General Chemistry Lesson - Reads and Doing Chemistry

General Chemistry Lesson - Reads and Doing ChemistryIf you have a general chemistry lesson, you should be aware of one important fact about the content of your lesson and of the topics that will be covered in the course. These can influence your results and will make it difficult to identify if you are reading or doing the correct lesson. In this article, we will cover some useful tips that will help you understand your Chemistry discussion and course work.If you want to know what you are reading about in your chemistry review books, you can read the glossary of definitions or the list of common chemical symbols. This is not the best way to learn to do chemistry. Even with a complete background in chemistry, you will not be able to fully understand this information.The first tip for doing chemistry topic study in a chemistry lesson is to understand your chemistry reading material. The less information you have to go over before the class begins, the better. It is easy to get lost in all the information that you read.Chemistry includes many complicated concepts. It is not advisable to attempt to understand a complicated subject when you are first learning about chemistry topics. By reading a little bit of information and by reading through your chemistry reviews book, you will be better prepared for your lessons.As a teacher, it is important to be very careful when giving out simple information to your students. In most cases, the less information they have to understand, the more successful they will be at understanding more complex information.A final piece of advice for chemistry lesson learning and viewing: Remember to be patient. As you become familiar with the different chemistry topics, you will be able to find the information that you need easier and more quickly.There are many resources available for you to learn about chemistry. The general rule is to read as much as you can without being distracted by unnecessary information.

Teaching Online Cooking Tutorials

Teaching Online Cooking Tutorials Can You Look to Cook Remotely? ChaptersWhat Equipment Do You Need to Teach Students How to Cook Online?What Are the Advantages of Online Cooking Tutorials?How Can You Plan an Online Private Cooking Tutorial?What Happens in an Online Cooking Tutorial?“Good cooking is honest, sincere, and simple” - Elizabeth DavidMany of us enjoy cooking. However, enjoying cooking and knowing how to do it are two very different things.Similarly, many people would like to become better cooks. Much like learning to play the piano, practice makes perfect and many people are ready, just like with the piano, to get lessons and learn how to cook.  Just like with music, dancing, or art, there are also plenty of different types of classes available: baking, organic cooking, molecular cuisine, Thai food, vegetarian cuisine, etc.  There’s something for everyone!Have you considered teaching students remotely via webcam?If this all sounds a little bit complicated, don’t worry! In this article, whether you want to set up an online cookin g school, teach online cooking courses, or become a private cooking tutor, we’re going to explain how you can broaden your client base and start teaching students via the internet. You don't need the latest technology but you will need reliable technology. (Source: Free-Photos)Firstly, you’ll need:A computer.A good quality microphone that captures clear audio.A good quality webcam so that your students can see what you’re doing.Good speakers or headphones so that you can hear your students.A good stable internet connection.Video conferencing software such as Skype which can be downloaded for free. Your student will also need to install the same software.PayPal to receive payments online. You can also be paid by bank transfer but PayPal tends to be much easier.You’ll also need the necessary space to cook. Ideally, you need somewhere near your computer where you can be clearly seen and work comfortably. It's hard to cook even simple recipes or any delicious recipes if you don't have space and it's even harder to run a cooking course if your students can't see what you're doing or how you're chopping and prepping the food.You’ll need to set up your compute r so that your student can see every part of your kitchen. If your webcam isn’t great, you can also use a real camera as many of them can be plugged into computers and act as webcams.If your kitchen isn’t big enough for this, there’s still hope. The important thing is to focus on certain parts of your cooking like cutting and preparing ingredients. It won’t matter too much if they can’t watch the food cooking in the oven.Before the start of your first lesson with a student, you should schedule a call to check that everything works fine. This takes just two minutes and can ensure that you won’t have anything to worry about during the tutorial.Learn more about private cooking tutorials.What Are the Advantages of Online Cooking Tutorials?There are several advantages to teaching students how to cook via webcam. For example, you won’t have to travel very far to get to an online cooking workshop or online cooking classes, which means you’ll save a lot of time. Similarly, y ou’ll save money on paying for fuel or public transport. You’ll also save your back from having to carry all your equipment to and from the tutorials. There are several advantages to teaching online cooking tutorials. (Source: Skitterphoto)With the time saved, you’ll also be able to be more flexible when it comes to scheduling sessions. It’s easier to schedule lessons during lunch breaks, on evenings, or at the weekend if you don’t have to spend an hour getting to them.  There are also no geographical constraints so you can teach students from all over the world as long as their connection is good enough.You’ll save money as your students will have to buy their ingredients as you won’t be bringing it with you and the same is true of their equipment and utensils.You can also teach several students at the same time. Ideally, though, you won’t want to teach more than three students at a time as you won’t be able to tailor the lessons to them as much. In any case, you’ll have to make sure they’re all at a similar level before you start teaching them.Find out how much you should charge for cooking tutorials.How Can You Plan an Online Private Cooking Tutorial?Before you teach an online cooking tutorial, you need to prepare. Set aside some time to talk to the student about how you’d like to teach them and what they’d like out of the lessons. Like cooking itself, you need to plan your online cooking tutorials. (Source: monicore)Tell them how you work, what the lessons are like, and your teaching approaches. Then, ask them about their objectives and how they think you’ll be able to help them. Finally, make sure you check what equipment they have, too.Do they have a toaster, blender, a microwave, etc.? How many pots, pans, and salad bowls do they have?Some people mightn’t have an oven or only a few hobs so you’ll need to adapt your recipes to each student and their equipment.  Talk to them about the recipes you’d like them to learn. You can also schedule the lessons during this time.A few days before each lesson, send a message to the student telling them which ingredients they’ll need to buy and what they’ll be making. You might also want to include advice for buying the best ingredients. For example, they’ll need to know how to tell if the produce is fresh, which are the best cuts of meat, etc.Tell them what will happen in the lesson, too. They won’t need the whole recipe but tell them what equipment they should have ready and give them time to find it or buy it, if necessary.Will they be using their oven or just the hobs?Make sure you mention the cooking techniques they'll have to use. After all, a student who's learning how to cook with online cooking classes mightn't be familiar with basic cooking, knife skills, or certain cooking methods and they might want to look these up before the lesson.A quarter of an hour before the lesson, get yourself and everything you’ll need ready so that you won’t waste any time during the lesson looking for stuff. Place your computer or webcam somewhere where it can see you at all times.Now you’re ready for your workshop! Get your hat and apron ready!Find out the best ways to find students for your cooking tutorials.What Happens in an Online Cooking Tutorial?So what exactly happens in an online cooking tutorial?You’ll have to make the dishes alongside your student. Choose a recipe that can be made within time. After all, you can't learn culinary skills if you don't finish the meal. After all, you won't know if your meals taste good or how you can improve. Make sure your students can see what they're supposed to be doing. (Source: Daria-Yakovleva)Err on the side of caution. For a recipe that takes you 40 minutes, it may take you and your student an hour.Additionally, you might need to take some time to explain a certain technique as an hour can go by quickly when you’re cooking. You’ll need to explain what you’re doing and how you do it. Explaining every step will take more time than just doing it from memory. Similarly, you’ll need to then wait for the student to copy. The goal is for them to successfully make the dish. If they can’t follow, they’ll get it wrong.  Allow some time for questions, too. Don’t go too quickly as they’ll run the risk of getting it wrong.Don’t choose overly ambitious recipes, either, especially if your student is just a beginner. Prepare your lessons ahead of time and try out the recipes so you can see how long they take.Beginners will be happy to create a simple home-cooked meal rather than something worthy of a culinary school. Recipes for meals like macaroni and cheese, poached eggs, roast chicken, frittata, risotto, coconut flan, tapas, fruit crumble, etc. are all great for students who want to learn to cook. However, if your meal requires a marinade, you might need to teach your student how to make it one lesson and finish it off during the following cooking lessons.You can also look for TV chefs and chefs on YouTube to get ideas of how to plan a good recipe for your online tutorials.So are you ready to start teaching online cooking tutorials? Or do you think it’s too complicated?

University of Wisconsin-Madison A Student Interview

University of Wisconsin-Madison A Student Interview Samantha earned her bachelors degree in microbiology and genetics from University of Wisconsin-Madison. She specializes in algebra tutoring, anatomy tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Samantha: The campus is very easy to navigate, and is right next to the state capitol and downtown. Madison is very bike-friendly, and theres a bus system that can get you anywhere you need to go. The university provides students with bus passes each semester. Its very difficult to own and use a car on campus, simply because theres nowhere to park. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Samantha:Ive been able to forge wonderful relationships with my professors because theyre so personable and accessible. They really care about their students, and many of them have open door policies. My advisers have been great and have done their best to help me sort out requirements for my double major. Most of the TAs Ive had have been good as well. How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Samantha:I lived in the only all-freshman dorm on campus, which was very social. Everyone was in the same boat of not knowing anyone and made an effort to reach out. The dorm administrators also put together countless activities for us and tried their hardest to make the dorms feel like home. Other dorms have different vibes depending on how many upperclassmen are living in them. The dining halls on campus are good, fairly priced, and easy to get to. I remember running across the street from my dorm in the middle of winter to grab some ice cream at the dining hall because its just so good. There are always more events happening on campus than you can attend, and there are definitely many clubs and organizations to join. The student organization fairs are a great place to see whats happening and find people with similar interests. Its so easy to get involved because theres something for everyone. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Samantha:UW is definitely a STEM school. The humanities are also very well represented and very diverse, but most of the funding goes to STEM programs. Madison has a reputation to uphold in the biological sciences, and as such, the biochemistry, genetics, and microbiology departments are very well respected. Engineering and computer science also have a significant presence. I studied genetics and microbiology because of my interest in disease. My departments are very well funded because of the impacts they have made in the field of scientific discovery, and I believe they use their funding wisely. We have fantastic labs with new, up-to-date equipment, and we learned cutting-edge techniques to use in research. 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? Samantha:Greek life is definitely present on campus, but it isnt overwhelming at all. It isnt as large as it is at many other universities, and most of the Greek housing is sequestered to a specific part of campus.I thought making friends as a freshman was relatively easy. I joined a student organization filled with outgoing people, and I made an effort to find people in my dorm to befriend. How helpful are the Career Centerand other student support services? Samantha:I havent had to use the Career Center services on campus, but Ive only heard good things. Each college on campus tends to sponsor a career fair every semester, and some big names show up including Google, Microsoft, Promega, and DuPont. Its a really great opportunity to network and find a job or internship. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Samantha:We have many different libraries on campus that are great for studying and group work. Theyre also scattered all over campus, so you never have to trek too far to get to one. The student unions on campus arent great study spots, but they are used for group work or just hanging out with friends. The Union Terrace during the summer becomes a hotspot for social gatherings and fun in Lake Mendota. The dorm lounges will vary greatly depending on the dorm, but plenty of people use them to study in. Describe the surrounding town. Samantha:Madison is a fantastic city with a distinct personalityit captured my heart the first time I visited. Madison offers plenty of opportunities to go sailing and swimming in the summer. As the capital city of Wisconsin, theres always something going on in town. The music scene is great and everyones always friendly. Off the top of my head, I can think of six significant venues that are always hosting some sort of entertainmentwhether that be a band, comedian, play, or orchestral performance. Finding things to do in winter gets a little more difficult simply because you wont want to walk anywhere in the cold weather, but there are certainly still things going on. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Samantha:Madison has about 30,000 undergrads, which is fairly sizeable. Depending on your classes and class standing, they can range from 15 individuals to about 300. The larger classes are always taught by a professor and usually have smaller discussion sessions once a week led by a TA. I never felt like the class sizes were an issue because the professors are still very accessible via email, office hours, and review sessions. You tend to lean on your TAs more in the large classes because you interact with them more, despite the fact they arent doing the teaching. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Samantha:Honestly, choosing one moment is a struggle for me because my experience at UW was so wonderful. As a microbiology major, I was required to take a laboratory course that taught us many modern research methods, and at the end of the semester we were taught how to brew beer from start to finish. Each lab group was assigned a different yeast, and we were to make one proper brew and one improper brew by changing fermentation conditions. At the end, we sampled the beer using gas chromatography to analyze its contents, and those of us who were 21 also used sensory analysis. We also compared the differences in taste and gas content in the proper and improper beers to learn what different brewing conditions can cause the yeast to do. It was an incredibly gratifying experience, despite the fact our beers werent very good! Check out Samanthas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

What Does Origami Symbolize

What Does Origami Symbolize The Clever Symbolism Hidden in Origami Folds ChaptersTatsu, the Origami DragonChocho: the Origami ButterflyKaeru, the Origami FrogNeko, the Origami CatHakucho, the Origami SwanTsuru, the Origami CraneFolding origami is fun, engaging and constructive - to say nothing of its educational benefits. One must have discipline to precisely execute folds and creases; paper art such as origami appeals to those with a meticulous nature.Even toddlers can make a paper plane or a paper boat (yes, they are also origami!) while being, for the most part, the complete opposite of careful and precise.We do know of some fun origami for kids but the constructions we describe in this article might be a tad too complex for little ones. On the other hand, they may enjoy helping you make paper if you wanted to try your hand at that...For the most part, origami animals demand precision in their creation; they involve a far more intricate construction and substantially more attention to detail.Modular origami uses multiple sheets of paper to create one d esign. Attaining this level of skill at folding paper is and achievement for kids and adults!Besides simple constructions with obvious meaning - such as an origami boat or ninja stars, the art of folding we call origami is full of representation â€" not just in the figures origami artists delight in creating but in the very methods and traditions embodied in the practice of creating.For example, did you know that the Japanese Shoguns of Japan’s Edo Period tasked their junior men with hours of origami? In fact, it is generally thought that Japanese origami truly got its start during that time.Back then, besides folding paper along a certain crease pattern, it was permitted to cut the paper to suit the model, a practice called kirigami. Today, the more elaborate paper sculptures allow for cutting the paper but, strictly speaking, origami is made only by folding.So, as you get ready to fold square paper into your favourite origami designs, consider the fact that you are carrying on a long tradition in the art of paper folding.That might be enough to fire your enthusiasm but before you pick up your first sheet of paper, there is just one question left that needs asking: what do all of those origami models mean?That’s where Superprof comes in... NanaJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YukoJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EllyJapanese Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoJapanese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MelanieJapanese Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamesJapanese Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PippaJapanese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarikoJapanese Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsTatsu, the Origami Dragon If you have any spare cash laying about, you could make money origami Image by jordandemuth from PixabayDragons are powerful creatures in Asian folklore; the Japanese dragon incorporates elements from Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese dragons while still remaining its own beast.Unlike the imagery of dragons in the west, Asian dragons have long, snake-like bodies and several limbs. They generally do not have wings or breathe fire.The Japanese have no fewer than five dragons in their mythology but in origami, there is only one dragon: Tatsu.You may fold it out of shiny foil paper to give the illusion of shimmering scales or a piece of solid green paper to reflect its swampy origins.Did you know that just about every hobby and crafts store carries several types of Japanese paper? Still, no matter which paper you choose, your dragon will symbolize power, wisdom, mastery and success.Whether you attach it to a gift or give it away unattached, you will convey to the recipient that they will en joy good fortune and strength.You can learn how to fold your dragon in our companion article.Chocho: the Origami ButterflyTwo butterflies dancing around each other is a sign of marital bliss; that is why paper butterflies usually feature at Japanese weddings.Now, for a disclaimer: in spite of the Japanese words commonly used to describe paper crafts, this art form is not exclusively Japanese.Whereas butterflies generally symbolise a soul set free, here, in the UK, we have rather more ominous superstitions about butterflies.Some areas of our country hold that butterflies contain the souls of dead children, while in other places, superstition dictates that one must kill the first butterfly s/he sees or have bad luck throughout the year.Should that butterfly be yellow, woe to the whole family! It means everyone will be plagued with illness.Scotland and Ireland are mercifully kinder to these delicate flyers: they believe that butterflies near the grave of a loved one symbolize their dea r departed one has found their place in heaven.The paper butterfly has a decidedly different meaning than any of the above. It represents the hopes and dreams of young girls as they blossom into beautiful young women.That being the case, you may choose delicately-coloured origami paper to make your first mountain fold and reverse fold...  but, please: no yellow!Do you need folding instructions? There are plenty of step by step instructions on YouTube...So, if you wish to make a tiny frog to tuck into your wallet, you will have to practise your folding technique on very small origami paper.On the other hand, if you have kids heading off into the world, gifting them a brightly-coloured origami frog will serve to remind them that they should return home to visit, occasionally.You could pass such frogs to other dear ones who live far away, too.Unlike quilling, which is an involved process that calls for a variety of materials, you only need a square piece of paper - and of course, you h ave to know how to make an origami frog!A Word on KawaiiAlthough origami is not only an ancient Japanese art, invariably, everything origami is attributed to Japan. As such, you should be aware of another aspect of Japanese culture: they love anything cute!Whimsy permeates virtually every aspect of Japanese society, from their ultra-popular anime to their clothing.Anything â€" a drawing or a person that is shy, vulnerable, childlike and charming is adored in Japan; such is the essence of kawaii.For that reason, most origami paper is double-sided, and sometimes shows fantastic designs - a tessellation or bokashi. It may be shiny and feel delicate to the touch, belying its resilience... another aspect of the kawaii culture of Japan.Now that you know about the joy of cute, you may understand why the cat is another popular origami animal. These 3D origami pikachu creatures prove the Japanese obsession with cute! Souce: Pixabay Credit: Level17Neko, the Origami CatSo enraptured with felines is Japan that they celebrate National Cat Day each year on February 22... makes one wonder if they also celebrate International Cat Day, which is feted on the 8th of August.As the Japanese people have dedicated an entire day to the glory of cats, it stands to reason that cats are a popular origami creation.We love our cats as well, so learning how to make origami cats may become our national pastime!Cats are seen as mysterious and elusive, independent and wise. Cats are strong and self-assured; they never ask anyone for anything. They are also rapacious hunters all wrapped up in a coating of silky fur.If you need ideas for easy origami â€" maybe to get the kids settled down on a rainy day, you could hardly do better than a cat: the folding technique is simple and it does not take a lot of time to make.Once you get good at making cats , you can incorporate tessellations into your designs to give them some depth!  Hakucho, the Origami SwanIn many cultures, swans represent majesty and tranquillity, loyalty and strength. Because swans mate for life, they also represent monogamy and fidelity.Unfortunately, they don’t have any special meaning in Japanese culture, but then again, we’ve already determined that origami is not only a Japanese art.As origami projects go, swans are easy to fold and, because they can be freestanding, you might use them to decorate a picnic table or liven up a birthday party.It all starts with a diagonal fold and, 13 steps later, you are ready to decorate your swan... or leave its features up to the imagination.How about trying your hand at napkin folding? Before paper folding became popular in Europe, people would enjoy folding their napkin into various configurations, the swan being among the most popular designs.Naturally, you cannot fold a napkin the same manner as folding paper; unle ss it is starched, cloth simply won’t hold a crease. That is why it is best to make your swans (and other designs) out of coloured paper.This simple origami is a great way to get started practising paper craft.Did you know that the Lewis Ginter botanical garden in the US has an ‘origami in the park’ programme? Visitors there are treated to an assortment of paper sculpture installations, including swans.Wouldn’t it be great if our gardens also had such a display? Would you fold a thousand cranes to get your wish for peace? Image by 1278956 from PixabayTsuru, the Origami CraneIn Japan, the crane is the bird of peace, majesty, long life and fidelity â€" maybe that is why, for them, the swan pales in comparison.Origami cranes just might be the most renown origami bird; indeed, of all the origami figures to learn to fold, this one has the most meaning.Japanese tradition has it that, if one folds 1,000 paper cranes, what is wished for will come to pass.So it was that a young girl, stricken with cancer in the aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing, endeavoured to fold origami birds, as many as needed to cheat death.Realising that her hopes were in vain, she nevertheless continued to fold each paper crane, this time with a wish for peace and hope. So the symbolism of the origami crane changed, from one of personal hope to one of global yearning.Learn of other reasons why origami is so important in Japanese culture...If you aim to learn origami folding, a good figure to aim for is the crane - mastering it would mean you have attained an intermediate level of folding skill.We recommend Washi paper for folding cranes; that brand is the top of the line, meaning your cranes will turn out beautifully. Once you've mastered how to fold this flapping bird, you could try your hand with the dragonfly or cicada, a pinwheel or even an origami box.What about origami flowers?You could start very simply, making an origami flower with just four petals and progress to an origami rose.Who knows? You may even create a kusudama â€" an origami model made up of origami flowers, sewn or glued together to make a ball.It will certainly put your childhood fortune teller or paper airplane to shame...Now learn more about the history of this fascinating and ancient art.

What is it Like to Attend Smith College

What is it Like to Attend Smith College The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Molly is a Washington D.C. tutor specializing in ACT prep tutoring, PSAT prep tutoring, Linguistics tutoring, and more. She holds a Bachelors degree in Linguistics from Smith College, a womens liberal arts school, where she graduated from in 2012. 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? Molly: Smith is located in the cute, quiet town of Northampton, near Springfield and Amherst, Massachusetts. Boston is about 2 hours away by car or bus. There are 4 nearby colleges, part of the 5-college consortium, that are very easy to get to by bus, and all of the local and university buses are free with a college ID! Some people bring a car to school, but parking can be difficult, and for most people, theres no need for one. Lots of people bike around campus, though campus is small enough to walk anywhere in less than 15 minutes. Except when theres snow, biking is fun, easy, and safe and there are beautiful trails that run through campus and into the nearby neighborhoods. Campus is very small and safe and quickly comes to feel like home. The Campus Police officers are easy to reach in case of trouble, very friendly, and quick to respond (even if youre just locked out of your room). VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Molly: There are almost no teaching assistants at Smith. All professors schedule office hours when you can visit them. Most professors are very approachable and respond quickly to emails or drop-by visits. Academic advisers may be harder to keep in touch with particularly before youve chosen a major. Most professors double as academic advisers, and in my experience they take their teaching more seriously than their advising. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Molly: Smith has a very special and unique on-campus housing situation. Most students live on campus all four years, and the houses (thats what we call our dorms) are very mixed with students from all class years. Students live in houses with large communal areas living rooms with couches, desks, TVs, games, books, fire places, free boxes, pianos, pool tables, and whatever other items the house acquires over the years. Most first-years and sophomores share doubles (or triples), but almost all juniors and seniors live in single rooms. Students have the option to move to a new house at any time, but many students live in the house they were first placed in for all four years. There is a strong sense of community in the houses, and there are many events and opportunities throughout the year to show your house pride! There are kitchens in about 10 different houses, and each offers a different menu and slightly different dining hours. For example, there is a vegetarian kitchen, a kosher kitchen, an Asian kitchen, and a healthy options kitchen; and each one offers breakfast, brunch, or lunch and dinner. Dinner ends early, which can be frustrating when youre up late at night finishing a paper, but the options are very good. 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? Molly: Smith takes special pride in its Engineering program. Other popular majors are Philosophy, English, Art History/Studio Art, and SWAG (Studies of Women And Gender). If someone is interested in a major that is not well supported at the school, students have the opportunity to create their own major and incorporate classes from the other 4 colleges in the consortium (Amherst, UMass Amherst, Hampshire, and Mt. Holyoke). In fact thats how I completed my major in Linguistics, which is not a supported major at Smith yet! 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? Molly: There are no sororities on campus though your first house might start to feel like one! Many people meet their best friends in their houses, but there are also a variety of student orgs and events where you can meet people with similar interests. And of course, you can meet some great, intelligent people in class! Students participate very actively in their House Counsels, and there are many upper-classwomen available to support the new students as they arrive and throughout their first year. The ResLife on campus is also very supportive, and there are regular, organized house activities that anyone can participate in, such as a field trip to the apple orchards, a house game night, a kayaking trip on the pond, or a popcorn and movie night. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Molly: The Career Development Office is very active on campus, and their services are available to all alumna of the college as well. I never took advantage of these services, but maybe I will in the future! VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Molly: There are many comfortable places to study in all different kinds of environments. The libraries are large and comfortable, and its usually easy to find a seat except during finals. The Campus Center also has couches and study lounges that are a bit brighter and noisier than the libraries, but lots of people have study sessions there. When the weathers nice, many people choose a quiet lawn as their study spot; and in the winter people can spend time in the botanical gardens (green house) especially a good spot for reading. There are also a number of computer labs and studios around campus for science and art students. And the common spaces in the houses are also great areas to study. 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? Molly: Northampton is a cute, small town that some might call hippie and Smith is right on the edge of it. Its literally a five-minute walk to downtown. There are a number of great cafes with alternative food options (gluten-free, vegan, etc.) and open-mic nights. Many people spend time in town to escape the relatively small campus. There is also some good shopping, though its a bit expensive. Its only a twenty-minute bus ride to get to any of the other colleges, so theres always something to do. There is also one club in town that can be quite popular on Wednesday nights. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Molly: There are about 2,600 students at Smith. Each graduating class is between 600 and 700 people. The student body is big enough that I never felt like there was not anyone new to meet, but small enough that you run into people you know just about everywhere. Class sizes are great I never had more than 50 students in a class, and most of my classes were between 8 and 20 students. If you know you want to end up at a big school, Smith is not it. For me the size of the school was perfect. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Molly: Throughout my career at Smith, the best class I took was an astronomy class calledThe Big Bang and Beyond. There are no Gen Ed requirements at Smith, and I took this class completely on a whim, since it had nothing to do with my major. It was a theoretical class about the nature of the universe and different theories that led up to and have followed the Big Bang.While I cant claim to remember the details of the theories we studied off the top of my head, I find my thoughts still often drift into vast space, wondering whether our universe is expanding, contracting, or situated snugly in scalar field valley, one of many in a series of universe pockets. I am still awed by how this professor presented complex theories in such a way that they were accessible to me and still resonate in my post-college life. VT: Anything else a prospective student should know? Molly: If you are hesitating about attending a women's college, Smith or otherwise, my advice is: go for it!My sister and I both attended women's colleges - mine on the East coast, hers on the West.There are so many opportunities to participate in anything and everything in an amazingly positive environment. It's an amazing experience. And I promise you will meet men (...if you want to!) Check out Mollys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

How to Get Your Child Thinking About The Future

How to Get Your Child Thinking About The Future Not all children know exactly what they want to be when they grow up. And while its perfectly fine if your child doesnt talk about potential careers right now, it cant hurt to encourage him to start exploring possibilities. In high school, it becomes especially important to have these conversationsdont assume your child will discover the path for him without a little research along the way. Here are a few tips on how to get your child thinking about the futureboth college and career: Start asking questions. Ask your child more than just what subjects she enjoys most in school. How about jobs that sound intriguing or fun, or topics that pique her curiosity and make her want to learn more? If your child doesnt have ideas, help her brainstorm a bit. Go online together to check out possible careers that might blend your childs love of math and music. Talk about the pros and cons of working in different fields and jobs. Talk about college as a definite plan. You want to make sure your child goes to college? Talk about it like its not optional. That way, your child will believe that college is on the horizon and begin making plans to get there. This is also a good opportunity to impress upon your child the importance of working hard in school to get into a good college and prepare for the rigors of college academics. Visit colleges. If there is a college in your town or close by, take your child there for strolls or picnics, to sporting and theater events, or any opportunity to expose your child to the collegiate environment. Check out any camps or classes for children. Take your child to visit your alma mater if feasible, and point out your dorm and the buildings where you spent time learning and taking classes. Try lots of different things. You never know what activity or pastime will light your childs fire. Get your child involved with a nonprofit. Have him shadow family friends at their jobs. Go to music concerts, lectures and movies as a family. If your child has the chance to do something unique, encourage him to go for it. Get involved in extracurricular activities. Encourage your child to try out different clubs and activities in and outside of schooleven those that seem like a departure from his usual choices of pastime. Debate team, student government and the school newspaper are obvious career-relevant options, but your child might discover his passion as a peer tutor, in the choir or the recycling club, or working as a teachers aide. Take a strengths finder. College career centers are a great resource to help students explore their strengths, determine career-related interests, and find career choices. But there are all kinds of different strengths finders out there that will help your child understand herself and guide her in a direction even earlier. Do an online search to see what you find. Remember: you are your childs greatest influence and can help guide him toward promising college majors and career pathsor at least help him formulate ideas. Talk about college in your home. Make it sound exciting and worthwhile. Invite your child to try new things, delve into ideas, ask big questions and seek to find the answers. Start early, and by the time your child reaches high school, hell be eager to plot his future.

Listening Exercise The Incredible Ghost Shark

Listening Exercise The Incredible Ghost Shark The wildlife in the deep ocean never ceases to amaze me.  It seems that we have so much  to explore and discover.  Its also dark, mysterious and pretty creepy down there.  I recently stumbled across this video of a species captured on film for the first time.  As you watch the clip  about this strange Rat Fish, improve your listening skills by completing  the exercise below.  Wed love to hear from you, so write your answers, comments and questions below!This species was named in honor of Alaskan artist, Ray Troll, whose fascination and appreciation ___  this weird group of fish has inspired some of his artwork.What do you have appreciation ___?They ___  sometimes _____  informally as Rat Fish or Ghost Sharks.What are they formally known as?It can be difficult to distinguish between species due to ______ differences in these characteristics.What does subtle mean?This species ___  only ____  identified by specimens caught in the Southwestern Pacific, off Australia,  New Zealand a nd New Caledonia until the MBARI _______ them off the West coast of HawaiiWhat do they need to do  in order to confirm the identity of this animal so they can compare it with other known species?__ further analysis ____ to reveal that these fishes are not Hydrolagus Trolli, they most likely represent a new species.Something(s) never cease(s) to amaze someone means that youre always impressed or surprised by someone/something.  What never ceases to amaze you?To stumble across means to discover something unexpectedly.  What have you stumbled across recently?Our instructors at LOI provide fun, relevant English lessons over Skype.  Sign up for a free trial class today!