Prep Course & Tutoring Policies

Payment:

• A deposit payment of $200 is required to secure your space in a course.
• Full payment for all group courses is due two weeks before the first course lesson. If you would like to pay the course fee in installments, let us know. We’re happy to help you arrange a payment plan. Please contact us before your course begins for details.
• Course Refund Policy:
  • Your course deposit and any other course payments are fully refundable up to two weeks (14 days) before the first day of the course, minus a $25 processing fee.
    • Course deposits are not refundable less than 14 days before the course start date.
    • Within the two weeks prior to a course start date, we will provide a credit for course fees paid excluding the course deposit:
      • The credit may be used for any of our services; it cannot be converted to a refund.
      • The credit may only be used by the student or a member of the student’s immediate family; it is not otherwise transferable.
      • The credit expires one year from the date that we receive the course cancellation request.
• Makeups for missed lessons:  We can offer recordings from prior courses or private tutoring sessions (at regular tutoring rates).  On occasion, we may be able to offer you a spot in another class – if/when we have two or more sections running at the same time and the “other” class has space. Please note that the opportunity to join another class section should not be counted on, as it is not guaranteed.
• We hope you will make the best use of your course by prioritizing your attendance at all scheduled lessons, completing the homework as directed, and taking your practice tests before the test review sessions.

How to Set up a Tutoring Schedule:

1. First, complete our Tutoring Registration Form.
   • Please include your prior test scores or take a diagnostic test with us. We use your scores to compute the number of tutoring hours we recommend to maximize your improvement.
   • Accurately providing your broadest availability reduces the time it takes to create and confirm your tutoring schedule.
   • After submitting your tutoring registration form, please check your email to find our automated email confirming receipt of your form; check your spam/junk folder if you don’t see the confirmation in your inbox.
2. Second, work with us via email to edit and confirm the initial/tentative tutoring schedule we provide-until it suits your needs.
   • As soon as possible after receiving your registration form, we will either create and send you a tutoring schedule (based on the availability provided), or we will reach out by phone or email with questions.
   • Carefully review the schedule we send by checking your calendars for conflicts, including vacations/holiday plans.  Let us know if you approve of the sessions or if you need to make changes.
   • Please note that our instructors can expertly teach all sections of the exams.  Students are therefore always scheduled with the same tutor throughout their test prep, unless scheduling needs are too complex (which rarely happens).
3. Finally, after your scheduled is confirmed, please provide ALL requests to schedule, reschedule or cancel appointments via our office email: sandweiss@gmail.com.
   • Tutors manage their own schedules, and the written record facilitates the scheduling process. Having a virtual “paper trail” also helps to avoid miscommunication or misunderstandings.
     • Do not leave a phone message about scheduling/rescheduling without sending an email as well.
     • If you inform your tutor about a cancellation during your tutoring session, please also send us an email with the same information to ensure that your request is managed in a timely manner.
     • To avoid interruptions in your tutoring program, please email scheduling requests as soon as possible, and suggest a few time/day options that can work for your rescheduled session(s).

Payment:

• All tutoring payments are expected up front – before each appointment begins. You may pay for each appointment separately or for several sessions at once, as long as payment is received in advance.
• Payments are to be remitted directly in your online tutoring account. You will be invited to our digital platform, where you will be able to see your confirmed appointments and your balance due. Payment is accepted via debit or credit card.
  • Payment by check at your appointments is also appreciated, since checks do not require us to pay credit card fees.
• In addition to session fees, test prep students are charged a Tutoring Registration & Materials Fee, which includes three (3) practice tests, and is due when the tutoring schedule is confirmed or with the first appointment fee, before the tutoring begins; extra practice tests are charged a separate fee.
• If payments are not received each week or otherwise in a timely manner, and prior arrangements have not been made, we reserve the right to refuse service or to request that a student contact a parent/guardian to make the payment before we begin the tutoring session.  Upon receipt of an invoice for unpaid sessions, payment is due within five days, or late fees may be applied.

Tutoring Cancellation Policy:

We understand that many of our clients have very busy schedules and that situations arise that would require rescheduling or canceling an appointment.  We kindly request that you provide a minimum of 24 hours notice to avoid charges.

Each scheduled appointment requires your tutor to reserve the time in their schedule for you.  Late cancellations prevent us from scheduling someone else in that time frame, leading to lost income and potentially longer work days.  We strongly request that you prioritize your tutoring sessions and provide plenty of notice if you need to change an appointment day or time.  We will do our best to accommodate rescheduling requests, however please note:  

• All cancellations and rescheduling requests received with less than 24 hours notice, and appointments considered to be ‘No Shows’ (not cancelled, or attended) will be charged in full, barring an emergency.

Thank you for your understanding.