Phone 408-250-7607
About Me
An S.A.T. Test Prep Tutor in California
When I started tutoring in college, I worked for such companies as Ivy West, Kaplan, The Tutoring Club, Ivy League Prep, Sylvan Learning Centers, etc. I even worked for Clayton Tidey's Ivy League Prep, back when few SAT prep businesses existed. After switching majors, I finally got my BA in psychology (major) and political science (minor), but I never wanted to get a teaching credential; however, I did very well on the CSET Multiple Subjects Tests and the CSET Single Subject Math Tests, so I taught 8th grade at one school and high school math at another ( The secret to my doing so well on the CEST Single Subject Math Tests was the Orange County Office of Education's prep material; they offer the best CSET prep manuals.). I also worked as a Regional Coordinator for Math Think, a nonprofit that provides tutoring through No Child Left Behind.
After teaching for several years, I applied and got accepted to a pretty good law school, along with a $45,000 scholarship, but dropped out due to the uncertainty of the legal job market. I like writing fiction anyway, so we'll see if I made a smart decision (I am working on my novel). I never wanted to be a lawyer, but I always wanted to go to a good law school, so I may go to a law school eventually anyway.
I test well. In early 2009, I took the new SAT I and got a 2390 out of 2400, without prepping for it (I had taken a hiatus from SAT tutoring in order to spend several years teaching). Since then, I have tutored hundreds of SAT students, so I know the test so well that I feel like I designed each one myself.
Lately I have been working in conjunction with Math Think CEO Alan Foden. He is interested in creating apps for elementary and middle school math students. The projects are in the early phase, however. Funding is the main priority at this point.
The most common grammar mistake in American English has been driving me crazy lately because EVERYONE makes it. People misplace "just" also.
WRONG: We are only offering four classes in January ( Cabrillo College website)
Correct: We are offering only four classes in January.
WRONG: A life jacket only works when you wear it. (Government brochure)
Correct: A life jacket works only when you wear it.
WRONG: Be advised this line only accepts calls from 7 am to 7 pm. (Government message)
Correct: Be advised this line accepts calls only from 7 am to 7 pm.
Correct: Be advised this line accepts calls from 7 am to 7 pm only.
WRONG: You only live twice. (a great song)
Correct: You live only twice.
WRONG: Our team didn't even score once. (Grammar book example of incorrect placement of "even")
Correct: Our team didn't score even once.
"Mad Men" is my favorite tv show.
It's about New York City advertising execs in the 1960's.
Zardoz is my favorite science fiction movie.
I often wish I had been a philosophy and religion major. And at other times, I wish I had majored in history...
