Award-Winning GMAT Tutors
serving Des Moines, IA
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?
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I attended law school at Vanderbilt University and I earned an MBA and a Ph.D. in Finance (Statistics minor) from the University of Iowa. I served for over 10+ years as a finance professor, teaching assistant, and tutor at 4 Top-40 public universities, during which time I received numerous awards for exemplary teaching. I qualified for MENSA by scoring in the 99.9th percentile on standardized tests for graduate schools: LSAT, 173 (6.0+ AWA) and GMAT, 760. I use a student-centered approach and I personalize educational plans to balance student needs based on learning styles, motivations, and interests. I have experience fostering one-on-one learning in a variety of environments, including online platforms. I guide students in identifying resources to improve their ability to succeed and monitor their progress while providing ongoing feedback. I will help you thrive in your mathematics, probability/statistics, and business courses or in your preparation for standardized tests.

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.
While the focus of my career has been digital marketing, learning and teaching others has always been a pillar of my core values. I was a TA for a Rice University program and have been doing GMAT and SAT prep tutoring through Varsity Tutors off and on since 2020
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".
Education is not one-size-fits-all. Every student deserves a stimulating environment that encourages intellectual risk-taking. As a facilitator, I guide students step-by-step to overcome obstacles, master difficult material, and unlock their full potential. My academic background reflects deep analytical versatility: I graduated from Tulane University with a triple major in Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, and Philosophy. This rigorous foundation allows me to expertly tutor high-stakes exams. My passion for teaching began early tutoring peers in high school and teaching a class in college. Whether you are aiming to ace the quantitative and verbal sections for the GRE or GMAT, or tackling complex coursework in math or engineering, I provide the strategic framework you need. Let's work together to crush your target scores!
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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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