What is it Like to Attend Tulane University

What is it Like to Attend Tulane University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Erin is a Houston tutor specializing in Spanish tutoring, Biology tutoring, Statistics tutoring, and much more. She graduated from Tulane University in 2013 with a Bachelors degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. See what she had to say about her school: 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? Erin: Tulane is in the heart of New Orleans, located in the Uptown portion of the city. The St. Charles streetcar is available right in front of campus to take you anywhere you want to go. The campus is small, so you can usually get to all your classes by walking, but the campus is bike friendly as well. If you ever take classes outside of the main campus, Tulane has free shuttles to get you there. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Erin: Entry-level classes will be the largest classes you take at Tulane, with around 100-200 students. However, the majority of the classes have around 12-20 students. One-on-one time with professors is very common and many professors have very accessible office hours. Most professors understand if you cannot make their scheduled office hours and will coordinate with when you are available to meet. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Erin: There are tons of clubs and organizations to join at Tulane, including Relay for Life, Habitat for Humanity, Student Government, and many intramural and club sports. There is one cafeteria as well as a food court with many different options of food. Freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus. All the dorms are located in the main campus and are very close to everything you need. There are some new dorms and some old dorms. The newer ones are obviously nicer, more spacious, and cleaner; however, the older dorms are fine as well. 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? Erin: The Business School is very well known, but there is a wide variety of majors and minors. The School of Science and Engineering has great Biomedical and Chemical Engineering programs. Tulane School of Medicine and Tulane School of Law are also well known and popular, so pre-med and pre-law classes are very well represented. 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? Erin: Tulane does a very good job of organizing events for freshmen to participate in. Even though I didnt know anybody when I first came to Tulane, within two weeks I had a group of friends whom I remained friends with for all four years. Greek life is prevalent at Tulane and many students participate. However, you do not need to be Greek to be social or involved in the campus. I was not Greek and had many friends and different social opportunities. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Erin: The Career Center has grown a lot since I started at Tulane. I used the Career Center a little bit for resume building, but not as much for job searching. I did work on campus as an undergrad and the center does help with placement in school jobs. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Erin: The student union is an excellent place to study with many different lounges, study areas, and conference rooms. The library was my next favorite place to study. It has many computers and laptop stations as well as many quiet study areas, but does get packed. Tulane also has a coffee shop which is very popular for studying among students. Dorm study areas typically get overcrowded and I rarely studied in my dorm, unless I was in my own room. 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? Erin: New Orleans is buzzing with so many things to do. Live music is a huge part of New Orleans and a great way to spend your weekends. There is so much to do within walking distance of campus as well, including delicious places to eat. Downtown New Orleans is just a streetcar ride away, but Tulane also offers shuttle services. If you decide not to live in a residence hall, there are many nice neighborhoods surrounding campus that are just a short bike ride or walk away. There is nothing boring about New Orleans, and I do not regret anything about my undergraduate experience. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Erin: Tulane has about 6,000 undergraduate students. I found it to be a perfect size for me. I always saw and met new people, but was never overwhelmed by how many students there were. Typical class sizes once you get out of entry-level classes are around 12-20 people. These classes are built around discussion and interaction instead of lecture, which I liked. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Erin: I loved all my professors in my major. I worked in a lab as a research assistant and a teacher assistant and was able to become close with several professors. One professor, who was my freshman Biology lab instructor, ended up becoming my honors thesis advisor because we had built such a close relationship over the four years I was an undergrad. Check out Erins tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

The New York University College Experience

The New York University College Experience The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Adrianna is a Cincinnati tutor and 2013 graduate of New York University. She tutors several subjects, specializing in Elementary Math tutoring, French tutoring, and Reading tutoring. Check out what Adrianna had to say about her time at New York University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or rural is the campus? Did you feel safe on campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Adrianna: New York University is definitely an urban campus, as most of its buildings are in the heart of Manhattans Greenwich Village. That does not mean it is unsafe, however. Walking between the dorms, library, and dining halls at all hours of the night, I never felt unsafe. Just use common sense like you would in any situation, and you will have nothing to worry about. New York University does offer shuttle buses that run on a schedule throughout the day and night. You can also make use of the schools rental bikes, or the citys Citi Bike program. Walking, or taking the citys subway or buses, is also perfectly safe and sometimes more reliable! VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Adrianna:I never had any trouble getting in touch with professors or advisers when I needed to. In fact, some of them were more reliable about keeping meetings than I was! This varies from program to program, but I have definitely heard more positive than negative feedback about students getting the help they need. Remember: your professors and advisers want you to succeed! Take advantage of their office hours, and schedule meetings whenever you can to discuss how you are doing. I promise, it makes all the difference! You will be more engaged in your education, and if you do find yourself in a rough patch, professors and advisers will be much more understanding if they know you well and understand what you are going through! VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Adrianna:New York University is very different from more traditional colleges in a lot of ways, and dorms and dining are among the most stark differences. For starters, there are no communal bathrooms in any of the dorms. Most of them have a kitchen area. They are also the nicest apartments you are likely to ever have in New York City. This is a blessing and a curse definitely enjoy it while you can, but do not expect your first off-campus apartment to be as nice as your dorm, unless you are prepared to pay sky-high rent! There are plenty of opportunities to socialize with other students, but because the university is so large, you have to do some of the legwork. Meet people on your floor, in your hall council, in classes, in one of the hundreds of clubs and societies, or out on the lawn in Washington Square Park! But one of the best things you can do is to get out in the city and make friends outside of school! 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? Adrianna:This is the main reason I chose New York University. I went to the Gallatin School of Individualized Study because that particular program allows you to design your own course of study. If you have an oddly-specific subject you want to study and cannot find a school that offers it as a major, come to Gallatin! It is also great for people who have an idea of the general area they are interested in, but not specifically enough to commit to any one major. Gallatins professors and advisers are some of the most interesting and intellectually engaging people I have ever met, and I really could not have been any more supported. 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? Adrianna:New York University does have some fraternities and sororities, but Greek life is not really a big player in campus life for the majority of students. People tend to come to New York University because they want to buck the trends, and Greek life does not really lend itself to that. But there are so many other opportunities to meet people and make friends that you will not even miss it. Some of my best friends to this day are people I met in my Freshman Residence Hall Council. And all the Resident Assistants in the dorms are very good at getting you involved in events and excursions into the city. It is New York City, so there is no shortage of people to meet. You just have to get out there and meet them! VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Adrianna:I did not take as much advantage of New York Universitys Wasserman Center for Career Development as I perhaps should have, but from what I understand, they are a fantastic resource! The Stern School of Business and Tisch School of the Arts are internationally renowned, and their alumni are in high demand all over the place. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Adrianna:That depends on whether or not it is exam time! For most of the semester, public study areas are plentiful and easily available. I spent many a night camped out in a corner of Bobst Library, leaving my computer and books unattended while roaming the stacks, popping down to the vending machines, or stepping outside for some fresh air. The dorms all have their own study lounges, as do most of the academic buildings and the campus Starbucks. But once again, it is New York. There are literally thousands of coffee houses, libraries, parks, and bookstores where you can study if your dorms study lounge is full! 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? Adrianna:The five years I spent living in New York City were the best of my life. There is an embarrassment of cultural riches, and the opportunities for exploration and adventure are literally endless. When you live in the greatest city in the world, it is definitely hard to be bored! City living is not for everyone, though. It takes a certain kind of toughness to live there, especially after graduation, but if you have the right stuff, you will have the time of your life! VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Adrianna:The student body is huge, with something like 50,000 students in total. But with 1,300 or so faculty, it is easy to get small class sizes! Of course, some courses will inevitably be large lectures, but for the most part, classes are small. At the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, for example, the maximum class size is 16. The smallest class I had was four students. So you get a lot of individualized attention, and you really get to know your classmates. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Adrianna:The most memorable experience of my college career was traveling the world with my classmates and professors! Through the Gallatin School of Individualized Studys honors society and my own study abroad semester, I traveled to South Africa, England, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, and Morocco, all within two years! I reached through the bars of Nelson Mandelas cell on Robben Island, walked through a gas chamber at Auschwitz, and sat in a pew in the cathedral nestled inside the Grand Mosque in Crdoba. These life-changing experiences really helped me put my life in perspective, and they helped shape my academic concentration. Check out Adriannas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Why Students Should Care About STEM

Why Students Should Care About STEM You may balk at the idea of signing up for another math or science course beyond your schools core requirements, but enrolling in science, technology, engineering, or math classes even if you arent a STEM major can provide you with skills that are relevant to many types of employment. If your goal after graduation is to land a job in a competitive field, taking another lab course or an advanced calculus class can help bolster your math skills, boost your resume, and attract the attention of prospective employers. There are hundreds of reasons to care about STEM as you move through school and navigate the job market. Here are some of the top reasons students should care about STEM: 1. STEM courses help you master skills that are important and easily transferable to many types of jobs You may have learned to wield a micropipette in your biology lab, to titrate an acid in your chemistry lab, or to calculate the rate of flow of a substance in calculus. Though you may have thought you were learning these things just enough to ace the final, the truth is that the calculations, writing skills, and lab techniques you pick up in your STEM-based classes are invaluable in many professional fields. Whether youre applying to be a pharmaceutical researcher in a big lab or an actuary in an insurance company, mastering STEM skills during your high school or college years can make you an attractive candidate for your dream job and can help you build confidence in your skill set as you work toward your future career. 2. STEM fields have some of the fastest growing and highest paying jobs available With the explosion of the tech market, the growth of the pharmaceutical industry, and the ongoing need for healthcare professionals, the need for workers in STEM fields continues to rise. The expansion of the human population and constant innovation means that while these STEM careers are constantly shifting, they are also becoming more important. Some of the highest paying and most needed positions in todays society are available to STEM students; they become engineers, physicians, and computer programmers. 3. STEM subjects have practical application to your daily life Maybe becoming a rocket scientist or bridge builder isnt your aim. But even though you dont see your future in a STEM field, that doesnt mean STEM shouldnt matter to you. Being familiar with STEM concepts can help you manage your finances, figure out which detergent to use on a clothing stain, and tackle complex critical thinking problems required of nearly every profession. Remember that cooking is chemistry, that basic first aid requires an understanding of biology, and that setting up your new laptop necessitates some comprehension of computer operating systems. There are many benefits of STEM studies, and these skills are applicable for virtually everyone. 4. Our modern world depends on the innovation of STEM fields to keep moving forward The most world-changing progress in the last few decades has arisen from STEM fields. From the discovery of the polio vaccine to the invention of the microchip, no fields have rivaled that of STEM fields in defining how we live, work, and think. Taking part in STEM classes or working in a STEM field means being a part of human progress, globalization, and the world economy. Moving forward means embracing what STEM fields can teach.

Ask a Law School Admissions Expert Joyce Curll

Ask a Law School Admissions Expert Joyce Curll Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight form nationally recognized admissions experts. Joyce Curll served for 18 years as the Admissions and Financial Aid Dean at Harvard Law School. Prior to that, she was the Director of Admissions and Admissions Dean for 16 years at NYU Law School. Joyce is the author of The Best Law Schools Admissions Secrets, a best-selling guide designed to help prospective law students successfully navigate the admissions process. She earned her Bachelor of Arts cum laude at Harvard University as well as a Masters degree in Urban Planning from New York University. VT: How much time should be set aside to adequately prepare for and complete a Law School application? Joyce: To maximize the possibility of acceptance to your top choice school, plan ahead and start early, no later than the summer or early fall of the year before you want to attend, and even earlier to allow time to adequately prepare for the LSAT. The amount of time to actually complete your applications will vary according to what you have done in the course of your educational and work experiences. If you have laid good groundwork, you will save time in the long run, and your application will be more coherent. You will know whom you want as recommenders and may already have requested that recommendations be placed on file in your college pre-law advisors or Career Services office. You may also have planned ahead by giving careful thought to why you want to be a lawyer, and engaging in coursework and work/extracurricular activities that will inform that decision and provide fodder for both recommenders and your own personal statement. If you have not done these preparations, you wi ll likely spend more time on these time consuming parts of your application. The most time consuming aspects of completing an application include the time to prepare to take the LSAT, to prepare information and allow lead time for recommenders, and to write and edit your personal statement. Getting your application in early will put you ahead of comparable candidates who procrastinate or start the process late. VT: What is the single most important thing applicants should focus on with this application? Joyce: Coherence and consistency. Your application should present a coherent and consistent picture of you as a potential student. Your recommendations, your personal statement, and your own explanation of your background, accomplishments, and goals should give the admissions committee a clear sense of what you will bring to the class and how you will take advantage of the opportunities that their school offers. VT: What are the biggest mistakes one can make on a Law School Application? Joyce: Shading the truth. Outright dishonesty is an obvious disqualifier for someone who hopes to enter the legal profession, but even shading the truth or engaging in puffery in any aspect of your application will, if identified, cast doubt on even your genuine accomplishments. Law school admissions officers and their committees see many applications even in the course of one year, and they know exaggeration when they see it. VT: What do Law School admissions offices look for most in an applicants essays/personal statements? Joyce: Your essays and personal statements are your opportunity to paint a picture of yourself that will in many cases substitute for an interview. Even schools that offer evaluative interviews will not offer them to every candidate. In the virtual interview offered by these essays, you should answer those questions that you hope would be asked during an actual interview. You want the admissions officers to see that you know what the school has to offer and that you are equipped to take advantage of it. Since much of the learning in law school comes from interaction (in class and out) with your peers, you will want to share with the admissions committee what you will bring to the class. VT: Is there anything on a students application that would automatically disqualify them from being considered for the program? Joyce: Although there is nothing that will automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered, any form of dishonesty will be tantamount to disqualification. If you have a criminal record or any academic or other manifestation of dishonesty in your record, you should deal with that issue forthrightly in a separate statement. Your experience after any such incident should demonstrate that you have accepted responsibility for your actions and learned from the experience. There should be evidence that demonstrates that such incidents will not recur. Multiple instances of dishonesty make that job more difficult, but also more important. VT: What about the Law School Admission process differs the most from undergraduate admissions? Joyce: At the undergraduate admissions level, potential for success may be a key factor, whereas at the law school level, accomplishments are more salient. This is an obvious difference related to the broader experience of college graduates as compared to high school seniors, and it is reflected in all aspects of what you need to present, from your choice of activities and work experience, to your academic record and what your recommenders are able to assess. It is manifested by less focus on such factors as interviews and by most law schools devoting less manpower to the selection process than their undergraduate counterparts. VT: What kinds of things (experience, grades, etc.) might a student lack that would lead you to advise them not to apply? Joyce: This is more a question of whether this is the right time or whether the student has done the necessary groundwork to maximize his or her chances of admission to the best school for him or her. If the student has done the research to truly understand why to go law school at all, and particularly why this law school, there is no reason not to apply. There may be some rehab work to do before applying. Anything in the applicants record, from academic issues to LSAT scores, to disciplinary action or criminal charges, should be resolved before applying. What the resolution is can dictate whether or not it is advisable to apply. VT: Is there anything you might see on a students application that would quickly put them ahead in the running? Joyce: I like to see how a person takes advantage of opportunities, and how they deal with setbacks. A person who has maximized what opportunities have been made available or, even better, has created his or her own opportunities, is one who will take advantage of what my school has to offer, and take new opportunities as far as possible. VT: What advice do you have regarding LSAT test prep? Joyce: It is very important to prepare for the test, but only necessary to take a prep course if the discipline of having spent the money and having a teacher/tutor in front of you will assure that you will actually do the prep work. At Harvard Law School, we once asked our students how they had prepared for the test. Less than half had taken the prep course. Most had prepared for the test on their own, by sitting down with previously disclosed tests and working through them in a disciplined, self-timed way. Before taking the actual test, they owned the understanding of the test question types, and their own strengths and weaknesses. And it showed up in their results. VT: What do law school admissions officers look for in recommendation letters? Joyce: I look for a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of a candidate, with substantive examples of their accomplishments. A thoughtful critique, even with the description of a weakness, can actually enhance credibility on the positive side. I suggest that applicants give their recommenders enough lead time to write a thoughtful recommendation. I also recommend giving the recommenders a copy of your resume and a copy of your transcript(s) to help remind them of your accomplishments and interests. A well-written letter by you, requesting the recommendation, describing why you want to go to law school and what your activities have been since you studied with them can also be helpful. In that same context, a description of your activities outside their experience with you, but within their knowledge of the campus or other common ground, can help produce a more substantive, personalized recommendation. Giving them a copy of your personal statement is more problematic, in that a lazy or overburdened recommender might just repeat your wording, and make it appear that you wrote the recommendation for them. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

How do we learn Part II

How do we learn Part II Ok, so now you know how to analyse the stage of learning that your child is at when they are learning a new skills (If not see How do we learn? â€" Part I for a description of the 4 stages). We will now look at ways to use this theory, and put it into practice. Below is an example of how a child can learn to read (remember to read from the bottom up as you move through the hierarchy!) We can highlight this further with another example of what to do if learning a new science concept: Key take home message: Little and often â€" better to do 10 minutes a day that 1 hour once a week PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE â€" we only learn what we SHOULD be doing if we are told. Jargon buster Constructive Feedback: even if it sounds disastrous, find the things they did well and praise them! Then sandwich the thing they could do better in between what they are doing well - we call it sandwich feedback Explicit teaching: sit down and teach them the skill Modeling: perform the skill for the child, not just in the teaching context but all the time! Multi-sensory learning: encourage them to use as many of the 5 senses as possible. think some of the most strongest memories we have are associated with a sound, smell or touch. Praise: praise should be specific! Rather than “well done” â€" “well done for X” or “ you did X so well!”. It should also be constant. Think aloud strategy: While you are doing the skill (either while teaching or in different contexts) think aloud so as to model the steps and thinking skills required. Hope you’ve enjoyed these posts on how we learn. Have a look around at other educational blogs that we’ll be publishing

Does Your Student Need High School Entrance Exam Preparation

Does Your Student Need High School Entrance Exam Preparation Attention parents: if you are considering sending your middle school student to a private, parochial or college preparatory high school, it is important to begin the process of preparing for the schools entrance exam as early as possible so that your child can perform his or her best. Studying for any test can be nerve-wracking for a student, but preparing for a high school entrance exam can be especially scary, says Eileen Huntington, co-founder of Huntington Learning Center. Solid preparation involves understanding the structure of these exams, building test-taking skills and plenty of practice. Huntington offers a quick download on some of the well-known high school entrance exams for which Huntington has significant experience helping students prepare: The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is required by many private and competitive magnet schools as part of the admissions process. There are three levels of the test for candidates entering grades 56, 78 and 912 and five exam sections: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, mathematics and a 30-minute essay. The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) The SSAT is used by some private and competitive high schools and middle schools to help rank applicants. There are three levels of the test: elementary, middle and upper. The test consists of two parts: a writing sample and a section with multiple choice questions in math, verbal and reading comprehension. The High School Placement Test (HSPT) is used for admissions, scholarship selection and course placement. The test is administered to eighth graders seeking ninth grade placement in parochial high schools. The standard test covers language skills, vocabulary, reading, mathematics and an optional section on either Catholic religion, mechanical aptitude or science. What does Huntingtons exam prep program offer? Huntington says that parents can expect a customized program of instruction built off the same successful method used in Huntingtons SAT and ACT prep programs. Features include: An initial academic evaluation that has students take a full-length exam. A post-academic evaluation conference to discuss results and Huntingtons recommended program. A personalized program tailored to each student's needs and designed to help achieve test score goals. Several full-length exams to measure progress. One-to-one tutoring with a highly trained professional tutor (all Huntington tutors are state certified or Huntington certified). Interim conferences to discuss progress towards goals. Flexible scheduling. For more information about Huntingtons high school entrance exam preparation programs, call 1 800 CAN LEARN.

Pupil Premium funded private tuition

Pupil Premium funded private tuition As the new school year very rapidly approaches we know schools are contemplating how best to invest their pupil premium funding and some are considering private tuition as a strong potential option. We've been talking to headteachers over the summer about just how much impact this funding could have and three things have become very clear: 1. We all want to see the cash used in a way that really delivers good value education, not money for old rope. 2. That, as ever, we need to track the impact of any intervention so that progress is measurable. The methods we use must be intelligent. 3. One size does not fit all. Schools who serve diverse communities, often with specific challenges at a per pupil level, need tailored solutions. We are naturally keen to work with schools to develop tuition services which will meet these needs, and not just because it is good business. So why should you work with us? We enjoy designing innovative solutions and ideas, and because we're a relatively small firm we can actually implement them quickly! We have tens of thousands of tutors registered with us and we collect reviews every time one meets a new client. We can find you some very good tutors. We already track huge amounts of data about private tuition, including motivations for seeking tuition from parents, demographics, etc. We like designing this kind of software and we know how to present data in an easily usable form. We have won awards - including 'Supplementary education firm of the year', 'Ebusiness of the year' and various entrepreneur prizes - and we've been positively reviewed by some pretty firm critics, including The Good Schools Guide. So, if you'd like to chat with one of our directors, please contact us.