Tutoring Jobs In Tulsa Oklahoma

Tutoring Jobs In Tulsa OklahomaIf you are looking for Tutoring Jobs Tulsa Oklahoma then the best place to look is online. With a wide variety of opportunities that can be offered for tutoring in Tulsa Oklahoma, it will pay to do some research and find out what is available and what you want to do.Most tutoring jobs in Tulsa Oklahoma are conducted through teleconferencing. A parent or guardian will have the opportunity to see their child for a short period of time and to get to know the child better before the actual tutoring session. This allows the parent or guardian to make sure that they feel comfortable with the tutor and that they are going to be able to get along and spend time together.Many of the tutoring sessions are also conducted by local school districts which allow parents and guardians to attend and become more familiar with the activities being conducted in their child's classroom. Parents are able to see if the tutor is right for the child and this also allows them to know if they would like to hire a tutor for themselves and how they would like to be taught.Other tutoring jobs in Tulsa Oklahoma are also arranged through telephone and email. There is usually a strict schedule set up for the tutors so that parents and guardians are able to check on the progress of their child throughout the day.With all of the tutoring jobs available, it will pay to be very picky about your requirements when you are searching for one. Some people are very particular about their children's schooling and they do not want to use the services of a tutor who is unable to take the necessary care in such matters. You will also need to be sure that you will be able to get around to see your child for a long enough period of time in order to ensure that you are making progress and that you are gaining your child's trust.Some tutoring jobs also involve teaching the tutors. This is one of the best and most sought after jobs available because the tutor has the opportunity to earn some money. The work will require you to be around to supervise and to help the tutor in teaching the class.Another option that can be very useful for you if you are looking for tutoring jobs in Tulsa Oklahoma is to look for one-on-one tutoring. You will be able to use your own child as your lesson partner and you will be able to give your child individual attention.If you follow some simple tips you will be able to find the perfect tutor for your child and you will be able to improve the quality of your child's education. It is important to remember that your child will always be better off when you are doing your part in making sure that the tutor that you choose is one that is experienced, is well-respected and is very good at what they do.

Intermediate Students Choosing Between Physics, Chemistry and Biology

Intermediate Students Choosing Between Physics, Chemistry and BiologyAs a student, intermediate level students are not allowed to choose from the three subjects namely; physics, chemistry and biology. Since biology is a compulsory subject in high school, it is mandatory for every high school student to take it before leaving school. The subjects are highly respected in most of the colleges and universities.It is a system that is divided into the levels which are separated into two categories i.e. Physics, and Chemistry. The Physics course can be called the first tier. This is required for those students who had taken up science subjects in their high school and wish to pursue it further. It is a subject that can be taken by those students who wish to become an engineer or scientist.For some students, this course is not good enough and they wish to take up Biology, so that they may get the required knowledge to help them in their career. With this objective, there are many colleges an d universities that offer introductory biology courses.Another subject for intermediate students is Biology, and this course is obligatory for those students who had taken up physics and chemistry but not biology. Biology is required to ensure that an individual can take up well his career or other knowledge and skills required.While chemistry has been recommended by many medical professionals and doctors as the cure for a lot of diseases, it has a few limitations. These limitations are that it does not give any information about the earth sciences and its relationship with other subjects.While biology is required to become an engineer or scientist, physics is required to study natural sciences. It is a subject that is required to help the individual to complete his studies. It is compulsory to take up the physics course at the institute or college. For an advanced student, it is very necessary to know the details of all the subjects and study at a pace where he can handle all the w ork of the subject.An intermediate student has the option to take up the classes in the evening or during the weekend without any need of spending money on travel or accommodation. It is therefore essential to seek the permission of the college or university regarding the days and hours when the class can be taken.

Types of Alcohols - Chemistry Basics

Types of Alcohols - Chemistry BasicsIf you have ever taken a chemistry class or worked with chemical compounds, you are probably aware of the different types of alcohols. Whether you are a chemist, a chemist student, or even if you just know the names for these types of compounds, you have at least an idea of the nature of the alcohols. In fact, it is possible to distill your own alcohol by using a vessel that is made from glass. Glass works well because it lets the alcohol evaporate while leaving the liquid behind in the glass.Alcohols are classified as hydrophobic and hydrophilic, which is based on the way they attract and repel other substances. There are two types of alcohols: simple and complex. As you continue to learn about these different types of alcohols, you will learn more about how they behave and what properties they have.Alcohols are among the most widely used chemical compounds. Many of them are used in medicine and in the food industry. Because of their ability to be broken down in the body, many medical researchers use these types of compounds to study different health issues. Some alcohols, such as methanol, are poisonous. Other types, such as ethanol, are described as highly flammable.When scientists study alcohols, they are interested in the chemical makeup of the compounds. Most people recognize the most common types of alcohols as acetone, but some researchers refer to acetone as methylene chloride. Other compounds are methylene chloride and ethyl alcohol.Ethanol is one of the more common alcohols. It is the most common form of alcohol used in the United States. Ethanol is used in food, fuel, and chemicals. The other types of alcohols are mainly used in industrial production.If you are interested in learning more about the chemistry of alcohols, you can go online and find online courses that teach you about all of the different types of alcohols. These courses will give you a good overview of the basic concepts about these compounds. You will also be able to learn the names of the most common forms of alcohols. It is also possible to take courses that offer you a hands-on approach to understanding the process of making alcohols.You can search online for a number of chemistry courses about the chemistry of alcohols. Some of these courses are free and some may require you to pay a fee. Make sure that you understand all of the information that you learn about these compounds.

Should I Go To Indiana University

Should I Go To Indiana University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Michelle is a Pittsburgh tutor specializing in Algebra tutoring, Reading tutoring, Phonics tutoring, and much more. She earned her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Indiana University in 2011. Check out her review of her experience at Indiana 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? Michelle:Indiana University is often considered one of the most beautiful college campuses in the nation. It is a great place to walk around, and it makes the stroll to class enjoyable. The town itself is eclectic and creative, featuring cuisine from all over the world, many inviting performance spaces, and tons of small businesses. It is considered an urban campus, but the town and the university are divided by Indiana Avenue. Both are easily accessible by foot. The university and city both offer busing options that are free to students, and they run quite often. Having a car on campus is not necessary, but it can be helpful for grocery shopping or trips to Walmart. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Michelle:During my time at Indiana University, I often met with professors. They were always willing to meet in person or to have a conversation over email. Before class, after class, or office hours were always available. I also had a very good relationship with my academic adviser, who would schedule appointments with me at any time during the semester. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Michelle:At Indiana University, dorms are designated by neighborhood: Northwest, Central, Southeast, etc. When you request dorms, you request by neighborhood, not specific building. There are many options to choose from, including themed floors ranging from outdoor sports, to the global village, to honors. During the year, there are plenty of social events planned by floor and also by dorm. They are widely advertised on bulletin boards and on walking paths in chalk. Dining-wise, Indiana University is the place to be! The two biggest dining halls are in Northwest and Central. However, there are also smaller food options in many of the dorms. Some are vegetarian, others are cafeteria-style. There are also dorm convenience stores called C Stores that take meal points. I encourage students to visit as many dining halls as they can. After freshman year, there are some newer suite-style dorms available. However, it is not unusual for upperclassmen to live in off-campus apartments and houses. 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? Michelle:Indiana University is a proud research institution. Professors are often highly regarded in their fields. The two most prestigious programs are the Kelley School of Business and the Jacobs School of Music. Both of those programs are very challenging to get into, and they hold high reputations in their industries. However, many other areas of study are high ranking but do not receive as much advertising. I studied elementary education with the School of Education. I knew that I wanted to be a teacher right away, which was helpful because the program is very rigorous with many prerequisites. There were many professional opportunities and programs provided through the School of Education. Additionally, I felt the faculty and advisors were knowledgeable and helpful throughout my tenure. 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? Michelle:Making friends is easy if you take advantage of the opportunities afforded you. Social groups and activities are advertised on dorm bulletin boards, on chalkings throughout campus, and in the student paperThe Indiana Daily Student (or IDS). There are lots of different groups, some social and some community service oriented. During the first week of the fall semester there is a student activity fair, and it is a great place to look for clubs to join. Greek life at Indiana University is very large, but it is not everything. I myself was a member of a sorority. I made wonderful friends and was able to take a large leadership role. I also felt more involved in campus events, such as Little 500. However, I also had friends outside of Greek life who were very social and involved. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Michelle:The Career Center was helpful, but the advisers within each school tend to be more knowledgeable about specific fields. There were many support services on campus, but you need to know where to look. Also, I have many friends from the university that now work for Kohls, Target, Dicks Sporting Goods, Google, and Deloitte. Internships are important, as well as taking advantage of networking available through Indiana University events. Most of these friends earned degrees through the business school and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Michelle:There are lots of study areas around campus. What makes this great is that there are different types of spaces for students who want various environments to do work in. Indiana University has one of the largest student unions in the nation, and it includes many different spaces to work. One of the coziest is the South Lounge, which many refer to as Hogwarts. There is also a Starbucks with sprawling tables. There are computer labs and other communal seating areas all throughout campus. Additionally, most academic buildings have their own libraries. The main library, Herman Wells, is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Each floor serves its own purpose: group work, computer stations, presentation rooms, and the graduate tower stacks. Also, the library has many dining options including Chick-Fil-A and Pizza Hut. Some study spaces are more popular than others, and they often get more crowded during midterms and finals. Students tend to find the spaces on campus that work best for their schedule and style of work. 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? Michelle:Indiana University is in Bloomington, Indiana, which is easily one of the best college towns in the nation. Known for its beauty and culture, there is always something fun to do. The town is integrated into the university, but it really begins just past the Sample Gates. Kirkwood is the main street, filled with shops both local and chain. Bloomington offers endless dining options for any budget. 4thStreet is known for its blocks of foreign restaurants. Besides the dozens of restaurants, Bloomington has many local stores and businesses. Walking into town is always an adventure, with lots of choices for shopping at interesting stores. Bloomington is also big on local and organic food. They have their own version of Whole Foods called Blooming Foods, and there is a huge weekly farmers market from August to November. For students over 21, there are many, many bars in and around the squaresomething for any crowd or mood you may be in. There is also locally brewed beer at Upland and a winery, Oliver, just 30 minutes away. Students at Indiana University barely notice being on- or off-campus. Campus is part of the city, and the city feels like an extension of the university. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Michelle:Indiana University serves about 40,000 students, most of whom are undergraduates. It is a large student body, but by getting involved with clubs and campus groups, it starts to feel very small. I was pleased with my class sizes. I found it to be a myth that large colleges only provide lectures. While my introduction courses and some program requirements included large lectures, the majority of my classes had about 30 students in them. Also, most of the large lectures also had smaller discussion sections that met at separate times during the week. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Michelle:Even though I majored in elementary education, I was eager to explore many subjects in college, including political science. I took Introduction to Political Science as an elective during the fall semester of my freshman year. My professor was expressive and interested in what we were studying. He also loved to facilitate class discussions that often turned one students views on another. Our readings included The Republic by Plato, one of the most difficult texts I have ever encountered. The professor recognized this and offered extra review classes with the two teaching assistants to help. I also went to see him during office hours for help with our final paper, one that I agonized over and spent hours on. He was very helpful and constructive. This professor also offered me guidance when I lamented that I could not add a political science minor onto my elementary education major. He gave me advice about how to fit in other political science courses and which ones would be m ost beneficial. Although I only took one class with him, for the rest of my time at Indiana University, he would always stop to chat or say hello when I saw him on campus. Big schools can have small school connections and relationshipsyou just need to foster them. Check out Michellestutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

10 Things Every Great Jazz Guitarist Knows

10 Things Every Great Jazz Guitarist Knows Megan L. Be the next great jazz guitarist with these tips from guitar teacher  Zachary A. To quote the late Frank Zappa, “Jazz is not dead, it just smells funny”. Jazz may not be as big and popular as it once was but if you learn how to play jazz you will be set up to successfully play any genre of music. The great jazz musicians all have numerous things in common, things that set them apart from the crowd and make them legendary. In this article, I will be going over ten of those most important things that anyone playing jazz guitar must know. Remember that as a jazz musician, and really any type of musician, you should be listening to as much music as possible. Listening to great performances really is vital for becoming a great performer yourself. 1. Timing is everything Timing in music is imperative, and especially in jazz. Music itself is the manipulation of time. When you play music with people and you don’t have a good sense for time, the music you create will most likely be a jagged, clustered mess. The people you play with will not know what to play or when to play. Timing is everything. 2. Practice with an external time source A good tip to obtain a little bit more of a jazzier feel to your music is to use  a metronome or even a drum sequencer.  If    if the time signature fits, practice playing on the 2nd and 4th of the beat.  The more you play with a metronome the better your time will be. It is that simple. 3. All jazz musicians have a great ear The most common trait in every jazz musician is that they have an impeccable ear for music. Developing a musician’s ear, as it is referred to, takes time and lots of practice. To help build a better ear for music there are numerous exercises that you can do. Training your ear can involve hearing intervals, lines, chord qualities and chord progressions, and learning all of this in every key, with the ability to decipher what change, what interval, what progression is in what key. Jazz guitarists should also have a great ear while on the bandstand. It is imperative to listen to your band mates while on stage. The better your ear is on stage, the more people will want to play with you. 4. Take every opportunity for a session or gig Take every opportunity for a session or a gig. Every time you play a session or gig it is a learning experience. Through these experiences be sure to take the opportunity to learn from other successful musicians. Always keep an open mind; I am sure that there is something you can learn from just about every musician out there. At times it is easy to get stuck in a narcissistic mind set, trying to find your own solutions to your own problems. Having a handful of trustworthy musicians to go to when you get stuck can be very helpful when youre studying music. Another reason that it is important to take every session or gig you can is because you never know who you will run into at these events. It has been said that music is about being in the right place at the right time. For that luck to strike, you actually have to be out playing and engaging with other musicians. You never know which gig or session will be the one that could change your career. 5. Practice everyday This is pretty self-explanatory. To be a great jazz guitarist, it takes practice and lots of it. Practicing daily, even if it is just for an hour, is way more beneficial than practicing for 8 hours one day and not at all for the rest of the week. 6. Have an extensive amount of heads and changes memorized All great jazz musicians have a back log of themes and heads memorized with the ability to recall them at any time. This knowledge of heads will be extremely beneficial when playing at a jam session or playing a gig. When deciding on what to learn, I recommend start off by learning some of the more well known jazz standards. For example, Autumn Leaves is a well-known song which is played in the key of g minor. Another well-known jazz standard that is essential to have in your repertoire is the song Summertime. A George Gershwin classic, the jazz version was made famous by John Coltrane and has since been covered by many other legendary musicians. Summertime utilizes the major and minor pentatonic scales. Learning this song will help you be a master at these scales. A few more common jazz standards you should learn include Cherokee, All the Things, and Stella by Starlight. When learning these songs transpose them for all 12 keys for complete mastery. 7. Always go back to the fundamentals Jazz is a complex genre, and  it is always important to revert back to the fundamentals when learning jazz guitar.This means spending time reviewing the major and minor scales and practicing the pentatonic scales before breaking out in Frank Zappa’s solo in Black Napkins. It is important to know a multitude of chord progressions and phrasings as well as the different forms these phrases can be arranged. Again, it is important to know all these phrases and chord progressions in all of the 12 keys. Another helpful way to learn and master the fundamentals for anyone playing jazz guitar is by learning and getting a general sense of the piano. 8. Talent is great but determination and perseverance win every time Talent is great but perseverance and determination will triumph every time. Being naturally talented at anything is always a nice thing. The one thing that every jazz musician has in common is that they have spent many dedicated hours in the shed practicing and perfecting their trade. Remember the path to learning one hundred songs begins with learning one. 9. There is no set formula for becoming a jazz musician There truly is no set formula for becoming a jazz guitarist and musician, but there are many different formulas out there that you can pick and choose from. In the end, use what works best for you. With jazz there really is so much information out there. There is always room for improvement. You could always be brushing up on changes, learning old jazz standards, or perhaps learning new scales. It is important to steer clear of the mind set of being overly confident in your abilities. This bottomless pit of a mindset can cause you to become complacent and lose that drive every dedicated jazz musician has. One common thing in jazz is that it will take you years to learn, a challenge that I just love. 10. Set goals and stick with them until completion To avoid getting stuck in a rut, it helps to set goals. Both short and long term goals will help you grow as a musician. Your goal could be as simple as learning one new song a week. There is something though, that is even more important than setting the goals, because in reality setting the goals is the easy part. The hard part, and the most important, is to finish the goals you set. Working with a guitar teacher is the best way to meet your goals and achieve your dreams! Zachary A. is a guitar instructor in Katy, TX specializing in beginning and intermediate students. He is currently earning a degree in  music theory. Learn more about Zachary 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 Photo by  Antonio Thomás Koenigkam Oliveira

Latin Basics 101

Latin Basics 101 What to Expect When Learning Latin ChaptersBeginner's Latin  Is There a Typical Profile of a Latin Student?Motivation, Essential for ProgressBe More Comfortable in Other SubjectsGet Help From OthersIs There a Secret Recipe for Mastering Latin? At school, you’re more likely to have learned languages that are still alive today like French, German and Spanish. But although a dead language, learning Latin isn’t any different.First, you start with learning vocabulary (get yourself an English-Latin dictionary!), before you move on to learning sentence structures and stock phrases.Making the choice to learn Latin is not an easy one, it takes hard work and dedication. You should know what’s ahead before you begin.And that’s where we come in! We’ll give you a run-down of what to expect when learning Latin and what you need to be an A* student.As with any subject, you should start at the beginning, learning about the history of Latin and its influence across the world. On the programme:From legend to historyThe origin s of Rome and its heroic figuresThe foundation of a cityFrom Troy to LazioThe city of Romethe first kings of RomeThe Republic: history and institutionsThe birth of the republic, the famous first centuries of the Republic • Assemblies, deliberations, and votes in the ancient world • The great political figures of the RepublicPrivate and public life• Daily life • Masters and slaves in ancient times • Education and training in ancient times • Roman religion, divinities, rites, and feasts; Greek figures and Roman figures of deities • Theatre, games and public recreationThe Ancient Mediterranean worldCarthage and the Punic WarsAlliances and conflicts between cities in the ancient worldPowers on land and sea in the ancient worldEven learning for 2 hours per week you’ll get a great understanding of the history of Latin before attacking more difficult notions such as the possessive, nominative, interrogative or Latin lexicon.Discover websites and other tools to help you lear n Latin!Learn about the history of Latin and its influence on other languages (Source: visualhunt.com)Is There a Typical Profile of a Latin Student?Once thought of as an elitist language reserved only for the rich and private schools, Latin is becoming more accessible. Nowadays, instead of having to attend exclusive schools to get access to the language, you’ll find plenty of different places to learn Latin wherever you are.  And if you’re learning another language like French or Spanish, Latin can be a great support as it has massive influences on many of the languages we speak today.Find out where you can learn Latin in London...Latin, for everyoneLike we said, Latin is opening up, not bad for a dead language. Latin is accessible to anyone at any level, as long as you put the work in…You should start upping your Latin learning hours from 2 hours a week to  4. Whether those hours are all in a classroom or with extra work at home is up to you.Set out with this extra work in m ind. It’s good practice to prepare yourself for the work ahead so you can keep your motivation and determination. DéborahLatin Teacher 5.00 (12) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr. KarisLatin Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JennyLatin Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SimonaLatin Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArgiroLatin Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LucieLatin Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielaLatin Teacher 5.00 (9) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SophieLatin Teacher 5.00 (6) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsMotivation, Essential for ProgressIn all disciplines (intellectual or physical) there is one key ingredient for progression, and it's essential for Latin too: motivation.Motivation will make sure you want to read Latin texts pick up new vocabulary, to learn all the con jugations and to learn different phrases in Latin.Always keep your goals in mind. Why did you get started in Latin? Don’t lose sight that it was your choice to learn the language.This reflection is difficult to find of course when you are struggling to progress but try to keep focused.You’ve got this far so don’t give up now!Be More Comfortable in Other SubjectsWe've said it before and we'll say it again, Latin is not reserved for the elite. It is accessible to everyone as long as they are willing to learn. But beware, it's not easy, it takes time and investment.Once you've got a strong base in Latin it can help in other subjects especially languages like French, Italian, and Spanish.You may even want to sit Latin GCSEs!Study with others to support your progression in LatinGet Help From OthersWhen learning Latin you need help. Surround yourself with people who will encourage you when you’re finding it hard.Family, Friends, and ClassmatesWhen learning Latin, you’ll need som e advice. Ask your friends and family for their advice on getting motivated, on different ways of learning. Make sure they’re involved in your learning so they can hold you accountable. We’ll all more likely to work harder if we know someone is keeping watch! The people around you want you to succeed and so will encourage you to get studying! Going it alone is a difficult road so rely on friends and family for help.The same goes for your classmates, keep each other on track by asking how their studying is going or doing extra study together. Try to find the best conditions to study, maybe studying at home isn’t for you, maybe you need to go to a library to work or you need to do a group study with your classmates. Working conditions are an important factor in your learning.Make time in your schedule to dedicate to studying. Finding the time can be difficult but try to arrange study sessions with your classmates so you know someone is counting on you to show up! Taking these st eps will make sure you stay motivated and progress quickly in Latin.The role of your Latin teacherOf course, your Latin teacher also plays a strong role in your progression.    They’re there to make sure the workload is manageable, that you’re studying effectively and that they help you with difficult grammar points that may take you time to understand.With one hour of beginner’s lessons a week you can easily find the time for extra studying at home. So, outside of your Latin lessons, you can work on the points that you find difficult so when you go to class the next week you can move on to the next topic without wasting time.Your teacher can’t put in the work for you. They are there just to teach you the topic or grammar point, it’s up to you to revise it in your own time.Your teacher will give you the confidence to tackle difficult points by yourself, and will give you the support in class when you need help.Is There a Secret Recipe for Mastering Latin?Unfortunately, lik e most things in life, there is no quick fix or secret recipe for mastering Latin. There’s just one secret ingredient that counts and that’s work. All you have to do is put the work in and you’ll succeed!Anticipate the work that lies ahead and give it your all.Count on your classmates for help and ask your teacher questions when you need to. Once you’re in the swing of things you’ll see Latin as a pleasure, not a chore.Check out Superprof to find a Latin teacher near you.Now discover how to get started learning Latin...

Ask an Admissions Expert Tira Harpaz

Ask an Admissions Expert Tira Harpaz Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Tira Harpaz is the Founder of CollegeBound Advice, an admissions consulting firm that aids many students in the college admissions process. She is a graduate of Princeton Universitywhere she also served as an alumni interviewer. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? Tira: Most students will not look at an actual college application until late August/early September of their senior year of high school.However, students can and should be thinking about parts of their application before that date. In terms of a main essay (which can be used for Common Application schools, as well as many other schools), it is generally a good idea to brainstorm and begin writing the essay in the late spring or summer before senior year.Developing a topic can be time-consumingit can take several drafts to craft an essay you are satisfied with, and the process should not be left until the last minute. In addition, as you go through high school, you should keep a list/develop a resume of your extracurricular activities. That way, you will be mindful if you are doing too many one-time activities rather than having meaningful and in-depth interests. While you should never engage in an activity for the purpose of building a resume, sometimes noticing that you lack leadership or that you have not sustained many of your interests will allow you to rectify those gaps. VT: What are the best ways to go about selecting a terrific essay topic? Tira: I believe the most effective essays are ones in which the reader not only gets a sense of the student, but also feels that the student was emotionally involved with the subject. So, my advice is to brainstorm about what makes you happy and what makes you tick. Think about a time when you felt engagede.g., have you always loved inventing things? When did your fascination with music begin? What did it feel like when you threw your first pitch?In addition, sometimes it's helpful to think about the weaknesses in your application and see if there's a way to address them in an essay. For example, if your extracurricular activities are strong, but your academic performance has been spotty, try and think of times you went the extra mile in a class or got fascinated by a particular subject, and see if you can write about it. VT: Are there any essay topics you get tired of seeing or would warn students to stay away from? Tira: Although I personally have topics I dislike, I think almost any topic can work depending on how well you write. That said, there are a few topics I would be careful about using, including a summer community service/travel program that you paid for, a sports story about winning the big game, and a personal narrative about a hardship or illness in the family, unless it is truly meaningful.In addition, anything that smacks of prejudice or entitlement should be avoided. VT: What is the biggest mistake a student can make on a college application? Tira: The biggest mistake is to send out a rushed application, which does not convey the student's personality or ideas or interest in the college in question. The second mistake (which I see frequently) is not proofreading the application. Typos and sloppiness leave a bad impression, and sometimes there are inconsistencies that should be avoided. For example, if in your activities list you mention that you've been involved with your school band all four years, but your essay says you've just started band, the inconsistency raises unnecessary questions.And finally, of course, lying about activities is just plain foolhardy. VT: What is the typical process an admissions officer goes through to evaluate applications? Tira: The process for admissions offices is different depending on the school.Some very large state universities only consider standardized test results and GPAs while making a decision. For many other schools, at least one admissions officer will do an initial read of the application, looking at essays, recommendations, grades, test scores and activities. These reviews can be relatively short, sometimes only 15-30 minutes, and so your goal should be to make your application stand out in some way and make the admissions officer your advocate. VT: What do you think is the single most important thing a student should make sure they present in the best possible way on their application? Tira: I always tell students they need to answer any underlying questions raised by the application.If a student has few extracurricular activities, the admissions committee might assume the student isn't active and won't participate in the life of the college.That student needs to show, if possible, how he or she engages in activities or pursuits that are purposeful and interesting.If a student has a serious academic weakness, the student must explain how they have worked to improve in that particular subject. VT: How should students go about determining the culture of a university, and whether they would be a good fit? Tira: Students should make a checklist of factors that are important to them. Although some of these preferences may change, many will not, and such a checklist is helpful in deciding which schools will ultimately land on your college list. After that, visiting a school, if at all possible, is useful to determine whether it would be a good fit. Try and interact with students other than tour guides. Are students friendly, helpful, morose, inattentive? Sit in on a class, eat in the cafeteria and visit a dorm room if you can. If you can't visit (or even if you can), go online and access a virtual tour. Reach out to students who attend the school, through emails, texts etc. If you're interested in a particular subject, see if you can correspond with a professor in the department. Some schools offer online chats with the admissions office, and some admissions officers have great online blogs, which can be informative. VT: Early-action, early-decision, binding/non-binding, regular decisions...With so many choices when applying, what do you recommend to students? Tira: To a certain extent, the question of whether to apply early will depend on a student's profile. I generally recommend that a student apply to at least one early action or rolling admissions school that is likely to accept the student. The goal is to have an early acceptance in hand so that your stress level will be lower over the next few months.If, however, a student's grades have been problematic, I might recommend that the student wait until hopefully stronger first semester grades are available before submitting an application. VT: How important are grades and standardized test scores when admissions decisions are being made? Tira: A student's four-year academic record is by far the most important factor in admissions. Generally, no extracurricular activities or exceptional essay will outweigh your coursework and GPA. In addition, schools will look at the rigor of courses the student has taken.If you're applying to a selective school, but have only taken the easiest courses available, it will be very difficult to gain acceptance. After that, for schools requiring standardized tests, test scores are looked at carefully. Finally, all the other components of an applicationessays, recommendations, and extracurricular activitiesare reviewed. VT: What tips do you have for students asking their teachers for letters of recommendation? Tira: Near the end of junior year, students should pick two academic teachers as potential recommenders. You should then ask each teacher whether he or she can give you a positive recommendation. Once a teacher has agreed to give you a recommendation, ask whether there's any information they need.Even if they say no, I would suggest giving the teacher a brief description of why you enjoyed the class and any specific activities or projects you excelled in, as well as a list of your outside activities or your resume. Visit CollegeBound Advice for more information. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.