Tutoring, Writing Center, Help Rooms

What should I do if I am having difficulty in a course?
If you are struggling in a course, you should contact your academic adviser or class dean to help you assess the source of your difficulty and brainstorm strategies for improvement. Some recommendations might include: speaking with your instructor and/or teaching assistant, visiting a departmental help room, using the Writing Center, attending an Academic Success workshop, or requesting a tutor.

Why should I meet with my instructor?
If you have questions related to your coursework: preparing for midterms or exams, improving participation, conducting research, or developing papers, you may want to meet with your instructor during their office hours. Meeting with your instructor can be a great first step toward improving preparation or refocusing a writing assignment; but he/she may also refer you to resources within the department, such as help rooms or teaching assistants, or elsewhere in the University. Read on for more advice about these resources.

Where should I go for help with writing and editing papers?
Free writing assistance is available at the Writing Center, located in the Undergraduate Writing Program office in 310 Philosophy Hall. This Center is staffed by trained and experienced writers and teachers. It is open Monday to Friday. For more information on hours and making an appointment, see the website at: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/uwp/wc/main/main-page/index.html

What tutoring services are available on campus?
Academic Success Programs (ASP) coordinates the CC/SEAS Tutoring Service, which provides free group tutoring for those undergraduates who are receiving financial aid. Tutoring is offered in a broad range of courses, including introductory sciences, languages, core classes, and engineering subjects.

How and by when must I request a tutor?
You may request a tutor in any subject, up until the midpoint of the semester (third week of October, for the fall term, and the first week of March, for the spring term) by filling out a tutor request form. Groups are formed on a first-come, first-served basis with available tutors. If you anticipate you will need a tutor, you are encouraged to request one as early as possible. You may access the tutor request form online at http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/asp/tutoring/ or visit Academic Success Programs in 103 Furnald Hall.

What are departmental help rooms?
Help rooms are located in particular departments and are open to all undergraduate students who have specific questions about the subject. The help rooms are staffed by graduate students and teaching assistants; no appointment is necessary. There are help rooms for math, physics, and statistics. Help Room schedules are available on the relevant departmental websites.

Math Help Room: http://www.math.columbia.edu/programs/main/one/helprooms.html
Stats Help Room: http://www.stat.columbia.edu/misc-pages/help-room.html
Physics Help Room: http://phys.columbia.edu/~preceptor/student/helproom_hours.html

=================================================

Academic Success Programs – CC/SEAS Tutoring Service
103 Furnald Hall, (212) 854-3514
www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/asp/

Undergraduate Writing Program – The Writing Center
310 Philosophy Hall, (212) 854-3886
www.columbia.edu/cu/uwp/index.html