How many sessions will it take?
It all depends on your goals and your skill level. If you’re preparing for a standardized exam like the SAT, GMAT, or GRE, five sessions might be all you need, depending on how far you want to progress and how much time and concentration you have to put into studying at home on your own. You can still learn worthwhile strategies in just a few sessions, but if you have the time, it’s best to start preparing two to six months in advance, especially if vocabulary is a weak link. If you need to build your vocabulary, try to start preparing closer to six months in advance, though much of that work can be done on your own. If you want academic support tutoring, the number and frequency of sessions will be determined fully by your needs and schedule.
What do I need to bring?
If you’re preparing for a standardized test, you need to bring the recommended text (link to preferred texts). If you’re seeking support for classroom success, bring any school texts and assignment papers relevant to the material you want to work on. If you'd like skills support or enrichment in reading, bring the book you want to read and let me know about it in advance so I can get a copy. If you want support for writing, there’s nothing you need to bring. I have paper, computers, and internet access.
What’s the tutoring environment like?
The atmosphere is relaxing and informal, with a couch, rug, and coffee table rather than the standard desks and chairs. I'm located on Ornbaun Road, with a view of some woods and the occasional visiting band of wild turkeys. Students can work from the comfort of the office sofa, there are computers available, and plenty of reference texts for whatever literary or linguistic questions arise.
How much is a tutoring session?
The fee is $50 an hour, but it's open to negotiation.
Do you ever accept payment in trade?
Sometimes. If you've got a service or commodity to trade, I'd be happy to entertain any reasonable proposal.
What is the cancellation policy?
If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, you must contact the instructor a minimum of 24 hours in advance. Otherwise, the student will be responsible for the full fee of the missed session.
What days and times are available for tutoring?
Regular business hours are Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm, but evening accommodations can sometimes be made for tight schedules. You’re warmly invited to call with any scheduling questions.
Is there anything I can do on my own to prepare for standardized tests?
Yes! Reading is the best way to learn vocabulary, and magazines like The New Yorker, Harper’s, and The Atlantic Monthly feature articles that tend to contain many of the vocabulary words that frequent the pages of the SAT, GRE, and GMAT. The more months you spend reading these articles, the more familiar you’ll become with their vocabulary and syntax. This kind of reading also improves your comfort and skill with the critical reading passages and the sentence completion questions, because the sentence structures tend to be similar, and the wider your general knowledge of the world (especially in history, art, and science), the easier the passages are to comprehend.