Here’s an answer I gave to a similar inquiry a while back which I think holds up pretty well:
There's a lot of tutors out there, and they run the spectrum from the truly great to the spectacularly awful. There's a lot of easy ways to weed out the really bad ones, but that still leaves a ton of middle-of-the-roaders being priced the same as the top-tier. The most important thing is probably to just talk to people. There's no substitute. Schedule lots of free consultations, and don't give anyone money who's not willing to talk to you for free first--absolutely not. (Refundable deposits are okay--got to let people secure their time.)
And be skeptical in consults. Ask lots of questions and make them prove to you why they'd be a good fit. There are way more bad and so-so tutors than good ones, so statistically speaking, it's unlikely you're talking to a great one. Put the onus on them to convince you otherwise--it's literally a job interview, and you're the boss. (That relationship gets a little more complicated once you hire someone, but that's exactly why it's so important to find someone you really trust.)
Look for passion. It'll sound weird to most people, but LSAT tutors really do love this test. We love studying it, we love teaching it, we find it endlessly fascinating, and there is nothing else we would rather be doing. If you're not picking up on that kind of energy, thank them for their time and keep looking.
If it's someone charging the BIG MONEY, you also need to look for experience. Don't pay pro prices for amateur tutors. Pay amateur prices. Everyone has to get their start somewhere, and you can find some emerging greats among the amateurs. But mostly not. In either case, you're gambling on them. And there is absolutely no reason to pay top dollar on a gamble when you could get a proven veteran for the same rate.
Look to develop rapport. Your tutor needs to be someone you enjoy spending a little time with, someone who's style and personality you gel with, and someone you find engaging. It's an intangible, but it's important. It takes time to build any relationship, so you do have to take a bit of a risk on this, but if you aren't actively looking forward to working with a tutor, that should give you pause.
If you're looking for a tutor, I'd recommend scheduling a free consultation with one of the expert tutors here at 7Sage! Not only are all of our tutors 99th percentile scorers, but we also have a lot of experience helping people like you reach their goal scores. You can use this link to schedule that consultation and learn more about how our tutors can support you as you get ready for test day! https://calendly.com/7sage-consult/7sage-tutoring-free-consultation
Comments
Here’s an answer I gave to a similar inquiry a while back which I think holds up pretty well:
There's a lot of tutors out there, and they run the spectrum from the truly great to the spectacularly awful. There's a lot of easy ways to weed out the really bad ones, but that still leaves a ton of middle-of-the-roaders being priced the same as the top-tier. The most important thing is probably to just talk to people. There's no substitute. Schedule lots of free consultations, and don't give anyone money who's not willing to talk to you for free first--absolutely not. (Refundable deposits are okay--got to let people secure their time.)
And be skeptical in consults. Ask lots of questions and make them prove to you why they'd be a good fit. There are way more bad and so-so tutors than good ones, so statistically speaking, it's unlikely you're talking to a great one. Put the onus on them to convince you otherwise--it's literally a job interview, and you're the boss. (That relationship gets a little more complicated once you hire someone, but that's exactly why it's so important to find someone you really trust.)
Look for passion. It'll sound weird to most people, but LSAT tutors really do love this test. We love studying it, we love teaching it, we find it endlessly fascinating, and there is nothing else we would rather be doing. If you're not picking up on that kind of energy, thank them for their time and keep looking.
If it's someone charging the BIG MONEY, you also need to look for experience. Don't pay pro prices for amateur tutors. Pay amateur prices. Everyone has to get their start somewhere, and you can find some emerging greats among the amateurs. But mostly not. In either case, you're gambling on them. And there is absolutely no reason to pay top dollar on a gamble when you could get a proven veteran for the same rate.
Look to develop rapport. Your tutor needs to be someone you enjoy spending a little time with, someone who's style and personality you gel with, and someone you find engaging. It's an intangible, but it's important. It takes time to build any relationship, so you do have to take a bit of a risk on this, but if you aren't actively looking forward to working with a tutor, that should give you pause.
Hope this helps.
Hey!
If you're looking for a tutor, I'd recommend scheduling a free consultation with one of the expert tutors here at 7Sage! Not only are all of our tutors 99th percentile scorers, but we also have a lot of experience helping people like you reach their goal scores. You can use this link to schedule that consultation and learn more about how our tutors can support you as you get ready for test day! https://calendly.com/7sage-consult/7sage-tutoring-free-consultation