Award-Winning Tutors from Duke University

I am a graduate student in the Masters of Interdisciplinary Data Science Program at Duke University. Previously, I worked at Student Support Services in Puerto Rico as a Data Analyst, and, prior to that position, I worked as a Math and English tutor. Throughout my life, I have tutored college kids from less privileged backgrounds, who carry different types of academic and personal struggles, and I empathized a lot with them. I know the feeling of walking in to a classroom and understanding nothing, the void that forms in your head. My goal is for people to understand and learn. Once you learn a concept, nothing can break your foundations.

I am a graduate of Duke University, as well as Duquesne University. I received my Bachelor of Arts in political science and German with a focus on international relations and twentieth century totalitarian regimes. I received my Master of Arts in Public Policy Management with a focus on energy policy, particularly unconventional hydrocarbons like shale gas. During my undergraduate studies, I spent 6 months living in Berlin, Germany as part of a full-immersion language acquisition program. Professionally, I spent almost a decade as a small business owner, operating my own financial planning firm. I decided to return for higher education because of a deep interest in energy markets, developed during my career as a financial advisor. While I tutor a broad range of subjects, I am most passionate about Economics (particularly microeconomics), Political Science, History, and Math. In my experience helping struggling students prepare for Standardized Tests like the GRE, I have seen the most success assisting students in understanding the logic of these exams, how they have been constructed, and what the best approach for leveraging that knowledge is. I have a deep commitment to education. Education is necessary not just for establishing employable skills, but more importantly to create an informed population. In my spare time, I enjoy blacksmithing and knifemaking, playing my drums and guitar, listening to a wide array of music, and spending as much time as possible with my family.

As much as I see myself as a qualified, knowledgeable tutor, I think it's just as important for me to motivate, lead, inspire, and mentor my students. Do you have test anxiety? Math anxiety, specifically? Is it difficult for you to create, organize, and execute a study plan? Or do you simply want straightforward, content-based prep and study help? In either case, I'm excited to help you achieve your academic and standardized test goals.My academic credentials consist of a BA in Political Science and German from the University of Rhode Island, and a Master's degree in Environmental Management from Duke University. I speak German and Spanish. I'm confident tutoring several standardized tests, including SSAT, ISEE, SAT, ACT, and GRE.

I graduated Cum Laude from Duke University with a B.A. in Philosophy and a minor in Political Science. I'm currently working towards a J.D. at Columbia Law School. Before joining Varsity Tutors, I tutored the LSAT for a private company, both as a classroom teacher and in one-on-one tutorials. Building off that experience, I will be working for Varsity Tutors, helping people prepare for the LSAT as well as the SAT and the ACT. I have really enjoyed my experience assisting students in test preparation. In my experience, students first approach tests in an ad hoc fashion, and often with a fair bit of trepidation and hesitancy. I find it tremendously satisfying to help students conquer those initial hurdles and gain a feeling of mastery and confidence. I am patient, and I encourage my students to be patient as well. I also help students faceand in so doing, conquertheir fear of failure. We practice not fearing mistakes, but seeing them as opportunities to learn, hone skills, and grow more confident. One of my strongest attributes as a tutor is my ability to break down complex ideas into clear and accessible language. There is nothing more gratifying than working through a difficult concept with a student and know they truly understand it and can put it into practice. In my free time I enjoy reading. Some of my favorite authors are George R. R. Martin (the author A Game of Thrones) and Junot Diaz. I also enjoy spending time with friends, often playing competitive board games, such as The Settlers of Catan.

I am a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology at Duke University. My job requires excellent mathematics, analytic, and writing skills, which are also my favorite subjects to teach. I have experience teaching kids in elementary, middle, and high school, as well as college-aged students. My particular expertise is in managing attention and assisting with executive functioning (e.g., time management and planning).

I have a Ph.d in economics from Florida International University. I also have a masters in economics from Duke University and a B.S. from American University. I have taught economics in colleges and universities for over 20 years concentrating on principles courses which includes all AP econ. courses. I love economics and find it fascinating as every time a decision is made it involves economics and that includes decision on who you date and marry and where you live. When not teaching I love to read. I read a lot of non fiction from authors like Steven Pinker or Malcolm Gladwell. I am also involved in making society more accessible to people who are disabled.

I am a 2021 graduate from Duke University where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, with Distinction. At Duke, I also minored in Global Health and Chemistry and was a recipient of the Benjamin N. Duke full-ride scholarship based on leadership, service, and academics. I will be attending Yale Medical School as a member of the entering class of 2022. Having recently navigated the medical school application process with many interviews and acceptances, I have begun helping others with their essay writing and application prep. I come from a large Caribbean family and I love learning about other cultures while sharing my own. I enjoy teaching and have worked with everyone from Kindergarteners to middle and high school students to college students and even older adults! My primary teaching experience and interests are all elementary and middle school subjects, biology (through college level), beginner Spanish, essay writing, and test prep/study skills. I have also been an art educator for K-10 and adults!

As a student pursuing a Bachelor's in Chemistry from Duke University, I am passionate about sharing my knowledge and enthusiasm for the sciences and mathematics. Though I have experience in tutoring, I view every session as an opportunity to foster a supportive learning environment where students feel comfortable to ask questions and explore concepts deeply. My specialties include ACT and SAT preparation, as well as subjects like Algebra, Calculus, and Chemistry. I believe in a hands-on approach that encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills. I am dedicated to helping students not only achieve their academic goals but also develop a genuine interest in learning.

Hello! My name is Charlie, and I am a junior at Duke University studying Economics. I specialize in SAT prep and have tutored 10+ students for over 300 hours. My tutoring style is flexible and low-pressure. I focus on building real understanding, not just memorizing steps, and I will meet you where you are and adjust each session to your learning style. I look forward to meeting you!

I have been tutoring Spanish for over 15 years, from Beginner through Advanced, including AP and college-level. I am patient, reliable, and good at simplifying and explaining complex ideas. I love teaching and helping people to learn. I graduated with a degree in Spanish from Duke University and also hold a master's in International Relations from NYU.

I am a rising junior at Duke University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy Studies. Over the course of my studies, I have developed an extreme interest in education policy. I’ve had the great opportunity to work with the BOOST program at Duke University to use science and technology to inspire economically challenged and underrepresented students in Durham’s public schools. Although I am capable of tutoring a wide variety of subjects, I am most passionate about English and writing. In addition to my major, I’m pursuing minors in English and History, for I consider the arts and humanities to be a crucial part of a holistic and fun education. I’m a kind and easygoing person who relates well to others. In addition to being a tutor for students, I plan on being a mentor; I plan on being someone that students can turn to for advice on admissions, college life, and more. At Duke, I’m an active member of many organizations, including social life, a cappella, and political clubs. In my free time, I enjoy reading, exercising, cooking, singing, and spending time with friends.

I am a freshman at Duke University in the Pratt School of Engineering. I plan on majoring in Civil or Environmental Engineering, as well as Economics. While I am qualified to tutor a range of subjects from math and science to ACT prep, I get the most excited when working on improving a student's writing because it is such a beautiful process. Sparking students' curiosity and excitement is the most rewarding part of tutoring, and I make it my mission to achieve that with all students I work with. In my free time, I am involved in a variety of groups on campus such as the triathlon club, FEMMES (a female-oriented STEM tutoring club), and The Chronicle, which is Duke's student newspaper. I also enjoy reading, running and baking all sorts of delicious delicacies.

I am a motivated, eager, curious individual with a passion for helping others learn. I bring a diverse range of experiences with over 4 years of tutoring experience, including ACT, SAT, PSAT tutoring, college essay editing. I have also worked for 2 years with America Read America Counts, and spent summer of 2016 tutoring 12-18 year old girls in Cusco, Peru.

I am an incoming first-year medical student with a deep passion for the human body and mind. As a student who thrived with tutoring, I love teaching students how to think about problems and answer tough questions.

I am a recent graduate of Duke University, where I obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 2014. I am primarily a math tutor but I also enjoy teaching chemistry and physics. Math was always my favorite subject in high school and I continued my love of math at Duke. I have also been a middle school and high school tutor throughout my time at Duke through the Program in Education. One of my crowning achievements at Duke was winning the DT Stallings Award, which is awarded to a Duke senior who has shown sustained and dedicated service to tutoring local school children. When I am tutoring a student, I prefer a very hands-on approach. I love working out problems with my students after working through an example problem completely. By working problems out with my students, I am able to help them if and when they get stuck. I hope to convey to every student the ability to think logically and persevere when things seem difficult.Outside of math and tutoring, I am a huge sports fan and novel reader. Since I graduated from Duke, I have a fierce love for all things Blue Devils and I really enjoyed watching Duke Basketball in Cameron Indoor Stadium. One of my favorite things to do is to read a novel while listening to my iPod.

I have tutored many people in the past - from elementary school kids to Duke University athletes. I really enjoy the challenge of helping students understand material that was previously foreign to them. I am highly dedicated, make my own lessons and try to make learning as fun as possible.

I am a graduate of Duke University. I received my Bachelor of Science in Economics with a concentration on Finance. I am passionate about helping students with Math and Science subjects, and I would love to help students on the Math section of the SAT as well as the SAT II Math subject tests. I don't like to think of learning as a boring experience where one just memorizes facts but rather a fun discovery of new ideas and concepts.

I love to learn and to help others learn, a pleasure I had for nearly forty years as a college instructor in writing and literature at The College of Wooster in Ohio. Although I taught many classes in these subjects, much of my teaching was done in one-on-one conferences on how to write for a variety of purposes: explanations, arguments, analyses, research, poetry and fiction. I worked with writers from those having basic difficulties to sophisticated seniors working on complex research papers or creative collections of stories and poems.My primary approach is first to try to understand you as a learner, to identify not just problems but also how you work best with a particular style, and to devise a way of learning that fits both you and the form of writing to be developed. Although a writer needs to understand the "rules," such as grammar, the goal is to discover how you can learn to use both the rules and your knowledge and creativity for your own purposes.In literature, my tutoring begins with an emphasis on comprehending the text, identifying patterns and themes, and finally coming to an analysis or interpretation that arises from this understanding and makes sense of as many aspects as possible. Literary interpretation is not a mysterious game, iibut a skill that can be learned and practiced by you with excellent results.In tutoring for tests, such as the GRE or SAT, my approach focuses on understanding the kinds of thinking the tests want to identify, the ways in which the questions try to identify them, and the best strategies for answering the kinds of questions asked. Importantly too, I help the you to recognize your past experiences with these questions--perhaps in other forms--as an important way of easing anxiety about the tests.I am a patient, understanding and experienced tutor, mentor and teacher. My basic belief is that people learn best from encouragement and practice that brings insight, and never from ridicule or harshness. I look forward to working with you to improve your skills in the subjects and goals you want to work on.

My name is Callie, and I recently graduated from Duke University with a major in Biology and a minor in Environmental Policy. I am currently doing research on personalized therapies for glioblastoma brain tumors at the Duke Medical Center, before I continue on to medical school. I love to swim, walk my pug dog, and hang out with family and friends in my free time. I hope I can help you in your studies. I look forward to working with you!

Hello! I have teaching experience in Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology for high school. I taught these subjects at Frank W. Ballou Senior High School in Southeast, Washington, DC from 2010-2012. I will be applying to medical school and am looking to use my teaching experience to tutor high school and college students in the area. I graduated from Duke University with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering, with minors in Chemistry and Neuroscience. I also have a Masters of Arts in Teaching High School Science from American University. Please let me know if you need help, I am flexible on hours.

With a degree in Mathematics, a Master's in Engineering, and 36+ years at GE Aerospace as a design engineer, I bring real-world insight to tutoring general mathematics, algebra, geometry, and statistics. I help high school and college students understand not just how to solve problemsbut why they work. Will help you learn to break down complex concepts, improve your grades, and build lasting problem-solving skills.

I graduated from Duke University, receiving my Bachelor of Science, majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology. I have often assisted in teaching my friends, younger family members, and classmates, helping them to understand concepts they were struggling with. While I can teach several subjects, I am most passionate about teaching mathematics. Math has always been a subject that I have not only shown proficiency in but also enjoyed. My teaching style is highly interactive. Rather than exclusively lecturing, I would like to have my students work through practice problems, taking the time to explain concepts and show example problems when they get stuck. I believe that education is essential to growth and opening many future opportunities. I hope to show my students that learning is more than just going through the motions and is truly valuable. In my free time, I enjoy running and playing music.

I am currently an undergraduate student at Duke University. I plan on pursuing a B.S. in statistical science with a minor in music. During my time in high school, I taught saxophone to middle school students. I would be happy to tutor various math subjects such as SAT Math, calculus I (AP Calculus AB), algebra, and pre-algebra. I would also be happy to teach saxophone and music theory and work on college application essays.

I am a professional tutor specializing in academic writing and verbal/writing SAT and PSAT prep. I graduated in 2014 from Duke University with a degree in Cultural Anthropology and Theater Studies. My past tutoring experiences include a year with the Duke Athletics Department tutoring undergraduate athletes in anthropology, critical reading, and college-level writing. I have tutored with America Reads/America Counts (ARAC) and co-founded a tutoring program that continues to serve the language education needs of refugee youth in Durham, NC. I’m passionate about not only teaching students the material they need to be successful, but also how to think critically and independently.I start my tutoring sessions with a simple and individualized evaluation—sometimes I will look over students’ past work or practice tests to supplement a discussion about goals for our time together. Once we move on to subject material, my approach is to start with what students already know. When we’re faced with a seemingly impossible essay prompt or test question, we always have piece of knowledge that can help. I help students learn how to use their existing bodies of knowledge to find a way to a solution. We then work on building a toolbox of techniques they can use to handle the kinds of questions and tasks that are particularly challenging for them.I have two big picture goals for my students. First, I want them to leave my sessions feeling heard. I want to address my students’ most pressing questions and concerns, so I strive to create an environment where they’re comfortable articulating them. Second, I want them to walk into their tests or classrooms feeling confident. Even if they won’t know every answer, they'll have strategies and some tricks up their sleeves that will allow them to reach their personal education goals.

I am a rising senior at Duke University who is Pre Med and majoring in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. I was born and raised in Miami FL and went to public school until college (Sunset Elementary, GW Carver Middle and Coral Reef Senior High for those from Miami). I decided to start tutoring because I would not be on this path had I not had good teachers supporting me along the way. For that reason I want to be able to help others achieve their goals without academics being a huge hurdle.I have a broad set of interests but, most of them tend to be on the geekier side. For instance, I love playing video games, Dungeons and Dragons and board games with my friends. I also play tennis and soccer regularly and played soccer with an intramural team last year. Otherwise, I love to read for fun, in addition to the occasional academic article on American or Japanese culture.When I tutor I am always energetic, passionate and try to get my students as excited as I am. I am capable in a variety of fields but in particular l am very interested in language and culture. I am a native Spanish speaker and I have been studying Japanese since I entered college. I hope to be open and easily accessible for all of my students needs whether it be an extra session or a question that I can answer over text.

I am a graduate of Duke University, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Cultural Theory. I am currently completing my PhD in English Literature at the University of Virginia. My dissertation focuses on 20th Century U.S. Fiction, but I also have a strong interest in African-American literature, film studies, popular culture, and gender theory. At UVa, I have taught literature courses as well as first-year writing seminars, which have focused on topics including the American Dream, Gender and Sexuality, and Borders and Frontiers. My favorite things about teaching writing are working individually with students to help them brainstorm ideas and articulate their point of view in their clearest, strongest voice, and seeing their work become stronger across each draft they revise. When working with students in my literature classes at UVa and the North Carolina Governor's School, I especially enjoy helping students develop strategies for careful, critical reading. My years of teaching and tutoring have led me to the firm belief that literary analysis and clear writing are not mysterious talents that you either have or you don'tinstead, I believe anyone can become a better interpreter of literature and a better writer with practice and encouragement. In my free time, I enjoy walking my dog, trying out new recipes in the kitchen, going to art museums, and catching up on "Game of Thrones" or "Project Runway."

Hey, my name is Nitin Nagarajan, and I am a rising senior studying biomedical engineering. Orginially from Gadsden, AL, I excelled in many AP classes and the ACT and PSAT in high school. I only took the ACT once and received a 35 in my sophomore year, and became a National Merit Finalist the following year. I also have gotten 5s in APUSH, English Lit and Lang, and have high scores in a number of other AP courses. In college, I have taken several STEM classes, and are quite comfortable with a wide variety of topics.

I have always been passionate about tutoring students to help them succeed! I have over five years of tutoring experience in ACT prep, SAT prep, Economics, English, US History, etc.I am currently a senior at Duke University studying Public Policy and Economics. I will be entering the field of management consulting upon graduation.

Over twenty years of teaching and tutoring, I've helped many students understand mathematical principles and problem-solving techniques, focusing on increasing students' skills and confidence.

I am a senior at Duke University, expecting to graduate in May 2020. I have experience tutoring college students in Spanish and biology.I have personally taken many of the important exams needed to get in to college (ACT, SAT and IB) and so can very much understand what students are going through.I primarily tutor biology for high school and first year college students, as well as high school and college Spanish.I believe in letting the students explain the areas they are having difficulty with and working through examples together, before allowing them to show me what they have learnt by completing some examples alone.

Hello, I'm Richard and I love teaching. There are few things more rewarding than being able to create enthusiasm for a subject area. My favorites are math, physics and music. I grew up Spanish bilingual and can teach in both languages having TA'd college level Spanish courses. I also lived in Germany for a year and can help students with that. I have a B.S. in Math, B.S. in Physics and a masters degree in Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space sciences. I also work as a professional musician and am a very organized and dedicated freelancer.

Besides my mother, my daughters and my late wife, I consider my best teachers (the greatest influences in my life) to have come from Bunny Land A-Cat-A-Me, Johnston Middle School, Bellaire High, Duke University, Stanford Law School and the Vancouver Film School. They pushed, inspired and taught me in richly different ways. They lead me to find joy in knowledge and fluency, in the process fanning a non-stop yearning to learn and to share.I have tutored Advanced Placement students, executives changing careers, and those who believe they can do better academically or on achievement tests. I have instructed lawyers on contemporary legal issues, taught middle and high school students how to craft screenplays, and coached law students in mock trial competitions and middle school basketball teams. I enjoy working with students on French, writing skills, essay editing, American History, LSAT prep, middle school math, geography, government and organizational skills.I treat each student individually, and tailor our sessions to his or her learning styles, and aspirations (and of course, those of their parents). If, as a team, we can achieve the goals we set, and enhance the student's enjoyment and mastery of their unique learning process, I will have done my job.

Hi! My name is Sid Ravi; I am a current sophomore at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina! I am studying Economics, with a Finance concentration, Documentary Studies, and African and African American Studies. I have tutored for many years in subjects like the SAT, Math, and Sciences. I am a substitute teacher in Wake County, the capital county in North Carolina, and have been doing so for the past year and a half. I am very interested in tutoring you and look forward to working with you to meet your goals!

As a dedicated tutor, I bring a wealth of academic achievements and 3+ years of experience to the table. With scores of 36 on the ACT and 1550 on the SAT, coupled with my rigorous education at Duke University, where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Evolutionary Anthropology and Global Health with a minor in Chemistry, I understand the intricacies of standardized testing and higher education. My academic journey culminated in scoring in the 98th percentile on the MCAT and securing acceptance to over 7 medical schools, including the Emory University School of Medicine, where I currently pursue my M.D. These experiences equip me with the knowledge and insights to guide students toward their academic goals with confidence and success.

I'm Rob! I graduated from Duke University in 2016 with a double major in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Economics. I've been a math teacher in the DOE for the last 2 years and have a Master's of Arts in Teaching. I specialize in high school math and test prep for the ACT, SAT, and GRE.As a math teacher for the last 2 years, I've found that students often aren't given enough time in the classroom to fully grasp new concepts before moving on to new material. This often leads to "gaps" in their knowledge, which are hard to fill without providing them with 1-on-1 help. This is how I can benefit my students the most, by providing the the 1-on-1 attention they need. When I start with a new student, I first work to identify the gaps in their knowledge, and then methodically fill in those gaps to help them reach a stronger conceptual understanding.I want to help my students as much as possible. As part of my approach, I like to understand my students' long term academic or professional goals to make sure I'm working with them in a way that's most beneficial to those goals.I live in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. I'm can do remote sessions or in-person. Please contact me if you would like to set up a free 15 minute consultation!

My philosophy for tutoring is rooted in my commitment to developing students into the best versions of themselves. I focus on utilizing a student's strengths and interests to create engaging learning plans, I provide helpful frameworks for effective studying, and I strive to encourage a love of learning that makes the subject matter more accessible. I have been tutoring in a variety of ways for several years, and I particularly love Writing, Reading Comprehension, Test Prep, and Finance.

Hi! I'm Lance, a recent graduate with a Master's degree in Business Analytics from Duke University and a Bachelor's degree in Joint Mathematics-Economics from the University of California, San Diego. With a strong background in mathematics and extensive experience as a long-time volunteer at the Boys & Girls Club, I am passionate about helping students excel in their studies and beyond. Subjects I Offer Tutoring In: Math: Algebra I, Algebra II, Calculus, Elementary Math, Geometry, Middle School Math, Pre-Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Quantitative Reasoning, Statistics, Trigonometry Test Prep: SAT, ACT, GRE Languages: Chinese (Mandarin) I believe in the power of education to change lives. My approach is rooted in the idea that "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." I focus not just on solving problems, but on building the skills and confidence that students need to tackle challenges independently. Whether you're looking to master math concepts, prepare for standardized tests, or learn Mandarin, I'm here to guide you every step of the way. Why Choose Me? Proven academic track record with a strong foundation in mathematics and analytics Experience working with students of all ages through my volunteer work at the Boys & Girls Club Personalized teaching approach tailored to each student's needs and learning style Passionate about making learning engaging and effective Let's work together to achieve your goals! Contact me today to schedule your first session and take the first step towards academic and personal success.

Hi! My name is Michelle, and I am an incoming CSE PhD student at the University of Michigan. I graduated from Duke University with a B.S. in Computer Science and Sociology in May 2025. I am passionate about making meaningful connections with students and helping others understand high-level concepts!

I am a rising sophomore at Duke University and am double majoring in Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science with a minor in Economics. I love problem solving and analyzing situations creatively and enjoy studying the real-world applications that accompany engineering. I mostly tutor math and science courses and hope to illustrate my passion for these subjects to my students.

My name is Kimanthi Gicovi and I am currently a first-year medical school student. Prior to med school, I graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering and received my Master's degree in Biomedical Studies from Drexel College of Medicine. I have over 6 years of experience tutoring individual students and also worked as a teaching assistant at the graduate school level. I am passionate about teaching and working with students. I have experience working with high school, college and graduate students and have a subject expertise that include Biology, Physics, Math, Physiology, Biochemistry.My approach to tutoring is focused on helping students build a strong foundational understanding of concepts, strengthening their ability to critically think and apply their knowledge.In my personal time, I enjoy traveling, cooking and exploring 3D printing as a hobby.