One problem students may have when studying for the SAT or writing the college essay is having too many choices for help. There are local test prep companies, after-school programs and academies, online programs and courses, private tutors like myself, and even the Khan Academy which is endorsed by the college board. The worst decision you can make when preparing for the SAT and college essay is to get no help at all. Even studying with a friend is a much better option.

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The answer to which route is best is largely personal. It depends on you and your personality. Having taught in the classroom setting and as a private tutor, I believe you should make this decision for yourself, but I do think that private tutoring offers a good balance of advantages and disadvantages, and I will discuss those below.

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Classroom settings

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The main advantage of classroom settings is structure. Classrooms can afford to make their students study or work on exercises when they might not have the motivation to do so on their own.  As a tutor I can't do this. In the classroom you also have the benefit of working alongside your peers and hearing what they are having difficulties with. Sometimes hearing their questions can solidify or clarify something that you were unsure of. On the other hand, classroom settings are very inefficient. You are investing a lot of time for limited attention from your instructor. It is very easy to tune out and come to class less than well prepared because your teacher may not put you on the spot. As a consequence, classroom instruction tends to be cheaper. I have taught in many classrooms and there is usually a mix of students who do really well and who do less well.

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Advantage: Structure

Disadvantage: Time

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Online courses

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Online courses offer the newest way to study for the SAT. Some courses have lectures uploaded and examples of problems. They tend to be more affordable and there are many great ones out there. I am in the process of creating my own. You can study at your own pace and from the convenience of your own home. The disadvantage of these courses is that the quality varies tremendously. Many instructors simply are not good teachers and lack the requisite experience and ability to explain things well. You do not get to ask the instructor if you do not understand something. They tend to be cheap, because they function as a way for people make passive income. Many times they don't go into as much depth as you need or they go too far and give irrelevant information, because they are not constrained by time. Online courses can be a good starting point if you have the time to get through the less helpful material.

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Advantage: Convenience

Disadvantage: Quality

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Self-study

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Studying by yourself can be great, but it takes motivation. It is good for the very self-motivated student who can keep themselves on a schedule. It is good if you are on a very tight budget. It requires a knowledge of where to go and at what particular pace. For these reasons, self-study is probably only suitable for a small number of students. The danger is not covering enough ground in a certain amount of time. You also need to figure out where to find help when you get stuck on something in particular. Often the most important part of studying for the SAT and writing your college essay is to keep going and not get bogged down by small things. This can be a challenge with no guiding you along.

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Advantage: Price

Disadvantage: Lack of direction

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Tutoring

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Tutoring offers an attractive balance of structure and freedom for a larger price than any of the other methods. The advantages of tutoring are obvious: individual attention, some amount of structure, motivation, and accountability. A good tutor can focus on exactly what you need and bring you to the place you need to go. It is the most efficient form of learning in terms of time, because you have someone who will address your specific needs. Online tutoring can be done at home from your computer. The disadvantage is that tutoring takes a certain amount of discipline and self-motivation, although not as much as self-study. Your tutor is not your teacher or parent who see you everyday and make you study or work. You must take advantage of the off-time by preparing well.

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Advantage: Best balance

Disadvantage: Price

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