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Top Tutor Podcast

“I believe etiquette is more than just learning which fork to use or walking with good posture: it’s about being poised for success. Knowing proper etiquette means that you can be at ease in any social situation.” --Dina Schmid.

Nathaniel and Alex talk to Dina Schmid, a certified etiquette consultant and public speaking coach, about poise, interviewing skills, and how to eat bread properly. Dina's company, Queen City Etiquette (https://queencityetiquette.com), helps students of all ages master their fear of public speaking and helps them find the confidence they need to achieve their goals. In this interview, Dina dives deep into her process and why public speaking is one of the most valuable skills one can master.

Show Notes

For questions or comments, please email nathaniel@groveprep.com. We look forward to hearing from you, and would love to answer your question on the show.

For more information, visit:
Nathaniel's agency, Grove Prep, at groveprep.com
Alex's agency, Brooklyn Math Tutors, at brooklynmathtutors.com

Queen City Etiquette was started in 2017 by Dina Schmid in an effort to bring etiquette classes to the greater Cincinnati area. Today, Queen City Etiquette provides etiquette programs and public speaking coaching in person to those living in the greater Cincinnati area, and virtually to those located anywhere in the world. 

Dina brings a high level of energy and enthusiasm to all the programs and classes she teaches. She has worked with local universities and businesses, including the University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash, University of Dayton Center for Leadership, the Cincinnati Reds, Procter & Gamble and more. Dina’s also shared her knowledge of etiquette as a guest on podcasts and local TV shows including The Know, Like, and Trust Show, OnFire Ignites, Channel 9’s Cincy Lifestyle TV show and WCPO.

Nathaniel Dolquist, Yale ’15, has tutored full-time in New York City and Los Angeles since 2015. His students range from 7-33, and he is always delighted to make connections with new families. He’s a standardized test pro, and his students have emerged victorious from the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, ACT, SAT, AP exams, as well as increased in-class test scores with his help and guidance. Every one of his standardized test students, whether they’re applying to high school or college, has gotten into at least one of their top three schools.

When students work with Nathaniel to apply to high school or college, he helps them craft essays that are authentic, powerful, and effective. He teaches them how to level up from formal academic writing and tell their story in a personal, persuasive way. It is his favorite subject to tutor, and he derives great joy from seeing the work his students create.

Nathaniel has also tutored all levels of math, science, history, and English from elementary to high school: students often stick with him for years. His training in executive functioning has also helped his students with learning disabilities, including ADHD and dyslexia. He is fluent in Spanish and also speaks French, Italian, and some German. As a performer he has traveled to over 50 countries, and he has lived abroad in Ireland, the UK, Italy, Germany, and South America.

Alexander Friedman has enjoyed tutoring math, science, and other technical topics since he was a teenager at Stuyvesant High School. He is the CEO of Brooklyn Math Tutors in Brooklyn, NY, and helps families throughout the New York City area. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northeastern University, worked as a Researcher at Carnegie Mellon, and did a brief stint as a technology consultant before leaving the corporate and academic worlds to tutor full time.

Having worked with kids, adults, and everyone in between, he came to see that math-phobia, uncertainty, and boredom – not a lack of innate talent – keeps most students from succeeding.

What is Top Tutor Podcast?

Private educators share insider information from the world of elite tutoring to help students get the best results both academically… and in life.