Tips

Before You Hire a Tutor:

• Start looking for a tutor as soon as you realize you might need one – give yourself enough time to find a tutor who is right for you.
• Clearly establish your expectations for a tutor. Choosing the right tutor is the first step on your path to success.
• Ask potential tutors for a list of references. Speaking with other students about their experience can help you determine if the tutor is qualified and can give you an idea of their teaching style.
• Set up an interview with a potential tutor. Choosing the right tutor is finding some who is qualified and that you want to work with. Questions you may want to ask:
  • What type of previous tutor or teaching experience have you had?
  • What is your educational background?
  • What is your approach?
  • How will you personalize your program for me?
• Be safe!  -- ALWAYS MEET IN A PUBLIC PLACE! -- or at least where there will be other adults present. Ask to see picture identification at your initial meeting. This is for the protection of the you AND the tutor.

Basic Tutor

Hiring a Tutor:

• Be prepared to pay a good tutor what they are worth. Fees many vary based on:
  • the level of education they have received;
  • the level of the subject matter they are expected to teach.
• The tutor has the ability to choose the price of their tutorial. This can range from free sessions to reasonable hourly rates. There is often room to negotiate with regards to the payments of tutorials.
• Ensure you work out your payment methods ahead of a time. You do not want to use your sessions to work out payment schedules.
• Hold your tutor sessions in a public place such as the library. DO NOT make an exception for this rule.
• Schedule your tutor sessions for the time of day that is most conducive to your learning.
•  Try a few tutoring sessions with your tutor before committing yourself to a regular schedule so you can be sure that the tutor's teaching style is compatible with your learning needs.
• Clearly set out your expectations and discuss any academic goals you would like to achieve Create a plan for how you want to spend the time in your tutoring session.
• Prepare for your tutoring session. Communicate your need and concerns to your tutor. Bring pertinent texts, notes, assignments and--most of all--your questions. The more specific your purpose, the more on target a tutor can be.
• Attend all class sessions. Your notes from class are the best resource on course content and determining exactly how your instructor is prioritizing the information.
• Your tutor should challenge you, and help you acquire the skills you need to achieve academic success.
• Remember that tutors cannot complete your assignments for you, but that they will guide you through the questions ensuring that you have a proper understanding of the concepts that are related to any assignments.