Tutoring
Peer Connections tutors enhance students’ individual learning in particular courses. Tutoring is FREE for SJSU students.
Classic tutors offer appointments for a wide variety of subjects as well as undergraduate and graduate student writing. Embedded tutors are assigned to specific sections and attend every class. Outside of class, they offer tutoring appointments for students in that course as well as other classes.
Check out our List of Tutored Courses for more information on the many courses we can assist you with. You can also Meet our Tutors to learn more about them.
Our tutoring program is internationally certified by the College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA).
Tutoring Appointments:
How do I make an appointment?
You can make appointments online (fastest), by phone at 408-924-2587, or by emailing us at peerconnections@sjsu.edu.
We offer both in-person and online/virtual appointments.
- In-person appointments will take place in Peer Connections (SSC 600).
- Online/virtual appointments will take place on Zoom.
Once your appointment is scheduled, an email confirmation will be sent to your email address as saved on mySJSU. For virtual appointments, the Zoom link for your session will be in the confirmation email. A tutor will reach out to introduce themselves and to inquire about your session goals.
Students may work with a tutor for 30 minutes or 1 hour. In most cases, we recommend making a 1 hour appointment so you have sufficient time to try out new strategies with your tutor.
Goal of Tutoring
How will my tutor assist me?
The goal of tutoring is for you to become a more independent and confident student. Tutors are skilled at asking questions, suggesting study strategies, and clarifying concepts to help you learn in your classes. For example, a math tutor might walk you through an example problem to clarify the differences between two concepts, while a writing tutor might ask you questions about your essay to help you better organize it.
Tutors will not do your work for you. That means they will not do your homework, check every problem in your assignments, or edit your papers. You will learn to do those things for yourself!
Frequently Asked Questions about Tutoring:
How many appointments can I make per day? Per week?
Students may schedule a maximum of one appointment per subject per week. You can book up to 3 appointments at a time. Once you have booked 3, you must attend an appointment before you can schedule another. This is so we can provide tutoring for as many students as possible. Also, the goal of tutoring is for you to become a more independent and confident student, so you need time to try out what you have learned in tutoring between sessions.
Graduate students: Graduate students may schedule a maximum of one appointment per week. If you need help with graduate level writing, please visit the SJSU Writing Center for writing tutoring.
How far in advance can I schedule an appointment?
You may schedule appointments up to 21 days in advance, or as soon as same-day appointments up to 1 hour before the session start time, if there is available space.
How do I cancel my appointment?
If you need to cancel your appointment, you may cancel an appointment online or by e-mailing us at peerconnections@sjsu.edu.
What happens if I do not show up for my appointment or if I cancel less than 24 hours before the session is scheduled to begin?
If you do not show up, or if you cancel your appointment with less than 24 hours' notice, it will be recorded as a "no show" appointment. If you "no show" three times, you will need to speak with a Peer Connections professional staff member before scheduling additional appointments.
What is a typical tutoring session like?
Tutoring sessions are interactive conversations. At the beginning of the appointment, you and your tutor will set goals for the session. Your tutor will ask you questions, suggest study strategies, and clarify concepts to help you meet those goals. That may include plans and tips for continuing your work on your own after the session is over.
I am registered with the SJSU Accessible Education Center (AEC) and need accommodations for tutoring. Can you provide those accommodations?
Yes, of course! The request for tutoring accommodations begins at the AEC. All accommodations, including support with tutoring, are determined by the AEC. Please contact AEC to request support with tutoring services. AEC will also send us a letter with your tutoring accommodation and our staff will work with you to connect you with an available tutor.
Will I work with the same tutor each time?
Based on our experience and best practices in the field of academic support, we strongly suggest that students work with the same tutor throughout the semester. This makes your tutoring time more efficient, because you won’t have to catch up a new tutor on the details of your course, your experience, and your unique learning preferences.
Working with more than one tutor can be confusing for students because no two tutors are exactly alike; they might give different advice or explain the same ideas differently, leaving you uncertain about what to do.
What if my tutor isn’t available at a time I want to make an appointment? Can I meet with another tutor?
If your schedule changes, let your tutor know and see if there is a new time you can meet together. If there is an instance your tutor is unavailable (because they are sick, for example), wait until they return or make an appointment with another tutor if one is available.
What if I start out working with one tutor, then want to switch?
You are welcome to switch tutors over the course of the semester. It is polite to let your current tutor know that you will be switching. The Peer Connections staff understand that sometimes a tutor and a student are not a good match.
I am looking for private tutoring for my middle schooler or high schooler, or a friend who is not enrolled at SJSU, etc. Can Peer Connections tutors provide private tutoring services?
We do not provide private tutoring. If you are looking for a private tutor for a K-12 student, we recommend you ask the student’s school staff for resources.
