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Skidmore College
Peer Academic Coaching Peer Academic Coaching

Peer Academic Coaching for Biology

Support for BI 107, 108, 246

Room: CIS 234

Peer Academic Coaches are available to help you develop your content knowledge and study skills in biology.  There is no need to sign up.  Simply stop by!

Sun 7-9PM Mon 7-9PM Tues 7-9PM Thurs 7-9PM
Tyler Becca Esmeralda Esmeralda
Elliot Tyler Tyler Elliot

Team Pic 

Upcoming Academic Sessions 

meet the pac team for biology

Becca Horger '25 - PAC Captain

Major: Biology Becca

About Me: I love spending my time outside and any activity that comes with it. I love biking, hiking, playing basketball and for the times I'm inside, reading and drawing. My love for biology has come from wanting to explore how things work from a macro level down to a micro level.

Why PAC: PAC is an amazing resource that I have been taking advantage of since I first got to Skidmore. I think having your peers help with what you are confused on is very valuable. Chances are they had similar questions at one point and can now explain it in relatable terms. 

Favorite Class: My favorite class would be Bio 107. I loved this class because it goes deep into the micro level of how living things work, which I find fascinating.

Academic Advice: Speak up when you don't understand something. Whether it is going to your professor, coming to PAC, or asking a classmate, don't keep your questions to yourself. You will learn so much more and have a deeper understanding of the material.

Esmeralda Ortiz Chavez '27esmeralda

Major: Biology and Pre-veterinary studies

About me: I’m from Costa Rica and I love animals so much! That’s the main reason I chose to be a pre-vet student here at Skidmore. Apart from my love for Biology, I love music and to sing and play the Ukulele. I love to spend time with my friends and video vlog my experiences as an international student. I like spending time outside, reading books and journaling. I also love traveling and discovering new cultures and learning a little bit more about the world each day!

Why PAC?: I’ve always valued kindness, respect, and the power of peer support in learning. I joined PAC because I know how overwhelming academics can feel, and I want to be someone who helps others navigate those challenges with confidence. As a student, I’ve had moments where guidance from a peer made all the difference, and I want to pass that support forward. 

Favorite Class and Why?: One of my favorite biology classes was BI108, especially the lab. In the lab, I had for the first time some hands-on experience on animal anatomy and dissection. I also really enjoyed the times we were outside doing bird-watching and learning more about the different types of birds that migrate here during the different seasons. 

Academic Advice: One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that productivity isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing what matters in a way that works for you. It’s easy to compare yourself to others, but everyone has their own learning style and pace. My advice is to be kind to yourself, take breaks when you need them, and don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Tyler Davis '26     Tyler

About Me: Biology has always been my favorite in the sciences, especially Evolutionary Biology
and Animal Behavior. I like to travel, listen to music, and rock climb in my spare time.

Why PAC?: PAC is a great way to connect with other students interested in the same research
and Major as I am. It also allows me to support other students with material I am passionate
about and return the support I received from PAC in the past.

Fav Class and Why? My favorite class has definitely been Evolution. The material was very engaging for me as it isone of my favorite topics in Biology. Learning about the diversity of Evolution’s application and
how it connects with other fields of Biology was also cool. The current professor also gives a lot
of examples (mostly bird-related).

Academic Advice: The best academic strategy I can recommend is to set a definitive goal for
each class and then make a staircase of steps you need to take to achieve it. This strategy is
effective at motivating because now that you have taken time to understand your steps, it’s
harder not to follow through. It’s also a constant work in progress that will help you improve as
you find more effective steps to reach your goal.

Elliot Zajac '27elliot

Major: Environmental Science

About me: I’ve always been engrossed by the life sciences, and I especially love the integrative, multidisciplinary nature of ESS. Whenever I need to destress, I like to read a book or walk around in the North Woods. 

Why PAC?: Advice from peers who’ve studied the same material can be really helpful to grasp the complexities of a subject, or to riddle out the answer to a difficult problem. PAC was my lifeline during freshman year, when I was trying to absorb all of the content from my intro-level classes and do well on all of my assignments, so I’m excited to pay that forwards!

Favorite class and why?: Although the content in Bio 107 can be a lot to swallow, I really enjoyed the way that the course material kept building on itself to reach greater levels of complexity and dynamism; I felt like it stretched my skills and knowledge as a student more than any other introductory classes that I was taking. It’s fascinating to discover the secret world that exists within and around us, and to think about how it developed over millions of years. 

Academic advice:  For me, notes become especially helpful when I incorporate some visual expression, such as drawings and diagrams that illustrate the connections and interactions being studied. Particularly in biology classes where you might have a hundred terms to memorize, it’s harder to process the material when it’s exclusively in text. Going over in-class notes and the professor’s lecture slides to create those kinds of infographics is a really great study tool for grasping intricate or obscure topics.