Come join us today and tomorrow on Main Street in Commons by the Bookstore as we recognize the first-generation college student community at UMBC. We will provide an engaging activity for you to define what is means for you to be the first! 

·         Meet with other first-generation college students

·         Ask questions

·         Join us for free snacks and giveaways

Tell us a little about yourself.

Hello! My name is Kate Atwell and I am a math tutor. I am a sophomore math and computer science double major with a music and creative writing minor. I live in Frederick, MD and live on campus during the year. In addition to math, I am a big fan of writing and the humanities, and like to learn a lot about other disciplines as well as my own.

Tell us about how you are involved on campus.

In addition to tutoring, I attend hackUMBC workshops and work in a research lab on campus. I am a member of the Meyerhoff and NSA Scholars programs, as well as the Honors College. I am also a Center for Women in Technology (CWIT) affiliate, which I would highly recommend for those who are in technical majors. I am also in Camerata, UMBC's chamber choir, and am planning on getting involved in several other student organizations this semester.

How and why did you get involved in being a tutor?

Before starting at the Math and Science Tutoring Center, I tutored for Ms. Tighe and Dr. Nanes during their office hours in CASTLE, after a question posed during one of their office hours turned into a regular job. I'd tutored a bit in high school and found it to be really rewarding, and wanted to continue in college. This semester, my roommate applied to the Math and Science Tutoring Center and encouraged me to do so as well, and I was excited to bring my skills to the Center

What is your favorite thing about being a tutor?

For me, being a tutor is really rewarding, and the best part is when a student comes in a bit shaky on the topic and something you say makes something click for them. Knowing that I had a part to play in that moment makes me feel as though I made a difference and helped them better succeed in that class.

Why should students utilize the tutoring?

For one, it's a free and readily available resource; we're open Mondays through Thursdays 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Fridays 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For another, it will definitely increase your understanding of the topic, even if you're fairly solid on it. If you're not too confident about a certain topic, or don't fully understand it, we'll point you in the right direction and help you master it. Tutors can also give you advice on how best to prepare for quizzes and exams, and helpful tips to succeed in the class in general. The Math and Science Tutoring Center can also get pretty packed, so often students in the same class will get the chance to form groups and meet one another. 

What advice would you give students about how to prepare for a tutoring session? 

Generally the people who get the most out of a tutoring session are those who come with specific questions or specific topics they'd like to work on, so I would suggest looking through your notes and your assigned problems and figure out what you're struggling with, whether it's a certain topic or just a few problems that aren't clicking. However, either way we will definitely work with you to increase your understanding of the topic and figure out what it is you need to work on!

When and where can someone work with you through the Learning Resources Center?

My hours are 11-1 on Mondays and Wednesdays, 3-4 on Tuesdays. I tutor MATH 104, 106, 150, 155, 151, 152, and 251, STAT 121 as well as CMSC 201 and CMSC 203. The LRC has the hours of each tutor online, as well as the subject they teach, so if you can't make those hours or are looking for a specific tutor or subject, that's a great way to find people who are available! The LRC is located towards the front of the library on the first floor, on the far right past the RLC. 

Tell us a little about yourself… 

I am a senior undergraduate at UMBC pursuing two degrees: a B.S. in Physics and B.S. in Mathematics. I am physics and mathematics tutor for the Learning Resources Center (LRC) at UMBC, as well as an undergraduate researcher with the Physics Department in Dr. Hayden’s lab investigating the use of electro-optic polymers in terahertz detection systems. After graduating from UMBC, I plan go to graduate school to earn a Ph.D. in Physics and become a professor at a research university.

Tell us about how you are involved on campus. 

Besides tutoring and research, I am also a McNair Scholar as well as a teaching fellow through the McNair Scholars Program at UMBC, where I’ve had the chance to connect with other first-generation college students that are from a low income or minority household that wish to pursue a Ph.D. I have also been a learning assistant (LA) for the PHYS 121 and am currently a lab technician helping set up the labs for PHYS 111L, 112L, and 122L. I am also a member of the honors society Sigma Pi Sigma as well as the Society of Physics Students. Finally, I spend my remaining free time participating in club lacrosse and club ultimate frisbee here at UMBC.

How and why did you get involved in being a tutor? 

I have always had a passion for helping my friends and other students learn and understand a subject they find difficult. I became an official tutor during the summer after my first year at UMBC. I enjoyed being an LA for PHYS 121 and wanted to continue helping students, but I could no longer give the time to it once I started doing research in Dr. Hayden’s lab. The LRC provided the opportunity for me to continue assisting students while not requiring too much of my time.

What is your favorite thing about being a tutor? 

My favorite thing is watching what I call the “ah-ha” moment in students. After a student struggling for some time on a particular problem or concept, I enjoy watching the expression on their face when the material finally clicks in their brain and they finally understand how to either solve the problem or utilize a concept. Knowing that I helped them grasp the idea they had trouble with makes all the time and effort worth it.

Why should students utilize the tutoring?

Tutoring is a place to meet students who have succeeded where you be struggling. Tutors are a great source of not only knowing the material for a course, but great studying strategies and time management skills that a professor may not take the time to cover. Students should utilize this free service to become the best student they can be and become an efficient learner.

What advice would you give students about how to prepare for a tutoring session? 

Best advice I can give is to come prepared. What I mean by that is to come with your notes from lecture or discussion section and be ready to ask questions. A tutor can only help if a student is willing to put in the effort to be helped. Please come with questions other than homework you haven’t done. If you are struggling with a particular problem, a tutor can help narrow in on what part of the problem you need help on, but a tutor isn’t there to do your homework for you, but assist you so that when you are alone doing homework late at night or in the middle of an exam, you are able to solve the problem yourself.

When and where can someone work with you through the Learning Resources Center?

For anyone in need of PHYS 111, 112, 121, or 122 and MATH 150, 151, I am available for tutoring appointments from 10 am to 1 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays (if I am not already booked for an appointment). You can set up a time to meet me through the LRC website at lrc.umbc.edu or through the StudyTree app if you have it downloaded. You can also stop by the LRC front office at Sherman 345 during those times for a drop-in time if I am available. I am happy to help and hope to see you in one of my tutoring sessions!

Celebrate National Tutor Appreciation Week and get to know Erin Chambers, Writing Center Tutor

Hey, Erin, tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Erin Chambers. I'm from Frederick County, Maryland, and I'm a senior majoring in Psychology. I'm not sure yet whether I want to go into research or practice, but I'd like to work with adolescents. 

Tell us about how you are involved on campus.

My main campus involvement is tutoring in the Writing Center. I love my job! 

How and why did you get involved in being a tutor?

I've always loved writing, and I enjoyed playing editor for some of my friends in high school. As a freshman at UMBC, my English 100 professor recommended me as a Writing Center tutor. I thought that it sounded interesting, so I applied and entered the training course.

What is your favorite thing about being a tutor?

I love being able to work with other students as a peer and help them understand, not just what they can do to make their writing better, but what they've already done well. My favorite sessions are ones where the student leaves with more confidence in themselves and their abilities. So many people have learned to hate writing because they "don't know how" or they think that they're not skilled enough, when in reality they are more than capable. 

Why should students utilize the tutoring?

Writing Center tutoring can be beneficial for anyone, because everyone can use someone to talk with or to bounce ideas off of in their writing process. Whether you're still brainstorming or just working on finishing touches, another trained eye can always be a big help. I've had many students tell me that just being able to talk about their writing out loud helped them to understand their own thoughts and ideas better. 

What advice would you give students about how to prepare for a tutoring session? 

The most helpful thing that students can do to prepare for a tutoring session is to come prepared to be engaged and participate. It also helps to have some idea of what you'd like to work on or to have a few questions ready to ask. However, the most important thing is just to be present and ready to learn!

When and where can someone work with you through the Learning Resources Center?

In the Fall semester, I tutor Tues, 3-4; Wed, 12-2; Fri, 10:30-12:30. Come stop by the first floor of the Library at the Writing Center to register for an appointment

Tell us a little about yourself… 

My name is Andrew Simpson. I’m a Junior Biology major and Spanish certificate, and I love watching and playing soccer, basketball, football, and martial arts.  I love the energy and comradery of sports, and I got to experience the passion for the World Cup when I studied abroad in the beautiful Barranquilla, Colombia!  A final fun fact about me is that I also play clarinet (like Squidward).

 Tell us about how you are involved on campus. 

 I’ve been blessed to be a part of many great organizations on campus, and they have really helped me feel at home on campus.  These include UMBC Jujitsu, the Down and Dirty Dawg Band, the Shriver Center (for off-campus volunteering), and Cru Christian Ministries.

 I think what I’ve become kind of famous for on campus is for being an SI PASS leader of CHEM 101.  I have met a lot of people through the SI PASS sessions (especially freshmen), and I have really enjoyed doing what I can to help many students navigate taking chemistry. 

 How and why did you get involved in being an SI PASS leader? 

 First semester I took biology and chemistry intro courses, and found out very quickly that those classes are really hard!  They are not difficult because they are unfair or try to trick you, but they require a different type of thinking than what is expected in high school.  This was a hard adjustment for me and many students, but by utilizing various resources on campus I found methods that worked for me to succeed in these classes.  I wanted to pass these strategies on to my fellow students, and SI PASS seemed like a good means to accomplish that.

 What is your favorite thing about being a SI PASS leader? 

 There is a lot to love about the SI PASS program here at UMBC.  The community of fellow leaders and administration is remarkably supportive, and I was encouraged to be creative and incorporate my personality into my sessions.  Balancing the freedom to use jokes and movie references with the challenge of preparing the students for chemistry exams was a creative challenge that I grew to love.

 However, my favorite aspect of SI PASS is undoubtedly seeing students succeed.  That sounds really cliché, and I hate clichés, but during my first semester of doing SI PASS a student ran up to me and hugged me and told me that I was the reason that he passed his exam.  Obviously, I was not the one taking the exam and the credit goes to the student, but I played some role in helping a student pursue his dream of being an engineer.  I will never forget this moment, and it is an incredible joy to watch students that have gone to my sessions succeed in their college career.

 Why should students utilize the SI PASS sessions? 

 SI PASS utilizes research from across the United States and all over the world to craft the best group-oriented sessions that focus on exam prep and critical thinking.  It has been a fantastic resource for many successful students, and is completely free.  No appointments are necessary either, just show up to the times and locations posted on Blackboard.

 What advice would you give students about how to prepare for a SI PASS session? 

 Be open-minded about working with others.  It is easy to work alone or with only people you know, but the students that collaborate more actively have made new friends and ways of seeing and explaining the material.  Seeing the concepts from different perspectives is key for critical thinking and analysis, which are two crucial skills for exams.