I was asked to TA for a chemistry class

[LaCasta]

I was asked to TA for Chem I although I am still an undergrad, they must be desperate for people, but anyway is this something that looks good on an application? Could you classify it as leadership experience?

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[GamjaXnamjA]

I was asked to TA for Chem I although I am still an undergrad, they must be desperate for people, but anyway is this something that looks good on an application? Could you classify it as leadership experience?

TAing for chem is not a big deal but something is better than nothing right?

 

[sshashid87]

Yeah, at my school they asked you if you were in top few percent of your Gen. Chem class, I couldn't do it because it conflicted with necessary class, but my friend who did it said it was basically a question/answer session...I assume you're not giving lectures because you are still undergrad, but if you understand basic chemistry, and can answer all the random HW problems they'll throw at you, you should be fine...be prepared for some dumb questions though, my friend said 8 weeks into class some people still weren't aware of what a "mole" was...it'll be some sort of leadership opportunity, which is good for something that honestly won't take up much of your time....see if you can do it for GChem 2 as well...good luck

 

[engineeredout]

I've just become a TA for "probability and statistics for life sciences", a required course for bio majors. Within an hour of sending out an announcement through blackboard stating who I am, my email, when my office hours are, I got several e-mail from bugging out premeds all asking me about how hard the class is going to be and how their grade is going to be affected because the professor is new and what they need to do to do good in the class...


Point is, be prepared to be innondated with questions from freaking out premeds. They'll probably argue each and every homework point with you too even though its worth about .00001% of their grade.

Premeds are annoying

 

[LaCasta]

Yeah, at my school they asked you if you were in top few percent of your Gen. Chem class, I couldn't do it because it conflicted with necessary class, but my friend who did it said it was basically a question/answer session...I assume you're not giving lectures because you are still undergrad, but if you understand basic chemistry, and can answer all the random HW problems they'll throw at you, you should be fine...be prepared for some dumb questions though, my friend said 8 weeks into class some people still weren't aware of what a "mole" was...it'll be some sort of leadership opportunity, which is good for something that honestly won't take up much of your time....see if you can do it for GChem 2 as well...good luck

Yeah, its just for a discussion section, one day a week for 75 min. where you do some problems in class. I like the people in the Chem. department and I want to help them out so I will do it anyway, but I hope it is a good activity to be able to put on an application.

 

[linguini]

I TAed for 3 science classes (orgo, gen bio, neuroscience) and loved it. It was one of the most satisfying experiences I had as an undergrad. Unlike one of the posters above said, I think it is a big deal. It shows that you're intelligent because you were asked by a professor to help lead the class, interpersonal because you are able to interact with many (sometimes many many) students, and capable of teaching (which I think is something a lot of doctors need to learn). As for annoying pre-meds...you'll get some of them, but if you make it clear that you are a TA and not a fountain of premed wisdom, they may back off. I say absolutely go for it. And if you hate teaching then at least you might get a strong LOR out of it.

 

[Chemist0157]

I had an opportunity to TA for Organic because a new professor was sucking it up and was eventually fired. Another professor took over and asked me to help teach class. 🙂 It was great and little more in-depth than just questions/answers sessions. I guess it depends on the situation whether you can call TA'ing a leadership position.

 

[CANEhummer]

I TA chem lab, i have my own students and everything...its amazing and the best experience. You end up wanting your students to do real well cause it will reflect on you, and def a good way to get amazing recs! i say do it!!

 

[AlanAlanine]

I TAd for gchem, but I taught labs and discussion. Your TAing experiences sounds like it will be a little less involved. However, you should still do it if you enjoy teaching. It is a fun and rewarding experience -- and it will help you brush up on Gchem if you haven't taken your MCAT yet.

 

[hants]

being a ta can be fun if you got a teacher or subject that your really into...then you usually get paid to which is never a bad thing, getting paid to learn is always cool

 

[engineeredout]

being a ta can be fun if you got a teacher or subject that your really into...then you usually get paid to which is never a bad thing, getting paid to learn is always cool

You get paid to be a TA at your school?? For mine we don't get any money as undergraduate TAs, just three lousy numerical credits which are ungraded so its not even like you can get an easy A. The only benefit to me being a TA this semester is that it keeps me from having to take an actual class in which I would have to worry about getting an A.

 

[calnation]

Being the pre-med schemist that I am, I can't help but to think TA-ing might get you a kick-ass LOR.

HmmmmM???

 

[lrkoehle]

Unlike one of the posters above said, I think it is a big deal. It shows that you're intelligent because you were asked by a professor to help lead the class, interpersonal because you are able to interact with many (sometimes many many) students, and capable of teaching (which I think is something a lot of doctors need to learn). As for annoying pre-meds...you'll get some of them, but if you make it clear that you are a TA and not a fountain of premed wisdom, they may back off. I say absolutely go for it. And if you hate teaching then at least you might get a strong LOR out of it.

I definitely agree. I TA an ochem lab, and I love it. Plus as linguini said the teaching/leadership aspects are incredibly important for anyone who wants to be a doctor. If you are doing something less involved, just make the best of your opportunity.

 

[suizyme09]

I TAed for Gen chem last year teaching a lab class and holding office hours. This year I'm likely going to be teaching two recitations and a lab so I'm looking forward the more responsibility and a good bit higher pay!! haha it's been a great experience and definitely one of the best jobs I've ever had.

 

[el aye]

I was in the same situation last year... I wasn't planning on being a TA for gen chem but I guess one of the students ended up not coming back so they needed someone. They asked me and I went ahead with it. I liked it so I kept going with gen chem 2 and this semester I'm doing it for orgo.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

Its amazing how ignorant and slow some ppl in my Gen Chem lab are.....I guess thats why its a weed out course..


I hate feeling like I have to spoon feed everything for them..."ok the quiz will be on pages 10-12"....some still fail.

 

[veaselhaufen]

TA'ing was probably the second most valuable undergraduate experience (1st was research abroad btw). I think it definitely helps with your app, helps you get to know profs, (who then write good letters) and its fun. Totally recommend

 

[capn jazz]

I've TAed Bio lab and bio lecture before. It's amazing and I can't wait to do it again. Every pre-med takes these courses, but how many premeds get to TA them? Only a handful. Of course it will look good.

 

[RoyBasch]

I'm not sure why this hasn't been mentioned yet, but in my experience as a TA the money per hour worked is about as good as you can get for a part-time college job (outside of either stripping or bartending.)
-Roy

 

[engineeredout]

I'm not sure why this hasn't been mentioned yet, but in my experience as a TA the money per hour worked is about as good as you can get for a part-time college job (outside of either stripping or bartending.)
-Roy

Is it a private school thing in which undergraduate TAs get paid??

Do they pay you by the hour or a fix stipend? How much if you don't mind me asking?

And why don't I get paid?

 

[hants]

i go to a state school in CA and the TA's for general chemistry get 15-20 bucks an hour...but i dont know how much longer this is going to last because of the budget crisis/cuts/etc...these TA's usually run a workshop or a lab, and believe me...they do earn that 20bucks an hour for all of the work they do, creating extra hw, tests, grading, office hours, and so on

 

[da8s0859q]

I'm not sure why this hasn't been mentioned yet, but in my experience as a TA the money per hour worked is about as good as you can get for a part-time college job (outside of either stripping or bartending.)
-Roy

Definitely is for me.

It's a good thing to have, OP. I TA organic chem myself.

 

[RoyBasch]

Is it a private school thing in which undergraduate TAs get paid??

Do they pay you by the hour or a fix stipend? How much if you don't mind me asking?

And why don't I get paid?

I do go to a private university, but I'm not sure if that had to do with it. The position was salaried per course instructed (all the money up front at the beginning of the term in one big check! 😀), I won't say the actual amount but given the relatively small number of hours worked it probably came out to $10-15/hour. Although some weeks were longer than others. As for why I get paid and you don't, I dunno mad skilllz (with a Z)?
-Roy

 

[engineeredout]

Well I guess its because the undergraduate TAs here really don't teach recitations on their own? In all the classes I've been in the undergrads never actually ran the recitations, it was usually a grad student/professor and the undergrads helped out. In the class I'm taing there is no recitations, the most we will do besides office hours is run review sessions before the exams.

Wish I made 15$ an hour doing it though.

 

[linguini]

I went to a private institution and made $600 per course that I TAed. Not sure how that works out for an hourly wage. But our TAs had to earn their keep by leading workshops (not recitations), grading, proctoring, going to meetings, and taking an extra leadership course.