If tutors really do reliably produce two-sigma learning gains, then why aren't most top achievers the product of tutors? Yes, they're expensive, but perhaps "only" 2-3x private school; there are a lot of wealthy parents. Diminishing returns for high achievers?
Conversation
Replying to
Interestingly, most (all?) top achievers in athletics and conservatory music are tutored. Why is this not true of most fields? Is it that music/athletics have so much more tacit knowledge? Or by contrast is so much more legible, so that a tutor/coach can be much more effective?
28
100
Replying to
I am seeing more extremely wealthy people (eg billionaires) shift to tutors.
But even then you’re right, if it’s a full two sigma you would expect basically every high performer to be from a tutor.
Seems like there’s an asymptotic level of ultimate max performance?
7
2
33
I think there must be. Otherwise mean+2s should be dominated by tutored people from the mean. And if that produces a shift to 3s, well, then it should be dominated by tutored people from mean+1s.
1
6
Show replies
You’re unable to view this Tweet because this account owner limits who can view their Tweets. Learn more
You’re unable to view this Tweet because this account owner limits who can view their Tweets. Learn more
Show replies
Replying to
If you add in homeschooling or other forms of alternative education (1-to-1 or 1-to-few), even in addition to a traditional education, it encompasses a lot higher % of top performers.
1
1
9
I agree that this would add to the figure. I'm curious: do you have sources on the specific numbers?
1
Show replies
Replying to
I suspect to get the 2 sigma you need a tutor who’s much better than you. At the top such tutors may not exist. Another thought: almost all academics are result of “tutoring” from their advisers.
1
1
3
Replying to
Hypo: If in a lockstep formal curriculum, gains-to-tutoring are lower (you can't quite "skip ahead" 1.7 months, it's a year or nothing), so tutor-like investment happens in environments with gradual slopes, not steps (e.g., debate, working in a science lab, the examples you list)
1
5
Right, but there are enough rich parents who could use tutors to remove their children from such curricula that you'd expect those students to dominate the arena of top performers!
2
4
Show replies