Ross Mcelwain - Tutors - USApplicants

I predominantly teach:

SATI Maths, SATII Maths (I and II)

I also teach:

Application Essays, SATI Critical Reading, SATI Writing, SATII Literature, SATII US History, SATII World History

Experience

Over the last four years I have taught around 500 hours/year at most levels, specializing in maths and the sciences for students aged 15+. (I taught these subjects in a private school for a year.) More recently (since 2008) I have refined my specialism to focus on SAT and ACT preparation, with particular emphasis on maths and the use of memory techniques.

I aim to take the SAT regularly at Collegeboard-approved centres. I find this helps me stay sharp and reminds me of what students are going through!

Biography

Ross McElwain was born and brought up in Cardiff, south Wales. He attended the Bishop of Llandaff High School then went to Cambridge University to study English, where he received plaudits for his theatre directing and appearances in Footlights and won a university writing prize three times in a row.

After graduation, Ross relocated to Berlin. He hit the ground running, starting as a writer for the production house Geissendörfer Film-und Fernsehproduktion and for the reportage periodical Lettre International. His story Rebirth was sold to Hans W. Geissendörfer (The Glass Cell, The Magic Mountain), a key figure in the New German Cinema, in 2007. Also during his time in Berlin, Ross made theatre and short films in collaboration with the Volksbühne and was a reporter for the Danish channel TV-TV.

Relocating to London, Ross continued to write and work as a researcher while studying for a master's degree at Birkbeck under former BFI chair Dr Colin McCabe, which he was awarded with Distinction. Before graduation he won Lottery funding to make a film (One of The Most Banal Things You Have Ever Seen) on the theme of scale. It centred on the nanosculptor Edward Kazarian and production eventually took him to Armenia and California.

During work on that film, Ross made a short 'documentary' with the writer Iain Sinclair (London Orbital, Hackney, That Rose-Red Empire) and cult figures Chet and Joe Okonkwo. Take a Walk had its UK premiere at the BFI National Film Theatre in April 2008.

Ross spent January and February 2009 in Los Angeles, receiving mentoring from agent/producer Scott Zimmerman (sex, lies and videotape, Drugstore Cowboy, Pulp Fiction) and director Nicolas Roeg. On his return to the UK, Ross completed the fiction short Louie, or The Last Breath.

Among other activities, Ross has also presented for the Russian film programme “Cinemania”, interviewing actors and directors including Ridley Scott, Keira Knightley, Simon Pegg and Vanessa Redgrave for a TV audience of 20 million. Ross' libretto for the song cycle 'Language Mesh' was performed at the Wigmore Hall in March 2007.

Personal Approach

I always like to approach a subject as if I am (re)discovering it too. I find this allows me not to talk down to a student and to help them to gain more enjoyment from the process of learning.

Testimonials

From Christopher Masek (father of SAT I Math student)

[...] Wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for recommending Ross who did a stellar job with little time in preparing Tim for his Math 1 subject test. He was an efficient pedagogue.

From Edward Seago (father of SAT II Math student)

[...] I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank you for arranging for James to work with Ross. James very much enjoyed working with him and

felt that Ross explained everything very clearly and that he was extremely helpful. Ross is also very personable and Mia and I are grateful for his assistance.