Applied Mathematics Major @ USC

Jesse F.

I am a first year student at the University of Southern California, majoring in Applied and Computational Mathematics. Math has always been the subject I enjoy most, and I worked hard to build a strong foundation before college. I earned 5s on the AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, and AP Statistics exams, scored a 790 on the math section of the SAT, and graduated high school with a 4.34 GPA. My university coursework keeps me working with advanced math every day, which helps me explain earlier topics with real depth.

My tutoring experience began in high school, where I regularly helped underclassmen review for math tests and catch up on topics they found confusing. Most of this was one on one with students around 14 to 16 years old, covering algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Since then, I have continued tutoring students in Algebra I and II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Precalculus, and SAT Math. Being close in age to my students helps them feel comfortable asking questions they might hesitate to ask a teacher.

My approach starts with finding exactly where a student’s understanding breaks down, since many struggles in precalculus actually come from small gaps in algebra. Instead of only showing steps, I explain why each method works, walk through an example together, and then have the student try similar problems while I follow their reasoning. For SAT Math, I focus on recognizing common question types, managing time, and avoiding careless errors. My goal is for every student to leave a session able to solve problems on their own, not just finish their homework.