What is it Like to Attend California Institute of Technology

What is it Like to Attend California Institute of Technology The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Caroline is an MCAT tutorlocated in San Diego. She graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2014 with a Bachelors degree in Biology. Check out her review of her school: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Caroline: Caltech has a gorgeous campus! It is very small, only about a mile and a half in perimeter. It is definitely walkable, although many people own bikes (or longboards). There are also bus and train stops near campus if you need to use public transportation. Campus is fairly safe, partly due to its location in suburban Pasadena and partly due to the Honor Code, which states that students shall not take unfair advantage of others. VT:How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Caroline: On the whole, professors, advisors and teaching assistants were very available. Even though research is a priority, many professors love teaching as well, and it really shows in their interactions with students. For example, one professor invited a group of students out to lunch once a month at the faculty dining club. Needless to say, those lunches were very popular! VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Caroline: Caltech has a house system, very similar to that of Harry Potter. We have eight houses, which are all fine houses. They have their own personalities and traditions, and, more importantly, are a wonderful way for students to form social networks. There is a lot of coursework, but something about pulling repeated all-nighters to work on sets together makes for a great bonding experience! It is not all work, however! We also have traditions like Ditch Day and the pranking culture that keeps campus life very lively. 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? Caroline: Majors such as Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics and Mathematics were all very popular. All majors have strong support networks built in. Advisors can offer career advice alongside the Career Center. Students frequently join research labs, as well, and their Principal Investigators are another source of support. I chose to study Biology and English. I started off with a strong inclination toward Biology, and I found that one of the best ways to learn about the human psyche was through literature. The humanities department may not be one of the more well-known parts of Caltech, but its faculty were extremely warm and supportive of students. 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? Caroline: In lieu of Greek life, we have a house system. Everyone gets sorted into a house at the start of freshman year. Because of the quirky antics within each house, freshmen usually get incorporated into their house social life very quickly. Caltech also has a support network, made up of upper class counselors, health advocates, resident assistants, and counselors. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Caroline: Many companies such as Google recruit at Caltech. Computer Science is, of course, a very popular major, but companies are also interested in Engineering and Applied Mathematics majors, as well. The Career Center is fairly helpful, although it is limited in resources. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Caroline: The dorm lounges are a popular place to hang out, although people usually study in the libraries or in the Student Activities Center, which is located in the basement of certain houses. There is usually plenty of space, and facilities are nice. 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? Caroline: Old Town Pasadena is about two miles away. There is plenty to do in downtown Pasadena, such as visiting restaurants and shopping. Many students who own cars frequently go out to Koreatown or downtown Los Angeles to spend time, as well. Because there is usually a heavy workload, off-campus excursions are limited, but students at Caltech work hard and play hard too! VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Caroline: We have about 225 students per year. It is a very small class, which gives you the chance to get to know everyone. Although I sometimes wished for the excitement of a larger class, I am glad to have had a more tightknit experience because of our small class size. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Caroline: Lets go back to first principles. The professor went on to derive the resting potential of an average neuron using seawater concentrations of ions such as Na+ and K+. This was my first taste of neuroscience, and I have been addicted ever since. He taught us to contemplate at a molecular, cellular, and circuit level about basic neural functions. For the last homework assignment, he asked us to write what we thought were the biggest unanswered questions in neuroscience. Biology has a reputation for being based in memorization, but this professor pushed us to think and to question. Check out Carolines tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Gamification in Education Its Time Education Leveled Up [Infographic]

Gamification in Education It’s Time Education Leveled Up [Infographic] Brooke Neuman Explore the exciting world of education through gamification. See how and why it works on kids and adults for improved retention, knowledge, and more in this guest post from our friends at JoyTunes How many students have been scolded by parents to put their video game away and get their homework done? It’s been a common household quarrel for decades, but kids across the globe are finally celebrating the new data that supports gamification as a means of advanced education and learning. Check out how it’s being applied to students young and old who are learning to play the piano for the first time. Gamification:  What it is Why it Works Gamification is the process of utilizing gaming elements outside the standard gaming model to present an idea or achieve a goal. In the field of education, gamification is currently being used to help students learn better. Jane McGonigal enlightens the world to the benefits of education through gamification in her TED Talk here: In short, gamification techniques allow students to relate to the material and learning process in a whole new way, a way that is more engaging, interactive, attractive, and quite frankly, fun. Kids and adults can tackle issues from new angles, relate to the assignment more personally, visualize the problem at hand, organize and compartmentalize tasks, and achieve success based on motivating factors that speak to the individual. This is Your Brain, This is Your Brain on Gamification Here are a few facts about gamification that might clue you into the popularity, efficacy, and power of this under-utilized educational tool: By 2015, the gamification industry is projected to exceed $2 billion dollars, while the projected rates are meant to reach $5.5 billion by 2018. Close to 80% of students unilaterally stated that a more game-like atmosphere would increase productivity. 89% of people polled liked the point system for upping their engagement during an eLearning app session. People enjoy the charge that comes from scoring points, out ranking others, and being able to measure their accomplishments with concrete numbers. Skill-based knowledge assessments increased 14%, factual knowledge went up 11%, and retention was even improved by 9% for adults who used eLearning tools with gamification. Of course, not all gamification methods work as well as others. Some less popular techniques for getting the job done (or in this case the lesson learned) included receiving virtual gifts, being part of a story, and avatars. Music Gamified Learning to play the piano or any instrument is a challenge, no doubt. But mastering this beautiful art is easier, more manageable, and a lot more fun when you combine the strengths and incentives implied by gamification to your music lessons. Innovative music apps, like JoyTunes, use gamification to help kids and adults learn to play an instrument faster. The principles are simple: Games make learning more fun: The piano lesson is taught in the form of a game. We all like earning points: Points are gained when scales are performed properly. Games require repetition: Repetition makes for good music incorporation and learning. Hence, games equal excellent musical training grounds. Pretty smart, huh? Give it a Try! The infographic above tells the long story of gamification at a glance. The extent of this processing is yet to be discovered, but one thing can be said of gamification for sure: those who tap into this innovative method for teaching, learning, and training are guaranteed to see extraordinary results. And those that don’t…well, they’ll just be left in the dark. Guest Post Author:  Mya Achidov This is a guest post from JoyTunes. Mya Achidov is the Blog Editor-in-Chief at JoyTunes, a company that develops award-winning apps to teach you how to play music. 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

Improve Your Pronunciation 3 Spanish Movies to Watch Now

Improve Your Pronunciation 3 Spanish Movies to Watch Now Suzy S. Becoming fluent in a new language can feel quite daunting, especially when youre trying to translate in your head first! Read on for some great tips to increase speed and pronunciation from instructor  Giulia M I have been teaching Spanish, Italian, and English for a number of years.  I am Italian, which means that two of the three of the languages I teach are not my native one. I understand the challenges students encounter while learning a new language since Ive been through them myself. In order to master a language and express our thoughts and emotions in an effective way, we need to start thinking in that language. This can be difficult to achieve, but with  time, practice, and dedication, your thoughts will begin to  originate in your new language. I think the most powerful tools we have when learning a new language is our memory and our capacity to imitate. In fact,  a big part of  my learning process through the years has been when I watch movies in Spanish and memorize the dialogue. Much like with music, memorizing movie dialogue can help you learn pronunciation without having to think about the translation. The practice is useful when training yourself to think in a new language. My Top 3 Spanish Movie Recommendations There are so many great opportunities out there to watch movies in Spanish! I am a big fan of the Spanish director  Pedro  Almodóvar. His movies are very interesting and the actors speak Spanish beautifully. These are a few of his greatest titles. Volver A  comedic drama, the film features ghosts, murder, and love as it  details the relationships between three generations of women in Madrid. All About My Mother This emotional film follows a woman coping with her own personal tragedy as she makes new friends and reacquaints herself with an important character from her past. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown Many complicated paths cross in a confusing jumble as a woman seeks to discover the reason her lover chose to leave. Even More Spanish Movies to Watch I recommend movies from Mexico like Y Tu Mamá También or Amores Perros to hear Spanish being spoken in a non-Spanish accent. Chilean and Argentinean movies might be a little more challenging because the actors tend to speak quickly. I am a big fan of Ricardo Darín, an Argentinian actor. You may want to check him out if your Spanish is intermediate or advanced. I love El mismo amor, la misma lluvia, Son of the Bride, or Nine Queens. Quick Tips for My Students Watch movies with English subtitles if you are a beginner, and in the language you are learning if you are intermediate or advanced. This way you will be able to connect the words youre hearing with the words youre seeing on the screen.  This will help you memorize new words and work on pronunciation. Using two of your senses at once tremendously increases  your learning ability. Whenever you dont understand a word, concept, or grammatical structure, pause the movie and look it up in your textbook or a Spanish dictionary.  This will be more accurate than using an online translator and the act of looking for something helps you learn. I hope you enjoy these movies as much as I do! I promise that on top of having fun, your level of comfort while speaking Spanish  will increase rapidly. Readers, do you like to watch movies in Spanish? What are your favorites? Let us know in the comments! Giulia M. teaches Spanish, Italian, singing, and guitar in Austin, TX and online. She is from Florence, Italy, and has been a tutor for the past 12 years. Learn more about Giulia here! 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 Photo by  tonicito

What Is Social History

What Is Social History Social History: What Does It Entail? ChaptersWhat is Social History?What Are Some Aspects a Social Historian Studies?Social History, Economic History and Political History: ConclusionsGender Studies: Re-Evaluating Social HistoryNot interested in political history and the rise and fall of Empires? Curious about how people lived in ancient societies on a day-to-day basis? Then maybe social history is the thing for you.History of MigrationYou might wonder why the history department of a university would be interested in migration.Migration has shaped history since the Early Man first left Africa to colonize the world. To show you their importance, here are some of the great migrations that shook Europe and the Mediterranean and influenced its cultural history:The Sea People migration in the Bronze Age (1200-900 BC) which contributed to the Late Bronze Age Collapse, during which several large Empires of the time including the Hittite Empire, the Mycaenian Kingdom and the Egyptian Empire of the New Kingdom.The Dark Age migra tions, due in part to pressure from the expanding empire of the Huns, led through a process of attrition to the fall of Imperial Rome. The Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain was a migration - the evidence of archaeology suggests that rising poverty drove them from the shores of Germany. These migrations shaped the world of Medieval Europe.Migration to the New World - with its heyday starting in the seventeenth century - had a profound impact on the native societies and led to the creation of the countries of the modern world.The Saxons came to England during a wave of migrations that changed the political map of Europe. Photo credit: EccyLad on Foter.comModern history is also shaped by migration - as evidenced by the internationally destabilising effect of the current immigration crisis in Europe and the US.Studying the history of migrations is understanding how different cultures shaped and influenced our own both from the point of view of history and that of anthropology, rethinking what we think is “British” or “European” in view of ethnic influences and looking at the world from a wider perspective.Read more about the History of diplomacy.Social History, Economic History and Political History: ConclusionsSocial history doesn’t exist in a vacuum - it is influenced by a lot of factors. Economics is one of them.Whether in the twentieth century or the second, economic factors are one aspect to have influenced social phenomena - and vice-versa. The creation of centralised workshops and the specialisation of artisans as a profession made trade easier, while the increasingly widespread use of banks made it possible to do business on a truly international scale, making the merchant class a true force in politics. Poverty breeds dissatisfaction and revolution (ask the French), while the growing working class during the Industrial Revolution of the Victorian age brought a new type of consumer to the market and a new social stratus ready for reform and eager t o break with tradition - eager for a voice of their own in a democracy.Revolution is often an agent of social change. Photo credit: Crethi Plethi on Foter.comThe Cold War fought between capitalism and communism, a clash of both political and economic ideological views, spurred on the race to the moon and fuelled advancements in technology that, in turn, bolstered the economy, at least for a while.Today, the common conflict throughout American history between the concept of a welfare state and unbridled capitalism, a debate raging since Industrialization came across the Pond in the nineteenth century, is coming to a peak.So when you are studying social issues, don’t shy away from a comparative approach. Whether it be political history or intellectual history, history of philosophy or even archaeology for the material remains - it’s all connected. If you want to study social history, consider taking courses in another social science among the humanities. Sociology is another good discipline to gain a theoretical background that will help you find new approaches for studying social phenomena from an interdisciplinary point of view.Gender Studies: Re-Evaluating Social HistoryGender studies often focus on women in history, but generally observe gender roles in society. Photo credit: Kaptain Kobold on Foter.comAn interesting evolution in intellectual historiography is the rediscovery of the role of women within history. Technically, Gender Studies is the study of the relative roles of men and women throughout the centuries; however, the fact that even up to early modern times the study of history focused almost entirely on the male side of the question (unless the woman happened to be in a politically significant role), means that a great many of the themes of modern gender studies centre around rehabilitating women in history and exploring their narrative - from the queens behind the thrones to the role of domestic production within the economy.

The Hidden Key to College Admissions Success Staying Organized

The Hidden Key to College Admissions Success Staying Organized ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog Better organization skills can benefit almost anyone in any stage or area of their life. When some people hear the word organization their first thought is about home organization and a big box store specializing in ridiculously overpriced closet-systems. There are others who seem to find happiness in staying organized; these are the folks who are constantly making lists and crossing things off of them. For students, developing organizational skills is inherent to achieving academic success whether as a high school freshman studying for final exams for the first time, or a junior taking the first steps in the college admissions process. Applying to college can be particularly overwhelming due to the numerous requirements and deadlines. This process takes place simultaneously with taking AP Exams and working to maintain your GPA among feelings of “senioritis.” The college application process can contain ALL of the following: School Selection Visits Taking the ACT or SAT Selecting Potential Majors/Areas of Study Writing College Admissions Essays Requesting Letters of Recommendation Requesting ACT/ SAT scores be sent to Colleges Requesting Transcripts be sent to Colleges Composing a CV or Activities List Applying for Financial Aid Scholarships Accepting Admissions offers sending deposits This can be a daunting and confusing process. Remaining organized is imperative in order to successfully complete and submit college applications in a timely manner. TIMELINE MASTER TO DO LIST First, create a timeline detailing when you will tackle each task on your list. Breaking the application process into chunks like this makes the whole process more manageable and less stressful. Spring of Junior Year Summer of Junior Year Fall of Senior Year Spring of Senior Year Utilize a task management app such as Google Tasks or ToDoist to track your progress. COLLEGE LIST Which schools will you be applying to? Are they on the Common Application? Finding this out is necessary, as it will save you from unnecessary work, the Common App is a central application from which you can apply to multiple schools. You write a single essay and upload all application materials once for schools which participate in the Common App. For schools not on the Common App, you will need to visit their Admissions website and read their specific Requirements. TECHNOLOGY We are in the technology age, be sure to use tools to help keep you on track! Create a separate email, solely for College correspondence. This way, important reminders will not get lost amongst the daily advertisements and junk mail that clutters our inboxes. Separating your personal email from your professional email will ensure you do not miss any important messages! Set appointments in Google Calendar reminding you well in advance of deadlines for applications and scholarships. For extra accountability, share your calendar with a parent or mentor to help you remain on track. Create School Specific folders on your computer’s desktop or in an an online platform like Google Docs or Box, to separate essays and other information unique to each application. CHECKLIST Breakdown your Master To Do List by school, compose a Spreadsheet like the following: Application Deadline University or Program Essays (Prompt, word count) Letters of Recommendation (Accepted?) Scholarships (Require additional essays?) Test Scores Sent Transcripts Sent Be sure to check off items as you complete them, you can also use a service like Naviance, an online platform with the capability of tracking all elements of the College Admissions process. You can usually obtain an account through your school’s College Counselor.These are some tips to get you started, Good Luck! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lisa is a PhD student in History at the University of Illinois-Chicago and a Managing Tutor with MyGuru. She has helped many students navigate the college admissions process and write more compelling personal statements and application essays.

Learn English Second Conditional with this Song

Learn English Second Conditional with this Song I really cant believe that it took me all this time to think of Lyle Lovetts If I had a Boat as a great way for students to learn English second conditionals.Then today I was giving a class to a student, trying to think of examples of the second conditional, when I remembered these lines from the song.If I had a boat, Id go out on the ocean,And if I had a pony, Id ride it on my boat.Both of these use the English second conditional to express an idea in the present or future that is not likely or impossible. It is constructed in the following ways:If Clause:  If + past simple (Note: It isnt really the past simple it is the subjunctive which indicates a mood or feeling. The mood or feeling that it indicates is that it is unlikely or impossible.)  Result Clause:  modal verb + infinitive:If I were Paul, I wouldnt work so hard.If Clause:  If + Past Continuous Result Clause:  modal verb + infinitive:If I were going to the store, I would buy you some ice cream.Studying English grammar that way can be very boring, so thats why I like to help people learn English with songs. Heres a great one to help you remember your second conditionals:

How to Craft and Deliver the Perfect Pick-Up Line

How to Craft and Deliver the Perfect Pick-Up Line via Pixabay.com 1.  Wordplay Wordplay is defined as a “literary technique and a form of wit in which words used become the main subject” and it is primarily intended for amusement. Wordplay includes puns, oddly formed sentences, clever rhetorical excursions and double entendres. Using a unique and clever play on words is a great way to impress a potential love prospect because creativity is often associated with intelligence. Whether your pick-up line includes wordplay that is thoroughly thought out or a little lame, it’s the thought that counts and anything original will surely impress someone. A couple of my favorite pick-up lines that use clever wordplay include “I have all these forks and knives only now all I need is a little spoon” and “Is your name Coca-Cola? You’re So-da-licious”. 2.  Compliment You can never go wrong with a pick-up line that includes a genuine compliment. Complimenting someone is a great way to break the ice because they make people feel good and know that you genuinely are attracted to them and would like to get to know them better. According to a study done in 2012, praise induces a positive mood and increases motivation to perform a motor task. In our case, including a compliment in a pick-up line is an effective way to guarantee a response back. A couple of my favorite pick-up lines that incorporate compliments include “If you were a vegetable you’d be a cutecumber” and “Did the sun just come out or did you smile at me?” 3.  Use Humor, but Don’t be Vulgar When using pick-up lines, be careful not to cross a line and go too far. Although some pick-up lines that are a little suggestive can be funny, make sure to not be too vulgar because it can make both parties very uncomfortable. Some people do find suggestive pick-up lines funny though so if you do want to try it out, don’t be discouraged if it backfires. This can also be a good way to figure out if a love prospect has a similar sense of humor as you or not. 4. Be confident No matter the pick-up line you’re using, the most important thing to do when courting a potential love interest is to be confident, but not cocky. If you say something with confidence and act comfortable introducing yourself to someone, the pick-up line more or less doesn’t matter so much. Delivering an amazing pick-up line poorly because you are not confident is much worse than delivering a lame pick-up line with all of the confidence in the world. According to Psychology Today, this is because people are attracted to those who are comfortable with themselves, making them charming, assertive and generally pleasant to be around. Cheesy pick-up lines can be a fun and creative way to break the ice with a potential love interest if done correctly. Over a few years of being single, I have received my fair share of pick-up lines and have noticed trends that work and don’t work. If you choose to use a one-liner to break the ice, the most important thing you can do is say it with confidence. However, keep in mind that using clever wordplay, being humorous without being too vulgar and giving compliments are also very important things to consider when selecting the perfect pick-up line to use!

The Most Influential People Who Never Lived

The Most Influential People Who Never Lived Photo by ALA Staff via Flickr. The idea of experience-taking, and the fact that voters were able to identify so quickly with a first person narrative, begs us to question the effects long-time and well known, popular characters have on us. For instance, if you think back to one of your favorite characters, be it from a novel or movie, you will probably recall certain events the character went through that made you empathize with them. This empathy plays a large role in how we bond and identify with characters and causes their experiences to feel real because weve been through a similar experience ourselves. “We’d have no way of processing a character cognitively if we didn’t have experiences with people outside of the fictional world,” explained  Howard Sklar, post doctoral researcher in the English Philology Unit at the University of Helsinki in an article on character bonding. “The experiences with fictional characters resonate with us because of the fact that we’ve had deep experiences with people throughout our lives,” he said. We begin to sympathize with characters and invest ourselves in their well-being, just as we would family members or friends, which gives us the distinct impression, even if only for a moment, that theyre real people. In fact, as the article suggests, we may even know these characters more deeply than even our loved ones, as we tend to fill in the gaps of their past and then get a glimpse into their most private thoughts and compulsions, causing us to fully know their personality. “If you can get people to relate to characters in this way, you might really open up their horizons, getting them to relate to social groups that maybe they wouldnt have otherwise,” Lisa Libby,  assistant professor of psychology at The Ohio State University,  told the Edmonton Journal. Libby makes a great point in how its possible, through using more storytelling and experience-taking techniques, that we can begin to pave a way for not only students, but for a vast majority of individuals to begin seeing groups outside of their circles and cliques in a different light. Also, knowing their effect, we can begin to see how fictional characters possibly did have a role in creating some of our modern technological advances and social culture, and how their ideas could spur certain trains of thought in innovative individuals. After all, ideas occur in the realm of fiction before theyre conceived; maybe it takes the push of a beloved characters personality to follow them through.