Beth G.
5.0
99% GRE and GMAT // Stanford-educated // Experienced and friendly!
Studied at University of California, Davis
Worked at Fred Hutch
Available tomorrow at 2:30 AM UTC
Usually responds within 5 hours
I’m flexible in terms of scheduling. I’m generally not a morning person, but if the only time you can meet is before 10 am, please contact me and we will work something out!
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Beth's GRE Qualifications
Coaches professionally
Scored a 1550 on the GRE
20+ people coached for GRE
Open to working with clients outside the U.S.
I have been helping people prepare for standardized tests like the GRE for over 15 years. I am an experienced teacher with a Master's in Education from Stanford University, and I was trained as a GRE tutor by one of the major test preparation companies. When I took the GRE in 2008, I got perfect scores on the quantitative and writing sections and scored in the 99th percentile (750/800) on the verbal section. I'd love to help you with the newer, shorter version of the test! In our first session, we will discuss your strengths and knowledge gaps, then I will curate a personalized curriculum that focuses on your specific needs. Each session, we will strengthen your fundamental understanding of a topic and then apply that understanding to a tailored set of practice questions. I will also provide you with "homework" so that you can reinforce your understanding of the material on your own time. I respect your time and resources -- I want to help you achieve your target score as efficiently as possible. In addition to being an experienced coach, I am a molecular biologist and bioinformatician with a passion for education and illustration. I am all-but-dissertation in the PhD program in Animal Biology from the University of California, Davis, and a Bachelor's in Human Biology from Stanford University. I have worked as a research assistant in a lab that studies viruses, a biology instructor at a community college, and an informal science educator at a museum and zoo. I live in Seattle with my two dogs, who are the center of my world. I look forward to getting to know you!
Beth can help with:
Quantitative Reasoning
Analytical Writing
Verbal Reasoning
About Beth
I am a molecular biologist, educator, and illustrator living with my dogs in Seattle, WA. I have over 15 years of experience as a standardized test prep tutor and have taught biology at the college level. My recent hobbies include creating silly animal stickers (e.g. a hungover penguin) and starting a biology blog. I am authentic, friendly, and relaxed, and I believe in the importance of balance. Because of my diverse passions, my path has been unique. As an undergraduate, I attended Stanford University, where I majored in Human Biology. I was interested in ecology, so I studied coral reefs and coastal forests in Australia and tropical rainforest bees in Costa Rica. I also minored in Studio Art. Growing up in a low-income community gave me an interest in educational equity, so I stayed on at Stanford to earn a Master's in Education and a multiple subject teaching credential from the Stanford Teacher Education Program. I combined my interests in ecology and education by working as an informal science educator at a zoo for several years. At the zoo, I developed an interest in the reproduction of endangered species. I did an internship with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, isolating hormones from clouded leopard poop. I then enrolled in the PhD program in Animal Biology at UC Davis, where I studied the molecular mechanisms of sperm-egg fusion. At UC Davis, my focus started to shift from ecology to molecular biology and from traditional laboratory techniques to bioinformatic analysis. Unfortunately, I lost my samples to a freezer failure and am all-but-dissertation. After leaving UC Davis, I worked as an informal science educator at a science museum and as a community college biology instructor. I then worked as a research assistant at a cancer research center, where I studied how a virus in the herpes family regulates the expression of a certain protein. I am currently taking a break from lab work while my body recovers from surgery. I am considered returning to school for an MBA or a PhD in Bioinformatics and pursuing a career in biotechnology.
Why do I coach?
I coach because helping people perform to the best of their abilities enables them to maximize their future opportunities. I also enjoy helping people develop their skills and self-confidence until their fear of test-taking gives way to a sense of accomplishment and fun. Growing up, I don't think I'd ever heard of private tutors. I'm from a low-income, primarily Mexican-American town in Southern California. I participated in school math clubs and studied for the SAT using books. In high school, I was recruited by Stanford University as part of a program that identified promising students from under-served populations based on their PSAT scores. I was also a National Merit Scholar. As a result, I understand how empowering high test scores can be. My experiences with the GRE and GMAT were similar: I studied for the tests using books and felt like achieving a high score gave me greater control over my future. My low-income background and tendency toward self-reliance influence my tutoring style: I don't want to waste your time with me on anything that you could do on your own. I also don't buy in to the high-pressure, high-anxiety culture that often surrounds standardized testing. I'd love to help you focus your energy efficiently and study in a way allows you to maintain a sense of balance.
Work Experience
Research Assistant
Fred Hutch
March 2021 - January 2023
Studied a unique mechanism by which cytomegalovirus regulates translation of a certain protein. Propagated cytomegalovirus in cell culture. Isolated DNA, RNA, and proteins from cells. Performed PCR, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and luciferase assays. Used fluorescent microscopy to analyze protein expression. Designed and conducted experiments. Documented procedures and results. Trained interns and staff in standard laboratory procedure. Maintained inventory of laboratory supplies.
Biology Instructor
Portland Community College
April 2019 - March 2021
Instructing courses in non-majors biology and cell biology for health professionals. Teaching students how to use common laboratory equipment, including microscopes, as well as how to design, perform, and interpret experiments. Delivering interactive lectures on cell biology topics. Developing, administering, and grading assessments of student performance. Instructing courses online and developing online alternatives to in-person lab experiences while the campus was closed due to COVID-19.
Science Communication Specialist
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
September 2018 - November 2019
Coordinated, developed, and delivered programs in Science Communication Services and Teen Engagement at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Trained STEM professionals how to effectively communicate their research with the public. Trained teen volunteers to facilitate interactive science demos with museum visitors.
Education
University of California, Davis
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Animal Biology
2011 - 2018
Activities and societies: Wildlife and Aquatic Animal Medicine Club All but dissertation. Developing and illustrating a conceptual model of the protein machinery that mediates membrane fusion. Performing bioinformatics analysis of single oocyte transcriptomes. Performing co-immunoprecipitation experiments to identify proteins that interact during fertilization.
Stanford University
Master of Arts (M.A.), Education
2006 - 2007
Stanford Teacher Education Program Multiple Subject California Teaching Credential
Stanford University
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Human Biology, Minor in Studio Art
2002 - 2006
Activities and societies: Phi Beta Kappa
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