The Organic Chemistry Tutor Isomerism Test

The Organic Chemistry Tutor Isomerism TestThe Organic Chemistry Tutor isomerism test is based on the concept of one atom of the two substances having the same atoms, their chemical composition is the same and the molecular weight being the same. The two substances can have some properties of each other or they can have no properties of either substance. The latter may be due to different molecular weights or due to different weights for the different kinds of atoms, or the latter could also be due to differing molecular weights, or lack of mass, or something else that you have not come across before.It is often assumed that a chemical like Aluminium would be absorbed by an Aluminium compound and then not allowed to escape into the atmosphere because they would be connected by a molecular bond. However, you must understand that there are several chemicals out there that share this property. In fact, a simple article in a chemistry journal can give you a good idea about these chemical compounds and their relationships. This knowledge may be very useful in understanding what is happening to your body when you are taking the Organic Chemistry isomerism test.The Organic Chemistry Tutor isomerism test will be a way to check whether you have a strong or weak molecular bond with your food. That is all it does. It is basically only meant to tell you whether you have a weak or strong bond with your food. For instance, if you did not eat your lunch and you are quite hungry, you would not have a strong bond, you would have a weak bond.As you may know, the chemical isomerism test is supposed to reveal the exact molecular formula of the chemical that has a strong or weak molecular bond with your food. When you take the test, you will have to eat the food in an attempt to discover if you have a strong or weak bond with it. If you find that you have a strong bond, you would have found the answer to the question.There are many ways to take the Organic Chemistry Tutor isomerism test. You can do it on your own or with the help of someone who is experienced. You can also do it in your laboratory, with a chemical reagent of your choice. But the most convenient way is to use the test you have bought from a supplement company.There are also two things that you need to be aware of when taking the Organic Chemistry Tutor isomerism test. First of all, you will have to go through all the steps required for passing the test and you will need to spend some time preparing for the test.The second thing that you need to be aware of is that the results of the Organic Chemistry Tutor isomerism test is not guaranteed and there is nothing in this test that will actually give you the answer to the question. So, the test is only meant to let you know whether you have a strong or weak bond with your food.

Should I Go To Indiana University

Should I Go To Indiana University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Michelle is a Pittsburgh tutor specializing in Algebra tutoring, Reading tutoring, Phonics tutoring, and much more. She earned her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Indiana University in 2011. Check out her review of her experience at Indiana University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Michelle:Indiana University is often considered one of the most beautiful college campuses in the nation. It is a great place to walk around, and it makes the stroll to class enjoyable. The town itself is eclectic and creative, featuring cuisine from all over the world, many inviting performance spaces, and tons of small businesses. It is considered an urban campus, but the town and the university are divided by Indiana Avenue. Both are easily accessible by foot. The university and city both offer busing options that are free to students, and they run quite often. Having a car on campus is not necessary, but it can be helpful for grocery shopping or trips to Walmart. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Michelle:During my time at Indiana University, I often met with professors. They were always willing to meet in person or to have a conversation over email. Before class, after class, or office hours were always available. I also had a very good relationship with my academic adviser, who would schedule appointments with me at any time during the semester. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Michelle:At Indiana University, dorms are designated by neighborhood: Northwest, Central, Southeast, etc. When you request dorms, you request by neighborhood, not specific building. There are many options to choose from, including themed floors ranging from outdoor sports, to the global village, to honors. During the year, there are plenty of social events planned by floor and also by dorm. They are widely advertised on bulletin boards and on walking paths in chalk. Dining-wise, Indiana University is the place to be! The two biggest dining halls are in Northwest and Central. However, there are also smaller food options in many of the dorms. Some are vegetarian, others are cafeteria-style. There are also dorm convenience stores called C Stores that take meal points. I encourage students to visit as many dining halls as they can. After freshman year, there are some newer suite-style dorms available. However, it is not unusual for upperclassmen to live in off-campus apartments and houses. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Michelle:Indiana University is a proud research institution. Professors are often highly regarded in their fields. The two most prestigious programs are the Kelley School of Business and the Jacobs School of Music. Both of those programs are very challenging to get into, and they hold high reputations in their industries. However, many other areas of study are high ranking but do not receive as much advertising. I studied elementary education with the School of Education. I knew that I wanted to be a teacher right away, which was helpful because the program is very rigorous with many prerequisites. There were many professional opportunities and programs provided through the School of Education. Additionally, I felt the faculty and advisors were knowledgeable and helpful throughout my tenure. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Michelle:Making friends is easy if you take advantage of the opportunities afforded you. Social groups and activities are advertised on dorm bulletin boards, on chalkings throughout campus, and in the student paperThe Indiana Daily Student (or IDS). There are lots of different groups, some social and some community service oriented. During the first week of the fall semester there is a student activity fair, and it is a great place to look for clubs to join. Greek life at Indiana University is very large, but it is not everything. I myself was a member of a sorority. I made wonderful friends and was able to take a large leadership role. I also felt more involved in campus events, such as Little 500. However, I also had friends outside of Greek life who were very social and involved. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Michelle:The Career Center was helpful, but the advisers within each school tend to be more knowledgeable about specific fields. There were many support services on campus, but you need to know where to look. Also, I have many friends from the university that now work for Kohls, Target, Dicks Sporting Goods, Google, and Deloitte. Internships are important, as well as taking advantage of networking available through Indiana University events. Most of these friends earned degrees through the business school and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Michelle:There are lots of study areas around campus. What makes this great is that there are different types of spaces for students who want various environments to do work in. Indiana University has one of the largest student unions in the nation, and it includes many different spaces to work. One of the coziest is the South Lounge, which many refer to as Hogwarts. There is also a Starbucks with sprawling tables. There are computer labs and other communal seating areas all throughout campus. Additionally, most academic buildings have their own libraries. The main library, Herman Wells, is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Each floor serves its own purpose: group work, computer stations, presentation rooms, and the graduate tower stacks. Also, the library has many dining options including Chick-Fil-A and Pizza Hut. Some study spaces are more popular than others, and they often get more crowded during midterms and finals. Students tend to find the spaces on campus that work best for their schedule and style of work. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Michelle:Indiana University is in Bloomington, Indiana, which is easily one of the best college towns in the nation. Known for its beauty and culture, there is always something fun to do. The town is integrated into the university, but it really begins just past the Sample Gates. Kirkwood is the main street, filled with shops both local and chain. Bloomington offers endless dining options for any budget. 4thStreet is known for its blocks of foreign restaurants. Besides the dozens of restaurants, Bloomington has many local stores and businesses. Walking into town is always an adventure, with lots of choices for shopping at interesting stores. Bloomington is also big on local and organic food. They have their own version of Whole Foods called Blooming Foods, and there is a huge weekly farmers market from August to November. For students over 21, there are many, many bars in and around the squaresomething for any crowd or mood you may be in. There is also locally brewed beer at Upland and a winery, Oliver, just 30 minutes away. Students at Indiana University barely notice being on- or off-campus. Campus is part of the city, and the city feels like an extension of the university. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Michelle:Indiana University serves about 40,000 students, most of whom are undergraduates. It is a large student body, but by getting involved with clubs and campus groups, it starts to feel very small. I was pleased with my class sizes. I found it to be a myth that large colleges only provide lectures. While my introduction courses and some program requirements included large lectures, the majority of my classes had about 30 students in them. Also, most of the large lectures also had smaller discussion sections that met at separate times during the week. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Michelle:Even though I majored in elementary education, I was eager to explore many subjects in college, including political science. I took Introduction to Political Science as an elective during the fall semester of my freshman year. My professor was expressive and interested in what we were studying. He also loved to facilitate class discussions that often turned one students views on another. Our readings included The Republic by Plato, one of the most difficult texts I have ever encountered. The professor recognized this and offered extra review classes with the two teaching assistants to help. I also went to see him during office hours for help with our final paper, one that I agonized over and spent hours on. He was very helpful and constructive. This professor also offered me guidance when I lamented that I could not add a political science minor onto my elementary education major. He gave me advice about how to fit in other political science courses and which ones would be m ost beneficial. Although I only took one class with him, for the rest of my time at Indiana University, he would always stop to chat or say hello when I saw him on campus. Big schools can have small school connections and relationshipsyou just need to foster them. Check out Michellestutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

10 Things Every Great Jazz Guitarist Knows

10 Things Every Great Jazz Guitarist Knows Megan L. Be the next great jazz guitarist with these tips from guitar teacher  Zachary A. To quote the late Frank Zappa, “Jazz is not dead, it just smells funny”. Jazz may not be as big and popular as it once was but if you learn how to play jazz you will be set up to successfully play any genre of music. The great jazz musicians all have numerous things in common, things that set them apart from the crowd and make them legendary. In this article, I will be going over ten of those most important things that anyone playing jazz guitar must know. Remember that as a jazz musician, and really any type of musician, you should be listening to as much music as possible. Listening to great performances really is vital for becoming a great performer yourself. 1. Timing is everything Timing in music is imperative, and especially in jazz. Music itself is the manipulation of time. When you play music with people and you don’t have a good sense for time, the music you create will most likely be a jagged, clustered mess. The people you play with will not know what to play or when to play. Timing is everything. 2. Practice with an external time source A good tip to obtain a little bit more of a jazzier feel to your music is to use  a metronome or even a drum sequencer.  If    if the time signature fits, practice playing on the 2nd and 4th of the beat.  The more you play with a metronome the better your time will be. It is that simple. 3. All jazz musicians have a great ear The most common trait in every jazz musician is that they have an impeccable ear for music. Developing a musician’s ear, as it is referred to, takes time and lots of practice. To help build a better ear for music there are numerous exercises that you can do. Training your ear can involve hearing intervals, lines, chord qualities and chord progressions, and learning all of this in every key, with the ability to decipher what change, what interval, what progression is in what key. Jazz guitarists should also have a great ear while on the bandstand. It is imperative to listen to your band mates while on stage. The better your ear is on stage, the more people will want to play with you. 4. Take every opportunity for a session or gig Take every opportunity for a session or a gig. Every time you play a session or gig it is a learning experience. Through these experiences be sure to take the opportunity to learn from other successful musicians. Always keep an open mind; I am sure that there is something you can learn from just about every musician out there. At times it is easy to get stuck in a narcissistic mind set, trying to find your own solutions to your own problems. Having a handful of trustworthy musicians to go to when you get stuck can be very helpful when youre studying music. Another reason that it is important to take every session or gig you can is because you never know who you will run into at these events. It has been said that music is about being in the right place at the right time. For that luck to strike, you actually have to be out playing and engaging with other musicians. You never know which gig or session will be the one that could change your career. 5. Practice everyday This is pretty self-explanatory. To be a great jazz guitarist, it takes practice and lots of it. Practicing daily, even if it is just for an hour, is way more beneficial than practicing for 8 hours one day and not at all for the rest of the week. 6. Have an extensive amount of heads and changes memorized All great jazz musicians have a back log of themes and heads memorized with the ability to recall them at any time. This knowledge of heads will be extremely beneficial when playing at a jam session or playing a gig. When deciding on what to learn, I recommend start off by learning some of the more well known jazz standards. For example, Autumn Leaves is a well-known song which is played in the key of g minor. Another well-known jazz standard that is essential to have in your repertoire is the song Summertime. A George Gershwin classic, the jazz version was made famous by John Coltrane and has since been covered by many other legendary musicians. Summertime utilizes the major and minor pentatonic scales. Learning this song will help you be a master at these scales. A few more common jazz standards you should learn include Cherokee, All the Things, and Stella by Starlight. When learning these songs transpose them for all 12 keys for complete mastery. 7. Always go back to the fundamentals Jazz is a complex genre, and  it is always important to revert back to the fundamentals when learning jazz guitar.This means spending time reviewing the major and minor scales and practicing the pentatonic scales before breaking out in Frank Zappa’s solo in Black Napkins. It is important to know a multitude of chord progressions and phrasings as well as the different forms these phrases can be arranged. Again, it is important to know all these phrases and chord progressions in all of the 12 keys. Another helpful way to learn and master the fundamentals for anyone playing jazz guitar is by learning and getting a general sense of the piano. 8. Talent is great but determination and perseverance win every time Talent is great but perseverance and determination will triumph every time. Being naturally talented at anything is always a nice thing. The one thing that every jazz musician has in common is that they have spent many dedicated hours in the shed practicing and perfecting their trade. Remember the path to learning one hundred songs begins with learning one. 9. There is no set formula for becoming a jazz musician There truly is no set formula for becoming a jazz guitarist and musician, but there are many different formulas out there that you can pick and choose from. In the end, use what works best for you. With jazz there really is so much information out there. There is always room for improvement. You could always be brushing up on changes, learning old jazz standards, or perhaps learning new scales. It is important to steer clear of the mind set of being overly confident in your abilities. This bottomless pit of a mindset can cause you to become complacent and lose that drive every dedicated jazz musician has. One common thing in jazz is that it will take you years to learn, a challenge that I just love. 10. Set goals and stick with them until completion To avoid getting stuck in a rut, it helps to set goals. Both short and long term goals will help you grow as a musician. Your goal could be as simple as learning one new song a week. There is something though, that is even more important than setting the goals, because in reality setting the goals is the easy part. The hard part, and the most important, is to finish the goals you set. Working with a guitar teacher is the best way to meet your goals and achieve your dreams! Zachary A. is a guitar instructor in Katy, TX specializing in beginning and intermediate students. He is currently earning a degree in  music theory. Learn more about Zachary here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  Antonio Thomás Koenigkam Oliveira

Latin Basics 101

Latin Basics 101 What to Expect When Learning Latin ChaptersBeginner's Latin  Is There a Typical Profile of a Latin Student?Motivation, Essential for ProgressBe More Comfortable in Other SubjectsGet Help From OthersIs There a Secret Recipe for Mastering Latin? At school, you’re more likely to have learned languages that are still alive today like French, German and Spanish. But although a dead language, learning Latin isn’t any different.First, you start with learning vocabulary (get yourself an English-Latin dictionary!), before you move on to learning sentence structures and stock phrases.Making the choice to learn Latin is not an easy one, it takes hard work and dedication. You should know what’s ahead before you begin.And that’s where we come in! We’ll give you a run-down of what to expect when learning Latin and what you need to be an A* student.As with any subject, you should start at the beginning, learning about the history of Latin and its influence across the world. On the programme:From legend to historyThe origin s of Rome and its heroic figuresThe foundation of a cityFrom Troy to LazioThe city of Romethe first kings of RomeThe Republic: history and institutionsThe birth of the republic, the famous first centuries of the Republic • Assemblies, deliberations, and votes in the ancient world • The great political figures of the RepublicPrivate and public life• Daily life • Masters and slaves in ancient times • Education and training in ancient times • Roman religion, divinities, rites, and feasts; Greek figures and Roman figures of deities • Theatre, games and public recreationThe Ancient Mediterranean worldCarthage and the Punic WarsAlliances and conflicts between cities in the ancient worldPowers on land and sea in the ancient worldEven learning for 2 hours per week you’ll get a great understanding of the history of Latin before attacking more difficult notions such as the possessive, nominative, interrogative or Latin lexicon.Discover websites and other tools to help you lear n Latin!Learn about the history of Latin and its influence on other languages (Source: visualhunt.com)Is There a Typical Profile of a Latin Student?Once thought of as an elitist language reserved only for the rich and private schools, Latin is becoming more accessible. Nowadays, instead of having to attend exclusive schools to get access to the language, you’ll find plenty of different places to learn Latin wherever you are.  And if you’re learning another language like French or Spanish, Latin can be a great support as it has massive influences on many of the languages we speak today.Find out where you can learn Latin in London...Latin, for everyoneLike we said, Latin is opening up, not bad for a dead language. Latin is accessible to anyone at any level, as long as you put the work in…You should start upping your Latin learning hours from 2 hours a week to  4. Whether those hours are all in a classroom or with extra work at home is up to you.Set out with this extra work in m ind. It’s good practice to prepare yourself for the work ahead so you can keep your motivation and determination. DéborahLatin Teacher 5.00 (12) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr. KarisLatin Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JennyLatin Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SimonaLatin Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArgiroLatin Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LucieLatin Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielaLatin Teacher 5.00 (9) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SophieLatin Teacher 5.00 (6) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsMotivation, Essential for ProgressIn all disciplines (intellectual or physical) there is one key ingredient for progression, and it's essential for Latin too: motivation.Motivation will make sure you want to read Latin texts pick up new vocabulary, to learn all the con jugations and to learn different phrases in Latin.Always keep your goals in mind. Why did you get started in Latin? Don’t lose sight that it was your choice to learn the language.This reflection is difficult to find of course when you are struggling to progress but try to keep focused.You’ve got this far so don’t give up now!Be More Comfortable in Other SubjectsWe've said it before and we'll say it again, Latin is not reserved for the elite. It is accessible to everyone as long as they are willing to learn. But beware, it's not easy, it takes time and investment.Once you've got a strong base in Latin it can help in other subjects especially languages like French, Italian, and Spanish.You may even want to sit Latin GCSEs!Study with others to support your progression in LatinGet Help From OthersWhen learning Latin you need help. Surround yourself with people who will encourage you when you’re finding it hard.Family, Friends, and ClassmatesWhen learning Latin, you’ll need som e advice. Ask your friends and family for their advice on getting motivated, on different ways of learning. Make sure they’re involved in your learning so they can hold you accountable. We’ll all more likely to work harder if we know someone is keeping watch! The people around you want you to succeed and so will encourage you to get studying! Going it alone is a difficult road so rely on friends and family for help.The same goes for your classmates, keep each other on track by asking how their studying is going or doing extra study together. Try to find the best conditions to study, maybe studying at home isn’t for you, maybe you need to go to a library to work or you need to do a group study with your classmates. Working conditions are an important factor in your learning.Make time in your schedule to dedicate to studying. Finding the time can be difficult but try to arrange study sessions with your classmates so you know someone is counting on you to show up! Taking these st eps will make sure you stay motivated and progress quickly in Latin.The role of your Latin teacherOf course, your Latin teacher also plays a strong role in your progression.    They’re there to make sure the workload is manageable, that you’re studying effectively and that they help you with difficult grammar points that may take you time to understand.With one hour of beginner’s lessons a week you can easily find the time for extra studying at home. So, outside of your Latin lessons, you can work on the points that you find difficult so when you go to class the next week you can move on to the next topic without wasting time.Your teacher can’t put in the work for you. They are there just to teach you the topic or grammar point, it’s up to you to revise it in your own time.Your teacher will give you the confidence to tackle difficult points by yourself, and will give you the support in class when you need help.Is There a Secret Recipe for Mastering Latin?Unfortunately, lik e most things in life, there is no quick fix or secret recipe for mastering Latin. There’s just one secret ingredient that counts and that’s work. All you have to do is put the work in and you’ll succeed!Anticipate the work that lies ahead and give it your all.Count on your classmates for help and ask your teacher questions when you need to. Once you’re in the swing of things you’ll see Latin as a pleasure, not a chore.Check out Superprof to find a Latin teacher near you.Now discover how to get started learning Latin...

Ask an Admissions Expert Tira Harpaz

Ask an Admissions Expert Tira Harpaz Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Tira Harpaz is the Founder of CollegeBound Advice, an admissions consulting firm that aids many students in the college admissions process. She is a graduate of Princeton Universitywhere she also served as an alumni interviewer. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? Tira: Most students will not look at an actual college application until late August/early September of their senior year of high school.However, students can and should be thinking about parts of their application before that date. In terms of a main essay (which can be used for Common Application schools, as well as many other schools), it is generally a good idea to brainstorm and begin writing the essay in the late spring or summer before senior year.Developing a topic can be time-consumingit can take several drafts to craft an essay you are satisfied with, and the process should not be left until the last minute. In addition, as you go through high school, you should keep a list/develop a resume of your extracurricular activities. That way, you will be mindful if you are doing too many one-time activities rather than having meaningful and in-depth interests. While you should never engage in an activity for the purpose of building a resume, sometimes noticing that you lack leadership or that you have not sustained many of your interests will allow you to rectify those gaps. VT: What are the best ways to go about selecting a terrific essay topic? Tira: I believe the most effective essays are ones in which the reader not only gets a sense of the student, but also feels that the student was emotionally involved with the subject. So, my advice is to brainstorm about what makes you happy and what makes you tick. Think about a time when you felt engagede.g., have you always loved inventing things? When did your fascination with music begin? What did it feel like when you threw your first pitch?In addition, sometimes it's helpful to think about the weaknesses in your application and see if there's a way to address them in an essay. For example, if your extracurricular activities are strong, but your academic performance has been spotty, try and think of times you went the extra mile in a class or got fascinated by a particular subject, and see if you can write about it. VT: Are there any essay topics you get tired of seeing or would warn students to stay away from? Tira: Although I personally have topics I dislike, I think almost any topic can work depending on how well you write. That said, there are a few topics I would be careful about using, including a summer community service/travel program that you paid for, a sports story about winning the big game, and a personal narrative about a hardship or illness in the family, unless it is truly meaningful.In addition, anything that smacks of prejudice or entitlement should be avoided. VT: What is the biggest mistake a student can make on a college application? Tira: The biggest mistake is to send out a rushed application, which does not convey the student's personality or ideas or interest in the college in question. The second mistake (which I see frequently) is not proofreading the application. Typos and sloppiness leave a bad impression, and sometimes there are inconsistencies that should be avoided. For example, if in your activities list you mention that you've been involved with your school band all four years, but your essay says you've just started band, the inconsistency raises unnecessary questions.And finally, of course, lying about activities is just plain foolhardy. VT: What is the typical process an admissions officer goes through to evaluate applications? Tira: The process for admissions offices is different depending on the school.Some very large state universities only consider standardized test results and GPAs while making a decision. For many other schools, at least one admissions officer will do an initial read of the application, looking at essays, recommendations, grades, test scores and activities. These reviews can be relatively short, sometimes only 15-30 minutes, and so your goal should be to make your application stand out in some way and make the admissions officer your advocate. VT: What do you think is the single most important thing a student should make sure they present in the best possible way on their application? Tira: I always tell students they need to answer any underlying questions raised by the application.If a student has few extracurricular activities, the admissions committee might assume the student isn't active and won't participate in the life of the college.That student needs to show, if possible, how he or she engages in activities or pursuits that are purposeful and interesting.If a student has a serious academic weakness, the student must explain how they have worked to improve in that particular subject. VT: How should students go about determining the culture of a university, and whether they would be a good fit? Tira: Students should make a checklist of factors that are important to them. Although some of these preferences may change, many will not, and such a checklist is helpful in deciding which schools will ultimately land on your college list. After that, visiting a school, if at all possible, is useful to determine whether it would be a good fit. Try and interact with students other than tour guides. Are students friendly, helpful, morose, inattentive? Sit in on a class, eat in the cafeteria and visit a dorm room if you can. If you can't visit (or even if you can), go online and access a virtual tour. Reach out to students who attend the school, through emails, texts etc. If you're interested in a particular subject, see if you can correspond with a professor in the department. Some schools offer online chats with the admissions office, and some admissions officers have great online blogs, which can be informative. VT: Early-action, early-decision, binding/non-binding, regular decisions...With so many choices when applying, what do you recommend to students? Tira: To a certain extent, the question of whether to apply early will depend on a student's profile. I generally recommend that a student apply to at least one early action or rolling admissions school that is likely to accept the student. The goal is to have an early acceptance in hand so that your stress level will be lower over the next few months.If, however, a student's grades have been problematic, I might recommend that the student wait until hopefully stronger first semester grades are available before submitting an application. VT: How important are grades and standardized test scores when admissions decisions are being made? Tira: A student's four-year academic record is by far the most important factor in admissions. Generally, no extracurricular activities or exceptional essay will outweigh your coursework and GPA. In addition, schools will look at the rigor of courses the student has taken.If you're applying to a selective school, but have only taken the easiest courses available, it will be very difficult to gain acceptance. After that, for schools requiring standardized tests, test scores are looked at carefully. Finally, all the other components of an applicationessays, recommendations, and extracurricular activitiesare reviewed. VT: What tips do you have for students asking their teachers for letters of recommendation? Tira: Near the end of junior year, students should pick two academic teachers as potential recommenders. You should then ask each teacher whether he or she can give you a positive recommendation. Once a teacher has agreed to give you a recommendation, ask whether there's any information they need.Even if they say no, I would suggest giving the teacher a brief description of why you enjoyed the class and any specific activities or projects you excelled in, as well as a list of your outside activities or your resume. Visit CollegeBound Advice for more information. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

5 Things That Challenge Even the Best Guitar Newbies

5 Things That Challenge Even the Best Guitar Newbies Suzy S. Learning a new instrument can be challenging, and guitar is certainly no exception. You may find yourself struggling with building your calluses or reaching certain chords, but dont worry youre not alone! Here are 5 things that can challenge the beginner guitar player, and simple strategies you can use to improve. 1. Building calluses New to the guitar? Calluses might seem like your worst nightmare, but building them up will help you fret the strings easier and produce a clear, even tone each time you play. It might take a while, but trust us, its worth it! What to try: Try using lighter gauge guitar strings at first. If you prefer the sound of heavier strings, you can work your way up to this type, but in general the lighter nylon strings are more comfortable for beginners. Remember that you wont build guitar calluses overnight, so consistent practice is key. Some guitarists also swear by soaking the fingertips in rubbing alcohol to speed up the process. Another thing to keep in mind is that most beginners press down too hard to begin with. Try relaxing your fingers and experiment with the pressure. The string should hit the fret evenly, but you dont need a death grip! 2. Finger coordination Dexterity, coordination and also finger strength are all integral to creating a beautiful sound and also killer licks and solos! But sometimes, those individual fingers just dont want to cooperate. It can be even harder for guitarists with small hands, but there are several exercises you can do to improve. What to try: First of all, relax! If youre so focused on your finger coordination, youll just end up stressing yourself out. Start slowly, and try practicing with a metronome to work on your accuracy. You can also start each practice session with specific exercises to get your fingers warmed up and loose. For example, try starting with a chromatic scale in the first position, but switch it up a bit.   Start on the 6th string and then jump to the 1st string, followed by the 5th, and then the 2nd to 4th and then 3rd. You can also alternate the pattern by moving upward on the 6th and then descend on the 5th, followed by ascending again on the 4th and so on in that pattern. 3. Keeping time Sometimes tapping your foot or counting in your head while playing can feel a lot like rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time. Its not always easy! With practice, though, your internal metronome will improve. Developing that sense of rhythm is essential for guitar players. What to try: Keep that metronome out, even after youve done your warm-up exercises! Use it when practicing strumming patterns for example, try setting it at a comfortable tempo (60-80 beats per minute) and play a downstroke on each beat. Increase the tempo a bit, and then switch it up by playing on every other beat, or other patterns such as triplets. Add this to your practice routine every day until you can keep the rhythm steady without the metronome. 4. Memorizing guitar chords There are literally thousands of guitar chord combinations out there, so it can be pretty daunting for the beginner guitar player. But dont fret you dont need to learn all of them right away. What to try: Start simple! Even just memorizing these 5 easy guitar chords can give you loads of songs to play. A great place to start is with the 12 major chords and 12 minor chords.   Beyond that, there are a lot of possible strategies for helping you memorize the chords, depending on your learning style. If youre a visual learner, make chord chart flashcards, and review them throughout the day. Kinesthetic learner? Close your eyes and play a few chords, consciously making the association between the name of the chord and where your fingers are placed. Practice, practice, practice eventually your muscle memory will take over. 5. Staying motivated Do you find yourself coming up with excuses for why you cant practice? You, my friend, might be burnt out. Its a common thing for beginners, especially if you started playing the guitar with unreasonable expectations. What to try: If you find your motivation levels dwindling, consider switching up your repertoire, taking a break for a day, listening to different styles of music, reevaluating your goals, or shortening your practice sessions into smaller, more manageable chunks. Let your guitar teacher know, and he or she may be able to find the right solution to bring that excitement back. All of these issues are common for beginners, but   keep in mind you wont solve them overnight. Being an accomplished guitar player will take time, and your commitment to practicing regularly will make a big impact. Keep at it! Suzy S., TakeLessons staff member and blogger Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Rachel Hoefling.

Benefits of Taking SAT Practice Tests

Benefits of Taking SAT Practice Tests When it comes to the SAT, you can never have enough practice under your belt. The SAT is totally different from the typical exams high school students are accustomed to taking in the classroom. Therefore, one of the absolute best ways to excel on the SAT is by taking SAT practice exams. Its that simple. As students gain more exposure to the SAT question types and become comfortable with the specific format, the higher they will score on test day. [RELATED: What is an Average SAT Score?] Time management is probably something we could all afford to work on. Even for those who are extremely bright and familiarized with the SAT format, timing often appears to be an issue on this standardized test. Most students who have taken the SAT admit to running out of time during the exam or having to rush through the last few questions of a section. The truth is that the SAT test-makers allot you barely enough time to complete the assessment in its entirety. The most important reason to take SAT practice tests is that you will learn how to pace yourself and realize which sections require more time than others. Overall, there are hundreds of vocabulary terms out there classified as SAT words. It would be a tremendously challenging and impractical task to try to memorize every vocabulary word that has ever appeared on the SAT. You may want to take a look at these SAT flashcardsthat can help you study. Even the most skilled SAT test-takers probably dont know every definition. By taking practice tests, you will notice which vocabulary words appear more frequently than others. You should write down the words that you encounter over and over again; your time is best spent learning the words that pop up most often, rather than learning words that have only shown up a few times in the history of the SAT. You may also want to take a look at this information on how the SAT is scored. The Critical Reading section of the SAT can be problematic for a variety of reasons. The type of reading that this test requires is much different from the type of reading we do in the classroom and at home, where theres no ticking timer and we have dictionaries at our disposal. Considering the limited time you will have on the SAT, the most you can typically hope for is a very basic understanding of the passages. Dont get hung up on technical details like dates, names, and words you havent seen before. If these details are relevant, its likely that the questions will indicate the exact line in which theyre used. Its important to remember that you dont gain points simply for reading the passage thoroughly; you only gain points for correctly answering the questions about it. Practice tests will allow you to rehearse this aspect of reading comprehension necessary for succeeding on the exam. When you take SAT practice tests, online or in prep books, you will become better aware of the types of questions that the test utilizes. For instance, the Critical Reading section contains questions that ask about the chronology of events, tone, inferences, vocabulary in context, etc. The wording of the questions may vary, but you can bet that the SAT will contain questions that test these concepts. The test-makers come up with a diverse collection of ways to ask about the same idea questions like, Which of these statements would the author agree with? and What can be concluded from the passage? are both questions of the inference type. The more you take SAT practice tests, the better you will become at figuring out what the questions are truly asking. Although the questions may be different each time you take the SAT, the format is consistent. The more you work through SAT practice tests, the more familiar you will be with how the exam is laid out as well as with the principles it tests. If you decide to commit to taking SAT practice tests in your spare time, youll be doing yourself a huge favor. Familiarity eases anxiety and increases performance. [RELATED: How is the New SAT Scored?]

Private School Divide Tutorfairs Reflections

Gove End State/Private School Divide â€" Tutorfair’s Reflections At the London Academy of Excellence yesterday, Michael Gove outlined a bold vision for the future of education: no appreciable difference between state and private education. A world where children’s educational prospects are not determined by the wealth of their parents. Gove believes the answer is introducing lies in more testing, tougher discipline and longer school days. Is he right? According to Malcolm Gladwell’s book ‘Outliers’, the greatest leaps in reading ability between state and private pupils actually start to show during the holidays. Amazingly, one particular study he cites shows that it is in the long summer break, not the term time, that privately-educated pupils appeared to jump furthest ahead. Gladwell presents studies that show a disparity in mindset between children from different socio-economic backgrounds, and makes the point that it isn’t as simple as the quality of their education. Tackling this disparity is something that Gove should be investigating as no amount of testing, discipline and hours will fully achieve his vision without embracing crucial components required for educational success: support, mentoring and inspiration. As students progress through school, parents find themselves with varying amounts of time to support children outside of school lessons. Students from private schools often find themselves with a slight advantage: if their parents don’t have time or the expertise to help them, they can often afford to hire a private tutor to help. There are a variety of initiatives which are currently trying to tackle the attainment gap in education. The Access Project being one where, in its first cohort, they offered an intensive programme of after school clubs for motivated students (including debate workshops, career-related societies and one-to-one tutorials) which resulted in all seventeen participants gaining a place at university. Into University similarly supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to attain a university place or a place in their chosen aspiration by providing after school tutoring at local centres, offering academic support and career guidance. Teach First (now the biggest recruiter from Oxbridge in the UK) places bright graduates into teacher training roles in inner city schools. Other programmes include ones organised by the charity, SHINE which aims to support extra curricular activities and complementary classes to support children’s learning; Action Tutoring which works with pupils pr eparing for GCSEs who are C/D borderline; and the London Evening Standard ‘Get London Reading’ campaign. This is just a short list of organisations which are working hard to address educational disadvantage in the UK by reinforcing the work done in school. Indeed, Gove acknowledges the importance of extra support in education and suggests extending the school day so that students have more access to extra curricular activities and study support. However, if this happens across the board, the extra support provided will still be given within a whole class learning model, when what students might really be needing is more individual support. Like the initiatives listed above, The Tutorfair Foundation can also help bridge this gap because for every child who pays for tutoring, we give tutoring to a child who can’t afford it. Students are given extra support by Tutorfair tutors and other volunteers, in small groups or one-to-one,  complementing the work done in class. This doesn’t just help from a purely instructional point of view; the level of attention from an engaging, highly educated adult increases children’s confidence so that they enjoy learning more and feel more encouraged to work in school. Discipline often becomes less problematic too, as students learn to deal with the frustrations holding them back at school. We can’t necessarily transform education with more of the same but with new ideas, new programmes and new people, the vision to have country without education inequality seems more attainable. And, we certainly cannot deny that there is a huge amount of goodwill and desire out there to make this happen. Photograph from  en.wikipedia.org  CC-by