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Dane Ochis-ONeil (BEST TUTOR REVIEWS on Thumbtack)

$200/hour
Estimated price


Test sections

Responds in about 37 min


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About
I am just returning to independent private tutoring after 2+ years designing the ACT and SAT prep curricula for a well-known virtual school serving gifted students. I worked with the coding team to create adaptive apps designed to teach students all of the content covered on the ACT/SAT as quickly and efficiently as possible. In addition to preparing with the apps, students met with me (or a tutor that was hired and trained by me) 1 to 3 times per week so that we could monitor the student's progress and help them with any content that they were struggling with. 124 of this school's students have used the program that I designed to prepare for the SAT. The lowest SAT score any of those students earned was 1420; the highest SAT score any of those students earned was 1600; and the median SAT score for those 124 students was 1530. 50 of this school's students used the program that I designed to prepare for the ACT. The lowest ACT score any of those students earned was 32; the highest ACT score any student earned was 36; and the median ACT score for those 50 students was 34.5. Fresh off my curriculum design experience, I am better prepared to help students ace the ACT/SAT than I have ever been before --- and I'm excited to share what I've learned with my new private tutoring students. =========================================================== I recognize that I am more expensive than most of my competitors, but that extra expense is justified for the following reasons: 1. I have over 10 years of full-time ACT/SAT tutoring experience, and I have designed ACT/SAT curricula from scratch. 2. My students' results are better than those of my competitors: a median SAT score increase of 180 points, and a median ACT score increase of 6 points. Please keep in mind that the majority of my students have baseline scores of 1310+ on the SAT or 28+ on the ACT, which significantly reduces both my mean and median score increases. 3. My program/methods generate much quicker content/test mastery than other programs; my students often achieve the results stated above in half the time of other tutoring programs --- so while my hourly rate is high, the total expense of my program is comparable to the total expense for tutors that charge $100 to $150 per hour. 4. My program has very little homework/busy work so that students can easily fit test prep into their schedule during the academic years --- even if they are active in clubs or sports. FYI, I expect students to spend 5-6 hours per week on their test prep, and that time INCLUDES a 90-minute session with me each week. 5. Every student works DIRECTLY WITH ME . 6. The amount of merit aid that my students receive nearly always DWARFS the amount of money that said student's family paid me to prepare them for the ACT/SAT, so this investment has a significant positive ROI. 7. I am so confident in the quality of my services that I offer the following money-back guarantees: A FULL refund for any student whose SAT score increases less than 80 points or whose composite ACT score increases less than 3 points. A 50% refund for any student whose SAT score increases less than 130 points or whose composite ACT score increases less than 5 points. You will not find a better money-back guarantee anywhere. Furthermore, I don't require you to buy a block of tutoring hours, I don't require a minimum number of tutoring sessions, and I don't ask for any money up front. That way, if a student is ready for their test sooner than expected --- which often happens --- then you don't end up with a block of unused tutoring hours. Finally, I believe that students should not work with tutors who cannot achieve the student's goal score themselves. As a result, I take one SAT and one ACT every year to prove to myself that I can work with anyone that expresses interest in working with me. I scored 36 on the ACT from 2017-2024, and I scored either 1590 or 1600 on the SAT in those same years. As a result, I am certain that I know ALL of the ACT/SAT content both forwards and backwards. Students who take their preparation seriously and apply the tips/strategies that I teach get outstanding results in just 6-10 weeks. I am CERTAIN that I can help your student achieve his/her ACT/SAT goal, and it's likely that I will become a mentor for your student throughout his/her academic career (which my reviews make clear). Please contact me today to find out more about my tutoring program/services. Thank you. Dane Ochis-O'Neil [NOTE: I do not do any in-person tutoring; I exclusively tutor VIRTUALLY. If you or your student would not be comfortable with virtual tutoring, then I am not the tutor for you. If you are unsure about remote/virtual tutoring, I offer a free trial tutoring session so that you and your student can evaluate the virtual interface and my communication style before committing to work with me. Thank you.]
Overview

Hired 122 times

3 similar jobs done near you

Background checked

1 employee

10 years in business

Business hours

Sun10:00 am - 11:00 pmMon10:00 am - 11:00 pm

Payment methods

This pro accepts payments via Cash, PayPal, Square cash app, Venmo, and Zelle.

Top Pro status

Top Pros are among the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.

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2020

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2019

Services offered
Test type
Student grade level

9th grade

10th grade

11th grade

12th grade

Test sections

Reading

Writing

Math

Other subjects

Projects and media

23 photos

Projects and media

23 photos

Reviews

Customers rated this pro highly for work quality, professionalism, and responsiveness.

Excellent 4.9

91 reviews

5

97%

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2%

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pro avatar
Shruti K.

2 weeks ago

Hired on Thumbtack

I really enjoyed the SAT sessions with Dan. I focused mostly on English, and he gave me some great tips that made a real difference. Dan listens really well and always takes the time to explain things clearly. I especially liked how he helped me think through shortcuts and smarter ways to solve questions—it made the practice feel less overwhelming. He was also super quick in following up, which I really appreciated. Overall, I felt supported the whole way and learned a lot from the sessions. I also felt more confident after each class, which helped me approach practice tests with less stress. Dan kept the sessions focused but never made them feel rushed, which I valued. Thank you to Dan for being patient, encouraging, and always bringing positive energy into the lessons.

Details: 10th grade • SAT1 • Math • Reading • Not yet scheduled • At the pro’s location • My home, venue, etc. • Remotely (phone or internet)

Test Prep Services
pro avatar
Nithura S.

2 weeks ago

Dane was really encouraging and optimistic! He gave a lot of feedback after every session, and I thoroughly enjoyed working with him.
pro avatar
Thomas M.

2 weeks ago

I give my highest endorsement to Dane as an ACT tutor. His expertise, professionalism, and dedication to student success are genuinely exceptional. He cares deeply about the students' success, and it's evident in all he does. Whether it's from the personally tailored emails he sends as a follow-up from a lesson or his attentiveness with questions, he is an amazing tutor and a fantastic person. He constantly shows up to meetings with a positive attitude and a willingness to teach. He is consistent in scheduling and flexible depending on the student's schedule. He provides clear, structured guidance tailored to individual strengths and areas for improvement, while also instilling effective time management and problem-solving strategies. Under his instruction, I saw measurable improvements in my confidence and performance. I strongly recommend Dane for anyone looking to receive top-tier ACT preparation, and I am beyond glad to have received instruction from such a genuine and affable person.
pro avatar
Serena R.

May 9, 2022

Hired on Thumbtack

Mr.O’Neil is an excellent tutor to work with. He is really patient when working with students ensuring that they understand all the concepts and techniques he is teaching. Additionally, he is really quick at replying which means if you have any last minute questions or concerns before a test or quiz, you won’t have to worry about them not getting answered as he is always available to assist any of your needs. I’ve worked with many tutors, but I’ve never met such an experienced and flexible teacher like Mr. O’Neil. I would definitely recommend him to anyone who wants to boost their grades and see a difference in their performance at school.

Details: Middle school • Algebra • 14 - 17 years old • Learn new topics and techniques • More than once a week • Remotely (phone or internet) • My home, venue, etc.

Math Tutoring
pro avatar
Jenny L.

Oct 24, 2021

Hired on Thumbtack

Dane greatly helped my daughter improve her score and thought process on the reading test. He taught a systematical approach to the questions that helped my daughter increase her score when prep books could not. I highly recommend his tutoring!

Details: 11th grade • PSAT • Reading • Remotely (phone or internet)

Test Prep Services
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Dane Ochis-O'neil

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