5 Questions Grad Students Should Ask Their Advisors

5 Questions Grad Students Should Ask Their Advisors One of the perks of being in grad school are the people who are there to help you along your journeyespecially those who are experts in your field. Take advantage of these mentorship opportunities by cultivating a relationship with your academic advisor. You might have an advisor who simply helps you choose classes, or an advisor who will guide you during your dissertation/thesis years. Here are five questions grad students should ask their advisors: 1. What are my required classes? Before or at the beginning of each semester, schedule a meeting with your advisor to discuss which classes youre interested in taking, which fulfill needed requirements, and which will add to your academic and intellectual growth. This is a great opportunity to plan outlong-termwhich courses to take for each semester in terms of pacing and any other outside commitments, like internships or jobs. Bring up any points of confusion, as not all school policies and intricacies are usually addressed in a brochure. Youll get a better idea of where youre headed and may be able to sidestep any potential complications in the future. [RELATED: What is the Grad School Application Process?] 2. What should I focus on for my thesis? Speaking with your advisor about required classes generally happens during your beginning years in the program; discussing your thesis or dissertation usually comes later, nearer to graduation. Your thesis, dissertation, or capstone project is the meat and potatoes of why youre there. Ask your advisor for feedback at various stages of your project. For example, at the beginning, you might ask for help in shaping a direction for your work. In the middle of your project, you might ask for help breaking down larger tasks into smaller ones. Toward the end, youll want to ask for specific notes on your research or final paper. Ask your advisor for book recommendations, outside resources that might be helpful, people to contact who have completed the work youre interested in, and so on. 3. What kind of funding is available to me? Depending on your program, you may be fully-, partially-, or not at all funded for grad school. In any case, its a great idea to speak with your advisor about how you can maintain or find other sources of income while youre attending grad school. He or she may have leads you dont know about, both within the school and outside it. If funding is competitive at your school, ask your advisor for advice on what could make you a more attractive candidate for a scholarship or grant, for instance. 4. How can I start planning for the future? Especially as a grad student, the future can seem very hazy. You might be interested in teaching higher education, or you may look into going into your field directly, whatever that may look like. Your advisor is likely to have gone down this path as well with many years of valuable experience. Discuss with him or her whats realistic to look forward to in the job market and what you can do to point yourself in the right direction. He or she may be able to guide you to specific companies, organizations, or even people who could help you along the way as well. Talking with your advisor about future plans may not totally extinguish anxieties, but it can help a great deal as you move toward graduation and beyond. 5. How can I grow in my field? Ask your advisor how you might be able to excel and develop in your field. This could be related to future jobs, as mentioned, but it also includes your growth in the present moment. Are there opportunities to publish your work, attend conferences, or meet colleagues and/or other experts in your field? What tasks can you do over the summer that will allow you to make the most of that time off? Your advisor will often have really great ideas of how you can challenge yourself in interesting ways. As a grad student, you may feel isolated in your specific project or topic, but thats not how it has to be! Speaking with your advisor is a great way to gain a greater perspective of your work, as well as a valuable mentor or friend. Dont wait until thesis or dissertation year; meet with him or her early on in your program. 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.

Ratio word problems

Ratio word problems Ratio is a very basic and common concept in mathematics. Ratio is the comparison between quantitates or numbers. The symbol for the representing ratio is :. Ratio helps in solving questions related to comparisons, proportions and many word problems. For example, a / b can be written as a : b. Here a / b is fraction form and a:b is the ratio form. The ratio can be simplifies if a and b have any common factors. Example 1: In the drawing class there are 5 girls and 6 boys. In the singing class there are 7 girls and 6 boys. Which class had higher girls to boy ratio? Solution: The ratio between number of boys and number of girls in the drawing class = 5: 6. The ratio between number of boys and number of girls in the singing class = 7: 6. Comparing both the ratios writing in the fraction form: 5/6 and 7/6. Here the denominator of the fractions is the same so the fraction with grater numerator is greater. Hence, 7/6 5/6. Therefore the ratio between the number of girls and boys is greater in the singing class. Question: Multiple choice question (Pick the correct option.) What is equivalent ration to 24: 12? a) 1: 2 b) 2: 1 c) 1:3 d) None of these. Correct answer: option b. Explanation: The given ratio can be further simplified as 24 and 12 have a common factor 12. Therefore, dividing 24 and 12 by 12 gives 24: 12 = 2: 1.

Maths and Science Tutor in North London

Maths and Science Tutor in North London We thought it would be great to let the world know a little bit more about the best tutors  in London, so please allow us to introduce Peter K, one of Tutorfair’s top Maths and Science tutors. He also runs the charity side of Tutorfair, the Tutorfair Foundation, ensuring that our child for child promise is delivered, taking tutoring where it has never been before. Why do you love tutoring?   It’s such a rewarding job; you get to see children who might never have believed in themselves before achieve great results. It’s challenging and interesting because no two students or days are ever the same. And plus, you get to dig deep into a subject that you absolutely love, as well as travel around and meet amazing people! Who inspired you in education? I had two fantastic teachers at school who inspired me. Mr Grey was my Biology teacher and Mr Williams was my Maths teacher. I enjoyed their lessons so much that they significantly influenced the subjects that I chose to carry on with. I loved how passionate they were about their subjects as it made their lessons so much more engaging. My friends in education - many working with Teach First - also continue to inspire me to carry on home tutoring because they remind me how important education is. What else do you get up to besides tutoring? I love sport. In the past I was a British Champion fencer and I still coach now and compete whenever I can. I’m currently training for a triathlon in April so that’s keeping me busy. I also have a bug for travelling. One of the most fascinating places I’ve been is Papua New Guinea, where I saw the birds of paradise. Seeing nature so up close and personal really is an incredible experience. If you had a super power what would it be? I think it would have to be time travel so that I could see what the future holds.  You wouldn’t go back in time to see the past?  Haha no I’m a scientist so I want to see the future. What advice would you give to a parent on how to find a tutor? Shop around and make sure you find the right person for your child. Remember the tutor acts as a personal mentor as well as providing academic support so there needs to be a good rapport and respect between the tutor and your child. Experience is a factor but finding the right match is the most important when searching for a private tutor. Want to meet Peter? Click here to view a short video so you can see him in person. Peter is a: Biology tutor - Degree, IB, A-Level, GCSE, AS Chemistry tutor - IB, A-Level, GCSE, AS General Science tutor  - A-Level, GCSE, Common Entrance, 11+, AS Geography tutor - GCSE, Common Entrance, 11+ Maths tutor  - GCSE, Common Entrance, 11+, Primary Physics tutor  - GCSE, 11+ If your child needs help with maths or science at school, then please  visit Peter’s profile page.

Eating Lunch at Your Desk Dont! - English Listening Exercise

Eating Lunch at Your Desk Dont! - English Listening Exercise Try this English listening exercise. Do you eat lunch at your desk at work? Is this only a thing in the United States? Watch this interesting and funny video about the SAD DESK LUNCH to learn about American office culture and some good vocabulary and idioms for the office. Also try the writing exercise about where you eat lunch. Until I started working from home I always ate lunch at my desk and it was often times lonely and depressing.English Business VocabularyFirst lets review some of the vocabulary that you might hear while you are watching the video.Freak out-phrasal verb-You can get more detailed definition of freak out in our phrasal verb dictionary using the link but for todays purposes the basic meaning is to panic.Job pressure-the amount of stress and responsibility that comes with a job. How much job pressure do you have?Lose job-this means that you have been fired or laid off from your job. Remember the difference between being fired and being laid off. Generally being fi red means that you did something bad to cause your termination and being laid off means that most likely your company is having financial difficulties or restructuring.Barely qualified-to not have the correct qualifications for a job. Have you ever worked at a job you were barely qualified for?Binge watch-this is a new phenomenon due to Netflix and the ability to stream shoes but it means to watch too much television.bsp;English Listening Exercise1. Work is ______ in America.2. I dont know what ________your job is _______ __ you.3. List some of the alternative locations he gives to eat lunch.4. If you feel ______ for taking a lunch away from your desk, raise awareness.5. Its _____ like youre working when youre eating.6. We know, ___ ___ that social isolation and stress take years off of peoples lives.7. That means I can just go home and _____ watch t.v.English Writing ExerciseHow long is lunch break at your job? What do people do for their lunch? Where do they go to eat lunch? What is your opinion about the lunch break in your culture? Is it too long or too short?

Its Almost Here... The FluentU iPhone App is Launching on May 28!

Its Almost Here... The FluentU iPhone App is Launching on May 28! Its officialAfter 19 months of development, our iPhone app is finally launching on May 28.Now you can learn a language with real-world videos no matter where you are.We know youll love it.But dont take our word for it.Heres what some of our beta testers had to say:Great app. To my knowledge the best on the market. You created something unique and new!It is more helpful than any other tool Ive used. I had been using podcasts before and trying to make flashcards, and that worked pretty well. But, it ended up that I was spending more time making the flashcards than studying. FluentU really solves this.FluentU has quickly become one of my favorite language-learning tools. Great job on an aesthetically pleasing app and an incredibly functional one.This app is so fun and useful the best Chinese language learning app Ive ever used.This mobile app is seriously impressive. I was happy enough with your website, but the app takes it to another level. Awesome job, you guys.[gravityform id=2 nam e=Sign up to be notified!](And if you’re an Android user, we haven’t forgotten about you â€" sign up here.)

How to write a job description that attracts the candidates youre looking for

How to write a job description that attracts the candidates you’re looking for Make the most of your Teach Away job posting by writing a great description that gets job seekers eager to apply for your open position. Here are the essentials every job description should contain to attract candidates: 1. Be specific, and to the point.What are the exact job requirements? What skills and qualities must your ideal applicant have? Being clear about your job requirements will help qualified candidates easily identify themselves and narrows down your pool of applicants. 2. Sell the position. Explain to candidates why they’ll enjoy teaching at your school. What makes your school and the position so great? Giving a brief description of the school’s environment, its mission, values and the area that the teacher will be living and teaching in is a great way to help them envision themselves teaching at your school. 3. Keep it organized.Use headers and bullet points to summarize the information clearly and concisely. Visually, this helps your ad look more appealing and attractive to candidates. Keeping your ad organized helps candidates scan the job ad to quickly determine whether the position is right for them. If candidates can’t tell whether it’s a good position for them, they won’t apply! 4. Convey enthusiasm! No one likes to read a boring job ad. Job seekers are looking to work for apassionate employer - the job description is likely their first impression of your organization. Keep it professional, but write to get your candidate excited about your opportunity. 5. Proofread.Check yourad carefully to ensure there’s no spelling, grammar, or factual mistakes. Avoiding these types of errors is vital for education organizations. Sample Job Description To help you get started, we’ve provided an example of a great job ad. Check it out below! Are top candidates choosing to apply to your school? Sign up for our recruitment blog for more helpful advice on how tocreate a strong school brand to drive more interested, engaged teachers to your school.

7 Ways to Celebrate Pi Day

7 Ways to Celebrate Pi Day 7 Ways to Celebrate Pi Day March 14th is a special day for mathematicians and math-lovers all around the world. Not only does this day mark the birthday of Albert Einstein, the theoretical physicist who developed the general theory of relativity, but March 14th is also the calendar equivalent of pi or 3.14. To celebrate, many students recognize this special day by taking part in activities designed to enrich and deepen their understanding of the concept of pi. To help your family celebrate Pi Day, we have compiled a list of activities to start your own Pi Day tradition. Don’t forget to let us know which of these activities you will be exploring. Happy Pi Day! 1. Area of   a Pie (or a Cookie) Have your children measure the diameter of a pie (or a cookie) in centimeters. Then use that measurement to calculate the area of the circumference of the pie or cookie using the correct formulas. Circumference â€" C = 2pr Area â€" A = pr2 2. Paper Chain Create a paper chain with each link representing a number of pi. As an added bonus for some math fun throughout the year, write a math problem on the inside of each link. Have your children remove a link each day and solve the math puzzle for that day. 3. Word Pi For each number of pi, have your children try to read or sound out a word that has that many letters in it. Be sure to keep a running tally of all the words and numbers to make sure there are no repeats. 4. Pi Bracelets One creative way to celebrate Pi Day is by creating a beaded bracelet using a different color for each digit of pi. Be sure to have your children keep track of how many beads they use to determine how many digits of pi your children used in order for the bracelet to fit on their wrist. 5. Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi Book Reading Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi by Wayne Geehan is another great way to celebrate Pi Day and to help your children practice their reading skills and learn about math. This story about the discovery of the value of pi can help to explain the concept of pi to your children, as well as presenting the opportunity to explore other concepts such as ratios and fractions. 6. Pi Word Connect One way to help your children practice reading and writing is by playing Pi Word Connect. Starting with the letter “i” in pi, have your children say and write a word that begins with “i”. Then have your children think of a word that begin with the same letter that the previous word ended with. For example, your children would start the game saying and writing “pi.” Then your child could continue with “igloo,” followed by “orange” and “eat.” As an added challenge for older children, try combining this game with Word Pi by asking them to think of words that start with the last letter of the preceding word and have the same number of letters in each word that corresponds with pi. For example, one opening sequence for this added challenge could be “ice,” “e,” “eave,” “e,” “every” to correspond with pi’s opening sequence of 3.1415. 7. Pi Day Pie And last, but certainly not least, one way you and your children celebrate can celebrate Pi Day is by enjoying a slice of pie. What other ways could your family do to celebrate Pi Day? You might also be interested in: Celebrate Mathematics With These Three Pi-Tastic Activities! Happy Pi Day: Celebrate Mathematics Today and Every Day with Kumon 4 Fun Ways to Perfect Your Child’s Mental Math Skills 4 Ways Kumon Helps Preschoolers Develop Important Handwriting Skills 7 Ways to Celebrate Pi Day 7 Ways to Celebrate Pi Day March 14th is a special day for mathematicians and math-lovers all around the world. Not only does this day mark the birthday of Albert Einstein, the theoretical physicist who developed the general theory of relativity, but March 14th is also the calendar equivalent of pi or 3.14. To celebrate, many students recognize this special day by taking part in activities designed to enrich and deepen their understanding of the concept of pi. To help your family celebrate Pi Day, we have compiled a list of activities to start your own Pi Day tradition. Don’t forget to let us know which of these activities you will be exploring. Happy Pi Day! 1. Area of   a Pie (or a Cookie) Have your children measure the diameter of a pie (or a cookie) in centimeters. Then use that measurement to calculate the area of the circumference of the pie or cookie using the correct formulas. Circumference â€" C = 2pr Area â€" A = pr2 2. Paper Chain Create a paper chain with each link representing a number of pi. As an added bonus for some math fun throughout the year, write a math problem on the inside of each link. Have your children remove a link each day and solve the math puzzle for that day. 3. Word Pi For each number of pi, have your children try to read or sound out a word that has that many letters in it. Be sure to keep a running tally of all the words and numbers to make sure there are no repeats. 4. Pi Bracelets One creative way to celebrate Pi Day is by creating a beaded bracelet using a different color for each digit of pi. Be sure to have your children keep track of how many beads they use to determine how many digits of pi your children used in order for the bracelet to fit on their wrist. 5. Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi Book Reading Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi by Wayne Geehan is another great way to celebrate Pi Day and to help your children practice their reading skills and learn about math. This story about the discovery of the value of pi can help to explain the concept of pi to your children, as well as presenting the opportunity to explore other concepts such as ratios and fractions. 6. Pi Word Connect One way to help your children practice reading and writing is by playing Pi Word Connect. Starting with the letter “i” in pi, have your children say and write a word that begins with “i”. Then have your children think of a word that begin with the same letter that the previous word ended with. For example, your children would start the game saying and writing “pi.” Then your child could continue with “igloo,” followed by “orange” and “eat.” As an added challenge for older children, try combining this game with Word Pi by asking them to think of words that start with the last letter of the preceding word and have the same number of letters in each word that corresponds with pi. For example, one opening sequence for this added challenge could be “ice,” “e,” “eave,” “e,” “every” to correspond with pi’s opening sequence of 3.1415. 7. Pi Day Pie And last, but certainly not least, one way you and your children celebrate can celebrate Pi Day is by enjoying a slice of pie. What other ways could your family do to celebrate Pi Day? You might also be interested in: Celebrate Mathematics With These Three Pi-Tastic Activities! Happy Pi Day: Celebrate Mathematics Today and Every Day with Kumon 4 Fun Ways to Perfect Your Child’s Mental Math Skills 4 Ways Kumon Helps Preschoolers Develop Important Handwriting Skills