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Joel
Certified Tutor
Joel
Current Undergrad, Physics Cornell University
9+ Years Tutoring

I am currently an undergraduate student at Cornell University. I intend to major in physics and either minor or double major in computer science.In the past, I have tutored middle school and high school students, mostly in mathematics, but I also helped with middle school science and English as well as ACT preparation. I look forward to tutoring students in computer science, especially object-oriented programming; mathematics, from middle school mathematics to multivariable calculus and differential equations; preparation for the ACT, SAT, and AP tests; and topics in literature and history. My favorite subject to tutor is probably calculus because calculus really opens students' options for further exploration in math, science, economics, and pretty much every other STEM field.When it comes to tutoring, I believe that in order to give useful feedback to a student I need to observe and listen to them just as much they need to listen to me. Only then can I see what they need help understanding and how best to approach explaining it to them by building on their strengths. I think it's important to allow students time to think about problems and try to approach them on their own before giving them guidance so that they can develop confidence in their own ability to approach similar challenges independently.I have many hobbies outside of my academic pursuits. I enjoy reading a variety of genres especially science fiction, fantasy, weird fiction, and all sorts of non-fiction. I sometimes try my hand at writing short stories or poetry. I also frequently play musical instruments and listen to music. I play the guitar, mandolin, and trumpet and sometimes the keyboards or bass guitar. My favorite genres to listen to are jazz, progressive rock, folk, classic rock, and classical music. Some of my favorite bands and composers are King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Yes, Sun Ra, Miles Davis, Paul Simon, Led Zeppelin, and many others.

ACT Scores
Composite35
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Shaniquoa
Certified Tutor
Shaniquoa
MS Pace University-New York • BA Cornell University
9+ Years Tutoring

Shaniquoa wonders what cool tidbits she'd discover if she ever got her hands on Bill Nye "The Science Guy's" dream book. The two have much in common, including a curiosity for understanding how things work and a love of the scientific process, exploration, discovery, oh...and big explosions. Shaniquoa has a dream of her own-- to use the knowledge gained from her Master's Degrees in Education and her Bachelor's Degree in English to inspire students of any age, creed, or ability to soar.Her work experience expands over fifteen years in education. She's taught grades K-12 and adult learners, helping students develop a passion for thinking creatively and for thinking critically.She taught her first class in highschool and never looked back. Her students love her wit, energy, compassion, and storytelling ability. They learn without feeling forced to wolf down loads of useless information.Shaniquoa attributes her Jedi teacher/tutor skills to both real and fictional masters of education like her favorite teachers: Mr. Always Question Why, Mrs. Don't Ever Give Up, Miss. The Only Foolish Question Is One Not Asked, Bill Nye, Ms. Frizzle, and LeVar Burton (The Reading Rainbow).In her free time, she enjoys experiencing the eats, sights, and sounds of her hometown. (When no one is looking, she talks to her neighbor's cat, Tiger. Shaniquoa thinks it's about time he learns to speak human.)

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Certified Tutor
Rachel
PhD Hofstra North Shore LIJ School of Medicine • BA Cornell University
9+ Years Tutoring

I have a passion for learning and with that comes my passion for teaching. Helping someone understand a tricky concept or tackle a new piece of information is incredibly fulfilling. This passion is what drove me into the field of medicine, as doctors both constantly learn new material and teach it to their patients. So my goal is to be a lifelong learner and teacher. I am certainly learning a lot in school right now, and am achieving my goal of teaching through tutoring.I believe the key to teaching is in strong communication skills and creativity. I understand that every learner has a different style and different needs, so I try to use creativity to come up with fun new ways to learn material. In the past I have made interactive games, songs, and helped walk students through diagrams and graphs that help elucidate information. When teaching, I am patient, persistent, and thorough. I know from my own studying at school, that not all concepts come as easily as others, and that sometimes an idea may seem clear only to suddenly slip away. So I make sure to check in with whoever I am helping to make sure all concepts are understood on the deepest of levels.Overall, my passions for learning, teaching, and helping others make me a strong tutor. I enjoy working with every student and I look forward to working with you.

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Certified Tutor
Christian
BA Cornell University • Current Grad Student, Students With Disabilities, Generalist CUNY City College
9+ Years Tutoring

As a Teacher knowledgeable of the needs of Students With Disabilities, my duty has been to ensure the success of all students under my charge. I've been very adamant about advocating for better placement, accommodation, and services for all students, as SPED pedagogy is not only beneficial to SPED students, but general students as a whole. I have been mindful of the 60/40 Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) compliance compositions, Individualized Education Plan (IEP) setting compliance, and above all, delivery of services by a SPED instructor.

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Certified Tutor
Nathaniel
PhD Cornell University • BA University of Utah
1+ Years Tutoring

As a passionate educator with a Doctorate in Biomedical Engineering from Cornell University, I am committed to helping students excel in subjects such as algebra, chemistry, and biology. My tutoring experience includes working with middle and high school students, where I focus on understanding each student's unique learning style and tailoring lessons to address their specific needs. I believe in fostering a supportive learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and exploring complex concepts. My enthusiasm for organic chemistry and biology stems from my academic journey, during which I conducted research in these fields, igniting my desire to share this knowledge with others. I aim to inspire curiosity and confidence in my students, guiding them to achieve their academic goals through personalized instruction and engaging problem-solving techniques.

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Certified Tutor
Victoria
BA Cornell University
2+ Years Tutoring

I am a current undergraduate student at Cornell University. I began tutoring 4 years ago because I am passionate about helping students become confident in their academic skills and reach their academic goals. Each session with a student consists of consistent, guided instruction that fosters independence and confidence in their skills. While I can instruct in many subjects, I love to tutor in math and English.

SAT Scores
Composite1520
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Certified Tutor
Heather
BA Cornell University
1+ Years Tutoring

My name is Heather. I graduated from Cornell University in 2022 with a major in psychology (minors in philosophy and law), and I am starting graduate school in September of 2024 (PhD in clinical psychology at UMass Boston). Throughout high school, I tutored all subjects at a nearby elementary school. I also tutored another high school student in Spanish, at the request of my Spanish teacher. Before college, I took a gap year to pursue music. During the gap year, I tutored a neighborhood seventh-grade girl in math and writing. Over the years, I have come to better understand how much I enjoy providing one-on-one support to children. I have been particularly successful in helping children who easily get frustrated and lose patience. As a recent student, I would be very excited to help others feel confident in their schoolwork. I understand the stress and frustration that can come with academics, and I would love to help students turn those feelings into pride, confidence, and enjoyment of learning. Please message me if you are interested or would like to learn more! I'd love to meet you.

SAT Scores
Composite1550
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Certified Tutor
Abigail
MS Boston University School of Public Health • BA Cornell University
4+ Years Tutoring

Hi!My name is Abby and I am excited to work with you!A little about me, I recently graduated with my Masters of Public Health from Boston University. Before that, I completed my Bachelors from Cornell University.I have many years of experience as a tutor and I have worked with students and children of all ages. I have been a swimming instructor, a flute teacher, and an English tutor. In college, I tutored students in Organic Chemistry.I try to make learning fun and accessible for everyone I work with. For younger children, I create games and activities to help keep them engaged. Activities can include skits, using props to help explain concepts, acting out scenes in stories to make reading fun, or using art to help illustrate ideas. I think that hands on learning works best for many young children. For older students, I like to teach using practice problems, and by having the student teach me what they have learned. I have found that if you are able to teach what you learned back to me, it means you truly understand it. I am also happy to accommodate your learning style if you know what works for you! I will work with you individually to make sure that you get the most out of your sessions.I would love the opportunity to help you excel!~Abby

SAT Scores
Composite1410
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Certified Tutor
Celia
BA Cornell University
4+ Years Tutoring

I am a recent graduate from Cornell University with a Bachelor's in Statistics. I am passionate about helping students and making difficult topics easy to understand. I believe the best teachers are ones who can make the subject matter both interesting and understandable.

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Certified Tutor
Benny
BA Cornell University
1+ Years Tutoring

I am a graduate of Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, with a degree in Neurobiology and Behavior. I believe that tutoring not only enables me to help students, but it also provides me the opportunity to enhance my students' passion for lifelong learning. I will begin my studies in medical school in August 2014.As a previous tutor and teaching assistant for various courses at Cornell, I witnessed firsthand the positive effects of collaboration on student exam performance and retention on course material. The best route to improvement is being able to objectively identify which academic areas to strengthen. It is always possible to improve and succeed academically with proper organization, goals, and a guide. I have tutored clients in subjects ranging from the MCAT, physiology, biology, physics, chemistry, SATs, ACTs, Regents, and many more subjects.I took the MCAT and received a score of 34, 12 in Physical Sciences, 11 in Verbal Reasoning, and 11 in Biological Sciences, which placed me in the 93rd percentile of all test takers. I understand the struggles of preparing for medical school and can impart my past experiences and strategies to create a personalized plan with you in order to significantly increase your score. As long as you're ready to study smart with my guidance, the sky is the limit.With prior experience to teaching introductory and upper level basic science courses, I firmly believe you will be adequately prepared for your science classes. At Cornell, I was a teaching assistant for Comparative Physiology, where we were trained in learning strategies and principles of pedagogy. We were assigned to groups of students who showed difficulty in mastering the content for the course. Through using guides study sheets, spaced learning and electronic resources, my students were able to do 1 standard deviation higher compared to the class. Afterwards, I became a Senior Teaching assistant to help other Teaching Assistants in their group sessions. My other tasks included peer tutoring in the Office of Undergraduate Biology in all of the biology, chemistry and physics courses.Through my experience, I have recognized the importance in placing comprehension over memorization on my own grades and the students I have tutored so far. I have been able to help students in various high school and university level science courses and standardized tests to achieve the results they desire. The first part of that journey is to determine what learning style the student is in order to fully maximize their learning potential. Along with proper review at timed intervals using various resources, my students and clients have been able to achieve long-term memory retention and improved problem solving skills. I will ensure you will receive a professional service you deserve just as I intend to serve my future patients with the highest quality of care. As your mentor, I will work with you to fully comprehend the material and excel in your endeavors towards a better future.

SAT Scores
Composite1470
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Certified Tutor
Katrina
Current Undergrad Student, Biological and Physical Sciences Cornell University
7+ Years Tutoring

I am currently a student at Cornell University. I've returned to my hometown of Holly Springs for the summer and am looking forward to working with students who went through the same experiences I did. My tutoring experiences began with my little sister and gradually expanded as I continued through high school. Now that I'm in college, I think I can offer great insight into how to achieve great test scores and everything else that may be useful for getting into college.My tutoring strategies focus heavily on working closely with my students and developing a close rapport with them. I can't wait to get to know every one of them!

ACT Scores
Composite35
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Certified Tutor
Ben
BA Cornell University
9+ Years Tutoring

I recently graduated from Cornell University with a degree in English. I love all things literature and writing related. I have previous tutoring experience, having tutored 15 hours per week for 6 months at 826 Boston, a local non-profit focused on helping students develop creative writing and reading skills outside of the classroom. I am currently in the process of applying to PhD programs in English.When I'm not studying, I'm usually traveling or planning my next trip. I just returned from two months in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile, where I hopped from town to town and explored a new part of the world. Next I'm looking ahead to an extended hiking trip along the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado this summer. Backpacking and canoeing are my preferred modes of travel.I'm available to tutor anything English related- grammar, vocabulary, reading, essay writing, essay editing, college essay writing and editing, and the GRE verbal and analytic writing sections. My availability is flexible and includes evenings and weekends. I'm passionate about English, and I hope to share my enthusiasm with students.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who attended or graduated from Cornell University, one of the nation's most rigorous institutions. These tutors bring firsthand experience navigating Cornell's demanding coursework, which translates to deeper subject mastery and proven problem-solving strategies. They understand what it takes to succeed in challenging academic environments and can guide students through similar obstacles.

Cornell tutors excel across a wide range of subjects including STEM fields (engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics), humanities, social sciences, and business. Many Cornell graduates specialized in their respective fields during their undergraduate or graduate studies, giving them deep expertise. Whether you need help with AP Calculus, organic chemistry, college essays, or test prep for standardized exams, you can get matched with a tutor who has mastered these subjects.

Cornell alumni tutors understand the rigor and expectations of top-tier academics because they've lived it. They can share effective study strategies that worked for them, help you develop critical thinking skills, and provide perspective on how to approach difficult material. Beyond subject knowledge, they often bring insights into college preparation, academic planning, and the mindset needed to excel at competitive institutions.

Yes. Tutors who worked with Varsity Tutors and attended Cornell have demonstrated mastery in their areas of expertise through their successful completion of Cornell's rigorous curriculum. Many hold advanced degrees, teach at universities, or work professionally in their fields. When you connect with a tutor, you'll have transparency into their background and qualifications to ensure a great match for your specific learning goals.

Absolutely. Many Cornell graduates have personal experience taking the SAT, ACT, and Advanced Placement exams—and scoring competitively for admission to a selective institution like Cornell. They understand what test makers are looking for and can teach you the strategies and content mastery needed to improve your score. Their experience with high-stakes testing and rigorous preparation methods translates well to helping you reach your test goals.

Definitely. If you're taking advanced high school courses or preparing to enter college, a Cornell alumnus tutor can provide valuable guidance on transitioning to college-level work. They've navigated this themselves and can help you develop strong study habits, time management skills, and the academic independence needed to thrive in higher education. This preparation can make a significant difference in your first-year success.

Varsity Tutors makes the connection process straightforward. Simply share your learning goals, preferred subjects, and schedule availability. You'll be matched with a tutor from Cornell's alumni network who fits your needs. From there, you can discuss your specific challenges and work together on a customized learning plan tailored to help you succeed.

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