chemistry TA help!

[uwaterloo]

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hi everyone

is becoming a TA even worth it? The pay is really bad, and I waste about 4-6 hours each week in a lab + marking lab reports.

I know that many applicants have the experience of becoming a TA, so is it worth doing??

thanks!🙂🙂🙂\

PS: oh btw whats a troll??? please tell me!

 

[ChubbyChaser]

hi everyone

is becoming a TA even worth it? The pay is really bad, and I waste about 4-6 hours each week in a lab + marking lab reports.

I know that many applicants have the experience of becoming a TA, so is it worth doing??

thanks!🙂🙂🙂\

PS: oh btw whats a troll??? please tell me!

Only if you think youll enjoy it, if not find another job you will enjoy.

A troll is someone who posts controversial or meaningless comments just to piss ppl off. ie. Omg, I might make a B+ in advanced human physiological mumbo juumbo.... can i still get into harvard???

 

[armybound]

uhh well I enjoyed being a TA, and pay was not bad at all. I enjoy teaching though, so it wasn't a bad job for me.

 

[lacrossefiend73]

Gotta agree w/ armybound... I really like being a TA, but I love to teach. I TA for a physiology lab and I get to give lectures and help groups w/ their labs.

If you like or think you will like teaching, go for it. If the pay is not what you want and you need something more, don't do it. And don't do it just to put it on your resume... if you don't enjoy what you are doing, neither will the people you teach.

 

[iA-MD2013]

ohhh ive always wondered what a troll is. that makes sense now 😀

i was also thinking about being an ochem ta. but the job starts in the summer of "application season" and during my senior year. would i be able to tell med schools about that? i'm gonna do it either way...but it would be nice to put it on the resume as well 🙂

 

[lacrossefiend73]

ohhh ive always wondered what a troll is. that makes sense now 😀

i was also thinking about being an ochem ta. but the job starts in the summer of "application season" and during my senior year. would i be able to tell med schools about that? i'm gonna do it either way...but it would be nice to put it on the resume as well 🙂

I didn't start TAing till fall semester after my AMCAS was already submitted. I did talk about it on my secondaries though when there were prompts that asked stuff like is there anything else not on your app you wanted to tell us, etc.

 

[iA-MD2013]

I didn't start TAing till fall semester after my AMCAS was already submitted. I did talk about it on my secondaries though when there were prompts that asked stuff like is there anything else not on your app you wanted to tell us, etc.

that's great! thanks 🙂

 

[veaselhaufen]

Yah, I think TA'ing is awesome. If you're given a recitation section or your own class it can be a lot of fun.

 

[shiftingmirage]

I'm a TA for gen chem, analytical, and our non-majors classes. Like most the others said, I really enjoy it. I hate the grading aspect but I like interacting with the students, especially when you see the light go on in their head. The students are much more open with me than they are with the professors. As for apps, I'm sure you could use it as a leadership role, or that it is science related. I have also learned tons about chemistry that I would never have gained from any text book. It also allows you to mingle with the faculty which is nice when you need LORs.

 

[URHere]

I found being a TA to be a wonderful experience, but there are several factors to consider that can make the experience better or worse.

1) You need to make sure you actually enjoyed the class when you took it. Being a TA is like taking the class again, with more independent study and no exams. If you hated the class, you will hate being a TA for the class.

2) It is much easier if you like the professor you will be working for. You often have to work closely with them and a bad relationship or butting heads can make for a really bad experience.

3) You have to like teaching. You'd think this one would be self-explanatory, but a surprising number of TAs really hate teaching, go figure.

If you liked the class, you like the prof, and you at least think you like teaching, go for it! You'll have a blast.

 

[175961]

Omg, I might make a B+ in advanced human physiological mumbo juumbo.... can i still get into harvard???

Well....will I be able to get in?!?!?!?!?! kidding, friends.....as others here have said, I too have found a TA job to be rewarding. Good for volunteering, also good if you are getting paid since its relatively easy and good for a little income on the side. Its also very rewarding if you enjoy teaching others as well, especially if you are TA'ing lab for a 101 class or something like and you get people who are required to take the class as a general and have no idea whats going on👍