BSC May Be Facing Tutor Shortage

As finals approach, the Bureau of Study Counsel (BSC) has been actively soliciting tutors through e-mail and phone calls—so much so that some students say the number of requests they have received indicates a shortage of tutors.

“There’s always a dearth of tutors,” said Sarah M. G. Otner ’06, who has tutored in psychology and statistics.

John H. Jernigan ’06, another tutor, said he has had many conversations about a tutor shortage with BSC staff during weekly meetings for the Award Peer Tutor program. He said that the BSC will often ask professors for a list of students who performed well—earning a B+ or above—in certain classes and e-mail them to ask whether they are interested in tutoring.

Kevin W. Gan ’07, who tutors in chemistry and Social Analysis 10, “Introduction to Economics,” said he has received several requests to tutor, which makes it easy to find a job.

“It’s rarely the case that if I respond to an e-mail saying that I want a student that I don’t get the student,” Gan said.

Even when he doesn’t respond to the BSC’s requests immediately, Gan said, he can still get jobs. He said this indicates a tutor shortage, because it means that the available jobs are not snatched up right away.

According to Director of the BSC Abigail Lipson, the Bureau receives roughly 1,300 requests each year for peer tutoring.

When asked about a tutor shortage, Lipson wrote in an e-mail that requests for more advanced or smaller courses were generally harder to fill, while introductory physics, math, economics, and chemistry courses were in highest demand.

“It is very rare that we cannot fulfill a request,” she wrote.

Some tutors say that there are several factors that may prevent more students from working with the BSC.

Otner and Jernigan said one factor may be a feeling of inadequacy—despite having received honors grades in a class, students may still be reluctant to tutor.

“Anyone who gets honors grades can tutor but a lot of people don’t feel qualified to tutor,” Otner said. “It’s a shame.”

Gan said that time constraints play a role in his decisions to take tutoring jobs.

“I think there’s always a lot of demand but it’s up to me to decide whether or not I’ll take the job,” Gan said. “I only take up jobs if I have extra hours.”

Katherine A. Hasty ’07 said she prefers to tutor only those students with whom she has developed a rapport.

She said she started tutoring because of a love of writing and discussing politics, not for the $12-an-hour wage. So, apart from the core group she tutors, Hasty said she generally will not answer e-mail requests for tutors.

“I tend to stick more with people I’ve been working with all term and have built up a relationship with,” Hasty said. “I usually work with people whose writing I know and whose thought process I’m more familiar.”

Although the waiting period varies, the quest for a tutor usually ends in triumph. Vivian M. Ku ’09 said she filled out a form to request a tutor for Life Sciences 1a, “An Integrated Introduction to the Life Sciences: Chemistry, Molecular Biology, and Cell Biology,” and received a reply after five days.

“It’s helpful,” Ku said. “It’s a good program.”

Every year, the BSC facilitates opportunities for tutoring in approximately 170 courses, using about 350 tutors. Tutors are paid $12 an hour, with tutees contributing $4 and the university subsidizing the rest.