First of all, what exactly are online psychology tutors? These are tutors who are hired by college students to provide tutoring services. Now, it should be noted that there is no standardized “qualification” for becoming an online tutor. In other words, there is absolutely no way to tell whether or not a particular online tutor has any kind of educational background or training. In fact, some of these “mentor” websites simply don’t have anything to do with higher education.
Most often times, these tutoring services are provided by campus-based organizations such as fraternities, sororities, and sorority sisters. The organizations typically contract with a tutor who lives in a different city or even in a different state. They simply supply the tutor with a room and a computer. In turn, the tutor provides students with textbook and coursework help in order to fulfill their requirements for the degree program being taken.
Now, I should mention that there are some drawbacks to online tutoring services. Perhaps the most common one is that tutors are often required to complete a lengthy application and essay (sometimes they have to submit multiple applications). This is obviously due to the fact that most tutors work with college students who already have major influences in their families. Because of this, there is an increased risk that the tutor will not be able to impart the knowledge needed due to lack of self-discipline. Further, because most tutors work with smaller groups of students at a time, they are only able to give individualized attention. There is a significant drawback if a tutor is not able to meet the requirements needed.
Perhaps another downfall to online psychology tutors is the lack of feedback. Most online tutoring services only provide feedback via e-mail. It is up to the student to either be diligent enough to check their account each day or to inform their tutor if they forget to sign off. With this in mind, it is important to remember that online tutoring is only provided by those institutions that have the commitment to offer feedback through a more traditional contact medium. Even so, it should be noted that many online tutoring services are providing better service than their offline counterparts.
Furthermore, tutors are generally paid on a contingency basis. Online tutors usually charge approximately one hundred and fifty US dollars per hour of tutoring. Offline tutors on the other hand, charges between five and seven hundred US dollars for an hour of tutoring. Many students find this cost too much to pay, but it is important to note that most online tutors have rooms available in their daycare or office building that can be reserved for a small fee.
Another disadvantage of online psychology tutors is that some do not provide specialized training in specific subjects. This is not a problem for those who are enrolled in online courses, as all tutoring is generalized. However, if a student wishes to take a specialized course in a specific subject, such as criminal justice, then he or she would need to look for tutors who specialize in that area of study. Otherwise, the student would simply have to take the general courses and hope that he or she will improve.
Overall, online tutoring has its positive and negative aspects. Those who are considering using online tutoring services should consider the pros and cons of using these services before enrolling. While there are a number of advantages to online tutoring, there are also a number of negative aspects that could deter some from using this service. For those who are interested in online tutoring but do not have the time to commit to long hours of study, online tutoring may not be the best option.
