McGarry Tutoring And College Prep
About
Hi! My name is Meghan and I'm a recent graduate of Vanderbilt University, class of 2021. I graduated early this December with an honors degree in Sociology and a degree in Economics.
I have been tutoring people since I was 15 years old. I have helped elementary schoolers with basic reading and math, middle schoolers with algebra, english, and high school preparation, and high schoolers with U.S. Government, English, and ACT Prep. I am comfortable tutoring pretty much any topic that is taught at a high school level or below, and more specialized topics for students who are further ahead in their academic career.
I also offer college preparation and mentorship. This can include standardized test preparation and tutoring, resume assistance, college essay editing, and individual consultations regarding strategies and information for the overall application process. I scored a 36 on the ACT and applied to several colleges with a high success rate - being awarded a prestigious scholarship at University of Illinois that is given to 5 students annually that covers all expenses, and have helped both of my younger sisters with their college processes as well. I really enjoy the entire college scouting and application process and am excited to assist others with it!
My most recent tutoring experiences have revolved around working with high schoolers, though, as mentioned before, I also enjoy working with younger students. Last fall, I tutored a high school senior while he took online classes, so I have experience working with students who are struggling to adjust to online learning. He and I worked through all of his classes and I gave him the individual instruction and coaching he needed to be successful. Three years ago, I tutored a high school junior for the ACT and helped him raise his score from a 28 to a 33. He is now attending Northwestern University! I love working with kids and outside of tutoring, I have experience babysitting and volunteering as a religious education teacher - both of which have taught me valuable lessons about how to engage with those I am mentoring or teaching.
I approach tutoring from a holistic perspective. I believe that there are many factors that make a student successful outside of just knowing the material. I make sure to develop personal relationships with the students I tutor and their parent(s) so that I can cater to the student's individual needs and help them feel supported and empowered. Although it is cliche, the foundation of success really is attitude. When you feel like they are not only capable but destined for success, results naturally follow. After attitude, having good study skills is the next most important predictor for success! I make sure to talk with all of my clients about notetaking, organization, time management, and how to incorporate these skills into their routine.
If you are interested in meeting with me to discuss my rates and availability please reach out! I look forward to speaking with you.
For more information about my background, please check out my LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-mcgarry
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I first meet with the student and their parent(s) together to discuss learning goals and an action plan. Then, I create a lesson plan for the time we have together (if applicable) and share it with the parent(s). After that, I meet with the student one on one regularly to move through the plan and get to know them along the way! Depending on the student and/or if the parent requests it, I share short periodic updates via email about the students progress.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
(In "about me" section)
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I do not have a "standard" pricing system for my lessons. The price depends on which subject(s) I will be assisting the student with, how long our sessions will be, how much work is required on my end outside of tutoring hours (i.e. preparing lesson plans, reviewing work, etc.), tutoring goals, and more. In general though my prices range from about $30/hr to $100/hr. It's important to me to work with the student and parent(s) to find a price and plan that works best for all of us.
A tutoring plan consultation meeting costs $25/hr.
How did you get started teaching?
I assisted in a religious education class when I was in seventh grade. I continued volunteering at that school until I was a senior in high school! During my sophomore year, the head teacher of my class asked me if I could privately tutor her seventh grade daughter in math once a week, and that's how I got started tutoring!
What types of students have you worked with?
I've worked with kids of pretty much all ages ranging from kindergarteners to seniors in high school! I also help my college friends with their job/internship hunts informally, so I technically have assisted college students as well.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I founded an a cappella group at Vanderbilt, and at our last meeting before we left campus we all went around and said our high and lows for this academic year, and all of the freshmen in the group said that being in the group was the highlight of their year! It really meant a lot to me to know that the group helped make their experience at Vanderbilt better during such a tumultous time and difficult adjustment for them.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Find someone that you connect to! It's really important to find a tutor that your student likes and feels comfortable around.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Why am I seeking tutoring? What do I expect of a tutor? What goals do I have for this partnership? How much guidance will I need from the tutor? Do I want a tutor to assist me as I teach myself by checking my work, answering questions about points lost, and answering questions I have about the material, or do I want a tutor to actually teach me the concepts and work with me on a learning plan?