About
Hi there! My name is Ryan. Since 2012, I have specialized in preparing students for the SAT and supporting them through the college application process. Over the past 10+ years, I have developed and honed a comprehensive SAT preparation program suitable for in-person and remote learners. Personally, I earned a perfect 800 in Mathematics and a 760 in Reading/Writing on my most recent attempt at the SAT in 2017.
Initial consultations with SAT students are designed to be one-hour trial lessons. I only request payment if the student decides to schedule a subsequent session. I understand that each student has unique needs and learning styles, so I prioritize flexibility in these sessions. Typically, I divide the hour equally between mathematics and reading/writing components. However, I can easily adapt to better suit the individual requirements of each student.
I provide students with a copy of the SAT math preparation eBook that I authored, titled 'SAT Math in 90 Pages.' This comprehensive resource is not just a textbook, but a strategic blueprint for success. It encapsulates all necessary equations and concepts required to achieve a perfect score on the SAT math section. Students can leverage this guide to develop concise, personalized review sheets tailored for their SAT math review.
To address the challenges posed by the reading/writing section of the SAT, I instruct my students in a specialized methodological approach crafted for each question type. I encourage active note taking, enhancing one’s ability to review and internalize effective strategies.
I teach students to craft custom SAT Math and Reading/Writing flashcards utilizing their incorrect answers. They send me the question numbers they missed, and I provide the images of these questions. They then print these images and glue them to large index cards. In sessions, we write solutions and explanations on the back, significantly boosting the effectiveness of the prep.
If you are seeking an exemplary SAT prep instructor, look no further!
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Prior to meeting with an SAT student, I ask him/her to complete some practice sections from one of the official SAT practice tests. During our first session, we will go through the problems that the student had gotten incorrect while practicing.
Based on the student's goals and the number of problems that the student has correct, I develop a personalized plan for that student. Some of my students are looking to score higher than 1500 while others would be happy with 1200. I develop different plans for different students.
Some complete a full practice test in between sessions while others complete only two. Some students receive extra homework assignments while others do not. The vigor of these homework assignments varies for students who do receive them.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I am certified to teach chemistry, mathematics, and ESE in the state of Florida. I have been a middle school science teacher since August of 2018. As I did not graduate from a college of education, I have taken several courses on teaching through the alternative certification program mandated by the school district for which I work.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
In-person lessons range from $55 - $65 per hour
Online lessons cost $50 per hour
In-person rates vary based on the following factors:
1. The subject matter
2. The difficulty level of the material
3. The driving distance
Students who live in Fishhawk and who wish to meet in person will be charged less than those living outside of Fishhawk.
How did you get started teaching?
When I took the SAT in 2010, I scored a perfect 800 in the mathematics section, 670 in the reading section, and 710 in the writing section for a total score of 2180 / 2400. According to College Board, the company that creates the SAT, this score equates to 1510 on today's version of the test.
As I had done so well on the SAT in high school, when I started college, I began prepping students just for some pocket money. However, news of my students' success spread, and I quickly gained several students near THE Ohio State University where I was attending school. By the time I was a sophomore, I stopped taking out loans and began paying my tuition with the money I was making through tutoring.
When I moved here to Florida to finish with earning my bachelor's degree, I continued to prep students for the SAT and began to tutor students in mathematics and chemistry as well.
I worked hard and long to earn my degree, and I am proud to say that I did not have to take out any more student loans beyond my freshman year. I may have started teaching just as a means to pay for my education, but through the process, I learned just how much I loved it.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with students as young as 4. My eldest student was in her 50's. Most of my students are either 16 or 17 years old.
For my first 1.5 years of teaching, after earning my ESE certification, I taught what are called 'resource' classes. Some of the students in these classes had behavioral or emotional disorders and they all had some form of learning disability. I have experience teaching students with autism (high functioning), ADD, ADHD, ODD, and OCD.
When I transferred from one middle school to another in January 2020, I taught 5 'regular' level classes in addition to 1 gifted class, which is a level above advanced and two above regular. The majority of students in this class have IQs of 140 or greater.
I've found that once I get to know a student, no matter his or her current ability, I am able to assist them with getting to the next level, whether it be with their science education or with the SAT.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Make sure to ask a potential tutor plenty of questions about the SAT. If they claim to have really high scores, ask them for proof. It is rather easy to acquire one's scores from the College Board, even if they are years old. One should also ask if the tutor preps students for just math, just reading, or both. In addition, if one plans to write the essay, be sure to ask the tutor what type of essay one will have to write and his/her general approach to the SAT essay. Lastly, and most importantly, ask potential tutors about past successes. Ask for specific examples and specific score increases of the tutor's former students. Ask for references. Ask the tutor how high their highest achieving former students have scored. I have my top five students' scores memorized. I imagine most who have prepped for the SAT a long time have similar recollections of their top scorers.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Students should always try to approach their teachers with specific questions. Comments like "I don't understand any of this" disallows a teacher to single in on the specific concept(s) causing the student difficulty. When going through any sort of problem with a teacher, students should always interject if they are not understanding something. Any good teacher will be able to adjust his/her method of approach to a way that appeals to the individual student's style of learning.