Stanford University
M.S. Biology
UC Santa Cruz
B.S. Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
rvarnau@esmprep.comAcademic Mentorship
While pursuing a Master’s in Biology at Stanford, Rachel worked as a teaching assistant for undergraduate biology courses and as a research assistant investigating stem cell division in developing plant leaves. Throughout her undergraduate and graduate programs, she’s worked in several biological research laboratories applying what she’s learned in the classroom to real-world science experiments. Outside of the lab, Rachel tutored undergraduates in freshman writing courses and served as the editor of a scientific communication magazine at UC Santa Cruz.
Rachel’s mentorship style centers around patience and empathy to alleviate stress and achieve students' goals. Having attended a college preparatory high school in the Bay Area, Rachel understands the pressures of maintaining academics and getting into a top-choice college. Therefore, her focus is to create an anxiety-free environment for students to develop the skills necessary to reach their goals. She also values helping students develop organizational skills and study habits that will prepare them for college life and beyond.
In her free time, Rachel enjoys playing board games and video games with friends and family and going on walks to the park with her dog, Dooboo.