Teaching for Kaplan

[Kuba]

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Anybody else get a job teaching Kaplan MCAT or SAT Prep? I am going to start their training next month. I'd appreciate it if someone whos gone through this could tell me a little about it. So far it sounds like a really good gig.

 

[QofQuimica]

Anybody else get a job teaching Kaplan MCAT or SAT Prep? I am going to start their training next month. I'd appreciate it if someone whos gone through this could tell me a little about it. So far it sounds like a really good gig.

I teach for Kaplan. What do you want to know about it? Personally, I really enjoy it. I started teaching ten years ago when I was in college, and I'm still at it even now as an M1. 🙂

 

[Kuba]

I teach for Kaplan. What do you want to know about it? Personally, I really enjoy it. I started teaching ten years ago when I was in college, and I'm still at it even now as an M1. 🙂

wow! thats a lot of teaching. How rigorous is the training? I heard that you have to "pass" the last day or you get fired? Im thinking I may train as an MCAT teacher for the better pay, but then just teach SAT which is prolly easier to do and shorter of a commitment.

 

[QofQuimica]

wow! thats a lot of teaching. How rigorous is the training? I heard that you have to "pass" the last day or you get fired? Im thinking I may train as an MCAT teacher for the better pay, but then just teach SAT which is prolly easier to do and shorter of a commitment.

How old are you? If you're still in college, go for SAT for sure. You don't want to be teaching MCAT to your college classmates; it really undermines your authority if you are taking college classes along with your MCAT students. At the same time, you're just the right age where high school seniors will look up to you. But if you're a non-trad, then I'd advise you to go for MCAT. You have enough of an age difference that it's not like you're teaching your peers, and as you get older, you eventually reach a point where you lose your cool factor with the high school set. 😉

When I started teaching, there was no training. Now the training generally lasts for five sessions (post audition). Whether you get cut or not depends on your trainer and on how short-staffed your center is. It's definitely possible for you to get a few extra training sessions if they think you have potential but feel you're not quite ready to handle a class yet. Conversely, you could get cut after one or two training sessions if you're not getting with the program, so to speak. My advice is to put the time into prepping well, because blowing your homework off is the surest way to get yourself cut quickly. You need to work that hard to prep your actual classes, too. Once you take over an actual class, you will find that the students constantly keep you on your toes. MCAT in particular is very challenging, because you are getting asked tons of science content questions, and you need to know the material cold. Think of the most annoying gunner pre-med you know, and realize that he and all of his friends will be students in your MCAT class. If you're not prepared, they'll be completely merciless. I've seen new instructors teach one class, leave, and never come back.

 

[CatsandCradles]

How old are you? If you're still in college, go for SAT for sure. You don't want to be teaching MCAT to your college classmates; it really undermines your authority if you are taking college classes along with your MCAT students. At the same time, you're just the right age where high school seniors will look up to you. But if you're a non-trad, then I'd advise you to go for MCAT. You have enough of an age difference that it's not like you're teaching your peers, and as you get older, you eventually reach a point where you lose your cool factor with the high school set. 😉

When I started teaching, there was no training. Now the training generally lasts for five sessions (post audition). Whether you get cut or not depends on your trainer and on how short-staffed your center is. It's definitely possible for you to get a few extra training sessions if they think you have potential but feel you're not quite ready to handle a class yet. Conversely, you could get cut after one or two training sessions if you're not getting with the program, so to speak. My advice is to put the time into prepping well, because blowing your homework off is the surest way to get yourself cut quickly. You need to work that hard to prep your actual classes, too. Once you take over an actual class, you will find that the students constantly keep you on your toes. MCAT in particular is very challenging, because you are getting asked tons of science content questions, and you need to know the material cold. Think of the most annoying gunner pre-med you know, and realize that he and all of his friends will be students in your MCAT class. If you're not prepared, they'll be completely merciless. I've seen new instructors teach one class, leave, and never come back.

Wow.

That must have been quite a bit of experience you have!

 

[QofQuimica]

Wow.

That must have been quite a bit of experience you have!

I keep joking to people that one day I'm going to write a book. 😉

P.S. I like your signature. Cute. 🙂

 

[QofQuimica]

wow! thats a lot of teaching. How rigorous is the training? I heard that you have to "pass" the last day or you get fired? Im thinking I may train as an MCAT teacher for the better pay, but then just teach SAT which is prolly easier to do and shorter of a commitment.

Ok, I just looked at your profile and saw that you're 21. Do SAT for sure then. BTW, congrats on the Nova acceptance. Some of my former students are going there. 🙂

 

[Orthodoc40]

I teach for Kaplan. What do you want to know about it? Personally, I really enjoy it. I started teaching ten years ago when I was in college, and I'm still at it even now as an M1. 🙂

WOW! That's amazing!

The only thing my Kaplan teachers told me about it is that they don't pay very well at all, and that if you get hired to tutor, I suggest you work 'on the side' - don't let them know about it. Kaplan charges students a fortune for tutoring, but pays the tutor next to nothing. If you set it up just between yourselves, you can charge students less than they would pay Kaplan, and still make more for yourself. Just an FYI.

 

[QofQuimica]

WOW! That's amazing!

The only thing my Kaplan teachers told me about it is that they don't pay very well at all, and that if you get hired to tutor, I suggest you work 'on the side' - don't let them know about it. Kaplan charges students a fortune for tutoring, but pays the tutor next to nothing. If you set it up just between yourselves, you can charge students less than they would pay Kaplan, and still make more for yourself. Just an FYI.

That's partially true. It's definitely true that Kaplan way overcharges for private tutoring, and that the vast majority of that money doesn't go to the tutor. But it isn't true that Kaplan doesn't pay the instructors/tutors well. Pay is commensurate with experience and market. So in Florida, we don't get paid as much as people who live in the NE, for example. And of course someone like me is going to get paid a lot more than a college senior teaching his very first class because of our differences in experience and education. Pay is definitely also dependent on student evaluations. If most students like you and rate you above average compared to other instructors at your center and in your region, then you can more easily negotiate a raise. But you usually have to ask for it because they don't give it to you automatically, and that's often an intimidating and difficult thing for college-aged instructors to do. Plus, you have to be around long enough to gain enough experience to become "above average," and many instructors only teach for a year or two at the most.

I actually don't tutor very much any more. You'd be amazed how many students stand up the tutors and/or don't do their homework. There is nothing in this world that frustrates me more than a bright but lazy student. I'll flat-out refuse to work with them again after the first time they come in unprepared, or even worse, stand me up or cancel on me at the last minute without a good reason. I do like tutoring the hardworking but average students, because they don't waste my time, and I respect them for their work ethic. But my experience is that they tend to be in the minority.

 

[Orthodoc40]

That's partially true. It's definitely true that Kaplan way overcharges for private tutoring, and that the vast majority of that money doesn't go to the tutor. But it isn't true that Kaplan doesn't pay the instructors/tutors well. Pay is commensurate with experience and market. So in Florida, we don't get paid as much as people who live in the NE, for example. And of course someone like me is going to get paid a lot more than a college senior teaching his very first class because of our differences in experience and education. Pay is definitely also dependent on student evaluations. If most students like you and rate you above average compared to other instructors at your center and in your region, then you can more easily negotiate a raise. But you usually have to ask for it because they don't give it to you automatically, and that's often an intimidating and difficult thing for college-aged instructors to do. Plus, you have to be around long enough to gain enough experience to become "above average," and many instructors only teach for a year or two at the most.

I actually don't tutor very much any more. You'd be amazed how many students stand up the tutors and/or don't do their homework. There is nothing in this world that frustrates me more than a bright but lazy student. I'll flat-out refuse to work with them again after the first time they come in unprepared, or even worse, stand me up or cancel on me at the last minute without a good reason. I do like tutoring the hardworking but average students, because they don't waste my time, and I respect them for their work ethic. But my experience is that they tend to be in the minority.

Honestly, if there were enough time for me to re-take the MCAT, I would come to FL to get tutored by you!! 😍
But I'm a whatever it takes kinda person.

 

[QofQuimica]

Honestly, if there were enough time for me to re-take the MCAT, I would come to FL to get tutored by you!! 😍
But I'm a whatever it takes kinda person.

You're already accepted, so I wouldn't do it. 😛 I'd tell you to spend your time and money getting ready for med school instead. 😎

 

[Kuba]

WOW! That's amazing!

The only thing my Kaplan teachers told me about it is that they don't pay very well at all, and that if you get hired to tutor, I suggest you work 'on the side' - don't let them know about it. Kaplan charges students a fortune for tutoring, but pays the tutor next to nothing. If you set it up just between yourselves, you can charge students less than they would pay Kaplan, and still make more for yourself. Just an FYI.

they start at 22/hour. I think thats pretty reasonable. And they pay for prep time.

 

[Kuba]

Ok, I just looked at your profile and saw that you're 21. Do SAT for sure then. BTW, congrats on the Nova acceptance. Some of my former students are going there. 🙂

thanks for the advice!

 

[Orthodoc40]

You're already accepted, so I wouldn't do it. 😛 I'd tell you to spend your time and money getting ready for med school instead. 😎

I can't help it! I can totally relate to the main character in Tin Cup. "Who cares about winning the PGA championship - I KNOW I CAN MAKE THAT SHOT!!!"
That's kinda how I feel about that darned test....😡

The Kaplan guy that I set up tutoring with told me they would pay him $25/hr for tutoring. They were going to charge me $150/hr. Instead I just gave him $50/hr cash. Don't tell. 😛

 

[RubberToe]

I teach for Kaplan. What do you want to know about it? Personally, I really enjoy it. I started teaching ten years ago when I was in college, and I'm still at it even now as an M1. 🙂

What's an M1? Thanks in advance🙂

 

[harrypotter]

m1=1st year medical student

 

[QofQuimica]

m1=1st year medical student

Right. Sorry about the slang. 😳