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2025 ADMISSIONS SUPER SUCCESS --HARVARD YALE STANFORD ETC!
William R.

5.0 (2,524 ratings)

10,939 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $145
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Response time: 1 hour

About William

Bio

2023: 100% of my college counseling students accepted at one of their top choices, including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, Dartmouth, Georgia Tech, University of Chicago, and UC Berkeley! Colleges are looking for young people with unique voices; my gift is helping students discover their own. What makes me especially proud are the kids who studied with me for years, including individual study programs in Philosophy, U.S. History, English Lit, and Art History. Great test scores are...

2023: 100% of my college counseling students accepted at one of their top choices, including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, Dartmouth, Georgia Tech, University of Chicago, and UC Berkeley! Colleges are looking for young people with unique voices; my gift is helping students discover their own. What makes me especially proud are the kids who studied with me for years, including individual study programs in Philosophy, U.S. History, English Lit, and Art History. Great test scores are terrific -- and I love helping kids get them. But if students devote their teen years only to cramming for tests, when are they going to have time to become remarkable, thinking individuals?

About me: After graduating in English from Harvard, I ran literary development for a producer at 20th Century-Fox, working with the writers of “Ordinary People” and "Spiderman" before launching a film from my own concept, directed by Oscar nominee John Boorman and starring Oscar winners Patricia Arquette and Frances McDormand, released by Columbia Pictures, described as a “masterpiece” by The New Yorker.

I moved to Europe for many years, translating art history books and television. For five years I was under contract to New Line Cinema, writing for the Executive Producer of "Lord of the Rings." I spent several years developing a drama about Robert Kennedy in consultation with several of the late Senator's closest friends and colleagues. I also have fifteen years' experience lecturing at a leading film school. I have worked professionally as a photographer, including two tours with the Irish rock band, U2. I completed one of the first circuits of the remote Tsum Valley/Manaslu regions of the Himalayas during the monsoon. I work at a big cat sanctuary in Africa twice a year.

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Education

Harvard College
English
USC
Masters

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $145
  • Rate details: Discounted rates may be available to those with special circumstances.
  • Lesson cancellation: 24 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 4/13/2015

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Approved Subjects

American History

American History

The key to American history is found in our roots. That's why I go deeper into the past, starting as far back as the Greeks. After all, Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay did, when they wrote The Federalist Papers. How can we understand the tensions between the colonies if we've never heard of 17th century England's "Westminster Confession of Faith?" Books like "American Nations," by Colin Woodard, and "Stamped from the Beginning," by Ibhram X. Kendi --- not to mention the documentaries of Ken Burns --- all these have revolutionized our ways of understanding what makes America who we are. My own research, including serious conversation with many key members of the team supporting the late Senator Robert Kennedy, have also offered insights which my students crave. I bring the narratives together in dramatic clarity, and students get excited.
Art History

Art History

Having lived over a decade in Rome, sometimes in buildings protected as artistic heritage, I was surrounded by art historians, archeologists, and others involved in preserving the great traditions. I translated art history books for a leading scholarly publisher in Italy, including an important study of the Villa D'Este and a statement by the mayor of Rome introducing an important art show at Palazzo Venezia. Further afield, I have personally explored most of the key monuments worldwide, from Angkor Wat, Madurai, and The Potala in Asia; to Petra and the Dome of the Rock in the Middle East; to Macchu Picchu and Pisac in South America; to Luxor, Giza, and Great Zimbabwe in Africa. Personal favorite eras: Ancient Greece, Renaissance Italy, 19th/20th Century France. 20th Century Architecture. My special area of interest is the history of aesthetics, sparked by the recent revival of the field, with writers like Roger Scruton, Dana Gioia, Arthur Danto offering fresh insight. Questions about definitions of "objectivity" within artistic practice have gained greater importance in a "post truth" era marked by hyperreality.
College Counseling

College Counseling

I have over five years of experience counseling students on the college application process, from test prep to college selection, as well as guidance on the essay. In 2023, 100% of my college counseling students got into top schools, including Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, U Chicago, Columbia, UC Berkeley, and Georgia Tech. I consider the college admission process as a part of education itself. When a student views the many programs of study available, it can open him/her up to the many possibilities life itself offers. Equally important is helping each student find his/her unique voice.
European History

European History

Having actually lived for years overlooking the Roman Forum and knowing key Italian archeologists/art historians, the narratives of European History come naturally to me. From writing about the court of Louis X!V for New Line Cinema to interviewing family member of Nazi war criminals, I've gained unique insights that inspire students.
Music History

Music History

I teach Humanities courses at the college level-- including the history of Romanticism, which includes the music of Berlioz, Schumann, Chopin, Brahms, Wagner, Sibelius, and Mahler. I have personally met some of the most important figures in classical music of the past half-century, including Artur Rubinstein (considered by many the greatest Chopin interpreter of the 20th Century, friend of Ravel and Stravinsky), Yehudi Menuhin (perhaps the greatest violin prodigy of the 20th century, who collaborated with Sir Edward Elgar and many others). I have attended concerts by all of the most important orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, and Concertgebouw of Amsterdam. I have personally discussed both composers and performance practice with such leading contemporary figures as Esa Pekka Salonen, Helene Grimaud, Andrew Von Oeyen, and Emmanuel Villaume, music director of the Dallas Opera and popular conductor also at the Lyric Opera, Chicago, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and the Met. At the Village at Northridge I have led a popular course on Romanticism in Music for over 4 years. I studied the piano in my youth, but was content to quit after learning Mozart's 23rd Piano, Concerto, which remains perhaps my favorite work. At Wyzant, I am one of the top tutors in Los Angeles; indeed, during the first week of May, 2015, briefly I was #1 out of more than 4,000. I have more than 600 five-star ratings.
Photography

Photography

My photographs have appeared in numerous publications, including TIME, PREMIERE, THE NEW YORK TIMES, ROLLING STONE, and CONDE NAST TRAVELER. My photographs of the Indian subcontinent and the Himalayas of Nepal were exhibited in a one-man show at the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena. I've worked on film sets and music videos with Oscar winner Frances McDormand, Emmy winner Patricia Arquette, Aerosmith, Madonna, Val Kilmer, Grace Jones, U2, and many others. One of my photos of Bono is included in the permanent collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Also, my photography of U2 is a significant part of the beautiful coffee table book: U2 SHOW. As a production still photographer, I have worked on film sets from Italy to Malaysia. These days I mostly shoot nature, most recently (2011/2012) in the Greek Islands, Swiss Alps, Burgundy, the Eastern Sierra, and the Yasawa Islands, Fiji. I'm a good teacher-- and have led several filmmaking classes with kids for Star Education, a leading provider of Enrichment Services and Gifted/Talented programs.
ACT English
ACT Reading
English
Italian
Literature
Philosophy
SAT Reading
SAT Writing
World History
Writing
William R.'s Photo

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Response time: 1 hour

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (2,524 ratings)
5 star
(2,499)
4 star
(12)
3 star
(4)
2 star
(2)
1 star
(7)

Reviews

unbelievably great teacher!

William is able to communicate the key concepts of AP European History and AP US History to my teenage son in a conversational tone that captivated him. Our son got a 5 on the AP European History exam after 2 months with William. (US history is for 2017)

Nicholas, 35 lessons with William

A gifted Teacher

William helped my son prepare for his AP Euro exam. I wish we found him earlier in the year. He was able to create a learning environment that was engaging and incredibly effective at translating dense information into digestable pieces. I was very impressed with the tutoring quality.

Ryder , 2 lessons with William

Great Essay Coach

Both of my children worked with William on college essays and were admitted to their top-choice schools—Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Columbia, and UPenn. With his sharp eye and years of experience, William knows what works well and what doesn't work—most importantly, he can guide students to turn weaker writing into compelling, standout essays.

Yumei, 64 lessons with William

Excellent AP US History Tutor

My son is being tutored by William weekly for US AP History and in just 3 sessions my sons grade went from 76% to now a 91% updated grade average. He is able to explain the subject in a manner that just "clicks" for my 17 year old. I highly recommend William not just for tutoring but also college essay writing in which my son received guidance on.

Christine, 18 lessons with William

Goes Above and Beyond

I highly recommend William - he is professional and his ideas are strategic and brilliant! William will take your essay that is borderline and turn it into a beautiful, intricate piece of writing that will astound you.

Alan, 6 lessons with William

knowledgeable and patient counselor

William has been working with my son on the college essays. He has been an excellent counselor. He is very patient and has insightful conversations. We highly recommend him.

Ishaan, 19 lessons with William

Very Knowledgeable Tutor

William helped my son with his college essays. He is a very knowledgeable tutor and provided insightful guidance to my son, especially on forming a narrative for his personal story. My son ultimately got offers from multiple top colleges, and the essays definitely helped a lot. I would recommend William to anyone who’s looking for a wonderful college essay tutor!

Lily, 7 lessons with William

Essay review

My son has been learning a lot from his class. His dedication and passion for the class have motivated him to study harder. Best tutor!!!!

Debby, 3 lessons with William

Grateful for the help

William is extremely efficient and my kid’s essay got much better after just about an hour of his time. He is very professional and knows exactly what areas need improvement. Definitely will be working together again.

William , 2 lessons with William

Experienced Storyteller

William is great at weaving stories together and editing/writing captivating college essays. His guidance inspires creativity and confidence, and he knows how to appeal to admission officers.

Xun, 8 lessons with William
Hourly Rate: $145
Response time: 1 hour
Contact William