PAL is a series of free, collaborative twice-weekly review sessions open to all students enrolled in CHEM 181: Atoms & Molecules, and CHEM 221: Organic Chemistry 1.
The sessions are led by Peer Assistance Leaders (PALs), strong chemistry students who have previously taken and succeeded in the course. Your PAL will help answer your questions about course material and challenge you to work with other students to practice learning strategies designed to help you succeed in chemistry.
Fall 2021 Schedule
| Professor | PAL | Session Times | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professor Farrell | Sara Cahill | Sun. & Tues. 7-8pm | SML 255 |
| Professor Sandusky | Mikaela Renaud-Lowther | Sun. & Tues. 6-7pm | SML 259 |
| Professor Hagan | Erin Eason | Sun. 5-6pm | O'Neil 112 |
| Professor Hagan | Erin Eason | Wed. 7-8pm | SML 255 |
| Professor Mills | Henry Noe | Sun. 5-6pm | SML 255 |
| Professor Mills | Henry Noe | Thurs. 4-5pm | O'Neil 112 |
Apply to Be A PAL or PAL/STEM+E Intern
Applications for Fall 2021 are now closed.
| application forms | job description | apply |
|---|---|---|
| PAL | Students who have excelled in CHEM 181 and have received faculty approval to provide academic support. | Application |
| PAL/STEM+E Intern | Former STEM+E or PAL who has demonstrated excellent leadership in student support. | Application |
Fall 2021 PALs
Henry Noe
Hometown: Hopewell Junction, NY
PAL Section: TBD
What is the most important advice you would give students taking CHEM 181?
Success in CHEM 181 comes out of diligent work and asking questions. Practice problems provide students with an outlet to test the material found in lecture, and office hours with your professor allow students the opportunity to ask questions outside of the classroom. In addition to these, attending PAL sessions and forming study groups are also tremendously helpful resources. CHEM 181 opens your eyes to how expansive chemistry is, enjoy it!
Why should students come to your PAL sessions?
Amid a semester filled with meetings, classes, and assignments, PAL sessions provide students with a dedicated time per week to work on chemistry. Additionally, these sessions are designed to be a space where students feel comfortable asking questions and working collaboratively with their classmates. I will work to create an atmosphere in my sessions that is welcoming to all students and that can show students how cool chemistry is!!
Sara Cahill
Pronouns:
She/her/hers
Hometown: Hopkinton, MA
PAL Section: TBD
What is the most important advice you would give students taking CHEM 181? During the semester, stay on top of the material as it is presented in class. This will give you opportunities to do extra practice problems, study with other people, and ask questions and for help when you need it! The material builds in complexity throughout the semester, so it is important to build a strong foundation.
Erin Eason
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown:
Millsboro, DE
PAL Section: TBD
What is the most important advice you would give students taking CHEM 181?
The most important advice I would give to students in 181 is to ask questions and participate in class! Being an active student during class helps you to more fully comprehend the material... it also makes studying a lot less overwhelming if you have been engaging the material from the start!
Mikaela Renaud-Lowther
Pronouns:
She/her/hers
Hometown: Worcester, MA
PAL Section: TBD
What is the most important advice you would give students taking CHEM 181?
I think that when learning Chemistry, the most important thing you can do is practice. Doing additional practice problems outside of lecture helps students to feel more confident with challenging concepts and feel prepared for exams and future courses. Being engaged in class and keeping up with practicing the course material as it is being covered in class is super helpful, as topics in Chemistry tend to build on one another.