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Studying psychology in Australia can be very challenging and overwhelming, even for previous university graduates. While many universities offer psychology courses, students find it overwhelming to juggle the competing complexities of statistics and scientific writing at a High Distinction level. Extra help from a psychology tutor can make a big difference to boost your grades and skill levels.
A good tutor can make all the difference between getting a good grade and struggling to pass. This blog post will provide eleven tips on finding a psychology tutor in Australia.
9 Tips on Finding a Tutor for Psychology in Australia
Our expert tips on finding the best psychology tutor in Australia will help you choose the right one, whether you're struggling with specific modules or topics or want to get ahead.
1. Know your goals
Before looking for a tutor, knowing what you want to achieve is important. Are you struggling with a particular topic? Do you need help preparing for exams? Or are you simply looking for someone to provide guidance and support throughout your studies? Once you know what you need, you can search for a tutor who specialises in that area.
With so many options available, it can take time to figure out where to start. That's why you should know your requirements.
2. Do your research
When you've sorted out your requirements, it's time to research the potential tutors. Look at their websites and read any reviews you can find online. It's also worth speaking to friends or family who has used a tutor before – they may be able to provide some helpful recommendations.
Identify whether tutors can offer you the type of support you need across writing as well as statistics and research methods. Statistics will form a large part of your degree, so finding a service that can support you across both is essential.
You can ask your professor for recommendations as well. Once you've narrowed down your options, it's time to make contact.
3. Create a shortlist of tutoring service providers
From your research, create a shortlist of potential tutors. Make sure to consider their rates, area of expertise and availability. You should also see if they offer a free initial consultation so you can get to know them better and decide if they're the right fit for you. Once you've found a few tutors you like, it's time to arrange a meeting. Please note that creating a shortlist will save you time.
You should also check with your university's student services department to see if they offer free tutoring services for their psychology students – it may be worth your while attending a few sessions even if you don't think you need extra help, as you can get valuable insights from other students' perspectives.
However, many of my own students have told me that they felt the services only partially helped them to overcome writing challenges. Free tutoring services often provide broad or vague feedback on drafts, which is very unlikely to help psychology students achieve High Distinctions.
Get Psyched offers a range of detailed hands-on coaching services for writing and statistics:
4. Make contact
The next step is to get in touch with your chosen tutors and arrange a meeting. This can be done via email or phone, whichever you feel more comfortable with.
At the meeting, it's important to discuss your goals and expectations to see if they align with the tutor's teaching methods. It's also a good idea to ask about their experience, qualifications and how much they charge.
5. Ask for a free consultation
Most tutors will offer a free consultation to get to know you and your goals. This is a great opportunity to see if you gel with the tutor and their teaching style. If not, it's best to move on and find someone you feel more comfortable with.
However, it is important to mention that high quality private tutoring fees are typically over $140 per session to account for the tutor’s time and effort before, during, and after sessions.
6. Be prepared to commit
Tutoring isn't a quick fix – it takes time and effort to see results. Be prepared to commit to regular sessions or intensive program, whether once a week or twice a month. This will give you the best chance of seeing progress in your studies.
But prepare to have patience. Learning takes time. A tutor can help you speed up the process, but they cannot work miracles if you are not doing the work and implementing their advice.
If money is a bit tight, then look for cost effective high value programs that offer a huge range of resources and skill development.
Get Psyched has a range of programs in their online Academy for writing and statistics:
8. Set some ground rules
Before you start tutoring sessions, setting some ground rules is important. This includes agreeing on a schedule, how much notice you need to give for cancellations, and the tutor's policy on make-up sessions.
It's also important to agree on payment terms – will you pay per session or in advance? – and whether you'll be using online tools like Google Meet or Zoom.
Get Psyched tutoring services clearly states all these details clearly so there are no surprises!
7. Be open and honest
Being open and honest is essential to get the most out of your tutoring sessions. If you're struggling with a particular topic, don't be afraid to ask for help. The sooner you ask, the sooner you'll get back on track.
Take your tutor’s feedback on board and implement it immediately. Their feedback may seem blunt or harsh at times, but remember they have limited time to communicate ideas and it is likely just your ego feeling sensitive. Get Psyched tutors will always be direct and to the point with their feedback on your drafts.
It's also important to be honest about your goals. If you need more clarification on what you want to achieve, tell your tutor so they can tailor their lessons to suit your needs.
8. Take responsibility for your learning
While your tutor can offer guidance and support, taking responsibility for your learning is essential. This means doing the required reading and applied homework outside of tutoring sessions.
It also means being proactive in seeking help when you need it. If you're struggling with a concept, don't wait until the next tutoring session to ask for help – reach out to your tutor as soon as possible.
And just because you are completing tutoring sessions, this doesn’t necessarily mean you can blame your tutor when you receive a poor mark - there are many factors that may impact your grade such as your Marker’s subjective perspective, the complexity of the assignment, or whether you implemented your tutor’s feedback at the level required.
9. Be willing to work hard
Tutoring can be extremely beneficial, but only if you're willing to work hard. This means attending all your tutoring sessions, preparing for each, and doing the required reading and homework.
If you're willing to put in the effort, you will likely see progress. So if you're serious about improving your grades, be prepared to work hard and commit to your tutoring sessions.
Final Words
Tutoring can be an excellent way to boost your grades and reach your academic goals. By following these tips, you can find the right tutor and make the most of your tutoring sessions.
About Get Psyched Tutoring
Get Psyched Tutoring is an online psychology tutoring service in Australia that offers one-on-one tutoring for students of all levels of university, from First Year, Honours, to PhD.
Our team of experienced tutors are all qualified psychologists who are passionate about helping students succeed. Sign up today for free and book a free consultation call.
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