Academic Assistance

Tutoring, Learning Skills, and Accessible Education:

The Clinical Skills Tutoring Program (CSTP)


The Clinical Skills Tutoring Program (CSTP) is a peer tutoring resource that is available to UCSF medical students (MS1 through MS4) for additional practice and coaching on clinical skills.
 Students are paired with an MS4 who has been trained in coaching and providing feedback on clinical skills.  The CSTP is available by referral from a faculty member (e.g., Bridges coach, clerkship director). For students who are interested in learning more about the program, please reach out to CSTP Co-director Abbi Phillips: [email protected].

Learning Resource Services

Learning Resource Services provides assistance with strategies that can enhance learning, test performance, and mastery of material. This unit also works with students to obtain and interpret formal psychoeducational testing for learning disabilities. Contact: Susan Whitlow or visit http://learn.ucsf.edu.

Medical Student Disability Services

Medical Student Disability Services assists in obtaining the services and accommodations required to minimize the impact of a disability on student performance. Contact: Student Disability Services at 415-476-6595 or visit the Student Success Center in Millberry Union West, MU 100.

One-on-one tutoring

One-on-one tutoring is offered at no cost to students through MSE Medical Student Services. Tutors are MS2s, MS3s and MS4s who are paid to work with students in Foundations 1 and Foundations 2. Students interested in receiving tutoring assistance can make a request using theOne-on-One Tutor Request Sheet. Please allow 3 business days for a response.

If you have any questions about the tutoring program, or if you would like to sign up as a tutor, please reach out to Amanda Dohse.

Online Tutoring

Online Tutoring is one of the best and most popular places to go for online tutoring. Students can not only get help with any subject but assignments too. Contact: Homework Helpmate.

Peer Teaching Program (PTP, previously Medical Scholars Program)

Peer Teaching Program (PTP, previously Medical Scholars Program) is a peer teaching and study program in which MS2s lead late afternoon and evening sessions to help MS1s review course material in Ground School, ABC, and REGN. PTP is guided by third- and fourth-year medical student coordinators who meet with the PTP teachers regularly to go over materials and teaching methods. Many first-year students find PTP to be extremely useful for helping them identify key material, organize it, and approach next concepts. Each spring, 12 first-year students are chosen to be PTP teachers in the following year, and begin practicing for this role by presenting PTP sessions for students in their own class. First-year students may sign up to receive elective credit for attending sessions – MS1s who would like to receive elective credit for attending PTP sessions must add the elective course to their Fall quarter study list; MS1s who would like to receive elective credit for learning to teach PTP during must add the elective to their Spring quarter study list. Contact: PTP coordinators

Test preparation

Test preparation resources and information or USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK are available the Virtual Medical Student Center.