Heavy courseload, should I become a tutor?

[zeppelinpage4]

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So here's the current situation, some odd scheduling issues have put me into a rather heavy course load for next semester.

-Organic I
-Organic Lab
-Analytical Physics I (calc-based)
-Physics Lab
-Genetics
-U.S. History
Total 15 hours

Now I just received an email giving me the chance to apply to become a tutor for Intro Bio I.
I've wanted to do this for a long time and only six students were offered to apply for the position. It required a minimum of 8 hours per week, we're expected to attend the intro bio class and sit in lecture. We're also expected to hold 2 to 3 review sessions for the students and have our own office hours.

It's pretty time consuming, basically an extra class and then some. However it's a great way to really help out students and show leadership.

Should I go for it with the current course load I have now?

Anyone have experience with taking physics, organic and a bio? Did you have enough free time for things such as tutoring or clubs that require some time commitment?

 

[getright]

Everyone is different. If you really need to study a lot to ace your courses, then I wouldn't recommend tutoring...unless you want your GPA to drop. If you think that you can handle it, then go for it.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

Everyone is different. If you really need to study a lot to ace your courses, then I wouldn't recommend tutoring...unless you want your GPA to drop. If you think that you can handle it, then go for it.

Hmm...i'm actually not sure if I can. I've done relatively well so far but I really have no experience with any of those classes so I don't know how much time they'd take me.

Did you guys remember having to put a lot of time in to those science courses?

I'd be interested to get some others perspectives and see if they handled this many courses/ECs okay. If it's doable, I am certainly willing to put in the time to do it.

 

[FloatOn]

Your set-up sounds an awful lot like SI (if your school has this, you'll know what I'm talking about). With your schedule, I think you can manage, but you'll be very busy. Last semester, I kinda did what you're talking about but with upper level classes. When I wasn't really busy, I was pretty worn out and just wanted to be lazy. It was a great experience though and very rewarding.

Basically, be prepared to have little free time during the week, especially when the class you SI for has an exam coming up and you have to hold an additional review session.

 

[IH8ColdWeath3r]

So here's the current situation, some odd scheduling issues have put me into a rather heavy course load for next semester.

-Organic I
-Organic Lab
-Analytical Physics I (calc-based)
-Physics Lab
-Genetics
-U.S. History
Total 15 hours

Now I just received an email giving me the chance to apply to become a tutor for Intro Bio I.
I've wanted to do this for a long time and only six students were offered to apply for the position. It required a minimum of 8 hours per week, we're expected to attend the intro bio class and sit in lecture. We're also expected to hold 2 to 3 review sessions for the students and have our own office hours.

It's pretty time consuming, basically an extra class and then some. However it's a great way to really help out students and show leadership.

Should I go for it with the current course load I have now?

Anyone have experience with taking physics, organic and a bio? Did you have enough free time for things such as tutoring or clubs that require some time commitment?

Calc Based Physics I says it all. That class is VERY difficult and time consuming. I am an organic tutor and I know from experience that organic is not hard, but it too is VERY time consuming. It takes a lot of time to really learn and master the introductory concepts of organic, which will be essential in Ochem II. You really want to have time to sit down and learn these concepts so that you can get a good grade, and also do well on your MCAT + OCHEM II. Tutoring helps bc it keeps everything fresh, plus you learn best by teaching others; but i wouldn't recommend if you know your grades will suffer! good luck 🙂

 

[FloatOn]

^Hmmm, good points. I kinda forgot physics and orgo are prereqs. I don't know how that happened

From the one history class I've taken in college, there's a lot of reading and writing papers. You basically have at least four very time-consuming things to handle: orgo, physics, history, and tutoring.

If you want to retain any sanity, don't do the tutoring then. You'll have plenty of opportunity to torture yourself studying for the MCAT.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

^ Yeah I wanted to take an easier gen ed but my orgo lab conflicted with all of them. If I could I would drop the history class ASAP but it all depends on whether or not I can override into a different orgo lab etc.
If everything somehow works out with my schedule, i'll see if I can get into general physics and take an easier general ed. That should free up some time.

Your set-up sounds an awful lot like SI (if your school has this, you'll know what I'm talking about). With your schedule, I think you can manage, but you'll be very busy. Last semester, I kinda did what you're talking about but with upper level classes. When I wasn't really busy, I was pretty worn out and just wanted to be lazy. It was a great experience though and very rewarding.

Basically, be prepared to have little free time during the week, especially when the class you SI for has an exam coming up and you have to hold an additional review session.

Yup it is SI, it's cool to hear that you found it rewarding. I'm ok with having little free time but my biggest worry would be if SI made it hard for me to complete work for other classes. I'm willing to give up leisure time for something like SI though.

Calc Based Physics I says it all. That class is VERY difficult and time consuming. I am an organic tutor and I know from experience that organic is not hard, but it too is VERY time consuming. It takes a lot of time to really learn and master the introductory concepts of organic, which will be essential in Ochem II. You really want to have time to sit down and learn these concepts so that you can get a good grade, and also do well on your MCAT + OCHEM II. Tutoring helps bc it keeps everything fresh, plus you learn best by teaching others; but i wouldn't recommend if you know your grades will suffer! good luck 🙂

Thank you. I'm going to talk to one of my professors and see if I can do this as a junior, as next years classes are really important.

I actually just got hint from my SI, and she said she could put in a good word for me in her research lab. I'm not sure if i'll get it but i'm going to talk to the head professor. If I can get the research then I think i'll go that route instead of SI.
It's health related work studying snails as vectors. Would this possibly be a better idea than doing SI?

Again thanks so much for the replies, I'm getting a much better picture of what I might be getting myself into. 😛

 

[JenniferRU]

I'm only taking 12 credits,(lighter load) and I'm a peer tutor for chemistry, I really enjoy tutoring, have you done tutoring before?

 

[TexasPrincess]

Do you get paid? It sounds like they want you to act like a TA. Talk to the teacher and see if you actually have to attend class. This could be a great way to prepare for the MCAT and make money.

Your course load sounds like it will keep you busy. Regardless of your background you will have to put a significant amount of time into your courses to do well. Hopefully, you will have good teachers.

I encourage everyone to become a tutor because teaching is a great way to learn the material and to learn how to learn. It can only help you.

Saying you are available for 8 hours may not mean you have students that whole time. You could use the in between time to do your own studying. It will ebb and flow around tests.

The review sessions will be a great way for you to practice speaking in front of a crowd. Think of this as practice to become a teacher.

Good luck!

So here's the current situation, some odd scheduling issues have put me into a rather heavy course load for next semester.

-Organic I
-Organic Lab
-Analytical Physics I (calc-based)
-Physics Lab
-Genetics
-U.S. History
Total 15 hours

Now I just received an email giving me the chance to apply to become a tutor for Intro Bio I.
I've wanted to do this for a long time and only six students were offered to apply for the position. It required a minimum of 8 hours per week, we're expected to attend the intro bio class and sit in lecture. We're also expected to hold 2 to 3 review sessions for the students and have our own office hours.

It's pretty time consuming, basically an extra class and then some. However it's a great way to really help out students and show leadership.

Should I go for it with the current course load I have now?

Anyone have experience with taking physics, organic and a bio? Did you have enough free time for things such as tutoring or clubs that require some time commitment?