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Award-Winning Foundations for College Mathematics Tutors
Certified Tutor
Brianna
Between teaching high school math and tutoring students from elementary through college level, Brianna has seen every version of the 'I'm bad at math' story — and she knows it usually traces back to one or two specific skills that never solidified. She rebuilds those pieces, whether it's fraction op...
University
Bachelor's
Certified Tutor
3+ years
Brianna
This course exists to close gaps before college-level math, so the tutor needs to pinpoint exactly which gaps matter most. Brianna identifies whether the issue is algebraic manipulation, function notation, or basic data analysis, then builds each session around strengthening that specific skill. Her...
Cedarville University
Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering
Certified Tutor
8+ years
Oluwatosin
An electrical engineering degree means Oluwatosin has personally relied on every skill this course covers — proportional reasoning, algebraic manipulation, basic trig — in contexts where getting the math wrong had real consequences. He breaks down each topic by connecting it to practical scenarios, ...
University of Ibadan
Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering
Certified Tutor
2+ years
Joel Mauricio
I love tutoring because it allows me to make a direct and meaningful impact on someone's learning journey. There's a unique satisfaction in helping students grasp complex concepts and watching their confidence grow as they overcome challenges. Tutoring not only allows me to share my knowledge, but i...
Vanderbilt University
Doctorate (PhD)
Certified Tutor
3+ years
Samantha
For students building up the math skills they'll need in college-level courses, Samantha zeroes in on the specific gaps — whether that's fraction operations, equation solving, or reading graphs — that tend to snowball later. Her 5.0 rating speaks to a knack for making foundational concepts feel appr...
University of Missouri
Doctorate (PhD), Computer Science
Certified Tutor
2+ years
Shivansh
Shivansh is currently finishing a math and data science degree at UBC, which means he's recently moved through every layer of the curriculum this course reviews — algebraic reasoning, proportional thinking, basic statistical interpretation — and remembers exactly which pieces need to be airtight bef...
University of British Columbia
Bachelor
Certified Tutor
2+ years
I'm a current University undergraduate who's studying Biochemistry. I first found my passion for tutoring while helping my high school classmates with concepts, and realized then how beneficial one-on-one learning can be for someone's foundational skills in a subject and spirit towards learning. I'v...
University of Guelph
Bachelor
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
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
Top 20 Math Subjects
Meet Our Expert Tutors
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Erika
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +36 Subjects
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 not in school myself, I love rowing, equestrian and exploring my new city of Boston! I look forward to meeting and working with you soon!
Jeffrey
Pre-Calculus Tutor • +29 Subjects
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 coming members of such a great field. I have experience tutoring both Calculus and Physics at Notre Dame, as well as experience as a Student Assistant for Differential Equations and Mechanics. I believe the key to learning is much deeper than learning to solve problems and that seeking knowledge is one of the best means for personal improvement.
Rhea
AP Statistics Tutor • +49 Subjects
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 subjects as well as tutoring private clients in Standardized Test preparation. Given that I graduated high school recently, I have taken several Standardized Tests and high school subjects myself, so I have a comprehensive understanding of not only how to tutor these subjects and exams, but also what it is like to take them. While I have a wide range of interests and am able to tutor various subjects, I am most passionate about tutoring in Standardized Test preparation (including ACT, SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and AP Exams), Biology, Chemistry, Math, and Spanish. I truly believe that students should have the opportunity to learn in the way that works best for them, and I love being able to help them succeed by creating a comfortable tutoring environment in which we can best assess their particular needs and use strategies specific to them. My passion for learning drives everything that I do, and tutoring is the platform that I use to try to spread that passion to others. In my free time, you can find me playing badminton, listening to music, or baking something (hopefully) delicious.
Quinn
Calculus Tutor • +17 Subjects
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 love playing basketball and watching sports, as well as chilling with friends, listening to music, and keeping up with politics and current affairs.
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
MaryAnn
Calculus Tutor • +21 Subjects
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 the nonprofit sector. Hobbies: reading, cooking, writing, books, music, art, travel
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.
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
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 :)
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
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Students typically struggle most with the transition from arithmetic to algebraic thinking—particularly understanding variables as unknowns rather than just placeholders. Multi-step equations, rational expressions, and word problems that require translating English into mathematical notation are common pain points. Many students also find it difficult to move from memorizing procedures to understanding *why* those procedures work, which becomes critical when they encounter new problem types that don't fit familiar patterns.
A tutor helps students develop a systematic approach: reading carefully, identifying what's given and what's unknown, choosing appropriate variables, and translating sentences into equations step-by-step. Rather than jumping to formulas, tutors teach students to break problems into smaller chunks and check whether their answer makes sense in context. This strategy-based approach builds confidence and transfers to new problem types, rather than having students memorize solutions to specific scenarios.
Showing work reveals your thinking process, making it easier to spot where misunderstandings occur—whether that's a computational error, a conceptual gap, or a mistake in applying a rule. For Foundations students, this is especially important because many are rebuilding foundational skills; a tutor can see exactly where a student went off track and address the root cause rather than just the wrong answer. It also helps students develop the habit of checking their own work, which builds independence and mathematical confidence.
Math anxiety often stems from past negative experiences or feeling rushed and misunderstood in a classroom setting. With personalized 1-on-1 instruction, students work at their own pace without judgment, revisit concepts as many times as needed, and receive immediate, specific feedback on what they *did* understand. Tutors help students see patterns and connections rather than isolated rules, which transforms math from a mysterious set of procedures into a logical system—a shift that significantly reduces anxiety and builds genuine confidence.
Procedural understanding means knowing *how* to follow steps (e.g., "flip and multiply" for division of fractions), while conceptual understanding means knowing *why* those steps work and when to use them. In Foundations for College Mathematics, many students have memorized procedures but struggle when problems look slightly different or require them to choose which method to apply. Tutors focus on building conceptual understanding by connecting procedures to visual models, real-world contexts, and underlying mathematical principles—this makes learning stick and transfers to new situations.
Many Foundations students can manipulate equations algebraically but struggle to visualize what those equations represent or interpret graphs meaningfully. Tutors use multiple representations—tables, graphs, and equations together—to help students see the connections. For example, understanding that the slope of a line represents a rate of change, or that the x-intercept is where the equation equals zero, transforms graphing from a mechanical skill into a way of understanding relationships. This integrated approach helps students recognize patterns across different problem types.
Foundations for College Mathematics serves students with varying backgrounds—some may have gaps from earlier grades, while others are ready to move quickly through material. A tutor assesses where each student actually stands, not where they're supposed to be, and builds from there. This might mean reviewing integer operations with one student while another practices multi-step equations; both are making meaningful progress without frustration or boredom. Personalized pacing ensures students develop solid conceptual foundations before moving forward.
Beyond strong mathematical knowledge, an effective Foundations tutor needs patience and skill in explaining concepts multiple ways—because what works for one student may not click for another. They should understand common misconceptions (like thinking that a negative times a negative is negative, or that variables always represent single numbers) and know how to address them directly. Experience working with students who have math anxiety or gaps in foundational skills is valuable, as is the ability to ask questions that help students discover patterns rather than simply telling them the answer.
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