Social Media And College Admissions

Social Media And College Admissions Admission officials are trying to shed their old, stuffy, always buttoned-up image and trying to appear more cool and approachable to prospective college students, according to an article in the Washington Post. They are doing so to respond to many high school students who decided against the traditional essay and paper application, the students who got creative with their applications, producing YouTube videos and other materials. Many officials, across the nation, representing various different colleges that followed their prospective students, are diving into popular social mediums and creating their own YouTube videos, blogs, Twitter/Facebook accounts, etc. These officials are trying to be more relevant to the high school age group. Some officials have posted materials on what they are looking for in applications, while others have published information on the daily routine of admission officials, giving high school students valuable insights into what their jobs are really like. Recently an admission staff at Centre College in Kentucky uploaded an entertaining YouTube video, trying to show viewers how their entry process works. The group called it a, tongue-in-cheek look at a super duper serious process. Admissions counselor Avi Amon at the University of Delaware created a YouTube musical called Reading Season, detailing the tedious process of reading hundreds or even thousands of college applications. Most colleges that have used social media to reach out to students have simply posted informational blogs. See John Hopkins here, the University of Chicagos here and the University of Virginias here, which also contains YouTube videos. These are not the only schools that have used social media outlets for application processes; many other colleges have similar ones as well. Before you submit your final application to a college, try to find their blog or YouTube application process videos (if they have them). This could give you some major tips and ideas about what exactly they are looking for, helping your application stand out and be more relevant.

Online Education Pitfalls

Online Education Pitfalls Online education: it seems so simple, so convenient. So perfect for you? It could be; however, there are several mistakes that online teachers frequently see students make, according to The US News World Report. The US News World Report published eight, common mistakes associated with online education. 1. Not verifying the schools credibility: Most students go to college and other schools to receive credits. However, some employers and colleges simply will not accept some online schools credits. They put no credence in some of these unaccredited online schools. Therefore, attending certain online schools are a waste of time and money. Students should verify an online colleges accreditation with the federal government. Also, students should check with other colleges and companies to find out if they will accept credits from a certain online school. 2. Underestimating the workload of online schools: How hard can a college be when one can go to class at his/her computer in pajamas, eating a gargantuan bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, not caring about the cinnamon swirled milk thats dripping down the chin? Welljust as hard as any traditional college with a 100+ person lecture hall. Sometimes these online classes can be harder than attending a traditional college. Students should understand the workload of an online college before attending and paying for it. 3. Not understanding what type of learner you are: Online education is much more disconnected than a traditional college experience. You cant nudge your neighbor and ask for a pencil. You cant tell the professor to slow down. There is much less interaction between professor and student. Some students can watch the lecture online and quickly understand it. However, others rely on asking questions before and after class. Some rely on the experience of being in a class room more than others. Students need to be very self-motivated to succeed in an online scenario and attentively watch lectures. Its much harder to pay attention to an online lecture when there is a TV staring over your shoulder, prying your attention away from a man in a bow tie talking about economics. 4. Technology/Compatibility issues: Students should ensure that they will be able to watch class lectures and receive all of the necessary information on their home computers. Slow Internet connections could be a problem. Also, students should check to see which computer programs are needed for the class such as Microsoft Excel, Adobo Photoshop, etc. 5. Having a bad teacher: Teaching online is far different than teaching in a traditional classroom. You might already know more about this than some professors do because you just read the previous sentence. Its better to take online classes with a professor who has previously taught online courses. 6. Taking too many classes: Ever heard of the saying, your eyes are bigger than your stomach? Well, similar to that, your mouse clicker is bigger than your brain. Get it? No? Ok, how about this then: online education can be more demanding than traditional, and students should ease into the process; rather than immediately diving into several, challenging classes. 7. Plagiarizing: Its never a good idea. With online education, teachers can download anti-cheat software to scan papers for plagiarism. Avoid the temptations; its easier to get caught with online classes. 8. Not keeping up with group projects: No normal civilian, other than professors and teachers, will ever fully understand why teachers love group projects so much. There are many speculations and theories. The strongest is that they better prepare students for the real world. Group projects do successfully achieve that goal. But, teachers just love them. Online teachers are no different, and students in online classes will likely participate in virtual group projects with other online students. These are much different than traditional group projects, and students need to be able to work well with others online. Essentially, online classes are incredibly different than traditional classes. Students need to fully understand the differences.

Improving Your Singing Start With Your Posture

Improving Your Singing Start With Your Posture Suzy S. Want to instantly improve your singing? One great tip for learning how to sing better is as simple as establishing good posture. Read on as Philadelphia voice teacher Emily E.  offers some helpful advice Many students come to me wanting to improve their singing voice and expect me to focus on their throat and the two little magic pieces of tissue that come together to make a beautiful sound. But I’ll let you in on a little secret: really excellent singing is all about using your entire body effectively so that your vocal folds (a.k.a. vocal cords) do as little work as possible. In order to begin to get the most out of your body â€" and therefore out of your voice â€" take a moment to look at how you stand to sing. I always evaluate a student’s stance at the beginning of the first lesson, and I love how making a few changes almost always immediately makes them sound better. You can do this at home in three simple steps: 1. Stand on two feet. Sounds silly, but if you’re shifting your weight onto one foot or another, leaning against the piano or the wall, or standing with one foot behind the other, you won’t have a strong, steady foundation from which to sing. 2. Stand with your feet hip width apart. “Hip width” means that your toes should be under your hip joint, NOT the outside of your hips. Find the points of your hip bones and draw an imaginary line down to your feet. Or, see if you can fit a fist between your feet â€" your stance should be a little wider than that fist. Now your body is balanced and better aligned. 3. Soften your knees and your hips. This is the most difficult part of the stance to find, develop and master, because it relates to how you breathe to sing. Locking your knees so they’re stiff, rigid, and/or inflexible also locks your lower back, which prevents you from taking a full, deep, strong breath. Think about softly bouncing in your knees, wiggling your hips side to side, or “tucking your tailbone” if you know that concept from yoga classes. This will create a more energized and engaged lower body that can better support your breath and your voice. Every body is different, and every person will encounter different challenges when preparing to sing. But you wouldn’t start construction on a house until you’d laid the foundation, right? The same thing applies to your voice! Emily E. teaches singing, Broadway singing, music performance, music theory, opera voice and speaking voice lessons to students of all ages in Philadelphia, PA. With a Masters degree in Musicology Performance from the University of Oxford, Emily joined the TakeLessons team with over 7 years of teaching experience. Learn more about Emily, or search for a teacher near you! 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 Jlhopgood

Campus Information Sessions Part TwoQuestions to Ask

Campus Information Sessions Part Twoâ€"Questions to Ask Most colleges and universities offer campus information sessions where you can learn more about the school and quality of campus life. Whether you arent sure what you want from your college experience and just need to learn more, or you know exactly what you want and need to see if a particular school matches up, its important to head into the session with some guided preparation, which you can learn more about in Part One of this series. Next, youll need to come up with a list of relevant and important questions to ask. If the session includes discussions led by a student, you may want to ask more personalized questions about what he or she likes most about the campus experience, or what aspects he or she might change if given the chance. There will more than likely be official university representatives at the info session as well, so be sure to identify more formalized questions you may have about the school (that cant easily be found on its website) as well. Below are some example questions to get you started in a number of categories: Academics What kind of support services are available? What would you say the colleges academic strengths are? Weaknesses? What are the core class requirements? How quickly do I need to decide on a major? What sets this school apart from others? Whats an average class size in the smallest major? In the biggest? Overall? What percentage of courses are taught by a teaching assistant? Whats the advising experience like? How easy is it to switch majors / choose classes? Residential Life What percentage of students are commuter students? Do freshmen live in separate housing from upperclassmen? Do upperclassmen typically move off-campus, and what are the challenges to finding off-campus housing? Are meal plans mandatory? What are some alternative dining options for those with dietary restrictions, food allergies, etc.? Which facilities have been improved in the last five years? Which ones do you plan to improve? What do you think the most difficult adjustment for students is? Social What percentage of students are part of the Greek system? Whats a typical weekend like for on-campus students? How important are sporting events to the campus life? What clubs are available and what percentage of your students participate in clubs or intramurals? How many different schools are there within the college? How easy would it be to transfer from the School of Engineering to the Liberal Arts School, for example? Resume Builders What are your job placement rates? Graduate school placement rates? What services do you provide to graduating students to help them find jobs? What study abroad opportunities do you offer? What opportunities are available for jobs, research positions, or internships on campus? Application Process What scholarships does your school offer? Can you tell me a little bit about the financial aid trends for students here? How many receive financial aid, and what kind? What advice would you give about applying to this school? How does the application process here differ from that of other schools? Campus Safety and Resources How can students reach campus safety officers? What are the general safety policies on campus? Off campus? Whats the area around the campus like in terms of safety? What safety resources do you offer that other schools dont, or that you think are particularly notable? How does health care work for students? [RELATED: 4 Ways College Students Can Stay Safe on Campus] While in the session, listen for good questions asked by others as well and add them to your list for the next school if you find them useful. Be sure to take clear notes on the answers you receive so you can compare them with other schools later. If you still have questions that are more specific to your experience, consider scheduling a one-on-one session with an advisor or ask about the opportunity to meet with representatives who might pay a visit to your high school later. Keep an eye out for Part Three of this series to learn how to evaluate the most important take-aways from these sessions 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.

Hiring a Private Tutor Ask the Right Questions! - Private Tutoring

Hiring a Private Tutor Ask the Right Questions! BobbiM May 20, 2015 If you are considering hiring a private tutor for your child or if you need one, do not think that you are alone.  According to Dr. Sandi Ayaz, executive director of the National Tutoring Association, private tutoring in the U.S. alone has “exploded tenfold” over the past eight years. That is a tremendous growth increase!  The reasons for looking into private tutors are almost as many as there are kids.  Some parents hire tutors to help their children overcome academic obstacles, others contract with tutors to encourage and challenge their children in ways that might not be possible in a classroom setting, and still others are looking for tutors to fill in gaps or add to the knowledge their kids are getting in the classroom. Whatever the objective of the tutoring may be, it’s important for parents and students to take the time to find and hire a tutor who will work well with the students  learning style and personality.  Here are some great questions to help make sure that that you find a tutor that is right for you: Questions to Ask Private Tutors Before Starting:  1. What is your teaching style? Students  learn in a variety of styles and at different paces, which is why it’s impossible for teachers in schools  to structure their classroom lessons to match each individual student’s preferred learning style. The right private tutor, however, can adapt lessons to cater to your child’s strengths whether he is an auditory learner (learns best by listening), visual learner (learns best through sight) or a kinesthetic learner (learns best through experience). Before you hire a tutor, make sure to find out if he can structure lessons in a format that works with  your child’s preferred learning style.  And if you dont know your childs learning style, check in with his teachers and current school for an assessment or update on that information.  It will be a huge help for both you and any tutor you finally work with. 2. What is your tutoring plan for working with  my child? While this is a pretty open ended question and is difficult for someone who has not yet met your child or even seen examples of their  school work, the response will reveal the tutor’s thought process for diagnosing your child’s needs and creating a plan to achieve the desired results. The right tutor will have a strategy, and may even have specific methods, for identifying problem areas and understanding the child’s learning behavior. An effective tutor recognizes the importance of working with the student (and in some cases, the parents) to establish performance improvement goals that are both measurable and attainable.  Bottom line open ended questions like this show the tutors comfort level and confidence with respect to their ability to work with your child.  Finding that out early on is critical. 3. Why do you tutor? Successful tutoring is really about developing  a productive learning relationship between any private tutor and their students. Those tutors who are most effective are passionate about teaching and are able to derive value from seeing their students succeed. While many tutors provide lessons and tutoring as a primary or supplemental source of income, the ideal tutor to find will take a vested interest in your child’s progress and have the patience and willingness to do whatever it takes to help your child succeed.  And when you find a tutor like that, you will recognize the difference and the student will also notice the results are measurable as well. 4. Do you have any private tutoring references, or have you worked with students in a similar situation as my child? Ideally you would find a tutor that is able to provide references and referrals for you to contact.  But they are hard to come by for several reasons.  Not the least of which is that some students or families would prefer to keep their tutoring requirements private.  Thats where an online tutoring source like PrivateTutoringAtHome.com  compile lesson ratings and written reviews from actual students who have previously worked with tutors. That allows you to read third-party reviews from parents and students who have worked with a tutor.  It makes it much easier for you to determine what you can expect from a tutor in terms of subject proficiency and personality.  And if you need a tutor, you dont want to waste time on someone that doesnt know the material you need to learn or has a different teaching style than will work for your child.  If you choose to hire a tutor on your own rather than through a reputable marketplace, you still want to make sure  to ask for references.  Do realize that the reference you receive that way may not be a completely impartial source. 5. How can you help my child become an independent learner? The most effective and valuable tutoring relationships will help the student become a more engaged, independent learner.  After all, isnt that what we would all want for our kids?  Memorizing and mastering very specific topics or skills may yield some results, but it is ultimately a short-term solution to the student’s broader educational needs. While certain lessons may focus on a particularly troublesome topic, learning to understand and appreciate the learning process, theory and logic behind concepts will help your child overcome subsequent obstacles, avoid future frustration and flourish as a student.  Looking for your private tutors via our network which includes more than 75,000 active private tutors nationwide in subjects that range from math and science to test preparation and music is sure to offer you a wide range of tutors to help in whatever subject and via any learning style that you may be looking for. So before you throw in the towel or continue to plow on alone, why not check out some of the private tutors at home that are available today?  You will be amazed at the results that you get!  And dont forget to let us know how you do in the comments below. If you enjoyed this post, please share it on Twitter or Facebook, stumble it on Stumbleupon or pin it to Pinterest!

Planning For Midterms and Finals - Private Tutoring

Planning For Midterms and Finals BobbiM Mar 31, 2014 Is it that time of year again? Midterms? Finals? Do you want to pull your hair out yet? Here are some tried and true tips to help you do your best. -Plan ahead. Start to rehearse and review your notes and the texts BEFORE exam week so that you can cut down on your workload for the week. Starting early is essential for classes that have cumulative exams because there is so much information to review. -Cut down on work or other commitments. If you work part-time, ask for some time off or for fewer hours at your job and make sure that your family and friends understand that you will be extra busy. Try not to add any new commitments during midterm and final time. -Get enough sleep. Pulling all-nighters for a big exam rarely pays off. Instead try to create your schedule for exam week in a way that leaves adequate sleep time. You wont do well on an exam if you are falling asleep while taking it. -Study with a partner. Misery loves company and this is never truer than during midterms and finals. Hopefully by the time midterms roll around you have found a study group that works. Study with your group or study partner to keep each other on schedule and motivated to work. -Dont panic. The whole world will not stop and does not end because of midterms and finals. If you did thy the pressure is getting to you, readjust your schedule to allow more break time and try to really relax during those breaks. If you find that you have excessive anxiety, get some help before it becomes a stumbling block to doing well. Excerpt from  College Success Strategies  by Sherrie L. Nist and Jodi Patrick Holschuh.

Are Public Universities Protecting Students First Amendment Rights

Are Public Universities Protecting Students' First Amendment Rights pexels.com The first amendment states, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Though multifaceted, the amendments focus is on the American peoples right to the freedom of expression. We are allowed to worship who we want and how we want, express  any ideas we   have no matter how controversial, and peacefully protest decisions or persons with which/whom we disagree,  provided we do not infringe on the liberties of another person. For example, someone is within  their first amendment rights if they give a speech protesting an organization or stand outside public property holding signs, handing out leaflets, etc. Someone is outside of  their  first amendment rights if they obstruct traffic without informing law enforcement so that a detour may be arranged or if they loudly protest  near a building with classes going on. A handy guide outlining students rights to protest on campus may be found here. The  violation of first amendment rights comes when an institution restricts or limits students ability to worship, express their thoughts publicly, or peacefully protest. Pinpointing such a violation can be tricky particularly when  most universities  have vague policies like  engaging in any offensive, obscene or abusive language, or in boisterous or noisy conduct reasonably tending to arouse alarm, resentment, or anger in others, (Source.) While a public institution is perfectly within its rights to disavow conduct in such terms and to prosecute perpetrators of conduct that violates the rights of a student, blanket bans on offensive language can be problematic because offense is subjective. Of course, there are cases where offensive intent is obvious, such as slurs and threats of any kind, and if a student ever feels that his or her right to life, liberty, or property is in danger, he or she should contact authorities immediately. If, however, a student finds another students vie wpoint and, we assume, the language they used to express this viewpoint offensive, the student has no constitutional grounds to silence this viewpoint. pexels.com According to the Supreme Court in Texas v. Johnson, if there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable. Texas v. Johnson even held that flag burning is within a citizens rights so long as it is for the purpose of ideological expression and not to destroy property or endanger citizens. As American citizens, the desecration of our flag should make us cringe. We are entirely within our rights to support or condemn such actions so long as we recognize that the flag burner is within his rights. The same principle applies for unsavory viewpoints. Two people, one with  influence and  one without,  may fundamentally disagree with each other on an issue and be within their rights. They may attempt to silence each other through logic, evidence, and crowd support and be entirely within their rights. When, however,  the person in power attempts to deprive the person without power of their ability to express their opposing viewpoint, he is depriving  them of their first amendment rights. The issue of power here is key anyone can attempt to silence anyone and when there is a balance of power, this is usually not an issue. When one side has the influence to tip the scales against another and does so, then constitutional rights are infringed upon. Obviously, in the case of universities, the balance of power is shifted in favor of the institution as it should be. Students have a voice via their right to peaceful protest and student government associations. The question, then, is how do universities simultaneously disavow behavior that shocks the human conscience and protect students first amendment rights? Heterodox University, a politically diverse group  of social scientists, natural scientists, humanists, and other scholars who want to improve our academic disciplines and universities, suggests universities adopt some version of the following First Amendment Rights Protection Code: At [your school’s name], we know that exposure to diversity broadens our minds and prepares us for citizenship in a diverse democratic society. Research shows that the kind of diversity that most improves the quality and creativity of thinking is viewpoint diversity. When everyone thinks alike, there is a danger of groupthink, prejudice, dogmatism, and orthodoxy. People in the majority benefit from interacting with individuals who see things differently. At a time when American democracy is polarizing into antagonistic camps and informational bubbles, many colleges and universities are becoming more intellectually and politically homogeneous. Orthodoxies arise, dissent is punished, and quality declines. We do not want that to happen in our community. We therefore welcome heterodoxy, meaning that we want to support those within our community who hold dissenting or minority viewpoints; we want them to express themselves freely and without fear. We value viewpoint diversity not merely out of compassion for those in the minority but also because such diversity helps us all to develop skills essential for life after graduation, including the ability to judge the quality of ideas for ourselves, the ability to formulate arguments against ideas we reject, and the ability to live and work amicably alongside those whose ideas and values we do not share. What do you think? Do you think Heterodox Universitys First Amendment Rights Protection Code is too much or not enough? What role do you think universities play in influencing and developing students political views?

Fisher-Price at It Again

Fisher-Price at It Again Photo Via: http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com Looking for the perfect toy this holiday season for your niece, nephew, brother or sister? Or maybe you have kids of your own that you’re looking to purchase new and exciting toys for? Or maybe you’ve got a Secret Santa that you just have no idea what to get and you’re 15 minutes away from buying a Visa gift card and calling it a day. Well look no further, because there’s a new toy in town and you aren’t going to want to miss this one. Seriously, remain seated. Fisher-Price, that extremely popular toy company that you remember from your childhood, faced a bit of backlash when a known meme maker, Adam Padilla, created a meme featuring a not-real, though extremely funny, toy that he linked to the company. They have since gotten many complains via Twitter (because people have no idea how to take a joke and must complain somewhere), to which they’ve had to respond that they have not, in fact, created said toy. So what’s the toy that’s creating controversy? Well, when Emma Stone hosted “Saturday Night Live,” the company was the butt of the joke when they created a fake ad for a toy for “sensitive boys.” The toy was a wishing well, a place where “sensitive boys” could go and cry or talk to themselves. Following this fake ad, Padilla created his own meme of a Fisher-Price toy that he called the “Happy Hour Playset.” The toy features three toddlers standing at a pretend bar (think toy kitchen, but rather a bar) and holding plastic beer bottles. One of the toddlers appears to be posing as the bartender. As college students, we can all appreciate how hilarious this sounds, and I’m sure many of us truly wish that it was a real toy. However, while obviously funny and meant to be satirical, the more serious parents aren’t too thrilled that the popular company name is being displayed in such negative lights. The company made a statement and claimed that they had nothing to do with this “product,” going on to state that it wasn’t ever “endorsed, produced or approved by Fisher-Price.” The picture was posted to one of our favorite social media sites, Instagram, and while we can appreciate it (and probably wish that it was a real thing for multiple reasons), not everyone can. Fisher-Price appears to be on the same side however, in saying that it appreciates “the suggestions as obvious love of the brand.” So why is this relevant to you? Well, in my family, every year we must come up with Christmas lists of things that we want, but my family never really gets us anything on those lists. So this year, we’re filling our lists with ridiculous items that we would love to have. This is going to be one of those items. Can you imagine sitting in your dorm room at your toy-kitchen-esque bar enjoying a mixed drink with your roommates while watching Spongebob re-runs and avoiding homework? I can, and I think it’s going to be the perfect gift for any college student. All jokes aside, brand issues like this come up all too often, though the way that Fisher-Price is handling the issue is commendable. There’s no obvious harm being done to the company (as there shouldn’t be, since they’ve done nothing wrong), so they’ve been good sports in claiming that these fake ads and products are simply meant as flattery to a company that’s so well-known and loved. There are plenty of toy companies out there, but their brand name is one that people recognize, and perhaps that is why they are at the forefront of these fake ads, especially in light of the holidays, which typically leads to an increase in ads for all companies anyway. For all you advertising majors, bad publicity is a very real thing, but it doesn’t look like that’s the case here. At least, not yet. If customers of the company continue complaining about such pictures and fake ads, there may be another story here soon. Especially since the company has actually had to come out and say they do not endorse and have not made this toy, even though it should be fairly obvious to anyone with any sort of brain that this would be the case. But for the time being, no publicity is bad publicity and Fisher-Price is still the toy company we all turn to for our ridiculous, fake kitchen and cleaning items, needs. So until you can find the children’s toy bar at a Toys R Us nearest you, maybe it’s best to stick to Nordstrom’s $85 rock for your pointless Christmas gifts this year. Next year, check back in with Fisher-Price and see how they’re coming along.