Search
Mike D.'s Photo

18+ Years Exp. Math Tutoring; Data Scientist + LookML/Python Engineer
Mike D.

4.7 (10 ratings)

20 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $73
Contact Mike
Response time: 8 hours
Mike D.'s Photo

18+ Years Exp. Math Tutoring; Data Scientist + LookML/Python Engineer
18+ Years Exp. Math Tutoring; Data Scientist + LookML/Python Engineer
Mike D.

4.7 (10 ratings)

20 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
4.7 (10 ratings)

20 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

About Mike

Bio

Hello! I've been tutoring since 2006. I specialize in all math subjects but also handle test prep for ACT, SAT, and other tests. I am partially qualified as an actuary, having passed the first two actuarial exams (P/1 and FM/2), but I decided to become a data scientist instead. I've worked in finance and technology for all eight years of my professional career, after obtaining my bachelor's degree in Statistics, Math, and Economics as a National Merit Scholar at Northwestern University.

In...

Hello! I've been tutoring since 2006. I specialize in all math subjects but also handle test prep for ACT, SAT, and other tests. I am partially qualified as an actuary, having passed the first two actuarial exams (P/1 and FM/2), but I decided to become a data scientist instead. I've worked in finance and technology for all eight years of my professional career, after obtaining my bachelor's degree in Statistics, Math, and Economics as a National Merit Scholar at Northwestern University.

In high school, I received a 35 on the ACT (36 Math, 36 English, 33 Reading, 35 Science) as well as a 1490 on the SAT (800 Math, 690 Reading). I tutored about 30 students individually during my college years at a well-known, prestigious tutoring center in the North Shore suburbs of Chicago, focusing on high school mathematics. My services were well-reviewed by students and parents, and I used my success there to launch my own local tutor-matching service that operated for a few years in and around the Chicago area.

I am a big math enthusiast and I strive to not only help students understand the material, but to get excited about it! When I detect that a student is struggling with a specific explanation of a concept, I keep coming up with different ways to describe the concept until the student has a breakthrough. Over time I pick up on the various learning styles a student has, and it allows us to cover a lot of ground in a short time.

For professionals who work with big data - I am a Certified LookML Developer since November 2019 and can teach you how to use Looker, the world's leading Business Intelligence software. I've been using Looker and developing in LookML since February 2015. I am also a qualified Python engineer, with a heavy focus on data applications using Pandas. In my free time I have been known to use the Django web framework to build web projects in Python.

Contact me for more information! I prefer to do lessons online, but can schedule in-person sessions as well. I am now based in Denver, Colorado, but occas

Read more

Education

Northwestern University
Stats, Math, Econ

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $73
  • Rate details: Very flexible 1-hr cancellation policy. Life happens! 20% rate discount for students who schedule 6 or more hours in a 30-day period. Group rate: $30/hour/person. Bring your friends and save!
  • Lesson cancellation: 1 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 1/15/2020

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

Loading...

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Approved Subjects

Business

Finance,

Finance

I worked in the financial industry for 8 years and have a deep understanding of financial mathematics. As part of my economics and statistics majors in college, I took various finance-related courses including business accounting, corporate finance, and financial statistics. Back when I thought I wanted to be an actuary, I passed the "FM/2" actuarial exam covering the topic of financial mathematics. I also once ran a startup that was an SEC-registered investment advisor firm and so I have a great deal of legal/compliance knowledge as well.
Series 3

Series 3

As an algorithmic analyst and trader for Superfund Asset Management, I was required to pass the Series 3 exam. My license and NFA membership were issued in October 2011. The license expired in September 2014, two years after I left Superfund. I am confident I could pass the Series 3 exam today as I still maintain a strong interest in the futures market and have done my own personal day trading in the years since leaving Superfund.

Computer

Computer Programming,

Computer Programming

I've been coding since I was 8 years old and discovered a little file on my parents' computer called "qbasic.exe". From there I started downloading qbasic programs from AOL, modifying them and figuring out how they worked. I went on to teach myself Java, VBA, and bits of C and C++. I later prototyped my startup's app in C#, became a Ruby on Rails developer for a while, and now use LookML and Python regularly! There are more languages I've used but these are the big ones.
DOS,

DOS

I first taught myself how to use DOS on my parents' Windows 3.1 computer as a six-year-old child. I had to use DOS to run many of the video games I used to enjoy playing, and became very familiar with the command line and how to browse around. Today I keep my DOS skills sharp with DOSBox, an emulator system that provides a very convincing DOS-like environment that runs on modern machines.
General Computer,

General Computer

I'm 34 years old and I've been the neighborhood "computer guy" since the age of 6. I started learning to code when I was 8, and have experience with most major operating systems. I've used a ton of different pieces of software for both recreational and business use, and today I use these skills to drive my e-commerce business. I also happen to be a Certified LookML Developer, if you are a Looker user who wants to learn more about Looker/LookML.
Python,

Python

I've been using Python both professionally and for personal projects for about 7 years. I am familiar with many use cases for Python, from basic scripting, to backend web development, to data science. I am a big fan of Django and Pandas but can help with most aspects of the language in general. I've also authored a few of my own packages. I'm also a Certified LookML Developer and particularly enjoy working with Python applications that integrate with Looker for analytics!
Ruby

Ruby

I have studied and used various programming languages throughout my life, but the only time I formally had the title of "Software Engineer" was as a Ruby on Rails developer. I worked on a loan origination platform backend for a large financial services company, helping to white-label our own software for several well-known U.S. banks. While today I usually prefer Python, I am still fond of Ruby's unique place as the backbone of many modern websites - including Wyzant!

Corporate Training

Finance,

Finance

I worked in the financial industry for 8 years and have a deep understanding of financial mathematics. As part of my economics and statistics majors in college, I took various finance-related courses including business accounting, corporate finance, and financial statistics. Back when I thought I wanted to be an actuary, I passed the "FM/2" actuarial exam covering the topic of financial mathematics. I also once ran a startup that was an SEC-registered investment advisor firm and so I have a great deal of legal/compliance knowledge as well.
General Computer

General Computer

I'm 34 years old and I've been the neighborhood "computer guy" since the age of 6. I started learning to code when I was 8, and have experience with most major operating systems. I've used a ton of different pieces of software for both recreational and business use, and today I use these skills to drive my e-commerce business. I also happen to be a Certified LookML Developer, if you are a Looker user who wants to learn more about Looker/LookML.

Elementary Education

Elementary Math

Elementary Math

I have a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Northwestern University. I've tutored students of all ages and levels of math for more than a decade. For elementary level students I enjoy helping them develop a strong ability to perform basic mental math, which will help lay the groundwork for a lifetime of success in many fields!

Homeschool

Piano,

Piano

I formally studied Piano for about 7 years from 1994 to 2001, learning various methods from five or six different teachers. For a year or two I was trained using the Suzuki method. While I didn't pursue music professionally, I remained engaged with the piano, playing regularly as a hobby and with a few short-lived bands in high school. During my college years I played keyboards in a rock band on my campus and have recently dabbled in electronic music synthesis with some MIDI controllers.
Precalculus

Precalculus

I studied precalculus as a sophomore in high school, laying the foundation for AP Calculus BC the following year and my math major in college. The principles I learned in precalculus come up again and again in advanced mathematics. I particularly enjoy teaching precalc because of its status as a "tipping point" in STEM studies - I believe that if you can succeed in precalculus, it opens many doors later on!

Math

Discrete Math,

Discrete Math

As an operations researcher both professionally and as a hobby, I have done much work on discrete-event simulation and queuing theory. While this is a hyper-specific example of discrete math, I've covered virtually every sub-topic of discrete math in my college courses, including set theory, combinatorics, number theory, probability, etc. Discrete math also appears frequently in my programming projects and I'm confident I can help students work through any issues they are having with this type of material.
Precalculus

Precalculus

I studied precalculus as a sophomore in high school, laying the foundation for AP Calculus BC the following year and my math major in college. The principles I learned in precalculus come up again and again in advanced mathematics. I particularly enjoy teaching precalc because of its status as a "tipping point" in STEM studies - I believe that if you can succeed in precalculus, it opens many doors later on!

Most Popular

Piano,

Piano

I formally studied Piano for about 7 years from 1994 to 2001, learning various methods from five or six different teachers. For a year or two I was trained using the Suzuki method. While I didn't pursue music professionally, I remained engaged with the piano, playing regularly as a hobby and with a few short-lived bands in high school. During my college years I played keyboards in a rock band on my campus and have recently dabbled in electronic music synthesis with some MIDI controllers.
Precalculus

Precalculus

I studied precalculus as a sophomore in high school, laying the foundation for AP Calculus BC the following year and my math major in college. The principles I learned in precalculus come up again and again in advanced mathematics. I particularly enjoy teaching precalc because of its status as a "tipping point" in STEM studies - I believe that if you can succeed in precalculus, it opens many doors later on!

Music

Piano

Piano

I formally studied Piano for about 7 years from 1994 to 2001, learning various methods from five or six different teachers. For a year or two I was trained using the Suzuki method. While I didn't pursue music professionally, I remained engaged with the piano, playing regularly as a hobby and with a few short-lived bands in high school. During my college years I played keyboards in a rock band on my campus and have recently dabbled in electronic music synthesis with some MIDI controllers.

Other

Finance

Finance

I worked in the financial industry for 8 years and have a deep understanding of financial mathematics. As part of my economics and statistics majors in college, I took various finance-related courses including business accounting, corporate finance, and financial statistics. Back when I thought I wanted to be an actuary, I passed the "FM/2" actuarial exam covering the topic of financial mathematics. I also once ran a startup that was an SEC-registered investment advisor firm and so I have a great deal of legal/compliance knowledge as well.

Sports/Recreation

Fitness,

Fitness

I started - and finished! - the 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2018 editions of the Chicago Marathon, with a PR of 4:26. I've been running for a little over a decade, and used to play football and volleyball competitively in high school. I know what it takes to train for a variety of sports, and I know the determination, dedication, and discipline you must exhibit in order to achieve real lasting fitness.
Martial Arts

Martial Arts

I began studying martial arts around the time I was six or seven and attained my black belt from National Karate in July 2001. The style of martial arts taught by National Karate is somewhat of a hybrid, largely based on Tae Kwon Do, but having elements of Karate, Hapkido, Jiu Jitsu, and a few other martial arts. Much of my studies were under Master Cristian Nelson, a 7th degree black belt, and Master John Mazzola, a 5th degree black belt.

Summer

Piano

Piano

I formally studied Piano for about 7 years from 1994 to 2001, learning various methods from five or six different teachers. For a year or two I was trained using the Suzuki method. While I didn't pursue music professionally, I remained engaged with the piano, playing regularly as a hobby and with a few short-lived bands in high school. During my college years I played keyboards in a rock band on my campus and have recently dabbled in electronic music synthesis with some MIDI controllers.

Test Preparation

Series 3

Series 3

As an algorithmic analyst and trader for Superfund Asset Management, I was required to pass the Series 3 exam. My license and NFA membership were issued in October 2011. The license expired in September 2014, two years after I left Superfund. I am confident I could pass the Series 3 exam today as I still maintain a strong interest in the futures market and have done my own personal day trading in the years since leaving Superfund.

Examples of Expertise

Mike has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 7 questions submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

See all of Mike ’s answers ›

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

4.7 (10 ratings)
5 star
(9)
4 star
(0)
3 star
(0)
2 star
(1)
1 star
(0)

Reviews

Fantastic Python Tutor!

I am in my first semester of graduate school and programming classes so I needed someone to tutor me who has in depth experience and understanding of Python and is not just a Python hobbyist. Then I found Mike! Mike helped me with functions, ranges, and functions in lists as I had hit a wall with this basic concept. Mike was able to work out innovative solutions to my problems and teach me exactly how Python was interpreting each line of code and what it was spitting back out. Mike also has been available outside of our lessons for quick answers to questions that I have with functions that are new to me. Mike was very professional, sincere, and easy to understand and work with. When you speak to him about programming it is apparent that he is an expert. I would recommend him to anyone who needs help with Python! Thank you Mike, you’re awesome!

Nyssa, 2 lessons with Mike

Knowledgeable Python Tutor

Mike helped me with Data Analytics/Python HW assignment. He was very patient and knowledgeable with me throughout our whole session! Will def be using him again in the future!

Nyesher, 2 lessons with Mike

excellent

Mike is awesome. Helped clarify stats and probability concepts for me. Really understands the business context too. I will definitely use him again. Thanks Mike!

Louis, 2 lessons with Mike

Great Teacher - Kind and Patient

Mike D. did a great job helping my 9 year old with long division and multiplication facts. My 9 year old gets frustrated easily and gives up quickly when he doesn’t understand something right away - hence our need for a tutor! Mike did a great job working with him, showing him how the problems work, and teaching him math facts. My son was comfortable with Mike and very happy to have the extra help outside of school and home.

Kara, 5 lessons with Mike
Hourly Rate: $73
Response time: 8 hours
Contact Mike