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UPenn-trained Engineer with over 7000 hours tutoring
Andrew P.

5.0 (2,243 ratings)

7,310 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $75
Contact Andrew
Response time: 45 minutes

About Andrew

Bio

I'm a very experienced and adaptable tutor. I really enjoy helping people in general, and making math and science feel less intimidating, even for grad students and professionals — there really is no subject that can't be made more accessible with clear explanations and different ways of thinking about problem solving. At the same time, I really enjoy off-beat subjects. I've helped a broadcast meteorologist with her fluid mechanics, an industrial design student understand how his design would...

I'm a very experienced and adaptable tutor. I really enjoy helping people in general, and making math and science feel less intimidating, even for grad students and professionals — there really is no subject that can't be made more accessible with clear explanations and different ways of thinking about problem solving. At the same time, I really enjoy off-beat subjects. I've helped a broadcast meteorologist with her fluid mechanics, an industrial design student understand how his design would fare in the real world, and many niche engineering topics, from modeling highway traffic to decision theory in systems engineering. I'm particularly good at writing computer simulations (finite differences, finite elements, Monte Carlo...).

I have my BSE, MSE, and Ph.D. all in mechanical engineering. I've been a teaching assistant for lots of courses, including Statics and Strength of Materials, fluid mechanics and heat transfer labs, Introduction to Flight (twice), and Theory of Vibrations (twice). My doctorate was in computational fluid mechanics, and I know MATLAB and the Python programming languages fairly well. I can help with those kind of upper-level subjects, but also with undergrad-type physics and math subjects.

I grew up in Chestnut Hill and West Newton, Mass. I love to tinker with electronics and cameras. I take infrared and ultraviolet photos, and also thermal infrared photos. I like to read mysteries and fantasy, and I also like history, especially the 17th century. Back To The Future is my favorite movie.

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Education

University of Pennsylvania
Mech Engineering
University of Pennsylvania
Masters
University of Pennsylvania
PhD

Policies

  • Tutor’s lessons: In-person and online
  • Hourly Rate: $75
  • Rate details: Cancellation fee is 30 min equivalent time. Lessons are charged by time actually spent rounded to nearest 5 min.
  • Travel policy: Within 0 miles of Brighton, MA 02135
  • Lesson cancellation: 24 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 10/2/2014

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Approved Subjects

Calculus

Calculus

I've tutored a number of students in basic calculus with excellent results. I have a lot of practical experience using calculus (speaking as an engineer). I'm very adaptable to the student's needs and I like to explain things geometrically for the students who enjoy visuals. I also know lots of tricks, if you like that sort of thing.
Chemistry

Chemistry

I'm pretty experienced with physical chemistry and thermodynamics, and I know other things like Lewis structures, trends in the periodic table, etc. from college chemistry. I do not know organic chemistry.
Differential Equations

Differential Equations

I've tutored a number of people in this topic already with good results. I have a Ph.D. in fluid mechanics, which is the study of the differential equations governing fluid flow, so I have a lot of practical experience too.
Linear Algebra

Linear Algebra

As a mechanical engineer, linear algebra is a working tool for me. I have a Ph.D. in computational fluid dynamics, and linear algebra is the mathematical background for solving the systems of equations that arise in most computer simulations.
MATLAB

MATLAB

I've been a MATLAB user for 27 years (as of 2025), since my undergraduate days. I have many years of experience using MATLAB to solve problems. I also know quite a bit about how to speed up MATLAB programs by taking advantage of the profiling tools and also by writing MEX files in C. I do GUI development also, using App Designer. I have particularly extensive experience with the Image Processing Toolbox, and with optimization. I've also done a lot of finite element and finite difference codes.
Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

I have BSE, MSE, and PhDs in mechanical engineering. My thesis was in computational fluid dynamics. I've been a teaching assistant for statics and strength of materials, fluid and heat transfer labs, introduction to flight (twice), vibrations, and freshman physics.
Photography

Photography

I have been doing photography across the electromagnetic spectrum for a decade, from thermal imaging to shortwave infrared (SWIR) to near infrared, through ultraviolet, including fluorescence. I am a frequent contributor at ultravioletphotography.com, and I recently completed a multispectral imaging for cultural heritage seminar at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Physics

Physics

I know all my classical physics because I'm a mechanical engineer specializing in fluid dynamics for my Ph.D. I've presented multiple times at the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics conferences. I was once teaching assistant and grader for the summer pre-freshman physics course at UPenn. I've kept up-to-date with Coursera courses on quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics for ongoing education.
Precalculus

Precalculus

I've been teaching pre-calc and calculus on Wyzant now since 2014, and I'm very kind and patient. I try to make sure everyone has the basic skills down well so they don't get lost in solving problems that build on top of those skills. I teach calc and other higher math also, so I know which things are most useful later on.
Python

Python

I have done some projects with multispectral imaging using Python and a Raspberry Pi and machine vision cameras (FLIR Blackfly and an InGaAs camera called the Phoenix by Attollo Engineering). I can also tutor numerical methods in Python, or help with calculus projects, etc.
Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics

I have been tutoring thermodynamics for over 23 years overall and 11 years on Wyzant now, and I'm pretty good at guiding mechanical engineers through an admittedly confusing subject with a lot of definitions and new terms. Will you be able to solve useful problems after working with me? Yes!
Trigonometry

Trigonometry

I have a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. I have a lot of practical experience doing trigonometry, usually as part of some other engineering problem (e.g. free body diagrams in statics and dynamics). The essence of trig is going back and forth between the geometry, the algebra, and the various trig identities, and I can help people learn to do that.

Examples of Expertise

Andrew has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 1 question submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

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Andrew P.'s Photo

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Response time: 45 minutes

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (2,243 ratings)
5 star
(2,213)
4 star
(16)
3 star
(8)
2 star
(2)
1 star
(4)

Reviews

Andrew is GREAT and has a secret love for weather.

Working at a local TV station as a broadcast meteorologist doesn't leave a lot of extra time in my schedule, and the material I study is can be too specific for some...but not for Andrew :) After having graduated years prior, I was nervous about going back to school and taking a master's class that required Calculus I, II, Differential Eqns, Multivariable, and a number of Meteorology prerequisites. Andrew's mastery of fluid mechanics overlapped perfectly into dynamic meteorology. He's quick, and to the point, and when you're working and taking classes, this is invaluable. I'd definitely recommend Andrew. It's nice to have someone to refer to if you get in a pinch, and I hope to work with Andrew in the future, as I pursue a master's degree.

Renee, 9 lessons with Andrew
Tutor responded:

Thanks, Renee! (Note to people with very specialized tutoring needs: I'm super flexible, and I have a pretty wide-ranging math, physics, and engineering background. If you can't find a tutor in a specialized STEM topic, give me a try!)

Review for Andrew P

Andrew was an exceptional tutor. He was able to help me in many of my classes, including Dynamics, and System Controls. He was extremely flexible and was able to work with me in order to make sure I understood the material well so I could succeed. I could not recommend him enough.

Eric, 35 lessons with Andrew

Andrew is clearly very knowledgeable and skillful about many STEM topics

Andrew is really great for anyone interested in conducting niche research project. He is also very transparent about his strengths and weakness. Appreciate his expertise, patience and flexibility

Abby, 12 lessons with Andrew

Good tutor

Great background in mechanical engineering. He is willing to put in the effort to see that you understand concepts of engineering. I recommend him to any student struggling with that material.

Dan, 3 lessons with Andrew

Wholeheartedly Recommend Andrew's Tutoring

I am incredibly grateful for Andrew's exceptional tutoring assistance tackling partial differential equations (PDEs). Without an engineering background, I found understanding the concepts and applications of PDEs in my coursework difficult. However, Andrew was patient, provided clear explanations, and guided me to understand the subject deeply, which helped me excel in my class. What sets Andrew apart is his ability to break down complex mathematical concepts into easily understandable pieces, thus making them accessible even to non-engineering students like myself. He went above and beyond to tailor his teaching approach to my unique learning style, ensuring I fully understood the underlying principles. Moreover, Andrew fostered an environment of encouragement and support, instilling confidence in my abilities and motivating me to push beyond my limits. His dedication and commitment to my success were evident in every session, as he patiently addressed my questions and provided invaluable insights. Thanks to Andrew, I passed my PDEs class and developed a newfound appreciation for the subject. I wholeheartedly recommend his tutoring services to anyone seeking clarity and mastery in mathematics, regardless of their academic background. Thank you, Andrew, for your unwavering support and expertise—I could not have done it without you!

Bradley Ross, 6 lessons with Andrew

very knowledgeable and clear.

Andrew definitely helped my daughter with her physics homework and understanding. I truly appreciate him being on task and on time and his knowledge of the subject matter. Thank you.

Anita, 1 lesson with Andrew

Quick and Efficient tutor

Quick, helped me understand some core concepts of linear algebra that I didn't understand. We went through some problems and he helped me solve them. Very knowledgable in Linear Algebra.

Anthony, 1 lesson with Andrew

knowledgeable and excellent tutor

Andrew was able to explain to me concepts in fluid dynamics I had faults with in an excellent manner. He also covered some exam problems that I struggled with so that I was able to perform better on the next exam.

Justin, 30 lessons with Andrew

great lesson!!

explained everything in a way that made sense and fascinated me and infused the lesson with humor which helped me pay attention despite my adhd!

Porter, 4 lessons with Andrew

great teacher, very adaptable

helped a lot with my understanding of Matlab in just one session and consistently reinforces important topics. 10/10 would recommend

Amalia, 12 lessons with Andrew
Hourly Rate: $75
Response time: 45 minutes
Contact Andrew