Hey! My name's Daniel, I currently live in San Francisco where I work as an analytical research chemist at UCSF. I graduated from Cal Poly SLO in 2021 with a BS in psychology and a minor in biology, while also scoring at the top of my class in a plethora of physical and life science classes such as Neuroanatomy, Endocrinology, Chemistry, and Physics. I think students often struggle in difficult classes not because the material is inherently difficult, but because the material needs to be...
Hey! My name's Daniel, I currently live in San Francisco where I work as an analytical research chemist at UCSF. I graduated from Cal Poly SLO in 2021 with a BS in psychology and a minor in biology, while also scoring at the top of my class in a plethora of physical and life science classes such as Neuroanatomy, Endocrinology, Chemistry, and Physics. I think students often struggle in difficult classes not because the material is inherently difficult, but because the material needs to be conveyed in the right way -- which will differ greatly depending on the student. With a willingness to learn on both the student and teacher's part, I believe anyone can succeed in even the most complex of subjects.
I began to tutor for my university as a Study Session Leader (SSL) my 2nd year, and worked in this role until I graduated, then shifting into private tutoring. As an SSL, I met with anywhere from 5 to 30 students twice a week. I developed lesson plans, practice materials, and offered study strategies. Many of my students went from D's to B's, C's to A's, etc. I ensured my sessions were supportive, collaborative, and efficient in nature. I used real-life examples, metacognitive strategies, and peer-peer cooperation to enhance comprehension. I employ many of the same strategies in one-on-one sessions, however as I described above, I have learned that tutoring should be individualized as much as possible for the best results. Sometimes there is a need to re-emphasize conceptual frameworks, whereas other times completing practice problems is more pragmatic. Therefore, I am flexible in my approach and work with each student to determine which strategies are most effective for them.
I primarily assist with General Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Organic Chemistry, although I also do MCAT tutoring. I'm happy to schedule a free 15 minute consultation to discuss your situation, develop a plan, and see if we are a good fit. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
