How to Plan College Campus Visits

How to Plan College Campus Visits Probably one of the most critical steps of the college search, your campus visits need to be scheduled early on with plenty of time to spare. These visits are pivotal points in your decision-making process, as there is simply no better way to get a real handle on a campus than by spending some time on it. But with so much to do in the period of college application insanity, how can you possibly make sure each of these visits are scheduled appropriately and made use of in the best ways? Moreover, how do you know which campuses you need to visit? All of these questions that might be asked in a panic before quickly-approaching deadlines are more the reason to think about this important college search element well ahead of time. Dont leave yourself in a bind at the last minute; get these plans figured out now! A handful of steps are useful here: #1: Pick the schools From the very beginning, when you start compiling the list of colleges you like, put them into categories. There will be schools youre extremely excited about and genuinely want to see, there will be those that you like from what youve read about them but dont know much about first-hand, and there will be some that youve been told you should check out but have no idea what they have to offer. To take a little shortcut here, schools in all of these categories should be visited. Its up to you to identify which ones you see yourself definitely taking the time to apply to and then going from there. The point is, you have a lot to learn about each of these types of schools. The school that you love, the school that you know a little about, and the school you know nothing about, all have secrets to be uncovered and benefits from in-person experience to be had. #2: Determine application deadlines Every school has different requirements and guidance for deadlines, so make sure you get this step taken care of promptly. Youre going to want to adequately set up your visits around these important dates so you never feel pressured to rush through a tour or skip an informational interview. Additionally, spread these visits out as much as you can. Although this will sometimes be out of your control, do everything in your power to schedule them far apart from each other. You dont want two visits to blend in because they are so close together and then forget which campus had what. Or worse, you dont want to be so exhausted from the adjacent trips that you lose focus and dont pay strong enough attention to the colleges youre visiting. Try to give each of these visits their own span of time so you can take in and process their information separate from the others. Here are 4 tips to help you manage the college application process. #3: Call an admissions officer Visiting a campus blindly with no guidance as to what you should be doing or seeing is pointless; you must speak with an admissions representative before you make your trip. An integral part of their jobs is to prepare students for these visits, so make use of their valuable resources. Ask when scheduled tours are and sign up for one. Ask about possible over-night programs with current students and set one up if you are interested in learning about the college experience in that way. Ask about any other opportunities that you might not know about because that is what the admissions officers are ready to inform you of. They know all the ins and outs of campus visits and what you need to do to make the most of them. You might get to sit in on a class, get a free meal at the local dining hall, or a multitude of other interesting things that will help you feel acclimated to that colleges unique scene. You may also want to check out these tips on how to pre pare for a college visit. #4: Make a checklist In addition to the events youve signed up for and made note of from the admissions officer, jot down everything you personally want to accomplish and make sure the length of your trip accommodates all of it. More importantly, figure out if and how youre going to be able to accomplish those things. You dont want to waste a good amount of time on your visit wandering around aimlessly, looking for ways to accomplish your list item, especially if its something that it turns out cant be done. You must determine if these list items are even possible to accomplish before you go. Do you want to talk to a current student? Experience an evening at a local venue in the town? See an off-campus apartment? Tour the library? Many things will be taken care of through your campus tour, but many wont. Settle these things now. You may also want to check outthesetop questions to ask at a campus information session that you may not have thought of yet Now that youve taken in these steps, you should be ready to go. Get those visits planned and search away!

Italian Language Course Examination CILS

Italian Language Course Examination CILS Learn Italian: Certify Your Level Through the Certification of  Italian  as a Foreign Language ChaptersWhy Should You Sit for CILS?What does CILS Stand for?Progressing Through CILSWhat sitting for CILS InvolvesHow do You Register for CILS?To SummariseInspect what you expect is an idiom used in business management.Essentially, it advocates for positive leadership by giving your employees room to accomplish their assigned task, only verifying its accomplishment after  completion, instead of standing over their shoulders and breathing down their necks.If you think about it, that motto has underscored the soundtrack of our lives.As school children, our knowledge was constantly tested after absorbing segments of curriculum.To measure our overall academic achievements, we sat for GCSE and A Levels, didn't we?Why should learning Italian be any different?The best part of certifying your Italian language skills is that you will derive substantial benefit from doing so. Searching for, Italian lessons London, Manchester or Birmingham for example, can help you find a tutor to help guide y ou through these certifications.Among other advantages, formally proving your mastery of the Italian language through an exam such as CILS puts a feather in your cap, and declares you adept at la lingua italiana.You cannot gain entry to any university or business concern unless you present CILS certification Source: Pixabay Credit: DomyDadvanced language levels the ceiling is set at 100 points.The two categories â€" oral and written are each allotted a specific amount of time, which increases as the examinee progresses through the levels:LevelWritten PortionOral PortionA11h 45mins to 2h 15mins10 minA22h 5mins to 2h 45mins10 minB13h 40mins10 minB23h 45mins10 minC14h 40mins15 minC23h 45mins15 minHow do You Register for CILS?To formally declare yourself for the exam, you must address yourself to any of the agencies affiliated with the University of Siena, which spearheads this certification process.Such offices abound in the UK! You can address yourself to the Institute of Italian Cult ure, or apply through any commercial concern.You could also ask your Italian course instructor for the best way to register!    The prices listed below are from Happy Languages, and all include value added tax.A1: £53, and £18 for each exam part to be repeatedA2: £53, and £18 for each exam part to be repeatedB1 (CILS Uno): £119, and £29 for each exam part to be repeatedB2 (CILS Due): £140, and £32 for each exam part to be repeatedC1 (CILS Tre): £179, and £40 for each exam part to be repeatedC2 (CILS Quattro): £212, and £47 for each exam part to be repeatedTo register, you will need to properly fill out the required registration form, and send it in, along with a photocopy of valid identification and a cheque for the designated amount.If you are applying for a retake of any exam portion, you should specify, on the application form, what level, and which portion: written or oral.Provided you have listed your email, you will receive electronic notification of exam dates and times, along with what to bring to your exam, and other helpful hints. To SummariseNot everyone has a concrete objective when learning a new language.Should you have a purpose to your Italian lessons â€" be it a love of romance languages or the hope of attending any of the renown schools in Italy, certifying your ability is always a resounding idea.CILS is the perfect vehicle to demonstrate your knowledge of Italian language and culture, with the added benefit that such a certification is recognised by all Italian businesses, colleges and even the government.Before registering for this exam, it would be best to:take an Italian language course, if only to confirm your Italian speaking ability and comprehensionYou may also consider engaging in Italian culture while still at home, or even plan an Italian holiday, to make proper use of your Italian learningPractice Italian online: if you have a phrasebook replete with Italian phrases, idioms or favorite words, you could make use of the m either with an app, or through a language exchange website.You should hone your Italian vocabulary every day, if only through reading out loud.Don't forget the audio portion! To expose yourself to maximum Italian pronunciation, watching movies, listening to music and even catching radio broadcasts is the most entertaining way to do it.Learning a language is a multi-faceted endeavour that can last for years.Shouldn't you have something to show for all of that work learning Italian for beginners to fluency?Whether learn Italian  online, or you learn to speak Italian in a language school, the return on your investment should be a formally recognised certification.Your CILS is silent testimony to your learning experience.Consider taking DITALS: Didattica dell'italiano come lingua straniera.  A  pair of exams meant for non native speakers who intend to teach Italian as a foreign language.

Summer Camp Near Me

Summer Camp Near Me Searching for a Summer Camp Near Me ChaptersFranchise CampsSTEM CampsFinding a Summer Camp Near YouYou might think it premature to start hunting for summer camps before spring arrives; we beg to differ.First, summer camps aren’t just for summer â€" that is to say, the same organisations that operate summer camps also operate Easter camps, the time when our kids are out of school with possibly no one to care for them at home.Unless we take time from work.Plenty of people plan their family holidays around schools’ spring semester break; maybe they register online for family camp instead of travelling abroad or heading to their favourite spot on the coast.For those of us who are office-bound (or bound to whichever setting you work in) while our kids are scheduled off from school, we face the same dilemma that parents all over the world do: who will do for our kids?If you are not lucky to have family close by or a network of friends who could jump in as needed, a camp â€" day camp, residence camp or a themed camp could be just the ticket.Your Superprof is not the only one to think so.Sports camps, adventure camps, arts and crafts camps and science camps; camps for kids and camps for teens, camps for boys and girls (they are housed separately in residence camps, of course)…All around the UK, all manner of camps have been springing up. They cater to virtually every interest from the archery range to environmental education and from basketball camp to the theatre arts.If you have never thought of treating your children â€" or your entire family to the camp experience, it’s high time you try. That is why we present some of the best camps around the country.Surely one will be near you?Going further: they may not even have the same camp programs; many camps, be they day camps or extended care, plan their activities based on the natural resources available to them at that location.For instance, throughout Sussex, you can find camps that include water sports. Those would be much harder to find in a l and-locked city such as Birmingham or Leeds.On the other hand, due to their close proximity to the Pennines, you would be far more likely to find rock climbing camps or a ropes course in Birmingham and Manchester than, say, in London.Of course, some London gyms have fine climbing and ropes facilities; it’s just that they are more likely to be indoors â€" and we’re focusing on outdoor adventures! Camp Summer programs often involve water sports such as canoeing or rafting Image by Jaime Reimer from PixabayLearn and Experience has taken the idea of proliferation seriously.Not only do they have camps in Yorkshire, but they’ve also gone global with camps in Spain and several more planned world-wide. Stay tuned for the one opening soon in British Columbia!They are no doubt inspired by the international visitors they host; guests that come from all over Europe and as far away as Australia.Still, no matter who shows up at their facilities, you can be sure they will be treated to lots of fun activities, enriching experiences and lessons in life skills taught by caring camp counselors.Ultimate Activity CampsIf you live in the south of England, no further north than Birmingham, you may look into Ultimate Activity.Rather cleverly, this organisation has partnered with schools to provide their campers secure, well-stocked facilities, and each of these camps’ activities revolves around what is available onsite.You should know that all of their activities and camps are age-appropriate; they would not send a 5-year-old to the archery range, nor would a teen be tasked with taking care of younger campers.That is unless they were a counselor-in-training. Still, it wouldn’t be your teenager, for whom you’ve paid a registration fee to participate in the activities â€" not orchestrate them.Ultimate has four main programmes you and your child can choose from:Ultimate Activity: suitable for 4- to 14-year-olds; features arts and crafts, sports and outdoor activitiesUltimate Survival: OFSTED-approved survival scenariosUltimate Sports (ages 7 to 14): train in hockey, netball, cricket or athletics (running and such)Ultimate International: an action-packed day camp for speakers of other languages to learn and play alongside native English speakersNot all programmes are available in all locations; you would have to check their website to see what is available, when and where it will be available. You can download the parent handbook from there, too.In our companion article, Summer Camps for Kids, we feature more of such franchise camps, along with their contact information. STEM camps for children are an excellent way to kindle a fascination with robotics Image by skeeze from PixabaySTEM CampsMuch is being made of STEM these days; that would be science, technology, engineering and mathematics.To wit, reports often show that there is a dearth of students â€" especially female students, embracing these subjects. Yet, people knowledgeable in these subjects are greatly sought after; indeed, job market hawks predict that STEM positions will be grossly understaffed by the time our kids graduate from university.What if your child(ren) have no interest in maths but love playing video games?With the proper introduction, your kids could be future STEM graduates. Such an introduction could be had through any of the tech camps located throughout the UK and Firetech is an excellent case in point.Firetech now has 25 locations throughout the country, from resort town such as Bristol to as far north as Edinburgh, each hosting after school and weekend workshops as well as day camps and summer residential camps.Other outfits throughout the UK also have residential camps…Firetech offers a range of learning pathways, from coding to robotics. If your child finds s/he has an aptitude for it, s/he might even prefer electronic camps!Whether for a weekend workshop or summer day camps, Firetech maintains an 8:1 camper/guide ratio to ensure that each of their participants receives the ultimate in guidance and attention.It goes without saying that that same level of care goes into their residence camps…Mad Science Holiday CampsOf all the camps we’ve featured so far â€" indeed throughout this series on camping, only Mad Science is truly international.Founded in Canada in 1985, born of a passion for neat effects â€" it all started with a helium-neon laser, this enterprise now has a presence in more than 20 countries. Aren’t we so glad that the UK is one of their homes!In a sense, you can call Mad Science an adventure camp because kids will behold wonde rs of the natural and created world â€" not by sitting around while the show goes on before them but by participating.Getting hands-on with science is one of the best ways to get your kids interested in the subject. Mad Science has perfected their delivery of oft-perceived stodgy science subjects in such a way that kids attending those camps are perpetually thrilled.Kids as young a four are welcome; if yours are older than 11, you would have to enrol them in a different science camp (sorry!).No need to worry your little ones will be stuck indoors all day; there is plenty of outdoor activity to be done at Mad Science camps, too. They will get to run and play and chase giant soap bubbles until they burst â€" the bubbles, not your children. Camps may be remote, such as this one, where you child might stay from Monday-Friday Image by Mike Goad from PixabayFinding a Summer Camp Near YouHistorically, British children have almost always enjoyed enrichment activities during their summer holiday. If they didn't have to help out in the fields or at home, they were sent to swimming lessons and riding lessons, piano lessons and even sewing lessons.Those were individual enterprises wherein each student (or group of students) reported to the instructor for private lessons, not the social occasions that camping, at its heart, is.The camp concept is an idea we co-opted from the US. For generations, American parents have been sending their kids off to camps; sometimes for a whole month.So popular is this activity that there exists an American Camp Association specifically to promote and perpetuate the practice of summer camp.It may take a few more generations for us Brits to enjoy sleeping rough and lugging tents around but the idea of summer camp has definitely caught on with us, too.From family-owned, independently run camps to international concerns with multiple outlets, the UK holiday camp industry trends steadily upwards.Why not see for yourself what it is all about?Why not contact one of the camps mentioned in this article or, if you’d rather see what camps are available locally, ask your child’s school for a recommendation?Whether you’re seriously considering registering for a summer day camp for your child or you want to know more about camp activities before you commit, your first step is finding camps.Hopefully, we’ve gotten you a step closer…Now find out all you need to know about summer camp UK.

Italian Vocabulary The Proper Way to Use the Four Bs

Italian Vocabulary The Proper Way to Use the Four B’s Brooke Neuman Are you  confused about how to properly use the Italian vocabulary words, buono, bello, bravo, and bene? Below, Italian teacher Giulio G. explains the right way to use the four bs Buono, bello, bravo, beneâ€"the so-called four b’sâ€"are very common words in the Italian language. Their exact usage, however, can be quite difficult for beginner Italian students to master. That’s because when translated to English these Italian vocabulary words all mean, “good.”  Below are some tips and tricks that I hope will be useful for all of you who might be struggling with these four Italian vocabulary words. Bene: First, it is extremely important to emphasize that the Italian vocabulary words buono, bravo, and bello are adjectives and bene is an adverb. This means that the actual meaning of bene is ‘well’ in English and it cannot be conjugated following the gender and the number of the noun it precedes. Regarding its usage, bene is always used after the verb, and its function is to express a positive judgment. See example below: Joseph parla bene l’Italiano. (Joseph speaks Italian well.) Joseph speaks Italian in an excellent way. So, bene modifies the verb by giving the listener (or the reader) more information related to that specific action. Buono: This adjective is used to express a positive judgment related to the quality of a person, an animal, or an object. Specifically, buono is referred to: Morality: Lui è un buon uomo. (Meaning Lui  has a good soul or a good heart) Quality: è un buon film.  (Meaning  that the movie is well-made) Taste: La torta è buona. (Meaning that the cake tastes good. It is important to know that this Italian vocabulary word can be used with animals, people, and things. Bravo: Whereas the Italian vocabulary word buono can be used with animals, people, and things, the adjective bravo can be used only with people or animals. Bravo is used to underline that someone is good at doing something or that he/she has very good manners. See examples below: Lei è un brava pittore. (She is good painter/ She is good at painting.) Lui è un bravo ragazzo. (He has very good manners). Bello: Like the two Italian vocabulary words above, bello is used to express a positive judgment; however, it is usually used to emphasize another characteristic of the noun. It expresses a positive judgment related to the formal, aesthetic aspect. For example, the phrase “Un bell’uomo” (A handsome man) doesn’t refer to his behavior and kindness, but just to his physical attributes. Essentially, it means that man is attractive. Additionally, bello also has the purpose of intensifying a concept. For example, in the sentence, “Mi mangio una bella torta,” (I eat a beautiful cake) the speaker wants to emphasize his desire toward  a specific sweet. In other words, he cannot wait to eat it. Overall, the differences of these words are very small and it can be difficult to always choose the correct word. While you’re learning Italian, it is very normal to make occasional mistakes with the four b’s. Therefore, dont  worry if you mix up these Italian vocabulary words. Just keep  practicing with your Italian teacher and talking to natives and youll soon get it right! Photo by MC Quinn Post Author: Giulio Giannetti Giulio  G. teaches in-person Italian lessons in New York City. He is originally from Florence, Italy and is currently a student at the University of Florence for Languages and Intercultural Relations. He has been teaching lessons since 2009.  Learn more about Giulio  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

Ask an MBA Admissions Expert JoAnne Goldberg

Ask an MBA Admissions Expert JoAnne Goldberg Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. JoAnne Goldberg is the former Assistant Director of Admissions at Stanford Graduate School of Business, as well as a former admissions officer with InGenius Prep. While at Stanford GSB, she read and evaluated thousands of MBA applications over five years, earning the title of reader warrior along the way. She received her MBA from Stanford as well. How much time should be set aside to adequately prepare for and complete the application for anMBAprogram? Joanne: Ideally, your MBA application process should begin about 15 months before you plan to start the program. The schools publish their application requirements in mid-summer, and at that point you can take a look at the essay prompts for the programs that interest you. Writing your essays will consume the most time and energy so keep those prompts on a back-burner in your brain, with your responses percolating before you start your first drafts. As ideas hit you, make a note of them. Most of the schools send admissions representatives traveling around the world in the summer; make sure you sign up for school mailing lists so you can receive event notifications. Seek out students or alums of your target programs so you can ask them about their experiences. Of course, you will need to prepare for the GMAT or GRE, plus the TOEFL if you are an international student from a non-English-speaking country. And you will want to consider whom to ask for letters for recommendation, or LOR as we call them. The admissions process has lots of moving parts, each of which demands your attention. Much introspection and self-examination will occur, but if you give the process the attention it deserves, you will be in the right frame of mind to start your MBA program with clear expectations and a sense of direction. What would you say is the single most important thing to focus on for this kind of application? Joanne: Be your best and most authentic self. If you try to second-guess what adcoms want to read or model your essay on one you find online, your application will not be as effective. Experienced adcoms have seen the same canned stories 1,000 times, but this is the first time theyve met you. What doMBAadmissionsofficers look for most in the essayquestions? Joanne: In addition to the aforementioned authenticity, admissions officers want to see you answer the questions that have been asked. And make sure to start off fresh with each school. Youll notice when you read the essay prompts that schools all phrase their questions a little differently. If you try to modify your Harvard essay for a Yale application, your patchwork will be obvious to adcoms, who will ask themselves if this applicant cant be bothered to write an essay that responds to our prompt, why should we offer admission? What are the biggest mistakes one can make on this application? Joanne: In addition to the problems mentioned already, there are two big mistakes Ive seen a few times. First, the applicant has obtained a little too much assistance from a friend and submits an essay with change bars or parenthetical comments that are visible to any reader. Second, a letter of recommendation that has been written by someone who doesnt really know the applicant. What aspects of theMBAadmissionsprocess make it most different from undergraduateadmissionsprocess? Joanne: The process isnt so different, but its on an elevated level compared to undergrad. The MBA essays require you to take a deep and hard look at yourself, whereas for undergrad admissions, you can often get by with a decently written personal statement. And your LOR will have to convey more substance than great student! My high school senior acquaintances are applying to around 15-20 undergrad institutions. Thats viable for undergrad. I would not recommend applying to more than eight MBA programs because of the effort required to complete each application. Is there anything that automatically disqualifies an applicant from being considered for anMBAprogram (i.e. low GPA, lack of particular work experience, etc.)? Joanne: Lying or cheating in any way, violating the schools code of ethics, and yes, this includes writing your own recommendation letter. What kind of work experiences should be highlighted in theMBAapplication? Joanne: Tasks and achievements that you can quantify. Experiences that illustrate your taking charge, overcoming challenges, or playing a leadership role. Schools are trying to gauge your impact in your current job (or undergrad pursuits and internships, if you are still in college). If youve been working for more than a couple of years, they like to see that your responsibilities have continued to grow. What advice do you have regarding GMAT prep? Joanne: Theres no one-size-fits-all, so be honest with yourself about your own learning and review style. Some people can borrow a GMAT prep book from the library and work with it every night for a couple of weeks before the test. Other people need to sign up for a class or private tutor and get the extra motivation an instructor or a coach provides. As with everything else in MBA admissions, give yourself plenty of time. Ill review my old math notes the night before the test is unlikely to prove a winning strategy. Is it absolutely necessary to have work experience prior to starting anMBAdegree? Joanne: Absolutely not. Stanford has always been open to new graduates. Harvard and Yale offer special programs for undergraduates who apply. And other schools welcome applicants without extensive post-graduate work experience. There are quite a few programs, however, that remain adamant about requiring at least a couple of years of experience. So although recent graduates have options, if you have at least two post-graduate years of experience, the whole MBA universe is open to you. Without that experience, your choices are more limited. What are the characteristics of a greatMBAprogram? Joanne: From an academic and a career perspective, there are dozens of great MBA programs. I would cite the following as an incomplete list of characteristics: Everyone involved in the program, from the admissions officers to the behind-the-scenes administrators to professors, wants to help you learn and achieve your personal and professional goals. Students are enthusiastically engagedin class discussions, in study groups, in student organizations. Whether youre attending a student gathering or visiting a classroom, you can feel the energy and excitement. The curriculum is a mix of required courses and electives, carefully designed to give you the breadth of knowledge that you expect from an MBA and the freedom to dive deeply into the areas that interest you. Professors insist that they have the best job on the planet, and praise their students intellectual curiosity, persistence, and willingness to push themselves to the max. Students and alums tell you how much they love their school, and how they cannot imagine enjoying a greater level of satisfaction, better preparation, or a superior experience anywhere else. Check out InGenius Prep for more information. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Monday Link Roundup (December 4)

Monday Link Roundup (December 4) How to Get Your Mind to ReadIf you have a child who can technically read but who struggles to make sense of what theyre reading, this article is for you. Reading for understanding doesnt just require sounding out words on a page it also requires having enough factual knowledge to fill in gaps. (Editors note: this is a hugely underrated component of success on standardized tests like the SAT, which includes sophisticated passages about history, the sciences, etc.)10 Things to Know About Getting Into Your Dream CollegeOpen those emails. Connect with admissions officers. Let them know when you visit campus.Fractions: Where It All Goes WrongAn interesting discussion of the perennial challenge of teaching fractions. When asked whether 12/13 + 7/8 was closest to 1, 2, 19, or 21, only 24% of a nationally representative sample of more than 20,000 US 8th graders answered correctly. Hint: the answer is 2.Six Myths About Choosing a College MajorSTEMs not necessarily where the moneys at, you ma y not even need a major, and more.Journaling the Old-School WayIn an age of iPads, an English teachers plea for old-fashioned pen and paper.5 Strategies to Demystify the Learning Process for Struggling StudentsDrawing on neuroscience and cognitive psychology, professor and author Barbara Oakley outlines five ways to learn how to learn. Many of these are practices our tutors use with their students. Highly recommended.

Top 5 Dos and Donts to ACE Your Medical School Interview

Top 5 Dos and Don'ts to ACE Your Medical School Interview MCAT Medical School Admissions This article is a guest post written byAdmissions Helpers. Once an applicant has submitted her application through AMCAS/AACOMAS and completed secondary applications, she can begin to prepare for the next step in the process, the personal interview. There are generally two formats applicants can expect, either the Multiple Mini Interview where an applicant will move from one station to another meeting with different interviewers, and the traditional interview, which can be considered a professional conversation that we will address here. Many applicants make the mistake of trying to anticipate questions and rehearse responses. There is no way to predict exactly what questions will be asked and in fact interviewers are not looking for how much you know, as much as they are looking for an opportunity to learn other things about you to solidify an opinion of how suited you are to successfully pursue a career in medicine. Spending exorbitant amounts of time “studying” for the interview is counterproductive. However, you can take some steps to prepare. 1) Review The first step is to know your own application inside and out. Review all of your activities, education, volunteer work, and research thoroughly on both your primary and secondary application until you know your applications inside and out. Be prepared to articulate your involvement in outside activities and research. For example, if you were in a laboratory studying the genetics of prostate cancer you should be able to articulate the background, hypotheses, methodology, and results in away that shows a strong understanding of your project. Also maintain consistency throughout your application and interview. If your personal statement talks about a single life-changing experience that influenced your decision to pursue medicine, you should refer to that experience in your interview when asked about experiences that led you to medicine. Your rationale for your interest in medicine and the experiences that define you should be consistent. Remember, you were selected based on the information on your application. Your responses pertaining to anything presented on the application should be consistent. Failure to do so can reflect negatively. 2) The interview is NOT a Test Many applicants make the mistake of assuming they are going into a test and that interviewers will be scoring them based on right or wrong answers. Exerting tremendous amounts of energy preparing full answers to questions wastes precious time, energy and creates unnecessary anxiety. What you can expect is that you will engage in a formal conversation with one to three interviewers rather than being tested on your knowledge. Interviewers are interested in your point of view and how coherently you are able to respond. Allowing yourself the freedom to think and formulate answers that articulate your experience and strengths is the most productive way to create a positive impression. Your goal is to sound like someone who can think on their feet rather than to come off sounding rehearsed. The pitfall of spending hours memorizing or rehearsing is to flounder when asked a question that catches you off guard. The contrast in your delivery can have a deleterious effect. So, be prepared but l eave the scripted narrative at home. 3) Brainstorm Key Points This leads to the question, “How do I prepare if not by memorizing answers?” Know that your preparation has been all the hard work you have already done to arrive at the interview. Your goal is to articulate just that. However, you are also encouraged to search online for possible questions. They way to prepare for these anticipated questions is to think about what key points you would hit on in your response, while taking into consideration the information on your application and personal statement. Encapsulate ideas derived from your experience that will produce a compelling response. 4) Become Knowledgeable It is also advisable to go into the interview with some current knowledge of what is going on in healthcare. Healthcare reform, ethical issues including euthanasia, abortion, and stem cell research are challenging topics that may come up during the interview. Current evens are also fair game and may come up on the interview. The New York Times is one credible source to refer to for staying up to date. Having an opinion or ability to comment will contribute to making a positive impression. 5) Dealing with anxiety Feeling anxious is normal! Fighting it will only cause those feelings to escalate. You have worked long and hard for many years. Focus on exercise, meditation or relaxation techniques that will help to ease your anxiety. Your interviewers know you are anxious and are likely to be more forgiving than you might expect. Remember, even if they don’t show it, most applicants are nervous in spite of appearing cool and collected. So, take a deep breath and take it easy on yourself. 6) Pay attention to your non-verbal communication As the old saying goes, “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression,” and non-verbal communication counts! Pay attention that you are appropriately dressed and looking your professional best. You communicate confidence not only by what you say but also through a firm handshake, by looking your interviewer in the eye and maintaining natural eye contact. Finally, don’t forget to smile. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, '6baac2ae-05a3-4610-9d1f-265c8cbd809f', {});

6 tips on how to help your child develop their handwriting skills

6 tips on how to help your child develop their handwriting skills Handwriting is one of those amazing skills that children learn with practice and patience. It is a difficult and challenging skill to master but an important one; and there are plenty of ways to ensure your child develops their handwriting in a smooth and fun way. Practising is key to the development of a child's handwriting and encouraging small things such as sitting properly and holding the pencil in the correct way are key to ensuring success. Having some handwriting materials at home and incorporating handwriting into a child's daily routine are great ways to assist your child in their handwriting journey. Recording their progress with a reward chart and praising their progression continuously are also vital aspects of developing this important skill. Here are 6 tips that can help your child develop their handwriting skills: 1. Make learning fun I think we can all agree that when a child is having fun whilst learning a new skill their chances of faster progress is a given. Simply offering your child the choice of different coloured pencils or different types of paper is a great way to heighten their interest in an activity. Playing fun word games such as hangman or anagram games and asking them to write the answers instead of simply getting them to copy words will instantly make writing more appealing. 2. Hold the pencil in the right way Learning to hold a pencil in the right way is not as straightforward as it sounds and some children find this task more challenging than other aspects of learning to write. The best place to hold a pen or pencil is to let the pencil rest next to the base of your thumb. There are some fun utensils you can get such as pencil grips which can help your child get used to holding the pencil in the right way. Practising is key here and praise is also an essential part of the learning process. 3. Finger painting Building a child's handwriting skills is not simply a matter of ensuring they hold a writing tool in the right way but also improve and strengthen their muscle skills. Finger painting is a fun and interactive way of building a child's muscles and teaching them to use their imaginations and express themselves freely. Praise your child's art skills when they are finger painting (or drawing shapes in the sand) and encourage them to use their fingers and hands to practice shapes and letters that may need some extra practice. 4. Encourage learning games Learning games will not only help a child develop their handwriting skills but will ensure they also develop their fine-motor skills. Simple tasks such as controlling their writing utensils, learning to sit with the correct posture and developing their coordination can all be implemented through some fun learning games. Fun games such as Jenga where your child will learn that a steadier hand is key to success and other board games that require different muscle building skills will all be beneficial to assisting your child's development. 5. Use the right tools Having the right size writing tool is very important. If your child is struggling with a longer pencil try giving them a shorter pencil and ensure that you encourage them to hold the pencil in the right way. There are also handwriting aids available that can be a great help and they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes; take your child with you and allow them to choose and try until they find one they feel comfortable with. Also make sure your child has a good eraser for rubbing out those mistakes and understanding that mistakes are inevitable but an eraser can get rid of them. 6. Have patience Patience is probably the most important aspect of helping a child develop any skill. Show your child as many times as they need to be shown and praise their efforts along the way. Concentrate on what your child needs according to their age and ability and concentrate on one thing moving forward only when you feel your child is comfortable with what they have learnt. To conclude Making sure your child has a comfortable place to practice their writing and different writing tools to train with can make all the difference to their development. Handwriting is a skill that must be learnt but does not have to be a chore and with some fun and patience can be accomplished in a wonderful way.