I am one of a rare breed of native Arizonans born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. I graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor's degree in Astrophysics and a Master's degree in Teaching and Teacher Education. Before getting the master's degree in education I worked for NASA as an entry-level scientist/analyst, which essentially means I did A LOT of computer programming. I worked on the following projects: Galileo, Cassini, IRAF, UBV White-Dwarf Sky Survey, and NICMOS on the HST. However, while working on those projects I quickly discovered that my lifelong dream of being an astronaut was not really what I wanted to do. I had always had a passion for music, and was a good trumpet player, and with a little nudging from my College Band Director, well, the road definitely took a right turn.

I'm Kelly and I love everything about language. I became an avid reader at a young age, and it's stuck with me my entire life. My favorite stories are those that engage both intellect and emotions. And I love the infinite possibilities that come with constructing a good story. I'm honored to serve as a teacher and mentor to all my students!

Engineering coursework at Washington and Lee gave Alex daily practice with the exact math the SAT tests at its hardest level: systems of equations, quadratic modeling, and interpreting complex data tables. He scored a 1590 composite and now teaches students to distinguish between problems that reward algebraic manipulation and those better solved by plugging in values or back-solving. That strategic flexibility is often what separates a 700 from a 780.

Engineering coursework means Alex solves math problems all day, but SAT Math has its own quirks — questions that look harder than they are and answer choices designed to punish rushing. He teaches students to identify those traps, especially on passport-to-advanced-math questions involving quadratics and exponential relationships. His 1560 SAT score backs up the approach.

I am a graduate student at Arizona State University studying Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology, and am passionate about the value of education at all levels. Previously I worked at the US Department of Energy on energy technology in Washington, DC. I have enjoyed setting up roots in Phoenix over the past few years, and am excited about sharing my knowledge and passion for learning with others in the area.I have a knack for explaining complicated ideas to people in simple terms, enjoy deepening people's understandings of issues, and value education highly. All of these characteristics make me an ideal tutor for Varsity Tutors, and I look forward to the opportunity to share my academic experiences and skills with tutees. In addition, I can give an expert's perspective on a wide range of topics including political science, public policy, various topics in science and technology, as well as an academic success-oriented mindset.

Heart-of-Algebra and Passport-to-Advanced-Math questions make up the bulk of SAT Math scoring, and Amanda treats them as two distinct skill sets that need different preparation strategies. She earned a 1550 composite on the SAT and now teaches students to translate word problems into equations quickly and to recognize which calculator-permitted questions are actually faster by hand.

Lindsay scored 1480 on the SAT and brings a math-heavy academic background — a biology degree plus a mathematics minor — to breaking down the SAT Math section. She zeroes in on the areas where students lose the most points, like translating word problems into equations and navigating the no-calculator section's emphasis on algebraic fluency.

Jake's 1580 SAT composite came partly from treating the math section like a language — learning the College Board's specific way of phrasing linear relationship questions, disguising percent problems, and burying geometry inside data tables. He now teaches students to decode that language, so the math itself becomes the easy part. Rated 4.9 by students.

Scoring a 1570 on the SAT himself, Yurok knows exactly where the College Board hides difficulty — the multi-step word problems in the calculator section, the tricky quadratic and systems questions in the no-calculator portion. As a physics and math double major at Emory, he doesn't just teach shortcuts; he makes sure students understand the underlying algebra and data analysis so they can handle any variation the test throws at them.

Scoring 1550 on the SAT herself, Emily knows the specific traps the math section sets — misread graphs, unnecessary information in word problems, and algebra shortcuts that save critical minutes. As a math major at Smith College, she teaches the underlying reasoning behind each problem type so students can adapt when questions look unfamiliar.

I'm Liz! I'm so excited to help my students reach their academic goals. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Government and Performance and Communication Arts, and a Master's Degree in Chinese Politics. With a long academic career and lots of experience with standardized tests, I'm ready help prepare my students for their next steps and help them succeed and build confidence where they are now. I can't wait to meet you!