Is Hiring a Private Tutor Worth It For a Student?
In an era of high-priced and often time-consuming college education tutoring, is hiring a private tutor worth it for a student? It may seem at first glance that hiring someone outside the school's system to provide personal tutoring might be the most financially sensible option, but sometimes it isn't the best decision. After all, college is expensive, and many students can't afford to pay for private tutoring on top of the multiple other needs their lives require. While this kind of tuition help can't be completely discounted, there are better options available.
First, the quality of the tutor can vary dramatically depending on who you hire. The Internet has created a new market for tutors, allowing them to advertise in various places and offer services such as Skype video, live phone answering, and more. Some online tutoring sites even offer personalized one-on-one consulting with students. The potential advantages for such services are significant, especially in the world of higher education, when communication between professors and students is a constant challenge.
But while a professional private tutor can provide a valuable service, the expense can be hard to swallow. Before deciding to hire someone to guide your students through a course or to help with homework, consider the cost savings that may arise by turning to the free or inexpensive sources of information available on the Internet. Even without cost, the value of such a consultation should definitely be considered. There are plenty of online sources for general college class descriptions, summaries of requirements, and instructions for navigating the academic process. These cost less than two-dozen calls to your local private tutor, and can make the difference between your being able to take care of your school work and being overwhelmed by the prospect of moving forward without the support of your personal tutor.
Second, do not forget the advantage of convenience. Perhaps the greatest benefit of hiring a private tutor is the ease of access it provides. Instead of driving all over town trying to locate a single academic adviser or tutor, you simply need to log on to the Web and you will have many options available to you. Whether you prefer a one-on-one consultation via email or phone, or would rather get help from a chat operator or Web support tech, you will have a plethora of resources at your disposal.
Third, do not forget that working with a private tutor means you will be getting excellent customer service. This alone can be a major factor in helping you determine if a consultation is worth it. After all, what is the point of paying a premium to find out that your academic advisor was less than qualified to do your work for you? If you are uncomfortable with the thought of leaving everything up to someone else, consider hiring an interim private tutor instead.
Fourth, if the idea of using a private tutor appeals to you but you aren't sure how to proceed, consider talking to the person who originally hired the individual to tutor you. Most educational systems allow their teachers to request applications for private tutoring from any number of schools. In this situation, you will be allowed to work with the original teacher to fill out the application and provide them with feedback regarding your progress.
Fifth, consider the time commitment you would be dedicating to private tutoring. If you are juggling a full-time job and taking classes at the same time, then hiring a private tutor could become an additional burden. This is especially true if you need to take care of your studies while also working to earn money for your family. There are options available for working with a private tutor that don't require much time devoted to your classes, however. For example, some private tutor jobs may only ask for responses to an online survey instead of an application, and there are other ways to get the work done that don't require daily phone calls.
Private tutors are good resources for students who are struggling in school. They can offer extra help that can make learning more manageable. However, if you are thinking about hiring a private tutor, you should ask yourself whether or not it is worth it for a student to pay for the service. It is always better to spend your money wisely.
More Info:
IQ Learning
3685 Highway 6 South
Sugar Land, TX 77478
(832) 387-6250