Stop #2 on the Virtual College Tour: Harvard University
The next stop on Meri’s magical mystery tour of colleges - Harvard University. Not only is Meri an excellent virtual tour guide, she’s also an awesome private tutor on Tutorspree who can help you get into the halls of higher learning she’ll be walking us through.
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Size: 6,641 total undergraduates/1,663 freshmen
Cost: $39,849/year
Financial Aid: Average financial aid package, $42,853
Average Test Scores (Middle 50% of students): SAT Critical Reading: 690–800/SAT Math: 700-790/SAT Writing: 710-800/ACT Composite: 31-34
Fun Facts: Harvard University was the first college in the United States, founded in 1636. Harvard has the largest academic library in the United States with 13.6 million volumes, some dating back to the 1700′s. Among it’s alum, Harvard can count 75 Nobel Peace Prize winners. Even Harvard’s drop-outs become huge successes, including business moguls Bill Gates, William Randolph Hearst, Mark Zuckerberg, and actor Matt Damon.
How Do I Get In? The highest number of students in Harvard’s history applied for admission in 2011, making Harvard’s acceptance rate a record-low at 6.2%. How can you get into Harvard? Not too easily. Grades, standardized test scores, extra-curricular activities and recommendations are all very important. Choose extra-curricular activities that you are passionate about and reflect that passion and achievement in your college essay. A good college essay will be thoughtful, attention grabbing, and allow readers a glimpse into your personality. Essays should highlight a passion and explain how you plan on contributing to the college community through your continued pursuit of that passion. Researching the college and mentioning specific plans and interests in your essay that are particular to the college you are applying to can go a long way.
Personal Perspective: Harvard’s lavatories are kept in generally pristine condition. However, some of them, such as those in the Science Center (donated by Kodak and shaped like a Polaroid camera) are fairly high traffic. Check out the quieter commodes in Robinson Hall – home to many of the finest History professors in the country.
Want help getting into Harvard from someone like Meri? Check out the great private tutors at Tutorspree!
Image sourced from: http://www.hnmun.org/the-delegate/explore-harvard/
Pythagoras Knew How to Draw a Perfect Circle. Do you?
Michael is one of those tutors you can’t quite believe you found. After graduating from Harvard, he started teaching high school math and CS in Manhattan. He’s been built up a whole math curriculum, and he’s agreed to share some of his wisdom with the Tutorspree family.
Quick: What’s the Pythagorean Theorem?
Now: What circle is described by the above equation?
If you’re like most high school students, you’ve got a fighting chance at recalling the Pythagorean Theorem, but you’ll likely have a harder time remembering the formula for a circle. And if you don’t know the formula for a circle, you’re going to have a harder time with Trigonometry.
What can we do about this? Connecting new learning with prior knowledge is a powerful tool in the teacher’s kit. With my students I work to help them see the formula for a circle as a direct application of the Pythagorean Theorem.
We start by drawing one right triangle. Then we draw another. And another. “How many more?” Still, another. And by the time we’re done, we’ve got the outline of a circle.
Through repeated applications of the Pythagorean Theorem, we’ve built ourselves a circle, and we can describe every point that’s on it. I believe that this gives my students a better shot at remembering an otherwise obscure formula.
Looking for an amazing private tutor just like Michael? Check out Tutorspree!
Tutorspree’s Guide on How to Be an Awesome Tutor
We asked Kitt to give us a proper rundown of what it means to be a great private tutor on Tutorspree and how to approach your first interactions with a new student. We thought about going with something dry, but decided it would be more fun to let a very talented writer do the kind of walk through you’d want to actually read. This is what happens when you let someone with Masters in creative writing attack an instruction manual. We think we’re onto something…
Profile Completed and Activated:
So, congrats! you’ve been accepted as a private tutor (in your respective subject) on Tutorspree. You’ve checked out a few other tutors who teach similar subjects, and you know you got the goods, and you’re fairly certain you can do better than any of ‘em. Now, it’s a matter of waiting for the tutee to come along. You’re busy with your life, going to work, hanging out, not paying too much mind to whether or when your extra special talents and skills are going to be called upon, and then, there it is, a nibble! an email from Tutorspree with the name of the student who needs your brand of help.
Message Received, Respond Quickly!
Step 1: Excited, you click to log-on to your account. Now, take heed: not all students who reach out to you are gonna work out. Sometimes, what they want from you is not quite what you’re willing to or able to give. Sometimes, they don’t just want help, they want you to do the work for them. I’m not making any moral or judgment calls for you, but just a heads up to make sure you are comfortable with whatever arrangement you decide upon. But, I digress…. where were we?
Step 2: Oh yes, the initial message. Typically, the first message is very simple “Hi, I need help in _______.” It is very important to respond as quickly as possible because in many cases, you are being contacted due to some impending deadline (be it test or paper due).
Determine Student Wants and Needs:
Sometimes the tutee tells you what grade/class/school he or she is in. Sometimes there is very scant information given. It is up to you how you want to handle it, but it’s probably best to get a few details down before setting up a meeting. Details such as grade/class/school/specific subject. If it’s math, you’re gonna want to know if its geometry, algebra, calculus, or arithmetic…. if its history, you’re best off knowing what era…. same with other subjects, be it Shakespeare’s sonnets, Shaw’s Major Barbara or an analysis of Spielberg’s ET… this way, not only can you tell if it’s a area you’re familiar with, but you can also see if you need to brush up on any of your skills, or even pass this one on to the next guy who might be more familiar with atomic mass than the mating tactics of salmon. But remember, its important to be friendly as well as efficient in any of your interactions. It might be a desperate parent who is contacting you on behalf of a reluctant child, so be sensitive as well!
Booking A Lesson:
Okay, so you’ve established that you can help. Now what?
Step 1: The first meeting is important but can also be a little stressful, not necessarily for you, of course (though you might be one of those worried-about-first-time-meeting sorts), but for the potential client. The parent might be nervous about who you are/where you come from/if you can really help and the student might be worried about if you are patient/knowledgeable/cool/condescending/and/or a miracle worker.
Where to tutor: The best way to start is to suggest a meeting somewhere comfortable and public. A coffee shop, a bookstore with tables, a library. If it’s a younger student, make sure the parent accompanies; if its someone who does not need a guardian, suggest a friend to tag along with either you or the client, at least for the first few minutes just for sake of assurance
Step 2: Next, make sure you are prepared. Bring a few books on the subject, a notebook or pad, pens, calculator, etc. Be friendly and courteous. Remember, as much as you are in a position of authority, you are also in a bit of a service position. Be polite and firm. Be honest about what you can do to help and how long you think it will take.
Step 3: Also, don’t be pushy about another meeting. Let the client know you are available when they need you, let them know what else you can do, and then give them time to think about how it went before pressing for another session.
Step 4: Lastly, if for some reason you don’t like the student, or you feel you cannot provide proper assistance, be reasonable and forthright.
Feedback and Follow Up:
When it’s all through, don’t be shy about asking the student about how/and if you are helping. Tell them to assess you online. Inquire about what else he or she might need help with. Find out if he or she has friends who are looking for help, in a subject you can advise on or with something else (and encourage them to use the referral link!. The more people who are looking for help, the more direct people are about their needs, the more Tutorspree can expand their resources.
Want a great private tutor like Kitt? Check Tutorspree!
image 1 sourced from http://www.cdloanmod.com/loss-mitigation-news.php?a=tips-get-approved-for-loa…
image 4 sourced from: http://pinoytutorial.com/techtorial/free-wifi-starbucks-usa/
You’ve Learned to Write. Now Learn to Edit
Sarah is back today with some more tips on writing. This time, she’s focused on editing, and her advice is spot on. Follow Sarah’s advice and you’ll end up with significantly better work. If you still need some help? Check out some of the private tutors on Tutorspree!
Hi Tutorspree readers-
I thought today we could focus on editing. Editing is the most important part of the writing process. It is here that you turn your writing into a polished paper. So where do we begin? Below I have listed three important steps to take in the editing process.
1) Wait to edit - Do not start editing until you have a first draft written. Edit before you finish writing, and you risk editing your ideas right out of the paper. Editing is important, yes, but first you must write. You do not want to judge your writing or ‘fix’ anything too early or you’ll spend five hours writing two sentences - the perfect two sentences! - but too little to be of use to anyone. Write first! Edit later.
2) Big edits - There are two steps to any editing process. The first is the big editing. Here you want to look at the big picture. Check to make sure you stay focused throughout the paper. Cut any paragraphs that wander away from your main point/argument. Cut any sections or paragraphs that are mainly summary. We want to hear your voice, not a summary of someone else’s. Finally, see if you can put your main argument into the sentence: “In this paper I argue that —————— in order to prove that —————————-”. If you can’t, it’s time to reevaluate your argument and make sure you stay focused and that you indeed are making a point.
3) Little edits - This is step two. Now you look at word choice, spelling, sentence structure, and so forth. Make sure you do this second because it would be a big waste of time to spruce up a paragraph that you will just have to cut later. Two things to do here beyond spell check are: 1) vary your vocabulary (AKA double check that you aren’t using the same phrases or words over and over again) and 2) vary your sentence length. Short sentences present only the important information. When you want to include more details, draw out an idea, or build up suspense, you will want to use a longer sentence, as I have done here. There is always more to learn, write, and edit, but this list should help you get on your way.
Want a great private tutor like Sarah? Check out Tutorspree!
Image sourced from http://writeanovelfast.com/novelist-edit-thyself/
Bring on the Social: Learning Languages with Other People
Alina’s first post on learning a new language got me thinking “ok, I can maybe start on this. The next two steps continue with the theme of immersion. It is, at the end of the day, one of the best ways to really learn a language and begin to test your limits. And if you need some help getting over the hump, check out some our awesome private tutors on Tutorspree!
2. Will you get by with a little help from your friends?
Probably not. It’s a bit of an urban myth that getting a friend that speaks the language you are learning will help you get fluent in that language. It will – if your friend doesn’t speak English. Otherwise, they will wind up practicing their English on you. Trust me. Besides, if you want to keep the friendship going, it is better to really hear your friend out (and express yourself properly) rather than keep ducking into your pocket dictionary while ignoring your friend’s wide yawns.
Instead, go to foreign-language groups (check meet-up groups near you) or get a pen pal from another country. I am hesitant to recommend foreign language chat rooms. Even though they are certainly good for learning a language, one does have to observe the commonsense precautions when talking to someone online. Do not give away any personal information, and if you are under age, certainly consult your parent or guardian about this.
3. Watch foreign drama.
Should you watch films in the language of your choice? Absolutely. Films usher you into the world of esthetics that is different from your own. In other words, it is a wonderful way to broaden your horizons and make another step towards becoming a bona fide citizen of the world. But purely for purposes of learning a foreign language, it may not be your best choice. A film is a film – involved, artistic… long. By the time it’s done, your eyes are watering from trying to follow the subtitles.
Rent a drama series instead. The episodes are short, the language is simpler, and the plotline will keep you hooked. It is exciting to recognize more and more words and expressions over time! Soon enough, you can watch it again, subtitle-free!
The most important rule in learning a new skill is regularity. It is easier to dedicate yourself to watching the next episode of “Around 40” than a full-fledged Kurosawa masterpiece every day. And yes, watching drama is better than watching cartoons because, let’s face it, there is much more use in learning how to say “We were given: Two hands to hold. Two legs to walk. Two eyes to see. Two ears to listen. But why only one heart? Because the other was given to someone else. For us to find…” (look at how many body parts you’ve just learned) than “I’m no Doc, ya flea-bitten varmint! I’m Riff-Raff Sam, the riffiest riff that ever riffed a raft”! Did I make my point?Need a private tutor for learning language? Check out Tutorspree!
image sourced from: http://ihouse.ucsd.edu/programs/lang-table.html
5 Places to Stash Your Kids this Summer
Juliette P is back with some more advice, but this time, we’re changing tacks a bit. Juliette knows a thing or two about finding adventures for your kids during the hot and hazy summer months. Check out her advice below about 5 places to take/leave your kids for some fun, some education, and some relaxation.
Summer Vacation… We parents get so excited at the thought of having our kids to ourselves again after the long school year, getting to know them, and spending some real quality time together. Until (cue ominous music) duh duh duh… the humidity and the boredom set in. This can lead to anxiety and irritability for everyone in the family. It’s important to keep your children active during their vacation time and help create a routine for them so that they can be stimulated and you can remain sane. Here are some ideas for where to stash your kids this summer, so that everyone can enjoy their summer vacation…
1. It’s important for parents to allow children to explore and pursue areas of non academic interest (besides television and video games) in order to promote well roundedness and boost self esteem. Summer vacation is the perfect opportunity to switch gears from academics to non academic yet enriching activities. To achieve this goal and give parents some time away from their children, hobby specific day camps are the perfect place to send your children during the summer. There are more camps out there than one would imagine. Whether it’s horseback riding, field hockey, art, or science that your child is interested in, I can say with confidence that there is probably a camp suited for them. Everyone wins with day camp. Children get to be on their own in a safe environment for a few hours, meet new kids, and do what they love, while parents are able to have some adult alone time to get organized or take a breather. Remember to allow your children to help select the camp they attend, this will increase the likelihood that they actually enjoy it!
2. Don’t forget about Aunt Suzy! Which of your (trusted) relatives truly loves your children? Do they live in the suburbs where there is grass and access to swimming pools? Is he or she a good cook? Why not suggest your children go to spend a week or two with them? Of course, the love has to be mutual, your children have to be at least a little excited to visit the lucky relative you choose. This again is a great way to get some (at times) needed separation from your kids while providing them with a safe and positive experience. Beware, you may have to return the favor to Aunt Suzy in the future!
3. Hit up the museum! For some fun air conditioned activities that you and your children can enjoy together, look into your local children’s museum. Many children’s museums have exhibits and activities for all ages and this is a wonderful environment for you and your children to get excited about something and learn something together. It can stimulate conversation and help children realize new areas of interest. Fight the boredom, keep the minds and bodies active!
4. Stash your children in the kitchen… Make up some at home cooking projects. There are many cookbooks out there that have recipes appropriate for children to help with and suited to their tastes as well. Some favorites include, Mom and Me Cookbook, Betty Crocker’s Kids Cook!, and Kids’ Fun and Healthy Cookbook. Cooking is a great activity, not only does it teach a life long skill, it teaches children how to follow directions, be patient, organized, and clean up after themselves. It also makes children feel great to see that they can create something delicious! Furthermore, if children ever express being dissatisfied with the meals you prepare them, you can remind them about all that goes into creating a meal for a family. In order to make this type of project into a full day’s activity, first let your children make a list of necessary ingredients for the chosen recipe, then go to the market together with the children, and have them help you collect the groceries. This may even be a good opportunity to teach about prices and how to select what’s best.
5. Do good! Another enriching experience that you and your children can do together while they have more free time, is volunteer work. Choose a charity or activity that is meaningful to your family, whether it be a local soup kitchen, a community garden, or visiting the infirm, and sign up to do some work every week with your children. Not only will you be helping a cause, this type of activity can really make you and your children feel good and be a bonding experience. As mentioned above, let you children help choose the charity you volunteer for, and remember to discuss the work you’ve done after each session.
Most of all make sure to enjoy your children this summer. The ideas listed here are ways to help your children stay active and engage in positive activities, but remember, we are talking about summer vacation. Let your children sleep more, relax, visit friends, and yes sometimes watch television. It’s important for children to learn the difference between the academic year and vacation time. Knowing how to relax and enjoy oneself without constant stimulation is an invaluable skill!
Want to find a great private tutor like Juliette who really knows her way around kids? Check out Tutorspree!
First image from: http://www.ballentinefarm.com/summer_camp
Second image from: http://swimmingpoolguides.org/swimming-pool-b/swimming-pool.html
Third image from: http://www.metmuseum.org/about/
Fourth image from: http://www.houltonfair.com/kids-games.shtml
Fifth image from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/volunteermatch/261813977/
Avoiding the Summer Slump, Part 1: Read!
Suzie S-F, one of our favorite private tutors, has taught English and ESL all over the world. She knows a thing or two about learning, and has some excellent tricks on how to stay sharp over the summer when school is out of session. Today, she’s letting us in on the first. It seems pretty simple, but boy is it a good idea!
Read, read, read. Read, read, read. And then, read some more!
Reading is easy. It’s portable. And maybe best of all, it’s subtle, sneaky learning. You learn while you aren’t even aware of it. Not only can it be a diversion on the beach, an alternative to “Boring! Not that again!?” TV, or a mental vacation on a hot afternoon, but reading also exposes new vocabulary, offers a variety of sentence structures, and painlessly proffers a proliferation of punctuation. All this without tests, worksheets, or quizzes….just reading.
Whether you pick up a classic (Tom Sawyer, Jane Eyre); a guilty pleasure (the last Harry Potter or a Harlequin Romance); or a dentist’s waiting room ‘zine (Cosmo, Surfer) - read, read, read. And when you are finished with that, read a travel book about a place you dream of going; reread your favorite middle school book; or flip through the “Y” section of the encyclopedia. Grab a section of a newspaper and carry it with you for when you are in line, carry an instruction manual that came with your last electronics purchase, tuck a torn out article into your pocket. Just read.
Keeping your brain busy, flexing that muscle, will keep your mind in shape for September classes, which we all know, come far too fast. Do it every day, and make it a habit. Just like starting a diet or going to the gym, reading should become a part of your routine. And like skipping the crunches, if you forget, no problem! Just read anything the next time. Some reading is better than none. Just read.
Read. Read. Read. Read. READ!
Need a great private tutor to help you out your reading this summer? Check Tutorspree!
image sourced from: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/07/recommended-reading/
Keeping up with Equations
Melanie is back with some more, entirely excellent advice about staying sharp over the summer. With a month or so left to go until classes start up again, we could probably all benefit from some refresher work. And, if you do decide you need some extra help, check out a private tutor on Tutorspree!
Summer vacation is a (well deserved) treat for teachers and students alike. Sleeping in, seeing friends and family, traveling, or spending an entire day watching reality TV marathons are some of my favorite ways to recharge. It’s also important to spend some time thinking about the reality show that many of us star in: High School.
For teachers like me, this means reflecting on the ups and downs of the previous school year and planning interesting lessons for the fall. For students, it’s time to think about … testing. Standardized tests are an unfortunate reality of our current education system, but they don’t need to be the antagonist in the plot-line.
Rising eighth and ninth graders who are interested in attending one of New York City’s Specialized High Schools should use these summer months to begin preparing for this fall’s SHSAT. Eighth graders will sit for the test on either October 29 or October 30, while ninth graders are scheduled to take the test on November 5. Studying for just an hour a week (or roughly, 0.6% of your week) with a Tutorspree tutor can pay off big time for parents and students alike! (Goodbye private school tuition!)
As for rising tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders, the SATs and newly popular ACTs both offer multiple test dates in the fall. Start studying now to lower your anxiety level while increasing your comfort and preparation levels. The ACT is offered on September 10 and October 22 with the September registration deadline just over a month away! The SAT & Subject Tests will be given on October 1 and November 5. Be sure to register well in advance for these tests as well.
A little extra work now is guaranteed to alleviate stress in the fall. What are you waiting for?
Want a private tutor like Melanie to help you out ahead of fall testing season? Check Tutorspree!
imag sourced from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/krissatin/2276104919
Stop #3 on the Virtual College Tour: Brown University
The next stop on Meri’s madcap dash through the summer college tour - Brown University. Not only is Meri an excellent virtual tour guide, she’s also an awesome private tutor on Tutorspree who can help you get into the halls of higher learning she’ll be walking us through.
Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Size: 6,318 total undergraduates/1,499 freshmen
Cost: $39,928/year
Financial Aid: Average financial aid package, $37,355
Average Test Scores (Middle 50% of students): SAT Critical Reading: 660–760/SAT Math: 670-770/SAT Writing: 670-770/ACT Composite: 29-33
Fun Facts: Brown University has recently been ranked #1 for America’s Happiest College Students, according to the Princeton Review 2010 rankings. Brown was also named “the most fashionable school in the Ivy League” by the fashion trade journal Women’s Wear Daily because students on campus seem to have the strongest sense of personal style. Although Brown is considered a small research university with 689 full-time faculty and 2,000 graduate students, five of its professors and two of its alumni have been honored as Nobel Laureates. Brown University’s alumni include numerous politicians, prominent academics, authors, journalists, activists, businessmen, computer science pioneers, media company heads, stage and film actors, and even royalty.
How Do I Get In? Brown’s admission rate in 2011 was 8.7 percent. 96 percent of accepted students were in the top 10 percent of their high school class, and 38 percent were either valedictorian or salutatorian. So, as you can see, Brown is very selective. How can you get in? Grades, standardized test scores, extra-curricular activities and recommendations are all very important. Choose extra-curricular activities that you are passionate about and reflect that passion and achievement in your college essay. A good college essay will be thoughtful, attention grabbing, and allow readers a glimpse into your personality. Essays should highlight a passion and explain how you plan on contributing to the college community through your continued pursuit of that passion. Researching the college and mentioning specific plans and interests in your essay that are particular to the college you are applying to can go a long way.
Personal Perspective From a Brown Alum: I remember being very pleased with the cleanliness of all bathrooms on campus, with the exception of bathrooms in the frat where I spent a few years - those were disgusting all the time. My biggest complaint on the bathroom front would be the one dorm where I had a co-ed bathroom that was not designed to afford any more privacy than a single-sex bathroom. That got weird quickly.
Want a private tutor as awesome as Meri? Check out Tutorspree!
image sourced from:http://www.flickr.com/photos/genemoo/2070533087/
Clearing up common misconceptions about programming: Part II - All Hackers are Nerds who don’t Socialize
Matthew B is back today to take on an enduring sterotype of engineers which, quite frankly, should have been put to rest already. If this gets you all fired up about coding, and you want to see what’s next, check out the private tutors on Tutorspree!
We’ve seen it in movies and we all know there are stereotypes associated with programmers. Young, anti-social guys with thick glasses wearing World of Warcraft t-shirts. This is one of the biggest misconceptions plagued by the Programming industry. Having lived in Silicon Valley (a world technology mecca) for three years, I have met many successful programmers who look or act nothing like your typical “nerd”. In fact every programmer I met, regardless of appearance, exhibited the same problem-solving skills, creativity and a curiosity for how things work. Also, programming has become popular among many types of people because it affords individuals the opportunity to start their own businesses with a very low barrier to entry. I have found with good programming and design skills, you can design, build and launch a web application in a matter of weeks with the potential to reach a huge audience! So don’t let stereotypes and outside expectations stop you from learning something you find interesting and valuable.
If hearing what programming is really like excites you, dig a little deeper. Try learning a language with widespread adoption, like PHP. Learning to program can be stimulate your curiosity, heighten your level of thinking and open up many opportunities to create your own financial independence.
Want to learn to code from someone like Matthew? Find your private tutor on Tutorspree today!
image sourced from: http://www.filmcritic.com/features/2009/10/real-genius-lasers/
