Award-Winning GMAT Tutors
serving Des Moines, IA
Award-Winning
GMAT
Tutors in Des Moines
Private 1-on-1 tutoring, weekly live classes for academic support, test prep & enrichment, practice tests and diagnostics, and more to elevate grades and test scores.
Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings
UniversitiesSchools & Universities
DeliveredHours Delivered
ProficiencyGrowth in Proficiency
Who needs tutoring?
No obligation. Takes ~1 minute.

I have tutored students for the GMAT, GRE, SAT, ACT and LSAT for more than 15 years. I love it! As I tailor my instructions toward the unique needs of each student, my goal is to improve not only the student's performance but also the student's confidence as test day approaches.

I specialize in high-level GMAT diagnostic and execution coaching for stalled high-achievers. I don't just teach content; I identify the execution, timing, and decision-making patterns preventing score improvement and build customized strategies to break through plateaus under time pressure. After years of coaching GMAT students across a wide range of score levels, I've found that many advanced students underperform not because they lack ability, but because they approach questions inefficientlytreating each problem like a new puzzle instead of recognizing recurring execution patterns quickly and systematically. I earned my MBA from Georgetown University and worked as a former Sony engineer, bringing a data-driven and strategic mindset to every session. With 100+ five-star reviews, I've guided GMAT students to break barriersnot just raising scores, but shifting their confidence and thinking. As a result, many of my students have earned admission to elite MBA programs, including UCL
The GMAT tests two things most prep courses treat separately: quantitative problem-solving and verbal-analytical reasoning. Carl bridges both — his doctoral training at Yale sharpened his ability to dissect arguments and evaluate evidence, while his math tutoring background keeps him fluent in data sufficiency and integrated reasoning problems. He teaches students to read GMAT questions like an examiner writes them.
I enjoy helping students by explaining concepts in ways that make sense to them, by eliciting their feedback and tailoring my approach to their individual needs, and by conveying my enthusiasm for the learning process. It's great to see the light come on and to see their progress. I have an undergraduate degree in Politics from Princeton, a post-baccalaureate certificate in Quantitative Studies for Finance from Columbia, and an MBA from London Business School. I served as an officer in the Marine Corps and have worked in a number of academic and private-sector positions. I founded and am currently running an analytics-focused consulting practice.
I have always been driven to share my own passion for learning. While I was in high school, I tutored my peers after school. At college, I continued tutoring, but I also taught a class to middle-schoolers for a semester. Now, professionally, I teach seminars on Government and Politics. I went to Tulane University where I triple majored in Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, and Philosophy. I tutor STEM topics, government, and test prep. My philosophy of education is that everyone is unique and must have a stimulating educational environment where they can grow. It is my desire to create this type of atmosphere where students can meet their full potential. I will provide a motivating environment where students are encouraged to take risks and strive for success. My teaching style is largely as a facilitator helping students overcome their obstacles.
I enjoy empowering students by making learning fun and believe that everyone has an "inner genius" that just takes the right technique to unlock. I bring a patient and friendly approach to teaching, specializing in the sciences, technology and math, and believe in teaching students to "learn for themselves".
I am an interdisciplinary educator with an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. from Dartmouth College. My background is primarily in integrated arts learning and museum education and I specialize in visual arts, history and art history, and object-based learning. In all subjects, I take a creative, inquiry-based and learner-centered approach, designing opportunities for each unique individual to meet their learning goals.
I'm not tutoring or buried in my textbooks, you will either find me rock climbing at the Triangle Rock Club, playing Ultimate Frisbee, working on my car, or enjoying the great outdoors (beaches, mountains, forests--you name it, I love it). On rainy weekends I enjoy tinkering with computers and old electronics, playing Pokemon, or picking at my guitar.
I am a recent graduate from a masters program in biostatistics at Columbia University. I received my Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences, with a focus in neurobiology at Northwestern University. In August, I will be starting a doctoral program in biostatistics at NYU. I was a teaching assistant at Columbia University in my department and also have tutored graduate students and undergraduates privately as well. My primary areas of tutoring are math and statistics coursework in addition to math sections on standardized tests such as the GRE and GMAT. I am very passionate about helping students feel more confident and excited about math. In my spare time, I enjoy running, playing piano, and spending time with friends and family.
I am a graduate of Wesleyan University, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with High Honors. With eight years of experience working in education, I've tutored students in math, science, history, and English, as well as helped students prepare for standardized tests. I've guided adults towards passing the US Citizenship Exam and taught English in India, where I lived for six months. Whenever I work with a student I personalize the lessons to fit their particular learning style, since I know every student is unique and having the right fit can make all the difference in making learning fun and effective. My strengths are tutoring the social sciences and humanities, as well as making math and standardized tests approachable to students that normally don't like those subjects. In my spare time I like traveling, spending time in the outdoors (climbing & backpacking), meditation, and playing soccer. Next fall I will be beginning my PhD in Education at Harvard University.
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!
I am proud to be a part of Varsity Tutors! I am originally from San Antonio, TX; I completed my undergraduate education at Rice University in Houston where I received a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Currently, I am in my second year of medical school at Baylor College of Medicine.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Score improvement depends on your starting point and study commitment, but most students see meaningful gains within 8-12 weeks of focused preparation. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction helps identify your specific weak areas—whether that's data sufficiency, reading comprehension, or analytical writing—so tutoring time targets what will move your score most. Realistic expectations matter: jumping 100+ points is possible, but the key is consistent practice combined with strategic feedback on why you're missing questions.
Your first session focuses on assessment and goal-setting. A tutor will review your target score, timeline, and academic background, then likely administer a diagnostic practice test to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses across Quantitative, Verbal, and Analytical Writing sections. From there, you'll develop a customized study plan that prioritizes the areas where you'll gain the most points, ensuring your tutoring time is spent efficiently.
Pacing is one of the most common GMAT challenges—the test gives you about 2 minutes per question on average, which feels rushed if you're not strategic. Tutors teach you how to recognize question types quickly, identify when to guess and move on, and allocate time based on your strengths. Through timed practice drills and full-length tests with feedback, you'll build the rhythm needed to work confidently without running out of time.
This is a common profile, and personalized tutoring addresses it directly. While you might spend less time on Quantitative review, your tutor will focus on GMAT-specific reading strategies—like active annotation, identifying main ideas vs. details, and tackling inference questions without overthinking. The Verbal section requires a different skill set than general reading, and targeted practice with expert feedback helps you build confidence in areas that don't come naturally.
Practice tests are essential—they're how you build stamina, identify patterns in your mistakes, and track progress toward your goal score. Most students benefit from taking full-length tests every 1-2 weeks during their prep period. Your tutor will review your practice test results in detail, helping you understand not just what you got wrong, but why, so you can avoid similar mistakes on test day.
Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliarity with the format or uncertainty about your abilities. Personalized instruction builds confidence through repeated exposure to question types, timed practice, and clear feedback on improvement. Your tutor can also teach stress-management techniques and help you develop a mindset shift—viewing the GMAT as a learnable skill rather than a fixed measure of intelligence. Knowing exactly what to expect on test day reduces anxiety significantly.
Look for tutors with strong GMAT scores (typically 700+), experience teaching the test, and familiarity with the latest question formats and strategies. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who understand not just the content but how to teach test-taking strategy and time management. A good GMAT tutor should be able to explain why answer choices are right or wrong and adapt their teaching to your learning style.
Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of focused preparation, though your timeline depends on your starting score and target. If you're aiming for a top business school, you might invest 3-4 months; if you're closer to your goal already, 6-8 weeks may suffice. Your tutor will help you create a realistic schedule that balances depth with consistency, so you're making steady progress without burning out before test day.
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