Meet Brett Murphy Hunt of Brett E. Murphy Tutoring & Consulting in West/Northwest of Boston

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brett Murphy Hunt .

Brett, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I began tutoring Spanish in high school, and continued in college, eventually becoming a head tutor at Assumption College in Worcester, MA. The entrepreneurial aspect to tutoring began some years back with one student, whom I worked with while finishing my master’s program. My intention was always to be a full-time college professor, but with my private student and tutoring position at Curry College at the time, I slowly began to feel like I could make a business out of tutoring professionally.

I managed to do just that. Shortly after my first student, I began advertising all around the Metrowest area, talking to school principals, dropping flyers at the local library, utilizing online platforms, etc. After I gained another family with two students in Sudbury, MA, the rest was history. That mother began to spread the word about my services. Fortunately, because of the excellent networking skills of moms, I have enjoyed several links on a chain of referrals, mostly in the Sudbury area. Referrals and good advertising help to keep me very busy during the week (and, often, the weekends :)).

This upcoming year, I am about to witness that first student of mine graduate high school and head off to college. Seeing my students succeed is among the greatest joys of my entire life.

Has it been a smooth road?
The struggle of any entrepreneur, I think, is the unpredictability that can occur. There is a different rhythm to working for yourself; especially with tutoring, finances are never guaranteed. Kids get sick, holidays happen. I think becoming more comfortable with the constantly-varying schedule is something that took me a while.

Today, I am incredibly fortunate to have a strong network of clients in Metrowest Boston, but I started just like anybody else: having to market, demonstrate my trustworthiness and diligence, and get clients to believe in my product, which is incredibly personal, because the product is me.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Brett E. Murphy Tutoring & Consulting story. Tell us more about the business.
My business, Brett E. Murphy Tutoring & Consulting, is a tutoring business located in the Metrowest area of Boston, MA. My tutors and I provide a variety of educational services, from one-on-one homework help to college admissions assistance. I also offer editing and writing services for businesses and professionals. In addition to tutoring, I teach English at Northeastern University and tutor professionally at Framingham State University.

Operating in an era of tutoring center franchises and big business, we maintain an old-school, traditional mentality that entails going above and beyond for the families for whom we work. The personal attention we offer is key, as every student learns differently. We mostly travel to students’ homes and try to accommodate busy schedules. Really, we just recognize that building relationships with kids is the key to educational success. Tutoring is an art that dates back to Ancient Greece; a time when some of the greatest thinkers emerged. The recipe has always consisted of ample time spent, strong relationships, and pushing others beyond what they realize they are capable of. In order to successfully educate another person, an extreme amount of care must be taken — this is something we understand intimately.

I am proud of being a female entrepreneur who brings solid credentials and experience to the education industry. I am also proud of my tutors: three talented teachers who tutor part-time because they love helping students. My tutors and I conduct ourselves with the utmost integrity at all times in order to serve as role models and mentors to our students. As such, we enjoy a strong reputation for quality.

Finally, I am proud of each and every one of our students. Since we meet them where they are as learners, everyone’s goals are different. Sometimes it’s to improve from a C to a B; sometimes it’s to get into an Ivy League school. We all love to receive texts and emails from our kids (and adults, sometimes!), telling us that they are thriving and reaching their personal best.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Lately, we have been exploring more online tutoring. Google Docs presents a great opportunity to accommodate the often-busy schedules of kids, as do Skype, Google Hangouts, and screen-sharing applications.

Last year, I worked entirely online with a medical school applicant. He and I strengthened the writing components of his application by conference calls and Google Docs, where we were able to look at the same documents real-time. I am proud to say he was admitted to and now attends Harvard Medical School. This experience, among others, really demonstrates the true opportunity of technology in the education industry; for many subjects, online work with a private teacher can be just as effective as face-to-face tutoring.

As our world continues to evolve, we remain on the cutting edge of what that means in terms of private teaching. The reality is that there are many types of admissions tests, new subjects students are studying in school, and new industries emerging that require training. Looking to the future means innovation — especially in education and tutoring.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bemtutoringconsulting.com
• Email: brettmurphy31@gmail.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/brettwritingtutor

Image Credit:
Marko Mimica Photography

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