Tutor profile: Allison H.

Why is organic chemistry so notoriously difficult?

Organic chemistry can be difficult because it is very fast paced and requires understanding the underlying mechanism of reactions instead of simply memorizing them. Students tend to fall behind if they are unable to do enough practice and understand the basis of the reactions. When I work with students, I make sure they have a solid foundation and then work through the mechanisms, pointing out the patterns and simplifying the material.

How do I start preparing for the MCAT?

This depends on the student. This is why I start my sessions with MCAT students with a 45 minute discussion on the student's current strengths and weaknesses, goals, and study resources. This allows me to get to know the student and direct him or her as to how start studying. Usually, this means starting on the content by reading the books and practicing through online quiz banks. It also means making a schedule for practice tests and content review, which I help the student create.

How do I improve on the ACT Science section?

The ACT Science section can be particularly challenging because it presents information high school students may not have learned in their classes. However, it is possible to do well on this section by practicing passages and learning how to decipher the graphs. Practice is the most important step. It allows you to get used to the types of questions asked and think logically. Figuring out how to decipher the graphs and tables will help direct you to the correct answer. When working with students, I first teach them how to figure out the labels and axis in order to answer the questions.