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Physics grad (summa cum laude, UMD) — physics & math tutor
Tom W.

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About Tom

Bio

I graduated summa cum laude from the University of Maryland, College Park, in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Physics. My coursework covered the full physics sequence–classical mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics–alongside the supporting mathematics: single and multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations. Since graduating, I have spent four years working as a software engineer and database developer at an...

I graduated summa cum laude from the University of Maryland, College Park, in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Physics. My coursework covered the full physics sequence–classical mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics–alongside the supporting mathematics: single and multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations. Since graduating, I have spent four years working as a software engineer and database developer at an industrial technology company, where I use mathematics, programming, and physics-rooted reasoning every day. That working experience shapes how I tutor: I want students to understand not just how to solve a problem, but why the underlying concept matters.

My approach is patient and concept-first, built around helping students develop genuine understanding rather than memorized procedures. I begin every session by asking the student to walk me through what they already know and where they feel stuck, which lets me meet them at the right level. From there, I work through example problems together, asking guiding questions rather than just demonstrating solutions, so the student builds the reasoning skills they need for problems they have not yet seen. I draw on real-world applications wherever possible, because connecting abstract material to concrete examples tends to make the ideas stick.

My tutoring experience has been one-on-one with students at the high school and early college level, primarily in physics, calculus, and introductory programming. I am comfortable working with students preparing for AP Physics exams, college-level introductory physics, math from algebra through calculus, and beginning programming in Python or SQL. I work patiently with students who feel discouraged by these subjects and enjoy the moment when something finally clicks.

Personal Website: https://thomas-wade.com/

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Education

University of Maryland, College Park
Physics

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Approved Subjects

Algebra 2

Algebra 2

Algebra 2 is the foundation that makes higher math possible, and a strong understanding here pays off through every course that follows — pre-calculus, calculus, physics, statistics, and beyond. As a physics graduate from the University of Maryland, I have spent years working with the algebraic techniques students learn in Algebra 2 — quadratic and polynomial equations, exponential and logarithmic functions, systems of equations, sequences and series, and conic sections — both as standalone topics and as practical tools for solving problems. I emphasize building genuine understanding rather than memorized procedures, because algebra concepts that only live as memorized rules tend to break down under the pressure of harder material later. I am especially patient with students who feel stuck or anxious about math, and I work to rebuild confidence alongside competence.
Calculus

Calculus

I completed single-variable, multivariable, and vector calculus during my physics degree at the University of Maryland, where I graduated summa cum laude in 2021. I acted as collaborative group study leader for Calculus I for a year as the main Calculus I tutor at the university. Calculus was the mathematical foundation for nearly every physics course I took, so I learned it not as an isolated subject but as a practical tool for solving real problems in mechanics, electromagnetism, and thermodynamics. My approach to teaching calculus emphasizes conceptual understanding alongside procedural fluency — I want students to know not just how to take a derivative or evaluate an integral, but what the operation actually represents geometrically and physically. I work patiently with students who feel overwhelmed by the symbolic complexity of calculus and find that connecting abstract operations to visual intuition often makes the material click.
Physical Science

Physical Science

I have a B.S. in Physics from the University of Maryland, where I graduated summa cum laude, and I have a strong foundation in physics, chemistry, and applied math. I enjoy helping students connect physical science concepts to real-world examples so the material feels less abstract. My background includes both academic science and hands-on technical work with sensors, electronics, and data, which helps me explain topics like motion, forces, energy, electricity, matter, and measurement in a practical way. I focus on breaking problems down step by step and helping students build confidence.
Physics

Physics

I graduated summa cum laude from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science in Physics in 2021, with a specialization in Quantum Information Science. My coursework spanned the full undergraduate physics sequence — classical mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, waves and optics, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics — alongside the supporting mathematics through linear algebra and differential equations. My teaching emphasizes building genuine physical intuition before mathematical machinery, because students who understand what a problem is physically asking can usually find their way through the math, while students who only memorize formulas tend to freeze on unfamiliar problems. I am especially comfortable working with students preparing for AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, or college-level introductory physics, and I work patiently with students who feel overwhelmed by the conceptual leaps the subject often demands.
Precalculus

Precalculus

Pre-calculus is the bridge between algebra and calculus, and a strong understanding here is what makes calculus feel manageable rather than overwhelming. As a physics graduate from the University of Maryland, I have worked extensively with the topics that pre-calculus introduces — polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, trigonometry and the unit circle, sequences and series, and an introduction to limits — both in my own coursework and as the foundation for the calculus and physics that came afterward. My teaching emphasizes building real intuition for what these functions represent and how they behave, rather than just memorizing identities and procedures, because students who understand the underlying logic tend to handle calculus much more confidently than students who only memorized rules. I am especially patient with students who feel anxious about the transition from algebra to calculus and find that the right framing can transform pre-calculus from a hurdle into a foundation.
SQL

SQL

I have spent the last four years working with production MySQL databases as a software engineer and database developer, where SQL is part of my daily working environment for query design, data investigation, schema design, and performance optimization. My SQL fluency covers the full range students typically learn — SELECT statements with JOINs across multiple tables, aggregation with GROUP BY and HAVING, subqueries and common table expressions, indexing fundamentals, and the patterns that distinguish queries that return correct results from queries that return correct results efficiently. I teach SQL the way I learned to use it professionally — through real examples, careful attention to what each clause actually does, and emphasis on the difference between syntactically valid queries and queries that solve the problem at hand. Whether you are starting from scratch, preparing for a technical interview, or working through a college database course, I can help you build practical SQL fluency.
Algebra 1
HTML
Prealgebra
Trigonometry
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Hourly Rate: $50
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