I've been tutoring, with a focus on test prep for the SAT/ACT and SSAT/SHSAT/ISEE/HSPT, since I graduated from Yale in 2011. I've worked with a few different elite companies and as a freelance tutor online and in person. My students have gone on to Brown, Yale, Northwestern, Stanford and more.

My job is two-fold: make sure my students know what they need to know AND make sure they feel comfortable by test day. I like to use real test materials to assess a student's skills and needs. From there, I will work from a variety of supplementary materials to fill in gaps, shine up rusty spots and establish excellent test habits. I like to start by learning the student's natural pace and aptitude and then design a plan that helps them develop necessary skills as well as a mindset that can carry them through test day.

So much of test prep, and school work in general, is about fostering a positive mindset. Big expectations can cause students to focus on their shortcomings and weaknesses in a way that kills their ability to learn and expand. After over a decade of connecting with students of all ages, I find my greatest skill (beyond trig, essay writing, grammar rules, etc) is meeting each student at their level. They can gain everything they need for success with a series of small steps. If they feel inspired to take those steps, there is nothing they can't do.