In this episode, Ben Paris, former Kaplan Curriculum Director with over 30 years of experience and millions of assessment questions under his belt, reveals how today's students have fundamentally changed—from lacking basic study skills to lying about practice test scores post-pandemic. He shares why he now spends time teaching students how to actually study (assembling notes, setting priorities) versus just completing assignments, and discusses the alarming trend of students trusting TikTok and ChatGPT over experienced tutors.

Ben exposes red flags parents should watch for when hiring tutors—including demands for $5,000 upfront payments and seven-page contracts—and explains his philosophy of charging only at the end so families pay for what they use. He shares memorable stories about teaching students when to trust themselves through data analysis, and offers practical advice on evaluating tutors based on connection and communication rather than credentials alone.