Peer Tutor Spotlight

CARSS Peer Tutor Huda Rehman 

Introductory Genetics quickly became one of Huda Rehman’s favorite courses at UAlbany but, “for some students, the material just didn’t ‘click,’” Rehman said.  

“I knew that I could help other students taking this class in the future by becoming a tutor, sharing with them some of my strategies for the course as well as other STEM classes they may take in the future,” she said. 

Rehman is a pre-med undergraduate student, with a major in biology and a minor in psychology, and a Center for Achievement, Retention & Student Success (CARSS) tutor. 

Her tutoring position has taught Rehman the value of persistence and perspective. 

“While everyone learns at a different pace and style, every student can do what they might initially find to be impossible,” she said.  

For example, many students in her genetics tutoring sessions initially struggle with the course’s math problems. But, once she explains a different approach, almost every student has a “light-bulb moment,” Rehman said. 

She hopes more students give peer tutoring a chance.  

“Tutoring at CARSS is available for any student who needs it,” Rehman said. “You just need to show up to the weekly sessions and try your best. It’s free, too — don’t hesitate to give it a shot if you feel like you need help.” 

Writing Center Peer Tutor Amal Siddiqui 

Amal Siddiqui became a Writing Center tutor to help her peers better organize their ideas and discover their individual approach to writing. 

“A lot of students have anxiety about writing,” Siddiqui said. “What they face is a mental block preventing them from writing; in these situations, they just need someone to listen to them and reassure them.” 

Siddiqui is an undergraduate student, with a double major with English and biology. She plans to pursue a medical degree after graduation. 

“I want UAlbany students to know that the Writing Center isn’t just a fix-it workshop but a place where students need to develop their ideas and methods of writing to truly become better at writing,” she said. 

Siddiqui has sought support herself from the Writing Center and the Integrative Biology Academic Support Service (IBASS) Center, finding both “very helpful.” 

“My peers were very understanding and explained the topics in a way that I could understand better,” Siddiqui said. 

University Tutoring Peer Tutor Mudra Patel 

For University Tutoring Peer Tutor Mudra Patel, tutoring isn’t just for students who are struggling. It's for any student who wants to practice applying course material. 

“The tutoring services here at UAlbany are for anyone who wants further guidance and extra support in their learning,” said Patel, who is an undergraduate student with a major in psychology and minors in biology and chemistry. 

“While working as a tutor, I have learned that we are all very much alike in our journeys,” she said. 

Patel often works with students stressed about coursework, who “just needed guidance on where to start studying,” she said. “To be completely honest, I have been in the same situation before and would have loved to receive advice from my peers.” 

Patel became a tutor for University Tutoring because she “genuinely wanted to help others.” She’s also had her own positive experience with peer tutoring through Center for Achievement, Retention & Student Success (CARSS). 

“The student tutors who helped me knew what they were talking about and were able to help me solidify the content by going through practice questions. They also clarified any questions I had regarding the content,” she said. “I appreciated the extra help they provided.” 

CARSS Graduate Tutor Niara Nichols 

Niara Nichols’ position as a Center for Achievement, Retention & Student Success (CARSS) tutor has made her a better teacher and a better student. 

“People have very different learning styles, and two different people may learn the same material in different ways," Nichols said. “It's good to take a variety of approaches when tutoring others and even when studying for my own courses.” 

Currently a graduate student pursuing a PhD in analytical chemistry, Nichols first attended CARSS review sessions while enrolled in Organic Chemistry II as an undergraduate student. 

“After memorizing reaction mechanisms on my own, the review session would help me apply the knowledge I gained and apply them to new problems like I would on an exam,” Nichols said. 

“I really enjoyed helping my classmates with questions they had when we studied together,” she said. “It was rewarding seeing how my help paid off when they understood something or were able to complete an assignment, so I decided to look into tutoring opportunities.” 

Now, as a CARSS tutor, she hopes her peers take advantage of the services — and the earlier, the better. 

“Tutoring isn't something you have to seek out when you are behind,” Nichols said. “If you know that a certain subject is difficult for you, it's okay to seek out help at the beginning of the semester to prevent yourself from falling behind and help you stay on top of a difficult subject.”