About
Hi everyone! My name is Ryan. I began prepping students for all sections of the SAT and assisting with the college application process in 2012. Throughout the last decade, I developed and refined my own SAT prep program for both in-person and remote students. When I took the SAT in 2017, I earned an 800 in mathematics and a 760 in reading. I also scored perfectly on the SAT's math section as an HS student in 2010.
For in-person, in-home SAT prep, I generally charge $60/hour. However, if one is located in Fishhawk (33547), I reduce this rate to $55/hour. For those who live a bit further away from me (10+ miles), I charge $65/hour. I also prep students online using an application known as LessonSpace. Remote students are expected to pay $50/hour.
Initial sessions are designed to be one-hour trial lessons. Students pay for a trial session only after scheduling a second session. My students and I generally focus on SAT math for the first 30 minutes before transitioning to reading comprehension for roughly 20 minutes and then to language & writing for the final 10. I can and do alter initial sessions to fit individual student's needs.
After a second session has been scheduled, I provide my students with free copies of the SAT math prep eBook that I authored, entitled, "SAT Math in 90-Pages", the SAT BlackBook, and a one-page language & writing cheat sheet. My SAT math prep book contains every equation and concept one needs to know to score perfectly on the SAT's math section. Students use my prep book as a guide when creating their own short, personalized SAT math review sheets. Additionally, I show my students how to create SAT math flashcards using the homework questions they get incorrect. There is no better tool to help one earn a perfect SAT math score.
To combat the questions in the reading comprehension section, I teach my students a unique method of approach that I developed many years ago and have continually refined. The questions in the language writing section can be broken down into several main types, each with specific generalities; I ask my students to take notes when reviewing these sections to help them memorize all the tricks and tips related to each question type.
If you need a top-notch SAT prep instructor, your search has come to an end!
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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 (only applies to in-person lessons)
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.