About to sign up for PR private tutoring any advice?

Question

Hey guys,

I am about to sign up for an 18 hour private tutoring deal with Princeton Review. I figured that since I have 4 weeks until my test I need an immediate and customizable format to follow. Do you guys have any advice for me before I select/talk to my future tutor?

I have also considered Manhattan GMAT for their quantitative books. I have heard much about MGMAT being a great resource. Quant is my weakness, specifically, equations and number properties.

Where should I go from here?

snoor · Answer

Working with a tutor might be beneficial if you already know your problem areas in quant. On the flipside PR tutors (imho) are taught to answer PR questions. Very few are conceptually strong in math to help you grasp concepts which are essential to success on the quant section on the GMAT. Make sure you select a tutor you know is able to walk you through those concepts and can handle non PR questions.

redstripe · Answer

A friend of mine was a PR tutor. They work with the Official Guide for assignments, so yes, the OP will learn how to solve GMAT problems. I have PR's math workbook and the questions were very similar to what I saw on my actual GMAT. I also used Cracking the GMAT and didn't have any problems applying the strategies to real GMAT questions.

I've heard Manhattan GMAT is a lot harder on quant and some of the questions require extra steps to solve them, which you wouldn't see on the real test. I didn't use their tests, but I saw a post in another forum where an instructor from MGMAT was talking about that. So I'd guess they'd still be useful for practice, but if you see a ridiculously hard question, skip it.

mahatmainc · Answer

Thanks for your input.. I have signed up for 18 hours or PR tutoring and I also purchased the MGMAT Number Properties book. Hopefully these two will go well together.

jb32 · Answer

My advice: waste of money. How much did you pay? Using GMAT Club, certain books, and self-discipline you can achieve more on your own.

kidderek · Answer

I don't think tutors are quite as much a waste of money as are classes. With that said, from the get-go, I'd advise the tutor to teach from his experience instead of the PR "method."

Yahsek · Answer

It's only a waste of money if you don't go prepared. Don't just show up and expect the tutor to magically will you to a 700+ score. Be proactive about preparing for your sessions by identifying exactly what areas you need to improve on. Do your homework and bring specific problems to your tutor so he/she can help you work through the questions, and yes, ask plenty of questions about the tutor's text taking experience.

kidderek · Answer

Exactly!!! Tutors/classes are not a magic wand.

Many people think that if they sign up for a tutor or class, they're guaranteed a high score. But it doesn't work that way. You have to bust your butt, which of course makes you wonder why you needed the tutor/class in the first place.

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About to sign up for PR private tutoring any advice?

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