About Me
C.J. Hellwig
For over twenty years, I have helped NYC’s top students transform academic stress into confidence and high achievement. Since 2003, I have worked full-time as an educator in New York City, balancing a dedicated private tutoring practice with my current role as a local high school teacher. I have guided students through the rigorous curriculums of the city's most competitive institutions. My track record includes helping high schoolers excel at elite academies like Horace Mann, Bronx Science, and Trinity, as well as mentoring undergraduates navigating demanding pre-med tracks at Columbia and NYU. Whether a student is tackling advanced high school coursework or high-stakes university STEM classes, my approach is deeply patient, highly encouraging, and entirely tailored to how they learn.
I tutor a broad spectrum of math and science subjects because I love the variety—and that multi-subject fluency is a massive advantage for my students. Education shouldn't feel fragmented. When a student and I build great rapport and a strong working rhythm in physics, they don't have to hunt for a new tutor when chemistry or calculus rolls around next semester. I provide a consistent, reliable academic partnership that adapts as your student's workload evolves. Based in Manhattan, I am proud to offer focused, in-person tutoring for local families as well as flexible Zoom sessions for students anywhere.
Curious about what our sessions will actually be like? You can watch a sample video in which I talk about prime numbers to experience my teaching style and see exactly what a student sees on their screen during a lesson.
Subjects
- Math and Statistics My qualifications in mathematics span from university-level theory to years of direct classroom leadership. After earning a minor in mathematics at George Washington University, I built a career covering the entire spectrum of mathematical study. I have designed and taught comprehensive, year-long high school courses in advanced subjects, including AP Calculus, Linear Algebra, Algebra II, and AP Statistics. My private tutoring practice extends this expertise even further, guiding students through everything from foundational High School Geometry and Algebra I to highly rigorous, upper-level undergraduate math classes.
Beyond content mastery, my approach is defined by deep patience and a specialized understanding of math anxiety. Over the past two decades, I have worked with countless students who view math as an intimidating hurdle rather than a tool they can control. I specialize in helping students overcome these "math phobias" by breaking down complex, abstract concepts into clear, manageable steps. By creating a supportive and low-pressure environment, I help students move past frustration, build genuine confidence, and develop the problem-solving skills they need to excel. - Physics My physics expertise spans from top-tier high school curriculums to the demanding pre-med tracks at Columbia and NYU. I bring a proven mastery of the subject, backed by scoring in the 99.9th percentile on the MCAT, and have years of experience guiding university undergraduates through complex physics sequences. Additionally, I am deeply familiar with the distinct structures and requirements of all the different AP Physics exams (AP Physics 1, 2, C: Mechanics, and C: Electricity & Magnetism). Whether a student needs to master foundational forces and motion or navigate advanced, calculus-based university problem sets, I provide the precise, experienced instruction required for both high school and college success.
- Chemistry My chemistry instruction covers the full academic trajectory from high school fundamentals to advanced university coursework. I provide comprehensive support for General Chemistry (including AP Chemistry), as well as the notoriously challenging sequences of first-year Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry. My command of these complex subjects is demonstrated by my top 99.9 percentile score on the MCAT, and I have spent years helping students master the intricate mechanisms, synthesis problems, and lab concepts required in these courses. Whether a student is just starting out with chemical reactions in high school or navigating upper-level pre-med requirements at the college level, I deliver the clear, structured guidance needed to succeed.
- Biology My biology and environmental science instruction is backed by years of formal classroom experience and a deep understanding of how students learn. I have designed curricula and taught full, year-long classes in both AP Biology and AP Environmental Science (APES). Because these subjects are highly dependent on memorization, I don't just teach the material—I give my students the tools to retain it. As a standard part of my tutoring services, I build customized electronic flashcards tailored specifically to our lessons. This allows students to master vocabulary-heavy processes, like cellular respiration or ecological cycles, through efficient active recall between our sessions. From foundational high school biology to the rigorous demands of college-level pre-med coursework, I provide the structured support required to master the material.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do you provide worksheets or study guides? Yes. I've accumulated a vast array of textbooks and problem sets. I'll often provide my students with problem sets so they can continue building their skills after our session is over. I also frequently make electronic flash cards for students who are studying a memorization-intensive course.
- How long is an average session? An hour and a half is a typical session length. I ask that sessions be a minimum of an hour long.
- Do you assign homework? Yes, if it is needed.
- Can I share my session with another student? Sure! Ask me about my special rates for group sessions.
- Do you tutor in person on online? I do much of my tutoring on Zoom. I'm located in NYC, so I'm available to in-person sessions.
- What happens if I have to cancel? Do I still have to pay for the session? I require 24 hours of notice for cancellations, or I will expect you to pay for the session you missed.
- What forms of payment do you accept? Cash, Venmo, PayPal, and Zelle.
- Do you offer any referral bonuses? Yes. If you recommend me to another student, and that student hires me for four hours or more, you get one hour of free tutoring.
- What is a typical session like for high school and college tutoring on academic subjects? For academic subjects, my students are usually already enrolled in a course in high school or college. Usually we go over homework together, I teach them new information as it is needed to answer the questions, and try to guide them through their homework without directly answering the question for them. This helps my students increase their problem solving ability. I can also lecture if needed, make up problems for practice, and assign problems additional practice on their own time. Oftentimes I will create reference sheets for my students as I tutor them, and sometimes I have reference sheets already prepared. Usually we'll meet for an hour and a half.
- What is a typical session like for test prep? Test prep tutoring is different, because usually it is not in conjunction with another class, so I'll spend more time lecturing and explaining concepts, and then we'll go over problems together, and I'll assign homework that we can go over at the next session.
Contact
If you have any questions or if you'd like to schedule an appointment, you can email me at cjhellwig@gmail.com, or text or call me at 718-753-7060.