PrepNow Tutor - Rupa P.
Rupa has several years of experience tutoring algebra, geometry, and general math, along with SAT and MCAT-level math and science. Her experience in professional labs allows her to form creative ways to motivate and intrigue students by connecting complex materials with hands-on applications.
She earned a BS from the University of Pittsburgh, where she double-majored in honors chemistry and economics. She also holds an MS in biochemistry and molecular biology from Georgetown University, where she tutored peers for the MCAT.
After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, Rupa worked as a medical assistant at a local primary care office, where she gained firsthand insight into patient needs and the gaps between clinical care and scientific knowledge. After earning her master’s, she worked as a research assistant at the Wyss Institute (at Harvard University) in Boston. “I developed multiple Organ-On-A-Chip models, including a Lung-On-A-Chip system designed to perfuse blood components and study radiation-induced coagulation,” she notes. This technology—specifically for developing a perfusable 3D vessel-on-a-chip model—earned her the Excellence in Research Award.
Rupa began tutoring in high school at a learning center, where she taught math and reading to K-12 students. She tutored consistently throughout college as a peer chemistry tutor and later as an MCAT tutor. She’s thrilled when she sees concepts finally click for students. “I remember teaching permutations versus combinations and breaking it down using ice cream flavors as an example, keeping it simple and relatable. The student told me it was the first time it actually made sense to them, and that feeling of watching something click is exactly why I love this work,” she reflects.
Rupa’s approach centers on “understanding the ‘why’ behind a concept rather than memorization, diving deep enough that students build a subconscious, automatic understanding, which is especially valuable for timed test-taking,” she explains. She works with students’ natural learning styles and rhythms and leans heavily into dedicated practice. "I believe preparation is the key to confidence; even when a student doesn't consciously know the answer, their gut often does, and getting them to that point requires consistency, spaced repetition, and genuine confidence built over time, not just memorization,” she adds.
Outside the lab, she loves playing tennis, reading, enjoying the beach, and watchmaking.
Fun (scary) fact: “I almost fell into Niagara Falls when I was four years old.”
