Qualified to tutor orgo?

[Fakesmile]

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Someone asked me to consider being his tutor for orgo 1. I'm hesitant even though I aced orgo, because I've taken it exactly 2 years ago and I've forgotten most of it now, and how I got an A in it was mostly due to lots of help from friends and by good luck (A more fitting grade for me for orgo 1 would've been a B+, though I can say I deserve the A I got for orgo 2.). During orgo 1 lab, I was lost most of the time (orgo lab is part of orgo 1 course at my school). I only remember major concepts and forgot all the other topics like conformation, bond angles, atomic orbitals (1s, 2s, etc.) and phase diagram, etc. I've also had a look at the current lecture notes and problem sets for the current course and I noticed they are much more difficult (I don't know if that's because it's been a while since I've taken it, or because my orgo prof was on the much easier side than the current orgo prof.) If I decide to be his tutor, I'd need to set aside my own orgo study time and prepare myself before each tutoring session (I'm expecting a minimum of 2 self prep hours prior to each tutoring session). But I'm wondering if this is natural? Is it normal for good tutors go through their own rigorous preps prior to tutoring sessions (especially if the tutor has taken the subject a while ago)? I'm not sure if I'd be able to be a good tutor for him and whether I'd be qualified. (I'd have been in a much better position to tutor right after the end of orgo 1)
I can give him advice on things like how to approach this course, study strategies, shortcuts, etc., but he seems to expect his tutor to help him with homework questions, everything he doesn't understand about every lecture, etc., which I'm not confident I'll be able to help him with (UNLESS I put in a minimum 2 selfprep hours before each tutoring session, which I'm not that willing to do because I'm busy with other things right now.)

Sorry if this is hard to read, I'm scatterbrained and unorganized. (I edited this 3 times so it's actually much better compared to my "first draft", LOL.....)

 

[TurkSurg]

Someone asked me to consider being his tutor for orgo 1. I'm hesitant even though I aced orgo, because I've taken it exactly 2 years ago and I've forgotten most of it now, and how I got an A in it was mostly due to lots of help from friends and by good luck (A more fitting grade for me for orgo 1 would've been a B+, though I can say I deserve the A I got for orgo 2.). During orgo 1 lab, I was lost most of the time (orgo lab is part of orgo 1 course at my school). I only remember major concepts and forgot all the other topics like conformation, bond angles, atomic orbitals (1s, 2s, etc.) and phase diagram, etc. I've also had a look at the current lecture notes and problem sets for the current course and I noticed they are much more difficult (I don't know if that's because it's been a while since I've taken it, or because my orgo prof was on the much easier side than the current orgo prof.) If I decide to be his tutor, I'd need to set aside my own orgo study time and prepare myself before each tutoring session (I'm expecting a minimum of 2 self prep hours prior to each tutoring session). But I'm wondering if this is natural? Is it normal for good tutors go through their own rigorous preps prior to tutoring sessions (especially if the tutor has taken the subject a while ago)? I'm not sure if I'd be able to be a good tutor for him and whether I'd be qualified. (I'd have been in a much better position to tutor right after the end of orgo 1)
I can give him advice on things like how to approach this course, study strategies, shortcuts, etc., but he seems to expect his tutor to help him with homework questions, everything he doesn't understand about every lecture, etc., which I'm not confident I'll be able to help him with (UNLESS I put in a minimum 2 selfprep hours before each tutoring session, which I'm not that willing to do because I'm busy with other things right now.)

Sorry if this is hard to read, I'm scatterbrained and unorganized. (I edited this 3 times so it's actually much better compared to my "first draft", LOL.....)

We all are busy with other things. I tutor orgo 2 and put about ~5 hrs per week (on top of 18 class credits with ~15hr/week volunteering including research) to create homework questions/practice problems/lecture notes. etc. If you are dedicated you can do it. If you are not sure, you can review the notes before you start the lecture (or even attend the lecture just to take notes - thats what I do). It'll be a good MCAT review for you too.

 

[URHere]

My question for you is this: when you took Organic, did you feel like you had really mastered the material by the end of the class?

If you answer yes, then you could probably tutor your friend by just refreshing yourself on the concepts first. It would be normal to spend 1-5 hours each week relearning the material, coming up with problem sets, and thinking through teaching techniques. If you are more interested in providing help than in being an actual teacher, you could probably get away with the lower end of that scale.

If you don't feel like you ever mastered the material, then please, don't teach it. If you never quite "got it", you are likely missing several key concepts, and you may end up explaining things to your friend inaccurately. If this is the case, suggest a campus tutor to him.

 

[NotSur]

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[McPoyle]

You could start by not referring to this class as "orgo"....

 

[Katatonic]

I think with a bit of review you may remember more than you think? I just applied for a Biology/Chemistry tutor job and I had B's in most of the classes. So, if you feel like you can help people struggle through problems and try to get across core ideas that will help them, I think you'd be fine.

 

[FSAP]

You sound like you don't really want to. I was in the same situation with physical chemistry. I got A's in the classes, but didn't feel comfortable enough with the material to tutor. Probably was a good decision.