Award-Winning Physical Organic Chemistry Tutors

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Award-Winning Physical Organic Chemistry Tutors

Tobi

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Tobi

Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Tobi's other Tutor Subjects
6th-12th Grade Chemistry
K-12th Grade French
6th-12th Grade Biology
Middle School Math

I am a graduate of the University of Nebraska in Omaha. I received my Bachelor of Sciences in Molecular and Biomedical Biology with a minor in Chemistry. After graduation, I did a postbaccalaureate program in pre-medicine to prepare for medical school, to which I am currently applying. My experience...

Education

University of Nebraska at Omaha

Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Jai

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Jai

Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Jai's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Electrical Engineering
ACT Writing

I'm a recent Stanford graduate (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), and have been working at a major Management Consulting firm for a few years now. I personally scored a 2360 (out of 2400) on the SAT and 35 on the ACT and was successful in gaining admission to several top universities. I'...

Education

Stanford University

Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Test Scores
SAT
1590
ACT
35
Kate

Certified Tutor

Kate

Masters, Environmental Engineering
Kate's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
College Algebra
Pre-Calculus

I'm available to tutor biology, chemistry, physics, math from Algebra up through AP Calculus, SAT test prep, and French. I've been tutoring students in science and math for 7 years. I also spent 8 months working and studying in France, and have tutored high school and adult students in French. When ...

Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Masters, Environmental Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Bachelors

Test Scores
SAT
1580
Jessica

Certified Tutor

Jessica

PHD, Medicine
Jessica's other Tutor Subjects
College Algebra
Calculus
Algebra
Honors Chemistry

I am a licensed physician from Florida who is currently changing careers. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009 and have extensive tutoring and editing experience. While a student, I became a certified writing tutor through the Critical Writing Department. Since I completed my writ...

Education

Nova Southeastern University

PHD, Medicine

University of Pennsylvania

Bachelors, History

University of Pennsylvania

undergraduate

Test Scores
SAT
1540
Rhea

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Rhea

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Rhea's other Tutor Subjects
AP Statistics
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra

I am a current student at the University of Chicago. I am working towards a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, and I am on the pre-medical track. I am extremely passionate about tutoring, and I have several years of experience tutoring students in my high school's learning center in various...

Education

University of Chicago

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1550
ACT
36
Erika

Certified Tutor

Erika

Master of Public Policy, Public Policy
Erika's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra

I am available to tutor middle and high school math, history and test prep. I have tutored math and history in the past and I previously taught a test prep course at a school in Hanoi, Vietnam. I have a lot of experience teaching all the need-to-know tricks to doing great on the SATS/ACTS! When I am...

Education

Harvard University

Master of Public Policy, Public Policy

Test Scores
ACT
32
Jeffrey

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Jeffrey

Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering
Jeffrey's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Calculus
Geometry
Calculus
Algebra

I am enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering PhD program at Rice University which will begin Fall 2020, and I am hoping to return to academia as a professor after earning my PhD. In the meantime, I am looking to share my passion for gaining knowledge, specifically in STEM, by educating the up and com...

Education

University of Notre Dame

Bachelor of Science

Rice University

Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering

Test Scores
ACT
34
MaryAnn

Certified Tutor

13+ years

MaryAnn

Bachelor of Science, English, Psychology
MaryAnn's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
SAT Reading
SAT Writing and Language

I am a published author who has enjoyed “coaching” our daughter, as she navigated through high school, college and graduate school. I mentor college juniors who are seeking careers in financial services, and I serve as a peer resource to professionals who are transitioning from private industry to t...

Education

University of Pittsburgh

Bachelor of Science, English, Psychology

Test Scores
SAT
1520
Quinn

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Quinn

Bachelor in Arts
Quinn's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
ACT Writing
ACT English

I am willing to address any issue with an open mind and I try to develop strategies that play to a student's strengths. I would like to think I am very approachable and personable, and I have had very positive experiences with many students in the past using this philosophy. Outside of academics, I ...

Education

University of Notre Dame

Bachelor in Arts

Test Scores
ACT
35
Matthew

Certified Tutor

Matthew

Bachelors in Human Biology (concentration in Bioinformatics and Stem Cell Science)
Matthew's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
College Algebra
Algebra 3/4
Arithmetic

I'm a highly creative person who works best with visual thinkers. Very recently graduated from Stanford University, I majored in Human Biology with a concentration in Bioinformatics and Stem Cell Science. Technical though my background may be, I am currently gigging as a singer/songwriter/composer i...

Education

Stanford University

Bachelors in Human Biology (concentration in Bioinformatics and Stem Cell Science)

Test Scores
SAT
1510

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Trigonometry Tutor • +35 Subjects

I am passionate about teaching and tutoring and I thoroughly enjoy helping students gain an understanding and a drive for their studies. I have a long history of working with students of all grade levels and abilities (elementary school through college), and I have a good understanding of strategies to excel in both general academics and standardized tests.

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Calculus Tutor • +28 Subjects

I am a recent graduate of Yale University and incoming first year medical student at Columbia University. Originally from the DC area, I have always had a passion for science and medicine and pursued a degree in Biology while at Yale. During the 2008-2009 academic year, I tutored science, math, English, history, and Mandarin Chinese part-time with a DC-based tutoring company. At Yale, I worked as a freshman counselor to provide academic and career advice to incoming freshmen. I have taken both SAT and MCAT test prep classes and am familiar with both tests as well as the preparation necessary to score well. My personal career goals include attending medical school to pursue either immunology/infectious diseases or psych/neurology, teaching biology at the university level, and working in public/global health with either the CDC or the WHO.

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Annie

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +28 Subjects

I am currently a second year medical student. I was a Physiological Sciences major at UCLA (class of 2015), and pursued research during my gap year between undergrad and medical school.

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Pre-Algebra Tutor • +26 Subjects

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Sharon

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +29 Subjects

I am a graduate of the University of Chicago, and I will be starting a graduate program at Columbia in August. I am about to complete a year of service with City Year, an education non-profit that places young adults into under-served schools. As a City Year member, I worked full-time in the classroom with middle-school students who were in approximately the 10th percentile for math (meaning they score lower than 90% of students). One-fourth of those students were able to grow around 15 percentile points by the end of the year! Hobbies: reading, cooking, gardening, music, art, nature, books, writing

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AP Calculus AB Tutor • +29 Subjects

I am a freshman at Caltech majoring in Applied and Computational Mathematics. My favorite subject to tutor is math because I find it very rewarding to simplify complex topics to aid in understanding. I have lots of tutoring experience. In high school, I ran and taught an SAT prep class and was vice president of my school's NHS chapter where I ran our tutoring program, and I, myself, tutored. I also was a teaching assistant in the summer of 2020 for a class in discrete mathematics through a program called PACT (Program in Algorithmic and Combinatorial Thinking). I love learning and hope to make the process enjoyable for you!

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Pre-Algebra Tutor • +38 Subjects

I'm a first-year medical student and recent graduate from Duke University, where I studied Global Health Determinants, Behaviors, and Interventions. From running a piano program at a nonprofit children's theatre to private tutoring in math, science, and standardized test prep, I enjoy helping my students become confident and self-sufficient learners! Hobbies: photography, travel, reading, music, writing, running, art, books, traveling

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Pre-Algebra Tutor • +25 Subjects

I am a Duke University graduate with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. I have experience tutoring all levels of Spanish language, all sections of the SAT, as well as algebra, pre algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus! I love kids & I have a very flexible schedule and a lot of patience! Let me help you :)

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Charles

AP Calculus AB Tutor • +25 Subjects

I am a junior Mechanical Engineering major at Yale, and I hope to become a Naval Aviator after college. I am also a varsity sailor, and enjoy playing music with friends when I can get some free time. I have been tutoring my fellow students throughout my entire academic career, and I would best describe my tutoring style as one that adapts to each students' needs. For example, I have always tried to frame questions in a different way so that the student can better understand the question. Some students need visual representations of numbers and systems to understand them, and others benefit more by understanding the concepts behind each formula. I prefer to tutor in math and physics, and especially with real world application problems. I hope to help students improve their standardized test scores and their understanding of the math and sciences so that they can achieve their academic goals! Hobbies: art, books, running, reading, music, writing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Physical Organic Chemistry combines abstract theoretical concepts with complex problem-solving, making it challenging for many students. The main difficulties include visualizing reaction mechanisms at the molecular level, understanding how electronic effects influence reactivity, and applying kinetics and thermodynamics to predict organic behavior. Many students struggle with the transition from memorizing reactions to understanding why reactions occur the way they do. Personalized tutoring helps break down these interconnected concepts into manageable pieces, allowing you to build genuine understanding rather than relying on memorization alone.

Visualizing abstract concepts like molecular orbitals, transition states, and electron flow is essential for Physical Organic Chemistry success. A skilled tutor can use multiple approaches—drawing detailed reaction mechanisms step-by-step, explaining orbital theory through analogies, working with molecular models, and showing how computational tools visualize these concepts. Breaking complex mechanisms into individual steps and connecting electron movement to structural changes helps these abstract ideas become concrete. With personalized instruction, you can practice until you can confidently visualize and predict how molecules behave, rather than just memorizing reaction pathways.

Memorizing reactions gives you temporary solutions for exam questions, but understanding mechanisms builds a foundation for predicting unknown reactions and solving novel problems. True understanding means knowing the electronic factors driving reactivity, how substituents affect reaction rates and selectivity, and why certain pathways are favored. When you understand the underlying principles—like resonance stabilization, steric effects, and orbital overlap—you can apply them to reactions you've never seen before. Personalized tutoring emphasizes conceptual understanding by connecting each mechanism to broader principles, so you develop problem-solving skills that extend far beyond what you've memorized.

Physical Organic Chemistry isn't just theoretical—it directly explains how pharmaceuticals are designed, how catalysts work in industry, and how synthetic pathways are optimized for efficiency and safety. Understanding reaction mechanisms helps chemists predict side reactions, design more selective catalysts, and develop greener synthetic routes. By seeing these connections, you'll understand why concepts like activation energy, thermodynamic vs. kinetic control, and substituent effects matter beyond the classroom. A tutor can highlight real-world applications—from drug synthesis to materials science—that show how Physical Organic Chemistry principles solve actual problems, making the subject more engaging and memorable.

Success in Physical Organic Chemistry requires mastering several interconnected skills: drawing accurate mechanisms with proper arrow pushing, predicting reactivity based on electronic effects, applying kinetics and thermodynamics to reaction behavior, and solving multi-step problems. Beyond content knowledge, you'll need strong scientific reasoning—the ability to analyze a problem, identify relevant principles, and construct a logical solution. Personalized tutoring develops both technical skills (drawing mechanisms, balancing equations, unit conversions) and thinking skills (analyzing why a reaction proceeds in a certain direction, predicting unknown outcomes). Regular practice with immediate feedback helps you strengthen these skills systematically rather than struggling through them alone.

Exam preparation in Physical Organic Chemistry requires more than reviewing notes—you need targeted practice with problems that test your conceptual understanding and problem-solving ability. A tutor can identify your specific weak areas, explain challenging concepts in different ways until they click, and provide extensive practice with exam-style problems. You'll learn effective strategies for approaching mechanism problems, predicting reaction outcomes, and working through multi-step synthesis questions under time constraints. Most importantly, personalized instruction ensures you understand why answer choices are right or wrong, so you're prepared for novel questions and variations you haven't explicitly practiced before.

An excellent Physical Organic Chemistry tutor should deeply understand not just reaction mechanisms and theory, but also common student misconceptions and how to address them. They should be able to explain abstract concepts clearly, draw and interpret mechanisms accurately, and connect theory to real applications. Look for someone who emphasizes understanding over memorization, asks probing questions to assess your grasp of concepts, and adapts their teaching style to your learning preferences. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who have strong backgrounds in chemistry and proven experience helping students move from confusion to confidence in Physical Organic Chemistry.

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