Shawn earned his Bachelor of Arts in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. Motivated by the belief that 90% of learning occurs beyond the classroom, he embarked on his tutoring journey several years ago. His extensive experience includes tutoring math, science, and reading for low-income students, teaching English to students in China, tutoring for UC Berkeley's Molecular and Cell Biology department, and serving as a teaching assistant for a biology course at Berkeley.
Shawn's passion for tutoring stems from his belief that true understanding of subjects goes beyond the confines of the classroom. He considers it a privilege to facilitate the learning of others, finding immense fulfillment in assisting others to grow, flourish, and grasp challenging concepts. He specializes in ACT, SAT, and HSPT tutoring, as well as biology, chemistry, math, and computer science at all levels, including AP.
Shawn adopts a hands-on tutoring approach, tailoring his sessions to suit each student's unique needs. He firmly believes that engaging in thorough discussions and providing well-curated resources enables students to attain academic success more efficiently. Shawn's sessions feature active discussions, rigorous practice problems, and comprehensive textbook readings. He prioritizes individualized attention, rejecting the notion of speed limits or predefined approaches to content. With his interdisciplinary professional expertise, he adeptly guides students to discover their own learning paths across science, math, and reading.
Shawn excels at providing positive reinforcement and fostering a supportive environment where students feel encouraged to make mistakes and embrace the learning process. When students encounter challenging subjects, he employs various strategies to break them down into manageable problems. He emphasizes understanding the broader significance of learning and relates concepts to real-world applications, hobbies, or interests to enhance engagement. By incorporating analogies, humor, or pop culture references, he offers fresh perspectives on topics, motivating students to stay focused. Additionally, Shawn utilizes visual aids, drawings, diagrams, and mnemonics to provide new insights and facilitate comprehension from various angles.
In his free time, Shawn likes playing electric guitar with his friends in their band and biking the trails around the East Bay area. He also enjoys creating video games, writing stories, and collecting interesting books and textbooks. One time he stuffed so many books in a box that it disintegrated and he had to pick through a book-valanche!
Sebastian completed his bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Chicago. While he currently works as a research manager for ECHO-Chicago, in partnership with the University of Chicago Medicine, he has been tutoring for five years. He initially began tutoring to simply help his friends and family achieve their educational goals before extending his support to other students. Sebastian has successfully assisted students in gaining admission to esteemed universities like the University of Chicago, Princeton, and Yale.
Sebastian's enthusiasm for tutoring comes from witnessing students transition from unfamiliarity to expertise in a subject. He specializes in ACT and SAT preparation.
Sebastian employs a student-led tutoring style, engaging students with questions and allowing them to guide the material discussion to ensure they get maximum benefit from the sessions. He complements this approach with feedback, suggestions on topic areas, and study tips to enhance the tutoring sessions. Recognizing the intricacies of standardized tests and college applications, Sebastian maintains a light-hearted approach, fosters a supportive environment, and always lends an empathetic ear. He guides students through learning blocks with constant encouragement and diverse resources.
Among Sebastian’s standout traits as a tutor is his ability to simplify complex concepts. As a firm believer that all knowledge is interconnected, he makes difficult content relatable to students to ensure they are able to process it in their own way.
Having lived in Chicago for 10 years, Sebastian loves exploring the city’s food scene and biking along the lake in his free time.
Ben completed his Bachelor of Arts from Brown University and has extensive experience as an online educator and college counselor. He has helped over 50 students get into their dream colleges, including prestigious institutions like Rice University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Virginia. Ben has also served as a tutor for over seven years, working with over 1000 students. He loves forming connections with students and watching them learn, blossom, and succeed within the duration of their relationship.
Ben’s passion for coaching is deeply rooted in his ability to build strong relationships with his students and help them achieve their educational goals over time. He aims to create a supportive environment where each student feels empowered and able to excel.
As a coach, Ben is reliable, firm, approachable, and easy to talk to. He avoids "talking down" to students and instead meets them at their level, taking the time to learn about their interests and personalities. This personalized approach is integrated into their mutual goal-setting, fostering deeper connections and leading to greater success.
Ben likes to read, play video games, go hiking, travel, and learn new languages in his free time. A fun fact about Ben is that he knows five languages: English, French, Japanese, Persian, and Russian!
Our geometry tutors are well-versed in all related subject matter and have tutoring/teaching experience or math-related college degrees – all our tutors are experts in geometric topics.
Yes, your parents can see your progress using our progress tracker. From the activities you’re working on to tutor comments and next steps, your parents can feel confident knowing you’re receiving the high-class instruction you deserve.
We always begin by learning more about you, your goals, needs, and preferences to formulate the basis of your customized tutoring plan. This information helps us determine which tutor fits you best.
It depends on the level of support you’re looking for. Our personalized tutoring plans are built with student needs in mind. If you’re unsure which program is best for you, our team is ready to help you explore your options!