Expert Private Tutoring Services by University Prep
My Bio
Dear Student,
I am eager to share with you why I love tutoring and mentoring students for academic and university success! I have over 20 years’ experience teaching and advising at Harvard University, Salem State University, Arizona State University, University at Buffalo and Toko University in Taiwan. I teach to the whole student and all the courses, assignments, testing required to get you noticed by top-notch universities like the ones where I attended and taught.
While studying, writing and teaching, I found students had very unique approaches, as well as obstacles, to academic success. Some students seemed to understand the content as well as I did or better, yet would perform poorly on tests and papers! Others had such unusual commitments to sports or worked such long hours, they were always “putting out fires,” so to speak, never really getting a handle on their coursework. Still others just had lifestyles that were not amenable to conquering their studies, but with a few alterations, could have jumped up a couple of grades. Finally, many students did not have any short- or long-term goals nor timetables for achieving them; so they didn’t.
As co-Advisor for over 200 students in Environmental Studies—which has approximately tripled in size since my arrival—I have helped many students choose their paths and get into the schools and positions of their choice. Moreover, as the sole Advisor to the first 27 students to enter the Masters in Sustainability Leadership and Certificate program, I understand what programs are looking for and how to stand out as an applicant. Moreover, I learned I felt of most service, as well as a deep sense of accomplishment, was in working one-on-one with students where from looking at the big picture of their life as a whole, I could quickly assess the considerations they needed to address first, and begin to build long-term success from there.
As a Mentor, and because of my proven track record at places like West Point, Harvard, Naropa, ASU and OSU (in other words, small schools, private schools, large schools and public universities) I was able to identify their weaknesses and capitalize on their strengths holistically toward their final goals, whether that be achieving a certain grade, scoring an A on an argumentative paper, or getting into the university of their choice. My students have gone on to succeed at University at Buffalo, UC Riverside, the University of Chicago, U Penn, Arizona State University, Harvard, and more! Many of my students have also landed positions for prestigious institutions such as the Department of Conservation, the Attorney General’s Office, and the US Army Corps of Engineers—or started their own business!
My holistic approach to tutoring begins with the students where they are, and backcasts from achievable objectives. Working one-on-one with students to synthesize and articulate their skills, knowledge and interests into a coherent project that captured their enthusiasm in a specific area, but also draws from a wide range of methodologies. My degrees and teaching have spanned the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, and emphasizes their co-ordination through transdisciplinary studies and experiential learning.
Until just recently, I was behind the scenes: working through piles of applications toward student admissions, collaborating and designing recruiting fairs and parents’ weekends; writing web content and outlining objectives for the department; student ambassadors; and helping students achieve entry to life-changing internships, jobs and university programs.
Now, I have the special ability to work with students from any background.
As a sustainability scholar, I am not only well-versed in interdisciplinary methods, but I also have experience teaching courses and working with students who were using all their math, science, history and English skills. They did this to conduct research in courses I taught across the university: the natural sciences (e.g., Introduction to Environmental Studies, UB Seminar: Weather and Climate), the social sciences (e.g., World Regional Geography, Politics of Sustainability), and the humanities (e.g. Modern American Literature, Sustainability and American Culture).
I have visited 19 countries and 47 states, and I have had the immense benefit of teaching in several parts of the world. My cross-cultural experience that began with teaching in Taiwan for six years, has continued to develop in the Southwest and on the East Coast, where I have been exposed to a wide range of cultures, societies, and traditions. Through my mentoring, students begin to narrow and defeatist thinking, and to develop a passion for the coursework that will allow them to experience their dreams.
Sincerely,
Dr. Craig Thomas
Expert Tutoring Services with University Prep Tutoring
Check out my book!
Humanity is failing at solving complex socio-ecological problems like global climate change, biodiversity loss and population growth. The existing 'sustainable development' paradigm and its reliance on trade-offs between the three pillars of environment, economics, and equity is not robust enough to maintain global carrying capacity. In this timely intervention, Thomas argues that the holistic and transdisciplinary thinking of four iconic American naturalists - Henry David Thoreau, Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, and Edward O. Wilson - can instead help to solve our biggest twenty-first century challenges by synthesizing values from four eras of cultural and environmental history.
