Hi, I'm Matthew!
I have tutored over 200 students since 2010, including students who have been accepted to UC Berkeley, UCLA, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Pepperdine, and many other prestigious universities. I specialize in test prep, college essays, and more. Contact me to learn more about how I can help you prepare for success in high school and beyond!
SAT Prep
I took the SAT in high school and earned a perfect 800 on the Critical Reading section. Since then, I have taught the SAT nearly every year, including as a high school elective course. My personal best is 1580, and my top-scoring student also earned a 1580.
ACT Prep
I took the ACT in high school and earned a perfect 36 on the English section and a 34 on the Reading section. Since then, I have taught the ACT nearly every year. My highest-scoring student reached a score of 32 in practice sessions.
AP Exam Prep
I took eight AP exams in high school. Here are my scores:
AP European History (4)
AP U.S. History (5)
AP English Language (5)
AP Spanish Language (5)
AP English Literature (5)
AP Psychology (5)
AP Government (5)
AP Economics (4)
Since graduating, I have helped dozens of students prepare for AP exams, including AP English Language, AP U.S. History, and AP Statistics.
College Admissions
Every year, I help students brainstorm, draft, and revise personal statements for their college admissions applications.
Chess
I have over seven years' experience tutoring chess. At the time of this writing, my current Rapid (10 min) rating on Chess.com is 1540, which is in the top 400,000 players in the world (top 3.4%). My all-time highest rating is 1605. I love playing chess and helping share my passion for the game with others.
Spanish
From the moment my father taught me a few Spanish words, I was fascinated by the idea that the same thing could have different names. I took four years of Spanish and another year in college. My wife is from Perú, so I speak Spanish at home on a daily basis. I have tutored several students in Spanish, many of whom have made huge gains in the language even after only a few months of sessions.
English
When I was a child, I was blessed with parents that supported my early love of reading. By the time I was a teenager in high school, my bedroom walls were adorned with a personal library of hundreds of books. In college, I once took 29 units, nearly all of which were English classes, and I earned a 4.0 GPA that semester. I earned my first Associate's Degree in English in 2010. I have learned how to write essays of many different lengths, read texts critically, and distill complex grammar topics into simple explanations.
ESL
I have tutored many students in ESL over the years. I have a deep understanding of the structure of the English language, so I can help break it down for you. I also have a great ear for nuanced differences in pronunciation, so I can help you speak more confidently in no time. For Spanish speakers, I am particularly proficient at calling out connections between the languages to help you learn better.
Math
I have spent the last seven years working as a high school math teacher, teaching mostly Algebra 1, Geometry, and Statistics. I can help you make sense of problems, master procedures, and build fluency so that you can quickly and confidently solve problems. I am experienced with Desmos, GeoGebra, and other online math tools to help you visualize key math concepts.