Award-Winning Physical Organic Chemistry
Tutors
Who needs tutoring?
FEATURED BY
TUTORS FROM
- YaleUniversity
- PrincetonUniversity
- StanfordUniversity
- CornellUniversity
Award-Winning Physical Organic Chemistry Tutors

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Tobi
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...
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Certified Tutor
Michael
I consider myself to be an active supporter of learning who believes that anyone can excel with the right guidance. As a research biologist, I aim to expand my knowledge for the sake of becoming a better teacher. As a tutor, I aim to ensure that may students have someone to guide them through their ...
Stony Brook University
Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Yangbo
Ever since bringing refugee children up to and beyond grade-level mathematics while tutoring in the mid-2000s, I have always been motivated by a spirit of service to community, society, and humanity at large. Teaching and tutoring is one small but essential part of that ethos.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science, Economics

Certified Tutor
8+ years
Jane
I am a current student at Princeton University, obtaining a major in English with minors in Environmental Studies and Musical Theater. I graduated from Sewickley Academy in 2016 as a member of the Cum Laude Society with highest honors for all semesters. I am an AP Scholar with Honors, an Academic Al...
Princeton University
Current Undergrad Student, English

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Anna
With each of my experiences working with children my passion for education has grown. I first came to Austin to work with a Spanish literacy intervention program through Americorps called A Community for Education (ACE). After my service with ACE I taught at a dual language (Spanish-English) school ...
Oberlin College
Bachelors, Comparative American Studies
The University of Texas at Austin
Current Grad Student, Communication Sciences and Disorders

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Deborah
My MA in English with a concentration in Rhetoric and Composition, together with my MA in Adult Education and Continuing Education, qualified me to have a stellar forty-three-year career as a full-time college professor predominately in the University System of Georgia. I have successfully instructe...
Georgia State University
Master of Arts, English
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Master of Arts, Adult and Continuing Education
University of Georgia
Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Hi. I love math and I love teaching math. I am a state certified high school math teacher. I have 31 years of classroom experience. I currently teach Pre-Calculus and AP Statistics.
Clark Atlanta University
Bachelor of Science, Mathematics

Certified Tutor
Katherine
Hi, my name is Katherine and I've been tutoring in various capacities since 2012. Although I'm currently studying Computer Science at Swarthmore College, I have expertise in a number of subject areas and I'd love to help you out.
Swarthmore College
Current Undergrad Student, Computer Science

Certified Tutor
4+ years
Samantha
I believe every student has a unique learning skill set and every teacher continues to learn from her students. To ensure every student receives the best tutoring, I strive to offer excellent communication and a diverse set of teaching skills.I obtained my Bachelor in Business Administration from th...
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Bachelor in Business Administration, International Business/French
Vermont Law School
Juris Doctor, International Law

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Christopher
I am a current student at Rutgers University on track to major in Electrical Engineering. I tutor a wide range of math from elementary level up to high school and college. This range includes algebra, trigonometry, pre-calc and calculus. I have had many experiences through my high school and outside...
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Bachelor of Engineering, Electrical Engineering
Top 20 Science Subjects
Meet Our Expert Tutors
Connect with highly-rated educators ready to help you succeed.
Jerry
ACT Writing Tutor • +2 Subjects
Hey, I enjoy teaching math, computer science, and the SAT! Contact me if you are interested in these.
Amy
College English Tutor • +13 Subjects
I have a B.A. in French and a diploma in Business French from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Paris. I also speak Greek, Italian, and Spanish.I have worked as a private tutor in the area of foreign languages, essay writing, and a variety of other subjects for more than a decade. In that time, I have witnessed the difficulties many students have when learning something that seems unfamiliar, uninteresting, or just makes no sense. Seeing this, I believe it is my responsibility to be a positive influence by ensuring that all my students do well and understand the material. For example, with French, I always give them a brief English grammar lesson beforehand which helps tremendously boost their confidence level as the foreign gradually becomes familiar.I am truly excited about working with students and encouraging them to excel. There is nothing more gratifying than seeing a student conquer his/her fears and expressing him/herself in a way he/she never thought possible. I work with each student’s specific needs in a patient yet firm manner. I also exhibit determination, empathy, and humor to make learning an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Most importantly, I am personable and understanding and believe that brings me closer to helping my students.In my free time, I love cooking Mediterranean/Greek cuisine and would love to open a restaurant one day. I also write poetry, short stories, etc. and am currently working on my first novel. Lastly, I adore knitting and crocheting cute, fashionable clothes and accessories for girls.
Gabrielle
AP Biology Tutor • +25 Subjects
I am recent graduate of Binghamton University, with a Bachelor of Sciences in Biology. I am deeply committed to the value of education, and believe that learning is a gift and an opportunity for growth that should be available to everyone. For this reason, I am passionate about tutoring and helping students, so that everyone is able to not only do well in school, but to fall in love with learning in the process. Anyone can enrich themselves through learning. This is the foundation of my teaching philosophy: in addition to emphasizing results and academic achievement, I believe it is integral to find an individual approach to each student and to focus first and foremost on teaching students to study in a way that is effective and engaging. I tutor elementary, middle, and high school students in all subjects. In my free time, I like to go running, practice dance, learn new languages, and play ping-pong.
Julie
Languages Tutor • +4 Subjects
I am a graduate of LaSalle University in Mexico City. I received my Bachelor of Science degree inBusiness Administration with a focus on management. I am also a certifiedteacher of Spanish. Since graduation I have worked in Human Resources and I havealso been tutoring children and adults in private and public schools, as wellas online. I am very enthusiastic about teaching my native language because Ifeel that in that way I am enriching my students' education and experiences inlearning aspects of another culture. One area where we seem to have the mostfun is prepping for exams and writing assignments. I am a firm proponent ofeducation, and as a tutor, my approach is based on each of my students'level of proficiency, their goals, and their learning pace. I focus on providinga pleasant and safe experience for my students. I prepare lesson plans that arecreative and introduce new topics in a fun way, spending enough time reviewingthe material. Afterwards, I allow students time to practice on their own. I encourage you to contact me to schedule so togetherwe can start achieving your goals
Anna
ACT Writing Tutor • +27 Subjects
I honestly love tutoring. While working in finance and publishing over the past decade, I have independently tutored students from many premiere NY and NJ high schools and universities. I continued tutoring even after joining a major private equity firm because of how much I enjoy working one-on-one with students. Breaking down seemingly complex subjects is one of my favorite pastimes--it's part of the reason I also enjoy writing about arcane financial topics like quanto spreads on sovereign CDS. I've also developed a newfound respect for the challenges students face when undergoing years of testing after developing my own study plan to pass the first two CFA exams (I'm taking the third exam in June). This experience has shaped how I work with students to tackle test-taking anxiety and master difficult material quickly.I have both a BA and MA in English from New York University.
Catherine
Algebra Tutor • +15 Subjects
Hello! My name is Catherine Raj and I am a second-year medical student at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. I graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Neuroscience in 2022. Since 2015, I have tutored children from ages 3-16 in areas of math and reading, as well as their school curriculum. Apart from tutoring here, I have worked for the Kumon Learning Center as a teaching instructor for 5 years. While I am certified to tutor a broad range of subjects, I have years of experience with tutoring young children in math and reading, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, phonics, reading comprehension, and much more. I connect with elementary and middle school students very well, as I believe in understanding children in order to give them a fulfilling tutoring experience. I also very much enjoy tutoring pre-algebra and algebra as those are my favorite math subjects, as well as my best! My students and I have always had a deeper level of understanding beyond the books and I pride my style of teaching on that aspect.
Grace
ACCUPLACER Arithmetic Tutor • +22 Subjects
I am a graduate of Harvard Graduate School of Education (3.95 GPA) and New York University (3.98 GPA). I have worked with students of all ages. I love adapting my teaching style to the individual needs of each student to help them fulfill their greatest potentials.
Sarah
Elementary School Math Tutor • +20 Subjects
I have been a special education teacher in Somerset County for the last 5 years. I have worked in self-contained classrooms and am currently working as a 4th grade resource room Reading and Math teacher. Next spring, I will graduate from Rutgers University's Graduate School of Education with an Ed.M in Reading Education. I will be a certified Reading Specialist as well as a certified supervisor. I am currently a certified Literacy Specialist.
Chester
Creative Writing Tutor • +18 Subjects
I love English, and good writing. Since I like working one-or-one or with a small group, tutoring is a great way for me to help young people communicate more effectively in writing. As a social scientist, I also like to talking about statistics and social science. I like to teach by example and ask lots of questions so students can discover answers themselves. When not working, I like to watch movies, exercise, and write science fiction.
Maria
ACT Prep Tutor • +15 Subjects
I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Denison University. I am currently pursuing an M.D. at Case Western Reserve University. I've been a college-level teaching assistant for both introductory biology and general chemistry. Besides chemistry, I really enjoy tutoring for test prep (ACT and MCAT) because I view these types of tests to be a collection of puzzles to solve. It's a lot of fun helping students to figure out the logic behind these puzzles and apply it broadly, and it's incredibly rewarding to see this integration of knowledge translate to a high score. When working with students, I like to challenge them to identify the purpose of the problem or question and what underlying reasoning can be applied broadly in future questions. In doing so, students gain more long-term usable skills and the ability to think independently.
Top 20 Subjects
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.
Connect with Physical Organic Chemistry Tutors
Get matched with expert tutors in your subject


