A Day in the Life at Williams College

A Day in the Life at Williams College The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Drew is a Chicago tutor and 2013 graduate of Williams College. He holds a Bachelors degree in French Literature English Literature and specializes inmany subjects including French tutoring, ACT prep tutoring, AP U.S. History tutoring, and much more. Check out what he had to say about Williams College: 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? Drew: The campus is self-contained in a rural setting. While this can make it difficult to travel to and from Williamstown, the college ensures that everything we need is available on campus. Everything is in walking distance, and Williams College provides ample dining options and events. The gorgeous mountains and the attachment to a campus social life is what makes Williams College so special, so there is really no need for a car or for mass transit. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Drew: I found my professors to be very approachable. The small class sizes ensure that professors and students interact, and after class they are just as willing to meet and help with whatever issues you may have. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Drew: I loved the social life at Williams College. Almost every single student lives in a dorm and eats most of his or her meals in a dining hall, which leads to a terrific atmosphere. School-sponsored functions are open to all students, and it is easy to make friends and find groups to be a part of. 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? Drew: As a liberal arts school, Williams College places emphasis on a well rounded education, and I found that the school did a good job encouraging students to try new subjects and departments regardless of their academic background. 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? Drew: One of my favorite things about Williams College was the freshman entry system, which provides layers of support and attempts to expose students to geographic, socioeconomic, and racial diversity. Our junior advisors (JAs) are not like resident assistants you see elsewhere. Instead, this highly coveted position goes to those who want to mentor and dedicate their time to freshmen. They are given extensive resources just to plan events and to help new students feel at home. I loved it. There is no Greek life. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Drew: Career Services is great. I did not end up taking advantage of them until senior year, but when I did, I found the staff incredibly approachable. There were also numerous workshops, career fairs, and companies recruiting on campus. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Drew: The study areas are great. As I have mentioned, the social life is self-contained, so libraries and the student union are the places to gather, work, and spend time. Williams College does a good job of providing work space. Also, they just opened a gorgeous new library. 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? Drew: The downtown area, Spring Street, is right in the middle of campus. For those looking to get off campus, Williams College is not the place to go. However, the town is lovely, with great restaurants, and the Berkshires are gorgeous. It is not uncommon to go on hikes and jogs and to cross many other students enjoying the scenery, as well. Lastly, there are several fantastic art museums in the area. So between all of that, the work, and Williams College events, I never felt bored. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Drew: The student body is small. I was incredibly pleased with the class sizes and the professorial interaction afforded by them. By the time I graduated, I was taking several classes with no more than ten people. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Drew: My senior year I took a Molire class that included acting out scenes across campus in front of a crowd. As a French Literature and English Literature major, I had written my share of papers and was used to discussing literature. However, I had never dreamed of acting. Even though it was terrifying, I had a blast. And more importantly, by approaching drama in a holistic way, as opposed to just as a reader, I gained further insights into the drama theory we discussed in class. It was a fun activity that ended up giving me more insight into readings and theory than I had ever dreamed of having. Check out Drews tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Monocot Root Online Biology Tutors Tutorpace

Monocot Root Online Biology Tutors Tutorpace The parts of the plant which are seen under the soil are called the roots. They absorb water and minerals from the soil and fix the plant firmly to the soil. Monocot roots are fibrous roots. The radicle gives rise to the main root soon replaced by a cluster of roots from the base. The transverse section of monocot root shows three distinct region-piliferous layer, cortex and stele. Piliferous layer: It is the outermost layer, made up of single layered thin walled living cells. The stomata and cuticle are absent. Cortex: Immediately beneath the epidermis is a massive cortex lies consisting of thin walled parenchyma cells having sufficiently developed intercellular spaces among them. The sclerenchyma cells are commonly found in the cortex of monocotyledons. The inner most layer of the cortex is the endodermis which is composed of barrel shaped compact cells having no intercellular spaces among them. The endodermal cells possess casparian strips on their anticlinal walls. The cells opposite to protoxylem cells remain thin walled without casparian thickenings and are called passage cells. The passage cells allow the passage of water from the cortical cells to the xylem. Stele: The stele consists of pericycle, vascular tissues, conjunctive tissue and pith. The pericycle is single layered and parenchymatous.The cells in the pericycle contain abundant protoplasm. The lateral roots are originated from the pericycle. Vascular tissues are xylem and phloem. In monocot root the xylem and phloem occur as separate bundles. The xylem and phloem bundles are equal in number. They are arranged on different radii. Such an arrangement of vascular tissue is called radial. The xylem bundle consists of protoxylem and metaxylem.Protoxylem lies towards the periphery and metaxylem towards the centre.This condition is called exarch. The number of xylem vessels in each bundle is limited. The conjunctive tissue and pith are seen. The pith is parenchymatous and, large and well developed.

5 Keys to Effective Online Calculus Tutoring

5 Keys to Effective Online Calculus Tutoring Improving Academic Performance Sam Ribnick is an online MyGuru tutor for calculus and physics. He attended MIT where he received a Bachelor of Science in Physics, and is a high school physics teacher in Boston Public Schools. He has tutored students online and in person on subjects including AP calculus, AP and IB physics, multi-variable calculus and introductory college physics. Last semester I worked with a student taking a college multi-variable calculus class, and it was one of the most successful and fulfilling tutoring relationships I have had. We “met” two times a week using MyGuru’s online meeting system, and I was able to help her understand the concepts behind double integrals, Green’s Theorem and partial derivatives. Done right, online tutoring can be even more effective than face-to-face tutoring. The most important thing is finding an excellent tutor, but there is a lot you can do as the student to get the most out of your online tutoring. Here are 5 keys for you to keep in mind: Send a link to the class website. First thing, send the tutor a link to any class websites or textbooks available online. You may need to send your login information. Remember to set the password to something different from your usual password (use something simple like “tutor123”). If the textbook is not available online, send the tutor the title, author and edition - sometimes the tutor will be able to find the book online or in a library nearby. Take notes! The tutor will be writing on the screen, but you will still need the old-fashioned pen, paper and calculator. Prepare for an online session the same way you would for face-to-face. Have your textbook, notebook and other materials handy. And when your tutor shows you how to calculate that tricky volume integral, make sure you write it down! Try the problems and share your work. Just like with face-to-face tutoring, the amount you learn depends on how much effort you put in! If you struggled to understand partial derivatives in lecture, make sure that you attempt a few problems before you meet with the tutor. Then use your phone’s camera to snap a photo of the work and email it to the tutor before the session. The tutor will be able to give you more specific help after seeing what you’ve tried and where you got stuck. You talk, the tutor writes. The tutor can’t see what you write on your paper, so you will need to explain your steps out loud while she writes on the screen. It might sound complicated to explain how you did an integral, but it actually can be a huge boost to your learning. When you explain your steps out loud, you clarify your own understanding, and you give the tutor insight into your thinking so she can correct any misunderstandings. Stay focused! Are you easily distracted by facebook and online games? Keep them closed!! If you find you are getting lost or bored, tell your tutor or even request a different tutor. With a good tutor, calculus should be interesting and engaging, but it’s your job to stay focused! Meeting online is not the same as meeting face-to-face, but I have found that online tutoring can have a lot of benefits over face-to-face. With online tutoring you can usually record the session, or have your tutor send you the notes after the session. This is a great way to get the most out of your tutoring time, giving you a chance to review that tricky triple integral one more time! Click here to see the specific types of online tutoring we offer! hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, '6baac2ae-05a3-4610-9d1f-265c8cbd809f', {});

Four Important Considerations for Teens When Choosing College Majors

Four Important Considerations for Teens When Choosing College Majors Maybe your teen has been planning on a particular career since fourth grade. Maybe your high school junior is just now starting to contemplate the future. Or perhaps your teen has a few ideas of possible college majors and hasnt yet decided which one to go with. The college major decision is a big one, and your teen could surely use some guidance. Here are four considerations for your teen to keep in mind: Interests Make sure your teen thinks about his or her interests. Maybe thats being outside, working with children, helping others or working with numbers. Encourage your teen to talk with adult family friends and neighbors about what they do, and to start paying attention to the different types of fields and careers out there. It is fine for your teen to go to college with several ideas in mind, but its also good to start exploring fields and job duties that sound enjoyable and interesting. Academic strengths Your teen needs to do some research about the types of classes that different majors will require. If medicine appeals but science has never been your teens best subject, it might not be a great choice. Struggling through required courses could lead to a difficult college experience. That said, academic strengths alone shouldnt drive your teens choice in majorand your teen should keep an open mind. Perhaps your strong math student has no interest in majoring in math. That doesnt mean other math-related or math-adjacent disciplines arent worth a look, like medicine, healthcare, engineering or architecture. Soft skills Every job is different, and theres so much more to a career than the day-to-day job duties. Your teen would be wise to reflect on what he or she is skilled at other than school subjects. For example, your teen might be great with people, an excellent communicator, a leader who is skilled at taking charge or an analytical thinker. Similarly, your teen needs to acknowledge that there are skills he or she doesnt have or wish to strengthen. Someone who is people-driven and team-oriented, for example, might not be a good fit for an isolated job. Stability Salary matters, but stability matters more. Is projected demand for the fields and jobs in which your teen is interested strong? Realistically, most teens probably cannot visualize life 10-20 years after college, but they might one day have children, own homes and have a variety of financial responsibilities. It is smart to research the jobs for which each major will prepare your teen (and the career trajectory of those jobs) and how easily your teen will be able to support him or herself. Despite all of this effort, your teen might go off to college without a clear plan. Dont worrythe first year of college consists largely of general education classes and lots of opportunities to explore. Its still worthwhile to think about now, but there's no reason to push your teen into something that he or she will regret or end up changing later. This is your teens future, and the decision deserves plenty of attention. Open the lines of communication with your teen about college majors sooner than later. Youll be glad you did.

6 top tips to help children prepare for entrance exams

6 top tips to help children prepare for entrance exams Entrance exams! Just those two words are enough to send shivers down a parent's back. Entrance exams are everywhere. They are used by some private schools, for grammar schools, for some colleges and selective universities. And many children and students often feel the pressure when they are expected to do well. Children as young as four are taking entrance exams for select private schools around the UK! An article in The Telegraph stated: Across all levels of the British school system can be found evidence of the 'exam factory' phenomenon. Children are being tested at all ages - from 4 to 18 - with increasing pressure being placed upon the results of the exams. Whatever the reason your child is taking an entrance exam there are always steps that can be taken to help them to prepare and with the right approach and support secure a successful outcome. We at First Tutors know how stressful entrance exams can be but we also know that with a little help and some good encouragement, entrance exams don't have to be a terrible or terrifying experience. We have complied a list of our top six tips to ensure you help your child prepare for their exams in the best way possible. 1. Make a study plan Giving your child enough time to prepare for their entrance exam will automatically take away some of the stress. Once you have a date for the exam mark it in your calendar and plan the days with your child that they will study. Of course children should not give up their other extra-curricular activities to study for an entrance exam, just allow a certain amount of time per week to go over certain topics and prepare them as much as possible to build up their confidence and tackle any problem areas they may have. Entrance exams do not need a whole heap of study time and depending on the capabilities of your child three to four times a week should be sufficient if you are planning a couple of months ahead. Making sure they have a couple of days off from study will alleviate some of the pressure they may feel. 2. Review past tests and concentrate on problem areas Planning what your child needs to review is also an important factor to take into consideration. Consider the topics or subjects that may come up in the exam and try to organise them so that you are concentrating on the more difficult parts first. It is more beneficial to focus on the topics that your child struggles with the most to boost their confidence and take away some of the challenges. Reviewing past papers can also be a great way of preparing a child for the type of exam they will need to sit. Past papers can help a child familiarise themselves with what types of questions they will be asked, how they will be worded, how much time they will have for each question and what types of answers the examination board is looking for. 3. Seek the help of a private tutor An experienced tutor will encourage your child to feel confident when preparing for their entrance exams. They will have past papers at the ready to go over with your child and have plenty of techniques to ensure they build their confidence and understanding. Finding the right tutor for your child is very important and First Tutors guarantees you'll find the best and most suitable tutor with our incredible search options. We will list all available tutors within close proximity to you, give you details of their qualifications and experience as well as their rates and reviews. Children generally progress much faster with individual attention and a tutor is the best way to guarantee your child has the best chance at success, especially if they are struggling with certain topics around the exams in question. 4. Talk to others for advice Seeing advice from others is also a good idea when preparing for entrance exams. Have your child speak to someone who has already sat the same kind of entrance exam to get some information into what they can expect and what kind of questions came up. Speak to your child's teacher to get some advice on the best possible preparation your child should do and speak to your child's tutor about supplying some past papers and offering any insight into the entrance exam they may have. 5. Know which type of learner your child is There are different styles of learning and understanding which learning style suits your child the best will definitely ensure a smoother and more positive study progression. There are three basic styles of learning: Visual Learner - Visual learners can make pictures in their minds of how something will appear and learn best by seeing things written down, looking at images and watching videos. Auditory Learner - Auditory learners best understand new concepts through listening and hearing things and remember best through verbal lectures, debates and discussions. Kinaesthetic learner - Kinaesthetic learners learn best through interaction and movement and gain knowledge by discovering how things work and exploring the physical world around them. To read more about learning styles and how to understand which learning style suits you or your child best please read our blog on 'Understanding Learning Styles'. 6. Do not stress and practice calming techniques Keeping calm is a vital aspect for all exams and stress can bring a lot of negativity with it. If your child is feeling negative try speaking to them and giving them lots of encouragement. Motivate them and instil a positive attitude; it is not about passing the exam it's about doing their best and accepting all outcomes. Create some strategies with your child that may help them overcome some obstacles during their exam. Skipping difficult and challenging questions and coming back to them later is one great tip whilst another is using the process of elimination and eliminating any answers that are obviously incorrect making choosing an answer that they are not entirely sure about easier. Another great exam tip is to read any questions before reading a passage so that they will know what information to look for and always make sure to read all of the answer options before selecting one; there may be one that seems correct but further down the list may be a more correct answer. Ensure your child gets enough sleep both during revision time and the lead up to the exam and when they are studying to take small breaks to keep their concentration levels at a steady rate. Find ways to make studying more fun such as playing review games with a parent or tutor, acting out some of the topics they are studying, colour-coding their notes with them or even making fun videos to revise or explain certain topics they may find challenging. To conclude Entrance exams can be a stressful time for most children but following some of these tips can ensure a smoother preparation process and a happier child; which of course is a great recipe for success. No matter how your child does in their entrance exams it is always important to note their effort and praise them regardless of a pass or a fail; children should never be given the feeling that they have failed at something.

Test Taking Strategies for Students at Every Level

Test Taking Strategies for Students at Every Level Test Taking Strategies for Students at Every Level Let’s be honest; most students are not jumping for joy after receiving news about an upcoming quiz or test. One might instead hear the grumbling of an uneasy class and perhaps lay witness to several students dropping their heads to their desks in silent protest. Or maybe you’re the one with your head down. In any case, this is surely a current experience students, and all to come will endure more than once in their career. It is thus vital that one learns how to properly manage test-related anxiety and prepare like a pro, so that come test time, you will walk into the room with confidence and be ready to succeed in any situation our private Irvine test prep tutors are here to help you succeed. It is important to note: developing adept test-taking skills is not something one can accomplish overnight. However, do not panic. It is something that you can certainly learn by following a basic set of steps and procedures. Below, I’ve attempted to break down test-taking strategies into three main categories of development: Preparation, Time Management, and Attitude. Though everyone’s approach to studying tends to be slightly different, I believe there is something in this article for everyone; and it can be, at the very least, a good place to start developing these essential skills. Preparation Once you know the date of your exam, it is important to begin thinking about how you will prepare. This includes getting organized and thinking long-term. Getting organized is a great place to start. This involves gathering all class notes, homework, and relevant quizzes or tests that you might find helpful during study. Try creating a chronologically-ordered “study packet” so you can easily find important information when completing study guides or reviewing materials. Note: for math exams, repetition of homework and example problems is critical. To maximize your efforts, one can make review sheets comprised of old homework/quiz/test/example problems from different topics on the same sheet â€" mix up the question types to simulate an actual test, which will often not have questions from the same section located close to one another. Thinking long term is also essential in preparing. Though you do not have to begin studying right after you get the test date (it is likely you will not even have all the materials needed to study for the exam), it is essential to avoid procrastination. This means do not wait until the day before the exam to begin reviewing. Instead, start thinking about the relevant material at least several days before the test. In my experience, working through problems or reading notes about 2-3 days before the test date renders the best results. Time Management Time is a crucial element in any exam setting. Whether in preparation or during the actual test, your time management skills can make or break your experience and results. In preparation, it is essential that you set aside the proper amount of time to study each day before your exam. Whether you need one hour or one hundred hours to study does not matter â€" what does is that you manage your time wisely to allow enough time for preparation. This means you might have to skip your favorite TV show occasionally, or perhaps leave practice, the gym, or any other extracurricular event a bit earlier than you normally would. This skill is also crucial to master for use during the test as well. Confidently finishing all the problems within the time limit of the exam is obviously best-case scenario. But how do you achieve this? By understanding pacing. In a nutshell, knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and how quickly you can properly answer certain types of questions (whether it be short answers, multiple choice, or math problems) is important for this part. To properly pace, you should follow these three rules: 1.       Do the easiest problems first. 2.       Leave a difficult question if it is taking too long. 3.       Go back to the harder questions and attempt them again, in order, once you have finished the others. By following these three steps, you will be able to maximize a number of questions you can confidently finish on just about every type of test. Attitude The last and most important piece of advice I can offer is that your attitude will undoubtedly shape your performance and results. It is essential that you relax, remain persistent in your efforts as a student, and try to stay positive. Do not forget to relax. Enter the exam setting with a smile and take a deep breath. After all, it’s just a test. I know I know, “it’s not just a test, this exam will determine my (insert life-threatening results here).” But the reality is, life will go on after you leave the classroom. That being said, always try your best â€" that’s what this guide is meant for anyway! Persistence is one of the most important attributes to develop as a student because you will inevitably encounter at least one roadblock in your career. Whether it’s missing a homework assignment, not understanding the material during class, failing a test, or dropping a class, as I said before, your life will most certainly continue. The adage that tells us never to give up and try, try again could not be truer. Move forward, learn from your mistakes, and try to do better next time. Always maintain a positive perspective on the situation. You can truly make yourself succeed or fail; a lot depends on your mindset before the exam. Believe in yourself, and your ability to succeed, and things will often go your way. You’ve got this. This post was written by Jack McKay of TutorNerds. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

How to Ace Your First Day at a New Job

How to Ace Your First Day at a New Job Image via: www.pexels.com Don’t let this psyche you out! After all, out of an entire hiring pool, your employers decided that you were the perfect fit for the position based on your resume and their experiences in interacting with you. So keep calm and carry on. Keep reading to learn how to act on your first day at a new job. Image via: www.pexels.com Step One: Dress to Impress Pick out an outfit the night before your first day of work. Doing so will allow you time to dig through your wardrobe and decide what would be fitting for your first day on the job. When in doubt, overdress. It’s always better to be too dressed up than not be dressed up enough. Dressing up demonstrates that you have respect for the office and your position. Think back to how the other employees were dressed when you came by for your job interview or whatever you wore to the interview and dress along those same lines. If you still aren’t completely sure what the dress code is, there is no harm in contacting the HR office to see what’s appropriate just to be on the safe side. Image via: www.pexels.com Step Two: Timing is Everything Being timely will demonstrate to your supervisor and fellow coworkers that you’re responsible and excellent with time management. Doing so will require some practice. If you aren’t familiar with the area surrounding your new workplace, practice driving there during rush hour. You will learn quickly what time you will have to leave to get there at a reasonable time. Speaking of time, you will want to arrive somewhere between 10 and 15 minutes, but no more than 20! You don’t want to come off as overly eager. Showing up 10 to 15 minutes early will show your supervisor that you’re passionate about the position and excited to get started. Being early allows you to calm your nerves before you walk through the door as well. Image via: www.pexels.com Step Three: Perfect Elevator Pitch An elevator pitch is a term used to describe a proposition that’s short, sweet, and to the point. It’s something that can be proposed within the length of an elevator ride. However, you’re not using it to sell anything. Practice a 30-second elevator pitch to quickly introduce yourself to your fellow coworkers, explaining who you are and what your previous work experience is. Keep it short and sweet. After all, rambling is likely to bore your coworkers and distract you from your work. Even though you’ve passed the interview process and the elevator pitch days seem long behind you, you should still brush up on those skills. When introducing yourself to others, maintain eye contact and have a firm handshake. Doing so demonstrates confidence and maturity, two things that are crucial for getting by in the workplace. Be sure to project your voice and enunciate your words very clearly. Don’t be shy! Your coworkers just want to get to know you, so be the best version of yourself. Image via: www.pexels.com Step Four: Socialize Speaking of getting to know people, the importance of socializing in the workplace, especially on the first day, cannot be stressed enough. The best insight you can get into a work atmosphere and environment is through the eyes of people who have already worked there for some time. Be friendly and ask tons of questions. Do your best to remember names, but if you can’t remember, be patient with yourself. Jot down names and small details for you to remember in the future. If you should forget a name, apologize, but make a small, polite joke to lessen the tension and lighten the mood. Also, don’t be afraid to go the extra mile. Aim to make one friend before you clock out at the end of the day. Make yourself available to anyone who needs help. If your supervisor or your coworkers ask you to join them for lunch, go with them! Your packed lunch will forgive you. Showing interest in spending time with coworkers shows that you’re interested in the position for something bigger than a LinkedIn update or a recommendation letter. To make the best impression in the workplace, you need to get around the office and spread your kindness and professionalism all over. Image via: www.pexels.com Step Five: Be Professional Speaking of professionalism, it’s important to retain a sense of decorum no matter how friendly you become with your supervisor and/or coworkers. Keep your phone silent and out of sight. Be ready to do anything your supervisor needs you to do at the first day of your job. It’s likely that your supervisor might hand you a difficult task on your first day as a test, so handle it professionally and calmly by asking questions and being diligent. Pay close attention when people are speaking to you in order to avoid missing important information or instructions. Take notes throughout the day to retain everything you have learned. At the end of the shift, you might think that you need to impress your supervisor by working overtime. Don’t. Go home and get some rest. You will need all of the time to reflect on your first day at your new job and prepare for day two. Good luck!