My Journey from Real Estate to Graduate School Admissions Tutoring
Read one coach's journey from real estate to professional admissions consulting, specializing in GMAT/GRE tutoring. William B. has helped applicants land admission into the M7 MBA programs and many other top schools and would love to help you, too!
By William B.
Posted October 24, 2023
With degrees in Architecture and Business from the University of California at Berkeley, I embarked on a path that ultimately led me from real estate to become a tutor specializing in GMAT and GRE exam preparation.
My career initially revolved around real estate development, management, and marketing. However, the Great Recession served as a wake-up call, prompting me to reassess my professional trajectory. I knew I wanted to pivot and find a new path that would align with my business background while making a meaningful impact on others' lives.
Recognizing the pivotal role that standardized tests like the GMAT and GRE play in the lives of graduate school applicants, I saw an opportunity to leverage my skills in database management. I created a comprehensive database that became the foundation of my tutoring journey, allowing me to enter professionally written questions from official guides and various sources. It was the first step toward delivering effective tutoring services.
I didn't stop at compiling questions. I kept track of students' answers so that I could create reports indicating their strengths and weaknesses to guide them to further study. I aimed for a deeper level of understanding by adding detailed explanations for each question. This approach enabled me to guide my students through their problem-solving journey, step by step. Over time, I developed a structured system of strategies and principles, which I applied to specific steps in solutions. This method allowed for engaging discussions with my students about how these strategies applied to each problem.
My dedication to data analysis enabled me to classify practice questions by difficulty, ensuring that my students never wasted time on questions that were too easy or too challenging. This data-driven approach allowed for truly personalized tutoring experiences, focusing on areas where each student needed improvement.
To enhance the learning experience, I created a user-friendly homework website linked to my local database. This platform allowed my students to practice assignments tailored to their specific needs, seamlessly aligning with the work we did during live tutoring sessions. At first the students saw only new questions, but later it also included previously missed questions so that nothing would fall through the cracks. It provided an efficient way to track and analyze their homework progress, ultimately optimizing the time we spent together.
As my tutoring practice evolved, I continued to expand the resources available to my students on the homework website. I introduced features like explanation reviews, flashcards for idioms and vocabulary, and a dedicated section for strategy review. These resources allowed my students to access additional support based on their unique needs, making the learning process more comprehensive and effective.
With over 8,500 hours of GMAT and GRE tutoring experience spanning the past 12 years, I have had the privilege of helping students gain acceptance into some of the world's most prestigious graduate schools. Graduates of my tutoring program have secured spots in institutions including Anderson School of Business at UCLA, Booth School of Business at University of Chicago, Columbia Business School, Haas School of Business at U.C. Berkeley, Harvard Business School, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, London Business School, Marshall School of Business at USC, McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stern School of Business at New York University, Tuck School of Business Dartmouth, University of Oxford, and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
I am immensely proud of the positive reviews I've received from my students, who have described me as "phenomenal," "patient," "brilliant," "awesome," "effective," "organized," "thorough," "amazing," and "knowledgeable." These reviews inspire me to continue my mission of helping students achieve their academic aspirations.
Having recently become a Leland tutor, I can now offer all my experience and everything I have created to you. With a wealth of knowledge, a robust tutoring system, and a proven track record of success, I am more than just a tutor: I am an academic mentor who empowers students to reach their full potential. If you're seeking top-notch GMAT and GRE tutoring, I'm the tutor you've been searching for. Together, we can unlock your academic potential and pave the way for a bright future. Book a FREE intro call on my Leland coach profile today.
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