AP Physics Tutoring, One-on-One with an Engineer-Mentor
AP Physics 1 punishes formula-hunting by design — the right equation only appears after the right picture. I tutor Physics 1, 2, and C one-to-one, the way an engineer actually works a motion problem. Remote, nationwide.
Weekly engagements from $800/month · month to month
UT Austin ECE · Former director at Microsoft · Formerly Elite Guide, Alpha/GT School · 3,000+ recorded 1:1 hours
Where AP Physics 1 actually gets hard
Kinematics rewards a strict order of operations: classify the motion, sketch it, choose a sign convention — and only then pick the equation that matches what is actually changing. Reaching for the formula sheet first is the most common failure in the course.
Dynamics and energy hinge on the diagrams. A student who can draw an honest free-body diagram has already done most of the physics.
My packet works kinematics start to finish, every problem written for it.
Judge the work before you write to me:
Taking Physics 2 or Physics C? Same mentor, calculus and all.
His pre-calculus grade was an F. Graduation was at risk. Eight weeks later he scored an 88 and walked across the stage.
“I can't thank Matt enough for helping my son graduate with confidence.”
Richard P., parent of HS senior, TX
F → 88
pre-calc in 8 weeks; graduated on stage
Purdue Honors
Aerospace Engineering admit
$60,000
merit scholarship to SCAD
3,000+
recorded 1:1 mentorship hours
Individual examples from Matt's one-to-one work; experiences vary and are not guarantees.
One engineer-mentor. No handoffs.
I teach these subjects from direct technical and professional experience: UT Austin engineering; building the sales engine of a McKinsey-backed cybersecurity startup into an eight-figure operation; and serving as a director at Microsoft. That background lets me connect abstract coursework to the way course concepts are used in practice.
So when your kid asks “when will I ever use this,” I can answer with concrete examples. We still handle the assignment in front of us, while building a more durable understanding of the subject beneath it.
I also treat the teaching itself like an engineering problem. I've recorded more than 3,000 hours of my one-to-one sessions and spent nearly 1,000 additional hours building an AI-assisted system to review every transcript — where a student's energy dropped, where their reasoning went sideways, and where a different prompt might have helped. That review informs what I prepare for the next session.
AP Physics 1 is one of twelve AP courses I teach
Every one of these I teach personally — no handoffs, no bench of subcontractors. The students I work with typically carry several at once; this fall's rosters run as high as six. One mentor across the whole load is the point.
AP Calculus AB & BC
plus pre-calculus and honors calculus
AP Physics 1, 2 & C
algebra-based through calculus-based
AP Chemistry
and honors chemistry
AP Biology
and honors biology
AP Computer Science A
from an engineer who has shipped software
AP Statistics
and college intro statistics
AP Micro & Macroeconomics
from an engineer who passed all three CFA exams on the first attempt
AP Business with Personal Finance
new for 2026–27; first exam May 2027
On the IB track instead? I teach the IB equivalents of everything above — HL or SL.
Stabilize the course — then rebuild the foundation
Matt Starolis
Engineer-Mentor · Founder
Maybe the immediate job is a AP Physics 1 grade that needs attention. We address it directly, then examine the foundation underneath: the concept three chapters back that never landed, and the habit of approaching a hard problem instead of freezing in front of it. If it's rigorous STEM, I teach it through the mental models an engineer uses.
The subject is the vehicle. The student is the work.
Underneath the subject, we're strengthening the student's self-talk, systems, and inner operating system. The goal is for those skills to outlast a single class and support greater independence with the next hard thing.
“You're a great mentor. Our son really enjoyed getting to know you and learn from you. I know he is going to do well this year in computer science because of your help and encouragement.”
Lynn M., parent of CS student
What your family receives
A typical week is one or two 50-minute sessions, depending on what your student needs — with preparation and follow-through documented in writing.
- A written summary after every session — what we tackled, where your student stands, and what comes next. I prepare it from the full transcript with an AI-assisted review system and review the result myself.
- A worked-solutions packet: every problem we solve together, typeset to publication quality. Notation your student can actually study from.
- A semester review, together — progress, goals, and whatever questions you're carrying, with an earlier conversation when something cannot wait.
- A direct line, not a portal — if an important concern cannot wait for the semester review, ask and we will find a time to talk.
The investment
From $800 per month.
That's the weekly engagement — month to month, with no contracts and no minimum term. Where yours lands depends on cadence, and I'll tell you exactly where before you commit to anything.
An engagement here gives your student an engineer who takes their thinking seriously. I keep the practice deliberately small so I can prepare for and review each student's work personally. The session is the visible part; preparation, the written summary, the typeset packet, and ongoing review provide the continuity around it.
A one-minute fit check
Is this the right kind of support?
A good partnership should survive a few honest questions. See where the fit looks strong—and where another kind of support may serve your student better. No email required.
Tell me about your student
You're not booking a sales call. I read every word of these — personally — and reply within 24 hours.
Weekly engagements begin at $800 per month — month to month, with no contracts and no minimum term.