PhD Who Teaches Writing, English, History, And ACT/SAT. 10+ Years Exp.
About
I’m Eric, one of the "Best of Tutors.com 2020." I've been a professional educator most of my life, and have spent the last five years as a full-time tutor and mentor.
I hold a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, graduating with honors in 2012. I’m a former professor at both Macalester College and UCLA, and I continue to teach part time at Pitzer College. I’ve published articles in multiple professional humanities journals and given guest lectures at Harvard, Brown, and the University of Pennsylvania. I know a lot about what skills are expected from elite students and how to teach those skills.
I’ve also been an official AP history grader for nine years and know many individuals within the College Board’s APUSH department. I’m always up to date with the AP test changes implemented by the College Board each year.
For ACT and SAT, I’ve been teaching these subjects for five years (reading/grammar only, no math) and have helped design the curriculum for these tests at two separate learning centers in southern California.
Tutoring students online is now my primary job, and I love it. After spending many years in many educational roles, I’ve found that my favorite kind of teaching is working with students one-on-one.
I take pride in that I often develop long-term relationships with my students, some of whom I tutor for years. When they have good news to share (like a college acceptance letter), I’m often one of the first people they text. I also frequently receive updates from them after they’ve graduated, keeping me up to date with their college lives.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I like to get a lot of information before we meet so our first lesson can be efficient. Usually I start by calling or skyping with the student and/or their parents to get an understanding of their school, classes, needs, and expectations. Sometimes I also review graded past assignments the student may have, to better understand their teacher's expectations. After that, we're ready do start.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I charge $80 per lesson. Typically, one lesson per week is sufficient for most students but sometimes more is needed. I also consider that fee to be all-inclusive, meaning I also answer emails, text messages, other simple questions FREE OF CHARGE if you are a regular student of mine. Also if you are unhappy for any reason I'm happy to refund your money or give you another lesson for free to make it up to you.
How did you get started teaching?
I've been tutoring students for many years, starting shortly after college, when I began working at a small school catering to low-income Chinese and Taiwanese immigrants. I then began a PhD program in history at the University of Minnesota, tutoring on the side during this time. After graduating with honors in 2012, I spent two years as a professor at Macalester College, followed by a year at UCLA.
While being a professor was an amazing experience, it also made me realize that my true passion lies with mentoring people one-on-one. For this reason, I (mostly) left academia to pursue a career as a full-time tutor and counselor for high school students. (I do continue to teach part-time at Pitzer college).
What types of students have you worked with?
I work with all levels of students, but specialize in those looking for challenging, college-prep level curriculum. Past students have gone on to places like Princeton, Dartmouth, UC Berkeley, USC, Amherst, and Barnard College, to name only a few.