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MIT graduate available to teach Science, Math, and Test Prep
Phil V.

5.0 (1,044 ratings)

4,761 hours tutoring

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About Phil

Bio

I am a licensed science teacher and have offered tutoring services in math and chemistry since 2002. In addition to traditional, in-person tutoring, I have taught thousands of sessions through online platforms to high school/college students and adults across the country. An MIT graduate, I have also taught multiple semesters at University of California, Berkeley as a graduate student instructor. My adaptive teaching style, developed from experience teaching students at all levels, targets my...

I am a licensed science teacher and have offered tutoring services in math and chemistry since 2002. In addition to traditional, in-person tutoring, I have taught thousands of sessions through online platforms to high school/college students and adults across the country. An MIT graduate, I have also taught multiple semesters at University of California, Berkeley as a graduate student instructor. My adaptive teaching style, developed from experience teaching students at all levels, targets my clients' needs to ensure they get the most out of their sessions. My strengths as a tutor stem from very strong content knowledge and the ability to articulate concepts clearly. Because I am so familiar with the material, I can often provide different ways of looking at a problem and relate newer topics to more familiar ones.

I am currently accepting new students, so feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to set up a meeting. Because of our current situation, I am only meeting with students online, and I have found this method to be just as effective as in-person tutoring.

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Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Chemistry
  • Licensed teacher

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Approved Subjects

ACT English

ACT English

I have a great deal of experience both with the ACT material itself and teaching this material to high school students preparing for college. The main thing to be gained from test prep tutoring is a plan of attack specific to the test. I present strategies for the ACT to my students and to personalize the methods to their needs. We will discuss grammar and stylistic concepts that are commonly tested on the English section. As a note, effective test prep takes time, so I recommend starting early. I warn my prospective students that the gains to be made with just a week or two of preparation will be very limited.
ACT Math

ACT Math

I have a great deal of experience both with the ACT material itself and teaching this material to high school students preparing for college. The main thing to be gained from test prep tutoring is a plan of attack specific to the test. I present strategies for the ACT to my students and to personalize the methods to their needs. We can also review the concepts tested, including arithmetic and number properties, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and reasoning. As a note, effective test prep takes time, so I recommend starting early. I warn my prospective students that the gains to be made with just a week or two of preparation will be very limited.
ACT Reading

ACT Reading

I have a great deal of experience both with the ACT material itself and teaching this material to high school students preparing for college. The main thing to be gained from test prep tutoring is a plan of attack specific to the test. I present strategies for the ACT to my students and to personalize the methods to their needs. We will address options for reading strategies as well as approaches to different types of questions. As a note, effective test prep takes time, so I recommend starting early. I warn my prospective students that the gains to be made with just a week or two of preparation will be very limited.
ACT Science

ACT Science

I have a great deal of experience both with the ACT material itself and teaching this material to high school students preparing for college. The main thing to be gained from test prep tutoring is a plan of attack specific to the test. I present strategies for the ACT to my students and to personalize the methods to their needs. Focus in this section will be on data analysis and reading figures. As a note, effective test prep takes time, so I recommend starting early. I warn my prospective students that the gains to be made with just a week or two of preparation will be very limited.
Algebra 1

Algebra 1

The bulk of my experience teaching algebra 1 material comes from working with students in other classes. I often have to review these skills with students for their higher level math classes or science classes, which to me highlights the importance of learning the material well early on since it will definitely come up again in the future. As such, I do my best to reinforce the concepts with practice and solid, clear explanations to build a strong foundation.
Algebra 2

Algebra 2

The first student I worked with in algebra 2 was myself. I took a 3-week, self-paced algebra 2 course over a summer in high school, during which I was essentially handed a textbook and told, "Here, learn this." Based on my results, I feel perfectly qualified to say I'm a very effective teacher in this subject. Since then, I have worked successfully with several other students on the subject.
AMC (Competition math)

AMC (Competition math)

When I was in middle and high school, I trained for and participated in many math competitions. I regularly won or placed near the top in regional and state competitions, with some of my highest achievements including winning state Mathcounts to qualify for nationals and qualifying twice for the USAMO in the AMC. Competition math often requires you to think more flexibly about concepts than regular classwork, and I help my students identify alternative paths and learn new techniques and strategies that go beyond what they've seen in class.
Calculus

Calculus

I have worked with many students in high school and college classes on single-variable calculus. This includes helping students prepare for AP calculus classes, both AB and BC versions, working through college-level coursework, and also doing independent preparation for calculus outside of a formal class.
Chemistry

Chemistry

Chemistry was my major in college and is my most frequently tutored subject. I have taught students of all abilities in high school, honors, AP, and college level courses. My strong understanding of the material at its core and experience teaching it allow me to tie together concepts in ways that resonate with my students.
Geometry

Geometry

Geometry was my favorite math class in high school and also the math I've taught the most. With so many theorems and postulates to keep track of, people often have trouble with this class. While some memorization is required, I do my best to make the concepts relatable and, for interested students, trace them back to their roots.
Organic Chemistry

Organic Chemistry

In addition to tutoring several students in organic chemistry, I served as a graduate student instructor for the organic chemistry series at University of California, Berkeley. I have an excellent command of the material in first and second semester classes, and I make a point of being able to relate specific topics back to the general, "big idea" concepts.
Physics

Physics

Physics is a challenging class because, although the actual number of topics to learn is relatively low, these topics get woven together in varied and complex ways. I do my best to nurture good, general problem solving strategies with my physics tutoring students in order to help them to develop as independent thinkers and scientists.
Precalculus

Precalculus

Precalculus classes tend to vary widely, so it's important to have a tutor prepared to address the breadth of material that may be covered in your class. I've worked with several students in this subject and am ready to help with any questions you have.
PSAT

PSAT

I have a great deal of experience both with the PSAT material itself and teaching this material to high school students preparing for college. The main thing to be gained from test prep tutoring is a plan of attack specific to the test. I present strategies for the PSAT to my students and to personalize the methods to their needs. I also have experience teaching the content from all three sections of the test and can help you review any necessary concepts. As a note, effective test prep takes time, so I recommend starting early. I warn my prospective students that the gains to be made with just a week or two of preparation will be very limited.
SAT Math

SAT Math

I have a great deal of experience both with the SAT material itself and teaching this material to high school students preparing for college. The main thing to be gained from test prep tutoring is a plan of attack specific to the test. I present strategies for the SAT to my students and to personalize the methods to their needs. I am also very well versed in the arithmetic, algebra, geometry and reasoning tested by the SAT and can review this with students as needed. As a note, effective test prep takes time, so I recommend starting early. I warn my prospective students that the gains to be made with just a week or two of preparation will be very limited.
SAT Reading

SAT Reading

I have a great deal of experience both with the SAT material itself and teaching this material to high school students preparing for college. The main thing to be gained from test prep tutoring is a plan of attack specific to the test. I present strategies for the SAT to my students and to personalize the methods to their needs. We will address separate strategies for the reading comprehension and sentence completion portions of the critical reading section. As a note, effective test prep takes time, so I recommend starting early. I warn my prospective students that the gains to be made with just a week or two of preparation will be very limited.
SAT Writing

SAT Writing

I have a great deal of experience both with the SAT material itself and teaching this material to high school students preparing for college. The main thing to be gained from test prep tutoring is a plan of attack specific to the test. I present strategies for the SAT to my students and to personalize the methods to their needs. We will address test-specific strategies and the grammar and stylistic skills needed for the test. As a note, effective test prep takes time, so I recommend starting early. I warn my prospective students that the gains to be made with just a week or two of preparation will be very limited.
Trigonometry

Trigonometry

I have worked with several students in trigonometry with great success. My main approach to trigonometry is to build up a foundation of important facts like the unit circle and then hone in on strategies in problem solving. Practice will be key in developing these skills, so I try to prepare my students to use their homework time effectively.
GRE
Linear Algebra
Physical Science
Prealgebra
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Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (1,044 ratings)
5 star
(1,020)
4 star
(21)
3 star
(1)
2 star
(1)
1 star
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Reviews

Excellent Chemistry Tutor

My son needed help with some very advanced Chemistry concepts for the National Chemistry Olympiad. Phil was a great resource and an excellent tutor. He really helped my son cover a great deal of complex material in a short time while allowing him to learn and understand as they went. Thanks Phil!

Mary, 3 lessons with Phil

A tutor who helps his students think

Phil was great at explaining topics, and didn't just tell my daughter how to do the work, but asked her questions, and helped her figure it out herself. This is really what she needed to grasp the content.

Lisa, 11 lessons with Phil

Effective and patient

Philip is an effective and patient tutor! He helped my daughter help herself in learning the concepts. Will gladly work with him again on chemistry homework and testing.

Mike, 1 lesson with Phil

ALWAYS does a great job!

My student loves working with Phil. He is consistently solid at both knowing the material AND explaining it. This is not so easy to find in a tutor. My student had been working with Phil for several years now.

AMY, 33 lessons with Phil

Good session

My daughter enjoys working with Phil. He is good at explaining complicated concepts. He is helping her with pre calculus. We have had two sessions so far. We will continue to work with him

Marybeth, 3 lessons with Phil

Strategic tutor

I would benefit more from understanding your thought process as you solve problems. In Phillip's class he always share his strategies and explain how he approaches different types of questions. This would allow me to learn not just the answers, but also the underlying concepts and problem-solving techniques.

Jane, 9 lessons with Phil

Excellent tutor

My daughter recently started working with Phil to help with her honors chemistry class as she was starting to feel lost. She has found him extremely helpful. He does an excellent job of explaining difficult concepts and hones in on what background info and foundational knowledge she needs to be able to fully understand/answer the more tricky questions being asked of her.

Kate, 55 lessons with Phil

Amazing Tutor!

Phil is a phenomenal tutor. I came to him in the last half on my semester worried about passing the course and now I’m able to confidently take my final with no worry about passing. He is very patient and helps you break down and understand even the most complicated of organic chemistry topics. I am not a fan of orgo but Phil has helped to make the class much more bearable. You cannot go wrong with having him as a tutor, I wish I had found him sooner!

Yasmine, 6 lessons with Phil

Beyond Expectation

Phil is an exceptionally knowledgeable tutor. He has been assisting my daughter with her online Calculus BC class for a couple of months. One aspect that distinguishes his teaching style is his emphasis on inspiring my daughter to discover the solutions herself, rather than directly telling her what to do. We will undoubtedly continue to seek his expertise, perhaps even for other subjects.

Christina, 5 lessons with Phil

Great chemistry tutor!! Highly recommend it

Phil got me through my Chem H class. He is a patient tutor. He is very knowledgable, knows chemistry very well and he explains all the problems in accurate details that are easy to understand!

Jolie, 207 lessons with Phil