PhD Chemistry Tutor: Simplifying General and Organic Chemistry

Maria C.

I am a professional chemist in the pharmaceutical industry. I have a BS in Chemistry from the CalTech, a PhD in Organic Chemistry from Columbia University, and post-doctoral studies in Chemical Biology at MSKCC.

I have been teaching and tutoring chemistry for more than 15 years. When I was in college, I taught laboratory sessions in general, organic, and inorganic chemistry to fellow undergrads. I was responsible for helping groups of 10-15 students learn lab techniques, run experiments, perform spectroscopic analysis, and write lab reports. During my PhD, I taught recitation sessions and exam reviews to groups of 60 undergrads in general and organic chemistry. I designed content that helped them understand the lecture concepts, prepare for exams, and graded homework and exams. Throughout my undergrad and grad student teaching, I ran office hours to provide assistance with homework or exams. It was an opportunity for me to work with students 1:1 and focus on the areas they found challenging.

Building on my office hours experience, I started tutoring at Columbia. I worked with more than 15 students in Organic Chemistry and helped them ace their exams. Many of them were pre-med students who reached out to me for help on the general and organic chem sections of the MCAT. All my MCAT students are now well on their way to becoming MDs after achieving excellent test scores. In my current role in industry, I mentor interns and teach them organic chemistry and laboratory techniques to help them succeed in their research projects.

Over my years of teaching, I have come to appreciate the confidence that comes from understanding the material, rather than memorizing for upcoming tests. I start by asking questions to assess gaps in understanding then focus on teaching the fundamental concepts before working on similar questions to those on the student’s homework or test. This approach allows students to build a solid foundation and ensures they can quickly apply the new concepts to the framework they are graded on.