Philadelphia Tutors from the University of Pennsylvania

My name is Christa, and I'm an incoming sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania, originally from Auburn, Georgia. I'm studying psychology on the pre-medicine track, aspiring to be a child and adolescent psychiatrist who focuses on neurodivergence and other developmental disabilities. Graduating rank 3rd of my graduating class of around 600 students, I excelled academically and standardized testing was no exception. Despite coming from a under-resourced high school that historically scored lower than the national average on the SAT, I scored a 1530, in the 99th percentile. Additionally, my PSAT score award me the National Merit Letter of Commendation. I've familiarized myself with resources that are much more efficient than the standard recommendations of Khan Academy and Princeton Review. Mentorship is something I am passionate about. As a Matriculate advisor, I work with rising high school seniors during the college admissions process. This experience relates to the mentorship and guidance needed to excel on standardized testing and in general coursework. Outside of school, I enjoy crocheting, reading, watching movies, and the performing arts. Throughout high school, I was a part of my school's Thespian Troupe, performing in a variety of plays and musicals such as "High School Musical" and "Emma! A Pop Musical." At Penn, I've worked on the technical side of Penn Singers, a premiere musical theatre and light opera group. Furthermore, I enjoy taking lessons with Penn Latin and Ballroom Dance. My standard guidance is "If it doesn't feel hard, you're doing it wrong." While tempting to review concepts that are familiar, study sessions feeling difficult (but manageable) ensures that students are confident going into exam day. If you can ace your most troubling questions, the rest of the exam will be even easier! Additionally, "You are rarely the problem: the resource is." I find no reward in spending time on a material that "should" work. The best resources are the ones that yield the desired results.

Hi! My name is Natalia, and I am a Neuroscience major at the University of Pennsylvania on the pre-med track. I tutor Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, English, and SAT preparation.

I grew up in Colombia and China before moving to the United States for high school, so I have experienced different educational systems and cultures throughout my life. Because of this background, I am fluent in English, Mandarin, and Spanish. I have also taken a variety of standardized tests, including the TOEFL, ISEE, SAT, and AP exams, which has given me a strong understanding of the challenges students face when preparing for school and standardized testing. At Penn, I study neuroscience because I am interested in understanding how the brain works and how people learn. I am currently involved in developmental neuroscience research and plan to pursue a career in medicine. Through my coursework and research experience, I have developed a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, and related sciences, which I enjoy sharing with students.

My tutoring experience includes both helping classmates and younger students throughout high school and tutoring SAT students through local community centers. I enjoy working with students one-on-one and adapting my explanations to fit their learning style. My goal is to help students develop a solid understanding of the material while building the skills they need to approach new challenges independently. Outside of academics, I enjoy traveling, visiting museums, film photography, and learning about different cultures and languages.

Hi! My name is Haasini, and I’m a rising sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania planning to major in Cognitive Science. I have worked as a tutor before with the NorthSouth Foundation, where I was Lead Coach for neuroscience and tutored various other subjects including life sciences, creative writing, public speaking, and math. In this role, I created slideshows, problem sets, and taught weekly classes with these materials. I’m super passionate about teaching students and helping them comfortably learn material. I always hope to create a safe environment where the student does not hesitate to ask me any questions they may have.

I tutor Mathematics, English, Psychology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Biology, IB/AP exam prep, PSAT, and SAT. My exam scores were - SAT (Math - 800, Reading & Writing - 780), AP Biology (5), AP Psychology (5), AP English Language & Composition (5), AP Environmental Science (5), IB Chemistry HL (6), IB Biology SL (7), IB English Literature HL (6), AP Human Geography (5), AP Calculus AB (5)

Outside of the classroom, I love music, whether that’s listening to music, dancing, or playing instruments. I compete with my school’s Indian fusion dance team and play the violin and electric guitar.