Mickey graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He completed his Masters of Arts in Integrated Design at the Köln International School of Design in Cologne, Germany. Prior to tutoring with Academic Approach, he worked for several engineering firms, with roles including Project Manager, Technical Consultant, and Energy Engineer. Additionally, he has gathered years of experience tutoring English and German as second languages.
How long have you been with Academic Approach?
I have been with Academic Approach since January and, once I finished the training program, started tutoring in March. I have not been here long, but I jumped in with both feet and it’s been great
What do you enjoy most about tutoring?
Compared to my other jobs in engineering, tutoring gives me much more personal fulfillment. I love working with students in a 1-on-1 environment. Working with people has become less and less a part of the world of engineering, so to be able to meet with students and help them learn, even when it is online, has been a wonderful change of pace.
What do you feel has been your biggest challenge?
Watching students go through the pressure of the tests and being so hard on themselves can be challenging. There is so much pressure on students and their stress is very real. Part of what we do as tutors is to moderate those emotions. Many students get frustrated or embarrassed when they get questions wrong, but I remind them that it is better to get them wrong now, when we can address it, than on test day. Learning often requires vulnerability and helping students feel safe to make mistakes is an important part of the tutoring process.
Do you have a favorite section of any test you enjoy tutoring the most? And why?
In general, I love the math portions of the tests, both on the ACT and the SAT. I believe that every student can learn the material if they work hard enough. Math has always been one of my passions. Empathy is especially important to practice when tutoring math, since so many students learn it at different paces and in different ways.
What special skills do you think a great tutor should have to be successful?
I think the most important thing is to be honest with students. It’s important that students know where they stand and can map their growth throughout the program. That transparency also helps build trust. Also, it is important to understand how stressful the college admissions and testing process is for students. A little empathy goes a long way. Students have so much more to worry about now than they did when I was their age! Helping alleviate that stress is an important part of what we do. Students also retain content much better when they are less stressed.
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Do you have any hidden talents? Juggling? Skateboarding? Singing? Dancing?
Actually, yes! I play the oboe. I have been playing the oboe for 29 years, since I was 9 years old. My older brother was in orchestra playing the viola, and I wanted to play an instrument. His teacher recommended that I try the oboe. Now, my two-year-old niece wants to see me show her the oboe every day.
