Top 4 Reasons to Attend a Big School

Top 4 Reasons to Attend a Big School One-size-fits-all: not a phrase to describe college student bodies. Everyone has a different preference when it comes to the size of the school they plan on attending. It is one of the pivotal factors to the college decision. There are a lot of assumptions made about what a small school does for you and what a big school has to offer differently and of course, let us not forget about the medium-sized school. However, even if you decide on a student body that is somewhere in between small and large, its numbers and culture are most likely going to make it lean more in the direction of one category or the other. Both small and large schools have very defined cultures that are shaped due to their respective sizes and every student should be fully aware of what those cultures are before making a decision. Here is some great information on large schools vs. small schools that you may want to check out. As discussed before in regards to small schools, there is a clear difference between liking the idea of a certain type of school and actually liking the school itself. Rather than just taking obvious concepts and blowing them out of proportion to fit the dream school you are picturing, you should identify a few specific things about yourself that will help indicate what type of school you are ready for. If you already went through that list in reference to small schools and figured out that it isnt the path for you, try out the evaluation for big schools. You might find that this is the kind of college experience you are not only looking for, but pretty naturally prepared for. You may want to check out these reasons to attend a small schoolas well. A large school is more than just huge crowds and a well-known reputation. Find out if you would fit the mold of this of eclectic atmosphere by determining if the following descriptions apply to you. You Like to Try New Things: Academically, socially, culturally if you enjoy expanding your horizons, a big campus will suit you well. A bigger school means more opportunity and more space to showcase those opportunities. Large events will be held throughout campus more frequently with interesting educational presentations, visiting concerts and comedy tours by big names, club and job fairs, and various social/mingling events. Additionally, being on a big campus means you have the chance to explore a wider span of ethnic restaurants, unique entertainment venues, and other intriguing establishments in the extensive downtown area. Moreover, you will have more classes to choose from in your field of study as well as a lot more options when it comes to study resources and other creative ways of exploring that academic path youre on. A larger faculty to reach out to doesnt hurt either. You Love Meeting New People: Although most students enjoy this and it is certainly something you can carry through at a smaller school, a big campus is just a little more appropriate for those who really enjoy it. Making new acquaintances is a bit more exciting at a large school because there are just so many people to meet. More importantly, you can pretty much be guaranteed that there will always be more new people for you to come across even after the meeting the core of your class during that first year. Joining more clubs and attending more events will certainly make this more likely, but the comforting thing about being at a large school is that you have that easy chance of meeting new people every single day just by walking to class. You will constantly have the opportunity to make new connections without even trying. You Get Bored Easily: Although similar to liking to try new things, this is in reference to someone who just hates feeling restricted to one place or one path. Small schools tend to offer you one, simple world to be a part of, which can be great. However, if you like to mix it up once in awhile and feel you need to escape certain areas of campus every now and then, youre going to feel more at ease at a big school. When its so easy to check out a different spot of campus or learn about a new student organization, youll never feel at a loss for direction. Many smaller schools leave you feeling like youve seen it all after your first year a larger school will keep you guessing. Youre Passionate About Sporting Events: Many students choose to go to a big school because they are huge fans of its football team. Perhaps they grew up watching them or have always had their hearts set on attending a school in that particular conference. Medium to large schools are more often going to be the ones with a popular football team, giving them an attractive edge in some students eyes over the quintessential small school. Even if the large school does not have a football team, however, its sports teams that are considered to be major are going to have quite the exciting following. Small schools certainly show pride and buzzing support for their teams as well, but the electrifying atmosphere of giant stadiums, tailgates, and towns decked out in those school colors exhibit something truly special and different. A college decision should not made on sports alone, but if you are in fact a sports fanatic and love showing outward spirit for your team, you are bound to enjoy thos e perks of a large school. Anything that makes you more passionate about your school and happy to be there is certainly a positive factor to think about. The majority of appeal in a big school lies in the seemingly endless number of options. A student who simply wants more and gets excited by the idea of being a part of something huge would likely be very happy on such a campus. And remember large schools are not just for extroverted, outgoing people. Shy students can be just as happy in this environment as long as they are ready for those sometimes overwhelming elements that set it apart. Make your decision accordingly and enjoy the search! You may also want to check out these tips on how to prepare for the college searchas well!

How to Sing Better Instantly [Super Simple Trick]

How to Sing Better Instantly [Super Simple Trick] Megan L. Most aspiring vocalists are on the lookout for tips on how to sing better.  Everyones voice is different and unique.  However, there is one simple trick for how to sing better that applies to singers of all styles and skill levels:  learn how to relax both your mind and body. Relaxing your mind and body will improve your singing voice dramatically. Keep reading to find out more. How to Sing Better Instantly What Happens When You Relax The secret to learning how to sing better is to stay relaxed. If you learn to relax while singing, you can expect the following changes to take place: Your voice will double in size.  When youre relaxed, your voice wont get stuck on the way out. Instead, your voice will work naturally and without strain or injury. Your tonal range and vocal colors will multiply.  Think back to the last time you sang when you were tense or nervous. You may have sung accurately enough, but you may have noticed a metallic sound coming through. Now think about the last time you sang when you were relaxed. More than likely, your tone was much richer and stronger than in the other scenario. You will be able to sing for longer.  Tense muscles are tired muscles, and after a while, theyll start to ache. If you are relaxed, you are less likely to tire yourself out by working too hard to achieve half the results. 3 Tips to Relax Your Voice While Singing Unfortunately, the vast majority of people find that as soon as someone tells them to relax, theyre immediately tense. The more they try to unwind, the more wound up they become. You may understand this tool for how to sing better instantly, but if you cant implement it, it wont do you much good. To combat this effect, try some of the following singing tips and see what works for you: 1. Take care of yourself. The difference between a singer and an instrumentalist is that we are our instruments. If a violinist has a cold, for example, they can still put on a good performance. A singer will find it harder to do so as their blocked nose or scratchy throat will get in the way. Do your best to take care of yourself and avoid getting sick. Get enough rest, drink water throughout the day, and pay attention to the foods you eat. 2. Warm up your body. You probably already know that its harder to sing when youre feeling lethargic. Start with a few gentle stretches to make sure that youre physically relaxed and ready to put your best foot forward. Proper posture is also key to learning how to sing better, and exercises will help in this area. 3. Be prepared. Theres nothing guaranteed to make you tense up quicker than not preparing your music properly. Practicing often will help if youre anxious about forgetting words or missing high notes during performances and auditions. For even more tips on how to sing better instantly, check out this helpful tutorial from vocal teacher Arlys A. Finally, no matter how well your strategies for relaxing while singing might be, there is only so much you can do by yourself. If you are a self-taught singer, there are all kinds of hidden tensions that can creep into your technique that you might not notice, and that will set you up for vocal problems or permanent damage. The best way to avoid this is to find a qualified vocal coach  who can see and hear problems as they occur, and help you fix them.  If you really want to learn how to sing better, nothing can replace having a vocal coach by your side. Good luck on your singing journey! 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 Ihsan Khairir

Fulfilling Your New Years GMAT Resolutions

Fulfilling Your New Year's GMAT Resolutions GMAT MBA Admissions Blog Now that the calendar has turned to 2018, millions of folks have set (and are hopefully still following!) their New Year’s resolutions. For most, these involve some measure of personal improvement â€" eat healthier, exercise more, boost savings, or maybe improve career prospects. Many looking to further their career will potentially consider building upon their scholastic resume with an MBA. Of course, one of the early steps on the road to an MBA is taking the GMAT and getting a score that will be enticing for your target schools, but with so much to do it can be challenging to decide how to start. Step 1: Set a Goal The first step to any resolution is, of course, identifying a goal. Having a target to strive towards allows you to track progress and feel pride as you make the steady march towards your ultimate achievement. However, everyone’s goal should be different. It must be based on your personal goals and abilities, not just something you heard about how ‘everyone taking the GMAT needs a 700’. Identify your target colleges to determine their admissions requirements and see realistically if you are capable of meeting those benchmarks based on your resume, GPA, and of course your potential GMAT score. For instance, just in MyGuru’s hometown of Chicago, there are numerous business schools from which to choose. These include top five B-schools such as Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and University of Chicago Booth School of Business which boast an average GMAT score in the 730s to University of Illinois at Chicago Liautaud School of Business and Illinois Institute of Technology Stuart School of Business which accept scores in the 500s, with even more schools in Illinois and worldwide that will fall somewhere in between. Wherever you want to go to business school, make sure to do some research (mba.com is a great place to start) to determine what your GMAT goal should be to earn strong consideration from admissions officers at your preferred MBA destinations. Step 2: Find an Instructor and Materials Don’t worry, this isn’t a pitch where I tell you that everyone needs a tutor. However, everyone does need an expert source for instruction and the best text for that, and practice questions, is going to be the Official Guide to the GMAT. If you prefer lugging around heavy things, get the paperback version. If not, get the e-book which will lighten your load and encourage best practices for scratch work since you’ll be working from a screen â€" just like you will on test day. If you need additional practice problems, you can also get the Official Guide GMAT Bundle including Verbal and Quantitative workbooks. Now, if you think you would benefit from additional help beyond reading the limited instructional material provided in the Official Guide, but want to try studying on your own to start there are a ton of additional textbooks from various prep companies or worksheets from sites such asMath-Aids. You can also find numerous online pre-recorded GMAT self-study materials from a variety of sources.If you think you would like direct assistance from a GMAT expert, consider online or in-person tutoring and online or in-person classroom instruction. Classroom instruction is going to be the most cost-effective option, but the difference between a class and one-on-one tutoring is similar to the difference between taking a yoga class and training with a yogi. The former will teach you the broad strokes and provide you with a predetermined set of skills, while the latter will tailor each lesson specifically for you and provide exactly the skills you need to excel at the task. Of course, MyGuru has a team of expert GMAT instructors around the country available for in-person or online instruction and we would be happy to discuss your specific prep needs anytime. Step 3: Set a Schedule Prepping for the GMAT is going to be more akin to training for a marathon than studying for a test. In short, you cannot cram for a marathon, so don’t try it for the GMAT! Instead, try to fit in daily drills and review for no more than an hour or two at a time. Since half of all improvement is reviewing mistakes, a frequently recommended approach is doing practice problems for an hour or so before work and then reviewing those questions for approximately the same amount of time afterwards. This will split up your training and give a consistency to the approach which will keep you fresh every time you study. You will also need to set aside time for full timed practice exams every 3-4 weeks on days you don’t work. Yes, this will likely mean sacrificing some weekends. This is a necessary sacrifice, because taking a full practice exam after a long day at the office is rarely a fun or, more importantly, focused experience. This can lead to lackluster performances and frustration when you see scores that are not truly representative of your skills. Ultimately, until scoring in the 700s each test taker should be more concerned with eliminating simple errors of calculation or focus above anything else. So, taking your practice tests in a serene environment and in top mental condition is imperative. Step 4: Set a Deadline Now, this does not necessarily mean sign up for a test immediately. Of course, if you have admissions deadlines you want to hit, those will take precedence over all other considerations. Still, even if you’re waiting until the next application cycle you will want to set a rough deadline for when you want to take the exam. Think of it this way, you wouldn’t prepare for a race without an end, so you won’t want to begin prepping for the GMAT without a deadline. A good rule of thumb for setting a GMAT deadline is that you’ll want at least eight weeks to prep, but probably not more than 24. The good news is, that you will take practice exams during your prep and you can always shift the exam up or back depending on how your practice scores are faring compared to your target goal. About halfway through your prep be prepared to schedule the exam to ensure that you can get a seat relatively soon after finishing your prep. If you are taking a GMAT class or working with a tutor, best practice is to take the exam within two weeks of your final lesson to avoid having your skills decline while waiting. Follow these steps and you’ll be well on your way to fulfilling this year’s GMAT New Year’s Resolution! About the Author: Stefan Maisnier is the Director of Online Tutoring at MyGuru, and sometimes contemplates the lagging Verbal scores of business school applicants while gazing wistfully at his own Masters of Science in Journalism diploma from Northwestern University.

SAT Essential Words and Definitions-know your stuff! - Private Tutoring

SAT Essential Words and Definitions-know your stuff! BobbiM Apr 25, 2014 SAT coming up?  Quickly come to know these words  below: Acclaim; v, n.   Verb: to applaud or congratulate with much enthusiasm; to strongly approve. My tennis coach always acclaimed us for our good work. Noun: enthusiastic applause or recognition. I was met with much acclaim when I returned home. Admirable; adj. worthy of being admired or respected. His attention to me on our date was so admirable it made me like him even more. Applaud; v. To express approval, often by the clapping of hands. They all applauded me as I walked into the stadium. Approbation; n. Expression of approval, often official in nature. The Presidents approbation for the new law was not received well. Celebrate; v. To praise or make widely known or creditable. We celebrated the proposal of Mike to Shauna. Citation; n. Official commendation or recognition. She received a citation for her terrible parking. Creditable; adj. deserving of often limited praise or accommodation. The performance I gave wasnt the best but it was creditable. Another definition: Deserving of commercial credit or reputation. The article was not creditable and it misled many people. Encomium; n. Warm, deserving praise; a tribute. I gave the boy an encomium for all the wonderful things he did for the community. Esteem; n. Favorable respect or regard. I have high self-esteem because I love myself. Eulogy; n. A laudatory speech written in praise of a person, usually after his or her death. At her funeral, so many people gave amazing eulogies that brought me to tears.

The Stigma Around Depression

The Stigma Around Depression Depression is an important issue that we need to keep talking about. Photo by Flickr user Life Mental Health. Note: trigger warning for suicide and depression. Depression. Mental health. Therapy. Psychologist. Suicide. Do these words make you feel uncomfortable? For years, centuries even, society has stigmatized mental health, as much as the 20th century stigmatized homosexuality as something to be ashamed of and kept secret. To this day, we cant talk openly about depression and mental health issues, and that needs to change. What is depression? Depression is a common but serious mental illness, characterized by sad or anxious feelings that are much deeper than feeling blue. Untreated, it can interfere with daily life. Depression isnt just something to be waved away as a phase youre going through. In 2011, the American College Health Association found that about 30 percent of college students reported feeling so depressed that it was difficult to function at some time in the past year. Depression impairs your ability to make wholesome choices and affects your academic and social lives. Its also a major factor contributing to suicide, the third leading cause of death in young adults aged 15 to 24. Depression is serious. It is real. It happens to a great portion of college students, especially from all the stress we experience as we make hard life choices, deal with crippling debt, and grow into our roles as adults. So why is it that we cant just tell friends, Hey, Im depressed and Ive been seeing a psychologist? Or, I think I might be depressed. Why cant we say to friends, I think you should think about getting help without them being offended? College students especially tend to keep to themselves. We dont like to confide our issues to others because hey, were adults now. I dont need to rely on anyone else. I dont want to trouble anyone with my problems. I dont want them to think Im crazy. I can deal with it myself. Or so we think. We ought to treat mental illness like any other disease. It is treatable and preventable, but left untreated can wreak havoc on the mind and body. We wouldnt tell friends not to get cancer treated, so why should it be any different suggesting a friend get their depression treated? Many colleges have cheap or free counseling services. Early prevention is key with depression, and talking to a doctor or mental health care professional is the first step to identifying the problem and finding a way to fix it. Im no expert on this matter, but as someone whos recovered from strong depression, I think its important that we destigmatize mental illness and find a way to address it as an important issue, rather than fear it. Id rather risk offending someone by encouraging them to find help than risk the far harsher cost of losing them to a debilitating and sometimes even lethal illness.

La Scuola Italian International School

La Scuola â€" Italian International School La Scuola â€" Italian International School Located in San Francisco, La Scuola is the first International Baccalaureate (IB) World School in the city and the first IB Italian immersion school in the world. Their mission is to Inspire brave learners to shape the future through passionate teachers, rigorous curriculum, and Italian language immersion. La Scuolas innovative approach to teaching strives to instill a drive in students to be lifelong learners, develop important life skills and reach their full potential. Students are encouraged to ask questions and develop new ways of thinking to solve complex, modern day problems. Through consistent and positive teacher support, students learn how to negotiate problems and grow as individuals. Teachers at La Scuola are passion and dedicate educators, and student success is at the center of daily activities and the overall learning process. Teachers strive to be positive role models for students both in and out of the classroom.

SUCCESS IN KUMON INSPIRED THIS YOUNG STUDENT TO EXCEL IN THE POOL

SUCCESS IN KUMON INSPIRED THIS YOUNG STUDENT TO EXCEL IN THE POOL SUCCESS IN KUMON INSPIRED THIS YOUNG STUDENT TO EXCEL IN THE POOL Haley, 14-years-old, Math Level N, Reading Program Completer Michael Phelps, the most successful and decorated Olympian of all time, once said, “You can’t put a limit to anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.” Just like Michael Phelps, Haley had an interest in swimming, but the sport didn’t necessarily come naturally to her. She wasn’t always the fastest swimmerâ€"often having slower times compared to her teammates. Instead of giving up, Haley compared the obstacles she was facing in swimming to her experience in Kumon. You see, Haley enrolled in Kumon when she was just six years old and now at 14, she can say she’s studying way above her peers. In fact, she completed the entire Kumon Reading Program, which ends in analyzing the work of Shakespeare, in the 6th grade and she’s currently studying advance algebraic expressions in the Kumon Math Program. It wasn’t always easy for Haley, but she recalled the grit, determination, focus, and goal setting that she used to advance through Kumon. â€" “Beyond academics, Kumon has really helped me with swimming,” said Haley. “When I first started swimming, most of the kids were much faster than I was. Seeing positive results from the hard work I put in daily at Kumon, motivated me to work hard every day at my swim practices. Like Kumon, I then saw a huge improvement in my swimming. My speed increased and I was invited to swim at more competitive meets.” Haley’s hard work and discipline has paid off both in the classroom and in her swimming. With her stroke of choice being breast stroke, she is proud to say she made the varsity swim team in her freshman year of high school. Haley has walked away as a medal winner from the Central California Junior Olympics, and swims for the Santa Barbara Swim Club in their senior group. When she’s not in the pool, Haley can be found singing in the school choir and playing the piano and guitar. She has even found a talent and enjoyment in composing her own music. In 2016, Haley achieved the Level 4 certificate of merit in voice and piano for The  Music Teachers’ Association of California ®. In 2017, she went on to achieve Level 5 in voice, and is currently training for Level 6 in voice. This program provides young musicians a curriculum to strive for excellence in areas such as performance, technique, sight-reading/singing, ear training, and music theory. While Haley is still unsure on a future career path, she has a great passion and interest in skincare. She can see herself owning her own business that specializes in skincare. Haley’s hard work and discipline didn’t go unnoticed, as she was one of 55 students selected to attend the 2018 Kumon Student Conference in Calgary, Canada. We had the opportunity to speak to Haley about her Kumon journey. How has Kumon helped you academically? Kumon has helped me go from being a kid in elementary school who sometimes struggled with math, but now in high school, I am in advanced math classes. The concepts being covered in school aren’t difficult to me anymore, since I’ve already worked through them in Kumon. If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? Persistence How has Kumon helped you outside of the classroom? Kumon has helped me with setting long-term goals for myself. If I ever find myself working on anything challenging, I break it up into smaller pieces â€" making it much easier to take on and complete. What did it mean to you attending the Student Conference? Attending the Student Conference was such a great experience! It was amazing meeting other students who have worked so hard and have had so many accomplishments. What advice do you have for other Kumon Students? My advice would be to take your time and be patient. It’s a lot of work, but if you stick with it and remain patient, you will see the benefits. Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: Practice is the Key to this Young Cello Players Success Discover How This Young Student Has Gained Independence in Math Diligence and Perseverance Keep This Kumon Student and Volunteer on The Fast Track to Success Inspired by a Kumon Program Completer, This Student Became One Himself SUCCESS IN KUMON INSPIRED THIS YOUNG STUDENT TO EXCEL IN THE POOL SUCCESS IN KUMON INSPIRED THIS YOUNG STUDENT TO EXCEL IN THE POOL Haley, 14-years-old, Math Level N, Reading Program Completer Michael Phelps, the most successful and decorated Olympian of all time, once said, “You can’t put a limit to anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.” Just like Michael Phelps, Haley had an interest in swimming, but the sport didn’t necessarily come naturally to her. She wasn’t always the fastest swimmerâ€"often having slower times compared to her teammates. Instead of giving up, Haley compared the obstacles she was facing in swimming to her experience in Kumon. You see, Haley enrolled in Kumon when she was just six years old and now at 14, she can say she’s studying way above her peers. In fact, she completed the entire Kumon Reading Program, which ends in analyzing the work of Shakespeare, in the 6th grade and she’s currently studying advance algebraic expressions in the Kumon Math Program. It wasn’t always easy for Haley, but she recalled the grit, determination, focus, and goal setting that she used to advance through Kumon. â€" “Beyond academics, Kumon has really helped me with swimming,” said Haley. “When I first started swimming, most of the kids were much faster than I was. Seeing positive results from the hard work I put in daily at Kumon, motivated me to work hard every day at my swim practices. Like Kumon, I then saw a huge improvement in my swimming. My speed increased and I was invited to swim at more competitive meets.” Haley’s hard work and discipline has paid off both in the classroom and in her swimming. With her stroke of choice being breast stroke, she is proud to say she made the varsity swim team in her freshman year of high school. Haley has walked away as a medal winner from the Central California Junior Olympics, and swims for the Santa Barbara Swim Club in their senior group. When she’s not in the pool, Haley can be found singing in the school choir and playing the piano and guitar. She has even found a talent and enjoyment in composing her own music. In 2016, Haley achieved the Level 4 certificate of merit in voice and piano for The  Music Teachers’ Association of California ®. In 2017, she went on to achieve Level 5 in voice, and is currently training for Level 6 in voice. This program provides young musicians a curriculum to strive for excellence in areas such as performance, technique, sight-reading/singing, ear training, and music theory. While Haley is still unsure on a future career path, she has a great passion and interest in skincare. She can see herself owning her own business that specializes in skincare. Haley’s hard work and discipline didn’t go unnoticed, as she was one of 55 students selected to attend the 2018 Kumon Student Conference in Calgary, Canada. We had the opportunity to speak to Haley about her Kumon journey. How has Kumon helped you academically? Kumon has helped me go from being a kid in elementary school who sometimes struggled with math, but now in high school, I am in advanced math classes. The concepts being covered in school aren’t difficult to me anymore, since I’ve already worked through them in Kumon. If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? Persistence How has Kumon helped you outside of the classroom? Kumon has helped me with setting long-term goals for myself. If I ever find myself working on anything challenging, I break it up into smaller pieces â€" making it much easier to take on and complete. What did it mean to you attending the Student Conference? Attending the Student Conference was such a great experience! It was amazing meeting other students who have worked so hard and have had so many accomplishments. What advice do you have for other Kumon Students? My advice would be to take your time and be patient. It’s a lot of work, but if you stick with it and remain patient, you will see the benefits. Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: Practice is the Key to this Young Cello Players Success Discover How This Young Student Has Gained Independence in Math Diligence and Perseverance Keep This Kumon Student and Volunteer on The Fast Track to Success Inspired by a Kumon Program Completer, This Student Became One Himself