Jordan Budhu is currently attending the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), completing his doctorate in Electrical Engineering. He is also teaching classes as part of his curriculum. His Master’s degree was achieved at California State University, at Northridge. His research at UCLA is focused on Antenna Engineering. He contracted as an intern with NASA during his summers for spacecraft and satellite projects. This ambitious UCLA student derives great pleasure from tutoring students as he works the time into his schedule.
Jordan’s tutoring experience is not limited to students attending UCLA alone. Jordan Budhu tutors students from junior high school through grad school. His strongest tutoring lessons are in preparing students to qualify for college entrance exams. He has received most of his notoriety from parents of students having difficulty qualifying for acceptance to colleges. He has tutored over 50 students working with two different online companies. His services include tutoring in science, engineering, physics, and mathematics. He has also been providing private tutoring lessons for many students on the same topics.
Jordan Budhu has a huge passion for teaching in life. He enjoys explaining concepts to his students. He can relate to many diverse personalities. He has the ability to explain topics that relate to an individual by providing different analogies. There is nothing that gives him more joy than to see the light bulb turn on in his student’s eyes. It is the time when the student is struggling with a topic and all of the sudden they just get it. Jordan explained that it is at this point when an avalanche of ideas will begin to flow through their minds.
It is hard to imagine that this busy student in Los Angeles, California, can have any free time carrying such a demanding schedule. However, his hobbies are racing motor cross and enjoying the outdoors. Of course, he also enjoys reading and writing. He reads an abundant amount of textbooks to try to satiate his thirst for learning. He loves interacting with people about their research, particularly if the topic is a diverse project or way of thinking.
Jordan Budhu is a brilliant tutor with an insatiable thirst for learning and teaching. He has an amazing mind and a fantastic future ahead of him no matter what path he chooses to take. But for now, he will be gracing his new students by sharing his knowledge in private tutoring lessons as an entrepreneur.
How did you get started in this business? What inspired you to start this business?
I started tutoring because I wanted to stay relevant, stay sharp, solve problems, and be excellent at what I do as a tutor. I always enjoyed being able to solve problems, especially in physics and science. When teachers would assign two problems to solve, if there were five questions to address, I would do all five of them and turn them in. I just love solving problems. I wanted to stay sharp. I wanted to give back to the students, and I want to give back to the community. I have a passion for learning and for teaching. I think it is addicting to me and contagious to others.
How do you make money?
I work for two online tutoring companies. They provide an hourly wage for me to tutor their students. When I begin my own tutoring company, it will be a set fee for services.
When you were starting tutoring did you ever doubt it was a good idea? If so, how did you handle that?
When I got my first student, he was trying to get into college. When we were finished, I got a call from his father thanking me for tutoring him because he was accepted into multiple colleges. It gave me great gratification to know what we had accomplished. I really appreciated the call from his father. That is what made me think that tutoring was a good idea for me.
How did you get your first customer?
I got new students by putting up flyers. I worked with a few students before I started working for two online tutor referral companies.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new students?
I guess I have competitive prices and good reviews. But life is such that, when you do an excellent job tutoring students, they let other students know. In the end, it turns out to be by referrals anyway. I really don’t do it for the money anyway. I could put myself out there for less if I chose to. I’ve seen others for twice the price that I charge. So being competitive in price is an excellent way to generate new students if they don’t come to me by referrals.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
I have to decide what to do after I graduate. I have many different options. I can go into an industry, or academia, or to a university. It is a life-altering decision.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
Tenacity. Determination. If there is something that I want I always achieve that goal. When I go after it, I always break up the large tasks into small tasks and I accomplish all of the smaller tasks until I get to the primary goal. In summary, If I wanted to build a rocket ship, then I could. I would go to school and train, learn propulsion systems, and whatever it took to do it. I break down the steps and get it done.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
I would say the most satisfying moments in my tutoring services are seeing my students get accepted into multiple colleges. I also get satisfaction when a student comes to me with failing grades and they end up with A’s and B’s. Also having students enjoy the material because that is a major change. They do the work because they enjoy it rather than because they have to. That gives me great satisfaction.
What business books have inspired you?
I read academic books rather than business books. I would have no recommendations for a business topic.
What is a recent purchase you have made that’s helped with your business?
I purchase tools to teach more effectively.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
I would like to start up my own company and take on my own students. It is an exciting way to supplement my teaching and to stay sharp and to bring new topics. Also, to bring new ideas to teach.