AP Computer Science A & Principles Tutor — Online

Most online AP CS tutors stay with a student for 6–8 weeks. Tae's longest-running students are in year 5.

Palo Alto Mentor is the online private practice of Tae Hyun Nam — a long-term STEM mentor for high-achieving high schoolers. Two families have been with him since 2021, working through middle-school math, AP coursework, and college admissions with the same mentor. Not the rotating cast of tutors that Wyzant, Preply, and Varsity rely on.

What Tae covers in AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles

  • AP Computer Science A: Java syntax, classes and objects, inheritance, recursion, ArrayLists and 2D arrays, sorting, and the AP CS A Free-Response Question format
  • AP Computer Science Principles: Create Performance Task coaching, big idea content review, exam-style multiple choice practice
  • Real coding practice, not just theory — students write and debug code every session
  • Coverage of common CS pitfalls (off-by-one, recursion depth, mutable vs. immutable references) before they cost points on the exam
  • Project guidance for the Create Performance Task, the make-or-break AP CSP component

Who AP CS mentorship at Palo Alto Mentor is for

Best fit: ambitious 9th–12th graders aiming for top AP CS scores and competitive college admissions. Parents who want one trusted mentor across subjects rather than the platform-tutor churn cycle. Students who want to go deeper than the textbook.

Not for: one-off homework help, last-week-before-the-exam cramming, or families looking for the cheapest hourly rate. Tae's model is multi-year mentorship at a premium price point because that's what produces top AP scores and college outcomes.

How sessions work

  • 100% online via Zoom plus a shared digital whiteboard
  • Weekly cadence — 1-hour standard, 90-minute during exam season
  • Personalized progress tracking: Tae logs weak topics across the year
  • Mock AP CS exams in the spring with detailed scoring breakdown
  • Direct text and email access between sessions for time-sensitive questions

About Tae

Tae Hyun Nam is the sole tutor at Palo Alto Mentor. Based in South Pasadena, California; teaching online to students nationwide. Reviews from five-year families specifically mention his ability to work across “algebra, trigonometry, physics, chemistry, and computer science” with the same student — the breadth and continuity that make the multi-year mentorship model work.

Book a 20-minute intro call

The intro call is free and runs about 20 minutes. We'll talk about the student's current level in AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles, what outcomes you're targeting, and whether multi-year mentorship is the right fit. Contact us to schedule.