How much will tutoring actually cost me?

Question

What is the cost and benefit of having a tutor?

Answer 1

The costs depend on your specific learning needs and desires. They also depend on whether you need tutoring for a single test or assignment, or for an entire course. The benefits depend on how effectively you use the tutor, whether the tutor is the right fit for you, and the skills and approach of your tutor.

I am very sensitive to the financial burden that tutoring places on the student, so I structure my tutoring as much as possible to leverage my assistance. When tutoring a student in composition, for example, I may discuss general concepts and then give the student an assignment to complete off-line. I review the completed assignment off-line (this time is charged, but it is quicker to review a document off-line), and then get together with the student to discuss the assignment and focus in on specific skill or learning deficits that need more work.

For tutoring in reading, I may assign the student a book, chapter, or article to read and to summarize in a book report, which I review off-line. We then get together to discuss the assignment so I can assess their level of reading comprehension and make a follow-on assignment.

This approach of using the tutoring session to (a) coordinate off-line learning activities, (b) discuss general concepts, and (c) zero in on specific skills or learning deficits that need additional attention maximizes the value of the tutoring session - time is not consumed in real-time composition, editing of student materials, or practicing of a skill. The "information density" of the tutoring session is maximized for the benefit of the student.

Answer 2

The amount you spend on tutoring is completely up to you! We all have our rates listed on our profiles. You can choose which tutor you want to work with and the number of hours you want to schedule. May I suggest starting with one hour, so if you don't learn much from that tutor, you can use a different tutor for the next lesson. If you enjoyed your tutoring session, you can always schedule more hours with that tutor. The benefit of tutoring is that you have someone who has already taken the course you are in. Tutors have also had much practice explaining things in a way that students can understand. They can give you tips that will allow you to use your time more wisely. You may not have understood a lecture by your teacher. Tutoring gives you the chance to hear it explained differently, or it can offer a completely different approach that you may find easier. You save a lot of time by not having to figure everything out on your own. So, I would say the major benefit is that you are guided throughout the course and can get immediate feedback to ensure you're grasping the concepts and doing the work correctly.

Answer 3

That depends on the hourly charge and how many hours you schedule.

Answer 4

What is the actual cost to you of tutoring and what is the cost benefit?

Lets compare some apples to apples or maybe apples to oranges if you like, on costs. The ACT test is $62.50 to register with a $30 late feel. The general SAT is $49.50; with the essay - $64.50. The individual subject tests (required by many universities) is an additional $48 per test. The Toefl test is $166 to $300 for the IBT (computer test) and $180 for the paper test with a $40 late fee. The ASVAB test is free. The down side to this is a passing score is an absolute minimum to join the military.

So, lets compare. If the tutor charges $30 per hour and you meet once each week for eight weeks the cost is $240. If the tutor charges $20 per hour for eight weeks is $160.

So again, what is the cost? The cost listed above isn't all that great unless: you fail, you pass but the score is too low and you cannot get into the school/program you want to get into. Again, with the military, you are just out of the game. If this were for a class, how much? At the community college where I teach, the cost of one class (4 units) is $714.50. How about that class? What if you fail or get a D and have to repeat it? How much are you out of pocket now?

Let's consider one even more chilling thought that was recently passed onto me by a school counselor. This guy has been around for awhile, so he knows. Let's take for example, the Engineering Dept. at the local Uni. It is your desire to become an engineer. Because you are not so great at calculus, it takes you four stabs to get through. But you got through, right? No harm,no foul. Actually, no. According to my counselor friend, the department in question will evaluate your entire transcript to include......how many times....it took you to get through calculus. Oh, my. Apparently, what they are looking to see is not four stabs, they would very much like to see one time and, by the way, with a B that time. Oops!

Last thought, many schools and programs do not offer endless 'windows of opportunity' for admissions. Often, the best schools are highly competitive (which is why they're the best.) That best foot forward really needs to be on the front end, not the back end after you've had a lot of time to think about those C's and D's. So.....at the end of the day, what is the value? You tell me. Thanks! Courtney W., MA