Experience Summary
My name is Rocky, and I am a cancer researcher currently applying for MD/Ph.D. programs. I really hope you consider me as a potential tutor! I will try my best to adapt to your personal learning style, and, if you stick with me, I am totally confident that I can help you rock your test(s), and/or make science less painful for you! As for credentials, I scored a 14 (99.4 Percentile) in the MCAT Biological Sciences; a 13 (97.3 Percentile) in the MCAT Physical Sciences; a '790' out of '800' on the Math Section of the SAT; a perfect score of '5' out of '5' on Biology AP, Physics 'B' AP, and Calculus "AB" AP Exams; and a perfect 100% on the Math B NYS High School Regents. I recently graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2011 with a B.Sc. in Molecular & Cellular Biology.
When I was in college, I felt that lectures were never truly effective in teaching (and definitely more useful for napping). I have seen many people get frustrated when they felt the lecture moving too fast and usually get overwhelmed by the very heavy burden of Science in general. Personally I think that Science (esp. Biology) can be completely digestible (and even...*gasp*... "enjoyable") given the right circumstances. My job is to provide you with these circumstances, and, if you let me, I believe that you will come to enjoy this daunting field as much as I have!
My Hobbies
I used to wrestle in college, but unfortunately research dictates that you give up a healthy "balanced" lifestyle for the good of science (ironic, eh?). Despite this, I still enjoy working out/playing sports when I get the chance, and I also enjoy listening and playing music.
Other Comments
Many students tend to memorize info, and ignore the underlying concepts/mechanisms of topics in Science. This may be a huge pitfall, in that students can easily mix up associations created through memorization. What I do is attempt to mold new information in a way that enforces mechanistic-based learning (as opposed to raw memorization). Trust me, I would rather learn a longer extrapolated mechanism any day than to memorize/forget/memorize/forget, or (even worst) memorize and mix-up. My goal is to bridge gaps between topics in science and to expose the real grit of what is "really going on" in the body and the world.
| ADD/ADHD |
Proficiency: I know the basics
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| I have never tutored students with ADD/ADHD, but I am wholeheartedly willing to put in the time and patience to help students develop good learning habits. |
| Biology |
 This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Expert
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| I am a Pancreatic Cancer/Inflammatory Disease Researcher at the NYU Langone School of Medicine. My lab investigates translational Immunology-based therapies to combat Pancreatic Cancer/Pancreatitis, as well as Fatty-Liver Diseases. |
| Genetics |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| I can cover all topics from High School to College-level Genetics classes, from evolution & population genetics, all the way down to the cellular mechanisms of gene expression/genetics. |
| Logic |
Proficiency: I know the basics
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| During Hurricane Sandy, when I was temporarily not working at NYU due to damage, I read a Logic textbook and I feel that I can guide students currently struggling in Logic. |
| Math |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| 100% NYS Math B Regents; 99% NYS Math A Regents: Including Algebra, Trigonometry, and Basic Logical Propositions. |
| MCAT |
This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Expert
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| Biological Sciences: 14 (99.4 Percentile); Physical Sciences: 13 (97.3 Percentile) |
| Organic Chemistry |
This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Experienced
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| This is was one of my favorite subjects in college, and I believe that many students are intimidated by it because they can never get the individual attention of a professor to teach it in the best possible way for them. Sometimes it is difficult to understand the underlying concepts in Orgo, and I believe that I can relay this seemingly scary subject in a personalized and (dare I say) "fun" way. |
| Physics |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| Score of 13/15 (97.3%ile) in MCAT Physical Sciences; Score of 5/5 Physics 'B' AP Exam; 97% NYS Physics Regents. |
| Pre-Algebra |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| I have taught 6th Grade Math as a volunteer; arithmetic and basic addition/subtraction/multiplication/division may be daunting for younger students who haven't "hammered down" the basics. I can easily adapt to the individual learning style of the student to prevent discouragement, and hopefully inspire self-motivation & interest in the subject. |
| SAT - Math |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| 790 out of 800 on Math Section of SAT |
| Special Education |
Proficiency: I know the basics
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| I have worked as a wrestling coach in a clinic for elementary/HS students, teaching the sport to children with Autism. I haven't taught course material to children with special needs, but I am wholeheartedly willing to put in the time and patience to help students develop good learning habits. |