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Esmerelda

I needed help with my college calculus class and saw a flyer at PCC. Lander met me that same day for two hours and cleared up a lot of the problems I'm having. We agreed to meet twice a week for 2 hours for as long as I needed the help. It made the difference between misery and happiness for me. Lander has a great way of figuring out your hangups and helping you get over them. Andrea asked me to put a review up here an tell people what I really think. What I really think is that Lander is the best tutor I've ever had.

2018-05-27

Amanda and Sam

Our boys were never math geniuses. They struggled. They had tutoring. We put them in math camps. They always struggled to get C's. When they got B's, we were elated. They often got D's on tests. We had them assessed for learning issues, and they did have mild ADHD which we had treated with as little medication as possible and a lot of behavioral therapy. It helped them sit still, but their grades did not improve. Halfway through high school, we decided to find someone who could help them better than all the tutors we'd tried so far. We called everyone, and one name came up several times. So, we called Andrea and told her our story. She listened carefully, asked us some questions, and then she said, "If I accept your sons, are you willing to follow my instructions, even though I don't work the same way all the other tutors and tutoring companies work?" Since we didn't know how she worked, we didn't know what to say. We asked her a lot of questions and then she said, "I'll give you the overview, and I'll point out the things you need to do an not do." This was totally different than the way we were used to being approached. So, we listened. She explained her program. As she described features and her ways of working, explained why she did things the way she did them. It all made perfect sense. It was very different than what we were used to, but it made sense. I could tell we were no longer in Kansas, so to speak. No more flattery. No more extreme promises. No more stories about every tutor having a Ph.D. from Harvard. She did have some impressive things to say, but because she told the whole story and was clearly being balanced in what she said, we felt we could trust her. So, we had to take 40 hours if we wanted all the perks of that program. We could take 2 hours at a time, but we couldn't get the lower rate or the free bits of academic advising or priority scheduling. She arranges the scheduling directly with the students and that freaked us out immediately. As it turns out, it worked brilliantly and we were always in the loop, even though we didn't schedule with her. She communicates directly with the student, and it's our responsibility to communicate with them and for our student to communicate with us. We knew that was logical, but as your typical helicopter parents, it struck fear in our hearts. Could we communicate with our boys and depend on the information? Yes, it worked. What else? Oh. She said that some of the tutoring would be with Lander in person and some would be with Lander via video chat. We hated that idea because we thought of those preprogrammed classes where there is no one to talk to, but logically we knew that Lander would be working with them the same way as when he was in person. She offered us a deal too. She doesn't do discounts, but she offered to let our boys come to the in-person tutoring together on the weekends at only a little more than for one and take their online tutoring individually during the week so they could get to bed earlier. We looked at each other and decided to go for it. She came well recommended and we had nothing to lose. So, we signed them up. The first thing we figured out was that she'd picked the quietest library in town for the weekend sessions and that the online tutoring at home put them in a far less distracting environment than when they went to those tutoring centers with all the kids and tutors crammed into back rooms. Second, the boys started to help each other by going over what they learned from Lander separately. Third, their grades started to climb. Fourth, they started to act enthusiastic about math. That had never happened before. Our boys loved working with Lander. They loved the personal educational advising they got from Andrea because they never got that kind of personal, practical advice from their college counselor at school. They loved feeling competent. Eventually, they loved walking into class knowing the material and having their homework done before the teacher taught the material. By the time they heard the teacher teach about it, it was review for them. Their grades literally went from low C's to mid-A's in six weeks and stayed there all year. We gave them tutoring with Lander all summer except for a few weeks when we were gone. We didn't want to end up at the back of the line on the waiting list, for one thing. We also wanted them to get as far ahead as possible for the best grades at the beginning of their senior years. (They were one year apart but our oldest was held back after some absences due to medical issues.) They got far enough ahead to test out of precalculus at the end of the summer. This was something we had not expected but the boys arranged it with Andrea as a possibility, and when they asked if they could do it, we told them if they could pull it off they had our permission. They passed the pre-calculus test with scores in the 90's an enrolled in AP Calculus AB. I was very hesitant about letting them take the AP version, but Lander felt they would be fine if they continued tutoring with him. So, we did let them. Although I think they would have been better off in regular calculus if they didn't have Lander to help them, they did well and kept their grades up. They did well on their AP tests, each earning a 4 though we were hoping against hope for 3's. Their classmates called them the "Savant Twins," an affectionate nod to their startling improvements in math. They worked very hard and it wasn't easy for them to get those scores, even with Lander's help. They were on a mission and their mission was accomplished. They apparently got very good recommendations from their AP Calculus teacher. They were able to talk about their math transformations with their college interviewers and that helped them a lot. It showed that they were willing to work hard to achieve something that was hard for them. They gave us some credit, and that made me feel good. We'd sold our third car and simplified our vacations to pay for all that tutoring. When we recently looked at all the money we spent, we realized that it was actually a lot less than the scholarships and grants our sons had been given and that they probably wouldn't have if they had not had the tutoring. We also estimated that their total lifetime incomes would likely be at least an extra million dollars because they each were admitted to prestigious colleges. So, for the thousands we spent on this, it was nothing compared to the benefits for our sons. Add to that the confidence and experience of working hard and achieving something no one thought they could do, and this has been priceless for our family. During the two years our boys took tutoring through the Martins, they forfeited five or six sessions total. They weren't sick and they could have attended. We just wanted to make other plans. We added up the cost of those forfeits and compared it to the cost of the college counseling she gave us free, and we still came out ahead. When we consider the fact that Lander is the only tutor who ever "got" our kids and made a world of difference in their lives, we would have paid twice what we paid if we knew in advance what they could do for us. As a grateful mom and dad, we would give Andrea 100 stars if we could. When she asked us to put a detailed review here on Tutors.com, we were happy to do it.

2018-05-27

Kate Morlie

I'm a math teacher whose teenager will not let me help them. It's hard for me to hire tutors because most don't know how to best help a struggling student. However, my teenager needs help before taking the ACT. I hired Andrea after reading her profile and reviews and after talking to her on the phone. My son was happy to work with her son, Lander, and immediately was chuckling and then getting down to business. Listening from the other room and peaking in discretely every once in a while, I liked everything I heard and saw. Afterward, I dished up ice cream to lure my guy into the kitchen to get the scoop on Lander. Everything I heard and saw earned an A+ in my book. We scheduled as many sessions as we could coordinate between now and the test. One of the most impressive things about Lander is that he appears equally as knowledgeable and skilled in all sections of the ACT. The other thing that blew me away was how he got so much done in so little time with my generally resistant teenager. He quickly discovered the real problems behind his difficulties rather than sticking to the problem in front of them. As a teacher, I guarantee that that is the key to helping students raise their scores. I'm extremely impressed and feel very relieved. Even if my son doesn't earn the scores I'd like to see him earn in the upcoming test, we have all summer, and I might ask Andrea if Lander can prep my son for his AP Calculus AB course as well. I've wanted him to switch to regular calculus, but if Lander can keep doing what I saw him do today, it may not be necessary. I'm a happy mom right now.

2018-05-25

Matthew

Ms. Martin asked me to write a review about my family's experience with her and her son Mr. Martin. We are a homeschool family with three kids born in less than three years. We took a lot of our schooling at the same level since my youngest sibling is the smartest of all of us. We decided to try to all go to the same college along with another friend who is the same age as our middle sibling. Since we live on a farm where the internet service is not great, we have always gone into town to use our friend's internet for our online lessons. We were used to using video chat for live lessons, and we all took test prep together online with Mr. Martin at the same time. Ms. Martin gave us a price cut for doing it that way, but we still got individual attention during the sessions and with the advising calls with Ms. Martin. One thing we did differently than their usual was to add on some parent advising which is not usually included. Our moms are both former teachers but had been homeschooling for a long time so needed help with college admissions tactics. Between our tutoring with Mr. Martin for our tests and Ms. Martin helping us and our moms with the college admissions process, we had great results. We each got into between seven and ten colleges out of the twelve we all applied to. Four of the colleges accepted all of us and also offered partial scholarships. We picked the one that had the right majors for each of us and that allowed freshmen to live off campus. We found a house to rent near campus, and we were able to visit our aunt and uncle on their farm outside of town on Sundays. So, we've had a peaceful freshman year and all made the honor roll. I needed a small amount of tutoring with Lander to earn that distinction, but I only needed twenty hours each semester to supplement the help my siblings and friend could provide. We're grateful to the Martins for helping us pull off our coordinated test prep and college admissions plan. I'm the weakest student among us, but I was able to attend the same college as my siblings and our friend by earning a much better test score and preparing a much better application than I otherwise would. Also, our transcripts were much more detailed and convincing after Ms. Martin helped our moms work out ways to highlight our full educational experience and add documentation and contacts so schools could trust our transcripts more easily. I'd also like to say that we ended up paying our parents back for what they paid the Martins. Ms. Martin gave us an idea for making money over the summer, and we were each able to pay back his or her part, pay our expected student contributions based our college financial aid agreements, and have with $900 left over to use for the deposit for our rental house at college. So, in the end, our contracts with the Martins didn't cost our parents anything. We want to thank the Martins for delivering such great services and for doing so ethically. What they offer seems to be unique as we were not able to find anyone like them before. The quality was what made them stand out. My mom suggested that I add her additional note for homeschoolers. "Many homeschoolers are used to finding the cheapest way to accomplish what they need to do. However, you're not going to find this kind of service at those rates. If you want this quality of service, pay for it. You're not going to find it elsewhere, and it will pay you back in the long run."

2018-05-24

Alex

Lander is awesome. He keeps me focused. It's like the fog is burning off every time we meet. The confusion gets cleared up, I remember what I learned the time before, and I am more confident each time. My uncle bought me the 40-hour program with the Martins. I'm learning how to assess each question before even working it. It's a lot easier than I thought, but I didn't get that from the test prep program at school. The best thing about this program is that everything is customized for me and my needs. They don't just push me through a canned program. They help me with exactly what gets in my way and don't waste my time with things I already have down.

2018-05-24

Chelsea T.

Andrea sent me an email asking if I had time to put up a review here today based on the work she and her son did with my two children over the past three years. I'm very happy to recommend Andrea and Lander to anyone they accept into their program. Andrea is someone who would give you anything she had if she thought it would help you. She and Lander give more value for the money than anyone I've used before. They are not the cheapest or the most expensive, but they are the best. They get more done in the time your kids spend with them than anyone else. When I first worked with her, I was surprised that she was so student-centered as most services are parent-centered. I didn't realize how unhealthy parent-centered programs were until Andrea and I had a chance to discuss the ways that students benefit from student-centered programs. Even though I only run into her occasionally, I feel she's been a very good friend to me by helping my kids so much and by being so genuine about how she runs her business. My recommendation is to take the 40-hour program if you can. It's a life-changer.

2018-05-24

Cornell

I had tutoring with both Andrea and Lander two years ago when I was a junior in high school. I'm finishing my freshman year at college in a week. When Andrea asked me to write a review on this site she just signed up on, I was happy to comply. So, I received tutoring for the SAT with Writing. I had a lot of test anxiety and serious problems with writing and math. My dad signed me up for the 40-hour program. That seemed like a lot, but my dad said I needed it. He sold his motorcycle to pay for it, so I knew I had to do my best. Andrea taught me how to use words to really say something instead of just stretching a paragraph into essay length by adding a lot of unnecessary words. Lander taught me how to logically solve math problems, step by logical step. They both taught me how to use common sense to get better grades and test scores. When you know what you're doing, there is no reason to feel anxious. I'm not a genius, but I basically knew what I was doing when taking the test and I didn't feel anxious at all. I started out in the 66th percentile and ended up in the 92nd percentile. Lander said there were just a lot of things I didn't know but that I was smart and learned quickly. Lander and Andrea helped me become a better student overall and also a better communicator and problem solver in life by thinking more logically. They also taught me how to magnify the benefit by doing certain things between sessions. Because they were positive and never condescending, it felt good to be tutored by them. I hope this review helps you understand how Lander and Andrea can help your son our daughter. They are a lot smarter than I am, but they still made me feel smart and helped me get accepted to the college I'm in now.

2018-05-24

M. Sanchez

I liked that my son got some free advising with the 40hr program. Also, my son could switch topics anytime he wanted. So, if he had a test the next day in biology, he could get Lander's help with biology instead of ACT. It helped him with school in general just to be working with Lander four hours a week for ten weeks. As for Andrea, she's very nice. It comes from the heart for her. She has a passion for helping kids get what they want out of life.

2018-05-24

E. M.

Lander is a great guy and super, super smart. When I was messed up in high school, he treated me with respect and helped me start to make up for lost time. Andrea helped me understand my options and Lander helped me get ready for my options. To make a long story short, I'm now at Berkeley as a math major and I give credit to my granddad who found the Martins, to my mom who paid for it, and to the Martins who cared about me and my life.

2018-05-24

Brooke F.

Dear Parents, Miss Andrea asked me to write a review about my experiences taking tutoring from Lander when I was in high school. Now that I'm in college, I look back at that experience as one of the best ways to prepare for the rigors of college. When you're sitting in class at high school, the teacher talks about math or English while standing in front of a computer or a whiteboard. They talk at you. When you're in tutoring with Lander, he's right there with you, guiding you through a jungle of knowledge, step by step. You're not just watching him do something or listening to him describe it. You're making your own way through it, with him asking you questions to help you think through the best next step. I've never been tutored this way by anyone else. It's the way I help my roommate when she needs help now. Miss Andrea and Lander taught me more than any other teachers I've had so far. Miss Andrea was always willing to advise me on school issues so long as I respected her time. Lander was always so positive and energetic that it helped me get excited about what I was learning. I am thankful for having tutoring with the Martins. Thanks, Miss Andrea! Thanks, Lander!

2018-05-24

Joshua

Lander is the most productive tutor I've ever used.

2018-05-24

Theodora

We had them help our two sons with about half of their classes and all of their tests before college. They let them take the 40-hour SAT package together online to save us money. Both of them scored over 1500. Totally worth it. My advice is to go for quality instead of flashy marketing but schedule every class far in advance so you have reservations.

2018-05-24

Megan W.

Last summer, Lander helped me with my SAT, ACT, and four SAT II tests, and Andrea helped me with the essay sections. Because the skills needed for some of the test overlapped with skills needed for other tests, this was very efficient. My test scores went up massively. I also worked with Lander on my AP Calculus and AP Physics during my senior year as well. In April I visited all six of the colleges that offered me admissions and accepted at my dream school. My parents were very proud of me, and I was kind of proud too when I saw my final grades and class rank. You should definitely call Andrea. If had known about them at the beginning of high school, I would have been better off.

2018-05-24

Brandon Jackson

Lander helped me graduate this year. I was failing my AP Chemistry class and didn't know what to do. Finally, my teacher gave my mom Andrea's number, and I started working with Lander as much as I could. I wish I'd started in Fall Semester because everything got so much easier once I met Lander. Lander is very good at making hard things seem simple to you. I can't believe how much easier it was than I thought before.

2018-05-24

A. Atchabahian

Working with the Martins is like one-stop shopping, but when you're working with them on a certain thing, it's as though they are the top experts in that thing. They are truly geniuses at what they do. Andrea homeschooled Lander almost until high school and she knew what she was doing. He's a freaking encyclopedia. I also really love that they are so down to earth. My son commented on how they make him feel intelligent.

2018-05-24

Susan Hong

My daughter has worked with Lander and Andrea for over two years. Before finding Andrea in 2015, we tried all kinds of tutors and college counselors. My daughter could not make more than C's in math, and her state test scores were not very good. Lander has been our key to my daughter making mostly A's in AP math and science since then. Andrea has provided all of our college counseling during that time as well, and my daughter is on track to apply to eight colleges that would not have taken her if we did not find the Martins when we did. She does not take very many college counseling clients, and we were lucky that she took us. We're really grateful.

2018-05-24

Tina Tran

It's easier to have my son take lessons with them than to take him to the tutoring center. I don't have to do anything because he likes working with them online. They keep him working hard the whole time. They are very good and figuring out the weaknesses and working on those things. He feels better about himself.

2018-05-23

Rick Acebo

My daughter is a top honor student but could only make 1312 on her SAT. We took the 40hr program and she ended up with 1510. Her guidance counselor was seriously surprised. The Martins made a difference in my daughter's life because she was able to get into a much better college and qualify for a merit scholarship at the college. Because we're in Florida and the Martins are in California, we did this online. Maybe I'm old, but I was hesitant to try it and only gave it a shot because someone recommended it to me. My daughter said it was "perfect" because she could be comfortable at home and didn't have to waste time traveling when she was busy. She definitely got a mental workout and became a lot more confident. Highly recommend.

2018-05-22

Jennifer and Jason

I cannot believe that we went all those years putting four kids through private high school without knowing that the Martins were right here in town. Why don't they advertise? Argh!!! We spent tens of thousands of dollars paying for test prep for our kids before we found the Martins. After only 20 hours, my youngest son's SAT score went up 167 points. After another 20 hours, it went up another 132 points. Next Fall, he'll be attending Princeton. That would never have happened without the Martins. My only complaint is that they don't advertise and have not put their website up. It's just the two of them, and they are usually so busy with students that they don't really do anything else. I just wish I'd known how to find them when my other kids needed them.

2018-05-22

Cathy Wheeler

First, they care. Second, they know what they are doing. Third, they work in a concentrated fashion to get the job done without wasting time. That saves money in the long run. Fourth, they communicate very well with students and encourage students to communicate with parents. Fifth, students are treated like professionals rather than like small children who need their parents to speak for them. Sixth, both Andrea and Lander are super smart and knowledgeable. Seventh, Andrea does not accept all students, mainly because she screens out the concierge moms. On that last point, I've referred probably fifteen friends to her over the past three years, and the ones who don't get in were definitely all concierge moms. So, go with the program and show your appreciation and respect for her and for Lander. She doesn't expect anything other than following the guidelines, but I personally made a point of doing whatever I could to support her, and I know she appreciated it. She and Lander made such a difference in my kids' lives.

2018-05-21