Tutoring in the summer before college means that online tutors serve in an important role. Online tutors will help springboard incoming freshman into college life with academic tools, study skills, and critical thinking prowess that is wholly necessary for success at the university level.
While the SAT/ACT is finished, there will be a list of new challenges students will face. As an online tutor, it’s up to you to help students overcome often overlooked obstacles. Take these action steps, and if you have additional ideas, our community would love to hear from you.
Prepare students for a new schedule.
If you find yourself in this position, know that you are a gatekeeper between the structured life of high school and the freer schedule of college.
While the latter half of that scenario may sound appealing to most students, the less rigorous schedule is actually a defining moment in academic performance.
Because students don’t have to be in class at a certain time each and every day, and because students won’t have the luxury of mom and dad getting them to school, the so-called freedom may end up lowering grades.
Prepare students for critical thinking.
College has critical thinking at its core. If there is one skill that you leave college with, it’s most definitely critical thinking. Many high schoolers are not quite sure what critical thinking entails, and it’s up to you as their online tutor to drill this skill into their minds.
When incoming freshmen are able to articulate their thoughts in a cogent and logical manner, that’s when essay writing becomes ten times easier. During your tutoring sessions, make sure to get students to expand on their thinking and provide evidence behind their logic. Their professors will thank you.
Prepare students for more work.
Many incoming freshman have visions of parties and fun dancing in their heads, and while the social arena of college life is part of the equation, online tutors must also prepare students for more difficult assignments.
Students are used to escalating difficulty. In the transition between 2nd and 3rd grade alone, multiplication and cursive writing are introduced. As students get older, they tend to not notice how classes get more difficult, and college demands often result in a rude awakening. As their tutor and advocate, it’s important to prepare them for the reality.
What advice would you give incoming freshmen?