What I Wish I Knew About Picking a College Major

What I Wish I Knew About Picking a College Major The following is a guest post written by Tiffany Sorensen, a tutor and contributing writer with Varsity Tutors. There are a few points I wish someone had shared with me before I agonized over picking my college major. In hindsight, what felt like an impossible choice at the time was really not such a life-or-death matter. Here are three things you should know about picking a college major: 1. It is not the biggest decision I will have to make When the time comes to pick your college majorwhether you are a high school student filling out college applications or a college student nearing the end of sophomore yearyou should realize that this is not the biggest decision you will ever have to make. It may feel like it, but there are other significant issues you will encounter as well in your academic career, such as deciding whether or not to go to graduate school, whether you wish to stay at your current school or transfer, whether you wish to study abroad, etc. During my senior year of high school, I had trouble deciding which major to select on my college applications. I had such an array of interestshistory, languages, educationso I finally opted for undecided. I was troubled by my own inability to settle, but I became pleasantly surprised once I finally got to college and learned how easy it was to change majors; it basically just involved filling out a form from the Registrars Office and obtaining a signature or two. Switching majors is often a relatively painless process (though it ultimately depends on your schools policies), so long as you are not too close to graduating when you wish to make the switch. [RELATED: What I Wish I Knew When Graduating High School] 2. My major does not have to dictate my career path You may think the only way to secure a job in finance, for example, is by majoring in finance or business. A finance or business degree can make you a more qualified candidate for a job in finance, but it may not always be a necessity. Oftentimes, employers will gladly accept a degree in a related fieldin this case, perhaps mathematics, management, etc.or relevant internship experience, instead of a very specific degree. If this information is surprising to you, speak to some working professionals whom you know. Ask them about their higher education. You may learn that a practicing lawyer completed her undergraduate degree in biology, or that your English teacher first studied ceramics. It is extremely common for people to begin one career path and have a change of heart later on. Even if you feel set on one particular major, you may dabble in a class outside your program that inspires you to take a new direction. Be open to the possibilities! [RELATED: Is it Important to Declare a Major Before Starting College?] 3. I will have to take many courses outside my major, too Did you know that maybe only around one-third of the courses you take in college will be directly related to your major? This is because colleges require you to take general education classes as well, which are meant to enrich your mind in a variety of areas and increase your overall outlook. Do not think that just because you selected chemistry as your major that you will only be studying chemistry for the next four years. In fact, you may only get to take one or two chemistry classes your first year. No matter their major, college students must take classes in the sciences and in the humanities; usually, the only exception is AP scores (and other analogous test scores) from high school that count for college credits. However, try to see general education requirements in a positive light. You can explore unique courses, such as Ancient Egyptian Art and Freudian Psychology, and learn about other fields you did not even know existed. To fulfill a math requirement, I took a class called Applied Statistics my sophomore year. Even though I was initially unexcited about having to take a college-level math class, I ended up learning a great deal and even developing a love for statistics. You never know until you try! Now you know: selecting a certain major is not an irreversible action, your major can be slightly unrelated to your eventual career, and you will still be able to take classes outside your program. Hopefully, this information will relieve some of the anxiety you may be experiencing about selecting a major. Check out Tiffanys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors. 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 atblog@varsitytutors.com.

Worldwide Educational Support Tutors

Worldwide Educational Support Tutors Tutoring Around the World ChaptersPanoramic View of Tutoring Sessions Around the WorldHow is Private Tutoring Utilized in Europe?Do North Americans Hire Academic Tutors?The Academic Tutoring Situation in Latin AmericaAsia: The Omnipresence of School Support for the Success of ChildrenWhat About Remedial Support in Africa?Have you ever had sessions with  private tutors? Or have you taken your child, at least once, to a tutoring centre?If you answered  yes  to the aforementioned questions you are far from alone. The private education sector is a booming economic market with continuous growth.In 2013, Global Industry Analysts, Inc. (GIA) predicted that the global tutoring market would surpass $102.8 billion by 2018. These numbers are colossal!Accompanying the student through difficulties in school, offering homework help, learning new languages or engaging in interdisciplinary learning: these various activities are challenges that are gladly accepted by a private tutor.The causes of these monumental statistics a re multiple. Major deficiencies of the National Education System, a strong desire for success from both the parents and the student, fierce competition to enter the best universities, lack of options in the workforce which forces students to be their best or bust!In any case, parents and students should not solely focus on the country's education system for preparing to succeed in the classroom. To be able to succeed, hire a private instructor!Many other subjects and topics in life can broaden the horizons of one's mind and contribute to growing up academically in a very healthy way.Therefore, let's broaden our perspectives and take a small trip across different countries and continents to study the way in which remedial teaching is conducted! CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all o ur tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMa ths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsPanoramic View of Tutoring Sessions Around the WorldDoes tutoring differ according to latitudes, cultures and climates? That's what we are going to analyze together during this first part of the article...Before seeing how other continents and countries utilize personal tutoring, let's see how our United Kingdom does it!In past decade, the private academic tutoring marketplace has grown to be worth an estimated £6 billion in the UK alone. 1 in 4 students (40% in London alone) are seeking the help of a remedial tutor.These numbers are projected to increase in the next decade with more pupils needing extra school help.  From a strictly mathematical point of view, students from all over the world are seeking supplemental instruction in mathematics. Particularly those from Latin-based countries (France, Italy, Spain, etc.) While the Anglo-Sa xon countries such as the United Kingdom fares a bit better.However, the results are less than stellar with 77% of the tutored students in England requesting private tuition in mathematics.  The best tutors  uk offer individualized classes with special study skills to implant confidence in the student's abilities.A continent like Africa is considered a special case because of the poverty and low cost of living.As literacy is still a problem in many areas around the world, a private educator is a great way to combat illiteracy. Many NGOs and humanitarian organizations have been offering tutoring programs for struggling students.In NICs (Newly Industrialized Countries) and emerging countries, whether in Asia or Latin America, tutoring is rising in popularity with many parents wanting to ensure the future success of their offspring.It is in these latitudes that private tutoring springboards students to a better and more prosperous life.How is Private Tutoring Utilized in Europe?The per sonal tuition marketplace has been booming in Europe in the past decades! (Source: Visual Hunt)The older, European world is on the whole endowed with developed and capital-rich cities. The standard of living per capita in Europe is one of the highest in the world.National Education Systems vary greatly from country to country, and so, the same goes for how school support solutions are offered.More than a third of European secondary school students have already enlisted the help of private tutor more than once.  European Countries demanding the most academic tutors:France,Germany,Greece,Cyprus,Italy,Spain,Malta.The private teaching phenomenon has mostly touched these countries where school inequality is greater than in other countries. Scandinavia remains completely untouched in this regard compared to the other countries.In this record of academic support in Europe, we note that the exclusive presence (except for the economically strong Germans) of countries that were hard hit by ec onomic crises and loss of employment but have maintained a certain standard of living overall.Indeed, a recent study funded by the European Commission showed that private tutors were mostly hired from by wealthy households. The middle and upper classes of society are taking advantage of all the things money can buy!These families goal is to improve and do better than other teens to access the best possible higher education: the royal and easy route to ivy league education!In some of these cases, the crises have become an opportunity for the state to reduce educational spending.These budgetary cuts do not necessarily lead to an increase in private tuition, since Hungary, where many public schools have been sold and privatized, hardly appears in the top countries ranking.Get private tutors near me here.In many cases, the economic problems have caused retired teachers to offer private lessons in order to earn their daily bread.  While Western and Southern Europe remains more demanding in this regard, as we mentioned before, the northern part of the continent seems totally absent.Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway do not seem obliged to follow this trend. However, these countries do offer refresher sessions for students in difficulty.Eastern Europe would like to follow the steps of their western and southern neighbours to teach their children outside the classroom via home tutoring but the funds are just not there. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Disc over all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDo North Americans Hire Academic Tutors?Remedial teaching in North America concerns two very rich countries and one developing country: the United States of America, Ca nada and Mexico with about 530 million inhabitants on the continent.Paradoxically, the poverty rate on this continent can be quite high, and not all children are attending school as they should.Remedial teaching was considered rare until taking off and becoming a phenomenon 15 years ago.North Americans have seen special tutoring centres coming up everywhere. (Source: Visual Hunt)In the United States, this is due to an incentive from the federal government in 2002, pushing teachers to give additional courses, mainly to pre-teens with academic difficulties.Specific funding has been put in place for this purpose, with tutoring classes being operated by the primary or secondary schools by teachers who are retired or have breaks in their teaching schedules. Seeing the results, many private at-home sessions have been multiplied.In Canada, during the past 30 years the  personal tutoring market has exploded:  a leap of 200 or even 500%!One-quarter of Ontario households are using tutoring se rvices: 10% higher than the other provinces in the country.In these countries, tutoring centres have been appearing everywhere like weeds but the truth growth is seen in E-learning. The digital revolution has online tutoring being conducted by platforms such as Skype and Whatsapp: remote academic coaching has become commonplace!The Academic Tutoring Situation in Latin AmericaSadly, due to many economic difficulties, private tutoring in Latin America has been the reality of only the wealthy social classes. (Source: Visual Hunt)The two languages dominating the southern continent are clearly Spanish and Portuguese. However, Dutch and French also have a little place in the geographically smaller countries...Developed or emerging countries such as Argentina, Brasil and Chile, are distinguished in private tuition compared to countries with severe economic problems, such as Bolivia.Perhaps more than anywhere else, Latin American tutoring is directed towards the most elite. Access to tutori ng varies greatly depending on the social classes considered. Only the wealthy can afford to offer supplemental instruction to their children.Fortunately, many non-governmental organizations are working to provide free tutoring from talented and enthusiastic private teachers who are willing to assist in the continent's most disadvantaged areas.  A very sad fact is that there are over 7 million children throughout South America that are not attending school!Asia: The Omnipresence of School Support for the Success of ChildrenWhat about Asian extra school support? Would it not be the most developed in the world?Japan, the world's third-largest economy, has a National Education System with Anglo-Saxon methods.Every Japanese school enjoys an image that reflects on its students.  Individual courses are institutionalized there, concerning two-thirds of the secondary school students. With the last third rarely escaping the collective evening classes!This educational phenomenon can equally b e observed in other Asian countries like Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and some Chinese cities.Throughout Asia, the pressure of academic success is prevalent everywhere.  South Korea is an academic leader and breaks all records of PISA surveys, while Singapore's method of learning mathematics in primary education is flourishing all over the world.Even in the poorest countries on the Asian continent, such as Cambodia, the Philippines or Indonesia, tutoring is ubiquitous, thanks in part to the many international organizations that have implemented learning programs.What About Remedial Support in Africa?A densely populated continent, in full demographic growth, with relatively weak economic resources and less than favourable academic education...During UNESCO's academic investigations and rankings, Africa is regularly assigned the last place.The many goals set by the United Nations are rarely achieved, if ever, especially in the sub-Saharan part of the continent.Indeed, without the interventions of non-governmental organizations and educational humanitarian missions, the literacy rate would be in constant sharp decline and any forms of private tutoring are extremely rare due to the lack of qualified workforce on the spot.The multiplication of private schools, often religious, makes up for the lack of ministerial credits for education.In Northern Africa, where the French Republic has left its mark, remedial support classes are mostly given by qualified professors because many governments regularly report an omnipotence of blackmail and corruption...The introduction of new technologies in Africa could gradually allow greater access to academic knowledge and remedial solutions that could be taught online by a certified teacher online possibly for free.There are some exceptions that break the trends of academic tutoring on this continent, such as the Republic of South Africa: heir to Dutch and British models of teachings.With all that being said UNESCO report s a great increase for African literacy rates. Based on national data and UIS projections from 1990 to 2016, sub-Saharan Africa increased from 52% to 65% and Northern Africa and Western Asia increased from 80% to 90%.There is hope indeed!With technological advances and the help from non-profit organizations, African children could be able to receive the remedial help they need. (Source: Visual Hunt)Our beautiful earth is characterized by a great multitude of colours, characters, countries, landscapes, languages and customs...Logically, depending on the temperaments and aspirations of each country, academic support can vary infinitely.Who knows, maybe this brief review of educational support will give you the encouragement to embark on a philanthropic trip around the world!

Huntington Learning Center Shares Six Habits of Successful Students

Huntington Learning Center Shares Six Habits of Successful Students As parents, we all want to help our children be as successful in school as they can be. But what is the best way to do so? At Huntington Learning Center, we encounter a range of studentssome who are highly motivated to get into excellent colleges and others who are looking to make improvements in one or more subjects. In the 41 years we have been in business, we have observed that the best students have a lot in commonand they embrace many of the same academic habits. Here are six such habits to keep in mind as you guide your own children toward school success: They commit to study time. When it comes to studying, top-performing students are dedicated. They stick to best practices: choosing to study at a time of day when they are most focused and alert and avoiding distractions during that study window. They are skilled at prioritizing. Highly successful students make the most of study time by prioritizing assignments and tasks before they dive in. At the start of each study session, they review their tasks and rank them from most to least pressing, and only begin working once theyve done so. Time management rules all. The best and brightest are often involved in more than just school. As active young people, these students recognize that theres no room for procrastination when they want to get a lot accomplished. Such students put everything in their planners, from the hours theyre in school to all extracurricular activities, from wakeup time to bedtime. They schedule everything to ensure they make time for all of it. And they are good at using their hours wisely and not losing it to meaningless time-wasters. Organization is a habit. Great students know that a messy backpack or desk leads to lost timeand thats counterproductive. These students develop an organizational system that keeps them on task and minimizes the chances they lose important papers or spin their wheels during study time because they cant locate the supplies they need. They take good notes. An organized approach to note-taking leads to more effective studying later on. Students who become accustomed to taking notes that help them remember important information and key ideas are better equipped for success in college and beyond. They aim to learn, not memorize. Memorization is a requirement sometimes, but excellent students strive to think critically, analyze and evaluate that which they are taught in school. They listen actively in class and strive to process information so they are able to retain it. Parents, the next time you wonder if youre doing all you can to help your children in school, refer to this list. Everything you do to support your children as students should work toward these habits, which together create the gold standard of being a student. As always, Huntington is here to help. If your child is struggling with his or her grades and also seems to need help figuring out reliable methods for school success, call us to schedule an academic evaluation. Well pinpoint the areas where your child needs the most support, and together, we can develop a customized learning program that will help him or her become a better, happier student. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader.Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. 2018 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

Support Your Childs Reading at Home

Support Your Child's Reading at Home All parents want to give their children the tools to be successful in school, but did you know that making reading a priority is arguably the most essential academic skill? Reading skills help students expand their vocabulary, improve their attention span, become stronger communicators and so much more, says Eileen Huntington of Huntington Learning Center. How can parents support their readers at home? Here are several tips: Suggest books and other reading material. Encourage your child to create a home library so that he or she never runs out of material to read. Librarians are a great source of information and can offer all kinds of suggestions based on childrens interests and abilities, and websites like Goodreads are another good place to get book recommendations. Let your child see you reading. Often, children emulate their parents. If your child never sees you reading for pleasure, your suggestions to pick up a book for fun might seem disingenuous. Read alongside your child. Make it fun, setting out a plate of treats and serving up tea or hot chocolate. Incorporate reading into your nightly family routine. When reading together, embrace best practices for reading comprehension. If youre reading to your child or having them read to you, use the following process for boosting reading comprehension: Preview the text before reading (especially when reading a textbook). Pause to check in after every page for understanding and to discuss confusing parts of questions. Summarize main takeaways at the end of each section or chapter. Reflect on lingering questions and interesting information at the end of each chapter. Make connections to other parts of your childs life. When talking about books, encourage your child to think beyond the words on the page. Ask questions to get him or her thinking about the main characters and their motivations, how the story relates to anything in real life and if the story or people in it seem familiar. Record daily reading. Your childs teacher might require you to do this anyway. If the teacher does not, it can serve as a motivator to give children a weekly reading chart on which they can mark off days theyve read and for how long, or even a book journal. Consider small incentives for certain goals reached (such as an ice cream outing for each book completed). Last and most important, be sure to provide help if you notice your child struggling with reading. Sometimes its obviousyour child has difficulty reading aloud or it seems that his or her reading comprehension is especially low, says Huntington. Other times its harder to tell. If you suspect your child needs is missing fundamental reading building blocks, call Huntington. Well assess your childs reading skills, determine what is causing problems, and develop a customized program of instruction to help your child become a better reader. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader.Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com.

TutorNerds Featured in Orange County Mom Blog - TutorNerds

TutorNerds Featured in Orange County Mom Blog - TutorNerds Orange County English Tutor From TutorNerds Featured in OC Mom Blog Our tutors are full of tips and lessons for both students and parents. From tips on how to study to prepping for a big test, our private Orange County tutors are here to help. Many of our tutors have been published in leading education and family websites such as Edudemic, Edutopia, and OC Mom Blog. This week, one of our private Orange County English tutors was featured in OC Mom Blog with her article Tutor Tips: Should My Kid Study in a Group or Alone? We encourage you to use our blog and press articles as supplemental support for your private Orange County tutoring. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE! All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. 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 write.

Santa Cruz Cooperative School

Santa Cruz Cooperative School Santa Cruz Cooperative School The Santa Cruz Cooperative School is a private, coeducational day school which offers an educational program from prekindergarten through grade 12 for students of all nationalities. The school was founded in 1959 and officially formed into a cooperative of parents in 1971. The school year comprises two semesters extending from the beginning of August to mid-December and from mid-January to the beginning of June. The school is accredited by AdvancED and the Ministry of Bolivia. The curriculum is that of a U.S. college-preparatory program accredited by AdvancED along with additional courses for students to meet the requirements of the Bolivian Bachillerato. Spanish is required for all students in grades 3-12. Prekindergarten and kindergarten students may be enrolled without having a command of the English language; however, all grades are taught in English and require grade-level proficiency in English. Advanced Placement courses are offered that include: biology, calculus, Spanish, psychology, world history, U.S. history and English. Electives are offered include art, band, yearbook, drama, programming, community service, and Student Council. Extra-curricular activities include GIN Club, Honor Societies (NHS, NJHS), art, music, handicrafts, environmental awareness, and sports such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, and track and field. Enrollment is currently 692, 61 academic staff from Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Central America, and the United States. Class sizes range from 16 to 27.

Pioneer World School

Pioneer World School Pioneer World School Pioneer World School is run by Shakuntala Trust - a non-profit organization supported by a parent organization involved in setting up schools and primary health clinics as part of its community outreach initiative. Through Pioneer, the Trust intends to create a truly international school that nurtures learners to become responsible and capable world citizens. With a strong focus on outcome-based learning, Pioneer has been conceptualized to foster creativity and application ability through personal attention to childrens learning needs. The School offers Toddler to Grade 12 learning based on a modern curriculum standard that prepares children to achieve their true individual potential in a socially active community. Pioneer World School of Hyderabad empowers every learner with the experience, knowledge, skills and disposition to be an architect of their own future. We are a community that learns together and contributes to the greater benefit of others in Hyderabad and beyond. Hyderabad is a city emerging as an Indian and global center of 21st Century economic and cultural development. Information, biotechnical and other high tech industries craft an ethos of innovation with roots firmly planted in our rich cultural history as a center of diverse peoples living harmoniously together. The learning program at the Pioneer World School captures and integrates this rich ensemble of culture, technology, diversity and arts; in its pursuit of authentic and meaningful learning. We work through integrating the context of STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) as a lens to explore the world around us, understand the discoveries of the past, and the possibilities we can create together for the future. The foundation of our STEAM curriculum program is CAIE ( Cambridge Standards). This highly regarded standards framework is focused on challenging and engaging students, to promote deeper learning and develop critical thinking skills.