Chris
Avrich
Tutor at Wes Carroll Tutoring & Coaching
Chris Avrich, an MIT-trained computer scientist and lifelong math enthusiast, helps students build the analytical habits and self-awareness that make hard subjects genuinely click.
Chris brings a calm, inquisitive presence to every session. His approach isn’t about drilling techniques until something sticks — it’s about understanding how a particular student thinks, then meeting them there. He’s patient, straightforward, and good at finding a new angle when the first explanation doesn’t land. For students who are stressed about math or standardized tests, that combination tends to be a relief.
Chris’s biography
Teaching Philosophy
Chris wants his students to think, not just perform. That means learning to approach problems strategically, building connections between ideas across topics, and developing the self-awareness to understand how you study best. He also teaches students something schools rarely make explicit: knowing what a teacher or exam board is actually looking for is a skill, and a learnable one. His students leave with better scores and a sharper sense of how to navigate academic environments on their own terms.
Personal Approach
Chris starts by getting to know how a student’s mind works. Once he has a feel for their style, he tailors his explanations accordingly — and stays flexible enough to pivot if something isn’t landing. He’s particularly good at untangling confusing situations, pulling together information from textbooks, teachers, and his own experience to figure out what’s really going on and make a clear plan. His general passion for learning new things has a way of rubbing off on students.
Areas of Expertise
- Standardized Testing: SAT, ACT
- Math: All middle and high school math through AP Calculus BC, AMC 8/10/12
- Sweet Spot: Algebra 2, Trigonometry, and Precalculus
Academic Achievements
Chris earned his B.S. in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics from MIT in 2003, where he was inducted into Eta Kappa Nu (HKN), the IEEE honor society. While at MIT, he served in leadership roles at WMBR, the university’s radio station, including program director and student general manager. He scored a 1570 on the SAT (800 Math, 770 English) and is a graduate of Stuyvesant High School, one of the most academically selective public high schools in the country.
Your pathway to success with Chris involves
Thinking Analytically and Strategically
Learning to approach problems methodically, not just mechanically.
Finding Your Own Approach
Building problem-solving habits that fit how you actually think.
Zooming Out
Developing the self-awareness to understand what’s working, what isn’t, and why.
What Students and Parents Say About Chris
“I see it happening, and I see he’s already more confident. He said the two tests he’s had are the best he’s had in two years of math, so something’s working.”
Jenny K. (Parent)
Wes Carroll
Cognitive coach and STEM tutor
(415) 937-1729
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Math Competition Coaching
Experience the joys of elegant solutions and personal expertise before you even learn to drive.
(Math competitions also provide students with unique avenues for entrance into some of the best schools in the world.)
Academic Assistance
Get more out of of tough homework and exams, even in advanced courses like APs and IBs.
AP STEM Support
Work ahead of the rest of the class. Learn for life. Earn your "5".