Private Math Tutoring • Grades 7-12
Algebra • Geometry • Trigonometry • Precalculus • Calculus
This collection of hundreds of parent and student testimonials along with prominent named endorsements is a tribute to all my tutoring students over the decades. It’s about the intellectual journeys we have taken together, your love for learning, your hard work and perseverance, and your achievement of educational excellence. Congratulations to every one of you; approbation with distinction and well done!
Dr. George
Harvard Ph.D.
MIT B.S.
Perdocere Inc.
phone: 833-MATH-833
Prominent Endorsements
✏️ From:
Marlyn E. McGrath
Director of Admissions
Harvard University
“I think George is not merely a tutor – he is a real educator. He knows that what helps students perform well on tests is the same as what makes them good students. A solid academic foundation pays dividends throughout schooling and careers, and George never loses sight of that in his work.”
✏️ From:
Prof. William A. Goddard III
California Institute of Technology
(Caltech)
“I have known George for decades. He has a very clear and dramatic effect enabling students to think and rise to their full potential. George’s influence on so many lives has had significant impact, and I greatly admire him for doing this.”
Parent and Student Testimonials
✏️ “All three of my children are tutored by George in math, chemistry, and physics. Not only is George capable of tackling all three different subject areas, he is able to relate to the very different learning styles of each child.”
✏️ “George has instructed our son and now our daughter. We have found that George tailors his teachings to meet our children’s individual needs and not just the ‘text book’. George covers everything and then he covers it again making sure they understand thoroughly. It is with great confidence and pleasure that we recommend George to be the very best available!”
✏️ “As parents, we all know how different our children are – and this certainly translates to learning styles. George has had to adapt to three very different types of learners over that last seven or eight years. He has successfully navigated one child through a string of 800s… brought another near that coveted goal, thus ensuring his place at the college of that child’s choice (thank goodness!!)… and now has the unenviable task of guiding our daughter through the shoals of high school mathematics and preparation for the SAT. All three of our children have enjoyed working with George; he has related to each one on a very personal level and he has adjusted his teaching style to match how they learn. He is always encouraging and has instilled in all of them the ability to ask questions and explore the whys and wherefores rather than just the answers. At the same time, however, George sets the bar high for each one of them and pushes them to achieve. Not only have they and will they be accountable to Mom and Dad – they are also accountable to George – and they seem to be more concerned about the latter rather than the former (which is fine with us). George has an extraordinary gift for teaching and for instilling a love of learning in his students. He is insistent that fundamentals be strong and he works those so that his students are equipped for higher tasks. On child ended up majoring in math in college and is now doing sophisticated quantitative analysis in an investment firm; another is doing a wonderful job navigating econometrics. We can only hope that our last one can achieve this success. With George on our side we think that this can be achieved. We heartily recommend George to all.”
✏️ “George enthusiastically provides the most positive atmosphere for thorough understanding, solid development and concrete achievement in mathematics. He teaches in the spirit of a love for learning and instills an intrinsic desire for continued learning and understanding. George holds our daughter to a higher standard of achievement which she reaches for with great pride in accomplishment.”
✏️ “Who you gonna call?? We have relied on George for both of our daughters in tutoring Mathematics and Chemistry. I noticed George’s ads, called him and the rest is history. For my older daughter, we began seeing George in the second half of her junior year. She needed a quick review for her upcoming SAT, after having scored in the 600’s for her PSAT. She received a 730 on her first try. In addition, my daughter was struggling in her Precalculus course, despite studying under a different tutor earlier in the year. George salvaged my daughter’s junior year math grade, and she ended the year with an A-, after a rocky first half. He takes a very methodical approach to teaching, and doesn’t believe in shortcuts. To excel, the student must understand the concepts, and not simply memorize rules. We called on George again to help my daughter through her senior year Calculus BC course, as well as to tutor her for the retest of the SATs, for the Math II exam and for her AP exam in BC Calculus. Needless to say, the results were stellar. She improved her SAT math score to a 780; received a 790 on her Math IIC exam; eeked out an A- in her BC Calculus course for the year, and topped it off with a 5 on her AP BC Calculus exam. She was thrilled particularly with the AP score, because it satisfied her Math requirement in college. But guess what? She may become a Computer Sciences major, and is probably going to have to take a lot more math. And she can approach college math with confidence, given the solid foundation George provided her. My younger daughter is a junior in high school and is taking AP Chemistry. She loves the subject, but was finding the subject matter increasingly challenging during the fall semester. We called George, he taught her for three sessions and she was thrilled to get an A on her mid-term, and an A for the fall semester. She was impressed with his thorough understanding not only of the subject matter, but of how the teacher required questions to be answered. He discerned that the teacher required responses that exactly followed the AP test… my daughter adjusted her answers accordingly. I think we are going to have to call on George again soon…the material is becoming challenging again, significantly more difficult than the questions on the Chemistry AP exam, and we take comfort in knowing he has complete mastery of the material and boy, does he know how to teach! — A happy parent.”
✏️ “After reviewing the yellow insert in the newspaper, I made a note to myself: Call Perdocere? I wondered: What does Perdocere mean? After my daughter’s ACT math results, I felt it was important to take action, so yes I did call Perdocere and spoke with George. After listening to our story, George met with my daughter to begin immediate math tutoring. We had limited time, six months, to accomplish a lot of learning in order to achieve a more successful math test score. Equally important, my daughter was to improve on her math for success when at college. George is a brilliant and enthusiastic teacher. He shared his plan with us and we quickly moved ahead. He had my daughter take both the SAT and ACT practice tests to see which would be best for her. He watched her to see how she worked. He prevailed upon our busy schedule for intense tutoring. George expects a lot from his student, but he gives much in return. For my daughter, she learned that math from him, and he instilled confidence. For me, he kept me in the loop and patiently worked with our schedule. At the six month point my daughter retook the test with George’s best wishes (and his calculator as her calculator shut down days before the test), and she exceeded her goal. Perdocere means to instruct thoroughly, Perdocere is George! Thank you!”
✏️ “We simply could not ask for a better qualified, kind and sincere educator for our son.”
✏️ “George was everything we’d hoped for in an SAT tutor – and more. Just by the enthusiasm our son had for completing the between-session assignments (‘George work’ often came before homework!), we knew we’d made the right choice. Not only did he feel totally confident taking the SAT, his time with George helped him sharpen his ability to complete regular school assignments, as well; he is now tackling honors calculus with ease. Our son fully recognizes how much he benefited from George’s coaching: when his math SAT score came back 130 points over his first attempt, he said: ‘Way to go, George!’ ”
✏️ “Our daughter has always struggled with math, especially on standardized tests. Always a good student and hard working, she was always disappointed with her test scores. By working with George, she has grown in her understanding and grasp of the subject. My wife and I are encouraged to see her renewed energetic interest in achieving in math which for too long has been so frustrating and intimidating for her. George, thanks for all your help.”
✏️ “I’ve been working with George for close to three years now and he is unlike any other tutor I’ve had previously. With comprehension comes good grades and self satisfaction I can’t get through just memorization. George’s plethora of knowledge has helped me through numerous courses and standardized tests. Whether it be science, math, and even the SATs, George has been there to help me.”
✏️ “George is very involved in making sure our son is studying the material he needs to succeed and getting a clear understanding of what is expected of him. George takes time each week to prepare for our son as an individual. Our son enjoys the way George teaches him; it’s a great mix of teaching and really caring about the student. We know George was the right choice, our son went from failing to passing with an A.”
✏️ “George has helped me tremendously. I get a solid A in math since George has started tutoring me. I also am doing much better on my SAT’s. Before George I couldn’t even get passed the first question. George is a great tutor.”
✏️ “George, over the past few months, we have been amazed at the progress you have made with our daughter. While the improvement in her ‘trial run’ SAT scores has been significant, of equal note has been the change in the way she now approaches math problems: she thinks differently! Your ability to explain the processes behind the formulae, and the way that you teach to each student’s strengths, is a thing of beauty… For a 17 year old to stay focused on math over and entire summer is a testament to your ability to engage someone’s imagination and intellect. I am grateful for all of the encouragement and focus you have provided. And, while I look forward to much improved success in our daughter’s upcoming SAT scores as a direct outcome of your work, I also appreciate the confidence you have helped her build over the summer. She is clearly far more prepared for the tests ahead than she was in early June. My only regret? We didn’t do this sooner.”
✏️ “George made it possible for my son to go to the best college for him. George is the best teacher and mentor my son could have. We cannot thank him enough. I cannot wait to see my other children grow as learners with knowledge and strategies taught by George.”
✏️ “When most people think of a ‘tutor’ they think of an individual that helps with a particular subject area, usually through studying or practice. When I think of George I find the standard definitions of ‘tutor’ no longer apply. Although George is great at ‘traditional’ tutoring he has a skill set that enables him to do so much more. His ability to teach material in a way that is easily comprehensible makes learning material unbelievably easy. I started with George in the 8th grade when my math grades were not so great. He took my grades in my 8th grade algebra course and turned C’s into A’s. Five years later I graduated high school with an 800 in my math SAT, a 790 in my math SAT IIC, and an A- in AP Calculus BC, the most difficult math class ever offered by my high school. George truly is the best, from science, math, and in my personal case, computer programming. George has the esoteric knowledge and raw intellect necessary to come through on his business name and `instruct thoroughly’.”
✏️ “Before I met George, math was just another subject to painfully struggle through in order to achieve passable results. Once he and I began working together, it opened my mind to the possibilities that I could have with the joy of math. As my ACT math tutor, George made me realize how important a good work ethic, fun spirit, and a willingness to learn can create a love for something that I never thought I would’ve enjoyed. Now I can say that I am confident and happy in doing math not only for the sake of learning something new everyday, but also because George showed me how to take pride in something that I can do.”
✏️ “Initially we brought to George tutor our daughter in AP physics. He ended up tutoring her in both Physics and Pre-Calculus. He also provided help in preparing for SAT and ACT exams. We were very pleased by his dedication as a teacher. He goes above and beyond the average tutor by following up on exam results and checking in the night before to make sure she was ready or to answer any last minute questions. My daughter truly believes she would not have made it through those classes without George’s help.”
✏️ “What a revelation to learn that instead of being bad in math, our daughter just wasn’t being taught in the manner in which she learns best. George identified her individual learning style and the results have been astonishing. He does a superb job of dovetailing his tutoring of math at the high school level with his preparatory course for the math portion of the SAT.”
✏️ “George has been tutoring our son for four years, and we are extremely pleased with the results. George has taught our son the way he needs to be taught to, he is positive, thorough and focused. Our son has a confidence in his abilities he could’ve only imagined before. George not only teaches, he mentors and advises, he truly cares about his students and their accomplishments. We highly recommend George, he will not disappoint!”
✏️ “I don’t know how we came this far without George. There has been a tremendous improvement in our son’s work. He has the A’s to prove it. George is truly a gem.”
✏️ “This year our son attended the Perdocere Math SAT Prep Course. George’s clear, well-presented explanations and thorough review of the SAT Math was very helpful. We finally found someone with a high-level math knowledge base and also with the unique and most important quality – the skill of teaching in a manner that is understandable. George has helped our son gain knowledge, skill and confidence.”
✏️ “I got a perfect PSAT math score, thank you!”
✏️ “George is the best tutor out there. With his thorough teaching, he has increased my Math SAT score by over 200 points in the past year. Since the eighth grade, George and I have been working to increase my math grades at school, and together we have been nothing but a great success. George is extremely talented. I think that to him, Perdocere is more than a clever Latin name for his tutoring business, it’s a philosophy. George knows everything about the system, whether it be public school, the SAT, or math in general. He didn’t acquire this knowledge through tricks and memorization. He learned it through simply learning the math thoroughly. I can speak from experience. Once George and I had conquered Algebra, I had the skills to conquer problems that would have been insurmountable to me just a few months before. It’s quite simple. It all comes down to his philosophy of teaching thoroughly. George produces results.”
✏️ “George’s results have been spectacular in terms of overall grasp of subjects and preparation for specific exams. He is the cause of one or more of our children getting perfect or nearly perfect scores on SAT or AP tests where, in some instances, the effort was there but, prior to George, not much interest or aptitude a specific subject. He visibly changes good students into superlative students.”
✏️ “George is hands down the best tutor we have ever encountered. He understands that students cannot excel in math unless their knowledge is built on a solid foundation. In tutoring my daughter, he returned to basics, discovering areas of weakness and explaining misunderstood concepts. A comment that my daughter made in passing, “I can ask George any question about math, and he can answer so that I can understand.” While he is conservative in making promises about outcomes, he committed himself 110% to ensure as successful an outcome for my daughter as possible. Our first goal was to achieve strong performance on the math SAT, where he approached the subject matter in a methodical, knowledgeable way, she scored a 780 on her first math SAT. With that successful experience under our belt, we then wanted to ensure strong classroom performance for the fourth quarter of her junior year. My daughter was receiving B+’s in her honors pre-calculus class (and averaging B’s on her tests and quizzes), but the subject matter became increasingly more challenging, and she was faltering in her ability to grasp concepts, particularly with respect to the topic of probability. George worked week in and week out to review the various chapters with my daughter, preparing her for tests, encouraging her after a difficult test. She received a B+ for her fourth quarter work, which I believe would have been significantly lower without George’s help. In order for my daughter to achieve an A- for the year, she needed a 95% on her final exam. George worked tirelessly to help her achieve this goal, but again was cautious in guaranteeing any results. My daughter and I were thrilled to see her report card a month after her final, with an A marked clearly for her final exam! We look forward to George helping us negotiate BC calculus as well as the Math Subject II test in the fall!”
✏️ “George, many, many thanks for all your hard work with our son. You were the only outside tutor we used that truly put your heart and soul into his success – from identifying weak areas to intensively reinforcing all areas. His results speak volumes about how you opened up his understanding of math (and helped jack his score up to a very competitive level). Personally, your commitment and steadfast resolve towards his SAT results was remarkable.” (740 SAT Math)
✏️ “My daughter went up two letter grades from a C to an A. In my book George gets an A+.”
✏️ “Having George as my math and chemistry tutor was a very very different experience compared to other tutors. He could identify exactly what I needed not just in terms of the things I was studying but also in terms of the broader plan. His teaching method was also very patient, effective, and thorough, and I could understand all the material with ease. Having tutoring sessions with him has taught me much more than math and chemistry. I also learned many other things such as study methods. He is a highly recommended tutor.”
✏️ “We would heap praises, but facts speak better. With a ‘C’ in 8th grade math, and teachers happy with ‘the C’, which translates to just passing 8th grade MCAS at the cut-off grade, we looked to George to teach our child. The weekly two-hour session is productive and fun for our child! We would never have imagined our child sitting for two hours on High School Algebra – but it happens every week – only with George. George finds a way to teach and convey concepts in math – overcoming our child’s learning disabilities. Our child brought home a B+ in Algebra, and in one Algebra quiz, got the first time ever 100%. Our child has gained confidence which beats the frustration and ‘I hate math’ during 8th grade.”
✏️ “I met George in February of my junior year. Earlier in my junior year and sophomore spring, I had been bounced between countless math tutors who seemed uninterested in actually changing the way I learn and comprehend math on different levels, which is a necessary transition from my school math course work to solving problems on the ACT. A few had deemed me incapable of ever truly raising my math IQ and relied heavily on strategy to get me through standardized testing problems. Yet with George, everything changed. He studied the way I learned and took tests, and synthesized the information I gleaned from each of our sessions. He then broke down my entire bank of knowledge in the realm of mathematics and we started from the bottom, building our way up. As each new brick was laid in the foundation, my confidence grew and my ability to take control of the ACT in a way that worked for me was apparent. I no longer fear ACT test day, new units in Pre-calculus or a problem that seems overwhelmingly difficult based on its exterior. George became my math savior and I can not thank him enough.”
✏️ “I have been working with George for about six months and I have never seen myself improve this drastically. I achieved a 5 on my AP exam and a 770 on my SAT Math. I truly owe it all to George.”
✏️ “We have had many tutors in the past and George by comparison is extraordinary. George’s weekly sessions helped my high school boys achieve never before A’s in their math classes. My husband and I were so impressed with his intelligence, dedication and patience. These qualities allowed my boys to truly understand SAT test taking and math strategies. We highly recommend George!”
✏️ “For the last two years, George has done everything he could to help me in both Algebra 2 and Honors Precalculus. My grades improved significantly in a very short period of time, and were maintained throughout the school year thanks to him. He knows the material very well, he is extremely good at explaining it in simple terms, and above all, he is a very easy person to get along with. I highly recommend George as a tutor, not only for the effort and attention he put into preparing each of my lessons, but also because I know he invests that same effort and attention in every lesson he gives.”
✏️ “George is a godsend. He breaks math down in a language students understand while making the process enjoyable. By laying out the mechanics of math, he lays down a foundation for comprehension the student carries forward throughout their academic career. He also gets results. My son quickly grasped the concepts and went from a C+/B- student to an A student. He also moved up two class levels in his math placement. His improvement correlated directly with his confidence, which soared. He now thinks of himself as the math guy. The greatest compliment is that I recently asked him what he wants to be when he grows up and he said a math teacher.”
✏️ “The patience, commitment and encouragement of the instructor have helped our son bring his grades up significantly; and as his marks improved, so did his spirits and his confidence.”
✏️ “The first time I took an SAT math practice test, I scored a 540. I was confident in my math skills, but I still scored quite low. After learning with George, I realized that my problem solving skills were not refined. George taught me how to think. The SAT math section does not actually have any extremely difficult math. The real tough part is solving a problem efficiently and accurately. George taught me how to connect many topics of math together to do this. By the time I was ready to take the real SAT, I was scoring 800’s on the practice tests.” (800 Math SAT)
✏️ “George enabled me to get an 800 on the math SAT and, for most parents, that may be all they need in a tutor. However, George isn’t just an effective tutor, he actually cares about the student. When I first started with George math was my least favorite subject, mainly because I just didn’t ‘get it.’ However, now, math is my strongest subject and I adore the class. George allowed me to not just ‘get by’ in my class, but to understand the material, and, through understanding excel. I can’t recommend George enough on both a professional and personal level.” (800 SAT Math, 36 ACT Math)
✏️ “George did an excellent job working with our daughter over the past year. He built her confidence and knowledge base so she could execute complex math problems under time pressure. We believe that one of George’s key strengths is his ability to work with strong students in advanced classes to achieve top performance. In addition, our daughter had fun working with George. We will use him in the future.”
✏️ “In a word, George is wonderful! Highly experienced in all branches of mathematics, he also is an exceptionally nice person who cares about his students. Along with solving the problems du jour, he has imparted life lessons about setting goals, working hard, and planning for the future. After working with George for six years, my son will graduate high school with an A in Honors Math and head off to be a math major in college. Back in seventh grade, I wasn’t sure how this was all going to play out. I owe a huge thanks to George for all he’s done for my son. I am so glad I made the call.”
✏️ “George knows his stuff! He’s helped me go from an average student to an above average student in my Advanced Algebra class. He has improved my study habits and mathematical confidence.”
✏️ “My senior year brought with it an abundance of math challenges. I had decided to enroll in BC Calculus, as well as take the Math II SAT2. I never considered myself to be particularly good at math, so I was very worried about how my various math undertakings would pan out – but, under George’s tutelage, I ended up doing better than I could have ever expected. Often investing extra time into lessons, George Patiently taught me enough about precalculus and calculus to raise my average SAT2 by more than 180 points and nudge my math grade to an A. George takes the time to explain the underpinnings of each theorem, never resorting to memorization when there is understanding to be had. Whenever I brought my confusions to George, he could explain with perfect clarity what had gone wrong in my calculations. Two years ago, I never would have envisioned myself having my current relationship with math – one where I can look forward to new challenges rather than dread tests and quizzes. Without George’s unparalleled skill as a teacher, I would never have improved in math to the point that I have. As a student, I cannot recommend George highly enough. More than achieve tangible results in terms of grades and numbers, I have developed an entirely new attitude towards mathematics thanks to George.”
✏️ “George is the best math teacher I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Before I met George I had a 670 on my math SAT, and now I am getting 800’s consistently. I owe it all to George because he is constantly pushing me to work hard to achieve my goals. He teaches me more than I need to know so that I understand all the math on a higher level. George has always supported me and has made me a better learner.” (800 SAT math)
✏️ “You helped our son have a dream come true, thank you.”
✏️ “Although I’ve only been with George for a short while, the most important thing I have discovered about him is that his teaching style is highly effective. Not only does he teach you how to do something, he teaches you why it is done that way. He is able to show you how basic concepts can be used to solve highly complex problems. Now, I am able to see the building blocks of each individual problem, and, from there, I am able to find the solution. He is totally approachable and will help you with anything. I know on countless occasions he has also given me advice that I find applicable to my physics homework. He truly does instruct his students very thoroughly, and if you are unsure of something, he will go over it as many times as you need. Because of him, I feel thoroughly prepared to take my SAT exam.” (700 SAT Math)
✏️ “George is awesome. He pushes me hard, but it is because he knows I can do it. George is so smart. He has a thorough knowledge of all the material and he makes sure that I learn it just as completely. His one-on-one sessions really give me a chance to get a better grip on what we are learning in class and to explore deeper some of the things we do not get a chance to spend a lot of time on in school. As a result, I am a very confident math student.”
✏️ “George is very patient and explains everything in language that I can understand. He always encourages me and praises my accomplishments. I know that my SAT scores will be the best I am capable of. George has really made a difference!”
✏️ “This year, I am taking the most rigorous math course my school has to offer, AP Calculus BC. BC calc is extremely fast paced because of the AP test in May. Some of the topics are only covered for a fraction of a class; however, with George’s help, I am a month or two in front of the class. Because of the two month lead, George is able to show me more advanced topics that will never be covered in BC calc. The way that George teaches calculus incorporates everything that was previously learned in calc while still covering a lot of material extremely thoroughly. In class, I have done well on all of my tests. George has allowed me to obtain an understanding of calculus which seems impossible to get from the class alone. I am very thankful that I have George guiding me through BC calc.”
✏️ “I could tell, my son really liked you and already is getting huge benefits from working with you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
✏️ “George was a wonderful tutor for my daughter’s Math SAT prep. George has a complete understanding of the Math SAT test. He is also skilled in teaching high school students this information. We were thrilled with the results! A very satisfied mom.” (730 SAT Math)
✏️ “George has been active in the academic lives of our two sons for the last four years. Each learns in a very different manner but, amazingly, George has been able to unlock both of their intellectual personalities. He consistently gets to the whys and wherefores of mathematics and is tireless in ensuring that his students’ math foundations are strong. He motivated our oldest son so much that he now is majoring in math in college. He has guided our second son to the top of his math class and now beginning to guide his SAT studies. George proved that an ‘800’ was possible; perhaps he can make it two in a row. George is always willing to go the extra yard to help his students and takes a sincere interest in their success. George has a gift that few have – a brilliant intellect coupled with an intuitive ability to teach. I count on him as part of our family because of the time and effort he has devoted to the education of our children.”