Supreme's Advantages
  • Highly qualified tutors. We ONLY hire students and alumni from Cal and Stanford. We are all experts in the fields we teach, and we are all experienced teachers, both in the classroom and as tutors. Originally, we only hired graduate students from the two schools, as Cal and Stanford's graduate departments are consistently rated the best in the country.
  • Previous teaching experience. We have taught as TAs at the university level, so we know how to effectively transfer our knowledge. This separates us from undergrads, who mainly focus on gathering their own information.
  • Personalized programs. We do not have a set program, and because we work one-on-one with each student, our sessions are flexible and customized to each student's particular needs.
  • Convenience. You schedule sessions directly with the tutors and you can choose times and places most convenient to you.
Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are you a tutoring agency?
A: Yes, and one thing that sets us apart from other tutoring companies is that we only hire students and alumni from UC-Berkeley and Stanford. We also pay our tutors better to ensure that we can choose from the best teachers. Also, the company was started by a teacher, not by a business model. We place the student’s progress and confidence at the highest importance.

Q: Aren’t all Stanford/Berkeley students smart enough to teach me?
A: We look for tutors who have teaching experience in a classroom on top of their extra years of study. Not only do our tutors have an expert grasp of the material, they have practiced and learned the best ways to transfer that knowledge to our students so that it sticks. Some of our tutors have received teaching awards for their efforts on campus. We screen our tutors so that you will only work with someone who is qualified. And no, not all Stanford/Berkeley students are skilled enough to teach you.

Q: Do you have your own curriculum/homework?
A: Because each student has his/her own individual strengths and weaknesses, we do not have set curriculums. We usually work within the student’s material, but if an extra challenge is needed or during the summer prep courses, we do have our own material. We do provide SupremeSheets in certain subjects, which are condensed study guides which we think are good places to start from. We recognize that students already have plenty of work and activities so we only homework if we see an immediate need for more practice.

Q: I’ve tried other tutors before. What makes Supreme different?
A: Our goal is to be the best quality tutoring available. On top of our tutors’ knowledge base and teaching experience, we stress patience in the teaching process. All we ask is that you try your best, and we’ll do our best to make it as easy as we can. We do try to connect with our students, and we try to pass on much of our experience, as well as our knowledge, to you. We also have flexible schedules, which means that you can schedule appointments at your convenience. We also go to you, providing in-home tutoring, which means there is one less place for parents to drive to. Not only is this more convenient, it also provides the student with more comfort, working in familiar surroundings. If working at the home is not convenient, we can meet you at a local library. Also, since we have a large group of tutors, you can be sure that one of our tutors will be a good fit for your learning. It also allows for more continuity from year-to-year and lets the tutors teach only the subjects that they specialize in.

Q: How much do you charge?
A: Our rates are start at $70 per hour. The rates depend on the subject and the level of the student. Our summer rates are slightly lower.

Q: OK, sounds good. What if I have more questions?
Just send us an email to info@supremetutors.com and we'll get back to you shortly. Or give us a call at 510 912-6773 or 650 922-6223 or 925 918-2882.

Q: What if I don't live near Berkeley or Palo Alto?
A: Even if you live outside of our coverage area (about a 15 minute driving time radius around Berkeley or Palo Alto), we can still work with you, but most likely, you will have to meet us halfway at a local library.

Q: Ok, sounds good. How do I get a tutor?
A: Either call us or fill out our Contact form, and let us know what you are looking for. We will contact our tutors, and when we find an appropriate match (usually within 48 hours), we will let you know. We will also send out a welcome packet with your tutor's contact information and an agreement form to be returned to us.


Meet some of our tutors

This is just a partial list... we have over 30 tutors on our roster in the Bay Area.

Albert:

BS, Engineering and Applied Science, Caltech, 1996
MS, Mechanical Engineering, UC Berkeley, 1998

Teaching Experience:
1999-2000 PHS 8B at UCB
2000-2004 PHYS Head GSI (Graduate Student Instructor) at UCB
Outstanding GSI Award, UCB, 2002

Future Plans: Continue teaching a wide variety of subjects both in the classroom and one-on-one, and continue to improve the level of service and quality that Supreme Educational Service offers.

Thoughts on Teaching: I try to focus on improving the studentŐs confidence. This includes avoiding a didactic approach, and while it takes some patience and lots of encouragement, successful results are an excellent reward. ItŐs been a terrific experience for me, and I hope to continue to have great experiences with my students.


Amanda:

BS, Materials Science and Engineering, Lehigh University, 2006
MS, Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford, 2008 (expected)

Future Plans: I plan to pursue a career that involves characterization and design of materials for either aerospace or biomedical applications..

Thoughts on Teaching: I believe that teaching is not just about classroom material, it involves developing a relationship with the student and providing them with the tools to build a better academic foundation.


Ethan:

BA, Molecular and Cell Biology, UC Berkeley, 2006

Teaching Experience:
Public Health 180 at UC Berkeley, 2006-2007 3 years of tutoring experience

Future Plans: Medical school, preferably on the West Coast.

Thoughts on Teaching: I have always felt that it's important to be adaptive to the student and work together with him or her to find an approach to the material that works best. I try to emphasize conceptual understanding of material before moving on to specific types of problems or testing strategies.


Fred:

BS, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, UC Berkeley, 2004

Teaching Experience:
Cal Students for Educational Outreach, 2001
Arts Bridge Scholar

Future Plans: To be a scientist that specializes in the study of pretty much everything.  From economics, medicine, sociology, to molecular dynamics.  There is some essential quality that links all these subjects, and my first steps into understanding is entrenched in statistical mechanics.

Thoughts on Teaching: To teach with clarity and effectiveness is a hallmark of complete understanding.  Any complicated phenomenon can be taught simply; if the teaching is complicated and convoluted, then the teacher really does not understand. 


Ricardo:

BA, Economics, Rice University, 2003
BS, Materials Science and Engineering, Rice University, 2003
MS, Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, 2005
PhD, Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, 2008 (expected)

Teaching Experience:
CAAM211 at Rice
MATSCI50/ENGR50 at Stanford
MATSCI202 (grader) at Stanford

Future Plans: most likely to work in industry, somewhere on the planet!

Thoughts on Teaching: Simply telling someone how to solve a problem is pointless, especially since there are always several methods to solve the same problem. Instead, provide guidance for the student to "figure it out" themselves, allowing him or her to take ownership of the solution.


Ruth:

BA, English, Amherst College, 2004
MA, English, Amherst College, 2004
PhD, English, UC Berkeley, (expected)

Teaching Experience:
Reader at Cal, 2005

Future Plans: After finishing my PhD, I plan to continue teaching at the university level as a professor of English.

Thoughts on Teaching: I tailor my teaching method to suit the individual needs of each student, focusing on bolstering his or her confidence through practice and encouragement.


Cynthia-May:

BS, Chemistry, Caltech, 1999
PhD, Chemistry, UC Berkeley, 2004

Teaching Experience:
Chem 3b, 4a, 4b at Caltech, 1998-99
Chem 112A and B (organic) at UCB, 1999 and 2001 - taught special scholars' section
Chem 120A (thermo/physical chem) at UCB, spring 2002

Future Plans: post-doc in Europe in chemistry, anywhere I can!

Thoughts on Teaching: I like the Socratic method: asking guided questions and getting the student to figure out the material (with some explanation). I also like to do a lot of practice problems to prepare them for their tests and give them problems to do on their own. I try to be positive and encouraging.


Michael:

BS, Chemical Engineering, bioengineering specialization, UCLA, 1999
MS, Stanford, Chemical Engineering, 2001
Ph.D., Stanford, Chemical Engineering

Teaching Experience:
2000 Biochemical Engineering, Stanford
2001 Advanced Biochemical Engineering, Stanford
Consultant, Center for Teaching and Learning, Stanford (advising TAs on teaching and learning styles)
Centennial TA Award, Stanford, 2001
Teaching Assistant of the Year, Stanford (Chem. Eng. Dept), 2001

Future Plans: to teach at the college level in a Chemical Engineering department at a top research institution.

Thoughts on Teaching: I see myself as a guide to lead students to a better understanding of fundamental concepts through examples and discussion.