When most kids get to college they are understandably a bit lost. If you’ve done a good job of teaching them how to get by in unfamiliar surroundings they can no doubt find their way around (or humbly ask for help from more experienced students). Attending orientation and taking the campus tour couldn’t hurt, either. But there are bound to be things students need that they don’t know how to get. In fact, they might not even know where to start looking.
If they find themselves struggling with a particular subject, for example, it might not even occur to them to seek out tutoring services in order to get the help they need. As a parent, it’s your goal to see that your kids are given every opportunity to succeed, and that onus doesn’t end the minute they turn 18 or leave your house. So whether they call you up complaining about a hard class or you’ve notice their grades starting to slip, it may be high time you help your student find a tutor.
The first thing every student should try to do is take advantage of any tutoring services offered by the campus. Many schools employ knowledgeable upperclassmen in some type of learning center on campus to provide tutoring in basic coursework for their peers who are struggling. So if kids are having trouble with their general education requirements they can get the help they need to understand the fundamentals and prepare for more advanced coursework. Some teachers also have classroom aides that make themselves available to assist any students that are having trouble understanding lessons. This is especially common in large and popular courses that have several hundred students (too many for a single teacher to manage alone). While students can always speak with a professor during office hours, they are understandably busy and they may not have time to tutor individual students. So have your kids inquire with the professor about a qualified classmate that may be able (and willing) to help.
Of course, there are also professional tutors to consider. In some cases, graduate students will tutor undergrads for money to pay their ongoing tuition and other costs. This is a great resource for kids since they are in close proximity and they often charge less than teachers or other types of tutors. But if your student is still having issues finding an appropriate tutor, you might consider looking into professional online tutoring services like SmartThinking.com, Tutor.com, Brainmass.com, Classof1.com, and EduWizardS.com, amongst others. These sites often have tiered pricing structures depending on the amount of help students need, they offer a diverse array of specific subjects, and they allow for flexible scheduling of sessions. Additionally, if your student is well versed in any subject, they can earn money by sharing their knowledge with Learnok.com.
The idea here is that the resources available to students in need of a tutor are practically unlimited in this day and age. If they can’t find tutors here and there within the local area, they need only hop online to find a whole world full of qualified individuals just waiting to help them ace their classes. It may not be free, or even cheap, but if you want your college students to do their best, then help them to find the tutoring services they need. Start by searching for free resources, of course, but don’t shy away from paid options; they’re bound to cost less than another semester of tuition to retake a failed class.