Vandergrift Tutoring • Hundreds of Testimonials and Prominent Named Verifications

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.”

Perdocere Tutoring - Prominent Named Verifications

✏️ 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.”

Perdocere Tutoring - Hundreds of Parent and Student Testimonials

Parent and Student Testimonials

✏️ “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.”

✏️ “Once your child has worked with George, you realize what an extraordinary teacher he truly is. George not only teaches in a professional and organized manner, he has instilled self-confidence in our son that goes beyond mathematics. Our son respects George not only for his ability to teach him, but also because he takes an interest in him personally. George not only gives careful consideration about what is being taught now, but what skills will be needed in the future. Our son took a higher level mathematics course this year than was recommended, and with George’s help he was very successful! He is a wonderful mentor, something we never expected! Thank you George!!!”

✏️ “In teaching me how to do math for the SAT’s, George has taught how to work around any math problem that I may come across.”

✏️ “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.”

✏️ “We knew our son was brighter than his grades were showing. George did wonders, going back to basics and making sure he really understood the underlying concepts for both math and chemistry. His grades have improved, his confidence is back, and he recently hit the 700 mark on his math SAT. Now, if only we could send George to college with him...”

✏️ “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!”

✏️ “George taught me a new way of thinking. He retrained my brain to think the way he does. I never have to memorize formulas, or remember a certain method. George taught me how to analyze the core math behind a problem, and derive how to solve it on the spot. It is a skill that has paid off incredibly. Thank you George!!”

✏️ “Our middle school son started to have difficulties in mathematics. After working with him, George was able to assess and pinpoint his areas of difficulty. In addition, George had the patience and teaching strategies that worked with our son. Now he enjoys the challenge of math and feels so much better about his abilities. His grades have gone from a C+ to a B+, and now A’s.”

✏️ “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’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.”

✏️ “I could tell, my son really liked you and already is getting huge benefits from working with you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

✏️ “Working with George is fun. Before I started working with him I always hated going to math but not anymore. I enjoy math. I don’t want it to end. He is doing an amazing job getting me up to par with my grade. He is the best math teacher I have ever had and the sooner you start working with him the better. If you put in the time he will be able to catch you up and get you in front of your whole school. If you don’t work with him it’s your loss.”

✏️ “George was flexible and accommodating when my daughter and I found ourselves overscheduled one month before three scheduled SAT-2 examinations. He organized a study program, identified the appropriate tools, and worked out a mutually acceptable schedule on short notice. His thorough understanding of the information and the test process coupled with his kind and cheerful personal style was very effective. The outcomes met our very high expectations, and we look forward to working with him in the future.”

✏️ “I can always rely on George to help me understand a particularly challenging concept in math.”

✏️ “George is a tutor extraordinaire. He is a born teacher who genuinely enjoys the kids he teaches and the work he does. He inspires his students to do their best and is able to establish a rapport with each of them. George has tutored my three teens for several years, responding to each one’s different abilities. He has helped them in all kinds of math, chemistry, physics, ACT, SAT – you name it, George can handle it! George has given each one a very positive learning experience, leading to greater self-confidence and enthusiasm for the subject matter. George encourages each child to take responsibility for his or her own learning. George has a wonderful ability to present concepts in a highly organized manner. All three of my kids report that George’s explanations are better than what they received at school and help them to really understand the concept as opposed to a mechanical application of ‘the rule’. None of the three ever grumbled about working with George. If they are having difficulty with a topic, they don’t panic because they know George will explain it and help them understand the issues. They all three see George as a friend as well as a tutor, as do I. When my two oldest are now home from college, they love to visit with George and bring him up to date on their academic progress.”

✏️ “George is a great man! In my time working with him I have learned VERY much! I believe that George’s help is of the utmost benefit for anyone who wishes to enrich themselves and to be successful in math!” (800 Math SAT)

✏️ “George, you are perpetually a star! Thanks so much for all your help with our son. We are so very appreciative.”

✏️ “George is a fun guy who knows his stuff. He is enjoyable to work with and the results are astounding.”

✏️ “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.”

✏️ “George is a brilliant mathematician who has the rare ability to convey that knowledge to our teenagers. He is an effective communicator who teaches with patience, determination and perseverance. George understands that confidence is the most important ingredient for learning and empowers our children to believe in themselves.”

✏️ “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.”

✏️ “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.”

✏️ “Before I began working with George, I was getting good grades in math but much of the time I didn’t really understand what I was doing or why I was doing it. After my first session with George, I could tell he was a different kind of teacher. He really explained the concepts instead of just teaching me steps that I had to memorize. George always makes sure that I completely understand what I am working on before we move on to a new concept. I look forward to my sessions with George. George makes the sessions fun, interesting, and challenges me to think in ways that I haven’t been taught in school. George also happens to be funny and kind and I feel he really cares about me as a student.” (96% Final Math Assessment)

✏️ “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.”

✏️ “After the first couple of math tests at the beginning of my sophomore year of high school, I knew I needed help. After just a couple of sessions with George I immediately became a standout in the classroom, consistently on the verge of a perfect test. George rebuilt the foundation of my mathematical skills, allowing me to see the ‘big’ picture and to intertwine new ideas with old concepts. His ability to aid me in understanding the undercurrents of what my teacher was lecturing on in school allowed me to excel in the classroom. I have had George as a tutor for three years and he has inspired a sense of appreciation in the workings of Mathematics that I am now considering pursuing the subject as a major in college.”

✏️ “We first looked for a tutor when it became clear that our son did not understand the material in his honors pre-calculus class and was moving from a passing grade to a failing grade as the material became more difficult. We asked George to work with our son. He first worked to stop the immediate problem by working with him on a quiz by quiz basis. As this crisis diminished, he has devised a longer-range plan to bring our son up to the point where he can achieve on his own. George has a rare skill of understanding the material and being able to communicate it in a way that our son could understand. Thanks to George, our son has renewed his confidence and improved his grades enough that he is now on a course to respectfully pass his honors pre-calculus course.”

✏️ “Whether in a group or individually George is by far the best tutor I have had. His knowledge is extensive and he teaches in a way that complex subjects are easy to understand. I’ve used other tutors and centers and none compare to George. He is such a great teacher that I kept bugging him to teach at my high school.”

✏️ “George is the best math teacher I have ever had. Nearly all of my math teachers in the past either just read the textbook to the class or followed a set of curriculum notes so closely that all you had to do was memorize then regurgitate exactly what you just learned to get an A. In the past, math class was no less than a memory game where each problem only had one solution which was shown by the teacher. George does not follow a textbook and he can create a lesson around a single problem. He shows many solutions to the simplest of problems and show how to connect every topic to each other, so I can fully understand each aspect of the topic we are focusing on.” (perfect score, freshman college math placement)

✏️ “Working with George has changed my life for the best. When I first started High School, I was still overcoming many challenges involving my health – which had been affecting my grades as well as what classes I had to take. Once I met George tough, I knew he was different than the countless other tutors that had come and gone through my life. George was able to get me to heights I’d never even believed I could reach. The passion that he has for mathematics and his endless dedication to his students is visibly seen every time he’s doing a lesson. Not only has George been a fantastic tutor but he has also been a great friend. He’s given me important input to major decisions I’ve had to make in my life whether it’s what college or even what classes I should take. There’s nobody I can credit more when it comes to the straight A’s in math classes I’ve taken these past four years and the 710 & 750 I received on the SAT and SAT Math IIC than him. I would have never believed back then that George would’ve had the impact that he has now on my life. Thanks for everything, George.”

✏️ “Who would have thought that my son would become a curve breaker! Through the years George has instilled a great store of fundamental mathematical knowledge. On this foundation our son was able to grab Calculus by the horns and completely master it.”

✏️ “Throughout the SAT math class, George has made all the questions that are considered hard seem so easy. He has also shown me different ways to come up with an answer for each question. This has caused my math grades to improve!”

✏️ “The SAT Subject Test for Math Level IIC is not an easy test. One must completely understand the topics that are covered to complete the problems, and one must have precision and speed to score high on the test. With George’s help, I was able to get high scores on many of the practice tests which reflected my real score. George has taught me the best ways to approach each problem; I can now solve each question quickly while understanding the math behind each question completely. I am very thankful that I was able to meet George, for his teachings and support allowed me to success on the SAT Math Level IIC test.” (780 SAT Math Level IIC)

✏️ “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 tutored our daughter for almost a year. He is a one of a kind teacher because he is so good as what he does. Our daughter said that George was able to teach her math concepts in such a way that she really understood the topics. Prior to George she was able to get through Algebra and Geometry courses with good grades but without understanding the material. George is very dedicated, very enthusiastic and really knows how to teach for understanding. He is also patient and positive and was good for my daughter’s confidence. She liked him very much which is always important too. I am not a fan of today ‘s highly pressured academic rat race, and I believe children are suffering mentally and physically. However, having a good tutor can really help certain students to succeed rather than just stumble through.” (U.S. exchange student, online tutoring, Viterbo, Italy)

✏️ “Beginning with the very first session, my school work became much easier. George helps me understand math in a way I never did before.”

✏️ “A word of advice: start with George early. Building the proper foundation in math is crucial to getting good grades in all years of high school as well as good SAT math scores.”

✏️ “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.”

✏️ “George is an excellent teacher because my daughter’s grade in math has gone from a C+ to an A through out the school year.”

✏️ “George has made such a big difference for our child – academically and personally.”

✏️ “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.”

✏️ “George has been working with my son for the school year and his Math grade has moved up by a full grade. More importantly, he now has a solid understanding of Algebra as he moves on to High School. My son’s confidence level has soared too. George knows what is important and he makes the experience fun as well.”

✏️ “George has helped me ace my honors precalculus class and, by doing so, he has rekindled my appreciation for math as well as my confidence.”

✏️ “It is with both pleasure and sadness that I write this testimonial for George who has tutored my three children over the last five years in a wide range of subjects (math, pre-calculus, chemistry, physics, biology, computer science, and a little engineering on occasion). George has been an extraordinary resource and has become an honorary family member and a dear friend to me and all my children. He has seen my children through quizzes and tests, helped with tricky homework assignments, and led them to superlative performances on their SATs, APs and ACTs. George has been a terrific mentor as well as a tutor, giving advice on school, the college application process, and the like. George keeps up to date with all assignments posted by the school and helps even disorganized kids get organized. He is terrific at reminding the kids of deadlines for projects, assignments, quizzes and standardized tests. He has always made time in his busy schedule for extra sessions when a big test or project is due, he explains why and how rather than tell a student just to apply the formula, he adjusts his method and style of tutoring to each individual child, he is reliable and efficient and always pleasant, and his range of subject matter knowledge is superb. I honestly believe that George’s tutoring has had a big and most positive impact on my children in many ways. On the most obvious level, he truly did help boost their test scores and probably did impact the level of college to which they were admitted. Beyond that, however, he really gave them a greater appreciation and understanding of subject matters that they were not as comfortable with, and gave them the tools to help them think, analyze and solve. These are tools that they will carry with them and use all their lives, whether they ever take another math course or not. That is what a real tutor does not just get you through the next exam. And even further, George honestly cares about his students not just their performance but also their minds, their interests, and their character. Whenever my two oldest are home from college, they are delighted to see George again, and I know that my youngest will miss George when he starts college this year, as will I. George has been a big part of our lives. We are better of for the experience in many, many ways. Thank you, George.”

✏️ “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.”

✏️ “George quickly and accurately assessed our son’s needs, then put together lesson plans, exercises and study guides geared to address his specific needs. He just came home with his first A.”

✏️ “I love working with George. He is so intelligent and can explain concepts in so many ways that it is easy for me to understand. What I appreciated the most is how supportive he is. He makes me feel that I can achieve anything!”

✏️ “George is an amazing teacher. He is the best tutor a parent can hire to help their child succeed in both mathematics and science. George is true to his thorough teaching; he goes beyond the knowledge taught at school to explain concepts. Having George as a tutor has been invaluable to me throughout high school. Whether you seek to improve grades in school, or simply to study advanced topics, no one can do a better job at helping you than George. George taught me basic calculus the summer before my AP Physics B course, which allowed me to view physics in a whole different perspective than the rest of my classmates, and has led me to decide to major in Biophysics next fall. And as I sit in my AP Calculus class this year, I can only smile and think, ‘George has taught me well.’ ”

✏️ “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!’ ”

✏️ “Math has never been my forte – even though George tells me I’m good at it every time I meet with him. Which in a way is true – because when George is teaching me I am good at math. Instead of only showing me how something works, he’ll explain why it works, which is exactly the teaching style I need. The difference in style, and therefore effectiveness, between George and my teachers at school is so vast that there’s a distinct possibility I would be failing math without him.”

✏️ “I’ve always struggled with pre-calculus and calculus. My teachers never taught the theory behind the problems, or how it was connected to the big picture. George makes it his mission to make sure you thoroughly understand the concepts of the subject.” (college calculus student)

Click Here for the Complete List of Hundreds of Parent and Student Testimonials. What’s Shown Above is a Small Sampling.