Online Tutor - Online Writing Tutor Varsity Tutors Employee Review

3.0
Jul 12, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Very flexible for scheduling. My students have been wonderful overall. If you are able to work with them long enough, you can see real improvement in whatever discipline you are teaching. Provides a real sense of accomplishment as a teacher. Some of the "Managers" I've worked with have been extremely helpful and professional. Since you never know who you'll be speaking to when you call the call center, take note of the helpful individuals and ask for them when you need non-technical help. The freedom to individualize your teaching and/or curriculum is great if you know what you're doing.

Cons

VT is one of many companies trying to corner the online tutoring market. Unfortunately, none of them pay tutors very well and seem to be overly investing in everything but the customer-facing (literally) contractors. After doing my digital interview, I had a phone interview for which the VT rep never contacted me. The pay is marginal, and there is no room for improvement. For those of you who have 5+ years of experience, it can feel like a slap in the face. They also fail to mention that they charge some clients (I teach advanced students/graduate tests) 5-6x the rate that tutors receive. As a result, clients often already have a chip on their shoulder for having shelled out 1K+ for the service. Communication (on phone and in writing) is inconsistent at best. You are best off dealing with any issues directly with the students and/or their parents. The platform is marginal for the amount of funding the company recently secured; I finally stopped using practice questions with my students and used more reliable sources. FYI, a manager informed me that the system for assigning students is basically first come, first served, rather than on merit. This parallels the instant tutoring concept, which goes against everything I believe in about learning and education. The best thing for the tutoring industry would be if a bunch of tutors got together and formed a collective offering real compensation for the expertise that brings in the big bucks.

Explore other reviews about Varsity Tutors

5.0
May 23, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great company, opportunities, ease of use

Cons

Seasonal job, some slow seasons, some fast seasond

3.0
Jun 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The teaching platform is excellent and user-friendly. The virtual classroom includes useful features such as an interactive whiteboard, which makes online teaching effective and engaging. Experienced instructors also have considerable freedom to design their own lessons and adapt materials to students' needs, allowing for high-quality instruction. Payment is processed twice a week, and instructors can easily track their earnings through the platform, which provides transparency and convenience.

Cons

Student cancellations can be challenging, especially when they occur only minutes before class. Some sessions are repeatedly rescheduled and later canceled again, making it difficult to predict income. Policies and procedures may change frequently, requiring instructors to adapt regularly to new guidelines. Work availability can fluctuate significantly. Instructors may have many students during one period and very few later on, particularly when students complete exams or finish their school year. Overall, this can be a good opportunity for supplemental income and flexible teaching experience, but it may not be ideal as a sole or highly predictable source of income.

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