PrepNow Tutor - Will B.
William, who goes by Will, specializes in algebra, linear algebra, AP statistics, calculus (AB/BC and I-III), pre-calculus, and geometry at the high school and undergraduate levels. Having earned a perfect score on his AP Calculus (BC) exam, he knows a thing or two about mastering the test.
Will earned a BA in mathematics with a minor in computer science from Oberlin College. After graduating, he worked as a data analytics consultant; however, he pivoted to education, “a career in which I could give back to the world,” he says. In addition to math tutoring, he tutors chess at a few local public schools and is pursuing a doctorate to fulfill his dream of becoming a mathematician.
His knack for helping others learn began in tenth grade when he joined Aristotle Circle, an organization focused on peer tutoring. “My proudest moment as a tutor was when I worked closely with a math major to get a B on his real analysis exam. At the beginning of the semester, he was failing the course and was on the verge of dropping his major,” he recounts.
Will's teaching style is about building confidence. “I start with things the student feels comfortable with and we build from that foundation into the unknown,” he explains. Instead of rote memorization, he wants students to see math as a fluid set of tools on which they can impart their own logic. “I think students don't like math because they are told to memorize rules instead of understanding where they come from. Math is all about logical reasoning and deduction, and I try to emphasize that when I am tutoring,” he says. He wants his students to feel confident going beyond “knowing” into the realm of higher application. “You do not know a formula/fact unless you can prove it's true!”
In high school, he got a perfect score on the AP Calculus BC exam and earned the John F Oberlin Scholarship for his mathematical prowess as a graduating senior. At Oberlin, he won the Edward T Wong Memorial Prize, awarded to students who have gone “above and beyond” to help peers in their studies. His undergraduate research and publication (on the cohomology of noncompact spaces) earned him high honors.
When he’s not practicing proofs, he enjoys long walks with his cat, Juno, who lounges in a stroller. His other hobbies include playing the cello, baking, wrestling, chess, and jiu-jitsu.
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