What experience do you have in teaching?
I have a rich professional teaching experience that stretches from the start of my master’s degree in Fall 2016 and extends to this day. Along the way, I’ve hosted anything from my own courses in a college setting, tutorials, labs, observatory tours, replacement lectures/presentations for UW supervisors, you name it! Some pics from the aforementioned endeavors are presented below!
What is your education background?
I'm an astrophysics graduate and current holder of a Master’s in "Astrophysics and Gravitation". I’ve been nominated 3 times for the “Sandford Fleming Teaching Assistantship” award and have won it twice in Winter 2018 and Fall 2019! This is a prestigious TA award from the engineering faculty that recognizes superb TA performance. I hold the “Fundamentals of University Teaching” certificate from our very own Center of Teaching Excellence since April 2017. Below you may see a collection of the aforementioned milestones!
Do you have your own practice material?
I have over 1000 problems across tens of courses that I have collected from hundreds of students that I have personally tutored in the past. I've organized these in a neat OneNote problem repository system! Trust me, there is nothing you can ask for in the courses I offer and I won't have something about it! You can check what you can expect below!
What payment methods do you accept?
If you are a student that resides in Canada, you may use either cash or direct e-transfers. If you reside outside of Canada, we can discuss your circumstance individually.
What types of classes do you host?
I host 1-on-1 tutorials, small group tutorials (up to 3 students) and small classes (5+ students), Most students settle in the 1st and 2nd category, while the last one is often an option that occurs during periods of university exams. There are several advantages you can enjoy by being a part of a group, such as, a significantly lower hourly rate, creating new study buddies and a more relaxed atmosphere!
When can I book a session?
I tutor every weekday from as early as 2pm to as late as 10pm+! In times of high-traffic, such as university midterm and final exams, I open up weekend slots as well to accommodate the higher demand.
What are your rates?
My rates change at the start of new academic terms (January, May and September of each year). My current rates for Spring 2024 are as follows:
Where do you host sessions?
Currently, I host in-person sessions at the physics building of University of Waterloo (More details upon inquiry). I also host sessions virtually via means of Zoom or MS Teams. For virtual sessions I use a stylus pen on OneNote, and the experience is minimally different than an in-person one.
Do you have a cancellation policy?
Yes! The cancellation policy (as of Fall 2023) is as follows: Students cancelling 3 hours or less will be required to pay the entirety of their booked time, while those cancelling between 3 and 12 hours 2/3 and between 12 and 16 hours 1/3 of their booked time. Cancellations beyond 16 hours in advance are not penalized. Exceptions will be made for emergencies.
Do I have to sign a contract?
No, students reach and receive assistance on a need-basis, which is a core principle behind the operation of "GeorgeTutors" as a whole. Students however are asked to sign a promissory note outlining the tutors and tutee's responsibilities. The note is to act as a scam-deterrent measure and protects both the student and tutor from financial fraud.
How is the cost of a session calculated?
Students are only charged for the time they spend working together NOT their booked time. That time is rounded to the nearest 5 minutes and the appropriate rate is applied. If part of a group, the tier system DOES change when a participant joins or leaves. For instance, suppose a group of 2 joins for tutoring, but member does not need some of member 2's questions explained, so they leave early. In such case, the continuing member 2 will jump back to the 1on1 charge tier for the remainder of their session. The tally is ALWAYS calculated at the end of each session with the student present and delivered to the student in the form of a screenshot.
Can I share material we've created with others?
Distribution of materials created in our tutorials is strictly prohibited, unless, the student has obtained permission by me, the tutor. On the other hand, distribution of material pulled directly from university exam banks, and/or a student's sample midterms/finals provided from their professor IS STRICTLY prohibited as almost all academic institutions protect their intellectual property with specific "Intellectual Property Rights" policies (Example, policy 73 in University of Waterloo). "GeorgeTutors" does not take responsibility for students choosing to violate their institution's IP policy and will always assume the material provided by a student is permitted for circulation.
How do I make the best out my time in a session?
Come in organized! First, note down everything that you don’t know. This can be a topic, or a particular problem you can’t solve. Make a list of these, then provide them to me on Discord/email. If this is done, we can immediately attack your weaknesses from the moment you step in, rather than look around for this information on the spot. Furthermore, since I will have seen what you will be bringing in too, I will spend minimal time thinking my way through your problems, and use it to explain them better to you instead! 🙂