ISEE Tutor — San Diego
If your child is applying to a San Diego private school, the ISEE is one of the most important hurdles standing between them and admission. Matt Sheelen is our ISEE specialist — he's been tutoring San Diego students for the ISEE for over 15 years, and his students have earned spots at Bishops, La Jolla Country Day, Francis Parker, Cathedral Catholic, Our Lady of Peace, and others. All of Matt's sessions are conducted via Zoom, which San Diego families have found to be just as effective as in-person — and far more convenient.
Text Matt directly to get started at (323) 761-0170 or send us a message.
Matt Sheelen — ISEE Tutor, San Diego
What San Diego Families Say
"Matt is a true professional who sincerely cares about his students. My daughter prepared for the ISEE with Matt for several weeks. Not only was Matt cognizant of what was required on the test, but he also provided support and guidance on how to remain positive and focused in the lead up to the test. My daughter really enjoyed her Zoom tutoring sessions and Matt was able to effectively conduct all of her sessions online. He used her time well, knew where she had weaknesses and had a clear plan of how to help her improve on weaker areas. I have no hesitation in recommending Matt. We also used Matt for our other daughter who also sat the ISEE two years prior and she was accepted into her first choice school."
— Therese Collins, San Diego
San Diego Private School Admissions — What You Need to Know About the ISEE
San Diego's competitive private school landscape — schools like The Bishop's School, La Jolla Country Day, Francis Parker, Cathedral Catholic, and Our Lady of Peace — uses the ISEE as a central piece of the admissions process. A strong ISEE score doesn't guarantee admission, but a weak score can remove a student from consideration at schools where every applicant is academically capable.
The ISEE is administered at three levels:
- Lower Level — for students applying to grades 5–6
- Middle Level — for students applying to grades 7–8
- Upper Level — for students applying to grades 9–12
Each level tests Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics Achievement, plus an unscored essay. The test is scored on a stanine scale (1–9), and for competitive San Diego schools, families should be targeting stanine scores in the 6–9 range. The math and verbal reasoning sections are often the most challenging for students without specific preparation.
Matt works with students at all three ISEE levels and tailors his approach to each student's specific performance profile — not a one-size-fits-all curriculum.
Why San Diego Families Choose Matt
15+ Years of ISEE Expertise
Matt has been tutoring the ISEE longer than most local tutors have been in business. His students have earned admission to the most competitive schools in San Diego and Southern California — not by cramming, but by systematically building the reasoning skills the test actually measures.
Stanford M.A. in Education + Credentialed K-12 Teacher
Matt holds a Master's in Education from Stanford University and is a credentialed K-12 classroom teacher currently working in San Diego. He understands how students learn — not just what they need to know for the test, but how to teach it in a way that sticks.
Zoom Tutoring That Actually Works
All of Matt's sessions are via Zoom. For San Diego families, this eliminates commute time, allows sessions to happen around your schedule, and — as Therese Collins's review above shows — doesn't compromise the quality of instruction. Matt uses screen sharing, digital worksheets, and interactive exercises to make online sessions as engaging as any in-person alternative. Families in La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Point Loma, Encinitas, and throughout San Diego County have worked with Matt without leaving their homes.
Personalized, One-on-One Attention
Matt doesn't teach group classes. Every session is one-on-one, structured around your child's specific strengths and weaknesses. He identifies where a student is losing points, builds a targeted improvement plan, and tracks progress across sessions. You'll always know exactly where your child stands.
San Diego Private School Track Record
Matt's San Diego students have been admitted to:
- The Bishop's School (La Jolla)
- La Jolla Country Day School
- Francis Parker School
- Cathedral Catholic High School
- Our Lady of Peace
- And schools beyond San Diego, including Harvard-Westlake and Marlborough in Los Angeles
How ISEE Prep with Matt Works
- Text Matt to introduce yourself and describe your timeline and goals.
- Diagnostic session — Matt assesses your child's current performance level across all ISEE sections to identify exactly where to focus.
- Targeted weekly sessions via Zoom — typically 1–2 sessions per week, each 60–90 minutes, building skills systematically toward test day.
- Practice tests and feedback — full-length ISEE practice under realistic conditions, with detailed review of every error.
- Test day readiness — not just content mastery, but strategy, pacing, and the confidence to perform under pressure.
About the ISEE — Common Questions from San Diego Families
How early should we start ISEE prep?
Most families start 8–12 weeks before the test date. If the test is in December (the most common window for San Diego private school applications), that means starting in September or October. Starting earlier gives more time to address foundational gaps; starting later means more intensive preparation. Matt can work effectively with either timeline — text him to discuss your specific situation.
How is the ISEE different from the SAT or ACT?
The ISEE is designed for middle and high school students applying to independent schools, not for college admissions. Its Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections test abstract thinking in ways the SAT and ACT don't — which is why students who do well on school tests sometimes underperform on the ISEE without specific preparation. The vocabulary demands are also significant for many students.
Do San Diego private schools weight ISEE scores heavily?
Schools vary, but the ISEE is a meaningful component of every application. At competitive schools like Bishops and La Jolla Country Day, a strong ISEE score signals academic readiness and strengthens an application; a weak score raises questions even when grades and recommendations are strong. Preparation matters.
Meet Matt Sheelen — San Diego ISEE Tutor
Matt: I am originally from Hopkinton, Massachusetts — the start of the historic Boston Marathon. I went to college at Northwestern University, where I graduated with a degree in Theatre. After college, I moved to the warmer coast and worked in Los Angeles for many years as a full-time test-prep tutor and part-time arts educator. I have been tutoring the ISEE for over 15 years in both Los Angeles and San Diego.
A few years ago, I moved to San Diego after earning my M.A. in Education from Stanford University, and I currently work as a credentialed K-12 classroom teacher. My students have gone on to attend schools including Harvard-Westlake, Marlborough, Bishops, La Jolla Country Day, Francis Parker, Our Lady of Peace, Cathedral Catholic, and more.
When I'm not working, I enjoy good books, performing improv comedy, and surfing. I conduct all of my tutoring sessions via Zoom.
Text Matt to get started at (323) 761-0170, or send us a message here.
Frequently Asked Questions — ISEE Tutoring in San Diego
Is ISEE tutoring available online for San Diego families?
Yes — Matt tutors all of his students via Zoom. Families across San Diego — La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Point Loma, Encinitas, Mission Hills, and beyond — have worked with Matt online with excellent results. Sessions are fully interactive, and the format has been endorsed directly by San Diego families in our reviews (see Therese Collins's review above, which specifically notes how well the Zoom sessions worked for her daughter).
Which San Diego private schools does Matt prepare students for?
Matt's students have been admitted to The Bishop's School, La Jolla Country Day, Francis Parker, Cathedral Catholic, Our Lady of Peace, and other San Diego private schools. His students have also gained admission to competitive Los Angeles schools including Harvard-Westlake and Marlborough for families pursuing options beyond San Diego.
How long does ISEE prep take?
Most families work with Matt for 8–12 weeks, meeting 1–2 times per week. Some students with earlier start dates benefit from a longer, lower-intensity preparation that covers more ground without overwhelming the student. Text Matt with your test date and he'll recommend an approach based on where your child is starting.
What ISEE levels does Matt tutor?
Matt tutors all three levels: Lower (grades 5–6), Middle (grades 7–8), and Upper (grades 9–12). The content, difficulty, and strategy are meaningfully different at each level and Matt tailors his approach accordingly.
How is the ISEE different from the SSAT?
Both are private school admissions tests, but they differ in important ways. The ISEE includes Quantitative Comparisons; the SSAT does not. The ISEE has no wrong-answer penalty; the SSAT does. Some San Diego schools accept both; others prefer one. Check with your target school. Matt tutors both.
How do I get started?
Text Matt to introduce yourself and describe your child's test timeline and target schools. He'll respond quickly and schedule an initial session. All sessions are via Zoom — no commute, maximum convenience.