Tutor Spotlight: Jacob S.
Meet Jacob.
With a degree in physics, Jacob boasts 4 years of tutoring experience in a peer setting. He strives to imbue his students with a deep conceptual fluency and understanding, using his own knowledge of the ACT and SAT to empower students to engage in robust and rigorous practice.
What's one thing you love about tutoring?
The moment when everything clicks for a student and they suddenly understand something they’d been struggling with previously. One of the main reasons studying is difficult is the demoralization one feels upon spending hours on a single concept to seemingly no avail. By helping a student grasp a hard topic, I can show them why they’re putting in so much effort and motivate them to achieve their educational goals.
How do you keep students engaged During tutoring sessions?
I try to determine precisely what a student needs help with, and I speak to that directly. My experience is that students who seek out tutoring often have something specific that they’re stuck on and want help overcoming, but they might not necessarily know exactly what they need to do in order to resolve the issue. As such, I have found that students will generally be engaged once you determine what precisely will help them.
What's one study tip every student should know?
Consistent effective practice is key. By effective practice I mean you should carefully analyze what you are having trouble with to determine what you need to focus on. Furthermore, it is extremely important to take an active approach to learning. For example, don’t just read a book, ask and answer questions related to the material. Be a participant in the learning process, not just an observer.
What was your favorite class in high school and why?
Real analysis. It was the first (and only!) math class I took where the professor was not afraid of taking the hardest problems he could find and running us through the gauntlet. Naturally, the class was very difficult. However, I found completing the problem sets to be much more edifying and satisfying than in previous courses, and it ignited in me a passion for mathematics (and analysis in particular) that is still going strong today.
Can you share an example of a student you were proud of for reaching their goals?
Back in college I had a physics major who came to me for help, first in physics and then later in math. He was really struggling, both with the class material and also with efficient study habits. It was to the point where I feared he might not pass our qualifying exam. After many tutoring sessions I was able to help him with classes, and I got to see him graduate this year.
What do you admire about your students?
They often surprise me with their abilities. There have been many instances where a student will find an approach to a problem that is more efficient or easier to understand than the method I had in mind, or they will have a unique perspective on a topic or concept I had not considered before.
