How do adcoms view VarsityViews tutoring?

[pioneer22]

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Hi everyone,

I was thinking of joining VarsityViews, or a similar educational tutoring service for the summer and near future.

My question is how do adcoms view an activity like this, where I would be tutoring students in-person and online (for $15/hour) in various subjects, like Chemistry and ACT prep.

Would this be viewed in the same light as being a college TA or even a grade school tutor? Or would it be viewed less positively since it is for profit?

Thanks

 

[Goro]

If you want to make some cash, that's fine.

If you really want to impress us, tutor poor kids for free.

 

[pioneer22]

If you want to make some cash, that's fine.

If you really want to impress us, tutor poor kids for free.

I have been planning on tutoring for free for a while—I was just surprised to get offered a job to tutor for pay...would doing both paid and free tutoring be viable if I split up those activities over the year (ie. paid over the summer, free tutoring during the school year)?

Thanks

 

[Goro]

It's OK.

 

[ndafife]

Its good but in the overall context of your GPA/MCAT/Personal Statement/Letters of Rec/Secondary Essays/Research/Clinical Volunteering/Other Extracurriculars/etc... how much of an effect do you expect from a single activity? Its a slight nudge in the right direction and is certainly better than doing nothing. Tutoring poor kids for free is more of a push, but either way neither is going to cause a school to accept you in the context of a weak application otherwise.

 

[pioneer22]

Its good but in the overall context of your GPA/MCAT/Personal Statement/Letters of Rec/Secondary Essays/Research/Clinical Volunteering/Other Extracurriculars/etc... how much of an effect do you expect from a single activity? Its a slight nudge in the right direction and is certainly better than doing nothing. Tutoring poor kids for free is more of a push, but either way neither is going to cause a school to accept you in the context of a weak application otherwise.

Totally agree.
I plan on keeping all the other aspects very strong. I was just wondering if VarsityTutors is viewed just like tutoring grade schoolers, but I guess it is not as good.

Is tutoring young students for free as commendable as a college TA?

 

[bbbcccppp]

I'm not adcom but I think if a nice job has fallen your way that it would be hard to find fault in your taking it. How many Doctors do you think do much pro bono work? Unfortunately not a high percentage.


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[gyngyn]

I'm not adcom but I think if a nice job has fallen your way that it would be hard to find fault in your taking it. How many Doctors do you think do much pro bono work? Unfortunately not a high percentage.


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Everyone who accepts medicaid patients.

It's actually illegal to provide care for less than you charge Medicare (with few exceptions).

 

[pioneer22]

other thoughts?

 

[bbbcccppp]

Re

 

[pioneer22]

Re

What??

 

[pioneer22]

So overall, how would the following three be viewed: college TA (ie bio class), VarsityTutors, grade school tutor? @Goro @gyngyn
Would it be TA = VarsityTutors < grade school tutor, since the grade school tutor is volunteer work and the others are paid?

Thanks

 

[bbbcccppp]

What??

Oy


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[gyngyn]

So overall, how would the following three be viewed: college TA (ie bio class), VarsityTutors, grade school tutor? @Goro @gyngyn
Would it be TA = VarsityTutors < grade school tutor, since the grade school tutor is volunteer work and the others are paid?

Thanks

Go where you can do the most good.
We understand that sometimes you need the pay. It's also fine.