Episode Description

Sam Bellows, CEO of Franklin Yard, shares his journey from pursuing a PhD in political theory to becoming a tutor and eventually starting his own tutoring company. He discusses his passion for working with teenagers and the challenge of test prep tutoring. Sam emphasizes the importance of building relationships with parents, schools, and educational consultants to acquire students. He also talks about the transition to online tutoring during the pandemic and the tools used for effective online teaching. Sam highlights the difference between being a freelance tutor and running a tutoring company, and the need for intentional marketing and relationship building. In this conversation, Sam Bellows discusses his views on standardized testing in college admissions. He acknowledges that standardized tests are flawed but believes that they can be useful for evaluating certain aspects of a student's abilities. However, he suggests that the current essay-based format may not be the best way to assess students and proposes the idea of offering more options for students to showcase their talents and strengths. He also discusses the challenges and stress associated with standardized testing and the impact of the digital format on students. Sam speculates on the future of standardized testing, noting the pressures faced by testing companies and the potential for changes in the testing landscape.