these days, it doesn’t matter whether you’re in grade school, high school, college or even graduate school, the competition is fierce. when it comes to simply staying on top of schoolwork or even progressing ahead of the curve, enlisting a tutor may just be the best option for you. but how do you pick? who do you hire? where do you even begin?

to answer some of the toughest questions, here are five tips for tracking down your perfect tutor.

• 1. research, research, research
  
  once you decide that a tutor is right for you, the next step should be finding a firm or individual with a strong reputation. the tutor you pick should have at least three years of experience (bonus points if they specialize in the subject area you need help in). additionally, tutorhub says, “ideally they should have a demonstrable track record and can produce references on request.”
• 2. know your goals.
  
  before getting started with a new tutor, you first need to self-reflect on what you specifically want to accomplish. agreeing to a set of achievable goals with your tutor from the start keeps everyone on the same page and reduces the chances for confrontation in the future (if you feel your goals aren’t being met).
  
  not sure what objectives you have? if you’re applying to graduate school, your goal might be passing a required exam. if you’re learning a new language, attempt to reach conversational level. whatever your goal is, just make sure it’s tailored to your specific needs and abilities—and communicated with your tutor from the start.
• 3. don’t commit prematurely.
  
  once you think you’ve found the right tutor for you, don’t sign on the dotted line too soon. before committing to anything, have a practice round with an introduction lesson or two. after all, you can’t fully evaluate how a tutor’s communication and teaching ability will work for you, until you actually experience them in action.
• 4. consider a peer tutor.
  
  especially for high school and college students, sometimes having someone your own age explain a difficult concept just “clicks” better. reinforcing key subject material with someone who’s already had the same professor or aced the class freshmen year can offer sage wisdom that an older person can’t. according to an article on parents.com, resa fogel ph.d., a child psychologist, says that some students are also, “…more comfortable working with a peer. simply having someone to study with can be beneficial.”
• 5. never settle.
  
  this is perhaps the most important tip of all. when it comes to something as important as your education, don’t feel pressured to compromise on working with a tutor who leaves something to be desired. if you don’t click with somebody’s communication or teaching style right away, don’t give up on the process.

the perfect tutor for you is out there! sometimes it just takes a little trial and error (and patience).

emily grier is a senior in the master’s of accounting program at penn state university. she previously served as managing editor for valley magazine, penn state’s life and style magazine, and was a 2011 usa today collegiate correspondent.

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if you’ve ever placed an order for your semester textbooks in the university bookstore and subsequently had a heart attack from the price, we’ve all been there. however with tuition prices on the rise, it’s easy to save money on the small thing like textbooks using these tactics.

1. new textbooks

the quickest way to spend the most money is to buy all of your books from the school store. if you still want a new edition, check out half, amazon, or barnes and nobles. or if you are looking for a website to compare prices across the internet, check out bigwords.

keep in mind, if the textbook is going to benefit you in the long term, it may be worth it to buy it new. this might not apply to your introductory level classes since you may never open the books or use them again. however in the specialized upper level courses of your major, those textbooks may be useful in your future career.

2. buying used

if you don’t mind getting an edition that is a little beat up, this is the way to go. these books are usually in good condition, and half the price. the easiest way to shop for these books is by their isbn number. you’ll be able to get the isbn from the bookstore, make sure to  compare prices to get the best deal. pay attention to the quality of used book you’re buying, if you want to resell it in the future.

3. renting

the key to renting is checking the terms of the rental, and keeping the books in good condition. chegg is definitely the best recommendation when it comes to renting. they even plan a tree for every order you make. some school bookstores now offer the option to rent from them at similar prices to chegg. if you don’t want physical books, you can rent digitally through sites like coursesmart.

4. borrowing or sharing

if you are lucky enough to have a friend in the class, sometimes you can buy a book with a friend. check that the teacher’s style will allow for the book to be shared, otherwise disaster will hit when exam time comes along.

for general literature classes, consider borrowing the books from the library. when it comes to textbooks sometimes professors have second copies of their books, and can put one on hold in the library for students to use.  

5. sell back

whether you buy new or used, always sell back your books! you could sell it to the bookstore, but chances are you won’t get nearly as much as you paid for it. selling it online will take a small amount of time in consideration to reward. you can sell it directly through alibris , cash4books, chegg, or even amazon, barnes and noble. however you do have the option to list it and sell it yourself.

before you buy books of any kind, go the class, or reach out to the professor.  most of the time you won’t need all the books professors have listed on the syllabus. once you know what books you need, make sure to employ the tactics mentioned above. you’re sure to save.

about the author: jessica finger currently works for noodle, whose mission is to help anyone make a more informed decision about their education. from k-12 to college search, from tutoring to courses, noodle allows you to search thousands of opportunities, get advice from experts, and find the right path for you. jessica is a graduate of quinnipiac university, and outside of work likes reading, going to the theater, and exploring the internet. follow her on twitter: @jkfinger.

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