggeration to say that Dr. Fidler has been invaluable to me as a tutor and mentor. To call her my mentor is accurate but also understates the enormous contribution she has already made to my academic work and to my overall confidence. She has done everything from helping me edit and re-edit numerous papers and applications, prepare for class presentations, strategize for both short-term and long-term academic goals, and so much more. She never rushes and always takes my concerns seriously. ~ Jeremy L.
Working with Katherine is amazing. She looks at the whole student, not just grades or test scores, and takes everything into account when recommending colleges and advising through the process. She makes tasks like writing essays and doing ACT prep actually manageable. If you are stressed or worried, she will calm you down. Overall Katherine is the best college advisor I could have asked for and I could not possibly recommend her enough for your college journey. ~ Michael M. (Holy Cross)
I've known Katherine since elementary school, and she has consistently been a source of support, reassurance, and encouragement throughout the most stressful moments of my academic life. During college apps, she had the incredible ability to make even the most anxiety-inducing tasks feel manageable. More importantly, she always made me feel like my choices really reflected what was right for me. What sets Katherine apart is how deeply she cares about her students whether it was in their confidence or their well-being. She guided me even at times I felt discouraged or uncertain, encouraging me to keep going. I am incredibly grateful for Katherine because I feel like she believed in me, often more than I believed in myself. This kind of support is I think the most important during such a stressful time and made all the difference.Because of her guidance, I developed the ability to manage my work, organize my thoughts, and approach writing and stress with confidence and clarity. These skills ultimately prepared me for the rigor of coursework at UCLA, where I now feel equipped to keep up and succeed. ~ Kelly K. (UCLA)