A Checklist for Your Final Semester of Grad School

A Checklist for Your Final Semester of Grad School During your final semester of grad school, you may be asking yourself, Whats next? While in grad school, one tends to focus only on grad school itself and it is hard to see (let alone imagine) the light at the end of the tunnel. With classes, assignments, networking, and the impending job search, things can quickly become overwhelming. Fortunately, a checklist for your final semester of grad school can help keep these priorities straight. Everyones experience with grad school is different. Whether your journey has been two years or eight years, it can be helpful to stay prepared with a checklist for your final semester of grad school. This can help ensure you are on the right track and ready for graduationas well as for what comes next. Keep your eye on the prize during your final semester Its easy to get excited or overwhelmed as this chapter of your life comes to a close, but it isnt over yet! Whether your last semester consists of wrapping up a dissertation, thesis, applied project, or something else, you need to remain focused. All of your hard work is for nothing if you dont cross the finish line. Allow yourself adequate time to finish projects and prepare for presentations or exams. When competing demands surface, give grad school priority if possible. Schedule time for school, but also for leisure and family so you dont feel too deprived or disconnected. Visit your grad schools career center for guidance Your advisor and faculty are not your only on-campus resources for advice. Although they may have great tips related to your industry, they may not have enough time to help you actually apply for jobs, review your resume, or practice interview skills. Take advantage of your campus career center. Depending on your school, the career center will likely offer helpful individual or group sessions on many subjects, such as: Writing a resume or cover letter Completing job applications Polishing your interview skills Using social media to seek jobs Many colleges and universities also host events related to careers, such as on-campus interviewing with prospective employers and job fairs. These services are typically included in the cost of tuition, so take full advantage while you can. Meet with your grad school advisor If you havent already, you need to see your advisor to confirm you are on track to complete all requirements for graduation. You dont want to be on the receiving end of a dreaded email or phone call about missing required credits. The earlier you talk to your advisor, the better your chances of correcting your course load or any discrepancies that could prevent you from graduating on time. While speaking with your advisor, you may also want to inquire about career opportunities, applying for and attending graduation ceremonies, and any other post-graduation advice. [RELATED: 5 Questions Grad Students Should Ask Their Advisors] Network during your final semester As a graduate student, you have had several opportunities to connect with peers, faculty, researchers, and other professionals in your field. Now is the time to reach out to your network. Check in to see how they are doing, and what they are working on and where. Let them know you are finishing up grad school and what your future plans are. Also, ask for help if you need it. Know someone who landed a great job where youd also like to work? Ask him or her for pointers on securing and acing an interview. They might even be able to recommend you to the hiring manager! Assess your post-grad financial situation This checklist item is an important one! While in grad school, it is likely you had some sort of financial aid. Many students have been relying on loans since their undergrad programs. As you exit grad school, you should have a firm understanding of your finances. There are a few questions you might want to ask yourself, such as: How much will you owe in student loans each month? How much do your bills cost? How much money can you reasonably expect to make and whats the minimum you would need to earn to support yourself? Knowing the answers to these questions will help get you ready to make important financial decisions. Create a reasonable budget, focus on your job search, and, if needed, identify areas in which you can trim excess expenses. Earning a graduate degree is an exciting time! Enjoy your last semester and work hard, but also make sure you are preparing yourself to exit grad school successfully. Good luck! Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

How To Improve Your Quantitative GMAT Score

How To Improve Your Quantitative GMAT Score The Quantitative Section may be the easiest section to improve in if you prepare correctly, giving you the golden opportunity to significantly improve your overall score. The following tips can help you understand how to boost your score, but working with a private Varsity Tutors tutor will be the major difference in actually doing so. Your tutor will guide you through the following tips and structures, ensuring you improve your GMAT quantitative score. See more from Varsity Tutors on how to improve your cumulative GMAT score. Focus on just the Quant. Section: Verbal, Analytical Writing dont even exist right now. First, you need to become proficient in one section. Then move onto another, then the last. Then review them all collectively. Studies indicate that the brain works best when it can see how all the information connects and relates. But, with the GMAT, its simply too big of a monster to tackle at once. So, try to get a solid understanding of each section; then connect them all. Step one Read up: Before you dive into practice tests, read, read, read and read some more. Some books specialize in GMAT Quantitative, and others simply have it as a section. Both will work out well. In this section, you will need to know arithmetic, elementary algebra and basic geometry. You will see two types of questions: problem solving and data sufficiency. Data sufficiency tips: These problems pose a question and then provide two potential answers. You must decide if one, both or neither of the statements are sufficient enough for the question. First off, memorize all five possible answers (they are listed below) to save tons of time. Then, look at each numbered statement individually and use process of elimination. It may seem odd, but dont trust your eye or your first instinct because that is exactly how test makers create traps. Instead, work through the problem. But most importantly, rely on common structures and themes instead of numbers to solve each answer. You can master that last technique by writing your own questions and changing the numbers in the problems. That forces your brain learn structures, instead of numbers, which can dramatically improve your accuracy and speed. Heres an example: 1) If the average size of 3 accounts is $1 million, is the smallest account less than $500,000? The largest account is $1.3 million. One of the accounts is $0.7 million. Answer choices: A) Statement 1 alone is sufficient but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked. B) Statement 2 alone is sufficient but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked. C) Both statements 1 and 2 together are sufficient to answer the question but neither statement is sufficient alone. D) Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question. E) Statements 1 and 2 are not sufficient to answer the question asked and additional data is needed to answer the statements. The correct answer is C. See the explanation here. Problem Solving: For these questions, you will need your basic mathematic skills (geometry and algebra and not calculus or trigonometry) Here, you will see multiple choice calculations and word problems, most of which will be pretty similar to what you saw in previous math classes/standardized tests. Make scrap paper your new best friend and use as much of it as possible. Writing out all the steps to the problems can help you avoid careless mistakes. Read the problems very carefully because test makers load questions with traps. Making educated guesses can be very effective for this section, as it will save you buckets (and we mean buckets) of time without sacrificing a lot of accuracy. Practice test: Okay, now youre ready for your first practice test. Dont be over-concerned with your score. Just take one to get through it. Highlight any questions you were confused on or any that took you an incredibly long time. Then, review those questions at length with your tutor to learn how to use themes and structures to answer them correctly and quickly. Practice questions: Not tests, but just questions. Have your tutor create a list of questions that are problematic and time consuming for you. Run through them over and over and over again. In time, you will be amazed at how much easier these questions will become. Real practice test: Your brain likes consistency; so try to mimic the test scenario by taking an entire, timed test in a public place on a computer, like a library or coffee shop to help you get used to thinking with other people around. After you do this, start all over again until youre satisfied with your score. Understand time: You have to answer 37 questions in 75 minutes, which gives you about 2 minutes per question. So, if you find yourself taking more time, then you need to speed it up and maybe even start guessing. Always finish the test: There is a penalty that some estimate to be as high as 30-50 points for not finishing the test. But, if you blindly guess on the last 10 questions, the test will know and penalize you for it. So, pace is incredibly, incredibly important. But, if you must blindly guess on the last questions.

Tools for Crochet

Tools for Crochet The Tools You Need to Crochet ChaptersGetting Started with Crochet: Crochet HooksWhich Yarn Should You Start Crocheting with?Useful Tools when Getting Started with Crochet“Those who think chocolate is addictive have clearly never tried crochet.” - AnonymousAccording to a study Betsan Corkhill, 81% of women feel happier after they’ve been knitting or doing crochet. Knitting and crochet are great ways to reduce stress and they also reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.Handmade fashion is in a resurgence at the moment and many young adults have found a passion for crafts.Are you a fan? Why not learn how to crochet?In this article, we’re looking at exactly what you’ll need to start doing crochet. RaySewing Teacher 5.00 (6) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PrincessSewing Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnaSewing Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArianwenSewing Teacher 5.00 (2) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ShaziaSewing T eacher 5.00 (2) £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZanetaSewing Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GianmariaSewing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JacquelineSewing Teacher £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsGetting Started with Crochet: Crochet HooksTo learn to knit, you’ll need knitting needles. To crochet, you’ll need a crochet hook. So far, so good.You can make a lot of the same things either by knitting or by crochet. (Source: FeeLoona)Wait, just one hook?Of course! Unlike knitting, you only need a single crochet hook. The technique is different from knitting.So before you start making a snood, an amigurumi soft toy, or lampshade, you’ll need to choose the right crochet hook and for this, you'll need a bit of help!There are plenty of different materials, diameters, and sizes, and choosing the right crochet hook is half the battle. Fortunately, we’re here to help you!What Does a Crochet Hook Consist of?Firstly, keep in mind that there are a lot of differences between crochet and knitting. Crochet hooks aren’t like knitting needles, for one.A crochet needle is made up of:A headA shaftA handleThe head has a point at the end, allowing you to hook onto a loop. It can be pointed or flat or anything in between. The pointier it is, the easier it is to hook a loop in a tight-knit. If you want to crochet lace, you’ll want a flat head so that you don’t damage the lace.After the head, there’s the throat, this allows you to keep a hold on the yarn or thread. Choose a throat that the yarn won’t come off of. Above the throat, there’s the lip. This is the part directly above the throat.  You can get an inlined head or a tapered head. For more precision, an inlined hook is recommended.Find sewing classes near me.The shaft joins the head to the handle. This is the part that determines the crochet hook’s diameter. It can be short or long. A short shaft will restrict the number of l oops you can do. For consistent loops, you’ll want a straight shaft.When it comes to handles, you can get everything from minimalist handles to thumb rests, grips, and ergonomic crochet needles. It’s important to consider the handle since it’ll affect the weight of the crochet hook. Thumb rests can be very practical for some and very annoying for others. It all depends on how you hold your crochet hook. You’ll need to try out a few different ones.If you can't decide, you can always get a crochet hook set or a crochet set that comes with crochet supplies.There are plenty of great reasons to crochet.Choosing the MaterialSteel crochet hooks are used for fine work like lace doilies, for example. You can also use an aluminium crochet hook for this.For a tight-knit, you'll need a small crochet hook. (Source: xxolgaxx)For less delicate crochet projects like scarves, jumpers, or hats with thick yarn, you can use bamboo or plastic crochet hooks.  If you want to start making a tablecl oth or a rug, it’s recommended that you work with plastic crochet hooks.To get started, plastic crochet hooks are cheaper but tend to start with a 0.6cm diameter. If your budget allows it, we recommend getting a size 4 or 5 wooden or aluminium crochet hook.Different DiametersJust like with knitting needles, crochet hooks have a number that defines their diameter. A hook with a 4 will be 0.4cm in diameter. Thus, the bigger the number, the thicker the hook is and the bigger your loops will be. When it comes to wool, they tend to mention the diameter you should use. Beginners should opt for 0.4 or 0.5cm diameter hooks so that they can see the loops.  As you gain experience, you’ll be able to tell which diameter you’ll need depending on how tightly-knit you want your project to be.A crochet hook is also smaller than a knitting needle. They tend to be between 12.5cm and 20cm in length and 15cm hooks are recommended for beginners.Look for sewing classes London.Where Can You Buy Croc het Hooks?There are plenty of craft stores where you can buy crochet hooks in the UK. There are also plenty of websites.  You’ll pay anywhere from a couple of quid to around £15 depending on the material and design. You can also get crochet hook kits with several hooks in.Which Yarn Should You Start Crocheting with?The type of yarn or crochet thread will depend on your project. If you’re making an item of clothing, you’ll probably want a soft material.There are plenty of different wools to choose from. (Source: wilhei)When you get started, you should pick a project that you really want to make. Start off with something quick and simple so that you don’t get discouraged like a cushion cover, lampshade, soft toy, or a headband.Choose the yarn according to what you’re making. Most crochet tutorials and patterns will tell you which material and the thickness you’ll need. Buy just what you need so you can see if crochet is for you or not. You don’t need to stock a haberdas hery when you’re just getting started.Even though certain yarns are recommended for certain projects, you should also remember that there’s an element of personal preference to consider. Trust in yourself since the goal is to enjoy yourself, after all. Nevertheless, we’re here to help you get started and it’s better to start off with a simple material that’s easy to crochet.Choose a single colour so that it’s easier to see your work. Forget about thick wool as it tend to unravel and are tricky for beginners to work with. Soft cotton thread is easier to crochet with.You’ll soon get the hang of it and you’ll be able to make whatever you want.Useful Tools when Getting Started with CrochetEven though you can crochet with just a hook and some thread, there are some tools that’ll make your life easier.While a crochet hook and wool are the most important, there are also other important crochet tools you can get. (Source: Semevent)Crochet ScissorsYou’ll probably end up n eeding some scissors when you crochet. Choose a smallish pair of scissors, the same size as the ones you’d have in primary school, for example. These can be useful for cutting your thread at the end.Wool NeedleIf you knit, you’ll know what we’re talking about and you probably won’t need to invest in one. A metal or plastic wool needle is useful for hiding the ends of the wool or thread in your creations.Practical, isn’t it?Stitch MarkersEven if clips or safety pins do the job, stitch markers in different colours can help you differentiate the threads used.  As their name indicates, their job is to indicate the specific parts of your work, such as where you should change thread or increase or decrease.Measuring TapeEvery good seamstress knows that measuring is everything and a measuring tape will help you a lot when you crochet. It’s always a good idea to measure your yarn before you start a project.Now that you know what you’ll need, you’re ready to get started.So wh ich hook are you going to use?If you want to learn more about how to do Tunisian crochet, Afghan crochet, tapestry, embellishment, knitting, or needlework, consider getting in touch with a private tutor. Whether you need help choosing your crochet thread, crochet kits, or craft yarn, they'll be able to help you with choosing a crochet kit and teaching you the techniques you'll need to get started!On Superprof, there are three main types of tutorial on offer: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials. Each type has its pros and cons and the best one for you will depend on your budget and goals.Group tutorials are usually the cheapest because you're sharing the cost of the tutor's time with the other students in attendance.Face-to-face tutorials tend to be the most expensive (and cost-effective) as the tutor's all yours for the lesson and they'll be creating bespoke lessons for you.Finally, if you want a one-on-one tutorial for less or can't find a suitable tutor w here you live, online tutorials are great because they can be taught from anywhere in the world. All you need is a webcam and a decent internet connection!

The Parts of a Drum Kit

The Parts of a Drum Kit A Guide the Main Parts of a Drum Set ChaptersHistory of the Drum KitWhat are the Parts of a Standard Acoustic Drum SetElectronic Drum SetsIf you decide to study percussion, especially modern drumming, you will be confronted with drum kits - different types of drum set up so they can all be played by one drummer. drummers using it were called trap drummers. While the overhang pedal for the bass drum was known since the 1870s, it was not immediately popular, many drummers preferring to continue in the double-drumming style. As more and more companies offered solutions for a drum pedal, the bass drum became the kick drum, liberating the hands for more complicated fills and drum rolls with the snares.These pedals were often rather slow or unreliable in their timing until the Ludwig Ludwig Co. patented the first truly reliable bass drum pedal in 1909. Now nothing stood in the way of the full potential of the kick drum.Very often, early trap sets were set up by each individual drummer, and while the combination of instrument s - snare and bass - was fairly common, stands or traps could hold any combination of toms, gongs, tambourines… and, in fact, still can.Also discover the different components that make up a modern drum set!  A drum kit or trap set from a band in 1928. Photo credit: State Library of Queensland, Australia on Visual huntThe basic modern drum kit, though, arose in the 1920s vaudeville bands. Baby Dodds, a drummer playing riverboats on the Mississippi with Louis Armstrong, hung a side cymbal over the bass drum - the first ride cymbal. The Ludwig Company invented a lower version of the hi-hat after observing Dodds tapping with his left foot; Dodds then suggested it be raised so it could be easier to play.And so one man had a hand in the invention of both signature drum-set cymbals.Big-Band Era drum setsWith a new sound becoming popular in the 1930s - due in part to the popularity of radio - a new drum sound was needed, and drum kits expanded to include not only the snare and bass drums, but also tom-tom drums; a China cymbal and small crash cymbals became popular additions. But the basic big band drum set soon became established as:Bass drumSnare drumTom-tomFloor tomHi-hats in various iterationsEventually, the large floor toms got fitted with legs, and “consolettes” made it possible to add smaller drums (usually tom-toms called “ride toms”) above the bass drum.As be-bop evolved, the trend led away from the big drums toward a sound that wasn’t quite as loud. Mostly this meant smaller drum sizes and the popularisation of the ride cymbal. Be-bop bands also pioneered the use of a double bass drum.Discover famous drummers of rock and jazz that you could learn from!Rock drummingWith rock'n’roll, bigger drum kits became popular once more, many drummers, especially in the 1980s, using a highly-personalised drum kit with a great many different drums and cymbals.Drum kits can be expanded at will - with as many drums and cymbals as you like. Photo credit: kamalab oulhosn on VisualhuntWhat are the Parts of a Standard Acoustic Drum SetAs a beginner drummer, you won’t need to worry about unusual and eclectic drums such as timbales, congo drums or tambourines. You should start out with a basic drum set to learn your craft; you can always expand later on.The components of an acoustic drum kit are:DrumsStands for the drums, also called a rackCymbalsCymbal standPedalsSticks, mallets and brushesSeat for the drummer called the drum throne.A lot of children start out with a very simple three-piece drum set, comprised of:Snare drumBass drumHanging tomHi-hatsHanging cymbal(The “pieces” refer to the drums, not the cymbals).What easy drum pieces can beginners learn to play the drum to?A junior drum set with bas drum, snare and one tom, with a single cymbal - perfect when you are just starting out. Photo credit: mikecogh on VisualHunt.comThis is extremely basic, and while there are many easy drum songs you can learn that don’t go beyond that, if yo u take drumming and drumming lessons seriously you will eventually want to invest in a five-piece kit or another drum set.A five-piece kit includes:Bass drumSnare drumThree toms of different sizes: low, middle and high pitch. All can be hanging toms, or one can be a floor tom. The exact constellation will depend on whether you want to play jazz, rock or fusion music.2 crash cymbalsA hi-hat standEffects cymbals (optional)Let’s have a closer look at the individual drums and the different sounds they contribute to the kit.Snare drumsSnare drums are double-headed drums with wires strung under the lower drum head and tensioned. Also called side drums, snares have drum shells that can be made out of wood, metal, acrylic or fibreglass. Drum skin tension is achieved by the use of tensions rods.It is very sensitive and responsive and can be played very subtly to great effect, but also produce loud cracking sounds, especially if hit on its metal rim. It is often used for the backbeat.You ca n play the snare with sticks, brushes or mallets.There are almost infinite variations on the snare drum, from the Highland snare, piccolo snare to the tarol snare.Do you know where the snare fits into the history of drums and drumming?Bass drumsBass drums are generally double-headed. They have a cylindrical body where the diameter is greater than its depth.Bass drums come in three main variations:Concert bass drums usually mounted on a stand  where the angle of the drum can be adjusted.Kick drums mounted vertically on a floor stand and beaten with a bass drum pedal.Pitched bass drums tuned to a specific pitch and generally worn in a harness in marching bands. Often a single cymbal is attached to it.The bass drum is stricken by a heavy felt-covered mallet; two matching mallets or a double-headed mallet is used for drum rolls. On kick drums, this mallet is attached to the foot pedal.When hung vertically, it might be played with a mallet in one hand and a rute in the other.Bass drums h ave a deep sound. It is often played on beats one and three, contrasting with the backbeat (two, four) of the other drums.Tom drumsA tom-tom (a term that supposedly comes from India) is a cylindrical drum. Unlike the snare, it has no snare wires; there are one-headed and two-headed variations.Toms are usually used for fills.A nice view of well-loved drums: hanging toms, snare and a floor tom (and tons of cymbals). Photo credit: Travis Estell on Visual huntThe first examples had no rims, but as metal tensioning elements appeared, so did, eventually, the rim.Hanging toms or rack toms are mounted on high stands; racks can take more than one drum. Floor toms are set on short feet. A floor tom is not quite as deep as a bass drum, but more resonant.CymbalsA drum set typically has several cymbals; at least two, with any number of additions:A hi-hat cymbalA crash cymbalA ride cymbalEffect cymbalsElectronic Drum SetsElectronic sets have the advantage of full volume control - you can get the energy of hitting hard  without blowing away the ears of little old ladies intent on their afternoon tea. You can even listen to them with headphones.They include:A drum module that processes the data and turns it into sound.Drum pads with trigger pads that can be programmed to the sound you want. This is not necessarily a version of acoustic drums, but can be any sound you want. Rhythmic squeaking mouse is seldom called for, but it is possible on an electronic drum. They are usually organised the way the drums would be on an acoustic drum rack.Rubber cymbals.Electronic drums are particularly useful if you want absolute control over the volume of your drums or if you want to reproduce a sound that cannot be made by other modern instruments.Electronic drum sets are made to look a lot like acoustic kits. Photo credit: Christian Steen on Visual HuntHowever, tapping the trigger pads does not have exactly the same feel as drumming on acoustic drums. You will be lacking feedback from your sticks.It is possible to attach specially-made trigger pads to a traditional drum set for a hybrid drumming experience.In the course of your drum lessons, your Superprof drum instructor may recommend such a kit!Now learn more facts about drums...

Brain Rules 6 Ways to Improve Brain Function

Brain Rules 6 Ways to Improve Brain Function Improving Academic Performance In Brain Rules, John Medina, a molecular biologist and student of the brain, dissects the way our brains work, providing practical tips and advice for how to harness your brain’s ability to learn and grow to be more successful in every avenue of life from school to work and more. Oftentimes, students feel that the only way they can improve academically or enhance their performance on exams is by taking an expensive course or hiring a tutor, someone else to teach them. While seeking-out academic help is certainly important and can help you make great strides, there are many things you can do on your own to improve your brain function and ability to better comprehend and recall information. SURVIVAL Overtime, human’s brains have evolved as a survival mechanism from initially being used for necessities such as breathing and keeping us alive to a brain ideal for dissecting complex subjects and problem solving. Humans’ ability to relate to each other became our chief survival tool. By building relationships and creating alliances with others we are best able to learn, grow and problem solve. The same way that humans in the past worked together to survive the environment and a changing ecological landscape, today those same relationships serve us both at school and in the workplace. In our learning environments relationships are equally as important. How many times has a teacher or professor you perceive as being condescending led you to clam up and not seek out help. Under such a circumstance the student does not feel trust, but rather judgement and isolation. Obviously, this is not the ideal scenario for a productive learning environment. When choosing a private tutor or even study partner, you must feel comfortable, you’ll be unable to work successfully with someone who makes you feel self-conscious or insecure GENDER Male and female brains are different. Even something as simple as our gender can affect the ways we process information. Anatomically, male and female brains are different. Due to the different make-up of their brains men and women process information differently. Men tend to take in information and get the gist of it, while women are more inclined to recall more details about any given subject. On the surface, this may not have much to do with learning and retention, but students can put this knowledge to great use. We all recognize that over the course of our educational careers we have a greater affinity for certain professors or instructors over others. Think back to your favorite teacher, was she a big picture type of instructor or did she use plenty of details to paint a picture of the course material? In general, when reading a passage or watching a presentation, are you more likely to recall the main idea of the reading or do certain descriptive details stays with you? By recognizing how you absorb and retain information you can become more efficient while studying. SHORT LONG-TERM MEMORY Once you recognize the ways you absorb information you can work on methods to help you retain this information. We forget much of what we hear within 30 seconds if it’s not repeated. Therefore, it’s imperative to repeat the information in a variety of ways to remember it. This could be as simple as hearing a phone number and repeating it to ourselves over and over until we can jot it down, this goes into our short-term memory. We are essentially encoding the information in our brains to be retrieved later. If we no longer need the information, its purged from our brain. The more intricately we encode information the better it will be remembered. During infancy and childhood, we often learn songs or chants to remember parts of our body, manners, multiplication tables etc. As we grew we began to employ mnemonic devices to help us remember things like the order of operations when working an algebra problem. These mechanisms are more elaborate tools used to help us encode data into our brains. Eventually, if we repeat information long enough and consistently, we can commit it to our long-term memory. But, this takes much more time, sometimes as long as years. It’s said that information learned in the first grade is not completely formed until your sophomore year of high school! Use tools such as repetition and mnemonic devices to help you retain information. STRESS Our bodies were built to handle stress for short periods of time, as we encounter obstacles which will heighten our stress only so long as we problem solve to find a solution. The human brain and body are not built to endure on-going or chronic stress and eventually this type of stress can have a dangerous impact on our brains leading to such serious health events as cardiac arrest, stroke or damage to the hippocampus region of the brain leading to memory problems. Outside of chronic stress, there are forms of emotional stress which can leave you feeling hopeless when things are beyond your control. This type of stress hampers out ability to learn or perform at work. Take measures to keep your stress levels in check, it is hard enough to study and retain information when we are in the right frame of mind. It can prove almost impossible to concentrate when we are under a lot of stress. How can we limit stress? By being vigilant about those things we do have control over. Don’t procrastinate, when we wait until the last minute to cram for a test or pull an all-nighter to complete an assignment we are not only putting ourselves under emotional stress but our bodies under physical stress, this includes a lack of sleep or poor eating habits as we skip meals or fill up on junk and caffeine as we try to power through cram sessions. VISION Vision trumps all our other senses, we remember most, what we see. If you hear a piece of information, 3 days later you will only remember 10% of it. If you are introduced to that information with an accompanying picture, 3 days later you will remember 65% of it! It’s as if our brain takes a snap-shot of the picture and stores it, allowing us to recall the information we have associated with the picture. How do we incorporate this into our studying and retaining of information? When taking notes incorporate more diagrams and flow charts, whenever possible use a picture representation of an event or process. This way, when studying you can quickly pick out visual cues to help jog your memory about the subject matter.

MyGuru Adds Six More Experienced Tutors to its Team

MyGuru Adds Six More Experienced Tutors to its Team Improving Academic Performance MyGuru announced today that six more tutors have been accepted as members of its independently contracted tutoring team. Only 1 in 10 interested applicants is ultimately accepted as a tutor for MyGuru. As a boutique tutoring company, we don't aim to constantly expand our list of available tutors - we bring tutors onto the team only when they are truly exceptional and able to increase ouroverall quality level. David A.David is aUniversity economics lecturer with 7 years of experience tutoring high school, college and graduate students. He'searned a BS in Mathematics, Statistics and Economics, as well as a MS in Economics - all from theUniversity of Chicago. He is currently pursuing Ph.D. studies in Economics at Northwestern University in Evanston. He specializes in Mathematics, Economics, and Statistics, but is also capable of tutoring finance and accounting at the undergraduate and graduate level.Irina V.Irina is a graduate student in Mathematics at the University of Illinois-Chicago. She attended UIC as an undergrad, majoring in Mathematics and Statistics and obtaining a minor in Chemistry. She also attended Lincoln Park High School- where she achieved International Baccalaureate Diploma and AP Honors. Her tutoring experience includes the Math Learning Center UIC- Calculus I, II, III and Statistics (2010), Chemistry Research Aid-data processing and representation for Driver Group at UIC (2009-2010) and Jungman Elemetary-8th grade mathematics (2010), as well as Lincoln Park High School-Peer tutoring in mathematics and chemistry (2007-2009). She also tutors privately.Sonia C.Sonia attended the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and Grinnell College (Grinnell, Iowa), graduating with a B.A. in French. She is fluent in French, and is currently a JD (law) student at the University of Iowa. She specializes in LSAT, Mathematics, and Political Science.Lauren H.Lauren holds a JD (155 on her LSAT) and an MBA from Valparaiso University in Indiana, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Baldwin-Wallace College in Ohio. She has held positions as a teaching assistant, teacher (Job Corps), and private economics tutor.Minaz M.Minaz is a certified public accountant (CPA), with an MBA in Finance from St. Johns University in New York (3.8/4.0 GPA). He served as an Accounting Instructor at St John, and has privately tutored students in a variety of mathematics and accounting related subjects.Olga L.Olga is a graduate of Loyola University-Chicago (Biological Sciences) who scored an 11 on both sections of the MCAT. She has tutored privately for many years in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology courses, as well as for the ACT and SAT.

2015 June Challenge Winners Send us your After Video and earn an extra 50 ITC!

2015 June Challenge Winners â€" Send us your After Video and earn an extra 50 ITC! We finished the 2015 June Language Challenge! 12 hours of italki lessons  in June! (well some of us did) Even though this was only 12 hours, completing the  Challenge was definitely hard!  A few of us at italki took the Challenge and here are our results! Tracy learning Esperanto (in Chinese) Completed! Ivan learning Chinese Completed! Javi learning Chinese  Completed! Andrey learning Chinese Did not Complete the Challenge! Andrey wanted to clarify that My Chinese Teacher went on vacation halfway through the Challenge and I really didnt want to get another one.  If I did, Im sure I would have completed the Challenge! Excuses aside, its hard and thats why its called a Challenge!  We just did some calculations and found out that a whopping 91% of Challengers who submitted a Public Video Pledge for the June Challenge actually completed the Challenge! In italki tradition, were awarding 50ITC as bonus  for an after video.  Below is Tracys  AFTER Video for Esperanto.  She started with zero Esperanto ability! Tracys AFTER Video for Esperanto Join us  by making your very own AFTER video! If you won the Challenge and previously sent into to us your Before video, heres your chance  to show off your Challenge achievements in a video. Not only that, but  well be rewarding you with an additional 50 ITC!   Here are some ideas of what you can include in your video: Show off your improvement in the language you were learning Introduce yourself and tell us what language(s) you were learning for the Challenge Tell us about your italki teacher(s). What did you like about them? What did you learn about learning a new language after completing the Challenge? Do you have any advice for people who are thinking of taking the Challenge in the future? Label the video: “(italki username) completed the 2015 italki June Language  Challenge!” Write a Notebook Entry “I completed the 2015 italki June  Language Challenge and paste the YouTube/Youku URL. Send the link to your notebook entry to support(at)italki.com and  we will send you a 50 ITC voucher straight away! And we leave you with some last words from Tracy: So, even though I took the language challenge to learn Esperanto, I actually ended up learning a lot about time management and good study habits.   Specifically, I sometimes have trouble scheduling things in advance because I worry about what other things might happen that I’ll need to adjust to, but once I actually booked the classes and got them on my calendar, it was actually sort of a relief to know for sure what my schedule would be like.   Even if you’re really busy, just book the classes in advance. Yes, I gave some things up to finish my classes, but it’s all about priorities. I also learned some things about watching which study habits were easy or difficult for me to maintain.   It’s important to practice every day, but I would recommend choosing a “passive” thing to practice every day for example writing out sentences or reading something.   Not because passive practice is better than active practice, but because you’re probably more likely to actually do it! And I never would have WANTED to finish it without my awesome italki teachers.   It’s a great feeling to WANT to review your material so you can have another great conversation soon! Congrats to everyone and see you at the next Challenge! 2015 June Challenge Winners â€" Send us your After Video and earn an extra 50 ITC! We finished the 2015 June Language Challenge! 12 hours of italki lessons  in June! (well some of us did) Even though this was only 12 hours, completing the  Challenge was definitely hard!  A few of us at italki took the Challenge and here are our results! Tracy learning Esperanto (in Chinese) Completed! Ivan learning Chinese Completed! Javi learning Chinese  Completed! Andrey learning Chinese Did not Complete the Challenge! Andrey wanted to clarify that My Chinese Teacher went on vacation halfway through the Challenge and I really didnt want to get another one.  If I did, Im sure I would have completed the Challenge! Excuses aside, its hard and thats why its called a Challenge!  We just did some calculations and found out that a whopping 91% of Challengers who submitted a Public Video Pledge for the June Challenge actually completed the Challenge! In italki tradition, were awarding 50ITC as bonus  for an after video.  Below is Tracys  AFTER Video for Esperanto.  She started with zero Esperanto ability! Tracys AFTER Video for Esperanto Join us  by making your very own AFTER video! If you won the Challenge and previously sent into to us your Before video, heres your chance  to show off your Challenge achievements in a video. Not only that, but  well be rewarding you with an additional 50 ITC!   Here are some ideas of what you can include in your video: Show off your improvement in the language you were learning Introduce yourself and tell us what language(s) you were learning for the Challenge Tell us about your italki teacher(s). What did you like about them? What did you learn about learning a new language after completing the Challenge? Do you have any advice for people who are thinking of taking the Challenge in the future? Label the video: “(italki username) completed the 2015 italki June Language  Challenge!” Write a Notebook Entry “I completed the 2015 italki June  Language Challenge and paste the YouTube/Youku URL. Send the link to your notebook entry to support(at)italki.com and  we will send you a 50 ITC voucher straight away! And we leave you with some last words from Tracy: So, even though I took the language challenge to learn Esperanto, I actually ended up learning a lot about time management and good study habits.   Specifically, I sometimes have trouble scheduling things in advance because I worry about what other things might happen that I’ll need to adjust to, but once I actually booked the classes and got them on my calendar, it was actually sort of a relief to know for sure what my schedule would be like.   Even if you’re really busy, just book the classes in advance. Yes, I gave some things up to finish my classes, but it’s all about priorities. I also learned some things about watching which study habits were easy or difficult for me to maintain.   It’s important to practice every day, but I would recommend choosing a “passive” thing to practice every day for example writing out sentences or reading something.   Not because passive practice is better than active practice, but because you’re probably more likely to actually do it! And I never would have WANTED to finish it without my awesome italki teachers.   It’s a great feeling to WANT to review your material so you can have another great conversation soon! Congrats to everyone and see you at the next Challenge! 2015 June Challenge Winners â€" Send us your After Video and earn an extra 50 ITC! We finished the 2015 June Language Challenge! 12 hours of italki lessons  in June! (well some of us did) Even though this was only 12 hours, completing the  Challenge was definitely hard!  A few of us at italki took the Challenge and here are our results! Tracy learning Esperanto (in Chinese) Completed! Ivan learning Chinese Completed! Javi learning Chinese  Completed! Andrey learning Chinese Did not Complete the Challenge! Andrey wanted to clarify that My Chinese Teacher went on vacation halfway through the Challenge and I really didnt want to get another one.  If I did, Im sure I would have completed the Challenge! Excuses aside, its hard and thats why its called a Challenge!  We just did some calculations and found out that a whopping 91% of Challengers who submitted a Public Video Pledge for the June Challenge actually completed the Challenge! In italki tradition, were awarding 50ITC as bonus  for an after video.  Below is Tracys  AFTER Video for Esperanto.  She started with zero Esperanto ability! Tracys AFTER Video for Esperanto Join us  by making your very own AFTER video! If you won the Challenge and previously sent into to us your Before video, heres your chance  to show off your Challenge achievements in a video. Not only that, but  well be rewarding you with an additional 50 ITC!   Here are some ideas of what you can include in your video: Show off your improvement in the language you were learning Introduce yourself and tell us what language(s) you were learning for the Challenge Tell us about your italki teacher(s). What did you like about them? What did you learn about learning a new language after completing the Challenge? Do you have any advice for people who are thinking of taking the Challenge in the future? Label the video: “(italki username) completed the 2015 italki June Language  Challenge!” Write a Notebook Entry “I completed the 2015 italki June  Language Challenge and paste the YouTube/Youku URL. Send the link to your notebook entry to support(at)italki.com and  we will send you a 50 ITC voucher straight away! And we leave you with some last words from Tracy: So, even though I took the language challenge to learn Esperanto, I actually ended up learning a lot about time management and good study habits.   Specifically, I sometimes have trouble scheduling things in advance because I worry about what other things might happen that I’ll need to adjust to, but once I actually booked the classes and got them on my calendar, it was actually sort of a relief to know for sure what my schedule would be like.   Even if you’re really busy, just book the classes in advance. Yes, I gave some things up to finish my classes, but it’s all about priorities. I also learned some things about watching which study habits were easy or difficult for me to maintain.   It’s important to practice every day, but I would recommend choosing a “passive” thing to practice every day for example writing out sentences or reading something.   Not because passive practice is better than active practice, but because you’re probably more likely to actually do it! And I never would have WANTED to finish it without my awesome italki teachers.   It’s a great feeling to WANT to review your material so you can have another great conversation soon! Congrats to everyone and see you at the next Challenge!

?? 6 Must-Have Qualities of a Great Tutor

?? 6 Must-Have Qualities of a Great Tutor 6 Must-Have Qualities of a Great Tutor Behind many successful students is a nurturing tutor. Mentorship is a huge responsibility and noteveryone can do it well. It takes a large amount of compassion, generosity, and commitment to begenuinely invested in someone else’s growth and help them make progress in the right direction.After all, when you are just finding your feet in school, university or kickstarting your career, it helps to havea guiding light â€" someone who challenges you, advises you and helps you chalk out your path to success.Apart from knowledge, there are several other personalitytraits that are crucial for being a great tutor.If you're on the lookout for a great tutor, here are 6 traits you should definitely look for:Willingness to ShareIn a nutshell, tutoring is all about sharing knowledge, insights and experiences, isn’t it? An excellenttutor is one who proactively shares his wealth of knowledge and skills with you. They are able toidentify gaps in your skill set and don’t shy away from sharing th eir wisdom and learnings in order topush you to do better.You wouldn’t want a tutor who is uptight and arrogant. They might be extremely well-read andexperienced but none of that matters if they aren’t willing to share it with you for your own good.Exhibits a Positive AttitudeThere is a lot of power and responsibility that lies on the shoulders of a tutor. A cynical mentor willgive rise to an under-confident and anxious tutee. Similarly, encouraging tutors will leave a positiveimpact on their tutee. Hence, your success is largely dependent on the attitude and approach of yourmentor.Having a positive attitude does not comprise of mollycoddling and ignoring pitfalls. In fact, a positivetutor will ensure you don’t lose hope and will support you through the ups and downs you face inyour journey. Sometimes when it’s difficult to look at the bright side, having a positive mentor by yourside, who can help you bounce back does wonders to your motivation.Good ListenerAnyone who has a one-sided approach to mentoring is doing it wrong. Tutoring is a mutualrelationship, with listening being a very important aspect.Listening comes from a place of sincere interest and commitment. When someone is actively listening,they are engaged and invested in the conversation. It reflects in their body language and the way theyrespond to you. So, ensure you choose a mentor who actively listens to what you have to say ratherthan one who merely hears you out.ApproachableThere can never be love and respect where there is fear and intimidation. You need to be able to share agood rapport with your tutor and not be afraid to ask questions in order to make the most of thismentoring relationship. Approachability stems from the fact that your tutor takes tutoringseriously.If you constantly find yourself running behind your tutor asking for their time or are made to feel likea burden â€" it’s time to look for a new tutor.Provides Constructive FeedbackConstructive feedback is one that he lps the person grow and do better next time. While sugar coatedfeedback never helps, it’s also important to not be discouraging and vague while imparting feedback.Giving feedback is a skill â€" your tutor needs to point out areas of improvement, substantiate withexamples and also help you find a solution. At the same time, you should never take feedback personally because a tutor with good intentions is always on your side. Without constructive feedback, there cannever be progress.TrustworthyAn effective tutor-student relationship is one wherein both the parties are honest and transparentwith each other. Find someone who you can wholly trust and count on. When there is a sense of trustand confidentiality, you will be able to have more honest conversations which helplay the foundation of asuccessful tutoring relationship.* * * * *Author BioAdela Belin is the Head of Digital Marketing for a New York-based company, with a passion for education and the benefits of tuition.