Frequently Asked Questions
Where do we meet?
Our tutors come to your home. Other arrangements, such as meeting at a local
library or the student's school, are also possible.
When are your tutors available to meet?
Our tutors understand that students have very busy schedules. As such, we are extremely
flexible and can offer tutoring immediately after school, in the evenings, and on weekends.
How do I begin?
You begin by contacting us either by email or phone. Our director will get in touch
with you within one business day to discuss your tutoring or test prep needs, and
to get a better sense of your student’s unique learning abilities, academic
goals, and availability. We then select a tutor who will be a great match for your
student. At this point the tutor will contact you and schedule an initial meeting.
In order to design the most effective program for each student, the first meeting
is primarily a diagnostic assessment of the student’s academic level, learning
style, and particular challenges. The tutor will most likely have the student take
a number of written tests to assist in this assessment. In addition to the assessment,
the first meeting is also an opportunity for the tutor and student to get to know
one another. Though extensive tutoring and homework help will probably not occur
in this first meeting, we find that establishing a rapport with our students from
the very beginning and performing an initial assessment make our tutoring much
more effective and meaningful in the long-run. After the first few meetings our
director will contact you again to make sure that you are happy with your tutor
and curriculum.
To contact a tutor, or if you have further questions about our tutoring services, click here.
How much does it cost and how will I be billed?
Our tutoring and test prep services are $70 an hour. All billing will be handled
through the Scholar’s Station offices; you will not pay your tutor directly.
We take your credit card information when we establish service and at the end of
each month, after confirming the number of sessions with your tutor, we bill your
credit card and send you a monthly billing summary along with a written update
from your tutor outlining the previous month’s sessions, your student’s
progress to date, and confirming the schedule and learning goals for the following
month.
Do you take checks and/or money orders?
We do not normally accept checks and money orders, though special arrangements can
be made in unique circumstances.
What is included in your price?
The price includes an initial and regular assessments of the student’s progress,
monthly written updates to parents, regular contact with teachers and parents when
appropriate, travel costs, and prep time.
Do you offer discounted rates for group sessions?
Though we do offer slightly discounted rates for group sessions, we usually recommend
that students take full advantage of the one-on-one services. We find that our
students get the most out of the sessions that are uniquely and specifically designed
for them. Because we do not practice a universal tutoring model, all of our sessions
are tailored to the student’s specific learning style, academic level, and
educational goals. It is important to note as well that we see ourselves not only
as educators, but also as mentors, and believe that it is important to support
our students emotionally as well as intellectually. We are able to provide this
support most effectively in a one-on-one setting. As a result, our one-on-one sessions
also maximize student focus, motivation, and confidence.
How do I begin?
You begin by filling out our Essay Submission Form. This form allows you to select
your desired editing package, choose your service turnaround time, submit your
essay, and receive a preliminary price quote. After confirming the word count and
quoted price, your editor will contact you within one business day to discuss billing
and begin the project.
To go directly to the essay submission page, click here.
Why do you ask for an unofficial (or estimated) transcript?
Our editors are also trained college admissions advisors. We know that the application
needs to be a total package. The more that we know about you as we work on your
essay, the better equipped we are to give you the most effective support. Your
grades will not factor into our decision to work on your essay, nor will they impact
the quality of our edit; they serve only to give us a better idea of who you are.
Do you only edit college admissions essays?
We are not limited to undergraduate college admissions essays. We have edited essays
for undergraduate and graduate school admissions, scholarships, summer programs,
private high school admissions, and study abroad programs. We also offer editing
for letters of recommendation, resumes and cover letters, and academic papers.
What is the difference between your remote and in-home essay
editing services?
Our in-home essay assistance is usually an ongoing service in which your editor comes
to your home to advise and assist you through the essay writing process. We bill
this service hourly and work with your schedule and deadlines to design the most
effective program for you. Unfortunately this service is only available to local
clients in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our remote service, conducted over the internet
and by phone, extends our editor support nation-wide and even to international clients.
Unlike our in-home service which helps clients write their essays from scratch, this
remote service is best for clients who already have working drafts of their essays.
The remote packages offer price quotes up front, rapid turnaround on edited essays
to help meet rigorous deadlines, and multiple package options to accommodate different
needs.
Do you buy/sell essays?
No. We never buy, sell, or reuse essays. We protect the privacy of all of our clients
and would never reproduce an essay as a sample without the explicit consent of
the author.
Do you write essays for clients?
No. We are an editing service and do not write essays for our clients.
Do you guarantee admission?
No. As editors we are only involved in one aspect of your application. We are not
in any position to make promises about admission to specific colleges. We do, however,
understand the application and admissions process very well and are committed to
helping you create the best application possible.
How do I pay?
Once our editors receive your Essay Submission Form, they will contact you to set
up a billing account. At this time we only accept payment by credit card.
What does college advising entail?
We work closely with our clients to meet their needs and desired level of support.
Our advisors can help you prepare your academic and extracurricular programs, design
a strategic plan for standardized testing, find you the help you need to improve
your grades and test scores, and guide you through the application and admissions
process. We can help you define your goals as a college applicant and refine your
school search. We then take you through the process of filling out your applications,
requesting letters of recommendation from teachers and coaches, and managing multiple
applications and deadlines. We also guide you through the construction of
your perfect personal essay, (brainstorming, topic selection, outline, multiple
drafts, and final polishing). We can help you practice your interviewing
skills and manage the simultaneous demands of schoolwork, extracurricular activities,
and applications. We ensure that the application is a total and cohesive
unit that accurately reflects you.
Why hire a college advisor?
There are many people in a student’s life with valuable information about
college (friends, parents, siblings, and teachers). High school counselors are
also excellent resources. Unfortunately, parents, friends, and teachers do not
have the in-depth understanding of the admissions process that a trained and professional
advisor offers and high school counselors are spread awfully thin. (The average
counselor manages an average of 500 students’ schedules, college searches,
and applications.) They simply cannot provide the one-on-one support that most
students need. The college admissions process can be overwhelming and confusing,
even for families that have been through it before. Every student’s college
search is an individual experience, posing both challenges and opportunities for
personal growth and self-discovery that are unique to that student. Our counselors
understand that the college admissions process is a delicate one for most families
and we hope to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible. Our vast experience,
valuable “tricks
of the trade,” and database of hundreds of schools will help you comfortably
find and attend the college that fits you best..
How do I begin?
You begin by contacting us either by email or phone. A college admissions advisor
will get in touch with you within one business day to discuss our admissions program,
determine your needs, and to get a better sense of your student’s unique
learning abilities, academic goals, and availability. We then schedule an initial
meeting. As with our other programs, and in order to design the most effective
program for each student, the first meeting is primarily an opportunity for the
student and advisor to meet, and to establish the goals and objectives of their
work together. The advisor will most likely ask the student to fill out surveys
to gather information about his or her collegiate preferences, individual talents
and achievements, and hopes and fears about the admissions process. After the initial
meeting, the advisor will work with the student and his or her family to determine
the best program and future schedule for their work together.
To contact an advisor, or if you have further questions about our college advising services, click here.
What year should students begin preparing for college?
Though most students do not feel the pressure of college applications until the summer before
their senior year, the strategic planning of a student’s academic and extracurricular
programs begins much earlier. We offer consulting for high school freshmen, sophomores,
juniors, and seniors. Our freshmen and sophomore programs are generally lighter,
meeting less often and focusing more on academic and extracurricular planning.
Our programs for juniors and seniors tend to be more rigorous, preparing students
to tackle the application process head-on. We want to make sure every applicant
has a strong portfolio to draw on by the time they begin filling out their applications.
We find that starting early alleviates much of the stress and anxiety that surrounds the admissions process. Students tend to feel more secure and confident when application season begins if they have been preparing all along. Every program, however, is tailored to meet the student’s particular needs
and desired level of support.
If you have any further questions, please email us at 