Should I take a Varsity Tutoring Job?

[Arizona1738]

Hey everyone!

I just had a few questions regarding the AMCAS Work and Activities Section. So, I'm going to apply to Med School during the next cycle and, at the moment, I think I am lacking slightly on Section 5 as I don't have 15 activities, or even close to 15 to be honest. I recently got an email accepting me as a Tutor for Varsity Tutors and I was wondering if this would be a substantial activity to include on my AMCAS EC's as a "Paid Experience - non Medical/Clinical". Of course, getting paid on the side as a tutor for this company is great but I was wondering if it would bolster my application if I don't have any other employment activities - or around 15 activities in general. Oh, and if I take the job, I am planning to stay employed for over 6 months and would be tutoring in the Sciences so that's good too lol.

Another question I had is that I know of this Court near me that has volunteers look over young kids when their parents are in a court hearing. Would this be a good volunteering experience, and also, what volunteering category would this fall under? I would love to take part in this volunteer experience anyhow, but I'm just wondering if it's something that I could also include on my application and would be a great experience to add (especially if I continue it from now until I around when I apply!).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

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[ladymiresa]

If I were you, I’d consider listing it as teaching instead of non clinical employment. It will probably round out your application better. However, if you’re more interested in tutoring than making money (ie, you’re able to take a tutoring position without compensation), I’d recommend looking into volunteer positions in which you can tutor underprivileged youth. There’s probably tons of opportunities near you ranging from helping high schoolers prepare for college to elementary students learning math and sciences.

As far as the babysitting thing for the young kids whose parents are in court, I think it sounds like a fine volunteeeing if you’re passionate about it. Would be nonclinical. I know a lot of courthouses and agencies also have volunteer positions for advocates of victims (such as domestic violence victims visiting the courthouse bc they’re applying for an order of protection). If you’re particularly interested in volunteering in a courthouse, you might look into this since I think advocacy work is more highly regarded than child care... but hey, they’re both meeting a crucial need and if the kids is what you’re interested in, then go with it. If you’re tutoring kids too, then you’re shaping your application to show you’re interested in supporting youth, so it’s alwaya good to have a common theme between your experiences (helps with your essays). Good luck!

 

[letsgetstarted1234]

Varsity tutors is like wyzant.com.

you create a profile, if students are interested they contact you through the company's website and you set up tutoring, sometimes online.

in exchange they take a cut of your pay (30-40% is standard).

its not bad if you have no other way of getting students, but that commission is no joke my friend.

 

[Arizona1738]

If I were you, I’d consider listing it as teaching instead of non clinical employment. It will probably round out your application better. However, if you’re more interested in tutoring than making money (ie, you’re able to take a tutoring position without compensation), I’d recommend looking into volunteer positions in which you can tutor underprivileged youth. There’s probably tons of opportunities near you ranging from helping high schoolers prepare for college to elementary students learning math and sciences.

As far as the babysitting thing for the young kids whose parents are in court, I think it sounds like a fine volunteeeing if you’re passionate about it. Would be nonclinical. I know a lot of courthouses and agencies also have volunteer positions for advocates of victims (such as domestic violence victims visiting the courthouse bc they’re applying for an order of protection). If you’re particularly interested in volunteering in a courthouse, you might look into this since I think advocacy work is more highly regarded than child care... but hey, they’re both meeting a crucial need and if the kids is what you’re interested in, then go with it. If you’re tutoring kids too, then you’re shaping your application to show you’re interested in supporting youth, so it’s alwaya good to have a common theme between your experiences (helps with your essays). Good luck!

Ahhh I gotcha! Forgot to mention this but I may also be tutoring at my University so I was thinking about writing that as Tutoring/Teaching. If this is the case, would it be better to write one as employment (Varsity Tutoring) and the other as Teaching (University Tutoring)? I'm also trying to tutor the underprivileged in my area at the moment (waiting for a response to come for my application in the next few days) so thanks for that and Idk if that would make the Varsity Tutoring better to list it as Employment so my app isn't too repetitive!

Regarding the courtroom volunteering, thanks so much for the advice! I am really passionate about working with the kids there but I will definitely look into advocacy work options near me!

Thanks so much for everything, I really appreciate it!

 

[Catalystik]

I just had a few questions regarding the AMCAS Work and Activities Section. So, I'm going to apply to Med School during the next cycle and, at the moment,

1) I think I am lacking slightly on Section 5 as I don't have 15 activities, or even close to 15 to be honest.
2) I recently got an email accepting me as a Tutor for Varsity Tutors and I was wondering if this would be a substantial activity to include on my AMCAS EC's as a "Paid Experience - non Medical/Clinical". Of course, getting paid on the side as a tutor for this company is great but I was wondering if it would bolster my application if I don't have any other employment activities - or around 15 activities in general. Oh, and if I take the job, I am planning to stay employed for over 6 months and would be tutoring in the Sciences so that's good too lol.

3) Another question I had is that I know of this Court near me that has volunteers look over young kids when their parents are in a court hearing. Would this be a good volunteering experience, and also, what volunteering category would this fall under? I would love to take part in this volunteer experience anyhow, but I'm just wondering if it's something that I could also include on my application and would be a great experience to add (especially if I continue it from now until I around when I apply!).

1) The average applicant lists 9-10 activities, so don't feel there's an obligation to put something into every available slot.

2) I agree with @ladymiresa . Teaching is a better category to use if you have nothing else for that, like mentoring, coaching, TA. You can make it clear it was employment with the name you give the space.

3) This would be Community Service-Not Medical/Clinical.

 

[Arizona1738]

Varsity tutors is like wyzant

you create a profile, if students are interested they contact you through the company's website and you set up tutoring, sometimes online.

in exchange they take a cut of your pay (30-40% is standard).

its not bad if you have no other way of getting students, but that commission is no joke my friend.

I heard about this! I'm not so much in it for the money as much as I am in it for having it as an EC on my app (although of course getting paid is always a plus even tho ik its not much!). Thanks for your feedback though, I appreciate it!

 

[Arizona1738]

1) The average applicant lists 9-10 activities, so don't feel there's an obligation to put something into every available slot.

2) I agree with @ladymiresa . Teaching is a better category to use if you have nothing else for that, like mentoring, coaching, TA. You can make it clear it was employment with the name you give the space.

3) This would be Community Service-Not Medical/Clinical.

Gotcha! If I have one (or two) other activities for Tutoring/Teaching though, would it be beneficial to put the Varsity Tutoring as Employment? Or would it still be better to list it as Teaching/Tutoring and then just describing it as employment in the description?

Appreciate the feedback!

 

[Catalystik]

If I have one (or two) other activities for Tutoring/Teaching though, would it be beneficial to put the Varsity Tutoring as Employment? Or would it still be better to list it as Teaching/Tutoring and then just describing it as employment in the description?

If you have other activities under the Teaching tag, then it would be better to use the Employment-Not Medical/Clinical tag for this one, to better balance your application.

 

[letsgetstarted1234]

I heard about this! I'm not so much in it for the money as much as I am in it for having it as an EC on my app (although of course getting paid is always a plus even tho ik its not much!). Thanks for your feedback though, I appreciate it!

gotcha. if it's not for survival, as in money is no option, then i would also look around for other teaching or volunteering options. tutuoring is rewarding but i tihnk there are a lot of other great ways to serve/teach, like teaching disadvantaged youth in your city.

 

[Arizona1738]

Understood! Thanks for the feedback everyone! I'll try to incorporate all of this when making my decisions!