The Options for Opening a Tutoring Business in New York City

The Options for Opening a Tutoring Business in New York CityIf you are an entrepreneur looking to establish a business with an emphasis on tutoring services, you need to make sure that you look into the possibilities of opening a tutoring business in New York City. The advantages for this decision are abundant. First, you will have one of the most valuable markets in the country. Second, the competition is very stiff and so is the opportunity for you to take advantage of the demographic changes in the city.Whether you choose to locate in Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Staten Island, New York offers plenty of opportunities for your tutoring business. There are many financial incentives that can bring in a profit. Some of these are local and state tax abatements, which help you pay less taxes in the city of New York, and there are also many programs to help you set up shop and get set up with your new business.In addition to these incentives, New York offers the proper licensing and permits f or your tutoring operation. They require the same qualifications for tutors as any other business. Most importantly, it is legal to advertise in the New York area, including advertisements in magazines, newspapers, and other publications. For example, you can create a newsletter or an online website for your business, or you can advertise on radio, television, and even print advertisements on the side of buses and subway cars.You will find it easy to make use of the different services that are available to your tutoring in New York City business. These include the following: administration, budgeting, safety, training, billing, accounting, marketing, and tax. In addition, you can also take advantage of special help services such as cash management and customer service.Legal aspects of the industry are also extremely important to consider. It is worth the investment in educating yourself in the legalities of tutoring inNew York City. This is a major concern since business owners shou ld know all their legal options, whether or not they are being taxed, and in terms of their health care and pension benefits, if any.New York is a city that welcomes newcomers, regardless of the reasons for your arrival. By the time you know how to go about setting up your tutoring business, you will also know how to market it.As you can see, there are many options available to you when it comes to opening a tutoring business in New York City. Make sure that you get all the answers before deciding to open up your own operation.

You No Longer have to Endure Bad Behavior at Work Even the Bad Boss - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / You No Longer have to Endure Bad Behavior at Work â€" Even the Bad Boss - Introvert Whisperer You No Longer have to Endure Bad Behavior at Work â€" Even the Bad Boss One of the most helpless feelings is when you encounter bad behavior from someone you work with including your boss.   Most people aren’t masters at confrontation not just because they don’t have the skill, but also usually because most people believe it puts their job security at risk.   Yet, it’s that bad behavior that will make going to work a miserable experience.   It’s the number one reason why people leave their job. The problem with going to a new job is that you generally can’t outrun bad behavior.   You find it in most work settings.   Management hasn’t figured out how to correct subordinates behavior for all sorts of reasons and one of those reasons is that they don’t know there is a problem. You would think they would but often that’s not the case.   And as we all know, you can’t fix something unless you know you have a problem. I think most employees think that management “should just know” when a co-worker or boss is wildly inappropriate but that’s not how it works.   Most leadership operates under the assumption that “no news is good news”.   They all have their own job to perform and until they hear a squeaky wheel, they focus on other matters.   It’s a double-edged sword.   The general collective isn’t going to say anything assuming that management knows and won’t do anything and management assumes that everything is going well. What can you do?   Submit your complaint anonymously to your management from a new company called Warble. https://warble.work/ Warble allows you to submit feedback on any workplace behavior no matter who is doing the behavior and keeps your identity private.   In turn, that feedback is submitted to your management with the intent of helping to improve the situation and to improve management skills in the process. Warble shared with me some tremendous information they had collected along the path of their startup.   This information confirmed what founder, Carolyn Holliday, experienced herself with a very bad boss.   Carolyn found herself in a situation where she didn’t trust HR or management if she stepped forward and said something.   She could see that her boss not only demoralized the ranks but also made very bad business decisions.   The behavior of one negatively impacted many people and cost the company. Only when she had given notice and was on her way out the door did Ms. Holliday have a candid conversation with the CEO about the issues created by her manager. While the conversation didn’t stop her departure it did become the catalyst for the CEO to make numerous changes and improvements, including the departure of her former boss. As she continued to study workers experience through copious surveys the data showed that 64% of respondents witnessed behavior at work that was disruptive to culture, productivity and/or the business but did not report it to management or HR.   The #1 reason for not reporting the dysfunctional behavior was the general lack of trust between employees and management. 38% reported that the poor behavior was their manager and 38% felt that reporting would result in retaliation or termination. Warble squarely addresses the lack of visibility and knowledge by management to their biggest issue associated with toxic work environments.   It does sound like they need more than one person from a company to submit a complaint before Warble comes forth with the input so I’d suggest if you know of other people with shared concerns that you encourage others to report the issue through Warble. If you have concerns with a co-worker or boss and you don’t feel comfortable reporting the issue to HR or upper management you now have an option.   Remember: Never assume decision-makers know the issues you are encountering. Go to top Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!   Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

What is it Like to Attend Rollins College

What is it Like to Attend Rollins College Kori earned her bachelor's degree in business from Rollins College. She specializes in economics tutoring, Spanish tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at Rollins College: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Kori: Many students carpool with other students to campus daily. Rollins College also has a small bus that takes students to a few different locations, which is very convenient for those who dont have a car on campus. I always felt safe when on campus and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Kori:The professors, advisers, and TAs were amazing. They usually gave out their phone numbers so we could reach them easily, but they were always available through email as well. They could almost always plan time over the phone, Skype, or in person within three days of the first email sent to them to meet with students. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Kori:I didnt live in the dorms and preferred the space off-campus living provided, but Rollins has amazing dining and social activities. Campus has multiple cafes that have different snacks, pastries, and drinks. The dining hall offers different options daily, a soup and salad bar, coffee and tea machines, a sushi bar, and sandwiches. The Boathouse is a fresh deli where they sell wraps, sandwiches, and daily specials. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Kori:While were a liberal arts school, Rollins College is also a heavily accredited business school with amazing professors. I studied business and loved my teachers, the opportunities provided to me, and the guest speakers we had. My professors did an excellent job showing us how to apply our learnings in the real world. 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? Kori:My freshman year I met people through many different events. I was a part of Greek life, but unfortunately withdrew during my senior year. It was an amazing experience, just one that I grew out of. Its very easy, regardless of if you join Greek life, to make friends on campus. How helpful are the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Kori:Excellent companies recruit on campus. The Career Center offers LinkedIn and resume building workshops, as well as private appointments to help students with their job search. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Kori:The campus has many study places for students to take advantage of. The Olin Library has both group and private study areas, with each floor geared toward different types of study. Each residence hall has lounges for students to study in as well. Describe the surrounding town. Kori:Rollins College is in Winter Park, FL, about 10 minutes from downtown and two minutes from Park Avenue, which has lots of shops, cafes, and restaurants. Its a very nice area with museums, nightlife, and something for everyone. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Kori:There are about 2,450 students at Rollins College. Once enrolled in major-related courses, the largest class I had was 20 students and the smallest I had was eight. I loved the small classes and the easy access to my teachers who would provide extra help whenever needed. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Kori:I took a listening class as an elective in the spring of 2016 and it was amazing. I learned so much during this course that stuck with me. The course taught us about listening, speaking, and how and when to form and comprehend things said by others. Check out Koris tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Fort Worth

Who Are The Best Math Tutors In Dallas/Fort Worth 0SHARESShare Math is very basic and important subject right from K-12 to college education. Math tutorial along with regular schooling has always proved beneficial to students maintaining their interest and leaving out the fear of computing. The Math Tutor Online  is a reliable form of assistance in home schooling. Tutor Pace, Inc. is considered to be the best Math tutors in Dallas/Fort. There are various programs offered by Tutor Pace to fill up the gaps in understanding Math concepts. Tutor Pace offers a free demo session for aspiring students taking online tutoring. Tutor Pace offers Math tutoring from K-12 education (elementary, middle   and high school grade) to college education. Each program covers the total curriculum of that grade. It offers tutoring in arithmetic, algebra, functions, graphs, sequence/series, geometry/vectors, trigonometry, differentiation and integration which is merely everything about math. Tutor Pace offer one-to-one personalized cloud based technology using interactive white board and live chat. The student and tutor can interact and communicate, share files and documents (homework help, assignments, presentations, test papers, scanned pages of text books), Math tools through shared white board. At regular intervals, it gives printable homework and assignment worksheets to the students that help the tutor to judge the understanding level of the student on the topic. In one line, Tutor Pace virtual classroom offers the same experience as physical classroom. Math Online Tutoring  at Tutor Pace offer focused attention in study, interactive visuals and animations while learning, sense stimulation using interactive white board, computer and digital pen to write and draw graphs and images, help in solving homework problems and assignment work, Math resources like calculators, metric conversions, online solvers, graphing tools and fun based Math activities like puzzles, games and quizzes. Start with the demo session from the best online Math tutor, Tutor Pace. Math tutoring is really worth at TutorPace! [starbox id=admin]

The Best Arabic Music for Learning the Language

The Best Arabic Music for Learning the Language How to Learn A Language With Arab Music ChaptersTraditional Arab Music InstrumentsAbout Music In The Arab worldHow To Study The Arabic Language Using SongsListen To A Song A Day To Learn The Arabic LanguagePoints to Note on Arabic MusicWhen I was in school, I remember my language teacher would randomly break out into Arabic songs. She was my favourite teacher because she was just incredibly random. She was teaching us Arabic but because she was also a singer from the Arabian Peninsula. She often shared a lot with us about Arabic music, the Arab world and her traditions. It was such a fun way to learn!She would come to class with drums and encourage us to attempt to Bellydance, while she sang folk songs from Morocco, Egypt, Syria and Jordan. She would also play music from different parts of the Middle East on the stereo while we studied, and read us classical Arabian poetry that she had taken from Arabic songs.My Arabic language teacher was a genius. She had found a way to hack our brains and place within it, all of the inf ormation that she wanted us to remember. Each lesson was a fusion of learning, Arabic speaking, and culture, with crosses between attending an amazing concert, with all types of music being played from all Arab countries.Traditional instruments create the unique sounds in Arab songs. Source: UnsplashShadia mansour ft m1 (dead prez)-al kufiyyeh 3arabeyyehArabian Electronica DanceBelly dance - music mezdekeArabian RockGene band - ya waladiArabian JazzTeema - sabah el hobArabian PopSaad lamjarred - lm3allemArabian ReggaeCheb ziram - libyan reggae styleIf you want to fast track your Arabic Language learning through music. You will need to engage fully with the music. Listen to the instruments, listen to the words, Dance and enjoy it. Try to listen to a variety of music styles and try to remain motivated in your new fun way to study the language.Music is portable and you can listen to Arab song where ever you go. Source: UnsplashMusic is the most portable study technique. Source: Unspla shListen To A Song A Day To Learn The Arabic LanguageIn the past, some Arabic music was used to communicate messages, to some extent it still is. Music for religion to call people to pray, music for inspiration to lift peoples spirits and stir their emotions. Now Arabic music is being used to teach a new generation of language learners how to speak this beautiful language.You could listen to 1 song for each day of the week and take weekends off to allow your new vocabulary to settle into your mind. Listen to the vocal, learn the words, feel the rhythm, and remember you don’t have to be perfect. Improvisation in your learning and enjoying every minute of it is just as important as getting it right. Here are some suggested songs to build your own playlist of great songs. That can accelerate your enjoyment of learning the Arabic language.DaySongArtistAccentMondayQuds al AtikaFairuzLebanonTuesdayHarebKazem  el-SaherIraqWednesdayEl  Donia  HelwaNancy  AjramLebanonThursdayFaris  OdehRim  BannaPalestineFridayNessini  El  DonyaRagheb  AlamLebanonMondays SongQuds al Atika by FairuzFairuz is a Lebanese singer who started her singing career at a very young. So if you like her music you will find lots of her music online. Fairuz has worked with lots of composers and tends to sing with slow vocals. Her beautiful voice became well known very quickly and she is known for singing for the independence and unity of Lebanon.Her song Quds al Atika which means old Jerusalem is an old classic, released in 1971. This song is found on her Jerusalem in My Heart, Album.Tuesdays SongHareb  by  Kazem  El-SaherKazem El-Saher is an Iraqi musician and composer. Kazem sings songs that range from the romantic to political to pop music. Kazem sings in Modern Standard Arabic, so his music is some of the best to learn the language with. His song Hareb which means running away is about the war in Iraq over the last 20 years which ruined the relationship he had with his lost love. His passion fo r music started when he was a child listening to the radio.Wednesdays SongEl  Donia  Helwa  by Nancy  AjramNancy Ajram is a Lebanese singer, she started her singing career at the young age of 15. She is a very famous singer in the middle east and specialises in pop songs and children's songs. Nancy is often described and one of the most influential singers in the Middle East right now.Her song El Donia Helwa which means the world is sweet is about moving away from the past, coming to love ourselves and facing the world with love. This song is very famous as it was played on a coca cola commercial.Thursdays SongFaris  Odeh  by Rim  BannaRim Banna is a Palestinian singer, composer and activist. She is well known for her dedication to freedom and her modern take on traditional Palestinian poems.Her song Faris Odeh is named after a Lebanese boy who was killed by Israeli soldiers. It is a song about loss, grief and looking for the strength to carry on.Fridays SongNessini  El  Donya by  R agheb  AlamRagheb Alam is a famous singer and composer from Lebanon. He rose to fame after winning a talent show in the 1980s. He is now also a well know tv personality working on Arab Idol as a judge. His song Nessini El Donya means to make me forget the world. It is a love story about when you met the love of your life and how you can hold onto such a perfect love.As long as you are streaming music, take a minute to find a Superprof tutor who will be happy to help you learn Arabic online!Points to Note on Arabic MusicThe Arabic language like many other languages in the world has many different dialects. Although the Arabic culture connects all Arabs in the world today. Cross-cultural differences do exist. This can become apparent across borders and within the borders of countries. For example, the North African Arabian dialect may be surprisingly different to that spoken on the Arabian Peninsula.When looking for Arabic courses London, make sure your tutor speaks the dialect you wa nt to learn!When you are listening to your chosen Arabic song, it can be important to note that each song may pronounce words a little bit differently.Artists tend to make music that is a reflection of what is going on in the environment that they are in. Traditional music adopts topics based on the history of that particular country, for example, Arab countries that have seen recent wars like Iraq, Lebanon and Syria may have themes about loss, freedom and the experiences of war compared to Moroccan music which may have another genre of music.Listening to songs from different locations allows you to tune in to what is important to that country at the present time. Learning songs from different countries and genres gives you a fast incorporation into centuries of history and culture.Music in Arabia has changed through the centuries. While traditional and religious music, are still popular they are not the only kind of music to come out of the Arab music scene. Pop music, electronic m usic, Jazz music, Dance Music, RnB and Rappers are all performers and music styles, which are now contributing to the Arabic music tapestry. Performers are experimenting with new beats, rhythms and tones. Often this fusion between the traditional Middle Eastern music and modern western music styles create some of the best music and song.When selecting your songs try to select songs across different genres. This will ensure that when you are in the mood to dance you have a great song to hand and when you want something slow and relaxing you also have access to that. Streaming music from any of the large digital music services means that you can easily create playlists to suit your mood.The ‘best’ Arabic music is a personal choice, but I hope that you now have enough tools to make a selection of some amazing tunes for your new playlist. One thing that is not subjective is that using Arabic music to help you to learn the language is a smart choice. This music has a rich and long hi story and no matter what kind of music you like, you are sure to find the perfect genre or hand full of songs to add to your playlist and jump start your Arabic learning.Happy Listening!See the best Arabic movies to watch.Find out which are the top Arab TV shows.Take Arabic lessons online.Find an arabic teacher.

Songwriting Tips 11 Examples From 7 Hit Songs

Songwriting Tips 11 Examples From 7 Hit Songs Suzy S. Writing a catchy song that delivers a strong message can be quite difficult. Here, voice  teacher  Emmanuel N.  shares the songwriting tips you can glean from several famous singers   When it comes to lyric-writing and songwriting, nobody can really teach you how to do it â€" it’s better to show by example. Whether you’re simply writing  lyrics to a song you will one day sing (or someone else will sing for you) or you’re songwriting to a musical piece you found or created, you will have your own unique style. Songwriting and lyric-writing are some of the few artistic skills that are difficult to truly teach. There are some songwriting tips and suggestions that can be very beneficial, but there is no real “by the book” way of writing  lyrics for  a song. So, the next best thing is offering examples of great songs  by some very talented artists  and  songwriters. Although the artists listed below may not be the top singer-songwriters of all time, they represent a range of genres, including RB (my specialty). Listen to the lyrics in the tunes below, then check out my notes on what you can learn from each about writing songs: Looking At Her â€" Paul McCartney [written by Paul McCartney] Matching the melody of the vocals with the melody of the song is not a bad thing. Don’t be afraid to do what Paul did at [1:40] in the bridge where his vocals match the main melody of the music (“Doesn’t she know…”). Nobody Ever Told You â€" Carrie Underwood [written by Carrie, Lindsey, and Laird] When writing a song with a positive message, making it personal gives the song a stronger meaning. Carrie does this in the first verse as she talks about  how beautiful she is despite what society says. At [0:21], for example, she says “…Don’t be shy, don’t be scared…” when pertaining to showing your real self. Using similes in a song makes the lyrics more beautiful and poetic. Carrie does this at [0:51] and [2:20] with her chorus and bridge to give the listener a more vivid picture of just how beautiful they are (“You shine like a diamond, glitter like gold… you’re free as a bird… just like a flower growing wild.”) Looking In â€" Mariah Carey [written by Mariah Carey  Afanasieff] Similar to Carrie Underwoods song, youll notice that getting personal in a song makes it that much more emotional and powerful. At [1:23] Mariah continues her second verse describing some girl by using “she,” yet not telling us who it is. She ends the verse by revealing this “she” was Mariah herself all along (“…and hides herself inside of me”), making it very personal. Dont be afraid to  be passionate, emotional, and show your frustration. The bridge at [1:51] is short but straight to the point; Mariah exclaims her frustration on the lack of people understanding her pain and where she is coming from (“Don’t say she takes it all for granted… Please understand”). You Said â€" Keri Hilson [written by Keri Hilson] Having each line in a chorus start off the same is a good way to grab  someone’s attention â€" and it makes the song catchy. Keri’s chorus at [0:48] starts off each line with “Thought you said…” to capture that feeling of annoyance we get when we’ve been lied to repeatedly. The bridge of a song is the perfect place to get real and just say it like it is â€" and if you’re going to repeat it, add some harmonies like she did. At [2:11] Keri gets to the point and tells her boyfriend he lost her trust (“…now I can’t believe a word that comes from you”). Cry â€" Mariah Carey [written by Mariah Carey  James Wright] When the music gets stronger and more powerful, let loose and let those emotions out. During the bridge, as the piano chords get stronger, Mariah gets dynamic  as she lets those emotions out at [3:06]. “…So naked…” is extended vocally to let the emotions sink in, in between emotional lyrics. Born This Way â€" Lady Gaga [written by Gaga and Laursen] Adding a message in the intro of a song has a good chance of  capturing the listener’s attention. Lady Gaga does this in the beginning of her song with, “It doesn’t matter if you love him or capital H-I-M…” to provide a sort of prologue to the song. Don’t be afraid to use the title of your song throughout the entire song itself. Lady Gaga mentions “born this way” in the intro, first verse, chorus, bridge, and outro several times to truly stress that we really are born this way (regarding what makes us different, so that we learn to love ourselves and each other). My Everything â€" Ariana Grande [written by Ariana et al.] Use a specific theme to give your message more dimension. At [1:10] Ariana uses the theme of distance and time to show the strain that distance has on her  relationship. With “I know you’re not far… can’t handle all the distance… you’re traveling with my heart… temporary feeling,” you can see the theme play out nicely and poetically. So there you have it, some examples that showcase how creative you can get when writing songs. I have written more than  100 songs and I learned by listening to songs that inspire me or make me feel something. Hopefully these songs help you in your endeavor of creating masterpieces and will lead you down the path to becoming a successful singer-songwriter! Editors Note: Want even more examples of great songwriting? We love this resource  by  Robin Frederick, detailing  the strategies behind several hit songs, including the lyrics, structure, and melody of each. Post Author:  Emmanuel N. Emmanuel N. teaches online Spanish and singing lessons. He earned his B.A. in psychology from California State University, Fullerton and has been teaching lessons since January 2015.  Learn more about Emmanuel here! Photo by Roger Blackwell Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

What is it Like to Attend Brandeis University

What is it Like to Attend Brandeis University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Steve is a 2012 graduate of Brandeis University. He studied French and Healthcare and is currently tutoring in New York City. He specializes in many subjects including Anatomy tutoring, Physiology tutoring, and ISEE prep tutoring. See what Steve had to say about his experience at Brandeis: 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? Steve: Brandeis University is located in Waltham, Massachusetts. Its about 12 miles away from Boston proper and about 8 or 9 miles away from Cambridge. The campus itself is beautiful campus with many woods nearby and plenty of nature but its biggest complaint is that its a bit more hilly than other schools. There are two transportation options, the Bran-van and the Crystal Shuttle. The Bran-van shuttles students between Waltham and Brandeis, it runs every 15 minutes and it has a dedicated number to call for information. The Crystal Shuttle mainly runs during the weekend and it goes into Cambridge and picks up and drops students at Harvard Yard. The Shuttle runs until 2am during weekends. A car is helpful but only upperclassmen are allowed parking passes; for most people the Bran-van suffices for errands. A bike is a great investment but prior to getting one, one should investigate the bike-lending program that Brandeis offers. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Steve: The beauty about Brandeis is that because its such a small school and campus, there are only about 4000 students, both undergraduate and graduate on campus. Professors will always try their best to include and aid students outside of class. Academic advisors and teaching assistants are just as available. Thankfully with how integrated email is nowadays, if someones office hours dont sync up with your schedule, most people are more than happy to have email reservations for times that are convenient for both parties. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Steve: The dorm life at Brandeis is simple, at best. The rooms are what you make of them, it all boils down to how willing you are to decorate and revamp the room. Dining options are pretty set in stone. There are two main locations for dining, upper and lower campus. Lower campus is buffet style and is a great place to study and spend the day away in. Upper campus has specific hours when its open. There is also something called the C-store which is the campus convenience store which stays open until 2 A.M. most days. There are many socialization opportunities at Brandeis but again that depends on the disposition and personality of the person. There are parties and campus events, hundreds of clubs, dozens of sports teams. Any niche you can think of, chances are its being catered to. It goes without saying that Brandeis is a Jewish University but this should never pose a problem for anyone. As a student who isnt Jewish, I never felt ostracized or alienated; the environment and the stu dents themselves were gracious and understood that people come from all walks of life. I made friends for life and dont regret my decision at all. If you want to learn more about Judaism, there are many opportunities to do so but its neither overwhelming nor all-encompassing. 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? Steve: Brandeis supports and represents dozens of majors. In regards to the hard sciences, Brandeis is a research school and this is evident in how classes are structured and how curricula are developed. My major was French and Francophone Studies and American Healthcare. Brandeis excels at placing students in top-notch study abroad programs. Most students chose to do study abroad during their junior year for a semester, either fall or spring, or the entire year. Its not uncommon to see your class during junior year shrink a little. The professors for both my majors were excellent and truly gave me a solid foundation for what Id ultimately like to do, being a doctor for Doctors Without Borders. 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? Steve: As a freshman, the beauty about having to dorm and being away from home is that its a very conducive environment for making friends. Most students are unsure of or even scared of the decision they made to dorm away from home but because of this it also helps students expand their horizons and make new friends much quicker. After all, wouldnt you rather be unsure of something with other people? This isnt to scare or worry anyone; this is normal. Its a part of the transition from high school to college. All students are different so they may react to it or get used to it in different ways and in different amounts of time, but before you know it, itll be routine and youll laugh at how scared and nervous you were during the first couple of weeks. Greek life plays a barely significant role at Brandeis; you will always find pledging events, tabling events, or something sponsored by Greek life. It gets a little more complicated because Brandeis doesnt officially endorse any fraternit ies or sororities. For this reason, all Greek houses are actually off campus. The Greek life at Brandeis doesnt reign supreme like it does at other state schools. At Brandeis, the Greek life is more of a personal choice. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Steve: The Career Center and other Student Services are top-notch. Hiatt, the Career Center, excels at giving students the tools to get the right job or get into the right graduate school. During campus recruitment events, its not uncommon to have companies like Dell, Yahoo, Google, Goldman Sachs and various other excellent companies in attendance. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Steve: The study areas are spacious and easily available. They usually only get crowded during finals which may be a common trend for all schools. In addition, there has been some construction going on for expanding and improving locations for students to convene, study, and socialize. 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? Steve: Waltham is your run of the mill town; its small and family friendly. If youre used to suburbia, you probably have a good idea already. If youre from New York or another big city, it may be a slight adjustment. The best establishments are the many restaurants and bars that are on Moody Street, the main street in Waltham. Most students choose to go during the week to Moody Street for a nice diner or a quick drink. During the weekend, most students go sightseeing, or out on the town in Boston and Cambridge for those who miss the city life, which is easily accessible thanks to the Crystal Shuttle service that runs during the weekend. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Steve: The student body is around 4,000 students, making Brandeis a small, tight-knit school. Depending on the subject matter, classes may range from 7 students to 300 students. Lecture courses, like Biology or Psychology usually have around 200 to 300 students. Upper level classes are more likely to have fewer students, sometimes between 15-25 students. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Steve: The one class I loved the most was during my senior year, fall semester. It was called American Healthcare: Law and Policy; it was a healthcare class that touched upon the legal aspects of healthcare and the legal implications. I loved this class because of how much I ended up learning and how relevant everything I learned was to me and the nation in general. We spoke about Obamacare and how it would impact our nation. We learned about its many facets and how they would be put into place throughout the years. The class was very interesting because it was actually taught by a lawyer who made it seem all the more real and engaging. This is just one class I loved and I probably mention it because I took it not so long ago. My other favorite class was The Films of Disney. This class needs no explanation, we learned about the societal and cultural impact of Disney films on America and the world. We watched classic films during our free time and wrote papers that truly analyzed the films. Check out Steves tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

How my trips to Iceland have enhanced my tutoring

How my trips to Iceland have enhanced my tutoring Following his trips to Iceland every summer, Chemistry tutor Andrew M has been able to imbue his lessons with fantastic examples and anecdotes from his time there.   Here, Andrew recounts his trips, discusses how it has benefited his tutoring, and, most importantly, shows how he has used his experience in Iceland to engage students: Students perform better at subjects they enjoy and have a genuine interest in. That is a well-known fact. However, one subject in particular does seem to have a problem stoking the imagination of its students: Science. “Why are we studying this?” “What relevance does this have for me?” “This is boring!” These are all questions science teachers dread to hear. Classroom teachers can often turn to the classic classroom demonstration:   alkali metals in a water bath to watch it fizz and pop, ester synthesis to smell the fruity aroma.  Students want to see science, touch it, hold it their hands! From personal experience, these demos do make a difference…for some.  But what can the science home tutor do to spark an interest in the subject? Iceland, the global science class room 3 years ago, I took a summer job leading large groups of students on scientific tours around Iceland.  As well as exploring all 4 corners of this mystical land, I have had the honour of meeting the president of Iceland, NASA scientists and even Barack Obama’s Chief Science Advisor, Harvard physicist John P. Holdren. Nature really has had a field day with the so called ‘land of fire and ice’. The science behind its awe-inspiring landscapes has provided the perfect educational resource to rouse an interest from my home tuition students.    Therefore, a quick anecdote, a video clip or even a basalt rock sample to supplement the curriculum teaching really does work wonders! Engaging students through experiences For example, take climate change.  This is such a hot topic but seems to be taught in an unnecessarily dry way.   The greenhouse effect, carbon dioxide, rising global temperatures â€" you can just imagine a student flicking to the next page of the textbook and yawning. However, show them a clip you took of a gigantic glacier melting in front of your eyes, the roar as a huge chunk of brilliant blue ice tears away and crashes into the sea, and the questions will come flooding in: “Why is that happening? How big is the largest glacier, why is the ice blue?” To answer these questions the tutor must talk of hydrogen bonding, ideal gas laws, the vibration of molecules and refraction. “By the way did you know Iceland, a country just outside the arctic circle, grows all its own coffee, bananas and tomatoes?” Cue the explanation of green houses and geothermic activity. Linking in topics In essence, we are covering a lot of GCSE content, and dare I say, enjoying doing so! I could go on and on about the Northern Lights, geothermal power stations, bubbling sulphur mud pots, exploding geysers, tectonic plates…the list is endless. But all of these can be linked to what the student has learned in class and give context to otherwise abstract concepts. I once took a sample of the ash produced by the infamous 2010 volcanic eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull to a student who hated science with a passion. As soon as I explained what this strange dark power was, his eyes lit up. “This is the stuff that stopped all the planes?” he asked. That lesson we covered kinetic, thermal and mechanical energy. That same student magically seemed to lose his hatred for science and even persuaded his parents to take a short family holiday to Reykjavik. There has been quite a lot of talk recently about the decline in the studying of science by young people. For me, the solution is simple: take them to Iceland! Let them see science, touch it, taste it and smell it! Andrew M is one of our top Chemistry tutors on Tutorfair. An experienced tutor and teacher, in the summer he also leads science-based tutors around Iceland. You can find out more about him and contact him  by visiting his Tutorfair profile.