Common Buffer Problems and Tips to Handle Them

Common Buffer Problems and Tips to Handle ThemThe English unit AP Chemistry offers a wide range of choices in the topic of the course. To give students an excellent education and prepare them for a career in this field, it is essential to practice safe practices and be able to solve problems that arise.College students are taught about the main concepts in chemistry through books. However, when it comes to problem solving, their minds are still largely underdeveloped. These concepts often leave students feeling as if they don't have a handle on how to proceed with these theories. Therefore, AP Chemistry students need to be aware of these concepts so that they can use them for problem solving.One of the most commonly encountered buffer problems is going to be handling combustible gases and liquids. It is a good idea for students to understand how to properly use laboratory safety devices. For example, chemical safety goggles should be used when handling chemical components to prevent inhaling harmful chemicals or other hazardous substances.Aside from breathing and eye protection, students also need to know how to correctly store chemical solutions for safe storage. Should they be used as inks? If so, what kind of inks should they be stored in?When the inks are no longer needed, they must be properly disposed of. Properly disposing of chemical solutions requires that the solution be sealed in a container such as a Tupperware. Students can then safely place the containers inside their respective laboratories.As another part of proper buffer solution disposal, it is important for students to know how to properly sterilize their facilities. Chemical solutions can become contaminated through mishandling, improper storage, or spills. When these are not properly handled, students risk exposing themselves to diseases such as hepatitis. Therefore, students need to learn how to properly sanitize their laboratories.Another important tip is proper disposal of these chemical s. This is usually done through drying. During the drying process, the chemicals are left to air dry out.Another popular chemical that students will encounter in the class is chlorine. In order to safely handle this chemical, it is necessary for students to be familiar with its effects. This can be done by having a simple discussion with their professor or assistant professor about the various ways in which chlorine reacts with other compounds.

What Do You Want to Know About Different Degrees in the Arts?

What Do You Want to Know About Different Degrees in the Arts?When you are thinking about studying phase chemistry in school, you may want to consider your particular interests or the type of work that you would enjoy doing. Then, try to determine what the requirements are for such a course. Many courses will need grades, which means you will have to have some kind of grade point average in order to get into the courses you choose.After you know the requirements, you can start looking at which universities offer the classes that are required for you to do so. Look at the distance learning programs that are available online, as they are a great way to learn because you can study at your own pace and with a variety of options. You don't have to stay in one place to do this kind of course. In fact, you can study anywhere at any time.Phases are divided into three groups. These are the Period I courses, which generally include organic chemistry and solid state chemistry. The second phase i s Period II, which is where students go from Organic Chemistry to Organic-Organic hybrid.Students are then able to continue studying Hybrid Chemical Phase and Chemical Formulation. This is a subject in which students will learn about how to combine solids with liquids, metals, gases, liquids, solids, and water for a wide variety of applications.There are also individual academic units that are offered. This includes a person who is enrolled in a Biological Sciences, or biochemistry course, and has taken some chemistry coursework but not all of it.For those who are working full time, those who are busy schedules, it can be hard to fit these subjects into their schedules. And for those who are students but who are not attending class due to some other reason, the best option is to take a hybrid course, which is one that has a blended curriculum.The good thing about these hybrid courses is that students will be able to continue to do their work while still getting the results that they want from the coursework. They will also be able to keep up with their current classes without having to worry about repeating anything.

3 Questions to Ask Your Guidance Counselor About College

3 Questions to Ask Your Guidance Counselor About College As a high school senior, there are probably many questions on your mind. The biggest area of concern for many high school seniors is the impending college transition. Questions like what college to attend, how test scores and dual credits transfer, and when to send in applications may be on the forefront of your mind. Where do you turn for answers to these serious questions? The beginning of senior year is a great time to ask your guidance counselor about college. High school guidance counselor Patty Crotty says its important for high school seniors to know themselves and focus on finding the right fit during the college search. Keep an open mind, and don't eliminate schools that you haven't heard of. Trust yourselfwhen you find the school for you, you will know. Your schools guidance counselor is possibly the best resource when questioning anything relating to the college admissions and transition process. He or she can keep you up to date on important deadlines, like that for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), and remind you of the importance of keeping your grades up in the home stretch. Keep reading to learn about what to ask your guidance counselor about college: 1. Ask your guidance counselor about transferring credits Many high schools offer dual-credit courses to their students. These classes provide you with credits that you can then transfer to your college or university, and they count toward your total credit requirements. For example, you could potentially begin your freshman year of college with six credits under your belt. Credit-earning courses might include: AP (Advanced Placement) Community college classes IB (International Baccalaureate). While this is a great option to take advantage of, it isnt always straightforward. Colleges and universities have their own rules and guidelines as to which classes they will accept for credit. Regardless of the number of dual-credit courses you have taken or are planning to take, it is important to know what you have going into college. Having an idea of how many credits will transfer to your schools of interest could factor into your decision of which institution to choose. Talk to your guidance counselor about your credits, as well as how they might impact your college decision. [RELATED: 6 Surprising Things About Senior Year of High School] 2. Ask your guidance counselor about your test scores If they havent already, test scores will become a big part of your senior year. Between SAT, ACT, and AP test scores, you may have many questions. If you have already started SAT or ACT testing, you might have some idea of how the process works. Regardless, your guidance counselor can be of help when it comes to managing and understanding test results. You can send your SAT or ACT scores to several colleges for no additional cost aside from your registration fee. After a certain number, each has various costs per additional college. Typically, the testing service will send scores to schools for you, so you wont have to worry about sending them yourself. However, it is helpful to understand how it works and take the sending process into consideration when selecting testing dates. As for AP scores, the process is fairly similar. You are able to send your score to one college or university for free by listing the school's code on your answer sheet. Usually, if you score a 3 or above on the exam, you are eligible for college credit and/or advanced placement. The College Board takes care of sending your scores to the schools you choose, but again it is helpful to understand the process when preparing to take exams. [RELATED: The Ultimate Study Plan for AP Courses] 3. Ask your guidance counselor about application deadlines Your senior year will be full of various deadlines, so be prepared to keep them organized. Your guidance counselor is a great resource to help you track down dates and keep them straight. Reminding your parent or guardian about FAFSA deadlines is key in the fall of your senior year. It is also important to keep track of any fall testing dates you are interested in, and make a note of registration deadlines. Missing a registration date for a fall test could impact when your school of interest receives your score. Make sure to look at any schools you are interested in, and to note their application deadlines. If you are interested in applying early decision, it is especially important to determine those deadlines immediately, and to understand what this decision entails. Essentially, if you apply early decision to a school, you will receive an admissions decision sooner. The tricky part, however, is that once you accept an early decision offer, you must decline any other offers you receive. If you are set on a particular school, this option could work for you. If you are looking to keep your options open, a regular application timeline might be best. Talk to your guidance counselor about your options for applying to college. [RELATED: What to Do After Youve Submitted Your College Applications] Your guidance counselor plays a big role in your senior year of high school and college preparations. Be open with him or her regarding what you want your post-graduation life to look like. Guidance counselors are there to help you find the best college for you, and will be a great resource for any questions that might arise. Crotty encourages students to not get caught up in worrying during the college search. Enjoy senior yearit will go by far too quickly. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

What is it Like to Attend Vanderbilt University

What is it Like to Attend Vanderbilt University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Emily is an Atlanta tutor and 2008 graduate of Vanderbilt University. She holds a degree in Classical Languages and currently tutors several subjects including SAT prep tutoring, ACT prep tutoring, Geometry tutoring, and Reading tutoring. See what she had to say about her time at Vanderbilt: 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? Emily: Vanderbilt is a walking campus in the southwest side of Nashville. All of main campus is walkable within ten minutes if you walk fast, fifteen if you dont, and the Peabody Campus is just adjacent and will add anywhere from an extra five to ten, depending on where youre going. The athletic stuff like student rec and stadium stuff is also just adjacent, so during undergrad for me it was walk, walk, walk! The campus is open, gorgeous, and park-like, but that open-ness also means that anyone could wander through at any point. Still, the lighting is pretty good and there is a security presence, so I always felt safe. The Hillsboro Village area is also easily walkable. There are buses for getting into Nashville or Green Hills areas, and I believe they are still free for student use. Its nice to have a car for getting out, but it definitely isnt necessary. Bikes are also nice to have in case you want to venture further afield into the city or surrounding areas (like nearby Belmont Un iversity), but again not necessary. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Emily: This may vary somewhat based on your area of study, but I found that all of my professors were happy to talk with me about any concern I ever had. They all have office hours, which means periods of time during the week when they are in their offices available to anyone who wants to walk in and talk to them, and I think the university has a set number of hours that is a minimum for them (I dont know what the minimum is because mostly all you have to do is approach them after class to get an idea of when you can go see them). I didnt have many TAs myself, but the few I did have were even more available than the professors, if that is possible. My fellow undergrads had similar feelings about their professors. The fact that the professors were so available, helpful, knowledgeable, and genuinely interested was one of my favorite things about this school. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Emily: The dorm life at Vandy has been changing in the last few years, moving toward a residential campus. I myself lived in dorms my entire undergraduate career and had a great experience with it. First year I had a roommate, and I did not in subsequent years as I lived in the Language dorm (McTyeire Hall) which is all single rooms, and included its own small dining hall, where we were expected to eat dinner on weeknights with our Language group. The people you eat with are kind of your family, so I formed that kind of bond with several of my hall mates. There are lots of dining options on campus, and the only problem I ever had with that was on Sunday nights when many of them were closed, limiting my options (I was pretty spoiled when it came to on-campus food). The new Commons residential area has a beautiful dining hall, and there are other small eateries all over campus with various themes and food choices, but you can use the meal plan at all of them. Theyre pretty good, tooIm not vegetarian or anything, but I did end up at the vege caf a lot, because their food was just great. By the time I left, there was a policy of missed meals on the meal plan rolling over into a sort of meal-money dollar amount, which could then be used at participating restaurants off campus. A lot of great places in the campus vicinity accepted this meal money, so I was using my Vandy card all over the place. As for socialization, there are definitely more opportunities to get involved in organizations and groups than there are hours in the day, and through those types of things you meet all sorts of people that like the same things you like. You also get to know them while participating in an activity that you enjoy, or something that helps others. On weekends, there are always events and shows and all kinds of things to take in. I really enjoyed hanging out with my friends in our respective dorm spaces; some dorms had reputations for being home to this or that type of people, so for example I found myself hanging out around the art and philosophy dorm because that was the type of people my friends were. Im sure that Greek life also provides a lot of opportunity for socialization, even though that was something I never really took part in. 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? Emily: I think Vanderbilt is pretty well known for its graduate/professional programs, like Law and especially the School of Medicine, given the huge hospital that is part of Vanderbilt campus. I studied Classical Languages, which just means I took Latin a lot. My department was pretty small, and while everyone is undergoing careful budgetary concerns right now, I never felt like we especially lacked for anything. A lot of my friends were Engineering students, but Vandy also gives a good emphasis to the importance of liberal arts education. 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? Emily: Greek life is fairly big at Vandy, but I never joined a sorority. I did have friends who were in sororities and fraternities, and friends who were not. Although around 50% of the undergrad population goes Greek, only the officers of each organization live in their respective fraternity or sorority house, so the Greek life participants are still integrated throughout campus living. Freshman dorms were good places for me to make friends, some of them just temporary to keep me sane and social as I began the more difficult task of figuring out who my real friends would be and what I was going to major in. We were all also required to take a freshman seminar during the first year; I ended up taking a cool English class which put me in touch with two of my best college friends. Many of my other best college friends I met through those people, actually, so freshman seminar is a good way to make connections to others who are new like you are. The rest of my long-term friendships came from my dorm life later on in my undergrad career. I think the best way to meet people and make friends in those early stages is just to get involved with stuff you like, because you will naturally end up doing that stuff alongside others who like it too. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Emily: The Career Center was really helpful for me when I began to freak out about the next step after Vandy. They helped me craft my resume and search for potential jobs, and sent me to job fairs. I still didnt know at the time what I really wanted to do, so I wasnt always able to take full advantage of the Career Centers offerings, but happily they do have an alumni help component which I still use online. Im not sure if reputable companies recruit on campus because I was so unsure of what I even wanted to do, but I do know that the Vanderbilt name is a pretty impressive one to have on the top of your transcripts, and companies probably sit up and pay attention when they see it. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Emily: There are several libraries around campus, and lots of study spaces in lots of buildings everywhere. Some of them are quiet, some are not, and most of them fill up pretty solidly during things like finals time. I personally always did my best work in my own room, but I did notice a lot of wonderful other spaces which I mentally noted as spaces I would like to study, if only I ever chose to do work somewhere other than my own desk. The main library, Central Library, has recently added a little caf on the terrace, and the first floor has a gorgeous reading room area. The stacks are narrow and a little dismal as a study space, but if what you need is to be squirreled away from the world in a dungeon-like space (never mind that youre on the upper floors there), then that is where you should (and I sometimes did) go. If you prefer big windows and lots of light, try the Biomedical library next to the hospital. I also remember doing group study sessions in the study rooms of the Engi neering library inside the Stevenson Center, so there are lots of options. 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? Emily: Nashville is a very cool city, and it has a lot to offer college students. As its nickname Music City would suggest, it definitely has lots of live music, and not just country either. The trick is finding out when and where, and then in getting there. Engaging as Nashville is, I learned more about what there was to see and do after I graduated than I did while I was in school there. Lots of students spend most of their time in what we refer to lovingly as the Vanderbilt Bubble which includes all of campus and then a few blocks radius all around it. That several-block radius does have its share of cool spaces, coffee shops, theatres, live music venues, etc. Downtown is just a little too far to be called easily bikeable, although it can be done, and driving downtown is annoying because you have to find parking, and it usually isnt free. As a student, I didnt have money to spend on much, so I didnt go downtown all that often. We did go to the symphony sometimes, though, because t hey had a special deal where students could get tickets for $10 in the hour before a show began. Other cultural opportunities probably run deals for students like this too. Those who are willing and able to explore what Nashville has to offer will be rewarded, but honestly as an undergrad I did not have quite the time or money to explore them fully. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Emily: Vanderbilt has about 6,800 undergrads, which to me felt just right, because I was always seeing new faces, but I never felt lost among the massive crowd. Class sizes were accordingly small (occasionally tiny), although larger general education classes can get bigger. I never had a class of more than 50 students, and had maybe two or three that were over 30; most of the classes I took were 30 students or less. Class size is also something that will depend a little bit on your area of study, though, and as you get further in to your major or specialty, the smaller it will tend to get-- in my junior and senior years I had several classes with seven or eight people (yay Latin and Greek!). VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Emily: I think my regret might be not taking more seminar classes than I did. Seminars are just courses limited to 16 people maximum, and are largely discussion based courses. I only took three of those. Looking back, they were some of my most interesting classroom experiences, quite different from my language and lecture classes. The ones I took were all to fulfill requirements, but they really broadened my educational experience. We used to have a requirement called Science in Society, which they do not have anymore, partly because were half convinced no one really knew what that was supposed to entail anyway. But it was the last requirement I had by senior year, so I ended up taking a seminar on the life and works of Leonardo da Vinci; it just so happened to be full of really interesting students and taught by one of the coolest professors on campus, Dr. Bess from the history department. Our final project for the class was really open-ended, as per the multi-talented Mr. da Vinci, and we could create almost anything we liked so long as we could explain the connection to the course material or readings. Some people wrote research papers, one student built their own musical instrument and played a song based on a mathematical formula, another person painted, I wrote a short story. The final drafts of all projects were due at or before trivia night, which we mistakenly thought that as a bunch of really smart academic and creative people, we would doubtlessly win. We did not win trivia, because trivia night actually requires you to know a lot more about sports and pop culture than it does about history (even trivia night in Hillsboro Village, right next to Vanderbilt); we did have a lot of fun trying. Check out Emilys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

What is it Like to Attend Sarah Lawrence College

What is it Like to Attend Sarah Lawrence College The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teachtheyre sharing their college experiences as well. Hailey is a Manhattan tutor and 2012 graduate of Sarah Lawrence College. She holds a bachelors degree in English and theatre and tutors several subjects, including English tutoring, history tutoring, and writing tutoring. Check out what Hailey had to say about her time at Sarah Lawrence College: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Hailey: Sarah Lawrence College is, in many ways, the perfect combination of urban and suburban. The campus itself is completely walkable or bikeable, and there are grocery stores and the small town of Bronxville within walking distance. New York City is only a 25-minute train ride away. Its a beautiful, very safe campus. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants at Sarah Lawrence College? Hailey: Extremely! Every student is assigned an adviserwe call them donswho helps you chart your academic course over four years. You also have bi-weekly meetings with all of your professors. Professors teach all of their own classesyoull never be handed over to a teaching assistant. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Hailey: If they want (and are punctual about applying), its quite possible for students to live on campus all four years. Theres a huge variety of dorms, from the traditional-feeling 1970s-style hallways, to the campuss original 1920s dormitories, to remodeled early 20th century houses. Theres even a few rooms on the top floor of the admissions building, and another set attached to the presidents house! Many of these have kitchens so that students can cook for themselves. Otherwise, there are two main dining options, both of which have lots of variety. The Pub, which is open late, is best for quick lunches and late-night french fries. Bates Dining Hall is a more traditional dining hall, and its where everyone gets their weekend brunch. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Hailey: Sarah Lawrence College has an incredibly unique academic system. Rather than traditional majors, students create their own concentrations. This is primarily enabled by our conference system. I mentioned above that students have bi-weekly meetings with all of their professors. These meetings are when you talk about your conference project, an independent research project that is attached to every class (with the exception of some math and science classes). While the subject matter does have to relate to the course, it gives students so much latitude to pull in their other interests. So, for example, I was able to constantly intertwine my love of theatre, history, and literature in my conference projects, a blend of topics that eventually led me to get my MA in Shakespearean Studies, where performance practice, cultural history, and literary analysis were all equally important. 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? Hailey: There is no Greek life at Sarah Lawrence College. A full week is dedicated to orientation at the beginning of each year, which is an amazing time packed with activities, all of which are fantastic ways to either meet new people, or catch up with old friends. There are several days at the start of the year when only freshmen (and a few upperclassmen who are leading activities) are on campus, which helps you get a head start on getting to know your classmates. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services at Sarah Lawrence College? Hailey: Every spring there is a job and internship fair. One of Sarah Lawrence Colleges major advantages is its proximity to New York City, and lots of companies make the short trip up to talk to Sarah Lawrence College students. How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Hailey: As I mentioned above, the dorms are so different, its impossible to generalize, but all of them have common areas of some kind or another. The library has tons of study space, not to mention a stock of beanbag chairs, so you can make yourself a little study nest wherever you find empty floor space. Lots of people like to camp out in the dining hall to study, or, when the weather is nice enough, just take their books out to the lawn. Describe the surrounding town. Hailey: Bronxville is a fairly small town, though it has all the staples: a movie theater, a mall, some grocery stores. Its a nice place to go to grab a coffee or to have an off-campus lunch, but most students who want to get away from campus for the weekend or the evening take the train into New York City. This doesnt mean that the campus empties out every weekend. There is still a vibrant campus social life, and lots to do every night. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Hailey: Sarah Lawrence College has a small student body, and it prides itself on its small seminars. I never had more than 12 people in a seminar, and I only took one large lecture-style class. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most. Hailey: One of my professors at Sarah Lawrence College has completely shaped the direction of my post-graduate education and my career. Its thanks to him that I was able to see how unhappy I was with the focus and goals I had entered college determined to achieve, and with his help, I was able to zero in on the areas of study that made me genuinely happy, and to have the courage and self-belief to take a leap of faith into seriously pursuing them. I cant express the extent to which attending Sarah Lawrence College is the reason I am where I am in my life, and the reason that I have had amazing education experiences. The freedom to explore my interests, rather than being locked into a major, was so incredibly important to my development as a student and as a person. Check out Haileys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Ask an Admissions Expert Susan Goodkin

Ask an Admissions Expert Susan Goodkin Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Susan Goodkin is a national college consultant specializing in admission to highly selective colleges such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Brown, and much more. She is a graduate of Harvard University, as well as Oxford University where she was a Rhodes Scholar. Susan has been featured in several well-known publications such as The Washington Post and The Miami Herald. She currently does college admissions consulting at the California Learning Strategies Center. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? Susan: First, too many students think working on applications just means drafting essays. The list of extracurricular activities is extremely important in the application process, especially for schools such as the Ivies. A carefully drafted activities list can help a student strengthen his or her application, but too many students leave that part of the application for the last minute. Students can save themselves a lot of stress and can turn out much better applications if they start working on the essays and the extracurricular lists (as well as their list of honors and awards) the summer before 12th grade. Once the school year starts, finding quality time to work on applications is a lot harder. Students should also be aware that this year the Common Application will no longer have a topic of your choice option for the 500-word essay, but instead will offer five essay prompts.These new prompts have recently been released, so theres no excuse for not working on them during the summer! VT: What are the best ways to go about selecting a terrific essay topic? Susan: While there are many approaches to coming up with a good essay, Im going to suggest some easy approaches that have worked well for many of my clients who are stumped. Heres something that might surprise a lot of students, but Ive found that parents often have great ideas for essays maybe because theyve been focused on every up and down in their childs life from day one! So, my first suggestion for coming up with an essay topic is to spend time around the dinner table with your mom and/or dad and talk about possibilities. Students can also make a list on their own of the events in their lives that have been important to them. Those moments dont necessarily have to be big moments. As an example, I always tell my students that an essay talking about the day they won the science fair will often be less interesting to an admissions officer than an essay that tells the story of how they became interested in the topic of their science fair project. VT: Are there any essay topics you get tired of seeing or would warn students to stay away from? Susan: I dont get tired of any essay topic that tells me something truly unique about a student. But I see a lot of essays written about community service that could have been written by any of thousands of students (Volunteering at the homeless shelter made me see how lucky I am, and now I realize its very important to give back to the community.). Ive also read some terrific community service essays by kids who have explained how volunteering shaped their career aspirations, or shaped them in profound ways. One of the cardinal rules of essay writing is to ask yourself if anyone else could have written the essay; if the answer is yes, you need to start again. VT: What is the biggest mistake a student can make on a college application? Susan: Apart from the obvious glaring errors such as an application that includes lots of typos and misspellings, lately Im seeing students make another kind of critical error. Many students are now applying to well over ten colleges, and too often they try to recycle essays for different colleges. Sometimes that works, but often the recycled essay doesnt really fit the new prompt. Its critical that students answer the actual prompt! Relatedly, students often give generic answers to the question, Why do you want to come to our college? Students need to do their homework -- the strongest essays include specific details about the college. A strong why here essay helps convince an admissions reader that the student would be a good fit for the college, and vice-versa. For colleges that are concerned with yield rate the percentage of accepted students who end up enrolling a strong why here essay is also important because it suggests that if accepted, the student will likely attend. VT: What is the typical process an admissions officer goes through to evaluate applications? Susan: The process varies widely depending on the school. Some large state schools, for example, hire outside readers to review the essays. Most schools including the more elite schools -- will have all parts of the application reviewed in-house. Heres a tip to find out more about the admissions process of a college youre interested in: go onto the colleges website and check to see whether there is an admissions blog. At many colleges, admissions officers (and/or students who work in the admissions office) will blog about the process, and applicants can learn a lot of useful information from such blogs. VT: What do you think is the single most important thing a student should make sure they present in the best possible way on their application? Susan: By the time a student applies to college, much of the information on their application, including their test scores, GPA, and activities, is pretty much set. Nor can they entirely control their recommendations. The essays are completely within students control, and offer students an opportunity to shape their application by telling admissions officers their story apart from the numbers. Students need to think hard about the story they want to tell, and make sure they tell it in a compelling way. VT: How should students go about determining the culture of a university, and whether they would be a good fit? Susan: Theres no substitute for visiting a college when school is in session. Once there, students must do more than just take the college tour. They need to sit in on a class (preferably in a subject theyre interested in as a major); check out the flyers posted on campus, which will tell a lot about what causes and activities students are interested in; eat in the cafeteria, and while there, chat with the some of the students about what they like and dont like about the college; check out a dorm room; and read the student newspaper. In addition or when a college visit just isnt feasible students should go onto the college website and read the student blogs, as well as perusing the Facebook pages of student groups they might be interested in joining. Ive learned that you can glean a lot about campus culture from the web! VT: Early-action, early-decision, binding/non-binding, regular decisionsWith so many choices when applying, what do you recommend to students? Susan: Applying early decision generally will increase a students odds of being accepted -- particularly at selective schools that routinely lose some of their most-impressive admitted students to even more selective schools because the colleges know all students admitted through early decision have committed to attend if accepted. However, students shouldnt apply early decision if theyre not absolutely sure their ED school is the one they want to attend; if they want the opportunity to compare financial aid offers from a number of schools; and if they arent a solidly competitive applicant. Applying EA wont help your odds of being accepted as much as applying ED, but there are fewer drawbacks since you dont have to commit to the college. Unless students think they will increase their odds of acceptance by applying later (perhaps because they think their senior grades, or some other achievement, will strengthen their application), I generally encourage them to apply EA to one (or where possible, more) of their college choices because its always a relief to hear early in the process that youve been accepted. Along those lines, I also advise students who are applying to schools with rolling admissions (that means the school reviews the applications, and makes decisions on them as they come in, so students can learn of the decision relatively shortly after they apply) to try to get their applications in early in the year. Again, hearing early in the process that youve already been accepted to one or more of your schools makes the long wait to April decisions much less stressful. VT: How important are grades and standardized test scores when admissions decisions are being made? Susan: The importance of grades and standardized tests varies greatly between colleges. Large state schools are most likely to focus more on grades and standardized test scores, while giving less weight to activities and recommendations (some schools dont even require recommendations at all). At the most selective schools, unless youre a star quarterback or the like, great grades and test scores are merely a minimum requirement to be competitive for admissions. Many a valedictorian with impressive test scores is rejected. On the other hand, an increasing number of excellent schools no longer require SAT or ACT scores. VT: What tips do you have for students asking their teachers for letters of recommendations? Susan: Teachers recommendations can play a critical role in bringing students to life for the admissions committee. Colleges are looking for recommendations that say more than that the student is a hard worker who got an A in the class. Ideally a teacher recommendation will address topics such as the genuine interest the student showed in the class, what the student contributed to the classroom, and how he/she stood out from other students. Students should ask for recommendations from teachers who know them well, and who can share anecdotes that will illustrate the students strong points. It also helps if students give the teacher a resume, so the teacher has a sense of the students accomplishments and interests outside the classroom. You can reach Susan by visiting LearningStrategiesCenter.com or by calling 805-642-6686.The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

How to Describe the Past in Spanish Imperfect vs. Preterite

How to Describe the Past in Spanish Imperfect vs. Preterite Maile Proctor When youre taking Spanish lessons, you may be confused by new concepts and grammar rules. In Spanish, there are two different ways to describe the past; the imperfect and the preterite. Here, Carmichael,  CA Spanish teacher Joan B. shares some helpful hints to help you describe the past in Spanish As a beginning Spanish speaker, it can be difficult to determine which form of the past tense you should use: imperfect vs. preterite. Once you learn the following simple tricks, however, you should be able to figure out which tense to use in any situation where you need to describe the past in Spanish. Lets start by looking at the differences between the imperfect and the preterite. The Imperfect The imperfect is used to describe past actions that have no clear beginning and end. This includes descriptions, age, weather, time, and emotions. It also refers to repeated action (translated as used to) such as, iba todos los veranos  (I used to go every summer). Learn more about conjugating the imperfect tense. The Preterite The preterite is used to describe a completed action in the past, with a clear beginning and end. For example, ayer fui al cine  translates to yesterday I went to the movies. This is an action that occurred once, instead of many times over a period of time. Learn more about conjugating the preterite tense. How to Decide? Sometimes, sentences in Spanish will only use one form of the past tense, and you will have to decide between imperfect vs. preterite. Other times, there are contextual clues that will allow you to use both forms in the same sentence. When to Use Both A common use of the preterite and imperfect within one sentence is when the imperfect describes an ongoing past action, and the preterite describes an action that interrupted the ongoing action.  For example,  mientras leía el libro, ella me llamó  (while I was reading the book, she called me). Whenever you see the word mientras  in a sentence describing the past, you can be sure that the imperfect will immediately follow mientras, and that the preterite will be used to describe any subsequent action that interrupts the ongoing action. Watch out for sentences that use the word  cuando. Some sentences with  cuando  function similarly to mientras  in the sense that theres an imperfect followed by the preterite, for example, cuando caminaba en el parque, vi un accidente (when I was walking in the park, I saw an accident). In other cases, however, the order of tenses can be reversed, cuando llegué a casa, mi madre estaba cocinando (when I arrived home, my mother was cooking). Understanding the imperfect and the preterite can be confusing, but if you identify the type of action being described and watch for contextual clues, you should be able to recognize which form of the past tense to use. Interested in learning more about imperfect vs. preterite? Taking lessons with a private instructor is a great way to get customized and personalized help on your way to becoming a fluent Spanish speaker! Sign up with a Spanish tutor hoy! Joan B. lives in  Carmichael, CA  and has been teaching high school Spanish for more than 18 years. A lover of language, she’s studied French, Arabic, and Italian and spent time living in Spain. Joan aims to help students improve on tests and increase their conversational ability when traveling to Spanish-speaking countries.  Learn more about Joan 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  Zachary R