FAQ

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR TUTOR CORPS?

To be eligible for Tutor Corps, you must be a full-time CUNY student, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and have completed (or in progress) at least 12 credits of STEM or education courses.

I DON’T MEET ALL OF THESE REQUIREMENTS. CAN I STILL APPLY?

Tutor Corps is very competitive. We encourage candidates to strengthen their applications by taking additional coursework and/or improving their grades. We hire tutors every spring, summer, and fall.

DO I NEED TO BE A STEM OR EDUCATION MAJOR TO APPLY?

No. We encourage any students who meet the above requirements to apply to the program.

I AM AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND WILL TRANSFER TO A SENIOR COLLEGE NEXT SEMESTER. CAN I STILL BE A TUTOR?

Yes. As long as you are a current full-time student at any CUNY school, you are eligible for Tutor Corps.

I AM A FIRST-SEMESTER FRESHMAN. CAN I STILL APPLY?

Maybe. First-semester freshman usually do not have enough credits to meet our requirements, but we can make exceptions for students who have Advanced Placement (AP) or College Now credits from high school, or who are currently taking the required credits. If you do not have enough credits, we suggest that you to apply to Tutor Corps for the future.

CAN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS APPLY?

Maybe. This job is considered “on-campus.” All tutors must have a social security number in order to work with us. This may mean that you have to apply for a social security number. Once we make a job offer to you, we can provide you with a letter of employment. For more questions, please contact your international students advisor.

WHAT SUBJECTS WILL I TUTOR?

Tutor Corps focuses on STEM classes, including math, science, and computer science. You will work on one of these subjects. You do not have to tutor each subject.

I’M NOT GREAT AT MATH. I HAVEN’T STUDIED IT IN A WHILE, BUT I WANT TO BECOME A TUTOR. SHOULD I STILL APPLY?

If you are not sure about your math skills, try solving a few algebra questions to see whether you can work on it with another person. If yes, then go for it! Candidates will complete an assessment as part of the interview process so that we can test their skills.

WHEN WILL I TUTOR?

Tutors work during school hours, usually between 8 AM and 3 PM, Monday through Friday. You can create your own schedule with the host teachers.

WHERE ARE THE SCHOOLS LOCATED? WHICH SCHOOL WILL I WORK IN?

We work with middle and high schools in all five boroughs. On the application, you will mark which boroughs you do not want to work in. When assigning tutors, we consider their college and home addresses, and do our best to select a school that is within reasonable traveling distance.

HOW MANY HOURS DO I HAVE TO WORK?

Tutors work at least 6 hours per week. You should plan to visit the school at least 2 days per week to build consistency. If you are unsure that you can fit this into your schedule, consider applying for a different semester, or rearrange your class schedule.

HOW LONG IS THIS JOB?

Once accepted, tutors can work through the school year. You can also continue into the next year without having to reapply.

DO I NEED TO ORDER A TRANSCRIPT FROM THE REGISTRAR FOR MY APPLICATION?

No. We accept unofficial transcripts. You can download a copy from your CUNY First account and submit a PDF.

THERE IS A HOLD ON MY ACCOUNT, AND I CAN’T GET A TRANSCRIPT. CAN I STILL SUBMIT AN APPLICATION?

Unfortunately, we need a current copy of your transcript to review your application. You cannot submit an application without the transcript.

WHO SHOULD I INCLUDE AS A REFERENCE ON MY APPLICATION?

You should include the name and contact information for a professional reference, such as a supervisor, professor, volunteer coordinator, or advisor. This person will talk about how you would work with students in an NYC school classroom. You should not include personal references, such as a family member, friend, or significant other.

I ALREADY SUBMITTED MY APPLICATION, BUT I WANT TO CHANGE MY REFERENCE. HOW CAN I DO THAT?

Please send an email to Nicole Wells at nicole.wells@cuny.edu with these details about your new reference: name, email, phone number, and relation to you. She will update your records and send a reference form via email.

I APPLIED TO TUTOR CORPS BEFORE AND WAS NOT ACCEPTED. CAN I APPLY AGAIN?

Yes. We encourage candidates to take more relevant credits, and practice the content to make them a better fit for Tutor Corps. If you were not accepted before, you have to submit a brand new application.

I CURRENTLY WORK FOR TUTOR CORPS, AND I WANT TO WORK NEXT SEMESTER AS WELL. DO I NEED TO APPLY AGAIN?

No. Tutors who are accepted into our program do not need to reapply to continue working. You may contact your Instructional Services Manager if you have questions about continuing in the program.

DO I NEED TO BE VACCINATED TO WORK?

Tutor Corps follows the rules of the Department of Education (DOE) regarding vaccinations. As of October 2021, the DOE requires all adults working in schools to be vaccinated.

DO YOU OFFER TRAINING FOR TUTORS?

Yes. New tutors must complete an orientation. During orientation, you will learn skills to help you work with students.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO BEFORE I CAN START WORKING?

Tutors are hired through individual CUNY campuses, and each campus has paperwork to complete. When you receive a welcome email, you will also receive instructions on how to complete the hiring paperwork.

You must also be fingerprinted by the Department of Education at 65 Court Street in Brooklyn. If you have been fingerprinted by the DOE in the past, please notify the administrative coordinator at Tutor Corps, and we will look up your records.

WHAT WILL I DO IN THE CLASSROOM?

Tutors work with the host teacher in the classroom, either one-on-one with a student or with a group of students that the teacher assigns. Each classroom is set up differently, depending on the teacher and what the students need. We recommend that the tutors review the lesson plans with the host teacher beforehand.

DO I NEED TO DO ANYTHING ELSE BESIDES TUTOR?

Tutors are expected to keep records of the specific students they work with. We collect this information so that we can track the impact that our tutors have in the classroom. Tutors are also expected to attend monthly professional development (PD) workshops held by Tutor Corps staff.

WHAT ARE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS? DO I NEED TO ATTEND THEM?

Tutor Corps offers monthly professional development (PD) workshops for tutors that cover topics on career development, pedagogy, and anti-racism dialogues. These are to help you build your skills and prepare you for success in school and in the future. You only need to attend one session per month, and they are paid.