How can a content tutor help?

A common misconception is that you must be struggling in or failing a class before you can meet with a tutor, but tutors are freely available to all students.

Here are some reasons that you should consider talking with a tutor!

  • Have concepts explained in a different way. Some ideas or processes may not click for you after your professor explains it in class. Tutors have taken your class recently and can describe concepts in ways differently than the professor or TA.
  • Meet new people! The drop-in centers can be great spaces to meet other folks working on the same course material. Making visits to the centers part of your routine can help build your academic support system.
  • Check your understanding. Tutors are great to just practice material with and ensure you’re understanding a topic correctly. Talk with them to test out how well you know a particular subject or area.
  • Learn study strategies for your class. Every Williams student runs into a class or two that requires them to change their study habits to succeed. Tutors had to make these changes too and can offer some ideas on how to approach material differently
  • Create a study routine. Sometimes what you need isn’t help with the course material itself but rather a better plan for managing the courseload outside the classroom. Your tutor will have taken the course already and can help you map out a study plan that meets the specific demands and expectations of that class.
  • Refresh in a specific problem area. There may be one part of a class that you find confusing and you need to spend a little extra time on it. You may feel a little rusty on certain skills or prerequisites necessary to keep up in a current course. Even a few sessions with a tutor can get you up to speed.