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As with pretty
much everything in life, you get what you pay for - but in
tutoring, there can be exceptions. Here are descriptions of common
tutoring sources and reasonable prices for each:
After school: Tutoring programs
that occur at school sites after school generally have a few
common characteristics. First, there are a lot of kids. Unless you
know differently, assume there could be anywhere between 10 and 35
students at one time. Second, because of the number of students,
no one will be getting too much personal attention. Third, the
adults in these programs are generally either teachers who have
already taught for an entire day, or local high school students.
Either way, this is not the most effective tutoring environment.
Price range for this type of tutoring should be between free and
$10/hour.
Tutoring centers: Tutoring centers
such as Score!
or Sylvan for
younger students, and
Kaplan or
The
Princeton Review for older students, offer more than just
tutoring. These businesses invest a great deal in student
assessments, materials, incentives, and advertising. The tutoring
is generally very effective as a result of these measures. Paying
for these services is like joining a health club; often there is a
one-time sign-up fee between $100 and $200, and then a monthly
fee, which generally averages out to between $20 and $40/hour.
Online tutors: Tutors who work
online function in a few different ways. First, they may make
themselves available by email to answer questions. The obvious
drawback to this can be the turnaround time. Also,
online tutors may be available for tutoring via a live chat
room. This can be a great format for getting questions answered,
but there is the drawback of requiring certain technical abilities
from the student. Without effective keyboarding and web surfing
skills on the student's part, this service can be overpriced
compared to in-person tutoring. Generally, online tutors are
available for $15 to $30/hour, though some offer monthly
subscription services that range from $150 to $300/month.
Novice tutors: For younger
students, finding an older student in the family or community who
can tutor them is often a great way to go. This type of tutoring
is best for homework help and straightforward academic progress.
Expect personal attention, but not necessarily the most effective
diagnosis or instruction. A reasonable price for this type of
tutoring is $10 to $15/hour.
Professional tutors: Tutors with
several years of experience and a college degree are often able to
combine personal attention with effective teaching methods. Expect
that these tutors come to your home, have their own materials, and
can adapt to different learning styles and teaching approaches.
Tutors of this kind generally cost between $25 and $50/hour. |
A professional tutoring service must be guided by a well-defined philosophy which meets
the needs of its students and adheres to the highest possible standards of academic
excellence. Here are the principles which govern our tutoring service: 