ONE-ON-ONE MCAT TUTORING

Ken graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering and a Bachelor of Arts in Molecular and Cell Biology. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Tau Beta Pi as well as the recipient of the Jeffrey A. Winer Memorial Prize, the award given to the top graduating senior in the Neurobiology emphasis of the Molecular and Cell Biology major. Ken is now pursuing his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University.

Ken is nationally recognized as a premier MCAT mind. He has worked with thousands of undergraduate students as a graduate teaching assistant and MCAT instructor/tutor for the Princeton Review. At Princeton Review, Ken was the only tutor certified in all subjects, was one of the highest rated MCAT tutors ever and was a teacher trainer for Princeton Review’s MCAT division. He has written content for dozens of MCAT books and guides.

Ken’s track record for improving student scores on the MCAT is exceptional. Scores of his students have achieved MCAT scores >40 on the old exam and >520 on the current exam.

Doug has always been involved in music and performance, but felt early on that it wouldn’t give him career options in which he would be comfortable. He chose instead to study chemistry but also studied biology, physics, mathematics, and astronomy. While earning his BS in Chemistry from Central Michigan University, he researched computational chemistry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at Notre Dame, presented at a national ACS Meeting, and, luckily enough, was one of two primary observers of a meteoroid impact which he got to help analyze. His teaching experience began early as a TA in both Chemistry and ASL labs.

Doug contemplated attending grad school to study vertebrate paleontology or astrophysics, but settled on continuing his education in chemistry. He worked towards a Ph.D. in Chemistry (Physical Inorganic) and an M.Ed. in Adult Education from Colorado State University. While working on his graduate degrees, he worked for Pacific Northwest National Labs in Washington state doing computational research for David A. Dixon and Steven H. Strauss on fluoride affinities and fluorination of carborane clusters for potential battery and BNCT (boron neutron capture therapy) cancer treatment applications. He continued teaching underclassmen throughout his graduate study and earned the Master Teacher Award from Front Range Community College as well as the Mentor of the Year award from Colorado State University. Doug discovered that an advanced degree would not help him accomplish goals and thus, while “all but dissertation” on both degrees, decided to get into the world of test preparation at The Princeton Review.

In his time at The Princeton Review (TPR), Doug taught five MCAT subjects: Biology, CARS, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics. He also taught ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, OAT, DAT, AP and SAT Science and Math Subject Tests and was involved in the development of a life skills program known as Up Next. While at TPR he also served as the Assistant National Content Director for the MCAT through the transition from the old MCAT to the new MCAT. During a short stint with MasteryPrep, Doug developed, trained, and managed teachers that taught ACT and ACT WorkKeys and developed content for their ACT Science textbook and ACT WorkKeys class.

Starting in 2018, Doug began a new chapter of his life and started his own publishing company, IcosaPrep, that produces primer textbooks for General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, General Biology, and General Physics classes.

In his many years of teaching and his own experience in higher education, he has seen almost everything that his students will face and enjoys helping them navigate the process. Doug maintains a high level of energy in his classroom and tutoring sessions and uses both humor and Socratic questioning to keep his students engaged. He has a reputation as a curmudgeon with a heart of gold, helping his students build self-reliance and a motivation to succeed.

When he’s not teaching, Doug still plays music to this day as a percussionist. He has a passion for collecting things: LEGO blocks, penguins (figurines, stuffed animals, art, etc.), Legend of the Five Rings cards, worldwide stamps, American coins, Canadian coins, chemistry textbooks, percussion instruments, beanie babies, rocks and minerals, and who knows what is next. He enjoys movies and TV and makes a point to see at least one movie every Saturday or Sunday matinee in the theater. He also has the best pair of rescued black lab mix dogs in history: Jess, who can’t control her parasympathetic nervous system, and Josh, who can’t control his sympathetic nervous system.

Kathryn graduated from the University of Miami in 2018 with degrees in Biochemistry & Nutrition and Neuroscience. She has worked on several research projects, including a biochemistry publication and psychology research with special populations. Her experience translates by helping students to gain critical thinking skills and feel confident with difficult science passages on the MCAT, which are often adapted from scientific journal articles.

At the University of Miami, Kathryn worked as a peer tutor for science and math subjects. As an MCAT tutor, she focuses on each student’s own strengths and passions to encourage enthusiasm and active engagement with the subject matter. By creating exciting and relatable ways to memorize material and master critical thinking, she fosters an engaging learning experience during her sessions. She also takes special care to help students find an optimal balance between studying and personal fulfillment during the difficult time of MCAT preparation.

Rishav graduated summa cum laude from Duke University with a B.S. in biology. At Duke, he conducted research on the molecular mechanisms controlling blood pressure regulation by the kidney and received high distinction for his research thesis. He also served as a head tutor with America Reads America Counts.

Rishav has over 6 years of experience teaching various age groups and subject areas. Most recently, he has been working as a Teach For America corps member in North Carolina, teaching chemistry and physics to seniors and juniors in high school. In that position, his students have consistently scored above their state-generated predictions on their standardized final exams. Based on their growth, Rishav has been categorized as a “highly effective teacher,” placing him among the top 7% of new teachers and top 20% of all teachers across the state. His teaching philosophy is that every student can learn effectively with proper one-on-one support and a teacher that can engage the student’s specific interests and learning styles.