Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Kaplan LSAT Tutor Salary - How To Earn The Best Rate

Kaplan LSAT Tutor Salary - How To Earn The Best RateKaplan LSAT tutors are compensated for their expertise and skills as teachers by an hourly wage. There are several reasons that can contribute to the high salaries that a Kaplan LSAT tutor can receive. First, teaching online is a very lucrative career, with competition rising every day. The importance of a LSAT tutor has never been greater, and as a result the job is growing in importance in every field.Tutors who specialize in the subject area tend to get paid more because they have the knowledge necessary to teach students properly. Second, the work environment is more productive. Good teachers are constantly on the move, and because they tend to travel around the country and the world, they have plenty of opportunity to teach at schools.Those who teach full-time positions are able to get good paying work, as well as other benefits and perks. Those that teach part time jobs can enjoy the benefits of full time employment, but do no t necessarily earn as much as full-time instructors.Kaplan LSAT tutors can also expect higher salaries for their subject matter skills because they know the math behind advanced algebra and calculus. Some companies, like UNLV, have a math department that focuses on teaching students math, which can help them perform better on the test. For these reasons, many Kaplan LSAT tutors are trying to increase their customer base, which is important for earning a higher pay rate.Though salary is not the only factor, it can play a big role in the experience level of a tutor. For instance, many large corporations pay for experience, which can be valuable when working for smaller companies. The more senior a tutor is, the more he or she can expect to make.Kaplan LSAT tutors are hired to help students who might not be capable of performing well on the LSAT without some assistance. As the test approaches, tutors are a bit more likely to go over previous tests with students and make notes for upcom ing exams. When there is a heavy workload, a teacher should be careful not to overload students with too much homework, and definitely avoid cramming.As a teacher of Kaplan LSAT, you will be looking for a way to improve your salary. If you are still considering how to earn a better wage, it might be worth looking into the idea of becoming a Kaplan tutor. While you may want to hold onto your regular job, you might just find that being a tutoring teacher allows you to stay home and spend more time with your family.

Friday, March 6, 2020

Pronouncing ED endings in English Video and Exercise

Pronouncing ED endings in English Video and Exercise One of the mistakes that we see often with our students, especially with Brazilians and any Spanish speakers, is mispronunciation of English words that end in ED. Basically a word like walked should sound like walkt, not walk-ID.The difference may seem very subtle to non-native speakers, but pronouncing ED endings correctly in English is important. The difference is very noticeable to native speakers, and with a few easy tips, you can fix this problem and make your English sound much better.The best way to practice pronouncing ED endings is to talk to live native English speakers, listen to how they say the words, and allow them to hear how you pronounce English words with ED endings. Our video below will help you get started, and then you can try the exercise below. Choose the correct pronunciation ending for the words below:Talked = (id/t).Played = (id/t).Ended  = (id/t).Advanced = (id/t).Started = (id/t).Laughed  = (id/t).Landed  = (id/t).Moveed  = (id/t).Hoped  = (id/t). Fernand o Talked = (id/t). t Played = (id/t). t Ended = (id/t). id Advanced = (id/t). t Started = (id/t). id Laughed = (id/t). t Landed = (id/t). id Moveed = (id/t). t Hoped = (id/t) t LOIEnglish Excellent work. Now just remember the rules while speaking! I know it might be more difficult while speaking but if you take classes and continue practicing you will be fluent in no time!

How to improve your outreach and land more interviews

How to improve your outreach and land more interviews I’m Sara. I’m an Education Partnerships Executive here at Teach Away, which means that every day, I talk to leaders, administrators, and hiring managers at schools around the globe. My job is to help them improve their recruitment and hiring processes through a partnership with Teach Away. In my role - assisting schools and organizations, each with idiosyncratic challenges to overcome in their recruitment journeys - there are a few analogies for the solutionsI recommend (on a basic level, of course): You can’t catch a fish without a line in the water. The more lines in the water, the more fish you’re likely to catch. If you don’t fish where the fish are, you catch zilch. What I want to focus on today, though, is this one: Just because you can see a fish doesn’t mean you can catch it. Here’s a scenario I commonly encounter when working with schools: The school has set up a website to market their school (great!) They’re targeting teaching professionals by posting their vacancies on education-specific job boards (perfect!) Applications are flooding in! Great news, right? Not quite. There’s still another piece to the puzzle. Often, the candidates applying to these schools aren’t as responsive as the school would hope beyond the initial application. Highlighting this is the fact that the school’s application-to-interview ratio is nowhere near where it could be. The root of the problem lies in the outreach - not in the quantity or quality of the candidates involved. While conventional wisdom suggests that the more applicants you’re able to attract the better your chances of filling your vacancies, the real key to hiring amazing new employees is how you nurture applicants through the recruitment process. Let’s take a look at some best practices for applicant outreach and communication. 1. Timeliness is imperative Once you’ve received an application, the next step may be the most important of all. You need to reach out to your candidates to acknowledge their application, and you need to do it quickly. Our research shows that candidates who are contacted within 3 days of submitting a job application are 27% more likely to accept a job offer and are 22% less likely to drop out of the hiring process. To simplify this process on your end, try using an applicant tracking system or marketing automation software to automatically respond to new applicants. Pro tip: While contacting your candidates quickly is vital, timing is important as well. Consider your candidates’ timezones and other factors that might impact the best time to be in touch. 2. Make a good first impression Ah, time for another age-old adage: “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”. As an international school leader, you are busy, but taking (or making) the time to build rapport and a create a relationship with prospective candidates starting with your very first contact is well worth the time and effort. While you may be trying to get through the recruitment process as quickly and painlessly as possible, a positive candidate experience is everything. As much as you’re evaluating candidates, they’re evaluating your school as a prospective employer as well. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot and lose out on a promising candidate due to a poor first impression. 3. Humanize the process Each individual in your recruitment pipeline has their own unique set of circumstances, whether they’re considering teaching abroad for the first time or working full time at another international school and considering a move. To provide the best experience, put yourself in the candidate’s shoes. Minor considerations to accommodate candidates - being flexible around interview timing, choosing convenient methods of communication, or being understanding of existing obligations - will go a long way towards creating a positive predilection toward your school. 4. Sell your school Your job of selling your school doesn’t end when a candidate clicks submit on their application; you need to continue selling your school throughout the duration of the recruitment process. Every touchpoint with a candidate is an opportunity to keep candidates engaged, build excitement about working at your school, and further convince them that your school is the right fit for them. Perhaps you can share video highlights from the school year when you reach out to schedule an interview, or follow up with interviewees using a virtual campus tour to show off your facilities. To really allow candidates to get a good feel for your school, consider conducting interviews with current staff to share what life is really like at your school. 5. Provide a 360 ° view of your opportunity An important consideration when recruiting international educators is that what matters to one person may not matter to another, and what’s important to you may not resonate with your candidates. The image below shows the most in-demand job benefits, in order, among candidates for your teaching vacancies: To combat this, be sure to provide candidates with a well-rounded description of what life is like at your school and the benefits and opportunities available to them. It’s unrealistic to think you’ll be able to tailor your pitch to each individual candidate so you’ll want to consider the multitude of factors that matter to international educators and address them as best you can. You don’t want to miss out on a great candidate who’s looking for growth in their next role because you neglected to mention the robust professional development calendar at your school. 6. The devil is in the details Teach Away candidates, on average, submit more than five job applications to teach abroad per year, often within the same month. This means that, right off the bat you’ve got 4+ competitors vying for the services of the same teacher you are. With that in mind, think about these questions: Are you going above and beyond to woo your candidates? If not, do you like your chances? Are there things your competitors may be doing that you’re not? Are there things you could be doing that would set you apart? Aim to surprise and delight your candidates. Any edge you can give yourself helps - it could make the difference between a top teacher choosing your school over the one down the road. Just going through the motions won’t translate to success in your recruitment efforts. But by being thoughtful and purposeful with your outreach you have an opportunity to make a positive first impression, build a relationship with prospective candidates, and reinforce why your school should be your candidates’ first choice. Don’t let your efforts in attracting applicants go to waste. They’ve already taken the bait; set the hook and reel in a big one!

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Ho ho huh Merry Christmas!

Ho ho huh Merry Christmas! Ho ho .. oh? Well, Christmas is coming at break neck speed. Are you ready! Im not. I can give you one suggestion; do not watch the news reports of the masses in the shopping malls crazy for the fifty percent off weed whackers, or trying to get a parking spot that could cost you your life. Never mind Target, Macys is so busy the handicap placards are going for top dollar over there. And don’t forget the extra wrapping paper and the decorations to replace the ones the dog chewed up yesterday. OK, maybe it isn’t all that bad but that’s how it looks to me. I’m always busy judging everybody knocking themselves out to meet the Christmas expectations and specifications. Ho ho ho! Hey who you calling a … alright I’ll stop right there. But once again I want to know; why is everyone going mad on December 25th? Christmas! I get it; I’m not a Druid you know (at least I don’t think so?). But how come Christmas is celebrated on different dates in different countries? And how come everyone has so many different traditions. My research found some answers and created a few more questions, but here are a couple of tid-bits for Christmas in America. Did you know that … Each year, 35 million Christmas trees are sold in the United States. There are approximately 21,000 Christmas tree growers in the United States, and it takes about 15 years to grow a Christmas tree that’s ready to be sold. The Christmas tree idea really started in Germany. In fact in 1846 queen Victoria and her German prince, Albert was shown in a newspaper sketch standing with their children next to a Christmas tree. Of course that was all that was needed for the British and The East coast well to do Americans to get into the tree thing. Today, in the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after the 25th, which is also referred to as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day. This is the day it is believed that the three wise men finally found Jesus in the manger. In the Middle Ages, Christmas celebrations were rowdy and raucousâ€"a lot like todays Mardi Gras parties. The churches and the rich put a stop to that. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was outlawed in Boston, and law-breakers were fined five shillings. The first eggnog made in the United States was consumed in Captain John Smiths 1607 Jamestown settlement. Poinsettia plants are named after Joel R. Poinsett, an American minister to Mexico, who brought the red-and-green plant from Mexico to America in 1828. The Salvation Army has been sending Santa Claus-clad donation collectors into the streets since the 1890s. The Red Santa outfit he wears today came from a Coke commercial. Rudolph, the most famous reindeer of all, was the product of Robert L. Mays imagination in 1939. The copywriter wrote a poem about the reindeer to help lure customers into the Montgomery Ward department store. So Christmas in America has been more of an evolution of many combined ancient holiday’s and foreign cultures and money.   Who knew?   Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas?

Ring in the New Year With Philanthropy in the Community

Ring in the New Year With Philanthropy in the Community Philanthropy and Volunteerism for Future Teachers of America Many college students wish to go into teaching. This is a great and admirable profession and one that will help the next generation. However, its difficult for teachers to get their start in the field and to gain experience. One fantastic way for future teachers to both add to their community, as a philanthropist, and gain valuable experience is to join Reading Partners (READ: Extra Curricular Activities For Your College Resume). Reading Partners is a literacy advocacy program throughout the United States and it has a branch right here in Orange County. Volunteers only need to commit one hour a week, however they are welcome to commit more of their time, in order to be a part of the program. The goal of Reading Partners is to strengthen the literacy rate between kindergarten and third graders who attend public schools throughout Orange County. As many already know, any child who is illiterate will likely become an illiterate adult and without the ability to read most adults end up in or stay in poverty. College students do not need to have any experience to join Reading Partners; the program will train volunteers and place them in classrooms that are in need. Bilingual college students â€" English/Spanish â€" are especially needed as many of the students are English language learners. In 2014, Reading Partners volunteered in 13 schools throughout 7 school districts and over 1,400 students received services or products through Reading Partners One Book as well as the School Supplies Project. Fighting Illiteracy Although it seems that there shouldnt be any illiteracy in Orange County, CA, many local students are in need (Click: Reading Partners Children in Orange County). Some parts of the US that we think are thriving have students that continually slip through the cracks and because certain counties in the US receive less attention, the students are less likely to receive help. In addition to general literacy, its very important for students in elementary school to speak fluent English. For every year that students do not receive English literacy services, theyre more likely to fall behind or just plain give up (READ: Getting Your Community Service Credits). Reading and writing are core subjects for a reason: Everything we look at, from a street sign to ingredients on food packaging to college prep material is written in the English language. Children who cant read at their grade level become essentially blind. Joining Reading Partners, or any other respected literacy project, is a fabulo us way for college students, or people of any age, to both add to the community and gain valuable experience for a future career. Students who wish to volunteer through Reading Partners should do some research on the website and look for a location near them. Its important for volunteers to be honest and upfront about the amount of time that they have to offer. College students can become very busy, so if one hour a week is the maximum that they can provide, they should be upfront about this. One hour a week is better than zero hours and is a wonderful gift of time. Additionally, volunteers deserve to be recognized for their work (READ: New School: Adjusting to Advances in Technology). Ask for a Letter of Recommendation If possible, college students should investigate if their university offers any official recognition that can later be added to a resume or professional network such as LinkedIn. Volunteers are also encouraged to ask Reading Partners, or any volunteer organization that they join, if they can receive a letter of recommendation or reference upon the completion of their volunteer commitment. Its getting harder to find a full-time job these days, so its important to keep resumes up-to-date with any and all community-minded activities. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by TutorNerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us post about.

Passion and Dedication are the Key to this Young Computer Coders Success

Passion and Dedication are the Key to this Young Computer Coders Success Passion and Dedication are the Key to this Young Computer Coders Success Aryan, 12-years-old, Math Level J, Reading Level J Some of the most successful businesses come from very humble beginnings. Dell was founded by Michael Dell when he was still a student at the University of Austin. Apple, Google, and Amazonâ€"three companies that have absolutely revolutionized the technology worldâ€"all started in a garage. Something they all have in commonâ€"an idea, dedication and passion. One benefit of the ever-changing, tech savvy society that we live in today is that many young kids and inspiring inventors have a plethora of role models to aspire to be. Aryan is one of those kids! He has developed a passion and dedication for computer coding and engineering. “Kumon has helped me develop sharp critical thinking skills, which has really helped me outside of the classroom,” said Aryan. “In any STEM challenge, I can apply my critical thinking skills to think of various solutions. I’ve gained confidence from Kumon, and I know I can handle any challenge that comes my way.” One of those challenges is when he competes in the Science Olympiad, which is one of the most exclusive science competitions in the nation, providing rigorous challenges to its young competitors and inspiring innovative work in STEM. Aryan participates in the Science Olympiad at the Ohio Regional and State levels for his  school team. Some of his top achievements include winning third place in the Mystery Architecture Event at the Piqua Regional, and third place in a coding event at the New Albany Invitational. Aryan’s hard work and discipline didn’t go unnoticed, as he was one of 55 students selected to attend the 2018 Kumon Student Conference in Calgary, Canada. We had the opportunity to speak to Aryan about his Kumon journey. How has Kumon helped you academically? Kumon has given me an academic edge over my peers as I am currently studying above grade level. Having strong foundational skills, I have received high scores on state and national standardized tests. If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? Enriching. What do you enjoy most about Kumon? I really enjoy how the Kumon Reading Program introduced me to a variety of different authors and genres. By analyzing great pieces of literature, it not only broadened my taste in books, but also fueled my love for reading. How has Kumon helped you outside of the classroom? By making Kumon a part of my daily study habit, it has helped me greatly with my time management. I’m able to better manage my busy weekly schedule â€" balancing extracurricular activities and school work. What did it mean to you attending the Student Conference? Attending the Student Conference was very inspiring to me. It opened my eyes to see how developing great study habits at a young age will help you accomplish big things in life! What advice do you have for other Kumon Students? My advice for other Kumon Students is to make Kumon a part of your daily routine and just stick with it! Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: This Young Kumon Reading Program Completer is an Aspiring Computer Engineer Practice is the Key to this Young Cello Players Success SUCCESS IN KUMON INSPIRED THIS YOUNG STUDENT TO EXCEL IN THE POOL With a Passion for STEM, this Kumon Student is Effecting Change Passion and Dedication are the Key to this Young Computer Coders Success Passion and Dedication are the Key to this Young Computer Coders Success Aryan, 12-years-old, Math Level J, Reading Level J Some of the most successful businesses come from very humble beginnings. Dell was founded by Michael Dell when he was still a student at the University of Austin. Apple, Google, and Amazonâ€"three companies that have absolutely revolutionized the technology worldâ€"all started in a garage. Something they all have in commonâ€"an idea, dedication and passion. One benefit of the ever-changing, tech savvy society that we live in today is that many young kids and inspiring inventors have a plethora of role models to aspire to be. Aryan is one of those kids! He has developed a passion and dedication for computer coding and engineering. “Kumon has helped me develop sharp critical thinking skills, which has really helped me outside of the classroom,” said Aryan. “In any STEM challenge, I can apply my critical thinking skills to think of various solutions. I’ve gained confidence from Kumon, and I know I can handle any challenge that comes my way.” One of those challenges is when he competes in the Science Olympiad, which is one of the most exclusive science competitions in the nation, providing rigorous challenges to its young competitors and inspiring innovative work in STEM. Aryan participates in the Science Olympiad at the Ohio Regional and State levels for his  school team. Some of his top achievements include winning third place in the Mystery Architecture Event at the Piqua Regional, and third place in a coding event at the New Albany Invitational. Aryan’s hard work and discipline didn’t go unnoticed, as he was one of 55 students selected to attend the 2018 Kumon Student Conference in Calgary, Canada. We had the opportunity to speak to Aryan about his Kumon journey. How has Kumon helped you academically? Kumon has given me an academic edge over my peers as I am currently studying above grade level. Having strong foundational skills, I have received high scores on state and national standardized tests. If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? Enriching. What do you enjoy most about Kumon? I really enjoy how the Kumon Reading Program introduced me to a variety of different authors and genres. By analyzing great pieces of literature, it not only broadened my taste in books, but also fueled my love for reading. How has Kumon helped you outside of the classroom? By making Kumon a part of my daily study habit, it has helped me greatly with my time management. I’m able to better manage my busy weekly schedule â€" balancing extracurricular activities and school work. What did it mean to you attending the Student Conference? Attending the Student Conference was very inspiring to me. It opened my eyes to see how developing great study habits at a young age will help you accomplish big things in life! What advice do you have for other Kumon Students? My advice for other Kumon Students is to make Kumon a part of your daily routine and just stick with it! Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: This Young Kumon Reading Program Completer is an Aspiring Computer Engineer Practice is the Key to this Young Cello Players Success SUCCESS IN KUMON INSPIRED THIS YOUNG STUDENT TO EXCEL IN THE POOL With a Passion for STEM, this Kumon Student is Effecting Change

Learnmate and Annuel: An Investment?

Learnmate and Annuel: An Investment?Learnmate Tutoring in Annuel Revenue has taken on a new direction with the acquisition of Learnmate Tutoring in Annuel. The deal, announced by Bain Capital this week, is an example of Bain's growing efforts to become a 'human resource' company. Although it can't compete with Google and other elite companies in terms of money, the investment is a signal that Bain is serious about making its investments work for its clients. But the decision to acquire Learnmate is not about money but about learning.To understand the reason for the acquisition, you have to understand Learnmate itself. The firm offers a service known as 'SEO Tutoring' to online tutors. This allows the tutor to drive traffic to the learner's website through search engine optimization tactics.It's a service that works for Sarah Marshall. As a web designer, she offers tutoring services to those who need help getting through their college education. When she first started offering her ser vices on her own website, though, it was a costly, time-consuming venture. By the time she created a new business web site from scratch, she had almost no traffic.It's difficult to hire someone to help with an online learning plan who doesn't know the market inside and out, and Sarah Marshall certainly knows how to build traffic, but she still needed to pay for advertising to create a steady stream of traffic to her website. The solution, then, was to purchase Learnmate tutoring in Annuel, which serves as her portal to both professional tutors and the billions of people who surf the internet every day.Learnmate provides traffic by applying 'robust content marketing.' It creates a website called SatoriMD.com that contains 'optimized articles, video and other multimedia content designed to make learning more fun, interactive and fun.' The content is updated frequently, but isn't written by a ghostwriter. Every lesson and homework assignment is based on original, rigorous research.So i f you want your coursework to appear more professional-looking, pay for Learnmate Tutoring in Annuel to help you optimize your website. And the site is updated regularly. Online tutors everywhere can benefit from Learnmate's expertise in the online tutoring market.If you're an online tutor who wants to set up your own career or business, consider learning more about Learnmate. You might find that it's a good choice for you too. Just like Google and AOL and other big players in the education arena, Learnmate will change the way we all see learning.

How to Find a Language Tutor Near Me

How to Find a Language Tutor Near MeIf you're looking for a language tutor near me, then you've come to the right place. Here's how you can find a language tutor near me.A prospective language tutor is an important part of your life. You are probably an employer who wants to hire someone who can help you with your business. You might be an employee who needs to find a language tutoring company. If you find yourself in any of these situations, there are some questions you need to ask.What kind of language tutor should I get? Before you select anyone for a job, you must identify what they can do for you. You need to choose someone who will teach you their language. If you have the chance to work with someone who speaks a language that you know very little about, then that would be a good fit.What is the length of the time period in which they will teach me? You need to make sure that you find someone who can do the job at hand without having to wait weeks or months. However, if you're going to have someone come to your home and teach you in a few hours, you need to make sure they'll be there for longer than that.How much time will they need for their lessons? If you're selecting an individual to teach you in person, then make sure they have enough time to complete the lesson. Ask them how much time it will take. If they tell you a couple of hours, ask them how long it will take to go over the lesson. If they tell you it will take three hours, ask how long it will take you to finish the lesson.Can I send them a note while they're with me? This question comes up because some people worry that if they don't hear from a tutor, they might think the lesson was less effective than it actually was. You don't want to put this off. It is best to contact the tutor right away, even if it's just a quick email. After all, they won't have much time to spare if you're looking for a tutor near me.Some other questions you might ask are whether the teacher you're selecting is a mas ter teacher or someone who's only been teaching for a few months. It's important to make sure that you're choosing a teacher who is qualified to teach you so you can learn the language quickly and efficiently.

A Student Review of Georgetown University

A Student Review of Georgetown University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Jessica currently tutors several subjects in Washington, D.C., specializing inACT prep tutoring, Pre-Calculus tutoring, Chemistry tutoring, and much more. She graduated from Georgetown University in 2013 with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. See what she had to say about her time at Georgetown 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? Jessica: Georgetown Universitys campus is amazingly beautiful and completely separate from the rest of Washington, D.C. It is the perfect place for someone who likes the blend of an urban setting to venture out to and a safe, separated college campus. It is possible to stay within campus and the surrounding Georgetown neighborhood. It is a bustling portion of the city with everything you need. However, the chance to explore Washington, D.C. is not one I would have given up. It is a great walking and biking city. In addition, the school has buses that link you directly to local Metro stops, so traveling about the city is not difficult at all. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Jessica: Professors, advisers, and teaching assistants are all very accessible. Georgetown University is not a huge school, so it is possible for professors to get to know students. They host office hours regularly and encourage students to attend. In my experience, they were always responsive to emails, as well. Georgetown University professors are very involved in the community, and they are often seen mingling at student group events and extracurricular activities. They, too, buy into the motto of the Jesuits (and by association, the school), cura personalis, which means care of the whole person. As such, they care about their students as people and really want them to succeed. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Jessica: The majority of housing is on-campus, and the upperclassman housing that can be found off-campus is very close by. This close proximity really leaves students with a sense of community. There are four freshman dorms, each with its own bonuses and drawbacks. Regardless of which dorm you live in, your freshman home starts to form your Georgetown University identity. It is where you make your first friends, where you have your first wave of homesickness, and where you make some of your strongest memories. Because each dorm has its own identity, it is a great way to start making friends. The dorms are similar to the houses in Harry Potterthere is an automatic bond between people in the same dorm. People on your freshman floor will all be looking to make friends, just like you, and relationships begin blossoming very naturally. The dining hall helps with socialization, as well, because there is one main dining area. Everyone goes to Leos for meals. There are other options such as Subway and Epicurean, but Leos is the home base for meals. In the dining hall, there are a number of buffet-style options, which allow you to make your own sandwich, salad, pasta, and stir-fry dishes. If none of those options suit you, there is also the diner station, which is home to the very popular Chicken Finger Thursday. The area surrounding campus also has an abundance of restaurants for students to explore when Leos gets old. 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? Jessica: I was a Psychology major with a pre-medical concentration. The liberal arts fields are generally the more popular areas of study, but I found that the science departments were full of great minds. I always felt as though I was supported, and I had a variety of opportunities to explore my interests. The Psychology department was excellent at circulating information about research opportunities, conferences, and clinical internship possibilities. 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? Jessica: It was very easy to make friends as a freshman. Freshman orientation is designed to get people to mingle and meet each other. The freshman dorms each have a unique identity that draws residents together. Georgetown University also tries its best to match you with a compatible roommate. The university uses a questionnaire system to try to match you, and it gives you a great chance at having a first-year roommate who can become a lifelong friend. My freshman roommate and I lived together for all four years of college, and she is still one of my closest friends now that we have graduated. Greek life does not play a big role at all. We do not have any true Greek life that is sanctioned by the university. If it is very important to you, there is a handful out there, but they do not play a big role at all. Instead, student groups mold the social opportunities. For example, Hoya Blue (the student fan club for Georgetown University sports) may host an event one night, the club lacrosse team will host one the next night, and the debate team will be having a social event the next weekend. This makes it easier to find people with common interests because people interested in the same groups attend the same social events. It also becomes less exclusive than Greek life. For the most part, everyone is welcome everywhere, and there are never any financial obligations like fraternity/sorority dues. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Jessica: The Career Center has a huge number of supports in place. I used the Career Center to get questions about the medical school application process answered. I also organized a practice interview and learned a number of tips that helped me in my application process. Another support that I love is the accessibility of the deans. Everyone at Georgetown University makes a four-year plan with one of the deans early on. It is a great way to organize your time at Georgetown University and see that it is definitely possible to graduate with the degree you want in four years. It also introduces you personally to a dean soon after you begin. This early introduction makes you feel as if the door is always open and that you can reach out to a dean if you have any questions about your course load, progress, major, etc. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Jessica: The library is not the most beautiful building, but it is a great place to study. There are a number of silent floors, as well as Lau 2, which is the non-quiet floor of the library. On this floor, there is a coffee shop that is open until 2:00 a.m., plus a number of group study areas. This was one of my favorite places to go because I was guaranteed to run into someone I knew who I could commiserate with when I needed support. If the library is not for you, there is a coffee shop a block off campusand a few on-campusto study at. The McDonough School of Business building and the new science building are both beautiful places to study. The seating is very comfortable, there are whiteboards and group study rooms, and there are huge glass windows that can brighten up any gloomy study day. Needless to say, there are plenty of options for students, and you can always find a place to go. The only exception might be finding a table in a coffee shop during finals week. They tend to f ill up quickly during that week, but all of the other areas offer plenty of alternatives. 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? Jessica: The surrounding town is northwest Washington, D.C. It is a great area for young adults. There is a tremendous number of restaurants, museums, monuments, etc. The nightlife is also very active. As I said earlier, it is possible to live in just the Georgetown area for all four years. However, I think it is important for students to explore the whole city. See the monuments, take advantage of the free museums, and walk past the White House. These are all right in your backyard when you go to Georgetown University. Of even more value in my eyes is seeing the parts of Washington, D.C. that many tourists do not. Georgetown University has a large number of students focused on serving others and social justice. Washington, D.C. has an interesting history, which has left it segregated geographically in a number of ways. Some of my most valuable experiences at Georgetown University involved participation in social justice activities that brought me to areas like southeast Washington, D.C., which differs greatly from the northwestern quadrant where Georgetown University is located. I highly recommend exploring Washington, D.C. for its fun activities, restaurants, and nightlife, but do not forget to find ways to explore all of it, including the underserved areas. These opportunities are invaluable, and they help shape your perspective as you begin to find your way in life. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Jessica: We are considered a medium-sized school. There are around 7,000 undergraduates, I believe. I was generally pleased with my class sizes. Most classes had between 20 and 40 students. The pre-medical requirement courses were larger, and they often had about 150-200 people in them, but because these were introductory classes and the lab groups were much smaller, I did not mind at all. Some of my upperclassmen seminars were as small as 10 or fewer people. I loved that these classes were small because they often covered topics I was passionate about, and the small class size allowed me to participate a lot and get to know the professors very well. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Jessica: One of my favorite classes was Prison Literature. I am very interested in the criminal justice system, and I thought that this class was a great way to learn about a side of the system not taught in a typical government or sociology class. I read some amazing literature, met some very inspiring formerly incarcerated men, and got to know my professor very well. This class stands out because I met three previously incarcerated men who became a part of my life in a number of ways. Their stories enhanced my perspective on life and encouraged me to continue to try to illuminate issues that run rampant in our justice system. With this inspiration, I was able to design an Alternative Spring Break Trip based on the topic of incarceration and host a number of awareness-raising events on campus. These men participated in panels I hosted, and they took us on a tour of a currently closed prison during our Spring Break trip. The class also exposed me to a huge spectrum of literature that continues to inspire me today, and it allowed me to get to know a professor who I continue to stay in touch with. Overall, I gained lifelong inspiration, support, and camaraderie in this class. The amazing part of all of this is that it is not unique for a class a Georgetown University to bring about lifelong lessons, friends, and inspiration. Amazingly, this seems to be normal for students, and it is one of the reasons I am so proud to be an alumnus of Georgetown University. Check out Jessicas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.