18th December 2013 9:00
By Blue Tutors
Many tutors who took on students last year are now seeing their students going into their final year of school or heading off to university. There are many things that tutors can do to help their students at this stage of their education, including providing them with help and advice beyond the scope of preparing them for exams. At this time of year, many tutors will be helping their students prepare university applications, advising them on writing a successful personal statement, and how to communicate their interest in their subjects using the limited amount of space they are given. They will also have the opportunity to prepare students over the year for the moment when they go off to university.
It isn’t a tutor’s job to teach their student how to make student recipes or manage their finances. But there are some lessons that a tutor can teach which will help no end when their students are on their own in education. One of the most important points is that students should ask for help when they need it. It’s a familiar story to many tutors, the one in which, although their parents have hired tutors to assist them, students are still reluctant to say if they need help. Good tutors will check that their students have understood their lessons, and are getting what they need to out of the lesson. But even the best tutor will not always know if a student has missed a concept, or is struggling with a particular aspect of the course. The best thing a student can do is to work with the tutor to check that they have understood the material, and speak up if they have a problem. This is an important lesson to learn for university, as many students can get left behind if they do not understand the material. Speak to your advisers, and do not leave it too late to catch up.
Sometimes students require help with other aspects of their university lives. Perhaps they have not adjusted well, or are homesick. One of the key points to make here is the benefits of creating a good support system. Students who have used tutors, especially through their A’ Levels, may find it daunting to go to university where they will not usually receive one to one help. Whilst learning to be independent is important, students should not feel alone while they find their feet. Finding a supportive network of friends at university is important not only for the purposes of enjoying leisure time, but will also improve academic experience. Students’ Unions also have counselling and welfare facilities which can help students adjust to their new university life. At this stage in their students’ academic careers, tutors should be trying to provide them with the life skills they require in order to do well at university, and often, the best skill to have is knowing when you need a hand.