The Tutoring and Testing Center, located on the second floor of the Student Affairs Building, offers a variety of academic support services, including individual tutoring in mathematics, science and writing. The center is home to a friendly, welcoming staff of undergraduate and graduate student tutors who excel in subjects some students may need extra help in. As final exams approach, they might be heavily booked, but keep them in mind if you find yourself in need of some last-minute assistance.
Reena Dholakia
Senior behavioral neuroscience major and psychology minor
Tutor since November 2013
Subjects: Math, biology, physics
What do you enjoy most about tutoring?
“I like working with the staff and the other tutors. Everyone is comfortable with each other, and I’ve met so many new people through tutoring.”
What is your most effective study technique?
“Before studying, I compile all my resources for each subject. For calculus, for example, I gather all my notes, problems and additional resources from MathLab. I also recommend group study sessions but with the right people. I know I can’t study well with a group of close friends.”
What advice do you have for finals week?
“Write out all of your problems and examples and work them out. Study what you got wrong on previous test and assignments because, if you got it wrong the first time, you’re likely to get it wrong the second time.”
How do you relax between studying?
“During a really stressful week, I go for a run or do some form of exercise. I like to get outside when I take a break because I’m stuck inside while studying.”
Shivani Patel
Junior biology major, psychology and Spanish minor
Tutor since December 2013
Subjects: Math, biology, physics
What do you enjoy most about tutoring?
“It’s a great moment when a student understands the whole concept, rather than just studying the material to get through the class.”
What is your most effective study technique?
“Sometimes I talk to the mirror because some processes are better understood when I say them out loud.”
What advice do you have for finals week?
“Start early. It’s too late to come to tutoring the week of final exams because there’s only so much we can cram in at the last minute.”
How do you relax between studying?
“If I study for too long, the words start to run into each other, and I won’t retain anything. So, I watch an episode of a show on Netflix and then get back to it.”
Asafiyah Muhammad
Junior chemistry major and math minor
Tutor since March 2015
Subjects: Math, chemistry, biology
What do you enjoy most about tutoring?
“We get to keep up on the material that we first learned years ago, like general chemistry and biology. It’s a good chance for us to review. I was initially terrified to be a tutor, but everyone at the center was so friendly and showed me the ropes, and I felt so welcomed.”
What is your most effective study technique?
“Rewriting notes and doing tons of practice problems.”
What advice do you have for finals week?
“Use previous tests to prepare for your exams, and create an outline of the material that your professor focused on throughout the semester. Don’t just read out of the book, but write out the most important concepts.”
How do you relax between studying?
“I shoot hoops and spend time with my friends.”
Amal Bhullar
Junior biology major and anthropology minor
Tutor since December 2013
Subjects: Math, biology, chemistry, physics
What do you enjoy most about tutoring?
“Guiding the student towards self-discovery in both the correct information and their own potential.”
What is your most effective study technique?
“Asking open ended questions when reviewing course material. So, instead of asking, ‘Do you understand this?’ asking, ‘So, can you explain what we just covered?’ or ‘So, what’s the next step?’”
What advice do you have for finals week?
“Budget enough time for efficient and effective studying. Don’t cram for all your exams! Also, practice questions related to what you’re studying because practice makes perfect and keeps you prepared.”
How do you relax in between studying?
“I do yoga and play with my dogs.”
Jessica Millar
Senior biology major, psychology and chemistry minor
Tutor since 2012
Subjects: Chemistry, organic chemistry, math, biology, physics
What do you enjoy most about tutoring?
“I love when students come back to the center excited because they did well on a test.”
What is your most effective study technique?
“I rewrite my notes in my own words and draw lots of pictures, which organizes the material in ways that make sense to me. I also like to pretend that I’m teaching someone else and talk out loud as I’m reviewing concepts.”
What advice do you have for finals week?
“Start early. It’s a hard thing to do, but, at least, start looking over your notes and address your questions before finals week. Professors are hard to track down for help during the last week.”
How do you relax in between studying?
“I’m a dancer, so I go to the studio to dance. I also work as a lifeguard on campus, so I like to get outside and hang out with friends by the pool.”
Stephanie Wietrzychowski
Tutor since August 2014
First year graduate psychology student. Graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Science in psychology with an English minor
Subjects: Biology, nursing, psychology, English
What do you enjoy most about tutoring?
“I enjoy getting to help others learn how to enjoy writing and gain more confidence in their skills. I also enjoy getting to work with a diverse population that includes many majors, cultures, ages and skill levels. It’s great to see students come back to work with me or the other tutors and update me on their life and involvements at school.”
What is your most effective study technique?
“I always have my iPad or MacBook with me, so I try to purchase as many electronic textbooks as I can so I do not have to worry about lugging my books around. It makes it easier for me to study anywhere and at any time.”
What advice do you have for final exam week?
“StudyBlue is a great website that allows you to create flashcards and then test yourself. Try to incorporate your vocabulary words or other terms into flashcards and start studying as soon as possible.”
How do you relax in between studying?
“I love to watch some of my favorite shows, listen to music and practice songs on my guitar. I also enjoy singing, and I am a big fan of the 30-second dance break whenever I am starting to feel extremely tired while studying. “
Kevin John
Tutor since October 2014
Sophomore biology major
Subjects: Biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, math
What do you enjoy most about tutoring?
“Getting to meet new students and helping them.”
What is your most effective study technique?
“I lock myself in my room for a couple of days before an exam.”
What advice do you have for finals week?
“Lock yourself in your room for a long period of time.”
How do you relax in between studying?
“I take a 10 to15 minute break and do whatever relaxes me.”
Karl Haro
Junior biology major
Subjects: Chemistry, math, physics, biology
What do you enjoy most about tutoring?
“The greatest satisfaction I get from tutoring is seeing students improve academically. It really makes me happy to know that I helped a student get past the difficulties they encountered with a certain subject and seeing them motivated to do even better.”
What is your most effective study technique?
“This is one question I get all the time as a tutor, and the one response I always give students is that the best thing you could do is to read your textbook ahead of time. Reading your text before and after a class helps tremendously because not only does it help you comprehend and familiarize yourself with the material that you’re going to learn, but it also helps aid your ability to analyze and retain information.”
What advice do you have for finals week?
“Start early! Finals can be hectic, especially when you have three or four of them to worry about, so the best thing you could do is get a head start. Trust me; it helps both you and your body because pulling all-nighters studying for finals isn’t something you’d want to go through.”
How do you relax in between studying?
“I tend to take interval breaks in between studying by grabbing a snack or just lying down in bed. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself, so it’s always a good idea to take a small break in between. Just make sure you make your studying time longer than the time you end up taking breaks!”
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