1. Getting Started
Polaris Study Coach connects you with students and parents who need academic help. Create your profile, list your subjects, and start receiving inquiries in minutes.
- Sign up at the tutor portal using email, Google, or Apple.
- Verify your email — click the confirmation link we send.
- Complete your profile — bio, rates, education, teaching style.
- Add at least one subject with grade levels.
- Set your weekly availability so students know when to book.
- Publish your profile to appear in search results.
Tip: Complete profiles with photos, bios, and intro videos get 3x more inquiries.
2. Dashboard
Your dashboard is the command center. At a glance you see:
- Profile Views — how many students viewed your profile this week/month.
- New Inquiries — unread messages from interested students.
- Upcoming Sessions — your next scheduled coaching sessions.
- Rating — your current average rating and total reviews.
- Quick Actions — one-click shortcuts to edit profile, add subject, or update availability.
3. My Profile
Your profile is what students and parents see when they find you. The better it is, the more inquiries you receive.
- Headline — short tagline (e.g., "Experienced Math Coach · SAT Prep Expert").
- Bio — detailed description of your experience and teaching approach (150–500 words recommended).
- Hourly Rate — set a min-max range (e.g., $40–$80/hr).
- Education — your academic background and certifications.
- Languages — languages you can coach in.
- Location — city/state (for in-person searches).
- Teaching Style — patient, interactive, structured, exam-focused, etc.
- Remote / In-Person — where you can coach.
- Video Intro — YouTube or Vimeo link (optional but highly recommended — doubles inquiry rate).
- Profile Photo — clear, friendly headshot.
Click Publish to make your profile visible in search. You can unpublish any time from Settings.
4. Subjects
List every subject you teach. For each subject:
- Subject name (e.g., "Algebra II", "AP Physics", "SAT Math").
- Grade levels — elementary, middle, high school, college.
- Description — what you cover, specialties, exam prep focus.
Free plan: 1 subject. Pro/Premium: Unlimited subjects.
5. Availability
Set your weekly schedule so students only book when you're actually free.
- Go to Availability from your dashboard.
- For each day (Mon-Sun), add one or more time blocks (e.g., 4 pm – 8 pm).
- Save — the calendar updates immediately for students.
Tip: Update availability weekly. Empty calendars hurt your ranking.
6. Inquiries
When a student or parent is interested, they send you an inquiry with subject, message, and preferred times.
- Review the inquiry in your Inquiries inbox.
- Accept — notifies the student. You can then schedule a session and share a meeting link.
- Decline — politely pass. You can include a reason.
- Message — send follow-up questions before committing.
Free plan: 5 inquiries/month. Pro+: Unlimited. Respond within 24 hours — fast responders rank higher.
7. Sessions
After accepting an inquiry, create a session:
- Set the date and time.
- Choose the platform — Zoom, Google Meet, in-person, etc.
- Share the meeting link or location.
- After the session, mark it as Completed.
Once completed, both you and the student can rate each other.
The Sessions tab shows:
- Upcoming — future bookings with join links.
- In Progress — sessions happening now.
- Completed — past sessions, rate and review from here.
8. Ratings & Reviews
After each completed session, both sides rate each other (1–5 stars + optional review). Your average rating is displayed on your profile. Higher ratings = more visibility in search.
You can respond publicly to any review to give context or thank the student.
9. Analytics (Pro+)
Pro and Premium tutors unlock an analytics dashboard showing:
- Profile views over time (daily, weekly, monthly).
- Inquiry conversion rate — % of views that become inquiries.
- Top subjects by demand — what students are searching for.
- Peak inquiry days/hours.
- Earnings estimates based on your rate and sessions.
10. Subscription Plans
- Free: 1 subject, 5 inquiries/month, basic profile, ratings & reviews.
- Pro ($9.99/mo): Unlimited subjects & inquiries, featured search placement, analytics, Polly AI tools.
- Premium ($19.99/mo): Everything in Pro + verified badge, priority matching, tutor spotlight, priority support.
You keep 100% of your tutoring fees — plans only cover your listing and tools. Upgrade, downgrade, or cancel anytime from Settings → Subscription.
11. Settings
- Password — change your password anytime.
- Dark Mode — toggle light/dark theme.
- Language — English, Spanish, or French.
- Notifications — control email alerts for inquiries, sessions, reviews.
- Subscription — view, upgrade, downgrade or cancel your plan.
- Delete Account — permanently remove your profile and data.
12. FAQ
How do I get more students?
Complete your profile 100%, add a video intro, respond to inquiries within hours, and build a high rating. Pro/Premium plans give featured placement.
Can I tutor online and in-person?
Yes — check both "Remote" and "In-Person" on your profile.
How do payments work?
You handle payments directly with students (Venmo, Zelle, cash, etc.). We don't process tutoring payments or take commission.
What is Polly AI?
Polly is our AI assistant for tutors — generate lesson plans, practice problems, and progress summaries in seconds. Included with Pro and Premium.
Can I pause my profile?
Yes — unpublish from the profile page. You'll keep your data but won't appear in search.
Need help?
Email info@polarisscholar.com.