Why the Centers Are Good For Students

Why the Centers Are Good For StudentsSubscriptions to csub tutoring centers are becoming increasingly popular. Whether it is for your child's first year or middle school, these are very helpful in helping your child to learn.These are especially helpful for your child who is learning certain elements of reading, spelling, writing and other skills. Your child will definitely benefit greatly from the skills and tips that they can get from the center.It is not always necessary to take your child out to a library. It is only when they are in school that you need to have an understanding of the materials that they can use. If you are trying to teach your child how to read, the best place to begin is through the club tutoring centers.They are qualified tutors who are already certified. The centers have tutors who work alongside them so that you can concentrate on teaching your child the skills that they need. This is especially beneficial for your child because they do not have to miss les sons because of their schedules.There are various aspects that need to be looked at before you make a decision. Some areas will be dictated by the students' individual needs. Even though the tutors at the centers are certified, they still might not be the right choice for your child.However, it is quite beneficial because the tutors there are classroom teachers who are in the same position as your child would be. The center will give them the guidance that they need at the right time.The tutors there will come up with a plan to help your child achieve the skills that they need. These tutors will also be able to answer any questions that your child might have. The majority of students have questions regarding their education, which makes club tutoring centers great for students.

3 Crucial Tools to Help You Learn Guitar

3 Crucial Tools to Help You Learn Guitar Suzy S. The Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney told Rolling Stone magazine recently that Nickelback is killing off the rock genre.   Agree?   Disagree? There will always be rivalries in the music industry, but whomever you side with, one thing is for certain: they all started out as complete beginners at one point.   So if youre just a beginner now, it will be up to you to determine who youll want to end up like. But first, youll need some important tools.   Take a look at this great list from ultimate-guitar.com for the most essential tools for beginner guitar players: Essential tool 1: Metronome A metronome is crucial to developing many skills. Most players already know this, but if you haven’t used one yet then get your hands on one. There are a few different types you can get. You can get a software version (normally for free) for your computer or iPhone (most phones can get one). The second type is the physical pendulum type you see with a metal arm ticking back and forth. The third type is a digital version. This type could be as basic as providing a simple click or as complicated as generating a stack of rhythms and loops. Things you can do with a metronome: • Develop your rhythm abilities • Practice fast/complicated licks or solos • Improve your speed picking/playing • Master techniques such as tapping or sweep picking • Develop your strumming patterns Essential tool 2: Rhythm generator/drum looper There are many different names and labels for this tool. Basically, it is a little box where you can choose a style of music (such as blues, rock, metal, swing, etc.) and it will play a drum beat that fits that style, at a tempo you choose. The better ones will also allow you to choose a key and it will play a progression in that key with the drums for you to jam over. They normally have hundreds of different options and you have full control over how everything sounds. Instead of buying a digital metronome, if it’s in your budget you may want to get one of these instead. All of them will have a metronome option to give you a simple click. Here are some things you could try with a rhythm generator: • Learn how to jam in a style you have never tried before • Write solos and licks in different keys and different styles • Write song ideas and riffs that fit with different drums patterns • Practice scales and learn what sound or ‘flavor’ they give your playing Essential tool 3: Flash cards, chord charts, and chord dictionaries These three tools will all help you learn a range of different chords in different ways. Chord charts are normally a poster or page with a selection of chord diagrams. You can buy ones large enough to stick on your wall or they sometimes come with books. Chord dictionaries are just like they sound â€" a dictionary full of chords. Chord dictionaries can contain up to a couple hundred different chords. Flash cards are like a pack of playing cards where each card displays a chord diagram and other information. Using these tools will help you develop your chord vocabulary. The more chords you know, the more options you have. More choices of chords will give your songs more interesting sounds and will have a big impact on your songwriting or improvising. The average beginner will know about 10 basic open chords, whereas the expert guitarist will know over a hundred different options all over the neck. Don’t underestimate how important it is to learn more chords! Even expert players continue to learn new chord shapes. Here are some things you can do using chord flash cards, dictionaries and charts: • Learn more chords • Write interesting chord progressions and songs • Improve chord progressions by finding more interesting chords • Learn the notes behind the chord types (eg: major, minor, seventh, etc) • Understand music with chord theory   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 Image courtesy of http://fretterverse.com/2010/04/20/practice-with-a-metronome/

5 Ways Women Sabotage their Communication in the Workplace - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 5 Ways Women Sabotage their Communication in the Workplace - Introvert Whisperer 5 Ways Women Sabotage their Communication in the Workplace Forget the glass ceiling. The fact is: women communicate differently than men and, too often, to their own detriment. They tend to speak up less, apologize more, downplay their achievements and use less-powerful body language â€" all of which impact their career success. This seed is often planted in early childhood, when women learn to avoid visibility and recognition. According to world-renowned linguist Deborah Tannen, men learn to display their abilities and knowledge and emphasize their status, while women learn to downplay ways they’re better than others in order to build rapport. As a result, women solicit and receive less recognition than men. Not surprisingly, women tend to fall into the same patterns in the workplace. They’re reluctant to divulge their achievements, yet avoiding such discussion hinders their opportunities for recognition and advancement. Here are five ways women sabotage their communication in the workplace:        1. Communicating Indirectly Women tend to have an indirect communication style, using softening devices such as hedges and questions to soften their words’ impact. However, this tactic lacks a sense of assertiveness and authority. For example, saying, “If you get a chance, will you please draft and send me the meeting notes at your convenience?” is an entirely different statement than, “Please draft and send me the meeting notes tomorrow.” By being more direct, women typically find the results to be more aligned with their intent.       2. Downplaying Achievements   Women often have a fear of self-promotion. Part of the problem, according to Flynn Heath Holt Leadership, is that women are too modest â€" they believe accomplishments should speak for themselves. While men are more attuned to the power dynamics of a conversation, women focus more on the rapport elements. For example, to avoid seeming boastful, a woman may use the term “we” when referring to an achievement she actually performed on her own. By being specific and direct about their contributions, while giving appropriate credit to the team, women can ensure they receive the recognition they deserve.        3. Taking the One-Down Position The traditional gender roles of business can relegate women to an impossible and perpetual one-down position, according to Tannen. A mismatch in how common rituals among women, such as exchanging compliments, play out can confuse exchanges in the workplace. For example, a woman might take the one-down position (“I don’t think my speech went well”) assuming the other person will recognize the ritualistic nature of the self-denigration and pull them back up (“Really? I thought you did great!”). However, men are more likely to respond with advice (“Well, you can always get a public speaking coach”). Similarly, women are socialized to downplay their certainties, while men are socialized to minimize their doubts. The problem for women is that the norms of business are based primarily on a male style of interaction. As such, a perception of indecision or uncertainty damages a woman’s credibility.       4. Apologizing More Apologies are often used by women as a conversational ritual to establish rapport. However, apologies tend to be regarded differently by men, who focus more on the status implications of an apology. A 2010 study by psychologists Karina Schumann and Michael Ross found that women apologize more often than men and have a lower threshold for what warrants an apology. For instance, women tend to apologize for situations that aren’t their fault or are out of their control. However, excessive apologizing leads to women being perceived as weak and, as a result, limits their influence and opportunities. As such, women must learn to recognize when an apology is and is not necessary.        5. Using Less-Powerful Body Language Men naturally take up more space and convey a sense of power. By using less-powerful body language â€" such as folded arms, indirect eye contact or a weak handshake â€" when interacting with others, women are putting themselves at a disadvantage by conveying a sense of inferiority. Instead, they should make a point to practice body language that conveys a sense of confidence and authority. By recognizing these communication nuances and the role they place in hindering career advancement, women can better equip themselves for achieving success both in the workplace and in their personal lives. Guest Authors:

A Beginners Guide to the Xylophone.

A Beginner’s Guide to the Xylophone. Everything You Need to Know about the Xylophone. ChaptersWhat is a Xylophone?Where You Will Have Heard the Xylophone.Some Things to Know about Playing the Xylophone.Where to Find a Xylophone Teacher Near You.The xylophone is a wonderfully diverse instrument. An instrument on which kids often have their very first experience of playing musical notes. But also an instrument which, when played by a virtuoso, can produce some of the most exhilarating and incredible music that has ever been played.In between these two extremes, this percussion instrument provides a wide range of musical possibilities: lines in a percussion ensemble, jazz grooves and solos, and the accompanying rhythms to many a pop song or prog rock epic. However, it is these performances that tend to go overlooked.Here, we are going to look at all the different things you will need to know if you want to become someone who plays this most versatile of percussion instruments.We’ll take a look at the xylophone’s history as well as the different types of the musical i nstrument that you might be interested in playing. We’ll look at some of the most inspiring players of the xylophone and its most famous performances. Then, we’ll look at some of the techniques that you will need to play the xylophone yourself â€" and end by showing you some ways to find a xylophone teacher.Because the xylophone is not just an instrument on which you can play ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ when you are in school. Rather, it is an instrument that will inspire even the most ambitious musician. And, if that’s you, you are in the right place.Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about the xylophone! Learn to play the xylophone from an early age! SerbanDrum Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyDrum Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RussellDrum Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamesDrum Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StephenDrum Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeteDrum Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OllieDrum Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexDrum Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat is a Xylophone?So, what is a xylophone? Whilst you probably know it in its first definition, it is worth noting that there are in fact two different definitions of this instrument â€" one quite a lot more specific than the other.Generally, then, we use the term xylophone to refer to any tuned percussion instrument arranged in wooden bars. This conse quently includes things like the marimba, the balafon, and other such instruments as the vibraphone.However, if you were to ask a specialist â€" a percussionist in an orchestra, say â€" they’d tell you something quite different. Xylophones, to them, in their most specific sense, are instruments that quite distinct marimba, say â€" although both use mallets or beaters.Where a marimba would have vertical pipes or resonators beneath each of the horizontal bars, a xylophone does not. And, as a result, there is a significant tonal difference â€" as the xylophone’s sound is much higher pitched and drier than a marimba.However, all of these instruments mentioned here â€" including the glockenspiel too â€" come from the same family of idiophones, instruments that produce a sound through the vibration of the whole struck element. It is important to note, though, that xylophones are made of wood. The metal variety is known as the metallophone.Consequently, whilst you will see that there a re many similarities between the family of tuned percussion, orchestral percussionists need to make very distinctions â€" as the precise quality of the sound makes an important difference.A Brief History of the Xylophone.You can check out a bit about the history of the marimba in our article on how to learn the marimba, yet here we are going to go over some of the key points â€" as the histories of the marimba and the xylophone often overlap.We can identify three, probably distinct, histories of the xylophone, coming out of Asia, Africa, and, later, Europe.The oldest of these traditions is probably that from south-east Asia, where people from Java and Bali are thought to have used the gamelan for potentially thousands of years. Similarly, there is evidence that instruments similar to a xylophone have been used in China for an equal amount of time. And whilst we know a lot about these specific instruments, the chances are that similar percussive instruments have been used across the whole region.Whilst some music historians have argued that, from there, the instrument moved to Africa, this is not necessarily true: there was probably a distinct tradition of tuned percussion instruments in west Africa that was completely separate from that in Asia. We just don’t know for sure.In Europe, the first mention we see of the instrument is much later â€" in the sixteenth century in Germany â€" yet there is evidence of such instruments in Eastern Europe too. It was Camille Saint-Saens, the Romantic French composer, who first used a xylophone in a piece of classical music.Check out how to play the tambourine - or even playing the triangle! You'll need to learn to read music to play the xylophone.Are there Different Types of Xylophone?The diverse history of the instrument would suggest immediately that yes, there are indeed different types of xylophone. In fact, we have mentioned a few of them already.The balafon is one of the oldest types of xylophone â€" a west African instrument that is made up usually of twenty-one different keys. These are usually affixed with leather straps to a wooden frame.At school, we are often told that a glockenspiel is a type of xylophone. However, it isn’t really. Whilst a xylophone has wooden keys, the glockenspiel is one of those musical instruments made of metal â€" and so is a metallophone instead.Finally, there is an important difference between xylophones that are diatonic, pentatonic, or chromatic. In the percussion section of a symphony orchestra, say, they will always use a chromatic xylophone â€" i.e. one which has every note of the scale, across different octaves, with the sha rps and flats.Pentatonic and diatonic xylophones, however, only have the notes of a given major scale â€" either five, in the case of the pentatonic, or eight in the case of the diatonic.Learn to play the steel hang!Where You Will Have Heard the Xylophone.So, let’s take a look at some of the most impressive xylophone performances there have been, through the worlds of classical, jazz, and contemporary music. Here, you’ll see that the xylophone is not just the instrument of the classroom, but of all musical worlds â€" from orchestral percussion to pop.Evelyn Glennie.Potentially the world’s principal percussionist, Evelyn Glennie is a legend of orchestral percussion music â€" playing with orchestras and solo across the length of her career.An awesome musician and soloist to begin with, she is known particularly for the fact that she has been deaf since her childhood. However, this hasn’t stopped her doing anything.Lionel Hampton.One of the most important percussionists of the twentieth century, Lionel Hampton was a huge figure in jazz in his time too.He played the vibraphone and xylophone with some of the biggest names in jazz.Pink Floyd â€" See-Saw.Before they made it as the UK’s biggest prog band ever, Pink Floyd released the dreamy, which features all sorts of different instruments. One of these is the xylophone, which accompanies the song â€" beautifully.Some Things to Know about Playing the Xylophone.Learning to play the xylophone may look easy. However, if you are hoping to take your xylophone skills to the level of Evelyn Glennie’s, you’ll need to have another look.As with all musical instruments, nailing the technique is absolutely crucial to progressing with the xylophone. You can’t just hit the beater on the bars willy-nilly: you need to know how to hold the mallets properly.This means that you need to ensure that you are in a relaxed, balanced posture before you start playing. Ears above the shoulders is crucial here.Holding the mallet is the next thing. Pinch the stick with your thumb and index finger. Then wrap the rest of your fingers around the stick.The most important thing here is to stay relaxed. Without that, you aren’t going to get the flexibility of the wrist that you are going to need. Fancy playing the xylophone?Where to Find a Xylophone Teacher Near You.There are many ways to find a xylophone tutor. However, the best one is through Superprof, a platform that brings students and tutors together across the world.You’ll be able to find a percussion tutor to help with your xylophone skills in your area â€" or, if not, you can take xylophone lessons online, via Skype. This gives you the freedom to take classes from your own home, with your own kit and on your own schedule.It’s really important to know that, if you want to excel in the xylophone, you need to get yourself a tutor. They’ll show you the right technique, give you inspiring repertoire, and keep you motivated to keep on learning. That’s what teachers are for!

The 12 Essential Chords You Need to Play Country Guitar

The 12 Essential Chords You Need to Play Country Guitar Sign up successful D-G-A-A7-D-G-A-A7-D Remember, mastering the guitar can take years of practice. You don’t have to be the best guitar player in the world when you’re just beginning your journey. When you’re learning chords, memorize the finger placement so you don’t have to refer back to the diagrams. Playing a series of chords in a progression is the most efficient way to memorize chords. Country Music Theory Now let’s look at the basic music theory behind country music. Country music uses a lot of major guitar chords. It also uses the dominant 7th chords. These chords can be built in any key using any scale with a tiny bit of music theory knowledge. Building Major Chords Major chords are made up of three notes: the tonic, third, and fifth interval. These three notes are pulled directly from the scale of the chord that you are playing. Let’s look at the C major chord as an example. The C major scale is C(1)-D(2)-E(3)-F(4)-G(5)-A(6)-B(7)-C(8). It consists of natural notes (no sharps or flats). To build the major chord, take the first, third, and fifth notes from the C major scale (C-E-G). Here’s another example with the D major chord. The D major scale is D(1)-E(2)-F#(3)-G(4)-A(5)-B(6)-C#(7)-D(8). Take the first, third, and the fifth notes, which are D, F#, and A. Building the dominant 7th chord is just as simple as building a major chord, but we add one more step to the process. First, take the first, third, and fifth notes from the desired scale. The next step is to take the seventh note from the desired scale. For the D dom7 chord, use the D major scale (D-E-F#-G-A-B-C#-D). Use the first, third, fifth, and now, the seventh note. This gives you D-F#-A-C#. For a minor chord, take the first, third, and fifth notes from the scale, but this time, use the minor scale rather than the major scale. Try this with the C minor chord. The C minor scale is C-D-D#-F-G-A-A#-C. When you pull the first, third, and fifth notes, you get C-Eb-G. This process is a lot easier when you memorize the major and minor scales. Remember the steps: W-W-H-W-W-W-H for the major scale, and W-H-W-W-H-W-W for the minor scale. If you want to play and build a progression, select three or four of the 12 essential   chords, and make up a progression or sequence. You can make up tons of different progressions with the 12 essential chords. Playing these progressions will help you transition from chord to chord. You can use any rhythm when you play. When you practice, you should focus on making smooth transitions (no gaps or hesitation) from one chord to the next. Start out slow, and then pick up the tempo. Build Your Own Progressions I will use E major to show you how to build your own progression. Use the E major scale, lift the tonic (E), third (G#), fifth (B), and the seventh note (D#). When you build a major triad over these four notes, you get the four chords of the I-III-V-Vii chord progression. This rule will work for any chord progression you want to build. There are hundreds of songs out there that use the 12 essential country guitar chords. Alan Jackson’s song Drive”uses G,D, and C, and repeats the G-D-C-C  pattern for the majority of the song. Check Yes or No, by George Strait, uses a I-IV-V chord progression in the key of D. The D-G-A pattern repeats throughout the song. Now that you know the essential country guitar chords and the history behind them, it’s time to start practicing. You can use these  classic country songs  to practice the chords and perfect your technique. Need some help perfecting your country guitar skills? Find a private guitar instructor near you!  Zachary A. is a guitar instructor in Katy, TX specializing in beginning and intermediate students. He is currently earning a degree in  music theory. Learn more about Zachary here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Atauri.

How to Pass the ACT Online ACT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace

How to Pass the ACT Online ACT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace ACT test is a recognized test in the United States and high school students take this test to showcase their academic capability and their readiness to start their college life. ACT test examines a students logical and conceptual knowledge in 4 subjects and good scores in these sections displays the students ability to take on college level courses. Therefore most colleges and universities accept and recognize these scores as it helps them make a decision regarding a students selection. In order to get good scores, students should learn and improve their basic concepts in a subject. ACT test paper consists of 4 main sections: English, Mathematics, Reading and Science Reasoning. Some colleges also prefer students writing scores and ACT offers an optional Writing section and students have the choice to take it. To do well in the English section, students should improve their grammar and rhetoric skills such as punctuations, verb-pronouns usage, sentence structure etc. The organization of a sentence, tone of voice of the author etc. are the few important things students must focus on. For the Mathematics section, students should practice math questions from various topics learnt in their high school or in other lower grades. It is important to know how to use the math formulas and should also practice answering them in a limited time. Reading and Science sections consist of questions based on the given passages, so students should be able to comprehend and relate the given passage to the question.

What is it Like to Attend Loyola University Chicago

What is it Like to Attend Loyola University Chicago The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Julie is a Chicago tutor and 2010 graduate of Loyola University Chicago. She holds degrees in both History and Secondary Education. Julie specializes ingeneral History tutoring, European History tutoring, Government tutoring, and World History tutoring. See what she had to say about Loyola: 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? Julie: Loyola is located on two campuses. The main campus is in Rogers Park and the downtown campus is located near Michigan Avenue. The main campus gives students the feel for what it is like to be on a college campus in an urban setting and the downtown campus gives students the chance to be in the heart of one of the largest cities in the United States. Loyola offers shuttle transportation between the two campuses on weekdays and since it is located in an urban environment, there are many ways to get around the city. The el or buses are only walks away from each of the campuses. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Julie: Loyola has the advantage of being a relatively large university, but still has classes and professors who understand the importance of individualized attention. The class sizes are smaller and professors are readily available during office hours, before and after class, as well as through email. Academic advisors are highly regarded at Loyola because they truly understand each of the programs. Students are not left wondering what classes need to be taken each semester because the advisors create individual plans for each student. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Julie: Loyola dorm life is one that centers on community. Freshman dorms encourage socialization and the RAs help plan activities. For upperclassmen, the dorms are converted apartment buildings, which give students the chance to still have campus housing, but explore what it is like to be in an apartment setting. Dining options are always available to all students and are easily accessible at both campuses. 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? Julie: Loyola offers a variety of majors and programs for all interests. Many students study biology and pre-med because of the opportunities for the medical school after graduation. I studied History and Secondary Education. The History Department is ranked 6th in the nation and the professors encourage students to explore topics that interest them in history. The School of Education provided me valuable experience in an urban setting that I still use in my teaching today. 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? Julie: It is very easy to meet people and make friends at Loyola. All freshmen attend an orientation the summer going into their freshman year. This gives students an opportunity to meet their classmates and explore the campus. There are many organizations on campus that help students become involved and living on campus helps create that sense of community. Greek life does not play a significant role in campus life, but there are organizations to join if students are interested. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Julie: The Career Center offers many services to students throughout the year. There are rsum building sessions and opportunities to attend job fairs. Each college has their own job fairs throughout the year as well. There are also a variety of student support services, such as tutoring, to help students academically. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Julie: Loyola has a variety of study areas throughout campus. Besides the lounges in the dorms, there is an Information Commons, which is part of the library, and there are study rooms for groups, as well as individual areas for quiet studying. The library at the downtown campus also has ample study space that students can use in-between classes and on the weekends. There is always a space at one of these for students to use and they are open late. 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? Julie: Since Loyola is located in the city of Chicago, there are constantly things to do both on and off the campus. Loyola encourages students to become involved with local organizations, but also provides on-campus events too. Loyola has a strong dedication to service so many organizations, such as local soup kitchens, schools, and libraries that like to have students volunteer with them. The chance to be in a city setting is a wonderful opportunity to explore the culture of Chicago. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Julie: There are roughly 15,000 students at Loyola. It is a nice size because it is in the middle. You still have the chance to get to know your classmates, but it is not an overwhelming size where you can become lost. The classes are average size where the professors know who you are and you can still receive attention. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Julie: One of my most memorable classes at Loyola was a history class I took for the Honors in History program. The entire class was dedicated to writing a research paper that you presented to the history department. This was an amazing opportunity for me because the paper was my own work and then I was able to prove my thesis to the faculty. This encouraged me to be confident and proud of my work. Check out Julies tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

A Day in the Life at Vassar College

A Day in the Life at Vassar College Sarah earned her bachelors degree in English from Vassar College. She specializes in English tutoring, test prep tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at Vassar College: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Sarah: Situated in the middle of the city of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College has an incredibly beautiful and bucolic campus. It is technically an arboretum, so the campus is full of trees of all different varieties. Campus is easily walkable, and there is no real need for a car or bike. There is a bike sharing program that my graduating class started for students who like the convenience of biking across campus. The college provides shuttle buses to the nearby train station that allows access to New York Citya service that students frequently make use of on the weekends. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Sarah: Professors are incredibly available, and all classes are taught by full professors (not TAs). Class sizes are small (I only had one lecture in my four years at Vassar), so it is easy to cultivate close relationships with professors. They really go out of their way to make themselves available to students in class, during office hours, and even outside of formal class settings. The dorm buildings contain faculty housing, so professors (and often their families) live in the same buildings as students, acting as faculty residential fellows. It is very common for professors to attend campus shows/events and have students over for dinner. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Sarah: Dorm identity is huge at Vassar. Most students live on campus all four years, and the office of residential life does a great job of organizing events all year long. There are no RAs or Prefects, but students are organized in Student Fellow groups with the other new students in their hall. Each group is assigned to a sophomore Student Fellow who does things like celebrate birthdays, organize dinners, and act as a resource for anything students might need. They really foster a sense of community from the moment students arrive on campus. Students often stay friends with the people they met in their Fellow group for all four years at Vassar. In addition to dorm life, there is always some kind of event, show, concert, party, club meeting, or lecture going ontons of opportunities to meet people interested in a variety of different things. The dining centers are pretty great and have some great healthy options, including a ton a vegan food. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Sarah: The liberal arts are most well-represented, but in recent years, the college has been attracting more students interested in the sciences as well. I have always loved reading and writing, so I became an English major with a French minor and went on to chair the English Majors Committee. The English department is absolutely stellar, and the professors are tremendously impressive. One of the many ways that I thought Vassar was great for my field of study was the number of cross-listed classes it offers. I was able to take classes that counted toward my major but were also housed in different departments, bringing students in various disciplines into conversation with one another. It is not the place for a student who wants to sit in the back of a lecture hall and never utter a word all semester. But, if youre like me and really want to engage with the coursework, the professors, and your fellow students, there is no better place. 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? Sarah: There is no Greek life on campus. The dorms and Student Fellow groups function in a similar way, providing a social and residential foundation for students. Students also tend to be involved in a ton of activities outside of class (sports teams, theatre collectives, a cappella groups, dance companies, etc.), which is another way students tend to meet one another. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Sarah: The Career Center is a very valuable resource for students looking for internships, help with graduate school applications, and assistance in drafting a resume. They are really great at putting students in touch with alumni in their desired field as well. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Sarah: Study areas are everywhere (lounges in every dorm), and the library is gorgeous and spacious. There are also computers accessible to students, if they happen to find (as I did) that their laptop dies during finals week. Study areas only get a bit full during finals, but never overcrowded. Describe the surrounding town. Sarah: Poughkeepsie is a small city in the Hudson valley. Students dont spend a ton of time off campus in Poughkeepsie (theres so much going on on campus!), but I can attest that there are some great restaurants in the area, lots of hiking trails a short drive away, and orchards for apple picking in the fall. Plus, the college is only a two-hour train ride to New York, and students often visit the city to catch a show or concert. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Sarah: The student body is around 2,500. Classes are smallI once had a class with four students total. I specifically chose a small school because I didnt want to get lost in giant lecture halls, and I loved being in intimate class settings that provided lots of opportunity for discussion. Youll get to know the students and professors in your department very well during your time at Vassar. For a student with a passionate interest in her/his field of study, its perfect. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Sarah: I loved the process of writing my senior thesis. I worked with Peter Antelyes, a truly fantastic professor who was the chair of the English department at the time. Each week, I had a one-on-one meeting with him where we went over the pages I had written and the research I was working on. In addition to being a really engaging and often hilarious professor, he was remarkably encouraging of my work. It was wonderful to get such individualized attention and mentorship from a professor I so respected, and I wound up creating a piece of writing I was really proud of. After I submitted my thesis, Peter had me and another student over for dinner at his home to congratulate us on our work. I dont think I could have had that same kind of relationship with an academic advisor at any other college. Check out Sarahs tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.