Andrew Lau

Biography

My favorite part of tutoring is finding the explanation that finally clicks for a particular student. No two students think alike, so I enjoy getting to know each student well enough to understand which approach will work best for them.

I grew up in Sunnyvale and attended Homestead High School before earning a B.A. in Science Management, an interdisciplinary blend of chemistry and economics, from Claremont McKenna College, where I graduated cum laude with departmental honors. I also played inside linebacker for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps football team. My senior thesis, which received the award for best thesis in Science Management, explored more sustainable ways to synthesize amines, the nitrogen-containing building blocks found in many medicines. This research taught me to be meticulous and organized, habits I now help students develop in their own academic work.

I tutor chemistry and biology, and I love exploring how the two subjects connect. In the lab, I learned that two molecules made of the exact same atoms can be mirror images of each other, and that this small difference in shape can determine whether a drug helps or harms the body. I want students to see science as a way to explain how the world works, rather than as a list of facts to memorize.

I have worked with students from elementary school through college in a variety of roles. I served as a teaching assistant for college organic and medicinal chemistry labs, tutored middle and high school students, and trained more than 20 peer tutors at Student Connection. I also founded a program pairing college athletes with students at Chaparral Elementary School, mentored first-generation students through Uncommon Good, and started a nonprofit in high school that offered free online classes to about 120 local students during the pandemic.

In every session, I begin by identifying where a student’s understanding breaks down. From there, I break problems into clear, repeatable steps students can apply independently. I also help students build assignment trackers and study schedules and encourage them to communicate with their teachers. I believe real progress comes from patience, organization, and a plan tailored to each individual student.

Outside of tutoring, I enjoy golfing, skiing, hiking, cooking, playing tennis, and playing pickleball.