What Is The Difference Between An Academic Coach And A Tutor?

If you are a student interested in pursuing academic assistance, you may have considered academic tutoring or academic coaching. The differences between the two titles can be confusing and leave you scratching your head. To sort out this conundrum, we’ve outlined the differences between academic coaches and tutors so that you can hire the professional that is right for you.

The Differences: Tutoring vs. Coaching

The puzzle of academic coach vs tutor stems from the similarities that both professions share. Both have a common mission to help students reach academic success, but, in many cases, these successes are achieved by focusing in on skills that are more specific to each respective profession. Academic coaches, for instance, may not have course expertise, but they do have the organization skills that academic tutors may not.

When To Consider Either Approach

Academic coaches are best suited for students whose struggles are due to:

poor student organization tactics
poor schoolwork management
difficulty balancing school and personal life

Academic tutors are a better fit for students whose struggles stem from:

ongoing course-related challenges
consistent trouble staying concentrated
persistent inability to keep up with peers

Key Objectives: Academic Coaches

Academic coaches are tasked with the following objectives to support their students:

enhance student wellbeing by guiding evidence-based progress
guide students on foundational skills for mastering course content
help students plan to achieve academic goals

Key Objectives: Academic Tutors

Academic tutors execute the following objectives to guide student achievement:

help students overcome academic obstacles through independent learning
use their expertise to teach material
encourage personalized approaches to reaching one’s academic potential
integrate motivation to facilitate student interest in academics

The Overarching Factors

Every student carries their own strengths, weaknesses, and learning style(s). It is up to the academic coaches and the academic tutors to seriously consider these individual factors while creating ways to help students advance to the next level of learning and academic achievement. Sometimes factors of academic coach vs tutor lack distinction; tutors consider themselves to be coaches and vice versa when they possess the skills for both professions.

The Main Takeaways

Some academic professionals hold no distinction between tutoring and coaching, whereas others maintain a fine line between educational assistance and academic organization. Consider the similarities and differences in the objectives mentioned above to decide which approach is right for your academic needs. The right tutor or coach is waiting to help you thrive.