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Anna
Certified SHSAT Tutor
Anna
BA Northwestern University • Graduated (Honors Program in Medical Education) Northwestern University
8+ Years Tutoring

I'm Anna! I'm currently a student in the MD/MBA program between Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and the Kellogg School of Management, and graduated from Northwestern University as part of the Honors Program in Medical Education. I attended the Bergen County Academies in New Jersey, a selective, application-based magnet school, for high school.

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Elena
Certified SHSAT Tutor
Elena
BA Cornell University • Juris Doctor, Law University of Chicago Law School
1+ Years Tutoring

I am a second year law student at the University of Chicago who hails from the San Francisco Bay Area! I tutor the SAT, ESL, and Spanish. I was an AVID tutor in high school, and after college I taught an ESL class and tutored a high school student in Spanish. In law school, I am involved with the Lawyers in the Classroom program. My tutoring philosophy is based on listening to students work through problems and helping them to spot their confusions or incorrect assumptions. I believe students learn much better when they aren't simply told the right answer or right reasoning; they need to get there on their own.

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Asta
BA University of Chicago
1+ Years Tutoring

I am a graduate of the University of Chicago where I received my undergraduate degree in political science. Right after graduation, I worked as an academic and test prep tutor as well as admissions consultant in Hong Kong. For the past two years, I worked with a number of students to help prepare them for college in the United States.

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Viktor
BA University of Chicago
7+ Years Tutoring

I'm referring to math, of course, but I didn't always like the subject. Until about age 16, I thought of math as a boring, mind-numbing process of blindly memorizing formulas and then forgetting them after the test, but a series of wonderful teachers showed me the truth. I had thought that everything in math was invented arbitrarily just to torture students, but actually it all made sense in a deep way. When I caught a glimpse of what math really was, I found it irresistible and I ended up majoring in math in college at UChicago. I'm currently a Master's student in Computer Science at NYU.

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Oliver
Engineer Northwestern University
6+ Years Tutoring

I'm a current student at Northwestern University and standardized test tutor. I've been tutoring for the past 3 years and have helped many students score well on the SAT, ACT, PSAT, and similar exams. I am also fluent in French.

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Spencer
BA University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
6+ Years Tutoring

I am a math tutor who is currently attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and majoring in Environmental Engineering. I have been tutoring math for over four years, both at Fenwick High School (where I attended) as a peer tutor and with Mathnasium. I teach Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Pre-Calc, and Calculus 1 + 2, and I also cover all sections of the ACT. I prefer to take an involved approach to tutoring -- that is, rather than have my students sit and listen to me talk, I prefer to actively engage them with problems. I believe that the best way to learn is to do, and I love to use this philosophy in my tutoring. However, I am willing to adapt to whatever style my students prefer -- if my students learn best from lectures, then lectures will be what we do. Working with clients to discover the way they learn best is one of my favorite parts of tutoring.

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Jeff
MS University of California-Berkeley • BA Princeton University
10+ Years Tutoring

I am a life-long proponent of education and learning. I graduated from Princeton University with a B.A. in philosophy. After working for a few years, including in book publishing, I returned to school and completed my M.A. in history at the University of California, Berkeley. While there, I taught history and philosophy classes to undergraduates. I also taught Standardized Test Prep (SAT and GRE) for Summit Tutors and Kaplan.

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Mahalia
BA Northwestern University
9+ Years Tutoring

I am comfortable tutoring a variety of subjects, I am most passionate about writing and language, and I truly believe that strong writing skills are an asset in every area of life. Through my experience as an after-school program manager, I learned to build relationships and work well with students, parents, and teachers to meet student goals. In response to the pandemic, I quickly learned ways to adapt my educational youth work to a virtual setting. My social work background helps me connect with students on a personal and social-emotional level, which lays a trusting foundation for real growth and learning.

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Evan
BA Harvard University • Current Grad Student, Statistics Harvard University
9+ Years Tutoring

I'm thrilled to work with anybody on any subjects of interest, reach out with any questions!

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Sahibzada
MS Northwestern University
7+ Years Tutoring

I've been working with students for over seven years, from middle school all the way through college, across subjects like math, calculus, statistics, linear algebra, chemistry, and physics, with a lot of SAT and ACT prep mixed in. My background is perhaps a little unconventional. I have two bachelor's degrees, one in Engineering and one in Communication Studies, plus a Master's in Design. That combination means I can guide you through challenging technical material and communicate it in a way that is easy to grasp. What I care most about is helping students get to a place where they don't need me anymore. I know that sounds like a strange thing for a tutor to say, but I think it's the right goal. I'm not here to walk you through steps to copy down. I want you to understand why something works, because that's what holds up under pressure, on a test you haven't seen before. If you're ready to ace that test or prove that theorem that's been bugging you, reach out and let's work together

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Emily
BA Oberlin College
10+ Years Tutoring

I'm a recent graduate of Oberlin College and Conservatory, where I studied Jazz Trumpet and Environmental Studies. I tutor in a wide range of subjects, including math, French, English, environmental science, and standardized test prep. I have experience teaching academic subjects and music in both classroom and individual settings, and I have worked with middle school through college-aged students. As a teacher, I strive to be flexible and approachable, getting to know my students and constantly reassessing my approach based on the needs of the individual student I am working with.

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Sparsh
BA Vanderbilt University
8+ Years Tutoring

I am an incoming medical student at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. I graduated cum laude from Vanderbilt University majoring in Biomedical Engineering. I'm passionate about teaching STEM topics and making sure my students truly understand the material. I have 4 years experience teaching and tutoring elementary, middle, high school, and college students in STEM topics through a program called VSVS. Looking forward to meeting you!

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Charlie
BA University of Chicago
10+ Years Tutoring

I'm Charlie. I graduated from the University of Chicago last Spring, and I'm headed for Harvard Law School this Fall; in the interim, I'm preparing students to take the ACT and LSAT online and locally in Chicago. I've been tutoring and instructing students of all ages for more than five years now, and since I started focusing on standardized test prep specifically I've spent a lot of time and effort to become the best LSAT and ACT instructor that I can be. I'm really proud of the rigorous, student-centered pedagogical approach that I've developed, and I'd love to show it to you!

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Ariela
Current Undergrad, Theater & Performance Studies University of Chicago
10+ Years Tutoring

I am good at test taking, is my ability to organize information. It's a skill I use both in my academic life, as well as professionally; as a stage manager, it is often my job to take in complicated and conflicting pieces of information (the blocking, a quick change in costumes, changes in a script) and quickly organize that information so that I can convey it to someone else. I enjoy and excel at condensing and re-communicating facts or tasks, so that they become comprehensible to someone who may not understand them the first time around.

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Ethan
Current Undergrad, Public Policy/Economics University of Chicago
9+ Years Tutoring

I am an undergraduate student studying Economics and Public Policy at the University of Chicago. I attended the Horace Mann School in New York City. I love teaching and working with students because I feel that there is nothing more rewarding than being able to provide the extra push that students might need to be successful. I am passionate about helping students learn and making sure they are having fun doing so. I'm also happy to talk about anything a student might want to talk about, academically, extracurricularly, or otherwise.

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Meagan
MS Texas State University-San Marcos • BA Wellesley College
9+ Years Tutoring

I am a personable, easy-going tutor who wants students to feel comfortable working with me. I'm starting a PhD program in the fall and looking for a few tutoring opportunities to supplement my fellowship.

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Ilana
MS Northwestern University • BA Northwestern University
1+ Years Tutoring

I am a graduate of Northwestern University, where I completed a BA in Cognitive Science (Neuroscience concentration) as well as a BMus and Masters degree in Voice and Opera Performance. I tutor test prep for the SATs and ACTs, as well as math for all ages. I excel particularly in writing and editing and love tutoring in the humanities. My teaching philosophy is one of guidance rather than direct instruction, helping students to discover answers on their own. I am very patient and understand that sometimes all it takes to understand a difficult concept is to explain it in a few different ways. We all learn differently, so I aim to develop an individualized approach for each student in order to make the most of our time together.

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Ruthie
BA University of Pennsylvania
10+ Years Tutoring

I am a runner, a reader, a lover of outdoors, and a traveller! I am also a people person and enjoy spending time with family and friends, as well as meeting new people!

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Gabriel
BA University of Chicago
1+ Years Tutoring

I'm a rising Junior at the University of Chicago studying Computational Neurosciences and Fundamentals: Literature & Philosophy. I've tutored 7th and 8th graders in Basic Algebra and essay construction and taught undergraduates Biostatistics and the literature of Valdimir Nabokov, so I'm prepared to work with any age or skill level. When I'm not tutoring this summer, I'll be doing electrophysiological research at NYU's Center for Neural Science and preparing to write my BA on James Joyce's Ulysses. I'm extremely versatile with expertise in a range of subjects and really enjoy helping students learn. I also excel at standardized testing and am excited to share the strategies that made me successful. In my free time, some of my favorite things to do are act, play guitar, and bike along the river.

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Ellie
BA University of Chicago
1+ Years Tutoring

I am a 4th year student at The University of Chicago majoring in Economics. I recently completed all of my coursework and am now filling my time with the activities I most enjoy. One of these activities is teaching. At the beginning of this academic year, I joined an organization on campus that teaches juniors and seniors at a local high school about community engagement through the lens of philanthropy. Through this, I have the unique opportunity to empower students to become leaders in their community; to provide them a platform to change issues about which they are most passionate. This experience inspires my desire to educate young students; to provide them the tools to be leaders, whether that be in the classroom, on the playing field, or in their community. My time as a youth soccer coach and tutor of my little brother and his friends has further bolstered my love of teaching. Given my extensive experience and longtime passion for math and applied math subjects, I feel I can best help students seeking help in these areas, though I have experience in a broad range of subjects. Outside of teaching, I enjoy playing soccer, basketball, guitar and piano, as well as cooking, hiking and listening to podcasts.

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Aaron
BA Vanderbilt University
8+ Years Tutoring

I am most happy when I am actively learning, sharing, and growing with others.

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Mercy
Current Undergrad Student, Computer Science Massachusetts Institute of Technology
6+ Years Tutoring

I am currently a first-year student at MIT studying computer science and neuroscience. As of right now, I am pre-med and hope to become a pediatric dermatologist.

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Grace
MS The University of Chicago • BA The University of Chicago
8+ Years Tutoring

I am currently pursuing a Master's in Teaching at the University of Chicago and also have a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Chicago.

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Derick
BA Northeastern University
1+ Years Tutoring

I am a Northwestern University graduate and received my Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Robotics. I have an extensive background tutoring middle and high school students in Standardized Tests as well as helping incoming freshmen acclimate to the college environment as a Peer Advisor. Due to my concentration in STEM, I am well-adept in teaching Math and Physics, though am open to tutoring outside those subjects. I believe that working on one's education outside of regular school hours shows a strong initiative to learn, and I want to encourage this drive for learning in my students.

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Ali
BA Northwestern University
1+ Years Tutoring

I am confident that I can help my students find success.

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Anya
BA University of Chicago
6+ Years Tutoring

I'm a current third year biology major on the pre-med track at the University of Chicago. I attended Stuyvesant High School in New York City and am incredibly excited to be a part of Varsity Tutors!

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Jack
BA Northwestern University
1+ Years Tutoring

I am a recent graduate of Northwestern University with degrees in Theatre Management, Marketing, and Spanish. I am passionate about tutoring because I love engaging with students in a way that makes them excited about learning. I believe that finding connections to the material allows students to develop a personal investment in their work that will always result in greater success. I encourage students to actively participate in a tutoring session, making sure that their needs drive a session rather than my pre-planned agenda. Every student learns differently, and I have found that the greatest success is a result of playing to these strengths rather than fighting against them. I am excited to be a part of Varisty Tutors, and to help students thrive in their academic lives.

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Pinelopi
BA Duke University
6+ Years Tutoring

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 :)

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Cynthia
BA University of Chicago
7+ Years Tutoring

I'm passionate about education and love working with students.

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Brett
BA Northwestern University
9+ Years Tutoring

I am seeking to continue this since I have graduated.

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Devon
BA Northwestern University
8+ Years Tutoring

I'm a recent graduate of Northwestern University, and have worked as a tutor for Westchester Counseling and Psychological Services and Scarsdale Recreation Camp.

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Laurel
BA DePaul University
9+ Years Tutoring

I am a lover of math, English, and learning in general. I am currently studying pure mathematics and political science at DePaul University. I have been a tutor for four years now! I love helping students achieve their goals and gain confidence in their abilities. I am especially passionate about helping students learn to appreciate and comprehend math and its importance.

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Sigourney
BA University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
5+ Years Tutoring

I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan working towards a Bachelor's of Computer Science with a minor in Economics. My focus is helping students hone their mental-math skills and solidify concepts taught from pre-algebra through pre-calc. I'm a big proponent of breaking down some of the barriers that exist within coding and the STEM community. I recognize that helping all types of students feel confident in their math skills is the first step, regardless of their interest in coding.

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Bryson
MS Loyola Marymount University • BA New York University
8+ Years Tutoring

I am not tutoring, I enjoy running, listening to music, a game of tennis, or a good TV-binge session.

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Rebecca
BA Northwestern University
1+ Years Tutoring

I am a graduate of Northwestern University where I received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Religious Studies. I am currently pursuing a masters degree in social work at the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration. I am passionate about tutoring because I want everyone to be able to perform academically at their highest possible level. I also think it is important that learning is not just for one assignment or one test, but rather that it sticks with you to build a solid foundation of knowledge and confidence that you can carry forward. My favorite subjects to tutor include English, SAT test preparation, math, and psychology. My approach to tutoring is to meet the student where they're at and go from there. I find that this way we can build a productive tutoring relationship where I can help individualize learning to each person's particular learning style. Outside of academic interests, I enjoy cooking, being with friends and family, traveling the world, and looking as ridiculous as possible doing Zumba.

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Molly
MS Northwestern University • BA Columbia University in the City of New York
1+ Years Tutoring

I am an Illinois certified Teacher in grades K-9. I attended Northwestern University and received a Master's of Science in Education. I have ample classroom experience and expertise in elementary Math and Reading intervention. I have several tools and resources from various curricula to work with and would love to help your students in any elementary or middle school subject area. For the past three years, I have been working as a classroom Teacher in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade classrooms, teaching students with a variety of needs. I can also tutor students through high school and college in History and Spanish as I hold degrees in both subjects from Columbia University. I am highly qualified to tutor Writing at all levels - from elementary to adult professional writing - as I have written two distinguished theses as part of my academic training.

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Owen
BA University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
6+ Years Tutoring

I am currently a Sophomore at the University of Illinois, studying Computer Science. I have an extensive history of tutoring, from helping middle school students in math and science to teaching high-level coding workshops to undergraduates and graduates. I have always loved math and I am pursuing a minor in the field. In my spare time, I am a huge book nerd and have spent many days with my nose in between pages. I also played tennis competitively in high school and am a part of the club team at the University of Illinois.

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Thomas
AM University of Chicago
7+ Years Tutoring

I have years of experience teaching writing and literary analysis in the classroom setting, and years of teaching students one on one.

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Sareen
Current Undergrad, Neuroscience and Psychology University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
10+ Years Tutoring

I'm currently a medical student at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. I graduated summa cum laude in April 2020 from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in Neuroscience, B.S. with honors in Psychology, B.A. in French, minor in Chemistry and certificate in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. I love teaching and tutoring people in topics of all kinds and have done so since freshman year of high school when I began working as a private tutor and a junior teacher at a local learning center. Working with students is a passion of mine since I love learning, teaching and getting to know new people as well. I believe education is an important part of life and strive to give all my students a solid foundation to the best of my ability.

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Allison
BA Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
9+ Years Tutoring

I am 22 years old and a recent graduate from Georgia Tech. I majored in Industrial and Systems Engineering and graduated with a 3.5. I specialize in Math, Computer Science, Languages, and Standardized Testing.

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Testimonials

Because the right SHSAT tutor makes all the difference.

4.9

Average Session Rating – Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings

Worked with a SHSAT Tutor

Your customer interface is A+, being your agents or your site, The tutor you found for me is perfect, no formulas or canned lectures but easy flowing lecture addressing my needs. Congratulations for a job well done.

JA
Julio Aranovich
Worked with a SHSAT Tutor

Heejin has been very patient with me. I work a full time job sometimes even on the weekends. It has been a slow process with my Korean classes, but Heejin has been wonderful and patient.

AH
Angela Hussein
Worked with a SHSAT Tutor

My son has had many quality tutors through this convenient service, and he can hop on at any time of day to get support for a homework assignment or test. It's very convenient and effective.

TR
Tara R
Worked with a SHSAT Tutor

I've been working with my tutor for a few months now and the progress has been remarkable. The personalized attention and tailored lessons made all the difference compared to in-classroom learning.

MC
Michael Chen
Worked with a SHSAT Tutor

The flexibility of scheduling combined with the quality of instruction is unmatched. I can get help exactly when I need it, whether that's late at night or early in the morning before a test.

PP
Priya Patel
Worked with a SHSAT Tutor

My daughter went from dreading her sessions to looking forward to them. The tutor made the material engaging and built her confidence in ways I never thought possible. Highly recommend.

RW
Rebecca Williams

Frequently Asked Questions

Score improvement depends on your starting point and how consistently you prepare. Most students who work with tutors see meaningful gains—typically 50-150 points—by focusing on their weakest sections and mastering test-specific strategies. The SHSAT is very learnable; many students underperform not because they lack ability, but because they're unfamiliar with the question formats and pacing demands. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who specialize in identifying exactly where you're losing points and building targeted skills to recover them.

The ELA section's reading passages trip up most students—they spend too much time reading, then rush through questions and make careless errors. The math section has similar pacing issues, especially when students try to solve every problem in their head instead of writing things down. Experienced tutors teach you how to skim strategically, identify what each question is actually asking, and manage your time across sections. With practice and personalized feedback on your pacing, you'll learn to work steadily without feeling rushed.

Aim for at least 4-6 full-length practice tests under timed conditions over several months. Early practice tests help you identify weak areas; later tests let you track improvement and refine strategies. More importantly, it's not just about quantity—it's about how you review them. Tutors help you analyze every wrong answer to understand the underlying skill gap, not just memorize answers. This targeted review is where real improvement happens.

Absolutely. Many Chicago students have this exact pattern, and tutors can focus entirely on reading comprehension and writing if that's where you need help. The ELA section requires specific strategies—learning to annotate efficiently, spotting question traps, and managing time across long passages. Tutors can pinpoint whether your challenges are with vocabulary, inference questions, main idea identification, or test pacing, then build a plan around those specific gaps. You won't waste time on skills you've already mastered.

Test anxiety usually stems from two things: unfamiliarity with the format and self-doubt about your abilities. Tutors address both by exposing you to tons of practice questions and timed sections so the test format becomes comfortable, not scary. When you've seen similar questions many times and built a track record of solving them correctly, confidence naturally follows. Tutors also teach concrete anxiety-management techniques—like how to breathe through difficult moments, move on from hard questions strategically, and maintain focus across the full test length.

Most students benefit from 3-4 months of consistent preparation, meeting with a tutor 1-2 times per week. If you're starting further out (6+ months), you can work at a more relaxed pace. If you're closer to test day, you'll need to intensify. The key is consistency—regular practice and feedback work much better than cramming. Varsity Tutors can help you create a personalized timeline based on where you're starting and when your test is scheduled.

Yes. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who are familiar with Chicago's school system and understand the competitive landscape for selective enrollment schools across the city's 12 districts. They know which question types trip up Chicago students most often and can tailor preparation to your specific goals. Whether you're aiming for a selective high school in your district or across the city, personalized 1-on-1 instruction lets you work at your pace with someone who gets your situation.

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