ASK ALICE
TUTORING, WORKSHOPS, & EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
Alice Kuo Shippee has been an educator since 1994. She brings her special brand of lively teaching to every workshop and session. Her love of deep conversations, theater, and the arts, along with her genuine ability to build connections with students makes every class fun and filled with meaningful challenges. She has high expectations for herself and her students, and she provides support and materials that are innovative and practical.
START EARLY, STRESS LESS
Now forming cohorts for Class of 2026 & Class of 2027 to get an early start on the college application process!
Also booking limited number of Class of 2025 Rising Seniors to work individually.
See below for more information. Please contact Alice at kuophoto@mac.com or text at 310-699-7756 with your questions.
“I've always been that told the college admissions process couldn't be navigated without stress. Working with Alice, I have to say I came pretty close to a no-stress journey. Alice took all of the uncertainty out of the process, and gave me enough guidance for me to be able to work at a pace that worked for me. Alice made the meetings fun, and for such long tedious work, helped me see the joy in writing about my life. I think on my own, colleges would have seen a version of myself—but Alice helped them see the best version of myself. For this I'm super grateful.”
~ Tyler Y.
EXPERTISE & SERVICES
Alice is easy to connect with via text at 310-699-7756 or via email at kuophoto@mac.com.
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Join a cohort of students in your graduating year to get support early and throughout the application process. Workshops begin the summer after sophomore year and continue at regular intervals increasing in frequency until applications are complete. Now scheduling workshops for the 2024-25 school year.
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Work with me individually via Zoom or in person to begin the college research process, refining your list to the schools that are the right fit for you . Start the essay writing process early to minimize stress and maximize how articulately and vividly you portray yourself in your essays. We meet as often as you want. I can work as efficiently and quickly as a student is willing. I encourage autonomy in scheduling as well as support and guide the process.
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I work one-on-one over Zoom and in person to support students who are studying English and American literature at the middle and high school levels. I can customize instruction and skills teaching to the text or curriculum required, including online and homeschool learning.
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One of my specialties and passions is teaching Shakespeare! I love making it come alive with relevance to modern times and universal themes. I work with high schoolers and actors to deeply understand the poetry, and cultivate an appreciation for the timelessness of Shakespeare’s storytelling.
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Individual Sessions on Zoom $95/hour
Offline Editing Sessions $95/hour
Group Sessions In-Person Start At $70/student/1.5 hour
Group Sessions on Zoom Start at $45/student/hour
Series of Group Workshops Start at $195/3 Classes
Please ask Alice if you have questions regarding your group pricing. Thank you!
“Working with Alice is an absolute pleasure. I’ve referred her to many friends and will continue to sing her praises. This is a stressful process and we couldn’t be happier. Our son loved working with her and has told our daughter she has to do it too! 😊”
~ Marilyn K., Parent
FIND OUT MORE
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A RITE OF PASSAGE: WHAT MAKES MY COLLEGE APPLICATION APPROACH UNIQUE
I have been helping students with college essays and applications since 1994. I have taught in multiple educational settings, meeting and working with thousands of students. I’ve learned a lot about what makes the college application process, and learning in general, meaningful for students and their parents. I always enjoy getting to know each unique student and honor where they are, while also holding a vision for where they want to be. I am also a parent of three teens myself, and I know the kind of support parents need too.
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CLASS OF 2026 WORKSHOP SERIES
From Fall 2024 through the entire application process, this series of workshops will support students in a small group setting as they continue college research, finalize their list, manage their time and tasks, and dive fully into the essay writing process. Students are welcome to attend any sessions they can and not required to attend all, but at each session, we tackle new steps. Individual Zoom sessions can be scheduled to keep them caught up, or they can get information from a peer. Beginning in January 2025, attending regular sessions will make the application process feel smooth and on-time.
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CLASS OF 2027 PRE-COLLEGE APPLICATION WORKSHOPS
This is the earliest, most “ahead of time” series of groups workshops that I offer for the Class of 2027. Beginning this summer, over 3 classes in June and 3 classes in August, we will begin asking the most important questions for the college application process, as well as lay the organizational foundation to tackle the loads of information that students and families will begin to collect. We start to layout the time and materials management framework that will carry students and parents through the next two years.
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ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING
At some point during the application process, we add individual reading, editing, and writing sessions to the support system. Students continue to meet in my group workshops for the organizational and time management help, and we start working one-on-one for every piece of writing necessary for their applications, including the longer Common App essay, the many supplemental essays, the UC essays, activities descriptions, and specialty area personal statements for students applying to BFA progams. Zoom meetings are paired with offline reading and editing sessions to maximize time, efficiency, and personalization.
“I had a great experience working with Mrs. Shippee. She taught me to take ownership over my writing and gave me room to explore it individually while also providing all the guidance and support I needed to navigate the application process. I learned a lot about myself through writing my essays and in particular really loved the way she helped me approach my ideas from new/interesting angles.”
~ Bella C., Student
Every teacher has a niche, and mine is teenagers. I am truly inspired by their energy, their joie de vivre, & their hard work. I am excited to hear about their goals & to get to know them, so that I can help bring out their unique qualities in their writing & help them show universities who they are, how they think, & what they can accomplish & contribute to their college communities.
I look forward to working with you! ~ Alice
CREDENTIALS—30+ Years in Education
Private Tutor & Workshop Educator
Arts, Literature, & Multidisciplinary Teacher & Curriculum Developer; Teacher Evaluator; Parent Education Workshop Leader, The Knowing Garden
Director of Curriculum, Research & Professional Development, Yu-Tsai Bilingual Elementary School
English, Photography & Dance Teacher, Department Chair–Beverly Hills High School
California State Teaching Credentials in English & Photography, CLAD Credential
English & ESL Teacher–Los Altos High School
Masters of Arts in Education–Stanford University
Bachelor of Arts in English–UCLA
What People Are Saying
“Our son said it was super helpful to work with Alice Shippee. He tends to procrastinate to the last minute on everything, so having the monthly workshops and checking off all the things were a lifesaver! We can’t thank Mrs. Shippee enough!”
~ Marilyn K., Parent
“My favorite thing about Mrs. Shippee was how she helped each student individually and catered to what they needed for their essays and college list. She helped motivate me in writing my essays and putting ideas together.”
~ Emily H., Student
“I loved how the numerous spreadsheets and group meetings helped me to create deadlines for my work. Having a set date for when things should get done was especially helpful for keeping me on task. This even allowed me to submit my essays weeks before every due date.”
~ Abby S., Student
“I was extremely happy with everything Mrs. Shippee did for me. As a kid who struggles with staying on top of important tasks like this, Mrs. Shippee kept me very organized and ahead of schedule throughout the entire process. For me the scariest part of applying for colleges was writing the essays, and Mrs. Shippee somehow took all the pressure away and made it feel easy. Our zoom meetings breaking down each and every detail of my essays were so valuable. If I were to do it again I would go the exact same route with Mrs. Shippee.”
~ Nolan K., Student
Alice’s students have been accepted to countless schools. Most importantly, she helps students find schools that are a good fit, where they will thrive!
The root of the word education comes from the Latin word educare, meaning “to draw out.” My philosophy of education is based on this original meaning, and I regard my role as a teacher as one of drawing out from within students the passion, talent, skill, and experience that is already there, as well as building a bridge between new material to those inner qualities. Learning is an alchemy of interest and inquiry. Good teaching and demonstrated learning both make the invisible visible.
~Alice Kuo Shippee
Text Alice at 310-699-7756 or email at kuophoto@mac.com!