4 Things to Consider Before Dropping a College Class

4 Things to Consider Before Dropping a College Class Perhaps this scenario sounds familiar: a student registers for a college class, begins it, and then wishes to drop it before the term ends. This may happen because the course is not what the student expected or because the content is too difficult. Before you finalize your decision, here are four things to consider before dropping a college class: 1. Deadlines There are typically strict deadlines for dropping a college class. Oftentimes, there is a deadline for full tuition refunds, as well as a deadline for partial refunds. There are other deadlines that stipulate when you may drop a class without it appearing on your transcript, versus when you will receive a withdrawal or incomplete grade that could affect your academic status. Prior to making any major decisions, be sure to verify your schools deadlines for dropping classes. These deadlines can usually be found on your colleges website, but it is wise to talk to an adviser or the registrar before withdrawing from any classes. 2. Impact on financial aid Dropping a college class can potentially affect your financial aid. Many forms of financial aid include a particular award amount for full-time students and a smaller award amount for part-time students. If dropping a college class means that you would change from being a full-time student to a part-time student, you could end up receiving a smaller financial aid package. This could be especially problematic if you have already used your aid. Sometimes, students will accumulate debt with their university if they drop from full-time to part-time status. This could then create difficulties when trying to register for future terms. Additionally, some scholarships and other sources of financial aid require you to maintain a certain number of credits per term. If you fall below that amount, you could lose your funding. If you are receiving any form of financial aid, you should consult with your financial aid office prior to altering your class schedule. 3. Sequencing of classes It is also imperative to consider the specific class and how the withdrawal might affect your long-term academic schedule. Some college classes are only offered during certain terms, which means you might have to wait an entire academic year before you can enroll in that course again. While this may not present an issue for elective classes, dropping a course required for your degree could ultimately delay your graduation. If the class you wish to drop is a pre-requisite for other courses, or if it is part of a longer sequence of classes, withdrawing is likely to affect your long-term study plan. You might not be able to take subsequent classes until the one you drop is successfully completed. For this reason, it would be intelligent to talk to your academic adviser first. You may also want to take a look at these four myths about college classes. 4. Reasons for dropping It is helpful to consider the specific circumstances that are making you wish to take this route. Perhaps dropping seems like the easiest solution, but there are other ways to handle the situation. If you are doing poorly in the class, meet with your professor or seek out additional resources, such as study groups or tutors. These are great benefits to group study. If you do not have time for all of your general responsibilities, see if there are some activities you can eliminate to ease your load. Ask friends or family to help you with certain responsibilities so you can better manage your time. Fully consider all of your options prior to making your decision. If you are contemplating dropping a college class, ponder all of the possible consequences of doing so. If you make the decision to drop, it should be an informed decision. As always, remember that college instructors and staff are there to assist you during your academic career. Therefore, be sure to ask about deadlines, potential implications, and other resources available to you!

5 Perfect Travel Destinations for Beginner Spanish Speakers

5 Perfect Travel Destinations for Beginner Spanish Speakers 1. Costa Rica Suzy S. Traveling to a Spanish-speaking country can be intimidating for a beginning Spanish speaker. Here, language  tutor Jackie A. shares her recommendations for beginner-friendly travel destinations So youve finished your first couple of Spanish lessons  and youre ready to practice your new skills. Traveling and experiencing a new culture is a great way to learn Spanish for beginners. Here are five travel destinations that are perfect for beginning Spanish speakers. 1. Costa Rica If you feel nervous about your Spanish, you can rest assured, the Ticos will embrace you and teach you how to live la Pura Vida! In Costa Rica, you can explore the Caribbean, the rain forest, and the Pacific. Although the country has its own currency (the Colon), many stores advertise with USD. Photo by Jane Boles 2. Panama This country has become an expat haven with many settling in the capital, Panama City. Its the only country where you can see the sun rise on the Pacific and set on the Atlantic. The official currency is Balboa, but you can find a lot in USD as well. Bonus for you introverts, its not overpopulated, so you can truly get away from the hustle and bustle. Photo by Chris Goldberg 3. Dominican Republic This beautiful country on the island of Hispaniola is a popular tourist destination. Youll be able to find plenty of English speakers, but youll still have a great opportunity to practice your Spanish. Should you get stuck, the locals can switch languages for you. The Dominican Republic has an interesting history, and lively culture filled with food, music, and dancing. Photo by Noeliz Diaz Troncoso 4. Mexico Visit our friendly neighbors to the south to explore the country and practice your new language skills. Tourism is a big industry, so youll find lots of English speakers. Theres so much to do in Mexico; you can explore the beaches, rain forest, cities, and ruins. Theres not a beginner Spanish speaker that cant find something theyd like to do here. Photo by ruimc77 Y finalmente (and finally) 5. Puerto Rico Passports are optional for this Caribbean island thats filled with friendly Spanish speakers to help you with your new language. Many Puerto Ricans learn English in school, so the locals may be able to help you if you get stuck.  Enjoy the culture, food, dance, music, art, and breathtaking views. Photo by Giuseppe Milo No matter where you are in your Spanish learning journey, there are so many wonderful places that you can visit and practice your skills. Need to brush up on essential Spanish travel phrases? Check out the video below before your trip. By now youre ready to take off and explore all that the Spanish culture has to offer. Want to work on your Spanish-speaking skills without leaving home? Find a Spanish language tutor in your area! Jackie A. is an acting, English, French, and Spanish instructor in Essington, PA. She taught English as she studied abroad in Geneva, Switzerland  and is an active member of her  local improv troupe.  Learn more about Jackie here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

The Top Study Tips for Midterms

The Top Study Tips for Midterms Its almost midterm season, and you may be feeling a bit stressed. But dont fretyou can still devise a study plan that maximizes your success. The top study tips for midterms include forming a study group, highlighting your notes, and refusing to cram before the big day (or days). Looking for ways to ace your midterms? Continue reading to learn how you can best utilize your time leading up to midterms. The top study tips for midtermstwo weeks before You know the date of your exam, and your professor has likely mentioned what content will be on the midterm. Great! Regardless of whether you take notes on a computer or with a pen and paper, now is the perfect time to start highlighting. By keeping track of important sections in each chapter or document, youll have easy access to information as you begin studying. Highlight definitions and important terms. When there are sections with difficult content or important topics, highlighting them will help you remember to revisit these concepts during your review periods. Depending on how much content is covered on the exam, now might be a great time to create a study group with others in your class. Even if you miss a lecture, someone in your group will surely have the material covered. You can even ask members of your group to start a study guide or flashcards that each person can contribute to over time. [RELATED: 10 Study Habits to Avoid] The top study tips for midtermsthe week of By now, youve most likely covered a majority of the material that will be on the midterm. While youre still a few days away from the actual exam, its time to start revisiting some of the more difficult topics. You should have highlighted sections of review materials, and you can use these to get started: Reread any textbook chapters about this concept. Review practice problems from your homework. When youre spending hours working on the same subject, make sure to take breaks and to refuel when necessary. Its easy to lose focus and to stop processing study material, and a break can help you return to the material feeling refreshed. Remember, its still not too late to start a study group. Invite others from your class to meet and to discuss any questions the group has. If everyone in your study group is having trouble with a certain concept, its time to visit your professors office hours. Any teaching assistants in the course could also be a useful resource. [RELATED: 5 Reasons Students Should Meet with Professors During Office Hours] The top study tips for midtermsthe day before Dont cram! Studies have shown that this is not an effective way to learn material. If you still feel uncertain about a large portion of the information that will be covered on your midterm, focus on developing an understanding of the main ideas. These will likely appear on the test with more frequency than specific details, and they may help you narrow down some options on multiple-choice questions. Review a few of the big topics, make sure you get some rest, and eat a healthy meal before your midterm. Good luck! [RELATED: How Eating Healthy Can Improve Test Scores] 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.

Define Scalene

Define Scalene Scalene is a type of a triangle having sides that are unequal in length. The angles and sides of scale triangle are always different. Basically, there are three types of triangles; they are isosceles, equilateral and scalene triangle. The triangles that are drawn at random would be scalene triangles. The interior angles of scalene triangle are always not of same measurment. Note that, in scalene triangle the shortest side is opposite to the smallest angle and longest side is opposite to largest angle. Example 1: Calculate the area of scalene triangle whose base is 9 cm and height is 4 cm Solution 1: Given Base of triangle = 9 cm Height = 4 cm The formula to find area of triangle = (b X h) / 2 Plug in the values in the formula Area = (9 X 4) / 2 = 36 / 2 = 18 cm2 Note: check your units while calculating areas. Example 2: The lengths of sides of scalene triangle are 8 cm; 12 cm and 16 cm. Find the area of triangle. Solution 2: To find area of triangle with given sides, use Herons formula = 18 (10) (6) (2) = 2160 = 46.48 = Therefore, Area of triangle = 46.48 cm

10 Easy Guitar Songs for Beginners

10 Easy Guitar Songs for Beginners Sign up successful “Mama Tried” Merle Haggard Another popular tune from the 1960s, Mama Tried is a three-chord song: D and G are the primary chords, while A7 (a slight variation of the A chord) is also used. When you feel like youve got the rhythm down, consider learning the intro and guitar solo, as well! “Sweet Home Alabama” Lynyrd Skynyrd With an intro that is instantly recognizable to Southern rock fans everywhere, Sweet Home Alabama is a popular song to learn. The picking pattern may sound intimidating at first, but it  is really just a few notes played on the D, Cadd9, and G chord progression. Try working on the strumming pattern before moving on to the individual notes so you can get a feel for the rhythm of the song. “Come As You Are” Nirvana Considered by many grunge fans to be one of the signature songs of the early 90s, Come As You Are is a must-learn song for any player. The chords used are barre chords, so a true beginner might find them difficult, but the intro riff is surprisingly easy to learn and is sure to be a hit when played for friends and fans of Nirvana and grunge music in general. Check out the intro tab here. “Check Yes or No” George Strait One of George Straits most popular songs, Check Yes or No is played using only three major chords and one minor chord. The catchy intro is a D, A, G progression, and each chord is played twice before starting the pattern over again. “Ring of Fire” Johnny Cash If Elvis was the King of rock roll, Johnny Cash was undoubtedly the King of three-chord songs. After you get the basic strumming pattern down, try to master the intro: its guaranteed to stay in your head for days. “Strong Enough” Sheryl Crow Strong Enough is one of Sheryl Crows most popular songs, and its a great beginner song to learn on the acoustic guitar. Although the picking pattern might be a little tricky at first for a true beginner, the chords can be strummed while filler notes are added in to give the song a fuller sound. “Long Time Gone” Dixie Chicks If youre a fan of contemporary country music, Long Time Gone is an excellent, catchy song to add to your ever-expanding repertoire. It is another example of a song that uses only three chords for the majority of the piece, with an E added to the end of the bridge for variation. “Paparazzi” Lady Gaga Sure to be a crowd-pleaser, the huge hit Paparazzi uses only a couple of minor chords along with G, C, and D. These 10 tunes are just a taste of the easy guitar songs you can learn as a beginner! Want to learn even more? Check out this resource: Learn to Play 20 Songs Using 5 Easy Guitar Chords. Photo by John Pastorello 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

7 Tips for Summer College Tours

7 Tips for Summer College Tours Summer is around the corner, and if youve got a high school student, its the perfect time to visit colleges. Whether your teen will be headed into junior yeara pivotal time in the college research journeyor is earlier or later in high school, college tours are eye-opening, insightful and very worthwhile. Make your travel arrangements now to hit the most important colleges on your teens list. Once youve got an itinerary, plan ahead! Follow Huntingtons seven tips to make the most of summer college visits: Make a list of questions. Before your trip, your teen should take the time to develop a list of questions she has about a college and a checklist of areas on campus that she definitely wants to visit. Questions of students might focus on campus life, residence hall life, what led students to choose that college and what they enjoy about it (and anything they would change if they could). Questions of professors and staff should focus on information that isnt readily available on the website. Take a guided tour. You and your teen absolutely should wander around campus on your own, but a guided tour is also time well spent. A guide might be a current student who can show you notable buildings and places on campus, give some insight what classes and campus life are really like, share some of the colleges history and points of academic pride, and answer your teens questions. Over summer, a guided tour might give you access to resources or buildings that are otherwise closed to the general visitor. Sit in on a class. If possible, teens should sit in on a class or twoideally both a larger lecture and a smaller class. This is a great opportunity to see what college classes are really like, how professors teach, and how students learn and participate. Just as important, seeing classes in action can help guide students toward the colleges that would fit them best. If a large lecture hall scares your teen, maybe a smaller college that doesnt have any large classes (even for general education classes) will be a better fit. Talk with a professor or two. If your teen has the chance to schedule a meeting with a professorespecially one in the field of study in which hes interested, he should. This will give your teen a chance to learn more about opportunities for undergraduate students in the major and ask pertinent questions about a programs reputation and strengths. Check out the residence halls. The dorms will give your teen a peek into day-to-day student life. Its a great way to see what the living quarters, cafeteria and bathrooms look like, and its also an ideal chance to talk with any students who are living on campus over summer about what they enjoy about campus living and the college overall. Contact each college to reserve tours and information sessions. At many colleges and universities, summer is a prime visiting time for high school students. If you want to do any of the above, make sure you register early, as tours and information sessions are likely capped at a certain number of families and reserving one-on-one time with professors will need to be set up in advance. Record takeaways right away. As soon as you finish a college visit, your teen should get out the laptop or notebook and record all observations: any feelings about campus and the different buildings visited as well as all impressions of professors, staff and students. This is especially important if youre visiting more than one college during your trip, as you dont want them to blend together. These notes will come in useful later on when the time to apply draws nearer. An in-person visit is the best way to get a feel for a colleges campus, students, programs and overall atmosphere. It can help your teen rule out schools that dont feel like a good fit and motivate your teen to assemble a stellar application package for those shes excited about. Plan ahead to get the most out of these visits, which will help your teen make a smart college decision.

June 2013 last chance to take the SAT and ACT before the summer!

June 2013 last chance to take the SAT and ACT before the summer! Is your student planning to take the SAT, ACT, or SAT subject tests  in June?  If so, AJ Tutoring can help with a review of important concepts and strategies.  We know this is a busy time of year with finals and AP exams, so we will work with your students schedule to accommodate his or her needs.  Read on for more details and important dates!Retaking the SATThe SAT is offered again this spring on  June 1.  The regular registration deadline for the June 1 SAT is  today,  May 7.  To register for the SAT, please visit the College Boards website.You should plan your students testing schedule ahead of time so he or she has time for both the SAT and the SAT subject tests.  The SAT and SAT subject tests cannot be taken on the same day.If your student has already completed a full SAT preparation or an SAT group class, AJ Tutoring offers the option of a 3-4 session SAT review.  During these review sessions, our tutors zero in on your students difficulties with the test and focus on fix ing specific problem areas or content gaps.Taking the SAT subject testsSAT subject tests are also offered on June 1.  Registration for the SAT subject tests takes place at the College Boards website.SAT subject tests are offered in math, literature, US and world history, biology, chemistry, physics, and most languages.Students can take up to 3 subject tests in one day.If your student is taking AP exams in May, its a good idea to also take the subject test in that topic in June.  For example, many AP US History students do well on the subject test in US History with little additional review.To prepare for SAT subject tests, students typically meet with our tutors for 3-4 sessions for each test to review content and cover test-taking strategies.The ACT: another college admissions optionColleges accept both the SAT and ACT for admissions, so for most students it makes sense to try both tests and see which one yields a higher score.  The ACT is faster-paced but more straightforward t han the SAT.The ACT is offered one more time this spring on June 8.  Late registration is available until May 17.  To register for the ACT, please visit the ACTs website.AJ Tutoring offers two options for ACT preparation.  For students who have not completed a full SAT prep or would like more comprehensive prep for the ACT, we have a full 8-9 session one-on-one tutoring program.  For students who have already prepared for the SAT, we offer a shorter 4-session ACT hybrid review, focusing on the differences between the two tests.If youd like to sign up for SAT or ACT review or speak with a director to develop a testing plan for your student, please give us a call at (650) 331-3251, or email info@ajtutoring.com.  Were looking forward to talking with you!

Virtual Reality Revolutionizes Online Tutoring

Virtual Reality Revolutionizes Online Tutoring Virtual reality will make online tutoring as common place as one-on-one tutor over the next years this is the prediction of tutoring expert and founder of TutorZ Dirk Wagner. Today, many parents and students hold the belief that online tutoring has significant limitations. A tutor can notice the every so slight change in her students learning mood to slow down or speed up the pace of instruction among many other things. A computer-only interface does not yet allow for such a rich multi-sensory exchange of information. But what if multimedia-interface such as the Google or Vuzix become widely available and affordable? What if screen sharing apps such as Skype or teamviewer run on these goggles? It will break down the barriers digital barriers between learner and its teacher and revolutionize tutoring as we know it. The Trends Research Institute predicted in its Top Trends for 2014: “In higher education circles, the long-held belief that digital learning has significant limitations will fade.” Our “digital learning’s golden era” trend anticipated that once the stigma melted among university elites, the flood gates would open. In our opinion, virtual reality tutoring will be the best of both world: students have access to world-class tutors around the globe while having the experience of this tutor sitting next to him in the study room. Add to that in an area of unmanageable college debt and a stagnating economy online degrees are ow accepted as legitimate, and more affordable as its brick-and-mortar counterparts. So rejoice, tutors and students, the golden age of tutoring is about to come!