Ralph

Certified Tutor

My undergraduate degree is from UC Berkeley where I studied Marine
Science with an emphasis in Marine Chemistry. Currently, I am a graduate student at UC Santa Cruz studying Ocean Science.
Specifically, I study trace metal geochemistry off of the California
coast. I love ocean science because it calls upon knowledge from all the
branches of science: Earth Science, Physics, Biology, and my favorite
subject, Chemistry. As a graduate student, I have enjoyed being a
teaching assistant and helping students learn to enjoy the college
science classes that I enjoyed so much. My teaching philosophy focuses
on the idea that different students learn different ways, and as a TA
or a tutor, I strive to express different ways of thinking about
problems. The teacher presents information one way, and I'll express
it two or three different ways until one sticks! I also think that
college-bound high school (or middle school) students can benefit
greatly by learning what to expect in college. I actually didn't even
like Chemistry until I went to college! In college, some of the
details that seem to be missing from your high school textbook are
clarified, and I can give students some of that insider information
now. I also understand the importance of college entrance exams like
the ACT and can help with test-taking strategies, subject material
help, and generally what to expect on test day. I have teaching
experience with elementary, high school, and college-age students in
Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science.