Becoming a tutor is a great way to earn some extra part time cash as a college student. In addition to being a satisfying part time job, it can be lucrative and offers considerable flexibility. You could tutor fellow college students, local high schoolers, or even middle schoolers too. But along with the positives, there are a few negatives that you should be aware of so you can make an informed decision if you considering becoming a tutor.
PRO: There will always be a demand for tutors
There’s an increasing competition for places in schools and colleges. As a result, there is no shortage of students looking for individual tutoring to help them rise to the challenge. Additionally, the growth of online tutoring has opened up yet another well-paying avenue for tutors.
PRO: You get to be your own boss
Not bound to school rules, school timings, and other restrictions, private tutors have more flexibility. You can set your own daily and weekly tutoring hours and can choose to work only as many hours as you want to. You can also set your own hourly fees, so you are in full control of how much you earn.
PRO: There is no limit to what you can teach as a tutor
As a private tutor, you can choose to teach students just about anything that you have sufficient expertise in. Whether it is math, a foreign language, or a musical instrument. You can even specialize in helping students prepare for their exams or even standardized tests like the SAT or ACT. Every year, a new batch of college bound high-schoolers are looking for exam prep and help. If you have a specialization, you can focus on that and fill the tutoring niche.
PRO: No start-up costs involved
Unlike most home businesses, there are no-startup costs for tutors. Besides sufficient knowledge in particular fields and a love for teaching, you don’t need anything else. Get started through word of mouth, putting some flyers up around town, or joining an online tutoring site.
CON: It takes patience and persistence to be successful
Working one-on-one with students requires immense patience. You have to learn to adapt your teaching and classes to suit different learning styles and various curriculum. You will need to spend some of your off-hours preparing for the upcoming classes and sessions.
CON: The working hours can take a toll on your social life
Most tutoring classes are held in the evenings or during the weekends when the kids are not in school. You will have to balance your social life and tutoring, and make time for your own academics.
CON: Getting started
As with any venture, it can be hard getting the ball rolling. Registering a website (or on a website), circulating flyers, word of mouth advertising, establishing credibility, it can be a lot of work.