Peer Tutoring & Review Sessions

Peer Tutoring FAQs

What if I can't find my course?

GW offers hundreds of courses each semester, and we cannot provide peer tutors for all courses. The Academic Commons primarily focuses on providing support for large, introductory-level courses. We offer some support for intermediary and advanced courses. If you do not see your course, please let us know and we will try to match you with a peer tutor.

How many hours of peer tutoring can I receive each term?

As long as a peer tutor is available, you can book one hour with one peer tutor, once a week. You can sign up up to two weeks in advance. If you cannot find an appointment time that works for you, please email academiccommons@gwu.edu. We will try our best to accommodate you, subject to the availability of our tutors.

Can I see the same peer tutor every week?

Provided that the tutor is available, you can make an appointment with the same tutor every week. However, changing tutors from time to time allows you to hear other perspectives and receive support for more than one course.

What if I need more hours each week?

If you exceed your one hour per week and you would like more time with your peers, you may visit drop-in hours (which are first-come, first-served), attend a review session, or start a study group. Academic Commons coordinates study groups; just email academiccommons@gwu.edu to get started. If you believe you qualify for an exception to our one hour/week policy, please email us at academiccommons@gwu.edu.

Can I email or text my peer tutor in-between appointments with quick questions?

Please avoid emailing or texting your peer tutor between appointments. Peer tutors work with many students every week. A minute or two with each student can quickly add up, and the peer tutors also have courses and commitments of their own. If you have a question, you might try posing it to a study group or bringing it to drop-in sessions.

What if I have to cancel an appointment?

If you have to cancel an appointment, please do so more than 24 hours in advance. If you cancel within 24 hours, you will receive a “strike.” Two strikes will result in loss of privileges to book one-on-one meetings with our peer tutors. You may continue to attend drop-in hours and review sessions.

Should I pay or tip peer tutors?

Peer tutors receive an hourly wage from GW for their services. You do not need to pay your peer tutor, and you should not tip them. If you wish to express your gratitude to a peer tutor, thank-you emails or cards are always welcomed. You can send your emails to academiccommons@gwu.edu and we’ll make sure the tutor receives your email. Cards can be dropped off in Gelman 207.

Is my appointment confidential?

Academic Commons honors the trust between peer tutors and students. Academic Commons will not share the content of your one-on-one appointments with professors without your permission. Academic Commons does not share attendance at one-on-one appointments with professors.

Review sessions are run in conjunction with formal classes and with the professor’s support, and professors may request attendance data from review sessions. If you have any questions, please contact academiccommons@gwu.edu.