Should I Graduate College Early

Should I Graduate College Early The decision to graduate early from college can be a pivotal one in your young adult life. There are many factors to consider before you can fully understand if this plan is the right fit for you. When asking yourself if you should graduate college early, examine if your college experience will still feel complete, if you will be prepared for the next steps, and if you are doing it for the right reasons. When deciding if you should graduate college early, its important to be honest with yourself on how the pros and cons will impact you. Keep reading to learn if you should graduate college early. Graduate college early if youre certain your college experience will still feel complete Yes, college is primarily about academic growth and earning your degree. But its also about more than that. The college experience is about learning to be independent and about finding your niche. Its important to take this time to explore any interests you may have and to learn where you may see yourself in five years or so. If you feel that you can gain this knowledge in three yearsgo for it. Graduate college early. This is a very personal decision; just because it takes someone else four or five years to get the full experience doesnt mean it will take you that long. Set aside some time to reflect on what you want to get out of your college experience, and then determine what timeframe will fit you best. [RELATED: 5 Myths About the Last Year of College] Graduate college early if you feel prepared for whats next A significant advantage to the time you spend in college is that its the perfect time to get experience in your desired field. You have resources and a network of professional connections right at your fingertips. While in college, its key to utilize these as best you cancomplete internships, develop engaging senior projects and portfolios, and build your network of connections. There will hardly be another time in your life when you have so many opportunities in a variety of fields and interests right in front of you. If you are planning on graduating after the fall semester as opposed to the spring, you could take advantage of the opportunity to interview for jobs in the off-season. Typically, the rush of new candidates comes in the spring; therefore, you may have a higher chance of getting the job you want if you have the ability to interview before the busy season arrives. If you feel you can take full advantage of all of these opportunities in three yearsgreat! On the other hand, if you are planning on going to graduate school once you finish your undergraduate degree, graduating early could be a good option as well. Its important to examine all requirements for whatever program or school you are interested in, to make sure you can meet them in three years. In order to be admitted, some may require that: Certain work requirements be met A specified number of internship hours be completed You maintain a particular GPA Dont rush through three years just to end up with a lower GPA than desired and less experience than required. If you can finish your undergraduate degree in three years and feel prepared to apply for graduate school, then graduating early may be right for you. [RELATED: A Guide to Weighted vs. Unweighted GPAs] Graduate college early if you transferred many credits from high school Oftentimes, high school students are able to take dual-credit courseshigh school classes that allow them to gain college credits. Some students are even able to start college with enough credits to technically make them sophomores or second-semester freshmen. What this means is that students who enter college with a substantial number of credits may be more likely to have the opportunity to graduate in three years, without the stress of fitting four years of classes into three. However, if you enter college in this situation, you may want to explore the option of double-majoring. This will depend on your interests and future career path, of course, but you may be able to double major without too much excess stress in the typical four years. Make sure to examine these options closely and to figure out what works best for you. Dont graduate college early if youre afraid of missing out on experiences As previously stated, your time in college is about more than just academics. If there are certain things you hope to experience or achieve before you walk across that stage, graduating early might not be the right fit for you. Examine what you hope to get out of college, and be honest with yourself on what you dont want to miss out on. If there is a dream internship you have always had your sights on, make every attempt to land it. If not graduating early is what will allow you to have a fulfilled experience, there is nothing wrong with that decision. Dont graduate college early if it causes you to feel overwhelmed Sometimes, fitting four years of schooling into three years can be overwhelmingespecially if you didnt transfer many credits from high school. If you are dedicated to graduating early, make a plan early on of how you can fit all your requirements into the timeframe you desire. Even then, though, things can quickly become overwhelming. You may have to take more classes per summer than you feel comfortable with, and not allowing yourself any breaks can have a negative impact elsewhere in your life. If you begin to feel overwhelmed, its not too late to add an extra semester and spread things out a bit. Know yourself, and be honest if your school work becomes too much. [RELATED: Stress Management Tips for Busy Students] Dont graduate college early due to impatience Most importantly, dont decide to graduate college early because you are ready to start adult life. College is a great time to try as many new experiences as possiblefrom studying abroad with your classmates, to playing an intramural sport you never thought you would like. You have the flexibility to pursue as many new interests as youd like and really learn where your place in the workforce will be. If you feel graduating college early is the right decision for you as an individual, then dont let anything stop you. Educate yourself on the pros and cons, and be honest about what you want to get out of college. If you do these things, the right decision will be easy to make. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Is Your 9-to-5 Draining Your Creativity

Is Your 9-to-5 Draining Your Creativity Suzy S. OK Go  is known for their creative music videos, and their most recent release is definitely on par.   After all, why stand on stage playing instruments (yawn!), when you can use a car with retractable arms to play the instruments for you?   These guys are either insane or genius decide for yourself.   (Click here to watch the video for Needing/Getting!) Musicians are usually creative by nature.   But sometimes especially if music is something you do in your spare time, instead of as your career it can be all too easy to get caught up with the routine of life.   Maybe you have to stay late at work, and the last thing you want to do is practice scales and etudes when you get home.   Maybe your goal is to write a song, but the lyrics just arent coming to you.   Maybe youve practiced your heart out, but the idea of performing in front of people makes you break out in hives.   But why give up on something you were once so passionate about? Being creative is something that needs to be exercised, just like a baseball player exercises certain muscles.   So if the daily grind is starting to get to you, its time to take action.   Shake up your routine and jump-start your creative mind.   Even if the initial activity doesnt involve music, it may awaken parts of your brain that will help you in music later on.   Need some ideas?   Here are 10 ways to rejuvenate your creativity, courtesy of Lifehack.com: 1. Surround yourself with creative people. Hang out with writers, musicians, poets and artists. Often, just being in a creative environment will inspire you and refresh your creative mind. 2. Start somewhere. Whether it’s creative writing in Word or sheet music, the brain will eventually loosen up and it will be easier to break through the barrier and come up with ideas. 3. Expose yourself. Expose yourself to new art â€" books, music, paintings â€" all the time. If you’re a rocker, listen to funk. If you’re a crime writer, read fantasy. If you’re a productivity writer, read something about slacking off. 4. Do something new. Play chess. Read a book if you usually watch television and watch television if you read. Go outside. Sing in the shower. 5. Meet new people from different walks of life. Gain insight into their perspectives on life. Strike up a conversation on the bus. 6. Shut out the world. Instead of sucking in new information, sit quietly, go to sleep or meditate. Stop thinking and clear your mind so that the clutter doesn’t get in the way of your thoughts. 7. Don’t be a workaholic â€" take breaks. Your mind needs a chance to wind down so it doesn’t overheat and crash. 8. Experiment randomly. What does a flanger sound like on a vocal track? Like Lenny Kravitz, of course. 9. Exercise every day, before you sit down to be creative. If you exercise afterward, you’ll get the creative burst â€" just too late. 10. Spend time with your children. Or someone else’s. What other ideas have you tried when you feel your creativity dragging?   Share your thoughts below! Like these posts?   Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!   Click here to subscribe. Photo by:  flattop341

SIX TIPS TO MAKE COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE!

SIX TIPS TO MAKE COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE! For many students and their parents, the arrival of a college acceptance letter is a time to celebrate the years of hard work that it took to prepare for higher education - and a cause for concern over how much it's going to cost. Year after year, at most colleges and universities across the nation, expenses for tuition, fees, books and lodging have increased, and according to most experts that trend will continue. Fortunately, the total amount of student aid available, including grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs and other sources has also increased, making college more affordable than many students and families realize. Here are some tips for tracking down the support that will put your child's dreams within reach. Step One: Talk with school counselors. Advising students on financial aid options is one of the most important roles of school counselors. They should know about the different types of aid available and guide you and your child through the application process, which can be daunting. Counselors can also provide information on grants and loans from your state government, and those offered by the colleges and universities you're considering. Step Two: Make sure your child is eligible for most types of available aid. To qualify for financial aid, your child must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen. If your son would like to receive federal aid, he'll need to register with the U.S. Selective Service when he turns 18 (Selective Service registration is in fact required for all men aged 18 to 25). All students must also graduate from high school or earn a GED before receiving aid. Step Three: Order the FAFSA. Most of the available aid comes from the federal government, and to acce ss it you need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You'll use the information from your tax returns to complete the FAFSA, which you can submit by mail or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA site is a good source of information about all of the federal aid available, and it includes a link to the financial aid offices for most states as well. Step Four: Understand the full range of federal aid options available. Grant options include The Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, which are offered to students from families in the lowest income brackets. Loan options include the Federal Stafford Loan, which has a variable interest rate, and the Federal Perkins Loan, which has the lowest fixed rate of any federal student loans. You can also consider Federal Work-Study programs, which provide jobs that pay minimum wage or above. If you show significant financial need, your child might also qualify for a Subsidized Stafford Loan, which does not start accruing interest until after you graduate from college, saving you a considerable sum. If you don't show enough need, your child may be eligible for an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, which isn't based on need. Unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest as soon as the money is disbursed, which means the debt will grow while your child attends college, although interest rates on student loans are generally very low. You can learn more about Stafford Loans at www.staffordloan.com, and about many more loan and grant options at the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid Web site, located at: studentaid.ed.gov. Step Five: Pursue the full range of available scholarships. Many scholarships are available to students interested in a particular field of study, which makes them perfect for students who already have careers in mind. Having an athletic or artistic talent can also open the door to scholarships for students who earn special recognition for thos e talents. Awards are also available for those in underrepresented groups, such as Hispanic and African-American students, and those who will be the first in their family to attend college. Many scholarships are based on academic merit, but others - from businesses, civic and religious groups and corporate and financial organizations - are awarded based on family income or demographic factors. Creating a checklist of your child's talents, interests, and demographic factors will help you both hone in on the various angles you can pursue. Step Six: Remember the value of high achievement. Many loans and grants are increasingly based more on academic merit than financial need. This is one more reason your child should develop good study skills and get extra help to address any issues that are impacting grades. It's also important to raise the bar as high as possible by taking Advanced Placement, honors or other advanced courses. Good performance in these courses is especially crucial i f your child is hoping to receive aid from colleges and universities because it shows decision-makers that he or she is well-qualified for college-level work - and well positioned to ensure the institution's financial investment pays off.

How do I apply for university

How do I apply for university Sarah C is an ex-deputy Headmistress in the independent sector and specialises in helping students apply for university.   With a wealth of experience, Sarah shares her knowledge of university applications and how best to apply for university. University is the final destination in the long journey which is your child’s education. Important decisions need to be made and many people feel like they don’t know where to go for the right kind of help. Everyone is aiming high and the pressure to succeed is enormous, pressure from school, teachers, the media, prospective employers. You want your child to have the best possible opportunities available and your plan may well include an elite UK university such as one from the Russell Group. This is a group of 24 universities which are widely accepted as being amongst the best in the UK and it includes Oxford, Cambridge, Warwick, Edinburgh, UCL, Bristol and York, to name but a few. When it comes to choosing what to study for the next three or four years, however, some students spend less time than it would take to prepare Christmas dinner! And often this is at the last minute. University really does set us on a certain path in life and so it warrants some very careful attention. The Personal Statement: The application can be a source of great stress for students and a real mystery for parents. The main reason for this stress is the personal statement, a brief document aiming to convince admissions tutors that they should give a place to your child. It has to show that the student is interested in the chosen subject and has the academic potential to cope with studying it for three of four years. It’s challenging to get it right. So, even before students put pen to paper, they need to research their subject in order to be certain that it really is something that they want to study. I really try to get students to appreciate the importance of this stage and of starting it early, so that if they change their mind, it’s not too late to do another round of research. I have taken a student from Art History to Japanese Studies in a matter of days, having made her look very thoroughly at what would be taught on an Art History degree. We realised quickly that she, like many students had chosen the subject simply because it was the subject that she did best at in her A levels. But being good at something does not automatically mean your child should study it intensively for three years. Some digging around and a lot of talking can really help to find the right fit. I often find that as students investigate their subject more and more, they realise how broad it is and many want to undertake further research. For those interested enough to do this, it can be useful to speak to a teacher at school or an external tutor who can steer your child through a supported piece of research on a topic of their choice. It is a good option for those students whose school does not offer an opportunity to study for the Extended Project Qualification. As well as extending their subject research and, therefore, their interest, it can be an excellent source of discussion for an interview if it is mentioned in the personal statement. The personal statement which the students dread so much should not be a simple list of achievements, books and work experience placements; the best ones will map out the journey which the student has undertaken in order to arrive at the decision to study the chosen subject. Did they read about it? Go to lectures on it? Visit museums, galleries, buildings related to it? Have they genuinely made attempts to engage with it and understand it? With evidence of that journey, students are halfway to convincing admissions officers that they deserve an offer. Once a student has made a genuinely informed decision to study a subject, the entire application process becomes less challenging. They are asked to consider the skills required in their chosen degree subject and helped to reflect on how they can evidence these. The Aptitude  Tests A further area of concern for students is the prospect of sitting one of the aptitude tests which more and more universities are seeking to use in order to differentiate applicants. They are required by some universities in addition to A levels and they can be complex and daunting because many students will not have had an opportunity to think in the very lateral way which these tests require. It is important that students take time to practise these tests regularly. My experience in sixth forms has taught me that the best applicants are the most prepared. Those who leave this to the last minute just do not obtain the offers which they want, because the lack of preparation shows. I suggest that students start thinking about university soon after their mock exams and in any case, no later than the Easter holidays of the Lower Sixth. I try to give students the tools to produce something truly excellent for their application, to encourage self-reflection and careful consideration of the subject which they have chosen to study; the very best personal statements are from students who have done these things. So, what help is available to make the best application? Within the independent sector, schools tend to have a fairly comprehensive system of support for students, with staff holding their hands through the entire process, overseeing things such as the production of a successful personal statement and offering interview practice and preparation for tests such as LNAT and BMAT, for example. Over and above what the school can do, many parents will also look for additional help from external sources such as tutoring agencies, such as Tutorfair  where you search to find University Advice Tutors, Oxbridge Admissions Tutors as well as BMAT tutors and LSAT tutors. Carefully chosen, some of these can be a great source of advice but often parents seek them out quite late in the process. The best applications are made by those students who have thought ahead and spent a considerable length of time planning their applications. By planning, I do not only mean the structuring and drafting of the personal statement but the reading and research which can help a student to gain a better understanding of the subject which they want to read at university Sarah C is a an ex-Deputy Headmistress who specialises in helping students apply to university. She mentors students through their time at school, guiding them through the ups and downs, acting as an independent source of support when things are challenging, whether personally or academically. Looking for tips on how to apply to university? Visit www.tutorfair.com to find a tutor who can help. You can search for local tutors by subject, level and your postcode. Tutorfair will show you search results with the top rated tutors at the top!

Pay Rise for Teachers - Tutor Hunt Blog

Pay Rise for Teachers Pay Rise for Teachers Pay Rise for TeachersSchoolsAfter a long pay freeze teachers are to receive as much as a 3.5% raise Ever since 2013 teachers have had to endure their pay increases being capped at 1% - and for the last 2 years their salaries have been completely frozen. Of course austerity measures have affected many different professions in the public sector - but many have felt the 1% cap, which showed little signs of ever being lifted, has been particularly harsh on the teaching profession. Recent analysis published by the Institute of Fiscal Studies has revealed that school funding has been cut by 8% since the Conservatives came to power. The good news is that teachers are due a pay rise from September, as the public sector pay freeze has finally been lifted. The government has announced a 3.5% pay rise, with those on the main pay scale receiving the full 3.5% raise, and those already enjoying the upper ranges (mainly heads of departments) getting a 2% raise. `Leaders,` such as school heads can expect a 1.5% rise. The Education secretary Damian Hinds expressed what this rise, the first in many years, would mean for teachers: `This will mean that teaching continues to be a competitively rewarded career, and I will continue to work with the profession, Ofsted and the unions on issues like excessive workload, professional development and flexible working, to make sure teaching remains an attractive, fulfilling profession.` Indications that teachers were in line for a pay increase were revelled some time ago, but teachers had to wait many weeks for the news to be confirmed, and the hard figures to be published. The costs for this increase will be pound;508 million, spread over 2 years, but will not actually be funded by any new money from the treasury. It is understood that the schools themselves will not actually have to pay the full costs out of their budgets. The department for education is working under the assumption that the schools will have been budgeting for a one percent pay rise for some time, and will be in a position to cover the majority of the pay increase; the remainder will come from savings elsewhere in the budget of the DOE. Teachers` unions have been fighting for a pay rise for many years, and have always been clear in their opinion that the long pay freeze has been contributory to the growing recruitment and retention issues in the profession. There are many who say that the 1.5% raise is not sufficient, especially after such a prolonged period where wages have not risen at all. five major education unions, which represent teachers and school leaders throughout England and Wales, were asking for a 5% fully-funded pay rise. This figure was calculated to provide a cost-of-living increase, along with acting a first step towards restoring `the real value of teaching salaries to 2010 levels`. One can only imagine the unions will be disappointed with the figures offered. According to the Department for Education, established teachers will see their salaries rise by between pound;1,184 and pound;1,366, while the salaries for new teachers will grow by between pound;800 and pound;1,000. This all sounds like good news - who wouldn`t want a pound;1000 pay rise? Of course with inflation currently at around 2.4%, the real value of these pay increase are largely negated in real financial terms. 19 months ago0Add a Comment

How to Show Initiative in Your Summer Internship

How to Show Initiative in Your Summer Internship Image via pixabay.com Network while you can Summer internships are the perfect opportunity to network with both professionals in your desired field and your fellow interns. Instead of limiting your interaction with the companys employees to only when you are required to talk to them for an assigned task, take initiative and introduce yourself to those employees that you sit next to in the break room or meet during meetings. Having company employees know you by both name and face will do wonders for your time in the summer internship and even after. If you stay connected to company employees after your summer internship, you have an active connection you can use as a reference for future positions and a person to help you if you seek a job in that company full-time. If they know you by both name and face, they will be more likely to give you a recommendation and an even more thorough one as they are more likely to know you as a potential employee. The worst thing that could happen if you fail to take advantage of your summer internship as a place to network is being known as that summer intern and being forgotten as soon as a new intern is hired. Along with networking with established employees, talk to fellow summer interns if you are not the only one. Networking with fellow interns will give you the chance to have someone help you on a professional and personal level as you are likely to be going through the same things as summer interns. It also shows your ability to collaborate with coworkers if you are taking initiative to reach out to another employee on your own. Be in the know   Depending on your level of experience in the career field associated with your summer internship, knowledge of what you are actually doing may vary. If the summer internship is more hands-on (like working in a lab, shadowing a professional), you may already be expected to have a better grasp of what you are supposed to be doing. Prepare yourself by researching the type of work you will be doing beforehand. Research the company and what they are known for. Look at their growth and recent projects so you get a feel for the company atmosphere, work, and where they are headed in the future. If an employee asks you about something that happened in the company recently and you have no knowledge of it, you can look uninterested in the company you are interning for. If you are ready to discuss the issue, it shows that you took initiative to make yourself more aware of the company news and will be more involved with the company you are interning with. Ask questions Regardless of whether it is in a classroom setting or in the workplace, many are afraid to ask questions in fear of looking clueless. However, the benefits of asking questions outweigh whatever you think someone may think of you if you ask a dumb question. Not only do you look interested in the subject at hand if you are asking questions, you also are showing that you are ready to learn. When you just nod along when receiving instruction and always say no when asked if there are any questions, there is little to no conversation generated. Asking questions creates some back-and-forth and some questions can even be accompanied with tips from established employees, making whatever task given a lot easier and giving you know-hows when pursuing a full-time position in the future. If you ask questions about something you do not know prior to handling a task, any possible negativity surrounding you asking any number of questions will outweigh the negativity that can occur when you do the task wrong and make more work for yourself or other employees to fix the mistake. Consider your future and there is a possibility of you continuing to work with the company. Ask whoever you report to if there are any openings for other positions or what you would need to do in order to apply for a full-time position in the future. Asking questions about staying within the company shows that you are invested in the company and that they should invest back if you are a potential long-term employee.

Alive English School (Alive International Preschool)

Alive English School (Alive International Preschool) Alive English School (Alive International Preschool) We Alive English school/Alive international Preschool is one of the biggest and fastest growing English school in Nagoya, Japan, with almost 1400 students. Our Philosophy is Lead the world- Power to unlock the future, We Alive believe that we foster world-class leaders through native English education. Established in 2001, We currently runs 5 schools offering exciting and high-quality English learning programs for children and adult. Our students are mostly children aged 2 to 12 years old, whose level of English is the top level in Nagoya, Japan. They experience and learn lots of things though our English education. They learn not only English but also strong communication skills and power to live. Most of our teachers have been working for very long term in family atmosphere. The Japanese employees are attentive, hard-working, speak English fluently and above all, very friendly. We incorporate a regular training system throughout the year and provide a good working environment for our teachers. We have several school seminars or meeting where all the employees get a chance to meet and talk. We also have an annual company tour around Japan and experience Japanese culture.