Landing a scholarship is kind of a one-shot deal. To earn one and maintain it, the student must show themselves to be above average, in personal, as well as academic standards. Universities go over students’ applications with fine-toothed combs, looking for intangible qualities that prove a student is worth their investment. For students struggling in specific subjects, finding a math tutor near me can make a significant difference in boosting academic performance and standing out. They will then award scholarships to the most deserving candidates. Here, we show you how to maximize your potential for scholarship awards, and for a place in your choice of degree plan.
How Much Does Academic Success Matter?
By now, it’s no secret that colleges don’t always admit students based only on their grades. Legacy places, sports scholarships, and diversity opportunities suggest that some non-academic factors weigh at least as much as academic performance does.
Still, grades matter. For instance, of two equally talented athletes, the one with a higher grade-point average (GPA) will receive an acceptance letter. But, that’s beside the point: scholars should strive for the best possible marks, regardless of any extras they might have beyond strong academic performance.
Solid academic performance isn’t just about knowing facts and figures. It’s about building cognitive skills like critical thinking and problem-solving. Communicating ideas effectively, in writing and orally, contributes to academic success, too. The ability to use what you’ve learned in school demonstrates your grasp on transferable skills that no classroom can teach you.
However, ongoing sessions with an academic tutor can. One-to-one or in a small group, no more than three learners to one mentor, students have the time and space to explore concepts beyond their textbooks.
How a Tutor Helps Boost Academic Performance
We cannot blame our hard-working schoolteachers for not cultivating students’ cognitive abilities. They have a broad range of responsibilities and full classrooms. They have neither the time nor the energy to devote themselves to each student, much as they might want to.
But, private tutors do. In fact, guiding students to reach their full potential is their whole business model.
Let’s consider a student who struggles in math class. Their tutor would first analyze the root causes of those struggles. Are they due to poor mastery of fundamentals, or could there be a deeper cause, like math anxiety? Your tutor can help you find and break down barriers to math mastery.
Once that’s done, can they begin explaining how math works, why it’s done that way, and how to apply math concepts.
Naturally, this won’t happen after just one session, or even a few. You and your tutor have to build a mentoring relationship, based in trust and mutual understanding.
Solid Academic Performance: the Path to Self-Confidence
Unlike your parents and teachers, your tutor is not an authority figure in your life. Your relationship is more relaxed and informal. You can talk with your tutor about topics you wouldn’t broach with your mom or dad. This type of interaction gives you a sense of value, that you’re on par with someone older, and smarter, than you. The warmth and reception this relationship gives you delivers a sense of validation. You’ll repay your tutor and reward yourself, with your best work.
This dynamic sets up a virtuous circle. As you and your tutor explore and work with math concepts, you’ll hardly notice you’ve developed the ability to think mathematically. In time, you may credit this mentoring relationship for your newfound sense of self, and the belief that little is beyond your abilities.
Incidentally, private tutoring isn’t just for math. You can discover your love of chemistry with a science tutor, or uncover your craving for order and discipline with a tutor specializing in academic coaching. You can thrive in any niche subject you wish to dive into, from philosophy to anthropology, when you have a tutor’s guidance.
Self-Confidence: the Secret to Powerful Personal Statements
Around the world, months ahead of exam season, internet searches soar for math tutoring. Students and/or parents, keen for a strong American College Testing (ACT) showing, want a test-prep tutor to guide revision efforts. If the learner needs help keeping to their revision schedule, or to develop test-taking strategies, test-prep tutors are an excellent resource.
But, that’s a superficial solution to a systemic challenge. After all, it’s not enough to know math concepts. One has to know they know, to feel the confident in their abilities. Once again, we see that academic excellence comes back to self-confidence. That’s a quality tutors excel at helping students cultivate. What happens after taking those tests, though?
Writing a university application personal statement ranks among the most challenging parts of the application process. Many students focus on delivering the right elements: how it should sound, striking the right balance of keywords and descriptives, and how much to reveal about themselves.
The self-confident student can bypass those worries, because organization ranks high among the benefits of tutoring. Those learning guides excel at teaching students how to learn: start with fundamental concepts, and build on them. That type of ordered thinking becomes ingrained. It dictates students’ approach to any mental task, academic or otherwise.
A student who benefited from such a mentor will write their personal statement in logical sequence, with narrative flow. Couple that with a self-confident tone to deliver the most powerful university application. That is how private tutors help students achieve academic and personal success.
