Adam Tolnay

I am a Harvard-educated mentor who offers personalized instruction and seasoned, caring guidance to aspiring students.

My mission is to empower each student to find their passion while developing valuable intellectual skills.

Courses and Journeys I Lead

Each course below is a one-on-one intellectual journey. During the journey, I not only pass on content knowledge but guide students to broaden their comprehension, deepen their insights, and learn how to articulate their newfound understanding.

Test Preparation

I train and coach students to achieve maximum scores on the following exams: SSAT, SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP World History: Modern, AP European History, AP United States History, AP Comparative Government and Politics, AP United States Government and Politics, AP Human Geography.

University Admissions

Over the course of the past fifteen years, I have helped students gain admission to Stanford, Princeton, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, MIT, the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown, the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Texas at Austin, Oxford, the London School of Economics, and many other fine institutions. I support students and parents in every aspect of the college admissions application process, from advising first-year high school students on course selection to helping sophomores and juniors start their own nonprofit organizations to guiding seniors as they express their inner selves in truthful, heartfelt, and memorable personal statements.

Non-Fiction Writing

Writing goals vary. My students have submitted essays for the John Locke Essay Contest, the New York Times Writing Contest, opinion and editorial pieces, and summer school applications. They wrote speeches and presentations that they later delivered to live audiences, and crafted works of various lengths and genres submitted as part of curricular projects.

Reading and Writing History

Over the years my students and I have read and discussed: the Age of Jackson, the history of the Transcontinental Railroad, the Industrialization of Japan and the creation of the Japanese Colonial Empire, Stalinism, and more. My most advanced student, a 15-year-old, is at present completing his masterful 100+ page book on the Battles of the Napoleonic Wars.

Exploring and Writing Fiction

Young readers and writers of fiction fall into two categories. The first are endowed with a wellspring of irrepressible imagination and have a visceral need to bring these stories/dreams/inner voices/inspired musing to life. With such writers, my contribution is to encourage them to let their words bubble forth, to serve as their first reader, to guide and sometimes gently critique, but above all else, to witness and champion their creative endeavors.

Examining Greek and Roman Epics and Plays

Two years ago, two precocious students and I embarked on a special reading course. We met each Tuesday, and each week we read a chapter of the Iliad, the magisterial first Greek epic poem. I guided the students on a journey of discovery: of the text, of the age of Greek heroes, and of themselves. The course proved to be so much fun that we decided to continue reading other epics, namely the Odyssey and the Aeneid.

Loved by Students And Parents

Johnny C.

Student at UCLA

“To be honest, I would not have done so much without Adam's help. As a great advisor, he is professionally and personally devoted; he listens to the students and really cares about what students are...”

Eva Y. and Wayne P.

Parents from Shanghai

“Our daughter Kim surprised us when she asked if she could teach in Africa. We were worried and accompanied her. She taught so well on Rodrigues Island, Mauritius and we were very proud of her. Adam...”

Ameer J.

MIT Sloan School

“Adam was not only a tutor but also a coach and mentor to me when I was studying for the GMAT. He helped me to score well on the GMAT when I was floundering with standardized testing. Adam is not only...”

Alex W.

Student at University of Cambridge

“I first started working with Adam back in 8th grade, and over the last five years, he has been absolutely instrumental in my growth as a student and writer. From guiding me through the New York Times...”

Johnny C.

Student at UCLA

Eva Y. and Wayne P.

Parents from Shanghai

Ameer J.

MIT Sloan School

Alex W.

Student at University of Cambridge

About Me

I was born into a Hungarian-speaking community in rural Romania and grew up in New York City. As an immigrant, albeit at a young age, I understood that education was my only ladder to possible success. As such, I spent the first third of my life completing courses of study and fellowships at Harvard College (Magna Cum Laude), the London School of Economics, Georgetown University, and Stanford University.

At every step of my development, I was fortunate to have been mentored by intellectually robust and personally generous educators such as Prof. Ezra Vogel, Prof. Dominic Lieven, and Prof. Clifford Nass. Each took a genuine interest in my personal and intellectual development and also opened my eyes to new ways of seeing the world.

500+

Students Taught

80+

Students Individually Mentored

15+

Years Experience

Frequently Asked Questions

All courses and mentoring sessions take place on Zoom. We usually meet weekly, and most sessions last an hour or an hour and a half. I am ready to meet as frequently as necessary to meet deadlines. In the heat of the college application season, a student and I met 8 times during the course of a weekend, during which he revised his personal statement 12 times! The hard work paid off, and the student was admitted to and matriculated at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

I usually work one-on-one with all students to maximize time, guidance, and care. At the outset of each journey, a student and I discuss and together decide on the goals, subject matter, depth, pacing, and deliverables of the course. My goal is to ensure that each student learns to think more deeply, learns to write more effectively, and grows in wisdom.

My courses and mentoring sessions are bespoke, tailored to the student’s specific needs and goals. I am happy to discuss rates during an in-depth consultation. I offer value packages and take on a select number of students on a sliding scale basis.

Lessons and mentoring sessions can be canceled or rescheduled, provided that the student or parent gives me more than 24 hours' notice.

Have more questions? I'm happy to talk!

Reach out with an email

Your first meeting is completely free of charge. I look forward to hearing from you!