David
Certified Tutor
Reflecting on my educational experiences, I appreciate the immeasurable impact that my former teachers and professors have contributed to my academic success. As a recent graduate, I realize the skills and knowledge acquired in their classrooms have been instrumental in creating opportunities for my academic, personal, and career advancement. Therefore, as a tutor, I hope to inspire the same level of confidence that will enable my students to think critically and bestow upon them the knowledge, motivation, and strategies needed to succeed in their academic endeavors.
As an experienced student who has navigated across the spectrum of academia, I know how stressful exam preparation / grade performance can be for ambitious students. With my proven method of test preparation that I used for the SAT, GRE, and GMAT, I can help students plan and execute a strategy that will improve their scores. Similarly, from achieving 700 on the SAT Math to writing a 90 page graduate dissertation, I possess a range of math/language skills that I can pass to my students so that they can surpass their peers and rise to the top of the class.
Education:
Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School, 2005
Pennsylvania State University, 2010
BS Supply Chain Management, Smeal College of Business (#5 US News and World Report, Undergraduate Rankings By Major)
Stanley Druckenmiller Scholarship Recipient
New York University, 2013 (Accelerated 1 Year Program)
MA Cinema Studies, Tisch School of the Arts (#2 USA Today, Graduate Rankings by Major)
University of Pittsburgh, 2014 (Accelerated 1 Year Program)
MBA, Katz Graduate School of Business (#23 Financial Times, MBA Rankings by Public Institution)
May M. Gregg Endowment Scholarship Recipient
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Undergraduate Degree: Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus - Bachelors, Supply Chain Management
Graduate Degree: New York University - Masters, Film
- SAT Math: 700
Golfing, Camping, Hiking, Fishing, Painting, Sketching, Traveling, Film, Screenwriting, Cooking
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- Arithmetic
- College Algebra
- College English
- College Essays
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- Essay Editing
- Geometry
- High School English
- Homework Support
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Other
- Pre-Algebra
- Reading
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- Statistics
- Test Prep
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
I never lecture to a student. Rather, I guide them through each problem, ensuring that they build the confidence needed to approach and complete it on their own.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Speak with the student about their goals and expectations. Then, we will design a strategy that will help them achieve their goals.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Never provide an answer to a difficult problem. Allow the student to work through the problem on their own and coach them when they run into difficulties.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Success does not happen overnight. The student and I will review their work each week, which will show modest but noticeable improvements in their abilities. These results will encourage the student to continue their efforts of achieving their academic goals.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I will switch my method of instruction until we find a suitable strategy that the student can connect with.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Utilize outside resources such as magazine articles, newspaper op-eds, and short stories, which are the perfect size to cultivate reading comprehension skills. These resources are less intimidating and confusing due to their succinctness, making them suitable for this type of exercise.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Be relatable, patient, and most importantly, never criticize a student's failure. Focus on the positive efforts and guide them towards the correct answer when they begin to stray.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Find a way to relate that subject to current events that the student has a particular interest with.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Short quizzes following the completion of a topic or exercise.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Allow them to identify their mistakes so they learn what to avoid when approaching a similar problem again.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Review their test scores, and speak to them about which subjects they feel they need help with.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
Pick a methodology and run with it. If there is any friction or failure to absorb the subject material, then switch to a method that is more suitable for the student.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
A combination of the prescribed textbooks along with external materials.