Chemistry Tutors For Maryland

Chemistry Tutors For MarylandFor people who like the study of the physical and chemical world, it is important to find a good chemistry tutor to do a practical and theoretical lesson. They will be taught the knowledge they need to apply in their daily lives. It is essential that the tutor is a good instructor so as to instill in the student's mind the correct way of using chemistry for everyday living.In the initial period, the student will be asked to think about some questions that they want to ask the tutor and then the student will get to ask the tutor all of the questions they want. This will take a lot of the pressure off the students and as they get used to taking the questions, they'll start asking all of the right ones. The answers will be revealed at the end of the lesson. In the end, this will lead to them learning the concepts well and in time, they will be ready to tackle even more complex problems.One of the most useful things that a student can learn from a teacher is to become confident enough to answer questions about themselves and the material that they study. This is very important as they will go on to have confidence issues when they are older. They should be able to answer simple questions regarding the things that they have learnt from the lessons and be able to guide their future studies.A good example would be to ask if they know anything about organic chemistry and then explain what this is. This will ensure that they get into better terms as they go along. With time, they will learn the concepts.Once they know more about the subject and they have confidence in their ability to do chemistry, they should consider enrolling at a higher educational facility. Such higher facilities will provide education and opportunities which will be available only to those students who are good at it.A good note is that such higher institutions are usually expensive and it is best to be patient. Graduates of such institutes will find it easy to move on to a more highly rated institution. The tuition fees are usually affordable but most students cannot afford such hefty costs.They should also ensure that they take classes in their specific subject. This will provide a solid foundation for them to move onto higher subjects.

Launching Levels-Based SpeakENG Online Courses

Launching Levels-Based SpeakENG Online Courses For italki users that are learning English, now you can purchase SpeakENG Online Courses on a levels basis. This gives you a clear sense of the range of SpeakENG Courses, as well as helps you choose a SpeakENG Online Course specifically for your English level. As your English improves, youll be able to see your progress: Beginner English (99), Elementary English (101, 102), Intermediate English (202), and Advanced English (301, 302, 303). SpeakENG Online Courses have been designed to help people learn English anywhere with an internet connection. The content for SpeakENGs Online Courses are based on Pearsons English Language Learning and Instruction System (ELLIS). Every SpeakENG Online Course also comes with a 15-minute live tutoring session with an American certified professional teacher. As before, you can purchase additional time with SpeakENG teachers or purchase a one-year subscription to SpeakENG that includes all Online Course levels. If youre not sure which level is right for you, or are interested in getting an assessment level test of your English, we recommend looking at the SpeakENG Sampler. italki is trying to find a price for learning a language that is accessible to everybody around the world. SpeakENG Online Courses use the same content that is being offered at much higher prices from expensive offline English training institutes. As always, let us know through your feedback how we can improve italki and its partnership products. The italki team Launching Levels-Based SpeakENG Online Courses For italki users that are learning English, now you can purchase SpeakENG Online Courses on a levels basis. This gives you a clear sense of the range of SpeakENG Courses, as well as helps you choose a SpeakENG Online Course specifically for your English level. As your English improves, youll be able to see your progress: Beginner English (99), Elementary English (101, 102), Intermediate English (202), and Advanced English (301, 302, 303). SpeakENG Online Courses have been designed to help people learn English anywhere with an internet connection. The content for SpeakENGs Online Courses are based on Pearsons English Language Learning and Instruction System (ELLIS). Every SpeakENG Online Course also comes with a 15-minute live tutoring session with an American certified professional teacher. As before, you can purchase additional time with SpeakENG teachers or purchase a one-year subscription to SpeakENG that includes all Online Course levels. If youre not sure which level is right for you, or are interested in getting an assessment level test of your English, we recommend looking at the SpeakENG Sampler. italki is trying to find a price for learning a language that is accessible to everybody around the world. SpeakENG Online Courses use the same content that is being offered at much higher prices from expensive offline English training institutes. As always, let us know through your feedback how we can improve italki and its partnership products. The italki team

Flip the Script! How to Type Up a Storm in Another Language

Flip the Script! How to Type Up a Storm in Another Language Flip the Script! How to Type Up a Storm in Another Language Learning to type?Unless someone printed this article out and posted it to you by, I don’t know, carrier pigeon, you probably already know how to type.But what about in your target language?Well, if you plan to do any writing in that language other than longhand, youll want to be able to type.And I dont mean hunting and pecking for the lettersâ€"letters which might not even appear on your keyboard!Like with  practicing any skill, the more you do it, the better youll get. Its that simple.This guide is here to help you accelerate that practice period so you spend as little time as possible learning to type, and as much time as possible learning your target language. Flip the Script! How to Type Up a Storm in Another LanguageThe Technical Side: How to Install New KeyboardsIts dead simple to add new foreign keyboards to your computer.On Windows, you can change the language settings right from your taskbar. Lets say English (United States) is marked as your primary display language.Cli ck on that English button and head to Language preferences, where youll be presented with the very useful Add a language button. Couldnt be simpler than that!Once you add a new one, you can switch between installed keyboards by pressing the Windows and Shift keys.On a Mac, head up to System Preferences. Under Keyboard and Input Sources, theres a small + symbol for you to add new choices.After you have more than one, a small flag appears on the top menu bar of the screenâ€"click it and you can choose a new keyboard layout at any time.(The wording of the directions above may differ depending on what version youre using.)How to Learn Foreign KeyboardsIts hard to imagine typing at speed with a foreign keyboard. I remember watching a video about a linguist and seeing her switch between typing English, Japanese and Russian without missing a beat.It was an amazing sight! And its not out of reach for you and me.In fact, I personally type in Arabic, French and English at a good speed. And if you know or are learning these languages, you can do the same!Do You Have the Touch? Why Its Better to Be Able to Touch TypeYour first step is to learn how to touch type. You may already know how to do this in your native language, but its especially important when youre adding typing in a second language.If you rely on looking down at the keyboard for knowing where your hands are, youre going to be stuck pretty fast when you need letters that just arent there.It is actually possible to buy little stickers you can put on your keys, but that may not work for everyone. Its a bunch of work, and youre limited to the languages that can fit on the keys. The truth is, you dont need to use stickers if you dont want to.Instead, take it real slow.Getting the Lay of the Land: Initial Learning and PracticeOpen a new window on your computer with your foreign-language keyboard diagram as a reference, or print it out and stick it nearby.Then, just start typing. At first, just test yourself on the keyboard diagram to internalize the layout. Make it a little game with yourself to see how many letters you can type before making a mistake.Focus on accuracy from the beginning to avoid hitting a plateau. Its easy to build speed with some letter combinations but always have trouble with a fewâ€"and those mistakes can add up over time to a lot of frustration.There are a handful of websites out there that can give you customized typing lessons for whatever language youd like.My favorite is called 10fastfingers. It lets you know right away if you made a mistake, but doesnt necessarily stop you. That way you can accurately get an idea of your words per minute score after mistakes are subtracted.For English writing practice only, my favorite website is  Typing Speed Test.And of course, every online language course with a typing component has typing practice built into its core instruction. Duolingo users might default to the rearrange words exercise, but if you switch yourself to the t ext input mode, youre immediately learning much more efficiently.FluentU  tests your typing skills through fun quizzes when youre using the Plus plan. The multimedia questions include typing words and phrases to test how well you can produce them from memory. Spelling counts! FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like movie trailers, news and moreâ€"and turns them into personalized language lessons.From my own experience, you dont even have to put a ton of time into the basics of learning to type in another language. Even a completely different keyboard layout can be memorized after a couple of days, and you should be able to touch type competently after just one month of short daily practices.If you just have to add a couple of accents or a handful of extra letters, thoseâ€"in my experience with Arabicâ€"can be memorized in less than an hour!Typing at Speed: The Importance of Regular PracticeNow, if you dont happen to be learning something like Greek, Arabic or Korean that uses a non-L atin script, you may be thinking that you dont need to practice your typing. If a language uses the same letters as English, whats the big deal?Well, first, there arent too many commonly learned languages without any accents or additional letters.Second, it turns out that if youre not used to typing a languages specific letter combinations, youll likely make a lot more mistakes a lot more often than you would otherwise.Fast typists in one language may look at their hands in wonder and dismay when they try to apply the same muscle memory to a foreign language.For example, the combinations th, ed  and tion are very common in English but less so in German. And the Spanish ll and rr very rarely show up when typing English.The best way to get better at typing is to simply type more. Choosing what to type is the question, of course. Dont just copy down the keyboard again and againâ€"youll bore yourself to tears.Double Your Efforts: Type Your Learning MaterialsIn the olden days of language learning, students would often copy out passages by hand as part of their homework. This teaching method was rightly phased out, but that doesnt mean it never helped anyone.If you take the time to re-type some textbook dialogues or short reading passages, youre actually doing yourself a huge favor.By focusing so hard on the letters, making sure you get each one right, youre indirectly giving yourself an intense reading workout.By combining these occasional typing exercises with the ordinary typing you would do in the languageâ€"for homework, courses, chatting, et ceteraâ€"you’ll avoid plateauing and instead consistently build speed and accuracy.Alternate Methods: Using Shortcut KeyboardsWhen youre presented with all the myriad types of keyboards out there, its good to know about a couple of small shortcuts.For one, languages like Polish and Romanian have a programmers layout. The name comes from programmers in those regions who find it irritating to type code when all the bracket s and underscores are reassigned to other letters.These programmers keyboards dont have separate keys for the new letters. Instead, to type something like ó you just press ALT-O and the alternate letter appears.Something called the US-International layout  works on an interesting and related principle. Its made for you to be able to type a wide range of alternate characters without having to switch keyboards or even take your hands off the home row.It treats characters like ö, ê and ñ as combinations like [ + o ], [ ^ + e ] and [ ~ + n ]. So with the US-International keyboard turned on, all you have to do is tap these keys in succession and theyll automatically combine into the new characters.These are ideal for peopleâ€"programmers or notâ€"who find themselves writing or editing text in multiple languages on the regular. I personally use the US-International layout any time I might be typing in mostly English but switching to French here and there.And if your other-language ty ping is really sporadic, there are a couple of simple keyboard shortcuts in the Microsoft Office suite that let you add the odd special character without even switching your keyboard back and forth.You can also use various Alt commands for the same purpose.There are even lookalike keyboards for languages such as Russian, where the QWERTY keys that are closest to the Russian shape are used instead of the actual Russian layout. So ? would be put on the N key because it kind of looks like an N.But like with stickers, you dont actually need these. The other keyboards were designed for fast typing speedâ€"and in Russian-speaking countries, everybody uses the authentic layout, so good luck using a computer in a hotel or library!Besides, it really doesnt take long to pick up new typing skills.Many people get by in typing a foreign language without ever consciously practicing it.It just so happens that theyre the ones hitting the Backspace key the most.For better or worse, virtually all the writing that happens nowadays happens on computers.And with just a little bit of conscious practice, you can shoot past being an eternally-average typist, and instead, aim for excellence.

How to Transform Your iPad into a Language-learning Secret Weapon

How to Transform Your iPad into a Language-learning Secret Weapon How to Transform Your iPad into a Language-learning Secret Weapon Did you get that iPad just to play Candy Crush?Probably not.You also probably didnt get it  just to send work emails or  just to stream videos.These are all great uses of your iPad, but you can get even more out of it.Your iPad is  actually a heavy-hitting, take-no-prisoners language-learning dynamo.Your secret weapon for fluency, even.When we think of secret weapons we think of stealthy ninja tools, aces up sleeves and off-the-radar resources. Pulling these things out of the shadows gives us more than an advantageâ€"it ensures success.So take another look at your iPad.Well show you eight language apps to transform it from just another device to an ultra-powerful tool for language learning victory. How Can an iPad Help You Learn Languages?Study tools  are best when they’re portable.  That iPad of yours? It’s totally mobileâ€"ready to go with you anywhere for language practice at any time.Great study tools are also adaptable. The iPad’s middle name should be Versatile. With en dless apps it can help you learn tons of different languages through tons of different methods.Download any language app (well give you plenty of ideas below) and you’re ready for the mission!How to Access Alternate-language iPad KeyboardsEven the best secret weapons need minor adjustments from time to time. Your iPad is no exception, but the adjustment is so low-key it’s almost a covert op.To practice writing, spelling and using accents if necessary in your target language, youll need to add a foreign language keyboard to the device.First, open an app that uses a keyboard, like Messages or Mail. Tap and hold the little globe icon to reveal the language menu. From there, you can  select the language you’d like added to your iPad keyboard.And just like that, you’re ready for action!How to Transform Your iPad into a Language-learning Secret WeaponNot all language apps are created equal. There are apps that give you authentic content in your target language, apps that  gamify t he language learning experience, apps that mimic formal language courses  and even apps for chatting in your target language.Let’s do some reconnaissance and get a good look at our options in each category.Authentic Content AppsFluentUFluentU is one of the most unique and useful secret weapons on this list. FluentU takes authentic target language videos, like movie trailers, music videos, inspiring talks and more, and transforms them into customized language learning experiences.To bring these real videos within reach for any learner, FluentU has interactive transcripts and subtitles. You can click any word for an instant definition, visual learning aid and native pronunciation. If you see an interesting new word, you can add it to your vocabulary list for future reference. FluentU also creates flashcards and exercises for each video automatically so you remember what youve learned when youre done watching.Unlike other apps that take a scripted approach, FluentU uses a natural app roach to ease you into your language and culture over time. Youll learn your language as its spoken in real life, without any rote memorization. The best part is that FluentU keeps track of your learning and recommends new videos based on that information. Every learner has a truly personalized experience, even if theyre watching the same videos!FluentU currently has programs for  Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, German, Japanese, English, Russian, Korean and Italian.There aren’t any double agents hereâ€"everything is genuine and relevant. Aside from learning your language the way native speakers really use it, youll encounter plenty of fun pop culture that you can talk about with them!TripLingoTripLingo is an incredible travel app that can instantly make you seem like a local, wherever you go.It provides content for over 100 countries, as well as huge phrasebooks for 13 languages from French to Hebrew to Japanese to Irish. There are 2,000 phrases per language including real-wor ld slang. Theres even a culture crash course to get you immersed in and familiar with the region youre traveling to.If you need a little extra help as you explore, theres a voice translator for 42 languages and even an image translator thatll help you understand signs and other text you encounter. You can also take language audio lessons and practice with built-in study tools.All these features make TripLingo an all-purpose tool. Can we say mission ready?Game-like AppsLingorilla Learn LanguagesEven secret weapons should be fun. Lingorilla, with its purple, banana-toting gorilla, makes learning 23 languages a blast.This engaging app teaches vocabulary and spelling using assorted packs of flashcards. The images featured on the cards are realistic and the packs cover the gamut from vehicle words to animals, body parts to insects, reptiles to foodâ€"varied but vital vocabulary!To keep you sharp, there are also memory games, quizzes and puzzles.Lingorilla has the potential to be addictiv e. I see users mastering one language and then going on to another, just because it’s so much fun.MindSnacksThe MindSnacks apps are a series. Each one teaches one languageâ€"they’re available on iPad for Spanish, Italian, German, French, Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese.Using interactive games with catchy animations, MindSnacks teaches vocabulary, essential conversational skills and even addresses the trickier grammar issues found in some languages. The idea is to make learning fun and addictive like any other iPad gameâ€"except youre learning hundreds of vocabulary words while you play.Conversation and pronunciation audio is provided by native speakers so there’s a great opportunity to practice listening and speaking.Course-like AppsDuolingoDuolingo features more than 30 languages and is a great addition to your arsenal of iPad language learning apps. While Duolingo definitely has gamification features like the apps above, it takes you on a path from beginner to advanced in a structured, course-like way.Reading, writing, vocabulary building and pronunciation practice are all emphasized. Youll learn how to say, spell and understand new words all at once. As you master new skills, you level up to new ones, which is a great motivational tool.There’s a tracking feature that shows your progress, which also keeps you invested in your learning.It’s possible to join other learners in a language club so this app isnt just fun and course-like, but it also has the potential to be a social event, also!MondlyLearn 33 languages with Mondly’s daily lessons. This app is suited for every learning level, from beginner to advanced. It even provides travelers with language essentials so they’re trip-ready!One highlight of this app is that it uses audio of conversations between native speakers to model correct pronunciation. Then, speech-recognition software allows the app to listen to your own pronunciation and provide feedback.Authentic, useful phrases are taught rather than individual vocabulary words to help support your conversational skills. The app encourages correct speaking skills right from the start!Chatty AppsHiNativeHiNative is a global language community app that makes it possible to share your learning with native speakers or other learners from anywhere in the world. It supports over 110 languages.This app lets curious learners discover language and culture without ever leaving home! It has a  question-and-answer format that you can use to get insights and advice from native speakers. Not sure about a pronunciation? Curious about regional dialects? Have a last-minute travel issue?  Just use the audio upload feature and ask away!Even if you don’t know the correct words to phrase a question, it’s possible to get answers. There are question templates that facilitate communication.Additionally, if you’re stuck on understanding something in a foreign countryâ€"a menu or street sign, perhapsâ€"just take a photo and upload it. A nother learner will give you its meaning and maybe save you from ordering something you’d rather not eat or keep you from taking a wrong turn down a one-way street.Even if you don’t have a pressing language question, it’s beneficial to chat with others in your target language. This is one app that makes hours fly by.TandemTandem brings the conversation exchange experience to the world instantly and effortlessly. This language exchange app makes it possible to learn Japanese from someone in Kyoto and teach Italian to a learner in Sweden. It’s a fabulous conceptâ€"and it’s bringing learners together to the tune of 3 million people!Signing on is simple. Just select a language to learn (from over 150 possible languages) and you can find native speakers of that language who are learning your native language. Then, send instant messages, voice clips and pictures to your language partners so you can both learn from each other.There’s also a Tandem Tutor option for one-on-one tu toring if that’s more your style.This is a great language app for informal or idiomatic communication. Learn realistically from native speakers. And teach others your language at the same time. It’s a win-win situation for everyone!I’ll bet your iPad doesn’t look ordinary anymore, does it? You see it’s a multi-function language-learning secret weapon, don’t you?Only using it to stream movies or play games is a waste of a valuable resource.There are many benefits of learning languages. And the iPad is a top-notch method of gaining information so put it through its paces and learn languages with some excellent apps!Mission accomplished! And One More ThingWant to get a closer look at FluentU? Wed love to give you a quick preview!FluentU has a wide variety of videos, like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse ScreenFluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful e xamples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive TranscriptsYou can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.

Web Statistics for April 2011

Web Statistics for April 2011 The overall web stats fell somewhat in April 2011 when compared to the record month of March 2011. This result has surprised us because Google upgraded Tutorz page rank (PR) from 2 to 4 which is a significant improvement. However, we remain very optimistic about our long-term traffic growth due to our consistent SEO efforts. There were 192 unique, non-spam lead. tha 3650. (3395 in February). The visitor-to-lead conversion ratio dropped slightly from 7.3 to 6.7%. Despite the traffic loss, Alexas Global Rank got remained steady at 1.08 million. The U.S. local rank even improved from from 516,000 to 475,000. Unfortunately, the bounce rate increased yet again from 38.4% to 41.6%. As a silver lining, the number of new visitor sign-ups remained constant at 27. The graphs below visualize some of these of web statistics.

Pre Algebra Help For Free Online Courses

Pre Algebra Help For Free Online CoursesPre algebra help for free online courses will give you great benefit to improve your grades in the middle school or high school. This help will make you a ready candidate to further your studies as a high school student. You can also opt for the online courses that will give you the opportunity to study at home or at any location as per your choice.There are different ways on how to avail of this helpful help. It includes the free help which is the best option if you have limited resources and/or time to do any serious studying or homework.Pre algebra help for free online courses give you the chance to learn how to calculate, solve and compare a variety of arithmetic problems using algebra concepts. The material that is being used to improve your aptitude and skills for algebra is the most beneficial.There are many different courses available which are really helpful to every child. Some of them include short math classes where you get to learn various math problems using real life examples.There are other similar type of math classes, which are available online as well. These are similar to the regular math classes that you may enroll for in schools.Pre algebra help for free online classes can be used to your advantage in order to build your mathematical skills. It gives you the freedom to explore math problems using your own brain and creativity.Aside from that, you can also choose to study algebra help for free online using many other interactive online tutoring tools. There are many teachers who are very enthusiastic to learn more about math and enjoy making it fun for their students.

Why Not Buy the TCGplayer Vampiric Tutor?

Why Not Buy the TCGplayer Vampiric Tutor?If you're like me, you absolutely adore the TCGplayer Vampiric Tutor. However, as much as I love it, I don't know if it's for you. In this article, I'm going to tell you why you shouldn't buy the Vampiric Tutor.As a new player, there are so many great features in the TCGplayer Vampiric Tutor. But some of these features aren't for you. That's right, I said 'NO' and here's why.The first thing that will have you squirming and wishing you hadn't paid so much for the TCGplayer Vampiric Tutor is the name. Okay, so, I'm sure you've already figured out why I say this. If you're new to the World of Warcraft TCG and know that it's one of the best games out there, then you're probably already aware of the way it's named. However, just in case you haven't figured it out yet, it's named after the fact that the Vampiric Tops are creatures who feed off of blood in order to survive.That's a little difficult to digest because it's not really what it means, but you're probably not going to know what it means either. Although it is true that it does essentially mean that the Vampire Tops feeds off of the blood of its victims, the actual meaning is that they are actually Vampire bats, not vampires. When you see the words, Vampiric Tops, you should immediately think of Vampire bats and therefore give up on this product.The next thing that will have you mad is the undead keyword ability. The reason why I say this is because you're probably used to seeing a lot of the undeadcards come out from other brands. However, I think it's important to note that the TCGplayer Vampiric Tutor's undead keyword only works for creatures that are not wearing armor.However, don't think that you can skip this part. The reason why the Undead keyword only applies to creatures that are not wearing armor is because the creature has already been made undead by either a card effect or an effect from another item. Therefore, it's not going to take any other factor into account. So if you're not wearing armor, you'll still get the bonus.That's the end of this article. If you follow all of my advice, then you'll be a happy customer and hopefully avoid buying the TCGplayer Vampiric Tutor. Good luck!

What is it Like to Attend Northwestern University

What is it Like to Attend Northwestern University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Chloe is a 2012 graduate of Northwestern University and holds a Bachelors degree in English Literature. She is an Austin tutor who specializes in Essay Editing tutoring, Reading tutoring, ISEE prep tutoring, and more. See what she had to say about her alma mater: 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? Chloe: Northwesterns Evanston campus is on the medium/large end (240 acres), with lots of open outdoor spaces. It is right by Lake Michigan, well maintained, and really pleasant to walk around. Located in Evanston, a suburb of Chicago, it is a happy medium between urban and rural campuses. On campus grounds, I felt very safe because they are well lit and even late into the night there are always a few people walking around. I lived farther off campus than most students do and was not as comfortable going home by myself at night. When it comes to transportation, Northwestern has you covered. There are several L train stops in Evanston, which can get you to downtown Chicago in roughly 45 minutes (less if you can catch the express train), but is not used to get around Evanston. The Metra is another, slightly more expensive, train option, mostly used by working commuters traveling longer distances. To travel through Evanston and the Northwestern campus, buses, biking, and walking are all commonly used. Northwestern has a campus shuttle used nearly exclusively by students, but the Evanston Loop is also convenient, especially for students living off-campus. With some transfers, the Evanston Loop can also take you into Chicago. From 7pm-3am, Northwestern also offers a driving service called Saferide. While it is NOT a taxi service and will rarely be available on-demand, Saferide can be used when students do not feel comfortable getting home on their own. Students should be aware that in the winter, they get booked rapidly, and are not meant to be used regularly. If need be, Evanston also has a number of taxicab companies that can be at your door within 5 to 15 minutes. Finally, Northwestern offers a carpooling service around the holidays that allows students to share rides to OHare and Midway airports at a discounted price. Not many undergraduate students have cars at Northwestern because with all of the other options, it is unnecessary, and parking is inconvenient both on and off campus. Many students do have bikes, which make for faster trips to campus, but once on campus, it becomes difficult to bike through the crowds of people walking. I personally walked nearly everywhere throughout my time at Northwestern, and while I do not have fond memories of walking through snow for months, it was definitely doable. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Chloe: Whenever I sought out professors, they were pleasant and encouraged me to ask questions and bounce ideas off of them. One of my favorite aspects of college was having in-depth conversations with my professors that were sparked by concepts/texts from class, but had nothing to do with assignments. That being said, do not expect professors to come to you if you are struggling, have missed a lot of class, etc. Professors who reach out to you just to check in are rare at Northwestern, so dont be afraid to contact them. The majority of teaching assistants were exceedingly available. They were quick to respond to emails and usually happy to stay after class and/or set up meetings to talk to students. Unfortunately, the handful of times I was able to see my academic advisors over my four years, my meetings with them were brief and only dealt with necessities such as getting paperwork done. I did not feel much advising took place when it came to making decisions about my studies, but I must say that I have many friends who loved their advisors and felt that they were helpful. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Chloe: Northwestern freshmen are required to live on campus, and most sophomores live there as well. The personalities of the Northwestern dorms span a huge range. Fortunately, there are pictures and descriptions of all the dorms online so you will know what to expect. There are 18 residence halls and 11 residential colleges. The former are traditional dorms while the latter emphasize community, each with their own faculty fellows and built-in opportunities for students to get to know each other. Many residential colleges have concentrations, such as green living, performing arts, and international studies, attracting students who are particularly interested in those fields. For someone like me, who was nervous about making new friends, it made sense to opt for a residential college. During orientation, there were activities planned every night, ranging from making smores on the lakefill to touring the entire dorm building in groups on a scavenger hunt. I loved living in Willard Resi dential College, and several of my closest friendships were formed there. Nearly all dorms are coed (with separate bathrooms), have kitchen facilities, TV/game rooms, and large common rooms. Double rooms are the most common, with a handful of singles and triples. Many have their own dining halls and/or convenience stores, and those which do not are only a short walk from dining/shopping locations. Dorms located on north campus are closer to the athletic facilities, Engineering buildings, and fraternities, while those on south campus are quieter and nearer to the Liberal Arts buildings and downtown Evanston. Accepted Northwestern students rank their top 5 preferred dorms and will typically be placed in one (I was placed in my first choice) and those who wish to live in a residential college must submit a brief essay about why they would like to live there. Sophomores who wish to stay on campus but change their dorm can do so. 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? Chloe: Some of Northwesterns most popular areas of study are: Journalism, Engineering, Communications, Political Science, and Psychology. The majors within the Medill School of Journalism, the School of Communication, and the McCormick School of Engineering are all more in the spotlight because their schools are revered and specialized. Because the School of Education and Social Policy is the smallest school and the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences has over 60 majors and minors rather than a particular focus, they receive less publicity. Of course, that does not mean that the students themselves are any less valued. I graduated with two majors, Film in the School of Communications and English in Weinberg, and I had great experiences with both departments. I came to Northwestern as a Communication Studies major, but after my first English class I realized that I was meant to study literature. As a sophomore, I enrolled in a Film Theory course which I enjoyed so much that I decided to minor, but eventually accumulated enough courses to double-major! The English departments faculty is brilliant and dedicated. My English courses taught me not only about literature, but history, gender studies, and religion as well. The Film department is filled with more quirky, but equally passionate teachers, and Northwestern offers numerous opportunities for Film majors such as grants, screenings, internships, and lecture series with media industry professionals. 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? Chloe: Overall, I found it relatively easy to meet people at Northwestern. Of course, it takes awhile to distinguish who amongst the dozens of other students you seem to meet everyday will be the ones you form lasting friendships with. For the duration of orientation week, freshmen spend most of their time in groups with other students of the same major, and several events are organized by school, giving them many opportunities to meet people with similar interests. The residential college I lived in also had at least one planned activity every week (more during orientation), which was a nice way to get acclimated. Many professors at Northwestern, especially those teaching courses designed for freshmen, include introductions and even brief activities on the first day of class so that students can learn a little bit about each other at the start of the quarter. About half of undergraduates pledge fraternities and sororities, but Greek life is not especially apparent to those who are not a part of it. Students who go Greek seem to dedicate a significant amount of time to it, but fraternity parties are typically open to everyone, and being part of a fraternity/sorority is definitely not pivotal to having an active social life. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Chloe: While I never went there myself, many of my colleagues found internships, fellowships, and jobs during school and after college through the Career Center. It has a solid reputation for jump-starting the careers of students and recent graduates. Students also receive weekly emails about various recruiting opportunities, job fairs, guest lectures, and tutorials for building skills such as resume-writing and interviewing. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Chloe: Norris University Center, Northwesterns main student center, was just updated last year. It is spacious, and a great place to grab a meal with friends between classes, study, or meet in groups to work on projects. Norris houses a bookstore, a large food court, a Starbucks, a FedEx mailing center, a small art gallery, an arcade, and an outdoor ice skating rink in the winter! The ground floor also overlooks the lake and offers a beautiful view. Norris is usually busy but not overly crowded. While I only visited a few dorm lounges, the ones I did spend time in were clean and well-furnished, but rarely full. The dorm I lived in was sizeable and had a common room, study lounge, computer lab, TV lounge, and game room. These were never packed, with about ten students at a time in each. University Library, which is attached to Northwesterns gorgeous original library, Deering, is enormous. Most of the time, it is easy to find an empty desk, armchair, or even an entire room to study in. However, around midterms and finals weeks, it can be hard to find a comfortable work space, and impossible to find a secluded one. During those hectic times, the main library stays open all night, and most students will have pulled an all-nighter there by the time they graduate. The Engineering and Math departments have their own libraries elsewhere on campus, which are significantly smaller, but offer an alternative for students majoring in those subjects. 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? Chloe: Northwesterns undergraduate campus is located in Evanston, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Popular Evanston businesses within walking-distance of campus are Whole Foods, Urban Outfitters, Barnes Noble, American Apparel, an Irish pub, a few bars, several coffee shops, and a movie theatre which screens major releases as well as independent and art films. Evanston also has wide variety of restaurants, many of which rival the quality of those in Chicago. There are upscale spots perfect for date nights as well as standards like Chipotle and Burger King. Evanston is far from boring, but most businesses do close around 10pm even on the weekends, which can be disappointing for night owls. Luckily the El train runs until 2am, so you can go into Chicago for more options. Despite the cold, Chicago is one of the countrys liveliest and most diverse cities, and a huge perk of going to Northwestern is knowing it is close by. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Chloe: Northwestern currently has about 8,500 undergraduates and nearly 11,000 graduate students. However, the individual schools within Northwestern vary in size. The School of Education and Social Policy (SESP), for example, has about 300 undergraduates and 400 graduate students while the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences has around 4,000 undergraduates and no graduate students. Class sizes vary greatly I took discussion-based courses with less than 10 students as well as large lectures with nearly 200. As an English major, most of my courses consisted of 20-30 students. Of course, the further along in your studies, the more opportunity for small classes you have. Not only do upperclassmen register first for their classes, but once students have declared their majors and minors, they are able to pre-register for classes in those subjects. I found this system worked well, allowing those with a vested interest in certain areas of study the chance to get into small classes with s tudents who shared their majors/minors. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Chloe: My sophomore year, I heard that my favorite professor would be teaching a Faulkner course only available every other year. Because I was an underclassman and didnt have priority, I couldnt sign up in time for such a popular class. Fortunately, I got in as a senior and it turned out to be one of the most fascinating and memorable courses I ever took at Northwestern. Our last day of discussion was held in our professor's home, where we all brought different brunch items. Crammed in wherever we could fit, we shared our final thoughts about the books we had read while we ate bagels and drank coffee! It was a great end to the quarter and I felt completely rewarded for having waited several years to take the class. Check out Chloes tutoring profile. The views expressed this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

What is it Like to Attend Bates College

What is it Like to Attend Bates College The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teachtheyre sharing their college experiences as well. Jason graduated from Bates College in 2009. He currently is located in Boston and specializes in English tutoring, math tutoring, science tutoring, and a number of other areas. Read on for his review of his experience at Bates College: Describe the campus setting and transportation options at Bates College. Jason: Bates College is consistently ranked one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States. It sits in a quiet neighborhood of an old mill town in southern Maine and is filled with trees and brick buildings. Its small so theres no need for buses or even bikes (but some people use them) to get around. Every building is a short walk awayat most 20 minutes. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Jason: Given its small class sizes, Bates doesnt really have teaching assistants, so professors drive all the classes. In my experience, I never had an issue finding a professor outside of class. They all keep office hours, and if you email saying you cant make it to office hours for whatever reason, theyre usually more than willing to accommodate you. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Jason: Dorm life at Bates is very strong. Most students live on campus all four years. Part of this has to do with the cold winters and lack of off-campus housing options, but its never much of a huge complaint. Each dorm (especially the majority of freshmen dorms) seems to have its own personality each year. These personalities also shift depending on what floor youre on. At Bates, since its such a small school, there are no high-rise apartment-style dorms. You will get to know everyone on your hall and everyone in your dorm. There is also one dining hall. Where most schools have multiple dining halls, Bates single dining hall is sort of its hallmark. Today when schools feel they need to have multiple cafeteria-style food courts, Bates actually put it to a vote. Turns out, the students overwhelmingly wanted just one. There is one meal plan: you go in as often as you want, and eat as much as you want. All the food is made there by Dining Services, and although it can get old at times , it definitely does feel like someones making it for younot like it was thawed and microwaved in mass quantities. Commons, as its called, acts as a meeting place for meals among friends who have busy schedules and it also functions as a campus bottleneck. Since everyone eats there, you will see people there whom you rarely see anywhere else. For this reason, every Batesie has a commons crush. The other beloved dining option is the Den. Newly renovated, its favored as a late-night place to get a burger and relax. Its conveniently next to the library. They closed the Den for a few years and eventually brought it back by popular demand. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported at Bates College? Jason: Bates has quite strong departments in the humanities and arts. The faculty and staff also do a great job in supporting your education and in challenging you. One thing just about every Bates student learns is how to write. After working as a TA at other schools, it becomes pretty clear that that is not a skill fostered at all schools. 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? Jason: Bates is a great place to meet people. Since its founding, Bates has never had any fraternities or sororities. During my time there, I never met a student who did not appreciate that fact. People comingle to a great degree, and campus groups are widespread. Unlike larger universities, its not uncommon to form multiple groups of friends across wide disciplines at the college. How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services? Jason: The career center is definitely helpful and Bates does hold events for recruiters. Although, students tend to be more individualistic at Bates. Most students will use the career center to chart their own course. Its a place for people who are motivated to do something different and new, not necessarily to just slide into an industry. How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Jason: For the most part, the places to study are the Ladd Library (which increases in quietness level by each floor) and Pettengill Hall. But dont try to get too much work done in either the basement of Ladd or the Atrium of Pettengill. Those are places you go when you want to be social but also study a little. That said, students study everywhere across campus, and you can always find a place thats all your own. Things do get dicey when finals roll around. In that case, people will camp out in different places and sometimes reserve rooms in Pettengill. There is a real sense of comradery at this time, and despite being unbelievably overwhelmed from work, there is a particular energy in the air. Describe the surrounding town at Bates College. Jason: Bates College is in a quiet neighborhood of an old mill town in Southern Maine. The campus itself is gorgeous with brick buildings covered in ivy and a pond (The Puddle) at the northern end of campus. Students will either walk or bike into Lewiston, or toward St. Marys Hospital for Dairy Joy ice cream. However, once the winter hits, driving is the chosen mode of transportation for anything outside the extended radius of the campusincluding grocery stores. Since Bates is a small school, buses arent really required on or near campus. On campus, you can get anywhere you want on foot. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Jason: Class sizes are just under 500 people, with a total enrollment of just under 2,000. I personally liked the small class sizes, but it can get a little claustrophobic at times. Overall, its a great size if you do well in small school environments. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most. Jason: My most memorable experiences at Bates were in my music theory classes. As the small core of us progressed to the more advanced classes, we developed a close relationship and classes became increasingly more personable. I learned so much more in those classes as a result. Check out Jasons tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.