Get Tutoring

Everyone! Academic tutoring is available and free for all UW–Madison students. Even tutors seek tutoring – over 80% of tutors at UW have had a tutor!

Seeking tutoring support early and often is important, whether you have a good handle on course information or if you are still struggling to understand it. 

If you are looking for the right place to seek tutoring support, first consider these questions:

Have you declared a major and are in a school/college? Or are you still exploring?

Your school or college may have a specific learning center which can be a great place to start. If you’re looking for tutoring in multiple subjects or the subject you’re looking for isn’t offered by your school or college, reaching out to the Greater University Tutoring Service (GUTS) is a good starting place. 

Does your professor or TA provide tutor matching for your class?

Some instructors have tutoring opportunities built into their course. For these types of courses, asking your instructor is the easiest place to start.  

How often do you want to meet with a tutor? 

Small group tutoring and peer study groups usually meet 1 – 2 times per week. Students can use drop in tutoring and help desks as frequently as they need. 

Would it be helpful to meet with peers in a study group?

Answering this question can help you decide if you are looking for small group tutoring (primarily led by a tutor) or a peer study group. 

Are you part of a scholarship program that provides tutor matching?

Most scholarship programs provide specific tutoring services to students in their program. Asking staff in your program is a great place to start. 

Knowing the answers to these questions can help you decide which learning center may be the best place to start. You are welcome to reach out to one or more learning centers for information about their services and they’ll help you get you the support you’re looking for!

Some classes/subjects have waitlists for small group tutoring. Reaching out early (before or at the start of the semester) will increase your chance of getting assigned to a tutor quickly. Don’t wait until you are feeling behind to get tutoring help!

For some subjects, you will need to go through an application process to access tutoring which will take additional time. For immediate assistance, you can access drop-in tutoring for many courses and subjects.

Learning Centers across campus offer a variety of ways to seek tutoring including drop-ins, small groups, peer mentoring, and academic coaching. 

At many Learning Centers you can expect to work with tutors who are your peers. They are undergraduate students who have received an A or AB in the course they are tutoring. 

Tutors will often start by asking “what questions do you have?” or “what would you like to focus on during our time today?” Before meeting with a tutor, plan to review your notes from lectures/labs/discussions and any readings or assignments you would like to discuss. Sharing these materials with your tutor is also very helpful – some tutors are directly connected with your professor/TA and others are not. 

Outside of drop-in tutoring, almost all tutoring takes place in small groups. Listening to the questions and concerns your peers bring up can also help you gain a better understanding of course material.