What is it Like to Attend Georgia State University

What is it Like to Attend Georgia State University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Ian is an Atlanta tutor and 2009 graduate of Georgia State University. He holds a Bachelors degree in English and tutors several subjects such as ACT Reading prep tutoring, College Essay tutoring, and Writing tutoring. Check out what Ian had to say about his time at Georgia State University: 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? Ian: Georgia State Universitys campus is the epitome of urban, and its buildings are peppered throughout the downtown area. This can be both a blessing Great food in walking distance! Lots of options for relaxing between classes! and a burden Parking! Traffic! The campus does a really good job of protecting the safety of its students, though students should still be cautious and aware that they are studying in an urban environment subject to the typical urban crimes (namely theft). Since Georgia State University is in the middle of downtown, getting around is pretty easy. I lived off-campus and could walk to class in about 20 to 30 minutes. There are buses that transport you to each of the various buildings spread around the area, though they can sometimes get a bit crowded. Atlanta in general is not the most pedestrian-friendly city, so having a bike or car can be very helpful (or even necessary), especially if you want to live off-campus. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Ian:Office hours for professors, advisers, and teaching assistants were always clearly outlined on the syllabi. From my experience, everyone stayed true to their advertised hours. As I remember it, I never had any problem contacting or meeting with Georgia State University faculty. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Ian:I never stayed in Georgia State University dorms, but when I visited, it seemed as though there were plenty of options. The dining hall on campus, which is near the bookstore, offers lots of options that accommodate varying tastes and food restrictions. There are many different organizations with which students can get involved, which is key to socialization at Georgia State University especially if you live off-campus. One of the challenges of Georgia State University is that it is still a big commuter campus, meaning that many students live outside the Atlanta area and commute in. This can make socialization a bit more challenging. 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? Ian:Georgia State University is known as the top research institute in Georgia, and its liberal arts programs are incredibly progressive and supported. Georgia State University is also known for having a fantastic Nursing program. I studied English with a concentration in British and American Culture Studies. Georgia State University did a great job of supporting me, especially since I transferred in from a private liberal arts college. As I neared graduation, they worked with me to ensure that I had a well-rounded education that would also be marketable to the field in which I was seeking a job (secondary education). My program in particular was unique in that it was an exchange program. It allowed me to study abroad in England for a year while still only paying Georgia State Universitys tuition and fees, most of which were covered under a scholarship. That experience was the best of my life, and the support I received through that transition was incredible! 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? Ian:I did not go to Georgia State University as a freshman, so I cannot speak to how easy it is to make friends there your first year. My experience at Hofstra University showed me that it is a good idea to live on campus your freshman year, because most of my friends there were those I lived with or near. Greek life definitely has a presence at Georgia State University, but as it is primarily a commuter school, they are not as popular or omnipresent as they are at other public universities. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Ian:I always found the student support services to be quite helpful. The Career Center often set up career fairs where organizations around Georgia came and recruited students. In fact, I was first introduced to the organization for whom I eventually worked at one such career fair! VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Ian:There are many study areas, and I am mostly familiar with the library. The library study rooms can be pre-booked, which is good as they can get crowded during busy times of the year. But in general, the library is quiet, and it is easy to carve out a space for yourself there. 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? Ian:Atlanta is one of my favorite cities in the world, and one perk of Georgia State University is that it is in the heart of downtown. There is something for everyone in Atlanta, and students often take advantage of the urban environment in which they study. Atlanta is broken up into different neighborhoods, and each one has its own unique soul. Midtown is the hip and young area, catering to the citys sizable LGBTQ community. Buckhead is the wealthy northern neighborhood that many go to for upscale dining. Inman and Grant Parks are like the Brooklyn of Atlanta, and they have a bustling art scene. East Atlanta Village is great for cheap dive bars and fantastic music. Decatur offers a cool, smaller town vibe filled with gastropubs and world cuisine that is perfect for young families and health fanatics. If you prefer outdoorsy activities, Stone Mountain and the North Georgia Mountains are a short and moderate drive away, respectively. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Ian:Georgia State University is a mid-sized college not small by any means, but not so big that you feel like a cog in a machine. The class sizes are large in the introductory freshman classes, but they get smaller and smaller with each year. I never had a class bigger than 60. Most of my classes were around 20, and a few specialized classes were filled by only 10 students. Overall, I was pleased with the class size, and I never felt like I could not get help in my bigger classes. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Ian:Like I said, the best experience of my life was studying abroad through Georgia State Universitys cultural exchange program. I could write a book about how incredible it was about the friends I made, both in Atlanta and in England, and the brilliance of the professors involved in the program. This was the single best experience of my life, and it completely overrides any frustrations I ever felt with Georgia State University. On the micro level, I really enjoyed my Literary Theories class. My professor was incredibly candid, effortlessly cool, and really encouraged out-of-the-box thinking and conversation. This was the first time I ever got to engage with both literature and film through various lenses (feminist, queer, psychoanalytic, etc.). This way of reading, watching, and thinking informed my postgraduate studies and still colors the way I take in culture today! My only regret was that I never got involved in the things I enjoyed in high school, like theatre or various clubs. There were opportunities, but I was busy studying/working/socializing. Check out Ians tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Libraries Go Digital

Libraries Go Digital Digital education is a rapidly-growing trend for public and private schools across the nation, as these mediums are quickly transforming how students learn. Now, school libraries are beginning to catch on to the trend, getting rid of thousands of physical books and replacing them with digital copies, according to an article in the District Administration. The District Administration cited Cushing Academy, a private secondary school in Massachusetts that recently gave away most of its 20,000 physical textbooks. The school upgraded by purchasing nearly 200 iRivers and Kindle e-readers. Cushing Academy also sold all of its 445 students a laptop, and began to upload electronic copies of textbooks straight to students laptops. However, many teachers at Cushing Academy still use and assign printed textbooks in their classes. Federal and state funding for digital improvements in the classrooms and libraries is slowly increasing. Most schools libraries, even if they are low-budget programs, have some computers or laptops for students to use and are beginning to purchase electronic readers. Critics claim that this trend is not necessary, and it separates the wealthy schools from the low-income schools. They believe that Cushing and other private schools have significantly more funding than public schools. Therefore, they can upgrade their libraries with expensive digital textbooks; where as public schools facing harsh budget cuts could never be able to fund these textbooks. However, others believe that this could save schools money in the long run because they only buy the rights to use books and never pay for printing materials and fees. But, the digital readers are still expensive. Yet the appeal of digital textbooks is obvious. Students can easily and quickly access information through digital readers, instead of having to go to the library and find the book. This saves students time, time that most will spend reading. Also, digital textbooks are more relevant to students interests. Lets face it, said Doug Johnson, author of The Indispensable Librarian: Surviving (and Thriving) in School Media Centers. The Net Generation wants its information and entertainment in digital formats. Ours may well be the last generation to use cellulose-based information-storage technology. If students are reading and learning more with digital textbooks, then implementing these digital readers is worth every penny invested in them, no matter how expensive they may be at first. Most experts believe that to be true and are pushing for more digital and electronic upgrades for students. But funding is still down at most public schools, and the transformation to digital will be slow at least until funding increases.

A Student Perspective on Cornell University

A Student Perspective on Cornell University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well.Kelly received her Bachelors degree in Biological Engineering and her PhDfrom Cornell University. She is currently a tutor in New York City specializing in GRE Quantitative tutoring, Life Sciences tutoring, SAT Math tutoring, and several other subjects. See what she had to say about her experience at Cornell University: 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? Kelly: I went to college at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Ithaca is a small city in upstate New York, right on the Finger Lakes. The campus is beautiful, with lots of (big) hills overlooking Cayuga Lake. There are also many architecturally diverse buildings. You can get around campus on foot (I did!), but the buildings are pretty spread out. If you are in a rush, or the weather is bad (it gets cold there in the winter), I would definitely recommend taking a bus. Cars are good to have if you want to get away from campus for the weekend or you want to take a day trip to the local gorges, but having a car is not necessary. (To get home for breaks and holidays, I took a Greyhound bus to the New York City area). Bikes are a great alternative, but be prepared to get a great leg workout it is hilly here! Even though the campus is pretty large, it has a small town feel to it, so I always felt extremely safe walking around. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Kelly:I was an Engineering major, and during my first two years, I took a lot of large, lower-level science and math courses. We had recitation sections that met once per week that were led by graduate students whose job it was to review the material covered in class. Both the professors and graduate students held their own office hours and practically begged us to come, even if it was just to say hello they wanted company while sitting in their offices for two hours. The professors were all incredibly intelligent (and therefore, a bit intimidating), but they all encouraged us to get help if we were confused. My academic adviser was great he hired me as a teaching assistant for an upper-level Engineering class and encouraged me to pursue independent study. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Kelly:You always hear horror stories about the food at dining halls, but I can tell you that the food on campus was always very good. There was such a wide variety Mongolian grill, pizza, pasta, salads, soups, etc. And, of course, I always helped myself to some ice cream made right at the Cornell Dairy Bar. There are dining halls near the dormitories, as well as a few on campus for you to grab some food in-between classes. Dorms are both hall-style and suite-style, so there are plenty of opportunities to socialize and meet new people. 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? Kelly:I was a Biological Engineering major, which meant that I took both basic Biology courses (such as Genetics and Biochemistry) and Engineering courses (such as Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics). The Engineering programs at Cornell University are all very strong, so when signing up for an Engineering course, you know it is going to be challenging. The general attitude with the students was, We are all in this together, so if we work together, it will be much easier. Unlike in other majors (such as Biology), there was almost no competition between students, which helped my grades and helped me make new friends. 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? Kelly:As a freshman, your first friends are generally those who live near you in the dorm and in your major. Greek life is pretty popular, but you have to wait until second semester of your freshman year to rush. I was not part of Greek life, and I did not feel like I was missing out on anything. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Kelly:To be honest, I did not use the Career Center or go to job fairs because I knew I was going to go to graduate school. I did have friends who went to job fairs and met some great contacts. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Kelly:During finals time, the running joke is that the library is more to socialize than to study. I did a lot of my work in computer labs, in my room, and in the library (during non-finals weeks). During finals week, I went to the Ithaca city library, which is huge and recently remodeled. It also gave me a good change of scenery to break up the monotony of studying on campus. 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? Kelly:The area immediately surrounding campus is called Collegetown (not terribly creative, I know). It is filled with cafes, coffee shops, and restaurants. A 10-minute drive down the hill takes you to downtown Ithaca, which is a moderately-sized city with some great outdoor activities (hiking, mountain biking, trail running, skiing, etc.), as well as some decent shopping (used book stores, local art, small boutiques). There are a number of malls and strip malls with big stores such as Barnes Noble, Home Depot, Target, Wegmans, etc. Also, the Finger Lakes region is known for its wineries, so if you are of age, you can do wine tasting tours along the lakes. Ithaca is pretty isolated in upstate New York, but there are a lot of activities to do within a 15-minute drive. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Kelly:Cornell University is a fairly large institution, with over 20,000 students. It has over 12,000 students at the Ithaca campus, as well as campuses in New York City and Qatar. Even though it is pretty big, it does not feel that big. I found that you see the same people when you are walking to your classes, you sit next to the same people in class, you see the same faces in the dining halls, etc. Introductory class sizes were admittedly large, with anywhere from 100-300 people in a large lecture hall. However, there are recitation sections that meet at least once per week, and these have about 20 students in them. Also, once you got past the introductory courses, class size shrunk dramatically. It was not uncommon for upper-level classes to have less than 20 students. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Kelly:During my junior year, I took an elective, mostly because I heard it would be an easy A. However, what I did not bargain for was that I would really enjoy the class! It was a class about Native American culture, and it was fascinating. The professor was passionate and an honorary member of a local tribe from upstate New York. To this day, I remember sitting in that auditorium being blown away by the professors lecture. Check out Kellys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

4 Tricks to Learn Vocab for the New SAT

4 Tricks to Learn Vocab for the New SAT The new SAT tests vocabulary in a completely different way from the old format of the test. Instead of focusing on the necessity of memorizing and using less commonly spoken, difficult words, the new SAT concentrates on your ability to recognize the meaning of words in context. The new SAT has ditched those pesky sentence completion tasks for more varied passages with vocab questions that may ask you to discern between multiple, potential definitions of a certain word, or how that word affects a passages meaning. Even though the vocab may seem more intuitive on the new SAT, there are several study tips that may help you snag extra points on test day. Check out these tricks to learn vocab for the new SAT: 1. Ditch the old SAT vocab lists The new SAT is not concerned with obscure vocab words, and you shouldnt be either. Get rid of those stacks of flashcards developed for the old test and forego straight-up memorization of definitions as you approach this new test. Remember that success on this new test does not depend on your rote memorization of information, but rather your understanding of words as they appear in passages. [RELATED: What is an Average SAT Score?] 2. Focus on studying words in context by reading materials from varied disciplines The new SATs Reading section now encompasses comprehension skills from various disciples, and this is reflected in its vocab questions. For example, you might be asked to discern the meaning of a word in a scientific context that would have a different meaning in an art history context. Your task would be to recognize the differing function of that word in its different contexts and to select the proper way that word functions in the context at hand. You can prepare yourself for vocab questions like this by making a habit of reading articles from varying disciplinespolitics, geography, nature, health, economics, history, etc. Try selecting a few unfamiliar words from each article as you read and challenge yourself to figure out the definition of those words, as well as how they function in the article as a whole. 3. Practice understanding what the questions are asking Unlike the old SAT, which had vocab questions that focused on applying definitions, the new SAT questions focus on application, context, and alternate meanings. Practice reading question stems via SAT practice tests and writing out your translation of what the question is asking before you select your answer. Though you wont have time to write out your translations on test day, taking some time to practice this skill now can help you more automatically understand the purpose of a question the first time you read it on the actual test, preventing you from having to re-read the question multiple times. Ask yourself what task you have to complete as you read vocab questions and select an answer that fulfills that task the best. 4. If you must have flashcards, select your words carefully Some students love to study from SAT flashcards, and if youre intent on doing so for the new SAT, do so intelligently. Instead of finding the hardest words from your practice passages to write down on cards, look for words within your readings that have multiple known definitions. When making your flashcards, put the word with which you are concerned on one side and as many definitions for that word as you can find on the reverse. Prep your brain to recognize those multiple meanings available for single words in order to learn vocabfor the new SAT.

Where to take your SAT Test Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace

Where to take your SAT Test Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace SAT which stands for Scholastic Assessment Test, is one of the widely popular tests taken by the high school students to gain admissions in the colleges and universities in the United States. SAT scores are preferred and recognized in most of the colleges in the US and is surely one of the factors which help in the selection of the student. SAT test paper consists of multiple choice questions with 5 answer options and students have to pick the right answer from the given options. However it is important to note that wrong answers carry negative penalty. Therefore it is necessary for the students to be careful before randomlyguessing any answer because if its wrong, points are deducted from the already existing score. The fastest method to take the SAT test is by registering on the official website of the College Board by following simple instructions. The registration is free of cost and once registered, students can easily check out the test dates and choose the test date accordingly. Based on the test date, students can choose their test location according to their convenience. SAT is conducted many times a year and the exam is taken by the students residing in the United States and also in different other nations. Hence, they can look into the test dates for the given academic year for national as well as international students and can therefore pick their location for the test.

Organization Tips for High School Students - Private Tutoring

Organization Tips for High School Students BobbiM Mar 9, 2013 Organization Tips for High School Students Okay. So, I asked my daughter, Kameron, who is a Freshman in High School how she stays organized in High School. And, being the awesome daughter that she is, she went ahead and wrote this article. Now, you need to know something about Kameron: she is very organized, is a member of Key Club, is really involved in Church, and help her 8 younger siblings with everything. She pretty much rocks the house. I hope this article helps you as these tips have helped her. Do you ever have trouble staying organized with school? And with school moving so fast, do you ever feel like by Wednesday you practically dont know whats gong on? Here are some tried and true tips to help you stay organized. Tips for Getting Organized for High School Students Go through your binder after receiving every report card. Since youve already gotten your report card you can get rid of old assignments. Go through all your papers and notes and toss what you dont need. If youre not sure about something, just keep it. It wont hurt to carry that around. Clean your room weekly. Have you ever let your room get so dirty, you can hardly see the floor? How did you do that week at school? Likely not very well. If your room is cluttered, your mind will be too. Do a weekly deep clean of your room. The first time it will be rough, but after that it will just become routine. Make your bed, clear your desk, dustnow you are ready to take on the world, let alone school! Make lists. It will help you to stay organized if you make lists. Make a list of homework assignments to do, a list of after school activities, make a list of things you want to do in general. This will help you remember all you need to do at a certain time period. Get enough sleep. This will keep you more awake during the day and aware. You will be ready to do the tasks assigned to you and have a more pleasant day. It will also be easier to wake up in the morning. I know that when I wake up late it starts my day off on the wrong foot. Give yourself plenty of time to get ready in the morning and dont forget to eat breakfast! Plan your weekends during the week. Throughout the week, think about and write down all the things you wish to get done on the weekend. Then you can have that goal in mind and you are less likely to forget all about school the moment the Friday bell rings. Plan your week on the weekends. Sometime during the weekend, plan your week ahead. What do you want to get accomplished this week? What days will you be absolutely swamped with activities? What days will you actually get some time to yourself? By doing this, you can start your week off right and know what to expect. Acting on these suggestions might be difficult at first, but after awhile, these will become habit and much easier to apply to your life. And you can see your life changed as you become more organized!

English Vocabulary related to Marriage - Intermediate Level English Words

English Vocabulary related to Marriage - Intermediate Level English Words Here you will learn useful English vocabulary related to marriage and weddings. I will explain the meanings of English expressions in detail and provide you with examples.Scroll down to complete an interactive exercise and practise your English vocabulary related to marriage. Don’t keep this to yourself. Tell the world. English Vocabulary related to Marriage MARRIAGE (noun) it means to become a husband and wifeex. This actress was married five times and her last marriage made her the happiest.WEDDING (noun) it is the ceremony which starts the marriageex. The wedding was supposed to start at 3.00 pm but the bride was late for almost an hour.BRIDE the woman who is getting marriedGROOM the man who is getting marriedBEST MAN the special frend of the groomBRIDESMAIDS special friends of the bride. The average number of bridesmaids in the UK is three. Usually bridesmaids have to wear the same dresses with matching shoes.The head of the bridesmaids is called A MAID OF HONOUR. She is responsible for keeping things organised, helps the bride get dressed and stay calm on the day of her wedding. A maid of honour usually plans brides HEN PARTY.HEN PARTY (NIGHT)   a party for the bride-to-be and her female friendsSTAG NIGHT a party for the groom-to-be and his male friendsAfter the wedding there may be a RECEPTION, which is a party for all the guests.A HONEYMOON is a holiday for the bride and groom after the wedding. Quite often the newlyweds chose an exotic destination for their honeymoon.NEWLY-WED a recently married person  People usually celebrate their WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. This is the day on which they got married.ex. Were going out for dinner this Saturday. It is our wedding anniversary. Weve been married for 5 years.TO GET ENGAGED to Usually, a man makes a PROPOSAL (an offer of marriage) to his girlfriend and gives her an engagement ring.Unfortunately, if the marriage is unsuccessful they may BREAK UP (to end a relationship) or SEPARATE (to start living separately).  If they legally end their marriage, they GET DIVORCED.ex. Sarah got divorced when she wanted to get married again. English Vocabulary related to Marriage - Quiz Loading...

Love the Life You Live

Love the Life You Live Love the life you live, live the life you love. Bob Marley Happy birthday to you, Bob Marley! Your music brought light and goodness in peoples hearts, your compositions will make any one smile. It is thanks to you reggae gained worldwide popularity. You managed to prevent religious and political differences and violence in Jamaica. You fought all your life against evil in the hearts of people and, we want to believe, won many victories.   Happy Birthday, Bob, thank you for everything! Love the Life You Live Love the life you live, live the life you love. Bob Marley Happy birthday to you, Bob Marley! Your music brought light and goodness in peoples hearts, your compositions will make any one smile. It is thanks to you reggae gained worldwide popularity. You managed to prevent religious and political differences and violence in Jamaica. You fought all your life against evil in the hearts of people and, we want to believe, won many victories.   Happy Birthday, Bob, thank you for everything!