Ask a Medical School Admissions Expert Liza Thompson

Ask a Medical School Admissions Expert Liza Thompson Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Liza Thompson has advised medical school applicants for the past 20 years. As the former director of the Johns Hopkins Universityand Goucher College Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Programs, she has managed admissions processes, the premedical curriculum, MCAT prep, and the medical school application process. While at Johns Hopkins, she also served on the Premedical Education Committee. Liza has developed a great deal of expertise in premedical advising and regularly shares it with applicants through her firm, Thompson Advising. VT: How much time should be set aside to adequately prepare for and complete a Med School application? Liza: The primary application, which is filed through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), takes a great deal of thought and energy to prepare comprehensively. Applicants should plan accordingly. I advise applicants to work backwards from the time when they should submit the application (early in the cycle, in June) and allow ample time to fine tune every component of the application itself. In general, applicants should allow several months from start to finish, to allow enough time to refine drafts of the personal statement and experience descriptions. Applicants usually begin working on the application in the spring of the year of submission or even earlier. Bear in mind that the primary application is only the first step. Applicants should also budget time to fill out each secondary application, which individual medical schools require. Medical school applicants rarely anticipate the work entailed in the secondary application process. For the secondary applic ations, additional essays are usually required and close attention should be paid to this part of the application process; secondary applications are every bit as important as the primary application. VT: What is the single most important thing applicants should focus on with this application? Liza: In the medical school application, applicants should focus on why they want to become physicians and what they might contribute to the medical profession. The motivation for medicine and the reasons for it should be crystal clear to admissions committees. Be thoughtful in the essay and in the experience descriptions on the AMCAS application; these are the only areas in the application where applicants can express themselves and describe their motivation for a career in medicine. VT: What are the biggest mistakes one can make on a Med School application? Liza: There are several mistakes applicants make in the application process. Ill highlight three important ones that are relatively easy for applicants to fix. Sloppiness or careless errors are never tolerated in the med school admissions process. If applicants misspell words or use poor grammar in the application essays or experience descriptions, their applications are likely to be eliminated. Its important to pay attention to detail in the medical profession; if applicants cant attend to minor details in the application itself, that sends a negative message to admissions committees. Timeliness of the application is critical. Its crucial to submit a medical school application early in the admissions cycle. That means having all of the materials ready to submit in June, when the cycle opens. Since most med schools operate on a rolling basis, processing applications as they are received, its in applicants best interest to submit early. Submitting an application later in the process reduces an applicants chances of admission. Not paying close attention to the secondary applications and/or delaying their submission are costly errors. The secondary applications are as important as the primary (AMCAS ) application. Applicants should write meaningful and compelling essays; since these essays are tailored to specific schools they are closely read by the individual medical schools. Filing the primary application early but then failing to follow through in a timely way on the secondary applications means that those applicants dont reap the benefit of rolling admission. When applicants receive the secondary applications they should make a concerted effort to return them as quickly as possible while also writing comprehensive essays. VT: What do Med School admissions officers look for most in an applicants essays/personal statements? Liza: The chief element admissions officers look for in an applicants personal statement is his or her motivation for a career in medicine, along with evidence that demonstrates that the applicant has fully tested his or her impulse to become a physician. Admissions officers will also be assessing applicants communication skills, personality traits, and accomplishments. The personal statement is the only area of the application where applicants can readily express themselves; other essays, as in the secondary ones, have more targeted prompts calling for more specific essays. The personal statement allows applicants to put forth their own background and vision for their future career in medicine. Admissions committees want to understand how and why an applicant decided medicine was the right career path. VT: Is there anything on a students application that would automatically disqualify them from being considered for the program? Liza: Repeated disciplinary infractions at the college level or legal infractions cast doubt on an applicants suitability for a career in medicine. A disciplinary action early in a students college career may be overcome with distance from the action and an acknowledgment as to what the applicant learned from the experience. Repeated infractions are very difficult to overcome. VT: What about the Med School admissions process differs the most from undergraduate admissions? Liza: One of the chief differences that applicants rarely understand is the difference between Early Decision at the undergraduate and medical school levels. At the undergrad level Early Decision is often used to improve an applicants chance of admission; there is something in the bargain for the applicant. At the medical school level, Early Decision does not favor the applicant, who is barred from applying to any other schools until the decision is rendered in October. If the applicant is denied admission, he or she would be entering the med school application process extremely late, thus negatively impacting his or her chances at any other school. I never recommend that an applicant apply Early Decision to medical school because of the way it disfavors applicants. VT: What undergrad majors best prepare one for med school applications? Liza: There are no specific majors that best prepare students for medical school. All students must take the same basic science premedical requirements to be prepared for the MCAT and medical school admission. The new MCAT, launching in 2015, will include psychology, sociology, and statistics, as well. You can major in any field and complete the requirements. Evidence shows that liberal arts majors have just as much a chance of getting into medical school as science majors. I encourage students to major in disciplines that truly excite them; if they do so they will maximize their learning since they will be studying a subject which they will delve deeply into with enthusiasm. As the former director of the post-baccalaureate premedical programs at Johns Hopkins and Goucher, I have advised numerous students who majored in fields as diverse as anthropology, psychology, economics, English, music, history, and religion. Their unusual viewpoints and ability to converse on a wide range of t opics were highlighted in the med school application and interview process. Study what you love! VT: Is there anything you might see on a students application that would quickly put them ahead in the running? Liza: Evidence of strong leadershipestablishing a new organization and following it through so that it can continue after you move on to other thingsis highly prized in the med school admissions process. Showing your passion, through a deep commitment to a cause or organization over several years time, is also valuable. Demonstrating the contributions you have made in such endeavors gives med school admissions committees information about your commitment, dedication, and priorities. In turn, these activities help committees understand what drives you and what you might dedicate yourself to in the future and bring to the medical profession. VT: What advice do you have regarding MCAT test prep? Liza: Practice, practice, practice! In counseling students through the MCAT for the past 20 years, I have seen a variety of ways to prepare; there is not one perfect way. I encourage students to assess the way they have prepared for high-stakes tests in the past (SAT or the GRE, for example). Some students are highly independent and focused, and have no trouble organizing their test preparation on their own. Others need a focused class in order to mobilize their preparation. There is no evidence that one strategy works better than another; equal results can be obtained no matter the study method. But the one thing that unifies successful MCAT test takers is the large number of practice tests they take. Students preparing to take the MCAT should take all of the AAMC practice tests and take them under real conditions. They should then analyze their practice test results to figure out lapses in knowledge/content or test-taking ability. In turn, students then need to address those issues in order to improve. That may entail reviewing content or figuring out how to improve their test-taking strategies. In the case of the latter, for instance, it could be that finishing the test in a timely way is an issue; doing timed reading can help improve this. Students also usually become quicker at taking the test with repeated practice tests. No matter the method students use to prepare, its essential to prepare thoroughly. By the time the actual test day arrives, test takers should feel completely ready for the MCAT. VT: What do Med School admissions officers look for in recommendation letters? Liza: Letters of recommendation are an important component of the med school admissions process since they help admissions officers understand applicants more thoroughly. The descriptions that letter writers provide help admissions committees more comprehensively assess the applicants suitability for a career in medicine and for specific schools. Admissions committees are looking for evidence of academic accomplishment through outstanding performances in classes which professors attest to in their letters. In addition, committees look for character, professionalism, and personality traits so that they can more fully understand an applicants background and motivation for a career in medicine. Letters from people who have supervised volunteer and extracurricular activities help committees understand applicants better. Letters help bring applicants to life and back up what the applicants present about themselves. In that sense, they are a highly valued and important aspect of the medica l school admissions process. Visit ThompsonAdvising.com or check them out on Facebook. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Britain and France A Love-Hate Relationship

Britain and France A Love-Hate Relationship The Curious World of Anglo-French Relations ChaptersPolitical History Between Britain and FranceBritain and France in the Modern AgeSporting Rivalries Between England and FranceSeparated only by a thin strip of water in Western Europe known as the English Channel, the history shared between Britain and France is as turbulent as you’d imagine.The countless wars fought between both countries, as well as the many political agreements and tensions, have made for a unique relationship between the UK and France.In addition to the numerous jokes and stereotypes which have been borne of our interaction with the French, there are all kinds of evidence for this one-of-a-kind relationship in both nations.Did you know that 45% of English words are derived from French?When William the Conqueror successfully invaded England and famously took the English crown in 1066, the people he brought with him left the legacy of their language as well as unknowingly providing a basis for many jokes which would be told for centuries thereafter.So, hav e the Brits and the French always fought against each other? What about invading one another? And what do Anglo-French relations look like today?If Britain and France had to put a label on their relationship, they would probably say ‘it’s complicated’.Let’s have a look at all the things that make this partnership both a match made in heaven and a match made in hell. AnnieFrench Teacher 4.89 (9) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarolineFrench Teacher 5.00 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriFrench Teacher 5.00 (9) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarianneFrench Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThibautFrench Teacher 5.00 (3) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickFrench Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DéborahFrench Teacher 5.00 (10) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamyFrench Teacher 5.00 (2) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Political History Between Britain and FranceCountries are like people: spending a lot of time side by side means that interaction is inevitable â€" and this can either be positive or negative.There have been many points in history in which France and the UK have not seen eye-to-eye and have even tried to take control over the other country, but they have also successfully worked together on more than one occasion.So, what are the most important points in the history between the UK and our French cousins?The Norman Conquest1066 is a famous date here in the UK. It marks a year in which our country was invaded by the Normans (who were from what is now known as France) which resulted in the claiming of the English crown by the invaders.When William the Conqueror brought his men over the English Channel from Normandy, they brought their language and heritage with them â€" and there is still strong evidence of this in the British society of today.It’s no coincidence that 45% of our voca bulary is derived from French.English belongs to the Germanic family of languages, however, with almost half of our lexicon coming from the version of French spoken in Normandy nearly 1000 years ago, it’s fair to say that William the Conqueror changed the course of the English language forever.Hundred Years WarAn important period in the history of France, the Hundred Years War actually lasted longer than one hundred years. Starting in 1337 and finishing with an English victory in 1453, the 116 years that the French and English armies were engaged in battle was a period of European conflict.The war began because of two main reasons: England wanted control of the English-owned, French-controlled region of Aquitaine, and the English royal family was also after the French crown.The sheer duration of this conflict means that there were many developments and lots of battles, too â€" 56 battles to be precise!One of the most significant points of the war was marked by the involvement of J oan of Arc ¦ source: Pixabay - JACLOU-DLJoan of Arc claimed to have visions in which she was told of her duty to be the saviour of France by St. Michael and St. Catherine. After successfully gaining the trust of the heir to the French throne, Joan led the French forces to many victories in battle until she was sold to the English by the Burgundians, who were allied with them.After this alliance collapsed, France emerged victorious in 1441 and the presence of the English in France became strictly controlled thereafter.The American War of Independence1776 was a turbulent year for the British, and France’s involvement only complicated things further.As Britain’s 13 North-American colonies became disgruntled with their British-run government, mounting tensions meant that war broke out between Britain and the colonists in 1775, and the movement for American independence was born.France decided to officially enter the conflict in alliance with the colonists in 1778, after two years o f providing support to the rebels in secret.The USA gained its official independence on 4th July 1776, however, the British did not recognise this victory until 1783, when the war officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. Britain also signed a peace treaty with France.Napoleon INapoleon Bonaparte is one of the most famous names in military history â€" and for good reason.As the first Emperor of France after the Revolution of 1789, Napoleon’s mission was to expand his empire as much as possible â€" and this included planning to invade England.Admiral Lord Nelson, who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Trafalgar, is commemorated at Trafalgar Square ¦ source: Visualhunt - romanboedHowever, Napoleon was soon sent a strong signal that this plan was a bad idea when his forces were defeated at the Battle of Trafalgar by Admiral Lord Nelson.However, Napoleon’s retaliation to this was to put a spanner in the works of the British economy by imposing laws whereby British g oods could not be taken anywhere under his control.The British then made an alliance with Prussia and Austria, who Napoleon has also been bothering. This British-Prussian partnership defeated the French at Waterloo, and Napoleon was exiled to the island of St. Helena, where he remained for six years until his death in 1821.Follow the link to read more about Napoleon Bonaparte and other influential French people.Britain and France in the Modern AgeThe amount of history between the UK and France has set the scene for many modern-day developments in the relationship between the two countries.Let’s take a look at some of the most significant points in Anglo-French history over the past century.Anglo-French Relations in World War One and TwoThe First World War started after the declaration of war on Serbia by Austria following the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand.After Russia announced its support for Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia in order to defend Austria. Next, France, an ally of Russia, declared war on Germany, then Britain declared war on Germany after German forces invaded Belgium in an attempt to reach France. In just a few days, most of Europe was engaged in a world war.As both France and Britain had declared war on Germany, they joined Russia to form an alliance known as the Triple Entente. Once Russia had left the conflict, Britain and France, as part of the larger Allied Powers, emerged victorious with the help of the USA when the German forces asked their government to put an end to the war. The armistice was signed on 11th November 1918.The Brits and the French also worked together towards victory in the Second World War, which started when both nations declared war on Nazi Germany after it invaded Poland in 1939.Again, an alliance was formed between Britain, France, the Soviet Union (formerly Russia), the USA, China, and members of the Commonwealth.The Allied Forces worked together to defeat the Axis Powers (Nazi Germany, Italy and Japan), but it was Britain which liberated France from German occupation which saw the French government move out of Paris.Following the liberation of France, Germany was invaded by the allies, and surrendered soon after. Japan carried on fighting until the USA bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki four months later.De Gaulle’s EEC VetoThe partnership between Britain and France in the world wars was brought into question when French President, Charles de Gaulle, vetoed the UK’s entry into the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1963.Founded in 1957, the EEC was the precursor to the European Union. Primary, the EEC was created as a common market for countries within Europe, however, after the UK had refused to engage in negotiations around the terms of the EEC, whilst also trying to establish its own common markets, De Gaulle was wary of British interest in the community.Britain finally joined the EEC in 1973 along with Denmark and Ireland.The ChunnelThe Channel Tunnel is an i ncredible symbol of Anglo-French unity.At 31.4 miles long, the Chunnel has been recognised as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, and up to 400 trains pass through it each day, providing a vital link between two European hubs: London and Paris.You can catch the Eurostar from London to Paris ¦ source: Pixabay - theo-choiAlthough the tunnel was officially opened in 1993, talks about linking England to France via such a link had been happening since the beginning of the 19th century.Blair and ChiracOne of the most recent quarrels between the UK and France came about after a disagreement between UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac at a 2002 EU summit.The incident occurred when the reformation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was being debated, and Blair verbally attacked Chirac for his perceived hypocrisy in defending the current policy which, he claimed, was ‘responsible for the starvation of the world’s poor’. In retaliation, Chirac responded by saying that Blair had been ‘badly brought up’.Understandably, this dispute shocked people on both sides of the channel, and hostility between Blair and Chirac remained for some time, however, given the value of strong Anglo-French political alliances, both sides continued to respect the other.Sporting Rivalries Between England and FranceRivalries are never as prevalent as they are when it comes to sports. When it comes to England v France, the international rugby union tournament known as the six nations is where all of the friendships and rivalries of the past come to light.The 10th March 2018 saw England go head to head with French rugby team in a fixture which ended in a French victory with 22-16 and crushed England's dreams of a 6 nations win, despite Jonny May's efforts.If it's the language you want to focus on, then search your chosen search engine for something like 'french lessons london'. Alternatively, you can look out for french lessons online.

Saint Louis University A Student Review

Saint Louis University A Student Review Margaret earned her bachelors degree in Spanish and psychology from Saint Louis University. She specializes in test prep tutoring, Spanish tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at Saint Louis University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Margaret: I attended Saint Louis University, which is in the heart of Midtown St. Louis. The school is separated into two campuses: the Frost, or the main campus, and the Medical Campus. While there is a shuttle that runs between the two campuses, you dont need any external form of transportation when youre on a single campus, as both of them are easily walkable. While the campus is in the city, most students will refer to the SLU bubble, which is SLU and its immediate surrounding area where students feel safe and comfortable walking around. Like any city, its best to know where you are, but on campus I never felt unsafe. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Margaret: I never had an issue with a professor being unresponsive. If you make an effort to attend office hours or to set up an appointment, theyre very responsive and helpful. Sometimes, TAs are more available, depending on the class and case load of a particular professor during a given semester; but in general, my professors were always willing to make time to meet with me. My academic adviser was also easy to contact and meet with and was helpful when I needed to make decisions about courses. How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Margaret: This aspect of SLU is changing rapidly right now. When I was in college and staying on campus, I lived in Reinert Hall, while most of the other freshmen lived in Gries, Marg, or Walsh. I had an amazing freshman year floor and I made a lot of friends that I still keep in touch with now. Living in a dorm was a great way for me to meet people, as well as have friends to study and hang out with. In recent years, SLU has undergone some major renovations. Theyre adding new dorm buildings and there are newly added apartment options right near campus. They added some new restaurants on campus as well, including St. Louis Bread Co., Qdoba, and Starbucks. As a student, youll have your favorite places to eat and places that you dont love, but overall you have a lot of options. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Margaret: SLU is an exceptional school for any medical track. Athletic training, physical therapy, pre-med, and nursing are just some of the possible options. The programs are extremely rigorous, competitive, and nationally ranked. Outside of medical tracks, SLU is also well known for the International Business program. The B School, or business school, is really well-developed, and is probably the best school within the university at connecting its students with internship and job opportunities. I majored in Psychology and Spanish. I definitely felt supported by my professors the entire way through my major courses. My professors were exceptionally competent, passionate, and easy for me to work and connect with. I wasnt even planning to major in Spanish, but I had a really passionate teacher who saw my talent and encouraged me to continue my Spanish studies. 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? Margaret: I have a very vivid memory of driving to SLU with my dad to move into my dorm as a freshman. I turned to him in the car and said something I had been worrying about since I committed to SLU: Dad, what if people dont like me? When he came to visit me second semester, I confidently walked him through my residence hall and ran into at least eight or nine people I knew before I even got to my floor; my dad said it was like walking around with the mayor. I had no reason to be worried about making friends at SLU, because SLU has a truly unique student body. Its a student body with passion, kindness, and compassion, and its made up of students who care for other people and for their community. I didnt choose to participate in Greek life, but its becoming a larger presence on campus. I had several friends who did participate and spoke very highly of the experiences they had. They found a lot of great friends, always had events to go to if they wanted to, and it helped them make connections. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Margaret: The services at SLU are what you make of them. If you take advantage of them, youll be happy with what they help you do. Their writing services are exceptional and they offer free tutoring. The Career Center helps with writing CVs, helps teach you how to network and connect, and assists you in finding positions. I found all of the services that I utilized to be very helpful. SLU also runs several job fairs each year with hundreds of companies that come to recruitfrom small nonprofits to giant corporations like Boeing. These job fairs are perfect opportunities for networking. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Margaret: The only time it gets more difficult to find a place to sit in the library is during midterms and finals, because everyone on campus is studying at the same time. The library is open 24 hours during normal weeks and during midterms and finals its open 24/7. When you had to pull those terrible all-nighters, the library was where you went. Other places I studied on campus included the B School, the Center for Global Citizenship (CGC), and the Busch Student Center (BSC). The B School has the atrium with plenty of tables and chairs for group studying, a silent study room, and individual study rooms on the upper floors. The CGC has a huge open area with long tables to study and a little cafe to get food and coffee. Finally, the BSC has Bread Co. and several other dining options with tons of tables, couches, and rooms to study. Describe the surrounding town. Margaret: To be honest, I didnt take advantage of the surrounding area until I was in my junior and senior years, and I learned even more once I graduated and moved to another part of the city. There are a lot of things to do in St. Louis. Since this city is divided up into neighborhoods, you can get a variety of experiences. When its time for Mardi Gras, everyone heads to Soulard. South Grand boasts a ton of ethnic restaurant choices and access to Tower Grove Park. If you head north, you can go to The Fabulous Fox Theatre. If you head west, youll run into the Central West End, another area with tons of restaurants, Forest Park, and a movie theater. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Margaret: SLU is a mid-size school with about 8,000 undergraduates. I didnt want a school where I would feel lost in a sea of people I didnt know. I liked that SLU had a tighter knit community where I would see people I knew. Classes range from big lecture courses with up to 300 people, to classes significantly smaller than that with 15-20 students. You had more of an opportunity to participate in smaller courses, but I never took issue with the size of any of my classes. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Margaret: One of my favorite professors was Dr. Dan Finucane, a professor in theological studies. I took a few courses with him and he wasnt what comes to mind when you think of a strict academic professor. He was funny, personable, and easygoing inside and outside of the classroom. He was also approachable and easy to talk to. Despite the fact that theology has the potential to be divisive, depending on the beliefs of students in a particular class, in his courses I had some of the best, most thought-provoking discussions. He made religious principles relevant and timely and challenged you to consider new approaches. He was one of the most impartial teachers I ever had and he was exceptionally gifted at provoking quality conversation that examined a topic from all sides. Check out Margarets tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Tangential Velocity - Trigonometry Online Tutoring

Tangential Velocity - Trigonometry Online Tutoring Tangential velocity of an object travelling in a circular motion is the instantaneous velocity of the object at a particular instant of time on the circular path. In order to travel in a circular path, the object needs to change its direction at every instant and hence tangential velocity is a vector quantity as it has both magnitude and direction. The magnitude of the tangential velocity is the speed of the object with which itsmoving in a circle, and its direction is along the tangent drawn at that particular point on the circle. Example 1: Roger drives the car on a circular track of radius 6m. What is the tangential velocity of Rogers car if it takes 4secs to complete one circular rotation around the track? Tangential velocity, vt = (Distance travelled)/ (Time taken) Distance travelled on a circular track = Circumference of the circle = 2r This implies: Distance, d = 2 * * 6 = 12 meters. Time, t = 4secs Tangential velocity, vt = 12/4 = 9.42m/sec Example 2: An object moves on a circular path of radius 4m. What is the time taken by the object to cover one circular rotation when its tangential velocity is 8.6m/sec? Tangential velocity, vt = (Distance travelled)/ (Time taken) Distance travelled on a circular track = Circumference of the circle = 2r This implies: Distance, d = 2 * * 4 = 8 meters. Tangential velocity, vt = 8.6m/sec Time taken = (distance)/ (tangential velocity) == time= 8/8.6 = 2.92secs This implies time taken to complete one circular rotation = 2.92secs

When Should You Audit a College Course

When Should You Audit a College Course Choosing whether or not to audit a college course can initially seem perplexing. After all, why complete a class that will earn you no credit? However, there are a number of reasons to audit a college course, such as: 1.No cost for flat-fee students For those students who pay a flat tuition fee per semester, auditing a class is typically free of charge (though fees may still apply). This means that the knowledge you gain from an audited college course costs only the low price of being present. Note that not all colleges and universities operate with a flat-fee system, and you must still enroll in enough credit-bearing classes to remain a full-time student. But if this scenario is an option for you, it can be a very good deal. 2. Risk-free education College is a process of self-discovery. If you wish to complete a course outside your major, or to simply try something new, auditing a class allows you to enjoy the learning process without worrying about grades. While you may still be required to finish assignments, you can focus on understanding the material and engaging with unfamiliar concepts. Here is some great information on college majors. 3.Previewing a subject or teacher Auditing is also the perfect opportunity to determine if a particular college course or path is right for you. Unlike a traditional class, where you would need to drop the course by a given deadline or risk a low mark on your transcript, audited classes are generally less formal. If you have been observing a course for three weeks and you dislike it, you can simply withdraw and factor those experiences into your future class planning. Auditing is also an excellent way to explore a major or a professor before you commit. You may also want to explore an on campus job that can help you explore college majors. 4.Lower stakes and higher rewards Grades can add pressure to college courses. Include the stress of planning for a career or a future major, and classroom output is suddenly a new game of worry. Auditing, on the other hand, allows students to truly focus on exploring a subject. This can be helpful for those students who feel they do not have the time to intellectually pursue a passion, as well as those students who are nervous about stepping outside their comfort zones. Whatever your reasons for auditing a college course, many students routinely comment about how they learned more than they expected to during the process. This is also an ideal moment to forge connections for future research interests, as well as to meet new people on campus. Do not let the myths about auditing a college course fool youauditing can be a great way to expand your education without the stress of another grade-bearing course. Here are some tips and tricks to make your final year of college less stressful. Ask your advisor or registrar for information about enrollment policies, such as who can audit which classes and how to sign up. Remember: if you audit a college course, you are still expected to complete certain readings and assignments. You may also be asked to contribute to class discussion. Therefore, if you are overwhelmed as it is, save your academic exploration for a different, future semester.

ACT Math Exam Online ACT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace

ACT Math Exam Online ACT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace ACT is an abbreviation of American College Testing. ACT is test taken by high school students in order to get placed in their desired colleges and universities. ACT test examines a students capability in 4 areas of academics and its score is given based on the performance in these areas. ACT test paper consists of 4 main sections: English, Mathematics, Reading and Science reasoning. One of the important sections in this test is Mathematics section. ACT math exam contains 60 questions and the students are given 60 minutes time to complete them. This suggests that each question gets 1 minute time and the student has to work the question in this time. The challenging part of ACT test is trying to answer all the 60 questions in the given limited time and it can be achieved by continuous practice and good math skills. In the mathematics section, questions are asked on the basic and important concepts of math such as Algebra, Plane Geometry, Coordinate Geometry, Elementary Trigonometry etc. In the test paper, a question is given 5 answer options and the student has to pick one out of the 5 answer choices. However the best part is that in ACT, there is no penalty for a wrong answer. So this gives the opportunity for the students to answer all the questions without worrying about points being deducted. If a student understands basic math concepts and little tricks in the topics, then it is easy to get a good score in the math section. Try Free ACT Math Test Worksheet Here In this section find the worksheets on ACT Math Test. This Worksheet surely helps you to increase your ACT exam scores. This is the free of cost worksheet especially to our valuable students.

Striking a Balance Overscheduled vs. Too Much Free Time for Kids with ADHD

Striking a Balance Overscheduled vs. Too Much Free Time for Kids with ADHD Childhood today is very different from childhood 30 years ago, when time outside of school was spent playing in the neighborhood, often unsupervised and undirected by adults. Today kids and teens typically attend a host of extracurricular activities after school, with little free time in-between. Do a quick search online for overscheduled kids and youll find hundreds of articles warning parents about the perils of enrolling kids in too many extracurricular activities. These articles typically highlight the negative effects that too little free time can have on creativity, imaginative play, and social development. What these articles rarely discuss, however, is the reality faced by many parents who frequently work during the after school hours and need these activities to keep their children and teens safe and occupied. Parents of children and teens with ADHD face another reality as well: unstructured and unsupervised downtime often quickly leads to impulsive and sometimes unsafe beha vior as well as sibling arguments. As a result, unstructured time often ends with a punishment for bad behavior, or is simply replaced by screen time in an effort to keep the peace at home. When you look closely at the research youll find that involvement in extracurricular activities actually comes with many positive benefits, even at an early age. A recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that when infants (9-18 months) who were overly motivated by food were enrolled in music classes with their parents, they began to find more pleasure and motivation in activities other than eating.1 The researchers propose that this may help prevent obesity later in life. For adolescents, most research studies have found that participation in after school activities is associated with improved well-being and school engagement. Even with the positive study findings, when it comes to the number of activities kids participate in, there does seem to be a tipping point. Enroll them in too many extracurricular activities, especially those that are performance or achievement-based, and kids and teens can end up stressed and anxious. How many activities are too many? T hat really depends on the child. Some kids with ADHD need more downtime in order to recharge. Others thrive on back-to-back activities each day. But even for kids who thrive on a busy schedule, some free time is important for their development. Like participation in extracurricular activities, research shows that free time and free play come with many benefits. Kids and teens do in fact need this time to help develop their creativity and imagination, as well as the ability to think for themselves without been told what to do by adults. However, they likely do not need large daily swaths of free time to reap these benefits. As parents of kids with ADHD the trick is finding enriching, motivating afterschool activities, and balancing these activities with at least a few weekly opportunities for safe and enjoyable unstructured time. What are some signs that your child or teens extracurricular activities or schedule may not be meeting their needs? Your child asks to skip activities, or regularly complains of headaches or stomach aches when its time to attend. Your child seems less motivated at school, during afterschool activities, or at home. Your childs grades are falling and they dont have time to get the extra academic support that he or she needs. Your child is regularly going to bed late in an effort to fit in school, extracurricular activities, and homework. Your childs activities are all performance or achievement-based, leaving little time to explore new activities without the pressure of having to meet the expectations of adults. Your child is showing symptoms of unhealthy levels of stress (see my previous post for more details on signs of stress in teens with ADHD). If your child or teen is displaying one or more of these signs, it may be time to take a step back and reconsider his or her schedule and activities. Talk with your child or teen about how he or she is feeling about his or her extracurricular activities. Are there activities that he or she enjoys more than others? Do they think that he or she needs more downtime? Kids and teens will often have difficulty noticing when they are overscheduled and may be reluctant to cut back on their activities. As a parent you have an opportunity to help them problem solve, streamline their schedule, and build in necessary downtime (Ill talk about strategies for creating manageable downtime for kids with ADHD in my next post). With your help your child will reap more joy and enrichment from his or her activities, and will build motivation and academic skills along the way. ________________ 1 Kong, K. L., Eiden, R. D., Feda, D. M., Stier, C. L., Fletcher, K. D., Woodworth, E. M., Epstein, L. H. (2016). Reducing relative food reinforcement in infants by an enriched music experience. Obesity, 24(4), 917923. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

SAT Tip of the Week Know When the Author is Speaking

SAT Tip of the Week Know When the Author is Speaking Welcome to AJ Tutorings SAT Tip of the Week blog series!   Well be doling out behind-the-scenes tips and tricks from veteran test-takers to get you the best SAT score possible.Todays tip focuses on the critical reading section of the SAT.   Critical reading is typically seen as the most difficult score to improve on the SAT.   Your critical reading score, based on vocab and reading comprehension, is for the most part resistant to quick fixes.  In order to maximize your score on reading comprehension, you must do one thing well: understand the passage authors main argument.The corollary to understanding the authors main argument is understanding what is NOT the authors argument.  Difficult reading comprehension passages often present multiple viewpoints, all delivered in the authors voice.  Its your job as the reader to distinguish between when the author is stating his argument and when hes just describing the other sides position.Heres an excerpt from a passage in the College Boa rds Official SAT Study Guide:As a scientist, I find that only one vision of the city really gets my hackles upthe notion that a city is somehow unnatural, a blemish on the face of nature. The argument goes like this: Cities remove human beings from their natural place in the world. They are a manifestation of the urge to conquer nature rather than live in harmony with it. Therefore, we should abandon both our cities and our technologies and return to an earlier, happier state of existence, one that presumably would include many fewer human beings than now inhabit our planet.Now, its clear from the first paragraph that the author believes that cities are a part of nature (a viewpoint hell expand upon later in the passage).  But if you, the reader, are reading too quickly, you might skim the second paragraph and think that the author believes we should abandon  our cities, because they are unnatural.  After all, the author affirmatively states: Cities remove human beings from their natural place in the world.  Many students who arent reading attentively come away from this passage feeling very confused they think the author somehow believes cities are both part of nature and at odds with nature.The careful reader, on the other hand, will note that in the second paragraph, the author is presenting the opposing sides view, the vision of the city that gets his hackles up.  The careful reader reads slowly and methodically, and distinguishes between the authors argument and the opposing sides viewpoint.You can bet that the folks who develop SAT reading comp passages are aware that students will misunderstand the second paragraph.  In fact, one of the questions in this passage directly refers to that paragraph, and its a question that students often get wrong.  Read carefully, and you can be one of a small number of students who get this one right!SAT Tip #1: On tough reading comprehension passages, make sure you know when the author is speaking and when hes p resenting the other sides argument.