If you’re looking to sharpen your writing skills or are just needing some extra help with an assignment, you can hire an online tutor. We’ll discuss everything you need to know about scheduling an online tutoring session, including how much it costs and what kind of results you can expect.
When Is The Best Time To Have An Online Tutoring Session?
There are three times when it’s best to have an online tutoring session:
- During the week (most convenient for both of you)
- After school hours (when you can engage with the tutor more fully)
- In the evening (when you have more free time in the day)
Since most people have a better attention span when consuming content on a screen rather than in a book, you can usually expect more effective results from an online tutoring session compared to a traditional lecture session. This is valuable when you’re trying to cram for an exam or just need some extra help with an assignment.
How Much Does It Cost To Have An Online Tutoring Session?
The cost of an online tutoring session varies from person to person, but it generally depends on the following:
- How long you’ll need the session (one-hour sessions are more common than three-hour ones)
- What’s your schedule like (you can usually expect higher rates on weekdays, before noon, and during popular test-taking periods)
- How experienced is the tutor (more experienced tutors are generally more expensive)
- How much you need the help with (more difficult questions will generally require more intensive sessions)
The cost of an hour-long tutoring session is between $60 and $80. The sooner you schedule the session, the cheaper it will be — particularly if you want to have more than one session. You can also try chatting with the tutors via Hangouts, which can sometimes — but not always — be free.
What Kind Of Results Can You Expect From An Online Tutoring Session?
The results of an online tutoring session will depend on the person you’ve engaged with, but in general, you can expect the following:
- Better attention (you can usually get a lot of done in an hour that would otherwise take you three hours to finish)
- More effective results (you’ll spend more time and energy on tasks that are relevant to you, not just those the tutor has on hand)
- Answers to your questions (you can — and should — be asking questions about what you’re learning. A good tutor will provide you with helpful answers, even if they’re not what you’re looking for)
- A sense of accomplishment (you’ll finish a task that might otherwise take you all afternoon, or night)
- More enjoyable experience (it’s always nice to learn something new and find an activity that you enjoy doing
- A good review for your instructor (if you’re an education major, your parents will be very proud)
These are just some examples of the kinds of results you can expect from an online tutoring session. Just remember that you’re in control of how much you learn and how effectively you learn it. Don’t expect results without putting in the time and effort.
How Can You Find An Online Tutor?
If you have a specific academic area in mind, try searching for a tutoring provider in your area that provides online tutoring. Be sure to read reviews and check out their quality score so you can determine how good of a fit they are for your needs.
If you’re looking for a more general help, try searching for the name of your major or the name of the course you’re taking (for example, Search for Humanities tutoring provider for a general help search). You can use sites like LiveMentors, Teachable, or Udemy to find an online tutor for specific courses like English or history. If you’re looking for math help, try searching for the name of your department or the word math followed by the name of your major.
Once you’ve found a suitable tutor, be sure to read their reviews, watch their videos, and schedule an online tutoring session. This way, you’ll be sure to get the best possible results from your experience and won’t have any nasty surprises afterward (the opposite of which you want when you’re already stressed about your studies).
The Difference In Quality
It’s essential to remember that not all high-quality tutors are created equal. Some are simply trying to up-sale their services by promising results that they can’t deliver. So, it’s important to do your research and make sure the tutor you choose has a good reputation.
Look for students who have graduated within the last year and review the reviews for that particular instructor or course. Graduates almost always provide exceptional feedback about their previous teachers, particularly when it comes to the quality of their teaching. Reviews also give you a good indication of how well the tutor understands your course material. You can find reviews of your chosen tutor on sites like Superprofessors, Student Reviews, GoodCollegeStudents, and others.
If you’re worried about whether or not your tutor has the appropriate credentials for teaching your specific subject matter, check out their degree and then their certifications. A good academic tutor will have a solid record of teaching and a good reputation within the field. They should also have at least a Master’s degree in the subject you’re teaching. If they don’t have a Master’s degree, then they probably don’t have much experience in teaching your course and should not be your first choice for help (unless your circumstances are quite unique—in which case, they might be the best person you can find).
If you’re still deciding which tutor to choose, then consider the price. Most academic tutors are generally in demand and command higher rates as a result. If you want to have an enjoyable learning experience and get the most value for your money, then look for a tutor who has been rated highly in terms of value. This will generally come with a higher price tag, but it’s usually still quite affordable. You should also ask the tutor about their training budget and how much they’re willing to spend on extra material. Since you’re paying for their time, you want to be sure you’re getting your money’s worth.
Online Vs In-Person Tutoring
This is a common question and one that needs to be answered honestly, so here it is: Online tutoring is not necessarily worse than in-person tutoring. In fact, with online tutoring, you have the advantage of being able to access a much wider pool of tutors. You can also do most of the teaching yourself. The overall quality of the education does seem to suffer, however, if you’re comparing the two side-by-side.
Just remember that most colleges and universities have become ivies (invisibility vehicles)—meaning that they don’t want you to find out how poor their teaching is until after you’ve paid them. This is why you should negotiate with your chosen tutor before committing to a contract. If possible, you should also try and take a look at other clients who have taken similar courses from the same tutor, as this will give you an idea of how good their results were and whether or not you’ll be similarly successful.
Is It Worth It?
This is a question you have to ask yourself, but there’s no easy answer. On one hand, an academic in-person tutor might just be what you need to get through a rough patch. They can often help you identify the specific areas of your studies that you need to work on, and they can work with you one-on-one or in small groups to ensure that you are achieving your full potential.