UNC Tutoring Service Offers 24/7 Online Help for STEM Courses
For many students at UNC-Chapel Hill, introductory science and math courses can be a steep academic hurdle. Large lecture halls, fast-paced material, and limited opportunities for individualized help can leave students searching for additional support — especially when exam season hits.
As a result, undergraduate students pursuing pre-health, engineering, and other STEM degree tracks have been flocking to a popular online tutoring service called CramBetter.
Launched by professional educators, CramBetter offers targeted online resources for students in calculus, physics, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. But unlike broad online tutorials or generic study apps, CramBetter’s web-based platform features services tailored specifically to courses taught at UNC.
“We launched CramBetter’s UNC tutoring in the summer of 2024, and it’s been one of our fastest-growing schools by far,” said Steven Keys, co-founder of CramBetter. “UNC physics, chemistry, and calculus classes are notoriously tough to pass, so we’re happy we can provide a much-needed service here.”
The UNC version of CramBetter includes short explainer videos, printable study packets, and realistic practice exams with step-by-step video solutions, all based on the content and exam formats used in Chapel Hill classrooms.
“I used CramBetter for my physics class last semester, and the study packets aligned almost exactly with what we covered in lecture,” said Jenna M., a sophomore majoring in biology. “It definitely helped me understand concepts better when I was stuck.”
Students say the benefit is twofold: CramBetter gives them content that mirrors their actual course structure, and a flexible 24/7 format that works around their busy schedules.
“It was honestly a lifesaver during finals week when office hours were full and I couldn’t get a tutor,” said Christopher, a first-year pre-med student. “Being able to rewatch videos or go through practice problems at midnight was a game-changer.”
CramBetter’s impact is evident in student performance. “CramBetter is amazing! I used it for physics at UNC-Chapel Hill, and my grade jumped from 70% on the first exam to 94%,” said Arnav Chatrathi, a UNC undergraduate. “Their resources are incredibly helpful.”
“I am a sophomore at UNC-Chapel Hill and was absolutely lost before CramBetter,” said Kennedy Baucom. “It makes the material so much more understandable and less overwhelming. I used it for Chem 101 and could not have made it through without it.”
As remote learning during the pandemic accelerated the growth of online academic tools, students have increasingly sought out support that’s accessible anytime, anywhere. CramBetter is part of a wave of resources designed to fill that gap — not to replace instruction, but to reinforce it.
“Because CramBetter is built on an online content delivery platform, we can serve students 24 hours a day at a dramatically lower price than competing tutoring services,” said Keys. “An entire month of CramBetter costs $40, which is less than the price of a single hour of traditional private tutoring.”
While CramBetter is a private company that serves students at dozens of universities nationwide, the UNC-Chapel Hill page has become one of the platform’s most active hubs. The interface is straightforward: students choose their course, access relevant video lessons, download guided notes, and practice with exams that mimic the format used by UNC professors.
And it’s not just for those who are struggling.
“I was doing okay in my chem class, but I wanted to bump my grade from a B to an A,” said Serena T., a junior on the pre-dental track. “The CramBetter videos explained things in a way that just clicked faster than lecture sometimes.”
At a fast-paced, research-intensive university like UNC-Chapel Hill, having access to a flexible, course-specific study tool can make a meaningful difference.
Students and parents can visit CramBetter.com to browse CramBetter’s course offerings or go directly to their pages for UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University, or NCSU.
