Table of Contents
This Studypool.com review has been compiled with very little specific information. The reason for this is that the site itself is sparse and somewhat disjointed. However, we have moved forward to supply as much information as possible to students who may be considering its use. We have used all of the standard factors that we always use, but in the case of this Study Pool review, we have been unable to apply all of those factors Here is what we did consider in our evaluation:
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A complete review of the StudyPool website, including products and services, testimonials, policies and processes, and information about tutors
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A reading of a few of the blog articles, checking them for relevancy, composition, and content
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Customer feedback and comments that we were able to find on the web and that were submitted to our website
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Pricing and any other unique features or benefits
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Customer support quality
SERVICES AND FEATURES AVAILABLE
It’s called micro-tutoring. This is a relatively new concept in the academic assistance industry, but one that is becoming more and more common.
The concept is relatively simple. Students may be in the process of completing an assignment of some type. All of a sudden, they are stuck and need an answer or a problem solution. They access the Study Pool website, post their question, and then it is placed on a list for tutors to see. The company contacts the student with several options for tutors and their bids. The student then makes a selection, makes a payment, and receives the requested tutoring. Study Pool administrators take their “cut” and pay the tutor.
The problem that we found is this: there is so little information available to students who access the site and attempt to get more detail about how the entire system works. And there is also no information about how tutors are screened and employed, other than to say that a background check is completed.
On the “How It Works” page, that can be accessed from the home page, there is a more detailed explanation about how the student posts a question and a small form for the posting.
The methods for contacting customer support are also detailed – via email or by clicking the “intercom” button on the bottom right of the page. Unfortunately, there is no “intercom” button, so email is the only method. And, if a student has an urgent need to get a hold of the company, he can forget it.
To actually place an order, the student must first set up an account and state which university he is currently studying in. This tells us that high school students are not being served. But nowhere else is this stated.
There are a couple of other services available too – a “Notebank,” which is a compilation of study guides put together by college students and a bank of previous questions and answers, and a series of book guides. We reviewed the titles of the book guides and wonder why these are even posted on a site that provides help to college students. There are some classics, of course, and some more contemporary works, but most of the classics would be found in high school English courses, not college.
PRICING SYSTEM AND DISCOUNTS
In short, there are no set StudyPool prices. Prices are whatever the student and tutor agree upon. And there are no discounts or Study Pool promo codes. This is normal for tutoring or writing service sites that match students and their writers or tutors.
SECURITY LEVEL
We can find no information about the protection of privacy or personal and financial information. And, because of this, we certainly can say that students should stay far away from this company. And because we can find no StudyPool customer reviews that speak to security measures, we cannot caution students enough.
WRITER EXPERTISE AND DELIVER
We have very little information about the quality of the tutoring services that students receive. Some comments that were posted on our site were quite mixed. While some students stated they did receive their problem solutions (primarily in STEM subjects), others said they had to wait too long for an email with bids and then the selection process. They would have missed their deadlines.
We did access one page that listed a few tutors and their degrees and backgrounds, as well as a page that called for tutors to register – either college students or those with earned degrees. That was it. Just for informational purposes, we did explore how to become a tutor. There is an application form that requires the applicant to list their educational background and to define areas for tutoring. No verification was required.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
In short, there are none. This is basically a job board for those who want to answer questions, proofread, take multiple-choice tests, etc. And, while setting up an account requires the student to list a university, there are questions that are obviously at the middle and high school levels. Frankly, we are confused.
CONCLUSION
We are at a loss for words here. Our StudyPool.com review is seriously lacking in any real information for students who might be considering using the service to get their assignment questions answered. We cannot recommend that anyone actually use the site and make payment for services, even if they do find a great tutor. StudyPool.com administrators really need to fix their website, specifically adding far more detail, clearer instructions for posting questions, and actually put an “intercom” button on a page, so that students can get faster responses. Overall, our StudyPool.com rating is 1.5 on a 5-point scale.
