@MFJohnston wrote:
Tutoring: Congrats! I've done a bit of this as it is very much in my line of work... However, I spent enough time with teenagers every day as it is and need a breather.....
I only have one teen, and one set of fourth grade twins, who are cute as pie and very easy to work with. All the rest are adults studying for the GRE (grad school admissions test).
@MFJohnston wrote:
Pay: I am very skeptical about $250/hr. Very. The going rate for an experienced tutor with lots of education (masters) tends to be $60-$80 in this area - which has a high cost of living. I know of a couple of folks who are able to charge a little over $120/hr. for one student. Some folks are able to do small groups, charging, say four kids $30/hr each.
I couldn't believe it either! Yet those tutors have ratings and reviews in the THOUSANDS (i.e., they've tutored thousands of people at those rates!). But it is somewhat misleading because they will offer discounts for booking a series, or paying in advance, or working online. But even with discounts, you're talking about well over $100/hour.
They all are "elite college" grads and their market is not folks like you and me, but the rich. If you can increase someone's score or their grades so that they have more opportunities ahead, it's worth it to many people. Hence, you can make a fortune tutoring children to pass private school entrance exams, or tutoring students to get the top 10% or 1% of SAT or GRE scores or 4.0 GPA that will have Harvard offering scholarships.
My GRE score was top 1%, but alas I did not go to an Ivy League college, so I probably won't get those kind of rates. Unless I go back to school ... hmmm...
I also applied for a job as a live instructor, and the process is grueling. I had to audition, memorize material, get background checked, and on and on. For that I'm an employee, but without any set schedule. It's really more like a contractor. I'm still in training.
@MFJohnston wrote:
Common Core: There is a major misconception about the Common Core: It is NOT a curriculum. It is a set of standards that schools are expected to get their students to meet. A curriculum can be "Common Core Aligned," which essentially means that it addresses required standards at each grade level. Two school districts can have very different math curricula, but also be "Common Core Aligned."