Here's my observation:

As a 2nd semester student, I and the rest of my classmates are priviledged to have 12 TAs for neuroscience and 12 TAs for gross anatomy. In addition, Dr. ***** says he is planning to hook us up with TAs for physiology. Also, not to mention radiology review TAs.

Last semester, I believe we had one TA for genetics and a few TAs for histology (primilary for the lab only), and NOTHING for biochemistry. Coincidently, biochemistry seems to be the course that shot a lot of people down last semester. Unless things have changed this semester, something needs to be done.

Why is there so little help for 1st semester? Not enough volunteers? Any other thoughts?

There are two separate education assistance programs at Ross -- one is a TA and one is a TUTOR.

One is run directly through the chair of each department (TA). For example, the department of Anatomy (Histo, Anatomy, Neuro) has numerous tutors for each course. Dr. ***** may also choose to hire TA's from his budget for Physiology. These students perform reviews of didactic and lab information and do small or large GROUP tutoring.

The other tutoring program is the official University system and has been run by Dr. Louise Tomlinson.

Both systems identify students who perform well in their classes and then require students to step forward and volunteer to tutor (and get paid for it). As you know, all tutoring expenses are included in your tuition.

However, the system run by the Chairs is more of a proactive / "support group" system and the TUTOR system is a reactive private tutor system. The latter required that you specifically request a tutor and one is assigned to you while the former is just there for student to show up at given times. Each fill their respective needs at the University.

There are always several Biochemistry tutors - used by many students. However, to my knowledge, there aren't any TA's for biochemistry and genetics. Why? It seems that TA's are helpful in the lab but I would question whether group tutoring really helps much in biochem and genetics where you really just need to learn the information. However, if any first semester students feel that group tutoring would be helpful to them, I would encourage them to contact Dr. Meisenberg.

MitchDC

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MitchDC/MD
RUSM 2006 Graduate

Personally, I was planning in running Biochem sessions for first semester students. however, i never got any feedback about it, so instead I decided to TA for physio. I would've been just as happy doing either one, but I think that, as with all things at Ross, there is a definite need for communication.

Maybe you should bring this up to the professors, perhaps more aggressive "recruiting" would be helpful for subjects like Biochem.