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Certified Tutor
2+ years
Rachelle
I am a graduate of The University of South Carolina School of Music where I received a Master of Music in Composition. Since graduation, I have composed and recorded works for multiple ensembles, but my true passion is music education. I enjoy seeing people gain confidence with learning. Celebratin...
University of South Carolina-Union
Master's/Graduate
Full Sail University
Bachelor

Certified Tutor
9+ years
Jai
I'm a recent Stanford graduate (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), and have been working at a major Management Consulting firm for a few years now. I personally scored a 2360 (out of 2400) on the SAT and 35 on the ACT and was successful in gaining admission to several top universities. I'...
Stanford University
Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Certified Tutor
Kate
I'm available to tutor biology, chemistry, physics, math from Algebra up through AP Calculus, SAT test prep, and French. I've been tutoring students in science and math for 7 years. I also spent 8 months working and studying in France, and have tutored high school and adult students in French. When ...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Masters, Environmental Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelors

Certified Tutor
I am a licensed physician from Florida who is currently changing careers. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009 and have extensive tutoring and editing experience. While a student, I became a certified writing tutor through the Critical Writing Department. Since I completed my writ...
Nova Southeastern University
PHD, Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelors, History
University of Pennsylvania
undergraduate

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Jeffrey
I am enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering PhD program at Rice University which will begin Fall 2020, and I am hoping to return to academia as a professor after earning my PhD. In the meantime, I am looking to share my passion for gaining knowledge, specifically in STEM, by educating the up and com...
University of Notre Dame
Bachelor of Science
Rice University
Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering

Certified Tutor
Erika
I am available to tutor middle and high school math, history and test prep. I have tutored math and history in the past and I previously taught a test prep course at a school in Hanoi, Vietnam. I have a lot of experience teaching all the need-to-know tricks to doing great on the SATS/ACTS! When I am...
Harvard University
Master of Public Policy, Public Policy

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Rhea
I am a current student at the University of Chicago. I am working towards a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, and I am on the pre-medical track. I am extremely passionate about tutoring, and I have several years of experience tutoring students in my high school's learning center in various...
University of Chicago
Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Certified Tutor
Matthew
I'm a highly creative person who works best with visual thinkers. Very recently graduated from Stanford University, I majored in Human Biology with a concentration in Bioinformatics and Stem Cell Science. Technical though my background may be, I am currently gigging as a singer/songwriter/composer i...
Stanford University
Bachelors in Human Biology (concentration in Bioinformatics and Stem Cell Science)

Certified Tutor
13+ years
MaryAnn
I am a published author who has enjoyed “coaching” our daughter, as she navigated through high school, college and graduate school. I mentor college juniors who are seeking careers in financial services, and I serve as a peer resource to professionals who are transitioning from private industry to t...
University of Pittsburgh
Bachelor of Science, English, Psychology

Certified Tutor
6+ years
I am willing to address any issue with an open mind and I try to develop strategies that play to a student's strengths. I would like to think I am very approachable and personable, and I have had very positive experiences with many students in the past using this philosophy. Outside of academics, I ...
University of Notre Dame
Bachelor in Arts
Top 20 English Subjects
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Pinelopi
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +25 Subjects
I am a Duke University graduate with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. I have experience tutoring all levels of Spanish language, all sections of the SAT, as well as algebra, pre algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus! I love kids & I have a very flexible schedule and a lot of patience! Let me help you :)
Annie
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +28 Subjects
I am currently a second year medical student. I was a Physiological Sciences major at UCLA (class of 2015), and pursued research during my gap year between undergrad and medical school.
Charles
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +25 Subjects
I am a junior Mechanical Engineering major at Yale, and I hope to become a Naval Aviator after college. I am also a varsity sailor, and enjoy playing music with friends when I can get some free time. I have been tutoring my fellow students throughout my entire academic career, and I would best describe my tutoring style as one that adapts to each students' needs. For example, I have always tried to frame questions in a different way so that the student can better understand the question. Some students need visual representations of numbers and systems to understand them, and others benefit more by understanding the concepts behind each formula. I prefer to tutor in math and physics, and especially with real world application problems. I hope to help students improve their standardized test scores and their understanding of the math and sciences so that they can achieve their academic goals! Hobbies: art, books, running, reading, music, writing
Tony
Calculus Tutor • +28 Subjects
I am a recent graduate of Yale University and incoming first year medical student at Columbia University. Originally from the DC area, I have always had a passion for science and medicine and pursued a degree in Biology while at Yale. During the 2008-2009 academic year, I tutored science, math, English, history, and Mandarin Chinese part-time with a DC-based tutoring company. At Yale, I worked as a freshman counselor to provide academic and career advice to incoming freshmen. I have taken both SAT and MCAT test prep classes and am familiar with both tests as well as the preparation necessary to score well. My personal career goals include attending medical school to pursue either immunology/infectious diseases or psych/neurology, teaching biology at the university level, and working in public/global health with either the CDC or the WHO.
Samantha
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +38 Subjects
I'm a first-year medical student and recent graduate from Duke University, where I studied Global Health Determinants, Behaviors, and Interventions. From running a piano program at a nonprofit children's theatre to private tutoring in math, science, and standardized test prep, I enjoy helping my students become confident and self-sufficient learners! Hobbies: photography, travel, reading, music, writing, running, art, books, traveling
Samuel
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +29 Subjects
I am a freshman at Caltech majoring in Applied and Computational Mathematics. My favorite subject to tutor is math because I find it very rewarding to simplify complex topics to aid in understanding. I have lots of tutoring experience. In high school, I ran and taught an SAT prep class and was vice president of my school's NHS chapter where I ran our tutoring program, and I, myself, tutored. I also was a teaching assistant in the summer of 2020 for a class in discrete mathematics through a program called PACT (Program in Algorithmic and Combinatorial Thinking). I love learning and hope to make the process enjoyable for you!
Tiffany
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +56 Subjects
I am available to tutor a broad range of subjects, I am passionate about test preparation, Accountancy, and Algebra.
Zachary
Trigonometry Tutor • +35 Subjects
I am passionate about teaching and tutoring and I thoroughly enjoy helping students gain an understanding and a drive for their studies. I have a long history of working with students of all grade levels and abilities (elementary school through college), and I have a good understanding of strategies to excel in both general academics and standardized tests.
Sharon
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +29 Subjects
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago, and I will be starting a graduate program at Columbia in August. I am about to complete a year of service with City Year, an education non-profit that places young adults into under-served schools. As a City Year member, I worked full-time in the classroom with middle-school students who were in approximately the 10th percentile for math (meaning they score lower than 90% of students). One-fourth of those students were able to grow around 15 percentile points by the end of the year! Hobbies: reading, cooking, gardening, music, art, nature, books, writing
Sami
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +19 Subjects
I am a Duke University graduate in Economics and Computer Science. I am currently pursuing an MBA degree at the Yale School of Management. I have worked in the financial field, both at a management consulting firm and a fortune 500 company. My hobbies include playing and coaching soccer. Hobbies: reading, writing, art, books, music
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Frequently Asked Questions
A strong playwriting tutor should have experience with dramatic structure, character development, and dialogue craft. Look for tutors who understand different theatrical genres and can provide constructive feedback on your scripts. The best tutors combine technical knowledge of playwriting fundamentals—like scene structure, conflict, and pacing—with the ability to help you develop your unique voice as a writer. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can guide you through the full creative process, from initial concept to final revision.
Authentic dialogue is one of the biggest challenges in playwriting. Strong dialogue should reveal character, advance the plot, and sound natural when spoken aloud. Many playwrights benefit from reading their scenes out loud to catch awkward phrasing or unnatural speech patterns. A playwriting tutor can help you develop distinct character voices, eliminate exposition-heavy dialogue, and use subtext to create depth. Through personalized feedback on your scripts, you'll learn to distinguish between how characters should speak versus how people actually speak.
Play structure typically follows a three-act format with clear turning points: the inciting incident, rising action, climax, and resolution. However, many contemporary plays experiment with non-traditional structures. The key is understanding how each scene builds on the previous one to create momentum and maintain audience engagement. A playwriting tutor can help you map out your plot, identify where scenes are dragging, and ensure your dramatic action serves your central theme. Different genres—comedy, tragedy, drama—also have their own structural conventions worth mastering.
Great characters need clear motivations, internal conflicts, and arcs that show change throughout the play. Start by understanding your character's wants versus their needs, and what obstacles stand in their way. Many playwrights find it helpful to develop character backstories, even details that never appear on stage, to inform authentic choices. A playwriting tutor can guide you through character work exercises and provide feedback on whether your characters feel three-dimensional and consistent. The goal is creating characters whose actions and growth feel inevitable to the story you're telling.
Revision is where plays truly come alive. The first draft is often about getting ideas on the page; subsequent drafts focus on clarity, pacing, and impact. Read your script multiple times with different questions in mind: Does each scene serve the overall story? Is the dialogue efficient? Are there moments that feel forced or unclear? Getting personalized feedback from a playwriting tutor is invaluable during revision—they can identify scenes that aren't working, spot inconsistencies in character behavior, and help you strengthen weak transitions. Many successful playwrights go through 5-10 drafts before their work is performance-ready.
Stage directions should be clear and purposeful without over-directing. Include directions that are essential for understanding the action or revealing character—like a nervous habit or significant movement—but avoid excessive detail that limits a director's creative choices. The balance varies by playwriting style: some contemporary playwrights write minimal stage directions, while others provide detailed visual storytelling. A playwriting tutor can help you understand when stage directions enhance the script versus when they become distracting. Generally, focus on what actors and directors need to know to tell your story effectively.
Yes, proper formatting is important because it helps readers and industry professionals evaluate your work fairly. Standard playwriting format includes scene headings, action descriptions, character names centered above dialogue, parentheticals for delivery notes, and consistent spacing. Most productions use 12-point courier font on white paper. Learning proper formatting shows professionalism and makes your script easier to read. A playwriting tutor can teach you standard formatting conventions and help you understand why they matter in the theater world. Many playwriting software programs handle formatting automatically, but understanding the rules behind them strengthens your craft.
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