Information for Students

The Undergraduate Deans' office along with the Center for Teaching Learning and Outreach hires Peer Academic Coaches (PACs) who have done well in courses that may be challenging, especially the core.

For First-Year Undergraduate Students

First year students be sure to attend the Problem Set Workshops (available fall and winter terms), offering facilitated collaboration on problem sets within the bounds of the Honor Code.

Faculty and TA Office Hours are a great resource if you have questions about your courses and are posted on the Canvas site for each course. If you need help beyond these resources, consider Peer Academic Coaching.

Peer Academic Coaching

What does a Peer Academic Coach do?

PACs are available to help support your studies in a variety of Caltech courses. They are trained to help you advance your learning by 1) asking guiding questions to help you develop your understanding of a topic or concept, 2) helping you develop more integrated ways of thinking about the course material, and 3) clarifying muddy topics or ideas from the course.

How to prepare to meet with your PAC

Prior to your session:

• Attend your scheduled class sessions. (Missed a class? Utilize your syllabus, textbook, and Canvas / course website to find what was covered in your class. Then make an appointment to meet with your instructor during office hours.)
• Carefully complete your assigned work to the best of your ability. READ the study materials and the assignment fully.
• Evaluate your strengths (what do you understand well in this assignment, topic, process, etc.).
• Identify the area where you feel stuck or would like more support.
• Write down as many questions as you can think of for which you need assistance.

During your session:

• Bring your textbook, assignments, and class notes to the study session.
• Write down new notes when appropriate so that you can explain the idea to yourself later if you get stuck again.
• Write down any helpful questions or strategies that your coach offers you.
• Try part of the work on your own and explain your reasoning to the PAC while you work through it.
• Write down questions you may want to ask the instructor during the next class lecture.

After your session:

• Review! Review the syllabus and textbook notes. Review your lecture notes. Review your assignments.
• Plan to study: For every hour in class, a student can expect to study another hour outside of class (in addition to completing assigned work). Try various methods of studying or consult a PAC to find out how to study more efficiently with your time.
• Connect with your instructor and TA! Visit during office hours, send an email to let them know how you're feeling about your grasp of the concepts, and ask questions both in class and out.
• Schedule yourself for academic support throughout the term. Start early and visit frequently. If you don't have questions, consider joining or forming a study group to improve your retention and mastery of the material.

Please remember:

Peer academic coaching is intended to supplement lecture, recitation, lab, and office hours and not replicate or replace them. Coaching is most effective when you are actively engaged in the course and come prepared to a session. You should first integrate information presented in class and texts, so that you possess your conceptual knowledge necessary to effectively engage the problem sets or other assignments. You also need to have done enough of the work to identify your conceptual questions.

Coaches should only help you with concepts, offer guiding questions and pointers, and not provide answers or check them. Please be especially mindful of the Honor Code as you engage in coaching. All coursework you produce must be your own work. This is not a collaboration—the product must be entirely yours.

Find a coach to work with you at our PAC Scheduling Site.