Private Chemistry Tutoring — NYC, San Diego & Online
Expert one-on-one chemistry instruction from Dr. Stuart Donnelly, Oxford Ph.D. General chemistry, organic chemistry, AP, and beyond.
Chemistry Tutoring with Dr. Stuart Donnelly
Chemistry is one of the hardest subjects students face in high school and college. The right tutor makes the difference between confusion and clarity.
Dr. Stuart Donnelly holds a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford in the natural sciences. He brings over 20 years of private tutoring experience to every session. His deep knowledge of chemistry — from atomic structure to organic synthesis — means he can explain tough concepts in ways that actually make sense.
Every session is private and one-on-one, tailored to your specific course, textbook, and goals. Available in person in New York City and San Diego, or online via Zoom from anywhere.
Chemistry Topics We Cover
Dr. Donnelly provides expert instruction across every major area of chemistry.
General Chemistry
Covers atomic structure, bonding, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, gases, solutions, acids and bases, equilibrium, and electrochemistry. Suitable for high school and college courses.
Organic Chemistry
Functional groups, stereochemistry, reaction mechanisms, synthesis strategies, and spectroscopy. Covers Orgo I and II at the college level.
Biochemistry
Amino acids, protein structure, enzyme kinetics, metabolic pathways, lipid chemistry, and nucleic acids. Ideal for pre-med students and MCAT prep.
AP Chemistry
Covers all nine units of the AP Chemistry curriculum. Includes content review, lab-based question strategies, and free-response practice. Goal: score a 4 or 5.
SAT / ACT Chemistry
Targeted prep for the chemistry content on the SAT and ACT. Covers data reading, experimental design, and the core concepts these exams test.
MCAT Chemistry
Prep for the MCAT Chem/Phys section. Covers general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry in the passage-based format of the exam.
Our Chemistry Tutoring Approach
Dr. Donnelly’s teaching methodology breaks chemistry down into clear, logical steps.
Diagnostic & Custom Plan
Every student starts with an assessment of their current level and goals. Dr. Donnelly finds the specific gaps in your understanding and builds a targeted plan. No wasted time on topics you already know.
Conceptual Clarity
Chemistry is built on connected concepts. Dr. Donnelly focuses on real understanding, not memorisation. He uses analogies, visual models, and step-by-step walkthroughs to make abstract ideas click.
Exam-Ready Practice
Once concepts are solid, students move to intensive practice. Dr. Donnelly uses past exam questions and custom problem sets to build speed and accuracy under timed conditions.
What Our Chemistry Students Say
I was failing organic chemistry and felt completely lost. Dr. Donnelly broke down every reaction mechanism into clear, logical steps that I could actually follow. After working with him for two months I went from a D to a B+ on my final. He genuinely understands the subject at a deep level and knows how to teach it.
Dr. Donnelly helped my daughter prepare for AP Chemistry. His explanations were incredibly clear and he made difficult topics like thermodynamics and equilibrium feel manageable. She scored a 5 on the AP exam and felt confident going in. We could not recommend him more highly.
Chemistry Tutoring FAQs
Dr. Donnelly tutors all levels of chemistry, including high school general chemistry, honors chemistry, AP Chemistry, college-level general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and the chemistry sections of standardised tests such as the SAT, ACT, and MCAT.
Yes. Organic chemistry is one of Dr. Donnelly’s core areas of expertise. As an Oxford-trained scientist, he brings a deep understanding of reaction mechanisms, stereochemistry, spectroscopy, and synthesis. He works with college students taking Orgo I and II as well as pre-med students preparing for the MCAT’s chemistry sections.
The number of sessions depends on your goals. Students preparing for a specific exam or final typically need 6 to 12 sessions. Those working through an entire course or preparing for the MCAT chemistry sections may need 15 to 25 sessions spread over several months. Dr. Donnelly will recommend a plan during your free consultation.
Yes. All chemistry tutoring is available online via Zoom. Online sessions use screen sharing, a digital whiteboard, and molecular visualisation tools for real-time problem solving. Many students find online sessions equally effective to in-person meetings.
Absolutely. Dr. Donnelly provides comprehensive AP Chemistry preparation covering all nine units of the AP curriculum, including atomic structure, bonding, thermodynamics, equilibrium, kinetics, and electrochemistry. He teaches both the content and the exam-specific strategies needed to score a 4 or 5.