Your Expert, Guide, Cheerleader, Friend

Matthew graduated from East Stroudsburg University but was also accepted to Penn State University. He boasts over 20 years of teaching experience. He currently works for the Berwick Area School District as an AP Physics and AP Capstone teacher. As a dedicated teacher, Matthew recognized the opportunity to extend his impact beyond the classroom to help even more students, which is why he started tutoring. He has been instrumental in guiding numerous students to realize their dreams, even facilitating admissions to esteemed institutions such as MIT, Columbia, UPenn, Carnegie Mellon, and more. 

Matthew's passion for tutoring is fueled by his enjoyment of one-on-one engagement with students and helping them acquire new skills. He finds immense satisfaction in assisting students in reaching their academic goals more efficiently than anticipated. He specializes in tutoring AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Mechanics, AP Electromagnetism, AP Research, High School Physics, and College Physics.

As a tutor, Matthew emphasizes a hands-on learning approach. He tries to provide each student with opportunities to experience the material that is being taught. Whether it be physical demonstrations, online simulations, or discussions about their observations in the physical world, he ensures that each student can relate to and remember their lessons. He also enjoys forming relationships with students and getting to know their strengths, weaknesses, and motivations, to provide them with the most comprehensive and tailored support. 

Matthew excels at keeping students engaged and interested. He views student success as a direct reflection of his own accomplishments as an instructor, which is why he incorporates innovative approaches into his lessons. He never lectures for more than 5 minutes a lesson and prioritizes student participation. Using conversation as a diagnostic tool, Matthew skillfully identifies gaps in the foundation, enabling students to build a deeper understanding. While he’s an expert in AP Physics and Capstone course content, he also possesses an in-depth understanding of their exams. Matthew even developed a specialized "recipe" to guide students toward qualifying scores and college credit. 

Beyond tutoring, Matthew enjoys spending time with his twin sons, coaching tennis, and playing golf. He is a strong advocate for exercise being just as important to one’s well-being as education.

Min's educational journey began in China, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Physics from Nanjing University. He then pursued a PhD in Physics from Iowa State University. This academic background has equipped Min with a deep understanding of the intricacies of math and physics, which he skillfully translates into accessible, engaging lessons for students. Min has over a decade of experience as an educator and tutor, teaching over 1000 students.

Min has served as an Adjunct Instructor of Physics at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) and as a Physics tutor at the Academic Achievement Center (AAC) of DMACC. In these roles, he has honed his ability to adapt his teaching style to suit the diverse learning needs of his students, creating a supportive environment that fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

One of Min's greatest strengths as a tutor is his ability to make complex subjects interesting and relatable to students. He employs a variety of strategies to engage learners, such as incorporating humor, suspense, and storytelling into his lessons, using interactive quizzes and YouTube clips to prompt discussion, and asking thought-provoking questions that encourage students to explore the material more deeply. By making the content relevant and accessible, Min helps students develop a genuine interest in math and physics, setting them up for long-term success in these subjects.

When students encounter learning blocks, Min draws upon his extensive teaching experience to provide targeted support. He breaks down complex topics into manageable chunks, uses visual aids to illustrate connections between concepts, and engages students in active learning techniques such as peer teaching and hands-on activities. Min also emphasizes the importance of metacognition and self-reflection, teaching students how to monitor their own learning and develop strategies for overcoming challenges.

To keep students motivated, Min sets clear goals, provides frequent feedback, and creates a positive learning environment that encourages effort and celebrates progress. He helps students see the relevance of what they're learning, offers real-life rewards for success, and serves as a role model for lifelong learning and personal growth.

Min approaches each student with compassion, understanding that learning can be challenging and offering support and encouragement every step of the way. His natural curiosity drives him to explore creative ways of explaining concepts, while his adaptability allows him to adjust his teaching style to suit individual learning preferences. Above all, Min is a patient mentor who celebrates small victories and encourages persistence, helping students develop the confidence and skills they need to succeed.

Prior to attending the Duke University School of Medicine, Miriam completed her Bachelor of Science in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has three years of tutoring experience, including being a summer instructor for Breakthrough Atlanta, a CHEMpossible assistant instruction at UNC, and an anatomy and physiology supplemental instructor.

Miriam is passionate about tutoring because she believes in the power of education. She was fortunate to participate in several enrichment programs as a child, which nurtured her love of learning and boosted her confidence to pursue her dreams. She specializes in tutoring Anatomy, Physiology, Algebra, and English at any level, including AP, and ACT tutoring. 

Miriam aims to empower students through one-on-one academic support. She believes personalized tutoring can be pivotal in helping students study according to their learning styles, tackle academic challenges, and build confidence in their abilities. When tutoring, one of Miriam's top priorities is helping students understand the reasons behind the concepts they are learning. Her typical session starts with a brief explanation of the topic, followed by practice problems to apply concepts. Each session ends with the student teaching the concept back to her, solidifying their understanding and confidence. 

When topics are difficult or uninteresting, she finds it helpful to zoom out and show how the concept fits into the broader subject. She also makes connections to students' interests to increase engagement. For instance, she might relate physiology to sports for a student interested in athletics. Her tutoring style focuses on creating a supportive and interactive environment that allows students to thrive. She empowers students through active participation, setting achievable goals, and providing constructive feedback.

One of Miriam’s greatest strengths as a tutor is her encouragement and active involvement in student learning. She celebrates all their successes and supports them through any challenges.  For her, tutoring is not simply about understanding concepts but about building foundational skills that can be utilized in all phases of learning. She excels at helping students develop effective strategies for approaching new concepts by adapting to their learning styles and preferences. She always gives 100% effort while providing holistic support, guiding study skills, time management techniques, and exam preparation strategies. 

Outside of tutoring, Miriam enjoys running, weightlifting, reading, and doing Lagree. She has also been interested in language learning in the past, having studied German throughout middle and high school, earning a German language diploma. She even had the opportunity to attend college in Germany!

Moussa is currently completing his bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Long Island University on a full-ride scholarship. He boasts 4 years and over 500 hours of tutoring experience. He began tutoring early in his high school career, driven by an unwavering belief that education is a universal right. In fact, Moussa aspires to establish his own non-profit tutoring initiative, specifically designed to support underprivileged students.

Moussa's enthusiasm for tutoring is fueled by the joy of witnessing students make progress and celebrating their accomplishments. Unsurprisingly, given his natural affinity for mathematics, he specializes in math tutoring and SAT preparation.

Moussa’s tutoring approach is marked by a blend of patience, encouragement, and friendliness. He adeptly tailors his guidance to the individual pace of each student, fostering an environment where open communication thrives. He excels at motivating students to push through challenges and shares in their eagerness for success. For Moussa, tutoring transcends being a mere job; it's a hobby that he wholeheartedly and genuinely enjoys.

One of Moussa's strengths is adapting to students' unique needs. He skillfully evaluates student progress using continuous reports and feedback. He also has a knack for refining and approaching topics from fresh perspectives when students hit learning blocks.  

When not immersed in his studies or tutoring, Moussa enjoys reading, playing sports, and creating animations.

Natalia graduated summa cum laude from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Science in English/Language Arts Teacher Education. With a passion for student success, she has been tutoring for over 12 years. Her experience includes teaching middle school English language arts for nine years, instructing English as a second language online to students in China for two years, tutoring for an afterschool program for two years, assisting adult students with high school equivalency exams for nearly a decade, and teaching an ACT class in college.

Natalie's passion for tutoring stems from her belief that personalized learning is difficult to achieve in a classroom setting. Through tutoring, she can adapt her approach to meet the specific strengths and needs of each student. She specializes in ACT and SAT tutoring.

Natalie keeps her tutoring sessions light to make the learning and testing process less stressful. She aims to create a warm, welcoming, and comfortable learning environment, even through a computer screen. By breaking down complex concepts into manageable ideas, Natalie helps students grasp challenging material with confidence and ease. Leveraging diagnostics and data analysis, she pinpoints areas of potential growth for each student. She expertly selects appropriate challenges that maintain student motivation while ensuring they experience success and growth without feeling overwhelmed or defeated. 

Natalie’s strengths as a tutor lie in her ability to make SAT and ACT concepts relatable and engaging for students. By tapping into their interests, she helps them form meaningful connections to the material. She's also adept at helping students overcome learning obstacles by recognizing when they need a break and shifting focus to a more manageable topic. This allows students to return to challenging areas with a fresh perspective. Natalie is committed to understanding the root cause of any obstacles students face. Once identified, she works diligently to untangle these barriers, providing tailored support and scaffolding to help students navigate them effectively.

Some fun facts about Natalie are that her hero is Dolly Parton, she's been a dedicated Taylor Swift fan for years, she showcased her musical talents by playing the flute in high school band, and to add to the harmony, her husband is a musician. Vanderbilt was her dream school, and she cherished every moment as a Commodore, forming lifelong bonds with friends she’s still close with today.

Rhea completed her Bachelor of Science in Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics with honors at UC Santa Cruz and is currently completing her Master of Business and Science in Drug Discovery and Development at Rutgers University. In college, she won both the Dean's and Chancellor's Awards for her senior thesis, adding to her rich research profile. She also has six years of tutoring experience, including being a STEM tutor at the high school and college level and being an academic coach for various math and science courses. Rhea  has helped students get into several prestigious schools, including UC Berkeley, UCLA, Stanford, Cornell, and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Rhea deeply values education and understands its profound impact on shaping future success. She is dedicated to empowering all students to reach their full potential, whether it's mastering subjects or achieving top scores on the SAT for college admission. She specializes in ACT and SAT tutoring as well as math, biology, chemistry, and English at any level, including AP. 

Rhea’s tutoring style is fun but focused. She avoids long lectures and creates an interactive, judgment-free learning environment where positive reinforcement and encouraging words are used to motivate students. She kicks off sessions with a thorough content overview, providing examples and walking students through problem-solving techniques, with a particular focus on efficiency. After presenting the material, she encourages students to recap what they've learned and ask questions. Practice problems follow, but Rhea ensures students prioritize understanding the problem-solving strategies rather than simply arriving at the correct answer. Once students have a solid grasp of the strategies, she shifts her focus to accuracy and timing, ensuring they're fully equipped to tackle any challenge that comes their way.

Rhea is adept at helping students tackle learning obstacles head-on. When faced with challenging material, she understands the importance of shifting perspectives or simply taking a break to reset. Rhea often asks students about their interests or weekend plans, allowing them to take a breather and return to the material with a renewed sense of focus and motivation. Rather than overwhelming students with continuous content or labeling concepts as "easy" or "hard," Rhea focuses on simplifying the material and providing relatable examples or analogies. By doing so, students can approach the content with a refreshed mindset and greater openness. Moreover, Rhea emphasizes the significance of embracing mistakes as part of the learning process. She reassures students that it's perfectly normal not to grasp concepts immediately and encourages them to view errors as opportunities for growth. 

In her free time, Rhea likes to dance, take pictures, go boxing, find new hiking spots, and travel. She has been to over 15 countries!

Richard completed his Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Geography. Being the recipient of countless tutoring sessions himself sparked Richard’s interest in experiencing the other side of the learning process. He has several years of tutoring experience, including working at education centers and for a test prep and college admissions firm where he was a test prep tutor, college admissions counselor, and subject tutor. To date, he has tutored over 200 students. 

Richard's passion for tutoring is rooted in the satisfaction he experiences when seeing students make progress in each session. He finds immense fulfillment in being a part of this transformative process. His areas of expertise include tutoring for the ACT and SAT, as well as macro and microeconomic courses, including AP and IB.

Richard’s tutoring style is characterized by patience and a commitment to understanding each student's unique needs. He empowers students to reach their full potential by challenging them when they feel confident and providing encouragement when they are less secure. In times of insecurity, Richard supports students by methodically guiding them through the step-by-step process of problem-solving. This approach not only diminishes the sense of impossibility associated with the problem but also helps him identify the root cause of the learning block. Richard is also known to be kind and humorous, as he believes in keeping his sessions entertaining and productive.

Richard's tutoring is enriched by his personal experiences with the tests and courses he teaches. He shares his own story, empathizes with students, and adeptly places himself in their shoes. By incorporating students’ perspectives into his sessions, Richard recognizes that seemingly dull content can become interesting when aligned with the student's incentives. He also employs gamified motivation systems to maintain student engagement and facilitate a deeper understanding of the material.  

In his free time, Richard enjoys photography, urban planning, chamber music, and traveling. During his gap year, he worked at a vineyard in Oregon, volunteered at an English school in Morocco, and traveled to Spain, the UAE, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China!

Rimel graduated from Western New Mexico University with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Business Management. She has been a dedicated tutor for three years and credits her genuine passion for education and helping others as the driving force behind her decision to pursue a career as an educator.

Rimel tutors English Language Arts, math, science, reading, and writing, including AP courses. Her passion for supporting others in their pursuits is what drives her to be an excellent tutor.

Rimel’s tutoring style is characterized by encouragement, unwavering support, and positivity. She maintains an upbeat attitude throughout the process to keep students motivated. Rimel also employs several strategies to help her students understand difficult concepts and refuses to give up. Throughout the tutoring process, she assures students of her continuous support, normalizes mistakes, and fosters confidence in their potential.

Rimel’s greatest strength as a tutor is her commitment. She channels all her efforts toward student success, firmly believing in the transformative power of education. Skillfully identifying gaps and learning blocks, she guides students until they are confident in their abilities.

When she’s not tutoring, Rimel enjoys reading, writing, baking, cooking, and expressing her creativity through art.

Robert is a Duke University alumnus with over three years of tutoring experience. His journey into teaching began with a desire to combine his passion for education with his love for mathematics.

Robert specializes in tutoring mathematics and ACT, SAT, and SSAT prep. His passion for tutoring is fueled by student success and progress.

Patience, understanding, and encouragement are the heart of Robert’s tutoring style. He strives to instill confidence in his students by posing the right questions and motivating them until they can independently arrive at solutions. His approach is centered on guiding students to recognize patterns and develop problem-solving skills on their own, a methodology that has transformed failing students into straight-A achievers.

According to Robert, the beauty of math is its logical root. He is skilled at adeptly exploring the subject from various angles until it becomes understandable for each student! His strength lies in breaking down complex topics and tailoring explanations to suit the unique understanding of each student.

Aside from tutoring, Robert enjoys playing the guitar and staying active through weightlifting and Jiu Jitsu. He also played football at Duke!

Robert earned his Bachelor of Science from Yale University. With five years of tutoring experience and two years of peer mentoring for college readiness, he has successfully mentored over 150 students. His tutoring journey started out of a genuine passion for educating students about the sciences, particularly physics, and understanding the dynamics of the world around us.

Robert's passion for tutoring comes from the deep satisfaction he gets from helping students access a vast body of knowledge and easing their anxieties about homework and tests. He aims to prove that physics can be relevant and interesting to anyone. His tutoring is guided by the metaphor that every beautiful mansion is built upon a boring, plain, but sturdy foundation. He specializes in ACT and SAT prep and tutors physics at every level, including AP and IB, and AP chemistry. 

As a tutor, Robert strikes a balance between being engaging and laid-back. He aims to captivate students' attention so they can fully immerse themselves in the subject matter. By making the content relatable to their lives or breaking it down into simpler terms, he enhances their understanding. Moreover, he believes in alleviating students' academic anxieties to foster a more receptive learning environment and improve their grades. Simultaneously, he values students' individuality and space, allowing them the freedom to engage with the material in their own unique ways.

Robert excels at tailoring his teaching methods to match each student’s unique needs. Whether they learn best visually, tactilely, or through another approach, he crafts an environment that caters to their learning style. Embracing a "go with the flow" mentality, Robert believes in the power of adaptation, likening it to water carving great canyons. By adjusting to what works best for each student, he leaves a lasting imprint on their education. Additionally, Robert adeptly navigates through students’ obstacles by revisiting fundamental concepts one by one, identifying misunderstandings, and addressing them effectively.

Outside of tutoring, Robert is a musician. He’s played the piano for 20 years and loves Baroque music (huzzah for counterpoint!). He is also a bell nerd; he plays the carillon, a keyboard instrument connected to an assembly of bells typically located in church clock towers or civil buildings.

Ryan earned his bachelor's degree from Seton Hall University (SHU) and is currently pursuing a JD at SHU on a full-ride scholarship. He has mentored students in various capacities, including SAT tutoring and his current role as a peer advisor at SHU. His tutoring journey started in a study group where he was inspired to help his friends gain admission to their dream schools, a goal he successfully achieved.

For Ryan, tutoring is a means of empowering students to reach their aspirations. He is passionate about facilitating student advancement and helping them reach their academic and professional goals. He specializes in SAT tutoring, driven by the recognition that this test often poses a significant obstacle to students' academic paths. 

As a tutor, Ryan emphasizes an interactive approach, allowing students to actively demonstrate their understanding of question processes while he explains new strategies and concepts as necessary. When students hit learning blocks, he makes sure to take it step-by-step to dissect the problem and fill in any knowledge gaps.

One of Ryan's standout qualities as a tutor is his empathy. Acknowledging the complexities of admissions processes, he prioritizes establishing a connection with students' goals and visions. Through this understanding, Ryan helps students forge unique paths to realizing their educational objectives.

In his free time, Ryan loves traveling, hiking, thrifting, and taking the train to Manhattan with my friends. Speaking of his friends, Ryan was part of a viral video in high school that garnered 15 million views—a video his friends still tease him about today.

Saied holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics from Rutgers University and a Master of Science in Applied and Computational Mathematics from Johns Hopkins University. He also has a Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA) from Cambridge University. Saied has over eight years of experience as a tutor and has helped hundreds of high school and college students. His passion for tutoring began during his childhood in the Jamaican school system, where he experienced the opportunity to substitute for a mathematics teacher for three months.

Saied specializes in ACT and SAT tutoring, all math courses from Pre-Algebra to Calculus II, and English composition. His passion for tutoring is driven by his love for imparting knowledge and helping students master the world of mathematics. Engaging in one-on-one interactions, understanding each student's learning style and interests, and presenting content in a way that resonates with them and sparks those light bulb moments are what continually motivates him to strive for excellence as an educator.

Saied's tutoring style is characterized by a dynamic partnership with students. In the initial conversation, he strives to understand each student's preferred learning style and identifies any knowledge gaps they may have. Based on this assessment, he develops a customized plan to address their needs. Recognizing that some mathematical topics can be abstract, Saied incorporates real-world applications to solidify concepts and encourage students to apply what they have learned. By fostering this iterative process, Saied nurtures mathematical maturity and helps students make connections between different mathematical ideas, informing his approach to introducing new content. What truly drives Saied is witnessing his students' success, confidence, and motivation. Students' genuine smiles of accomplishment further fuel his passion for assisting others in achieving their academic goals.

Saied's greatest strengths as a tutor lie in his background in applied mathematics, which enables him to present content in a relevant and applicable way. He ensures students grasp the core foundations necessary to tackle any mathematical challenge. Additionally, Saied is skilled at pushing his students to excel. During tutoring sessions, his primary focus is ensuring the concepts are deeply understood and internalized so that when presented with external content-related problems, students glide through with ease. 

When he isn’t tutoring, Saied enjoys hiking, chasing beautiful skylines and waterfalls, and learning new skills. He is certainly one for adventure, as he swam with sharks when he was only 13 years old and has been skydiving!

Samantha completed her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Florida, her Master of Education at Nova Southeastern University, and her Doctor of Education at Grand Canyon University. She boasts over 20 years of teaching experience: 10 years teaching secondary English for one of the 50 largest districts in the United States and 12 years teaching at the college level. She has created over thirty-five unique college courses, edited high school English test preparation textbooks for Barron's Educational Series, and has worked as a full-time staff writer for a newspaper. Her interest in tutoring stems from a profound belief in the transformative power of education.

Having been inspired by several exceptional teachers in her own journey, Samantha aims to pay it forward by acting as a mentor and guide for students. Her tutoring expertise spans SAT, ACT, and HSPT prep, as well as English, reading, writing, communications, ethics, and humanities.

Samantha's teaching style is highly personable; she values establishing relationships with students and conversing with them on a relatable level. Infusing humor into her teaching, she strives to create an engaging and enjoyable learning environment. Central to her teaching philosophy is the emphasis on connection, especially in subjects like English, which she believes can be easily connected to students' interests. By understanding students' interests, hobbies, and learning styles, Samantha ensures she can make connections to course content, even if it may seem dull or mundane, leading to those crucial "light bulb moments."

Drawing on her extensive education and experience, Samantha offers a nuanced perspective on learning and employs effective teaching strategies to help students achieve their goals. She excels at forming genuine bonds with students, providing them with agency in their learning to foster intrinsic motivation. Samantha's creativity shines through her ability to adapt to learning challenges quickly by presenting concepts in fresh and innovative ways.

When she’s not tutoring or teaching, Samantha creates art out of recycled beach debris, donated materials, trash, seashells, and just about anything she can find. She also loves spending time with her three dogs and husband, traveling (especially on cruises), and reading.

Sarah completed her Bachelor of Arts in Language and Cultural Studies and Plant Biology at Sarah Lawrence College. She boasts five years of professional teaching experience but began her  tutoring journey early in her high school career, fueled by the gratifying experience of witnessing students grasp challenging material.

Sarah's enthusiasm for tutoring stems from her belief that any subject can be enjoyable when presented in an appealing way to students. She is proficient in a diverse range of subjects, including K–6 math, all levels of biology (including AP), reading, writing, English Language Arts (ELA), ESL, AP Language and Literature, creative writing, and SAT reading and writing.

At the core of Sarah's tutoring philosophy is the empowerment of students through consistent encouragement. She believes students have been programmed to fear failure instead of embracing it as a part of the learning process. So, she takes a unique approach by celebrating mistakes, considering them stepping stones for growth rather than obstacles. Sarah's adaptability in the face of these stepping stones shines in her lessons, where she breaks down complex problems into manageable pieces for better understanding. Beyond being informative, Sarah’s lessons are also highly engaging; she connects academic concepts with students' interests to keep them motivated.

Sarah is adept at guiding students towards becoming confident and independent learners. Instead of simply providing them with answers, she equips students with the tools and information necessary to independently solve problems, fostering a sense of self-assurance. 

Besides tutoring, Sarah is deeply interested in plant biology. She even worked as a research assistant at the New York Botanical Garden on an algae-based project! She also enjoys reading, creative writing, and spending time with her cat, named President. When he misbehaves, she likes to pretend to be a member of the Secret Service—Mister President, don't climb on the fence!

Sebastian completed his bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Chicago. While he currently works as a research manager for ECHO-Chicago, in partnership with the University of Chicago Medicine, he has been tutoring for five years. He initially began tutoring to simply help his friends and family achieve their educational goals before extending his support to other students. Sebastian has successfully assisted students in gaining admission to esteemed universities like the University of Chicago, Princeton, and Yale.

Sebastian's enthusiasm for tutoring comes from witnessing students transition from unfamiliarity to expertise in a subject. He specializes in ACT and SAT preparation.

Sebastian employs a student-led tutoring style, engaging students with questions and allowing them to guide the material discussion to ensure they get maximum benefit from the sessions. He complements this approach with feedback, suggestions on topic areas, and study tips to enhance the tutoring sessions. Recognizing the intricacies of standardized tests and college applications, Sebastian maintains a light-hearted approach, fosters a supportive environment, and always lends an empathetic ear. He guides students through learning blocks with constant encouragement and diverse resources.

Among Sebastian’s standout traits as a tutor is his ability to simplify complex concepts. As a firm believer that all knowledge is interconnected, he makes difficult content relatable to students to ensure they are able to process it in their own way. 

Having lived in Chicago for 10 years, Sebastian loves exploring the city’s food scene and biking along the lake in his free time.

Shawn earned his Bachelor of Arts in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. Motivated by the belief that 90% of learning occurs beyond the classroom, he embarked on his tutoring journey several years ago. His extensive experience includes tutoring math, science, and reading for low-income students, teaching English to students in China, tutoring for UC Berkeley's Molecular and Cell Biology department, and serving as a teaching assistant for a biology course at Berkeley.

Shawn's passion for tutoring stems from his belief that true understanding of subjects goes beyond the confines of the classroom. He considers it a privilege to facilitate the learning of others, finding immense fulfillment in assisting others to grow, flourish, and grasp challenging concepts. He specializes in ACT, SAT, and HSPT tutoring, as well as biology, chemistry, math, and computer science at all levels, including AP. 

Shawn adopts a hands-on tutoring approach, tailoring his sessions to suit each student's unique needs. He firmly believes that engaging in thorough discussions and providing well-curated resources enables students to attain academic success more efficiently. Shawn's sessions feature active discussions, rigorous practice problems, and comprehensive textbook readings. He prioritizes individualized attention, rejecting the notion of speed limits or predefined approaches to content. With his interdisciplinary professional expertise, he adeptly guides students to discover their own learning paths across science, math, and reading.

Shawn excels at providing positive reinforcement and fostering a supportive environment where students feel encouraged to make mistakes and embrace the learning process. When students encounter challenging subjects, he employs various strategies to break them down into manageable problems. He emphasizes understanding the broader significance of learning and relates concepts to real-world applications, hobbies, or interests to enhance engagement. By incorporating analogies, humor, or pop culture references, he offers fresh perspectives on topics, motivating students to stay focused. Additionally, Shawn utilizes visual aids, drawings, diagrams, and mnemonics to provide new insights and facilitate comprehension from various angles.

In his free time, Shawn likes playing electric guitar with his friends in their band and biking the trails around the East Bay area. He also enjoys creating video games, writing stories, and collecting interesting books and textbooks. One time he stuffed so many books in a box that it disintegrated and he had to pick through a book-valanche!

Simone earned a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Design and Ecolocy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as well as a minor in Visual and Media Studies from Duke University. She has over eight years of tutoring experience, including teaching English as a second language to German and Spanish-speaking students. Professionally, Simone has also worked in public health and education as a UNC Global Gap Year Fellow and with an affordable housing agency in Chapel Hill.

Simone’s passion for tutoring stems from her desire to contribute to students’ learning processes. She likes to plant an idea in someone's head and watch it grow into a tree of their own knowledge. In other words, she loves to amplify students' ownership over their learning. She specializes in SAT tutoring as well as English, history, and algebra tutoring at all levels, including AP and IB.

As a tutor, Simone is collaborative and playful. She recognizes students as leaders in their learning journeys, and she incorporates optimism and play into her lessons to diminish feelings of anxiety or dread. Her tutoring is entirely student-centered and designed to empower students.

Some of Simone’s greatest strengths as a tutor include her ability to keep students motivated and engaged. When a student needs encouragement, she can be firm and steadfast, but supportive. She uses positive reinforcement, pep talks, feedback from students, and breaks as needed. Simone also connects content to real-world examples relevant to each student's life so that it can be grounded in something familiar and useful to them.

In her free time, Simon likes to dance, listen to music, try new foods, and travel. She took a gap year before starting college and spent three months in Mexico and another three months in Colombia.

Sophia completed her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry with a minor in Social and Economic Justice at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also completed her Master of Public Health at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and is an MD candidate at UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine. Sophia has nine years of tutoring experience and has tutored over 50 students. She has also served as a teaching assistant for chemistry and calculus courses, helping students grasp complex concepts and achieve their academic goals. Her ongoing commitment to tutoring is fueled by her passion for science and desire to empower others through education. 

Having experienced the transformative power of education herself, Sophia considers it a gift she is passionate about sharing. She specializes in ACT and SAT tutoring, chemistry at all levels, including AP and IB, and pre-health courses. 

Sophia's tutoring approach is rooted in the Socratic method, where she focuses on nurturing both confidence and curiosity. She assumes the roles of a supportive coach and an enthusiastic cheerleader and supplements student learning by consistently asking thoughtful questions.

Sophia’s greatest strengths as a tutor are her intuition and resourcefulness. Sophia adeptly reads body language, ensures breaks are taken as needed, and incorporates mindfulness into her lessons to help students reset and fully engage with the material. Equipped with a diverse set of tools, she not only facilitates academic success but also strives to instill genuine enthusiasm for the subjects.

In her free time, Sophia enjoys shopping, playing basketball, cooking new dishes, and collecting elephants.

Sulaimaan earned his Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and Statistics/Chemistry from Stony Brook University and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Medicine at the same institution. With a wealth of tutoring experience, including serving as a teaching assistant for an organic chemistry class, Sulaimaan has worked with students from diverse backgrounds. His tutoring journey began with a simple desire to assist others in achieving success.

Sulaimaan's passion for tutoring is fueled by the meaningful connections he forms with students and his capacity to help them achieve their goals. He specializes in ACT and SAT tutoring and other subjects as needed, including AP courses.

Sulaimaan's tutoring approach is highly interactive and hands-on. He challenges the conventional notion that lecturing is the most effective method of learning. Instead, he actively engages students through practice problems and flashcards and encourages them to articulate concepts in their own words. By employing these strategies, Sulaimaan ensures that students not only grasp the material but also internalize it more effectively. While maintaining high expectations for his students, Sulaimaan also prioritizes creating an enjoyable learning experience. He knows when to incorporate breaks to maintain focus and infuses students’ interests into his lessons. 

One of Sulaimaan's most notable strengths as a tutor lies in his ability to guide students through their self-doubt. He firmly believes that everyone possesses the capability to learn and improve, but it requires a particular mindset to achieve this. Sulaimaan actively fosters this mindset in students, working to convince them of their own potential and empowering them to overcome their doubts.

When Sulaimaan isn't occupied with tutoring or his medical studies, he enjoys playing basketball and video games, going to the gym, and spending time with his cat named Bunny.

Syed has a Bachelor's in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Lahore University of Management Sciences and a Master's in Mathematics for Teaching from Harvard University. With more than five years of experience, Syed is a highly qualified tutor with a strong educational background. His interest in tutoring first began when he noticed his junior students were struggling in Math. Recognizing his strong affinity for the subject, he was confident in his ability to help them overcome their challenges.

Syed’s passion for tutoring stems from his ability to empower students and help them overcome academic obstacles. He views this capability as a superpower that allows him to guide students toward their desired academic achievements. Syed's tutoring style is both comprehensive and engaging. During a typical tutoring session, he dedicates half the time to providing lessons and conveying information to his students. The remaining time is allocated for problem-solving exercises and an oral quiz, which he calls Skill-Check. This approach ensures students have a well-rounded learning experience encompassing theory and practical application. By instilling confidence in students and equipping them with the necessary skills, he contributes to their personal growth and enriches their lives.

To enhance the learning process, Syed assigns reading materials or problem sets for students to work on independently after each session. He tailors his lessons according to the individual needs of each student, taking into account their strengths and areas for improvement. Syed leverages various online tools to create effective teaching materials, including past papers, question banks, Khan Academy, Geogebra, Desmos, AOPS, NRich, and various other websites. He can access relevant animations, simulations, notes, and problem sets by using these resources, providing his students with diverse and interactive learning materials. As such, Syed is highly adaptable and resourceful. He understands that every student has their own learning style and tailors his approach to maximize their understanding and progress. 

When he’s not tutoring Syed enjoys reading, playing chess, playing video games, and spending time with his two dogs.

Tikiera earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Elizabeth City State University, followed by an MAT in Mathematics from RELAY Graduate School of Education. With seven years of experience teaching math, she has held various roles such as STEM Special Projects Lead, Lead Teacher, Grade Team Lead, and Special Education Teacher. Her motivation to start tutoring stemmed from a sincere commitment to helping students succeed.

For Tikiera, nothing compares to witnessing a student grasp and master content they once found challenging. This passion for student success and the significance of mathematics drives her ACT, SAT, and math tutoring. She firmly believes that everyone possesses mathematical abilities, as we utilize math in our daily lives without even realizing it.

As a tutor, Tikiera maintains high expectations but is fun, easygoing, passionate, consistent, and adaptable. She loves what she does, and it’s evident in her tutoring approach! Central to her philosophy is the success of the whole student; she doesn't just focus on teaching content but strives to support every aspect of the individual. Recognizing that a student's overall well-being directly impacts their ability to retain knowledge, Tikiera prioritizes holistic support. Moreover, Tikiera firmly believes in involving students actively in their learning journey. By collaborating with them to set goals and metrics, she ensures they remain engaged and motivated. She keeps students informed every step of the way, celebrating their successes and adjusting strategies when faced with challenges. This inclusive approach fosters a sense of ownership in students, leading to increased motivation and deeper learning.

One of Tikiera's greatest strengths as a tutor lies in her ability to simplify complex concepts. She firmly believes in the capability of every individual; when given the right support, any student can believe in and execute their goals. Guided by this perspective, Tikiera contends that the material is never truly hard or uninteresting; it's that the student just doesn’t understand it yet. So, she begins by reshaping the language around the topic. She then breaks down the material into easily digestible segments, grounding concepts with relatable examples. Consistency is paramount to Tikiera; she maintains her passion for the subject matter and ensures sessions are always enjoyable. She also recognizes the importance of breaks and keeps students engaged by relating content to real-life situations and incorporating non-academic activities for mental refreshment. Her genuine enthusiasm for teaching is contagious, empowering students to cultivate confidence as they persist in their learning journey.

In her free time, Tikiera can be found watching movies, enjoying nature, listening to music, traveling, and testing out new recipes.

Zachary earned his Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature on a full-ride scholarship at the University of Florida, followed by his JD at Cornell Law School. With over a decade of tutoring experience, Zachary has also worked as a college and law school admissions counselor, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of how to support students in achieving their aspirations.

Zachary's life was forever changed by the influence of exceptional tutors, leading him to believe that it only takes one person to change someone’s life trajectory. Driven by this conviction, he is committed to offering the same transformative guidance to students. He specializes in SAT prep and AP and IB courses, including human geography. 

As a tutor, Zachary is easy-going, patient, ambitious, and creative. He recognizes the limitations of conventional learning models, especially for neurodivergent and differently-abled individuals. His teaching methodology goes beyond identifying knowledge gaps; it aims to reprogram behavioral routines. Zachary firmly believes that 99% of academic success is rooted in ordinary habits. He also acknowledges the emotional aspect of the learning process, understanding that feelings of shame or guilt can impede meaningful progress. Therefore, he adopts a holistic approach to academic and standardized testing improvement.

Zachary's tutoring methods are grounded in scientifically proven learning principles, ensuring their effectiveness. He emphasizes Socratic dialogue, cognitive reframing, and the importance of taking breaks. To keep sessions engaging, he incorporates humor, personal anecdotes, introspection, and contextualization. Zachary also excels at customizing sessions for each student, always taking the time to understand their unique profile before diving in, as he knows that a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works.

In his free time, Zachary enjoys playing video games, doodling, cooking, learning foreign languages, watching movies and TV shows, and collecting consumer product packaging from around the world.