Tutor Zone Podcast

The USC PA Pathways Program's purpose is to support youth of diverse backgrounds, and those disadvantaged by implementing services to assist their academic career development paths (keck.usc.edu). Tutor Zone is in partnership with the USC Pathways programs to provide support to students who are interested in health careers.  Listen in as Manuel invites Maria Maldonado, Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, USC PA Pipeline Recruitment Director, and National Health Service Corps Mentor (keck.usc.edu) to discuss what the USC Pathways Program entails and how it can best serve its community.

Telling your story continues with discussing what colleges are looking for: the essential aspect is GPA. Listen in as Manuel Bermudez breaks down why you should study for that test rather than volunteer for that event to stand out with your application

"The main difference is an IEP is more structured and brings in more resources for special education, but students with behavioral issues quality for a 504 plan."There tends to be a gap between potential and actual achievement among those who have a learning disability. This can often affect their ability to understand concepts and material taught in an educational environment. Although learning disabilities are associated with school and education, the effect of this disorder can even impact an individual's relationships outside of school. Listen in as Manuel discusses what learning disabilities are and how they are defined with Tutor Zone's blogger Viviana Cabrera.

"How much does the prestige of a college really matter in the long run?" Listen in as Manuel discusses navigating the journey in finding the best college fit despite the status of a university. He is joined by Mia Martinez, along with Trinity Brown and Viviana Cabrera, as they examine the differences between schools and the opportunities they offer. Knowing the ins and outs of the college programs gives you a wider perspective on what to expect encourages you to make a meticulous decision in finding the right college fit for you.

Your personal experiences, no matter how inconsequential they may seem, all contribute to your uniqueness as an individual. Listen in as Manuel discusses the significance of introspection when it comes to writing personal essays. He is joined by Mia Martinez, along with Trinity Brown and Viviana Cabrera, as they discuss why colleges like UC Berkeley hold so much weight to prospective students' personal essays. During the application process, your statistics truly speak for themselves. Through your personal essay, these universities want to know what makes you unique.                                                                                                                                                                         

“It was crazy, I didn’t think there was going to be so much essays, so much revising..especially with Covid [...] I felt very much alone [...] I didn't think it would be anything like this”, Mia Martinez, a Pioneer senior, expresses her thoughts on navigating the personal essay during the Covid-19 pandemic. Mia Martinez and Manuel Bermudez discuss the college application essay and how to stand out from thousands of others. Break down the process of writing a personal statement by understanding yourself and how the last 17 years have shaped you. In this episode, Mia recounts her exploration in tackling the UC prompts and connecting with a Berkley student who went through the same process.

Manuel and Monica Bermudez, also known as the Pura Vida Couple, express what it truly means to become an authentic leader. "How can we discover who we are by establishing our true north?" As the CEO of Tutor Zone, Manuel Bermudez explains how sharing his life story makes connections with people, especially his daughter. Monica provides information on Bill George's authentic leadership model and the 5 archetypes of leaders who lose their way. With this episode, we hope to inspire future leaders to know themselves well and to make a good influence on others.

"You do not need to know your life by 17 or 18 years old," Horacio Sevilla, a Biola University representative, gives advice to high school students. Horacio Sevilla and Manuel Bermudez continue their conversation about how Biola University helps students not only academically, but also mentally and spiritually. Horacio describes the difference between a college counselor and a college representative. He also provides reasons why college is a worthwhile investment, whether students attend Biola or another college.

Manuel Bermudez and Elena Dypiangco examine the American Families Plan proposed by President Biden. This plan would expand early childhood education programs such as transitional kindergarten and preschool, and provide two years of free community college. Elena explains the pros and cons of this proposal in detail.

Elena Dypiangco, a Tutor Zone instructor and writer for the TZ blog, researches the academic COVID-19 gap on public schools and discusses her findings with Manuel Bermudez. Elena explains how the COVID gap has academically impacted English language learners and students from low-income families the most. She also describes the challenges of virtual teaching.