Michael
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: University of Southern California - Current Undergrad, Political Science and Government
SAT Composite (1600 scale): 1490
SAT Math: 700
SAT Verbal: 700
SAT Writing: 740
I enjoy making movies, traveling, and playing tennis above all else.
AP US History
Cell Biology
College Biology
High School Biology
Immunology
Medicine
Spanish 1
What is your teaching philosophy?
A test score is not the end of the word! The fact that you have asked for help is a testament to your motivation and desire to learn. I feel that every student has the ability to understand the material in any course. The reason why some struggle and some excel might be due to the differing ways in which we process information, the pressure we put on ourselves in the pursuit of high grades, or a combination of factors. My mission is to find the underlying factor that is causing a student to perform lower than his/her capabilities, and to solve this problem. This might be through stress-reducing methods, test-taking techniques, and doing as many types of test questions as possible, which I feel is vital to success. During my academic career, I have developed many methods that can be employed to attack a wide range of problems, from the SAT to the AP biology exam, and I would like to share these with you.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I would get to know the student as well as possible. We would have a conversation about what their interests are and what they like to do outside of school. Then I would figure out what their current methods are for studying, followed by a diagnostic test to see how they do under time pressure and how they attack different types of problems. Depending on the subject, my method would vary.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
You have to find a way to make the topic appeal to them personally. It is impossible to motivate a student to learn in any other way. It is about knowing the audience, which is why it is so important to get to know them.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
To show them how much progress they have made, and to give them new tools to help them maintain and build upon that progress. The results will come in time, and not immediately.