Pro: Tutors only add convenience, not inequity
By Alec Lautanen
Executive Opinion Editor
With college admissions becoming more and more competitive, students are exploring every option for a leg up in admission into top-tier universities. Although some have spoken out against intensive standardized test tutoring and application counseling as unfair for underprivileged students, these companies provide a service that is valuable, but not necessary for admittance.
Access to preparation services for both standardized testing and college admissions have been a controversial issue recently. Although beneficial to those who can afford them, programs do not disadvantage underprivileged students.
Recently, critics have drawn attention to the role of such services because of the increasing importance of standardized test scores in college admissions. The National Association for College Admission Counseling found that 59% of schools surveyed categorized tests like the ACT and SAT as “considerably important.”
The main controversy is the supposed edge that test-takers who use individual tutors have. These tutors often have fees that can exceed $100 per session. With preparation often starting weeks, if not months, in advance, it’s easy to see how these costs can add up. However, there are a wide variety of cheap and even free resources for test-takers.
A multitude of web sites are available that provide in-depth test practice free of charge, including Khan Academy. If students desire a more structured system of study, other planned online courses are offered with relatively low prices. A formal tutor merely adds convenience to the basic review structure.
Some opponents claim that the use of one-on-one tutors for standardized test preparation disadvantages students who can’t afford these prices, but College Board studies have shown that the score differences between students that pay for personalized tutoring services and those who use relatively cheap review books on their own are negligible.
Aside from standardized test tutoring, controversy over the equity of college admissions counseling has come to light as well. Certain services provide individual college counseling for rates of up to $150 per hour to help clients with applications, essays and picking the right high school courses and activities.
As with standardized test preparation tutors, opponents take issue with admissions counseling. However, the same conclusions can be reached. The resources available for prospective students are virtually limitless for college applications; counseling just adds a layer of convenience and serves to save time for students with busy schedules.
Especially with school organizations such as Mira Costa’s College and Career Center, students have access to an array of informational resources, so competitiveness based on income is almost a non-issue. The college admissions process may be a complicated track, but mastery or failure is not dependent on a family’s income. Even if schools do not have resources such as Mira Costa’s CCC, a multitude of information can easily be found online.
It’s undeniable that some measure of preparation does greatly aid students with both standardized test performance and college admissions, but these methods don’t have to come at enormous costs to test-takers.
Students of all economic backgrounds can prepare adequately, and formal tutoring services only add convenience, not unfair advantages.
Con: Students who are unable to pay will suffer
By Alex White
Staff Writer
Private tutoring on standardized tests provides an unfair advantage to students who can afford personalized help to raise their scores. Tests like the SAT and ACT have an important enough effect on college admissions that a few points in either direction can have a significant impact on acceptance.
The benefits that private tutors give raise scores to the point where those who can afford them have an artificial advantage over those who cannot.
One-on-one sessions with some tutors, such as those from Compass education group, can cost over $100 per hour. With this luxury comes assistance that significantly raises scores. Programs like the Princeton Review guarantee higher scores for students who use private tutors, and this is an advantage many test-takers cannot afford. A recent Ohio State University study reported that only 7% of students had the luxury of private tutors.
The very purchase of a private tutor’s service shows that society believes tutoring services provide a significant leg up in competition.
Standardized tests are a strategic matter in many cases. A tutor that knows the correct skills and also knows how to communicate them effectively is far better than any student left to his own devices with a book or website. While the information may be available for less cost, the ability to impart that information on the student is truly valuable.
Especially with students who have lower scores and already may not have the best comprehension ability, tutoring provides a massive leg up on those who cannot afford it. Lower scores are easier to improve on because lost points usually come from knowledge gaps as opposed to technique and strategy errors, and that is when a private tutor helps fill those gaps in knowledge.
The weight of these tests make spending money on tutoring even more advantageous. With more applicants at colleges the schools have less time to look at each application and numbers become more important.
Standardized tests are playing an increasingly vital role because of their immediate relevance and its ease of comparison with other students. Therefore, a high score given by a tutor is an unmistakable advantage.
The last thing a tutor gives to his student is confidence. Test taking is partially mental, and having the support of a tutor takes the pressure off and gives the student peace of mind while taking the test, which is very mentally rigorous. This intangible contribution that only a tutor can provide cannot be overlooked during evaluation of the standardized test tutoring process.
Those who favor using private tutors claim students who cannot afford them can get the same benefits from cheaper alternatives. However, private tutors provide a significant advantage by being able to communicate the effective lessons better than self-taught methods.
In addition to standardized test tutoring, private college admissions counseling also provides unfair advantages for wealthier students. Private counselors, whose fees can number in the thousands of dollars for the entire admissions process, offer custom services including essay editing and application review. These services are available publicly through school college counselors, but personalized services offer a level of one-on-one attention that isn’t available to the average student.
Students who can afford to be taught skills for standardized tests have a significant advantage over those who cannot. Between having information made more accessible as well as the confidence boost that comes from a private tutor, its influence on the admissions process is unfair.
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