Become a Tutor

Become a Course-based Tutor

Course-based tutors enhance students’ understanding in traditionally challenging courses, and encourage students to be independent learners. Students interested in becoming a course-based tutor must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for this paid position (typically to involve 10 hours per week):

• Have earned an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher (on all college level coursework completed), with an academic record free of any Academic Honor Policy violation)
• Have earned a B+ or higher in the subject area course(s) for which you feel comfortable tutoring

Application Instructions:

1. Complete the Online Peer Tutor Application. This application will require:
   • Your name, email, address.
   • Your basic academic information.
   • A short essay to gauge your communication skills.
   • A recommendation from one of your instructors (see below).
2. Request an instructor to complete and submit the Instructor Recommendation portion of our ACE Online Peer Tutor Application (‘instructor’ is faculty or graduate instructor with primary teaching responsibilities in the course you have completed). A link to the Instructor Recommendation form can be found in step 3 (above) of the online application, or here. This form is a Qualtrics for which you can share the link for easy completion. You only need one recommendation from one instructor, regardless of how many courses you want to tutor. (Note: recommendations may be confirmed with instructor through email)
3. The following questions are frequently asked regarding the hiring process:
   • How long is the application open? The application is always open, because we never know for sure when a new spot will open.
   • Do I need a resume or transcript? No. We act under the assumption that this could be the first job you ever had, so we do not require a resume. However, if you have previous experience and want to submit one, it certainly does not hurt! We confirm course grades after the hiring process.
   • When is hiring typically done? We typically hire for the following semester a month before the current semester ends (so April and November), but additional hiring can be done at any time as the need arises. Spots can open up as our budget increases, tutoring hours are lost to weather events, or tutors find other employment opportunities they cannot afford to turn down. We encourage our tutors to accept valuable work in their major department, for example. These events typically occur right before the semester begins, but can occur any time or not at all.
   • Do I need to put in a new application every semester? We typically look back a year to a year and a half at applications when spots open, depending on our needs, but it is advised that you put in a new application as you add more potential courses you might want to tutor. There is no limit to how many times you apply—we will just look at the most recent application.
   • Can I use a high school teacher or instructor from another college for my recommendation? Yes, but… this is a competitive position. Some classes are more or less the same regardless of where you took them, but many are specific to FSU and have different curriculum and expectations. Therefore, it is not guaranteed that you can really help with a class if you did not take it here. Thus, having an FSU instructor vouch for you will make you a more attractive applicant. You can choose another instructor and go ahead and apply—you never know if you check off every other box—but that said, you only need one recommendation, so after a semester here you greatly increase your chances of landing a spot at ACE with an FSU instructor’s recommendation. 
   • How many courses can/should a tutor expect to tutor?  There is no limitation, so long as the tutor received a B+ or better and is comfortable tutoring the class. The more classes you tutor, the more interesting the position is. The fewer classes you tutor, the easier it is. We typically let the tutors find their own balance, so long as our needs are met. That said, the number one factor in the hiring decision once someone has met the basic requirements is this—what is our course need at ACE? The fact is that tutors who can tutor more than one or two classes are more likely to get hired, as they are more likely to fill our needs, but we have had tutors who only taught one class when that class was really needed!
   • What courses are covered at ACE and need tutors? Our primary targets are based on the largest classes, especially those with the highest failure rates, which can change somewhat over time. Subsequently, we typically tutor all the math, statistics, chemistry, biochemistry, organic chemistry, physics, accounting, finance, computer science, biology, microbiology, economics, and nursing classes we can cover. We also try to cover as many different languages as we can. However, once hired to fill these required classes, a tutor can tutor anything they are comfortable tutoring and in which they received a B+. The ability to cover unique classes we do not normally tutor can be one way to set yourself apart from other applicants, so long (usually) as you can cover a required class as well. 
   • What is ACE looking for in hiring its tutors? Aside of the requirements above and our most important decision—our course needs—we are typically looking for students with strong communication skills, emotional intelligence, and demonstrated signs of being proactive. Previous experience is considered, but not required. 

If you have any questions regarding tutoring or becoming a tutor for any course, please do not hesitate to email Dr. Shane Hockin.

Become a Study Skills Tutor

Study Skills tutors guide students in developing time management, organization, and learning skills necessary for academic success. Students interested in becoming a study skills tutor must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Have earned an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher (on all college level coursework completed), with an academic record free of any Academic Honor Policy violation
• Ideal applicants have completed SLS-1122 or SLS-3140 or have experienced and overcome a difficult academic term using positive academic strategies.

Application Instructions:

• Submit completed application form, updated resume, and a list of relevant professional experiences: Link to form
• Request an academic or professional source to complete and submit the recommendation portion of our application: Link to form 

If you have any questions, please email Dr. Samantha Tackett at stackett@fsu.edu.

Peer tutoring can be a very rewarding activity, and we look forward to working with you during your time here at the Florida State University.