18 years of specialized test preparation. Diagnostic-driven strategy. One student at a time.
I've spent the last 18 years working exclusively in standardized test preparation and academic tutoring. What started as after-school tutoring in high school math and chemistry has evolved into a specialized practice focused primarily on the SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT.
Over that time, I've developed a deep understanding of how these tests are designed — how questions are constructed, how distractor answers are built, and where students at different score levels typically break down. That psychometric expertise is what makes my approach different from generic test prep: I don't just teach content, I teach students to recognize the patterns and decision points that determine their scores.
I earned my B.A. in Psychology from Whittier College in 2002. Before focusing on test prep, I taught high school chemistry and quickly realized I preferred the precision and impact of individualized tutoring over crowded classrooms of 35 students.
My approach is diagnostic-driven. Every student has a different score profile — different strengths, different gaps, different testing habits. I start by analyzing where a student is actually losing points, then build a targeted study plan around those specific weaknesses. This means sessions are efficient: we work on the skills and question types that will move the score, not a one-size-fits-all curriculum.
I design practice around how memory actually works — spacing, retrieval, and pattern recognition — so skills transfer to test day, not just homework night.
I work with students both in-person at my office in Del Mar Highlands (Carmel Valley, San Diego) and online via Zoom. About half of my current students are local to North County San Diego; the other half are spread across the US and internationally, including families in the UK and EU preparing for the SAT for US university admissions.
I'm a native San Diegan, a father, and a basketball coach. When I'm not working with students, you'll find me on the court, debating whether the original Star Wars trilogy counts as a documentary, or hunting for vintage video games. My most important mentors in college were coaches and teachers, so it's not surprising that I ended up in a career that combines both.
I believe hard work is required, but positive reinforcement works better than pressure. The last few years of high school should be about growth and possibility, not just stress. My job is to help students build the skills and confidence they need to perform their best — and to make the process as productive and low-friction as possible for the whole family.
Schedule a free consultation to discuss your student's goals and how I can help.