<p>I was recently hired by the on-campus tutoring center to tutor for some gen. ed. classes (Psychology, History, Poli. Sci, Sociology, Geology and Communications). The work isn't too hard (we'll get to that in a second), and the pay is VERY good. </p>
<p>I work for 5 hours on Wednesday nights, with a 45 minute break so I can eat dinner and do any homework I have (until I got one of my appointments taken off the schedule I would just run to the vending machines and choke something down between appointments). On Wednesdays, I'm either at class or working from 9 in the morning to 8 at night. Tuesday and Thursday are my busy class days, with classes from 9 until 3.</p>
<p>Between my classes and work, I'm exhausted. I'm taking a heavier course load that usual, with a bunch of projects and out of class busy work, and I have a math class this semester, which is my weak subject and needs extra attention. This job doesn't do anything for my resume. I'm ele. ed., so internships and student teaching count for more than prior work experience, and I do have a few long term jobs under my belt. </p>
<p>I'm still not sure what exactly I'm supposed to be teaching my clients. I've heard from others that they teach how they studied for the specific class and how they specifically took notes. I feel wrong doing that, because each person is unique and I shouldn't have to force my way of doing something on these people because it probably won't work for them (actually, I don't have an organized way of doing stuff. I just kinda let it happen and adapt as needed). Also, I'm strongly resented by one of my clients because I'm young (almost 21) and look quite a bit younger than I really am (I'm regularly told 14).</p>
<p>I'm starting to get burned out, and I'm not even mid-term yet. I've only have the job for 4 weeks. I don't want to give up the job because it pays so well, but I'm really wondering if it's worth it at this point. I really don't need the money, and it would be nice to have my social life back (I commute, so this is a challenge even without a time-sink of a job!). At what point is it not worth it anymore?</p>
<p>Is it possible to scale your hours back but still keep working a little bit? 2 hours on Wednesday instead of 5 might seem a lot more manageable. If push comes to shove, though, give up the job. Maybe take it back next semester if you have a lighter courseload?</p>
<p>Agreed, see if you can cut back,split the hours between two days, or at least change it to a Tues or Thursday night. If it can't happen, dump the job. You said you don't need the money and it may affect your grades, and it's already affecting your social life. This is one reason I LOVE college. During senior year of HS I had a part-time job at Papa John's. I only made $6.50/hour and I worked every Friday and Saturday night. The pay came out decent enough, but I never had any free time to spend the money, and I never saw my friends over the weekend. I wanted to quit so many times. I didn't-and still have that job when I'm home-because decent pay is better than no pay.</p>
<p>I can't move it. They have a limited number of tables and can only have a certain number of people in the same program there at once. </p>
<p>The only way I could cut back my hours is by dumping clients. My boss thinks that having having 11 hours a week is still a light load, so I doubt she would go for that. She's one of those who thinks you should be busy with something at all times. </p>
<p>Getting a job there is very difficult because it's not physically demanding and the pay rate is so high (it's over $8 an hour starting out). I only managed to get on because I applied early and I was qualified for so many different subjects.</p>
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My boss thinks that having having 11 hours a week is still a light load, so I doubt she would go for that.
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I'm a little puzzled how 5 hours once a week on Wed nite turns into 11 hours a week.</p>
<p>5 hours in a part-time job isn't too much. 11 hours is a serious committment for a full-time student.</p>
<p>As for the overall value of the job, I worked as a tutor for the U while in school and overall I think I got as much out of it as the students did! There's a saying that you don't really know something until you can explain it to someone else. Things you were murky on you have to clear up (at least to yourself), and seeing things from a different angle as you listen to questions helps even more.</p>
<p>I think you need to start setting some parameters with your clients. At meeting X they should spend 5 minutes telling you what they will be covering in the upcoming week so you have time to prepare and think about it yourself, then when they have questions you'll be better prepared to answer. Tutoring is supposed to impart not just skills for the specific class but an approach to learning that the clients can use without your presence, so talking about note-taking and how to read a textbook is also important material to cover.</p>
<p>She just kinda wedged me in the schedule this semester. I was supposed to be working somewhere else, but that job got eliminated in a budget cut, and she didn't want me to get settled in another job.</p>
<p>The first thing I did cover with my students is that it's really important to read the textbook, and all of them have actually been doing the reading before they come. I'm still not sure how to teach them about taking notes, because as I said I don't have a real set method to it. Another issues is that, while I've had the classes that these people are in, all but one of them have different professors that what I had, and are covering stuff that we didn't cover.</p>
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Another issues is that, while I've had the classes that these people are in, all but one of them have different professors that what I had, and are covering stuff that we didn't cover.
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So much the better! There are different types of tutoring. In a match/science class the goal is to get the same answer taught in class; balls roll down inclined planes at the same speed no matter what text has the problem. But in liberal-arts classes the subject is more fluid, based on the instructor's interests and the book(s) selected. Rather than coaching the students on how to reach specific answers, then, the emphasis becomes more on <em>how</em> to learn; taking good notes, how to study from a text, how to compose good short answers, and the like.</p>
<p>And I want to put in a plug for a book I think every college student should own, "What Smart Students Know". Written by one of the cofounders of the Princeton Review prep service, it really explains how to study for various types of classes, take notes, budget your time, and the like. It's no magic bullet that will let students do 5x as much in 1/4 the time; you still have to put in the time, but at least you'll know that you're spending your time effectively. Check out the amazon reviews of this book and you'll see most people agree it is good. You sound like a pretty dedicated tutor, so if you read thru the book yourself you'll plenty of things to share with your students, a lot of them things I bet you're already doing without really knowing you're doing them.</p>
<p>I'd say finding something in your field of future work--see about an internship or tutoring younger students. That way you can still have a job & get paid, btu this time it's more in your field</p>
<p>I don't know, my opinion is to try to keep working at it.. try to manage everything else better, because quite honestly (in my opinion) it's only five hours... and in college, time management is key. During my senior year many days i left home at 8 am and returned at ten pm or so... yet still wound up with like a 3.75 or so for senior year, still had time to hang out with my friends, and wasn't sleep deprived. you just have to figure out a way to manage everything together. for me i was managing classes, work, studying, clubs, and meetings.. plus my friends. during the first semester i was working two jobs, 10 hours at one and about 25 at another, and the second semester i didnt do the 25 hour job (not because i needed to, but because it was a seasonal job)</p>
<p>if the job really isn't working out for you, try to find another one. any type of job in college looks better than no type of job.</p>
<p>i didnt bother reading the other comments, the only advice i have is that school is the most important thing for you. Don't let a few bucks get in the way of your main goal, a job is no longer worth it when it begins effecting your grades</p>
<p>Just because I'm an Ele. Ed major doesn't mean I'm not smart or a hard worker, and it certainly doesn't mean that my classes are super easy. I'm really getting tired of people telling me that it's such a "blow off" major. Even people from my old major (photojournalism, which was a SERIOUSLY easy major) tell me this all the time! Yes, some of the classes are super easy, but almost all of them require significant amounts of time. I have more projects due this semester that I have had in all of my photojournalism classes combined! </p>
<p>Plus, I'm finally happy in my classes and with the fact that I will be giving back to society in my career.</p>
<p>Teaching is a very noble profession to get into. </p>
<p>However, I feel you need to learn more about time management. Working 11 hours a week is nothing. Please try to look into learning of time management. I am not trying to be rude at all and am just being honest.</p>
<p>Y'all also have to realize that I lose an hour in the drive to work and another hour on the way home. I'm actually doing a better job managing my time than I have in past years, but I'm also having more projects and am trying to take on more responsibility at home. My sister isn't around much anymore, and it really is too much for Mom to take care of by herself (cleaning+laundry for 4 people+taking care of 4 dogs and 2 cats+dealing with my cantankerous grandmother).</p>
<p>Last semester I worked 14 hours over 4 days (managed a large computer lab by myself), but I had time to study at work other than when people needed help with doing things in Photoshop or InDesign. The tutoring job doesn't give me this. I have to actively do stuff with each of my clients, and then go over my old notes for the classes I'm tutoring for between weeks.</p>
<p>I think I'm going to just give it a bit more time for now. I took last night off, and while I enjoyed it (I haven't had a Wednesday night off during a semester for 2 years!), I did kinda miss seeing my clients (except for the one that doesn't like me!).</p>
<p>I woud stick with it, and see how you feel at the end of this semester. 5 hours a week isn't that bad.
I'm one of those people who feel the need to be busy all the time 8 am-10 pm everyday and then come home though, so I can understand that some people don't thrive off that lifestyle as well.</p>
<p>Hellokiki, you have a really short commute. You can record your notes and play them during your commute. You can even write important information about your classes on note cards and review them at red lights and the like. </p>
<p>I know it is hard to help folks out in their time of need when you have other things going on. Have you ever thought of just committing to things on the home front? For example, you work either 5 or 11 hours a week. I am confused as to how many. I am assuming you are off on Sunday?! So, maybe on Sunday you can help your family out with laundry and the like. Commit to at least two things you can do for sure. </p>
<p>I do not know. I just think you should stick things out. The reference you get from this kind of job is really good, you know what I mean? </p>
<p>Take spring break to go over things and whatnot. Also, please try to do any important projects during spring break. Or, at least start up on them, you know? You can still have a rest while doing that.</p>