FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

STUDENTS
TUTORS

Getting Started

  • QWhat makes PeerTutors.com different?

    A

    PeerTutors.com connects you with the top peer tutors and mentors at your school that have taken your classes and genuinely want to help you learn. By incorporating university-funded, volunteer, and private tutors we make sure you get the help you need, when you need it, at the lowest possible cost. Think of it as an online peer community of fellow students who want to help you succeed.

  • QWho are the Peer Tutors?

    A

    Peer Tutors are students at your school that have been identified as having exceptional academic performance and a passion for teaching others. Peer Tutors are often referred by their professors or the academic programs they are affiliated with. Trust us, they know their stuff!

  • QHow do I get started?

    A

    To get started simply search for a subject you need help in, find the tutor that best matches your needs, and schedule a session. For in-person sessions, just meet your Peer Tutor at the session location. For online sessions, simply click the link in your confirmation e-mail or the “Join Session” button in your Profile and you will be instantly entered into a virtual session with your Peer Tutor. During the session you can use video chat, text chat, Google Drive, and a suite of other awesome collaboration tools.

  • QWhat if don’t find a Peer Tutor for the subject I need help in?

    A

    Don’t worry, you can still request a tutor from us directly by e-mailing us at support@peertutors.com and we’ll find someone who can help.

  • QHow do I become a Peer Tutor?

    A

    Think you have what it takes to be a Peer Tutor? Simply sign up as a Peer Tutor and you'll receive a follow up regarding your application.

Joining a Session

  • QHow can I prepare for an upcoming session?

    A

    Before your session, send your Peer Tutor a message about what you’d like to cover and any relevant materials. Also, if it's an online session, make sure you have access to a laptop or desktop and high-speed internet.

  • QCan I join a PeerTutors.com online session from a smart phone or tablet?

    A

    You can use your smartphone or tablet to search and message potential Peer Tutors, however, currently you need to be on a laptop or desktop to actually join an online session.

  • QWhat happens when I join an online session?

    A

    Upon joining the session you can use video, audio, or text chat to discuss what you need help with. If at any point you feel that it’s not the right fit you can click the “End” button on the side of the video chat window to end the session.

  • QWhat if something else goes wrong?

    A

    At the end of the sessions you can provide feedback or report any issues to our team. If any issues occur outside of a specific session feel free to contact us directly at support@peertutors.com.

Paying for Sessions

  • QDo I have to pay for sessions?

    A

    Peer Tutor profiles that say “FREE” are either university-funded or volunteer Peer Tutors, which means the session will be entirely free to you! If there's an hourly rate on their profile then you’ll be asked to add a payment method and you’ll be charged after the session based on that rate.

  • QWhat if I am unsatisfied with my lesson?

    A

    Each of our Peer Tutors do their best to make sure that you feel confident in your session, but if for any reason you are unsatisfied contact us at support@peertutors.com and you'll be paired with another Peer Tutor so that you find the right fit. For paid sessions please contact us within 24 hours of the session to request a refund. We provide a 100% money-back guarantee on your first hour with a new tutor. No strings attached.

  • QWhat happens if my session ends early?

    A

    You only get charged for the actual duration of your session. You can always end a session early by clicking the “End” button on the Session page. However, if it is a paid session you’ll be charged for a minimum of 30 minutes for In-Person sessions and a minimum of 15 minutes for Online sessions.

  • QDoes Peer Tutor charge a service fee on top of the hourly rate shown?

    A

    To make things as transparent as possible, the hourly rate shown includes our service charge. You will only be billed for the hourly rate shown.

Other Questions

  • QWhat browsers does PeerTutors.com support?

    A

    PeerTutors.com supports the latest two versions of the following browsers: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer (IE), Mozilla Firefox, and Safari. Please keep your browsers up to date!

  • QWhat happens if I lose Internet connection during a session?

    A

    If you lose internet connection during the session please message your Peer Tutor as soon as possible and rejoin the session as soon as your connection returns.

  • QHow is my personal information stored?

    A

    All of your personal information is stored securely and will never be shared or displayed publicly. Our site is also certified through a Secured Sockets Layer (SSL) to ensure your personal information is properly encrypted.

Getting Started

  • QWhy become a Peer Tutor?

    A

    Becoming a Peer Tutor gives you the opportunity to take a hands on role in helping others achieve their goals both academically and beyond. Plus, the best way to learn is by teaching! We track exactly how many hours you’ve devoted and your cumulative rating, which can be added to your resume and used by faculty and potential employers to identify students who are really making a difference. At select schools you can also make some extra dough by setting an hourly rate for your sessions and accepting tips for free sessions.

  • QHow does the application process work?

    A

    To apply simply sign up as a Peer Tutor and you'll receive a follow up regarding your application. It usually takes less than 48 hours.

  • QIs there a minimum time commitment?

    A

    Nope, unless you're working for a specific university program you get to set your own hours, but remember the more hours you’re available the better the chance is that someone contacts you.

Conducting A Session

  • QIf I become a Peer Tutor can I still get help from other Peer Tutors?

    A

    Absolutely! As smart as you are, everyone can use a little extra help, which is why Peer Tutors can tutor in one subject and be tutored in another. Who knows maybe one of your students will “pay it forward” and end up helping you!

  • QCan I tutor people that don’t go to my school?

    A

    Currently we’re only allowing students from our partner universities to use the service, but if a student reaches out to you through Peer Tutor from one of our other partner universities feel free to help them out. If you only want to be contacted by students at your school you can adjust your Profile Visibility settings on your My Profile page after signing up.

Getting Paid

  • QCan I get paid for being a Peer Tutor?

    A

    At select partner schools you can set an hourly rate for your sessions and even accept tips for free sessions. It’s a great way to make some extra dough! After each session we send you a payout within 2-4 business days. We use an app called Venmo for payouts. Don't worry if you don’t have Venmo yet, you’ll be prompted to create an account when you receive your first payout.

  • QWhat happens if the session ends early?

    A

    Students get charged for the actual duration of the session. Either party can end a session early, however, if it is a paid session the student will be charged for a minimum of 30 minutes for In-Person sessions and a minimum of 15 minutes for Online sessions.

  • QWhat happens if a student requests a refund?

    A

    We have a 100% money-back guarantee for students’ first hour with a new tutor. If a student requests a refund we may withhold your payout for that session depending on the situation. We review each refund request on a case-by-case basis.

  • QDoes PeerTutors.com take a commission?

    A

    You keep 100% of the hourly rate you set in your profile. The rate the student sees includes our service charge, which ranges from $5-$10 / hr depending on the hourly rate you set. You’ll be able to view the exact service charge in your profile when you set your hourly rate. If you have any free sessions you keep 80% of any tips the student leaves.

    Our service charge goes to paying our payment provider, keeping the PeerTutors.com site up and running, and the occasional cup of Ramen Noodles for the PeerTutors.com team!

Other Questions

  • QIf I’m accepted will I get additional guidance about how to use the platform?

    A

    Yes, all of our Peer Tutors are given a comprehensive guide with all of the tips, tricks, and info you’ll need to be successful.

  • QWhat if I have other questions?

    A

    If you have any other questions feel free to e-mail us at support@peertutors.com and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.