About
Hey there!
My name is Miguel and I am the primary tutor at GreyDuck Tutoring. I am a senior at Carnegie Mellon University studying Mechanical Engineering. This past summer, I worked as a mechanical design engineering intern at Amazon, developing cameras for their autonomous delivery drone program. In my free time, I like to paint, play soccer, and take road trips with my friends.
Growing up, I always felt like I learned a little bit differently then other kids. I have ADHD, OCD, and struggled in the past with test-taking anxiety. After years of struggling academically in middle and high school, I developed methods and skills that helped me excel in my studies. These methods have led me to Carnegie Mellon University, where I have maintained a 4.0 GPA in one of the most rigorous engineering programs in the country.
Academic success is entirely dependent on the environment you are in and the people you have around you. Whether your child is ahead of the curve and wants to be challenged even further, or is falling behind and is looking for extra support, I can provide personalized lessons and instructions directly tailored to help them succeed. I truly believe that with the right support system and teaching methods, other students that struggled like me can reach a place where they not only enjoy learning but excel at it as well!
In terms of my prior experience, I worked as a tutor for several years in high school through our National Honors Society program. After a break due to my college class schedule, I am now starting back up again through Tutors.com! I offer tutoring for a variety of high school and college classes, mostly in the realm of math and physics. I can also provide ACT math tutoring as well.
Please don't hesitate to reach out for a FREE first session where we can meet and discuss their journey and academic goals! You can reach me at [email protected]. You can also find me on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguel-antonio-brandao/
When I was younger, I struggled in school and never really liked learning. Over the years, that has changed, and I now enjoy providing support to students that may be struggling academically. A lot of students that I tutor initially thought they weren't good at math and science, but with the right support, have grown to be incredibly strong in those areas. Watching and being a part of that process is very rewarding.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
The process will start with a FREE 60-minute session with each new potential student, no strings attached. 30 minutes of this session will be spent with the parent and the student. For the second half of the session, I will meet with the student on their own. In this session we will discuss:
- The student's academic interests and goals
- Their strengths (Not just academic, could be their time management, organizational skills, creativity, etc.)
- Potential areas of improvement
We will also discuss the timeline for the tutoring. Some students only need a few lessons in a specific subject, Others will need long-term support. I can provide either. Once we discuss these details and confirm the new student is interested, I will create a structured lesson plan and share it with the student and their parents. Once the lesson plan is finalized, we will begin the lessons!
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
B.S. Mechanical Engineering- Carnegie Mellon University (GPA: 4.0)
Minor- Innovation and Entrepreneurship
ACT Score: 34 (35 Math, 35 English, 32 Science, 32 Reading)
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
The first lesson is always free! For subsequent lessons, I will generally follow the following pricing structure:
$49.99/hr for remote lessons
$59.99/hr for in-person lessons
Parents will also be given my personal phone number and schedule if they need to reach out. I will always answer within 12 hours.
Discounts will be provided for bulk lesson purchases, as well as for new client referrals.
How did you get started teaching?
I got my start tutoring with my school's National Honors Society, tutoring fellow students struggling with English comprehension and geometry!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
There is a lot more to science and math than data crunching and equations. Having the context surrounding a given equation is just as important as knowing the equation yourself. Whether it is me or someone else, make sure you find a tutor that provides you with that broader understanding of why a mathematical or scientific concept matters. You won't regret it :)
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
When I am approaching a difficult engineering problem, whether it be in my day job, or in one of my classes I always ask myself these questions before reaching out:
"Is this problem similar to one I have already solved? Can I apply the knowledge from that problem to this one?" - Concepts never exist in a vacuum and often build off each other. If you can identify what a specific problem is testing for, you can leverage previous lesson content and example problems to assist you.
"What steps of the problem am I pretty sure I have done right? What specific step within the problem am I stuck on?" - This question narrows in on where there is a lack of understanding and helps you better define and articulate what you are struggling with.