I hold a B.A. from Yale University and an M.A. from the University of Connecticut. In addition to teaching at both the high school and college levels, I also spent many years working in advertising (where I was a Vice President at two New York City agencies), health insurance administration, and as a newspaper editor. I have published a novel, have my own blog, and over 125 personal commentaries in both newspapers and on education websites.

I am a student of the University of Central Florida currently dual majoring in Digital Media and Creative Writing while minoring in Computer Science. As a tutor for Varsity Tutors, I have the unique ability to be able to combine two of my greatest passions--writing, and helping others. This is a combination of interests that I've been working with for a while now whether in High School tutoring children from my old elementary school, mentoring middles schoolers and high schoolers as part of Write Away, and tutoring college students on essay writing with Tutor.com. When it comes to tutoring, I specialize in reading and writing, though find my preference to be mostly in writing as it is a subject I am both strong in as well as take a personal interest in as an aspiring writer. Outside of writing stories, however, interests of mine including consuming media of all types such as books, movies, television shows, or video games, enjoying all so long as they have good stories to back them up.

Hello! My name is Sam Bicking. I am an alumni and student at The University of Pennsylvania studying Pre-health sciences before entering medical school. I have been tutoring for several years with students with disabilities (and amazing students without disabilities).

My job as a teacher is to collaborate with a student to overcome a challenge. Do you want to write a term paper? Great! Do you want to learn how to use a semi-colon? Let's do it! I'm on your side. With every lesson, I meet students where they are and together we tailor our lessons to fit their skills, interests, and needs. By approaching lessons collaboratively, we create an environment that emphasizes progress over perfection and uses their existing strengths to build new skills.

I am a graduate of Emory University, where I received my Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology with a minor in Dance and Movement Studies. Throughout college, I have trained extensively tutoring students of various ages across many subjects. As an "Emory Reads" tutor for four years, I helped alleviate education inequality by providing weekly tutoring to students in Atlanta's lowest performing elementary schools to enhance reading comprehension and mathematics skills. I worked with the schools to transition engaged learning to an online format. I am a firm proponent of education, and am committed to providing my students with the best learning experience achievable. I am passionate about helping struggling students face the challenges of early education, and help them build a solid foundation for the future. I also served several semesters working with high school and college-age students. As a Teaching Assistant for college-level physics, I developed a sincere bond with my students as I strived to help them achieve there academic goals. I also worked as a peer-editor for papers and personal statements, as appointed by my professors who recognized my strong writing skills. For three years, I tutored and mentored high school students who were passionate about pursuing the sciences in college. I helped them through their AP coursework, preparing for standardized tests, and the college application process. I have worked with students to get into Ivy League universities, Berkeley, UCLA, NYU, and more. I am looking forward to being able to helping every student reach their personal potential, and sharing the joy of eventual success!

My love affair with language began in 8th grade when, as I read short stories, I saw how word-crafting could issue in what I call 3-D thinking. Good writing breathes sharp life into ideas, fosters synergy across them while creating new thought patterns for writer and reader. Throughout my 25 years of teaching and tutoring college students at an Ivy League university and at other local institutions guiding them through class essays, research projects, honors and masters theses, and graduate school personal statements--I always found joy in helping students discover what they wanted to sayand to express themselves coherently and persuasively. I hold a B.A. in English from Fordham University summa cum laude and in 1998 I earned a Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania. In the course of completing my doctoral project after a long pause from grad school to raise my son, I cultivated the ability, and empathy, to look at academic challenges resourcefully from both sides of the desk. Given that my research on Hamlet was highly interdisciplinary-- joyous and original--I have carried that intellectual exhilaration into all my work as a lecturer, writing specialist, tutor, academic advisor and administrator, always urging students to seek out more conceptual connections and to write as integratively as possible. Currently I am working part-time by choice, but my staunch resolve that the pen is mightier than the sword remains intact and never fails to excite me. I want to share my excitement, expertise, and love of writing with you--and am ready to motivate you and empower you, as I have done so for numerous students, to write your best thinking!

I love literature and reading and writing -- they've been central to my life since early childhood -- and I hope as a tutor not only to help students improve their skills in these areas but to instill in them a similar kind of lifelong affection for these pursuits. I believe that reading and writing are key not only to enjoying a broadly fulfilling and exciting life but also to performing effectively in virtually any kind of serious job. As a kid, my dream was to become a writer of fiction -- novels and stories -- and I majored in English and creative writing in college. But then it was literature that led my life to take a different, unexpected path. At Princeton, I had to write a senior thesis, and the topic I chose was native American prose literature -- novels, poems and other writings that hugely enhanced the love of nature and wilderness that I had already acquired through hiking and camping trips with my father. Instead of wanting to write fiction, I became an environmental advocate, and wanted to write about wilderness and environmental issues. So, I moved from the East Coast to Montana for graduate school, where I studied wilderness and wildlife management issues and earned a Master's degree in natural resource conservation. For decades ever since I have made my living primarily as a communicator, through writing as well as public speaking. Every job I've had depended on my ability to write well, from working as an editor of technical research papers for the US Forest Service; as communications director for an environmental protection group; as a press secretary in a Presidential campaign; as an international publicist for a PR firm in New York City; as an aide in the Montana Governor's Office; and as a self-employed lobbyist and campaign manager for numerous large corporations and small nonprofit groups. I also taught public and media relations at Carroll College in Montana and have done a fair amount of freelance writing along the way, with essays published in diverse outlets including Western Wildlands, the Journal of Soil & Water Conservation, Range magazine and Playboy. My love of reading and literature has never ceased. I am always reading at least one good book at a time, and I still write almost daily. On the side, I recently have edited two books for publication and have written several grant proposals. I look forward to sharing my passion for learning with students through the Varsity Tutors program.

As a professional educator with over a decade of experience, I specialize in delivering personalized, high-impact instruction across the humanities, test preparation, and college readiness. I've taught everything from early literacy and middle school ELA to AP-level history, civics, and economicsand I've guided students through the full academic journey, from mastering foundational skills to crafting standout college essays and preparing for the SAT, ACT, and AP exams. My background spans elite classrooms and enrichment programs alike: I've taught in college-preparatory high schools, developed curriculum for national nonprofits, and designed one-on-one tutoring plans for students ranging from advanced learners to those seeking targeted support. I bring a calm, structured, and student-centered approach to every sessionhelping students build confidence, sharpen their critical thinking, and reach ambitious academic goals. Whether your child is preparing for a top university or looking to deepen their academic engagement, I offer rigorous, thoughtful instruction with results you can trust.

I've been lucky to have attended some fine educational institutions, though I don't come from the kind of background where such opportunities can be taken for granted. I believe every student should have the same opportunities as I've had, and I want to do everything I can to make those opportunities available to every student.

I graduated from Augustana University with my Bachelor's Degree in English Literature and Religion/Philosophy in 2019. I then completed my Masters in Humanities from the University of Chicago in 2020 and Masters in English Literature from University of St. Thomas in 2025. I was an English, Social Studies, and Spanish I was an English/History Instructor at a 1:1 school for middle school and high school students with learning differences. I was previously a college advisor for a nonprofit organization that assists college students from low-income backgrounds. I love encouraging students to develop their own writing and feel confident in their written communication skills! I am also eager to expand my teaching skills into more English Literature to share my passion for and knowledge the power of reading. My ultimate goal is to become an English Literature professor and I'm so grateful to grow as an educator with Varsity Tutors! I look forward to meeting and working with you!

I hold a B.A. from Yale University and an M.A. from the University of Connecticut. In addition to teaching at both the high school and college levels, I also spent many years working in advertising (where I was a Vice President at two New York City agencies), health insurance administration, and as a newspaper editor. I have published a novel, have my own blog, and over 125 personal commentaries in both newspapers and on education websites.

I am a student of the University of Central Florida currently dual majoring in Digital Media and Creative Writing while minoring in Computer Science. As a tutor for Varsity Tutors, I have the unique ability to be able to combine two of my greatest passions--writing, and helping others. This is a combination of interests that I've been working with for a while now whether in High School tutoring children from my old elementary school, mentoring middles schoolers and high schoolers as part of Write Away, and tutoring college students on essay writing with Tutor.com. When it comes to tutoring, I specialize in reading and writing, though find my preference to be mostly in writing as it is a subject I am both strong in as well as take a personal interest in as an aspiring writer. Outside of writing stories, however, interests of mine including consuming media of all types such as books, movies, television shows, or video games, enjoying all so long as they have good stories to back them up.

Hello! My name is Sam Bicking. I am an alumni and student at The University of Pennsylvania studying Pre-health sciences before entering medical school. I have been tutoring for several years with students with disabilities (and amazing students without disabilities).

My job as a teacher is to collaborate with a student to overcome a challenge. Do you want to write a term paper? Great! Do you want to learn how to use a semi-colon? Let's do it! I'm on your side. With every lesson, I meet students where they are and together we tailor our lessons to fit their skills, interests, and needs. By approaching lessons collaboratively, we create an environment that emphasizes progress over perfection and uses their existing strengths to build new skills.

I am a graduate of Emory University, where I received my Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology with a minor in Dance and Movement Studies. Throughout college, I have trained extensively tutoring students of various ages across many subjects. As an "Emory Reads" tutor for four years, I helped alleviate education inequality by providing weekly tutoring to students in Atlanta's lowest performing elementary schools to enhance reading comprehension and mathematics skills. I worked with the schools to transition engaged learning to an online format. I am a firm proponent of education, and am committed to providing my students with the best learning experience achievable. I am passionate about helping struggling students face the challenges of early education, and help them build a solid foundation for the future. I also served several semesters working with high school and college-age students. As a Teaching Assistant for college-level physics, I developed a sincere bond with my students as I strived to help them achieve there academic goals. I also worked as a peer-editor for papers and personal statements, as appointed by my professors who recognized my strong writing skills. For three years, I tutored and mentored high school students who were passionate about pursuing the sciences in college. I helped them through their AP coursework, preparing for standardized tests, and the college application process. I have worked with students to get into Ivy League universities, Berkeley, UCLA, NYU, and more. I am looking forward to being able to helping every student reach their personal potential, and sharing the joy of eventual success!

My love affair with language began in 8th grade when, as I read short stories, I saw how word-crafting could issue in what I call 3-D thinking. Good writing breathes sharp life into ideas, fosters synergy across them while creating new thought patterns for writer and reader. Throughout my 25 years of teaching and tutoring college students at an Ivy League university and at other local institutions guiding them through class essays, research projects, honors and masters theses, and graduate school personal statements--I always found joy in helping students discover what they wanted to sayand to express themselves coherently and persuasively. I hold a B.A. in English from Fordham University summa cum laude and in 1998 I earned a Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania. In the course of completing my doctoral project after a long pause from grad school to raise my son, I cultivated the ability, and empathy, to look at academic challenges resourcefully from both sides of the desk. Given that my research on Hamlet was highly interdisciplinary-- joyous and original--I have carried that intellectual exhilaration into all my work as a lecturer, writing specialist, tutor, academic advisor and administrator, always urging students to seek out more conceptual connections and to write as integratively as possible. Currently I am working part-time by choice, but my staunch resolve that the pen is mightier than the sword remains intact and never fails to excite me. I want to share my excitement, expertise, and love of writing with you--and am ready to motivate you and empower you, as I have done so for numerous students, to write your best thinking!

I love literature and reading and writing -- they've been central to my life since early childhood -- and I hope as a tutor not only to help students improve their skills in these areas but to instill in them a similar kind of lifelong affection for these pursuits. I believe that reading and writing are key not only to enjoying a broadly fulfilling and exciting life but also to performing effectively in virtually any kind of serious job. As a kid, my dream was to become a writer of fiction -- novels and stories -- and I majored in English and creative writing in college. But then it was literature that led my life to take a different, unexpected path. At Princeton, I had to write a senior thesis, and the topic I chose was native American prose literature -- novels, poems and other writings that hugely enhanced the love of nature and wilderness that I had already acquired through hiking and camping trips with my father. Instead of wanting to write fiction, I became an environmental advocate, and wanted to write about wilderness and environmental issues. So, I moved from the East Coast to Montana for graduate school, where I studied wilderness and wildlife management issues and earned a Master's degree in natural resource conservation. For decades ever since I have made my living primarily as a communicator, through writing as well as public speaking. Every job I've had depended on my ability to write well, from working as an editor of technical research papers for the US Forest Service; as communications director for an environmental protection group; as a press secretary in a Presidential campaign; as an international publicist for a PR firm in New York City; as an aide in the Montana Governor's Office; and as a self-employed lobbyist and campaign manager for numerous large corporations and small nonprofit groups. I also taught public and media relations at Carroll College in Montana and have done a fair amount of freelance writing along the way, with essays published in diverse outlets including Western Wildlands, the Journal of Soil & Water Conservation, Range magazine and Playboy. My love of reading and literature has never ceased. I am always reading at least one good book at a time, and I still write almost daily. On the side, I recently have edited two books for publication and have written several grant proposals. I look forward to sharing my passion for learning with students through the Varsity Tutors program.

As a professional educator with over a decade of experience, I specialize in delivering personalized, high-impact instruction across the humanities, test preparation, and college readiness. I've taught everything from early literacy and middle school ELA to AP-level history, civics, and economicsand I've guided students through the full academic journey, from mastering foundational skills to crafting standout college essays and preparing for the SAT, ACT, and AP exams. My background spans elite classrooms and enrichment programs alike: I've taught in college-preparatory high schools, developed curriculum for national nonprofits, and designed one-on-one tutoring plans for students ranging from advanced learners to those seeking targeted support. I bring a calm, structured, and student-centered approach to every sessionhelping students build confidence, sharpen their critical thinking, and reach ambitious academic goals. Whether your child is preparing for a top university or looking to deepen their academic engagement, I offer rigorous, thoughtful instruction with results you can trust.

I've been lucky to have attended some fine educational institutions, though I don't come from the kind of background where such opportunities can be taken for granted. I believe every student should have the same opportunities as I've had, and I want to do everything I can to make those opportunities available to every student.

I graduated from Augustana University with my Bachelor's Degree in English Literature and Religion/Philosophy in 2019. I then completed my Masters in Humanities from the University of Chicago in 2020 and Masters in English Literature from University of St. Thomas in 2025. I was an English, Social Studies, and Spanish I was an English/History Instructor at a 1:1 school for middle school and high school students with learning differences. I was previously a college advisor for a nonprofit organization that assists college students from low-income backgrounds. I love encouraging students to develop their own writing and feel confident in their written communication skills! I am also eager to expand my teaching skills into more English Literature to share my passion for and knowledge the power of reading. My ultimate goal is to become an English Literature professor and I'm so grateful to grow as an educator with Varsity Tutors! I look forward to meeting and working with you!