How to Evaluate Your Academic Performance

How to Evaluate Your Academic Performance With May and June comes the conclusion of the academic school year. The average student returns or sells his or her textbooks, throws his or her backpack into a closet, and pushes all thoughts of academia to the back of his or her mind until August or September. However, the conclusion of the school year is also the perfect time to pause and evaluate your academic performance. How? With thorough self-reflection, of course! It may seem like the last thing youd want to do as summer begins, but taking just a little bit of time to revisityour past school year now can greatly enhance your future academic performance. You may also want to consider these tips to help you stay current any in class this summer. Why should you evaluateyour school year? Self-reflection is a crucial skill that not enough students exercise. If you are one of those students who has not yet put forth the effort to do this, do not fretit is never too late to begin! Self-reflection refers to a process in which you seriously consider your actions and motives, as well as the outcomes that result. Like any art, you can hone your self-reflective abilities with practice, but you can also begin at any time. The question you may now be pondering, of course, is, Why should I? The answer to your question is surprisingly simple: self-reflection allows you to improve. It teaches you to recognize your weaknesses, yes, but it also enables you to determine the source of said weaknesses and to construct solutions. In an increasingly competitive academic and professional world, self-reflection can serve as a true advantage. What questions should you ask yourself? Begin with broad questionsWhat course(s) was I strongest in? What course(s) was I weakest in? Was this semester or year typical for me? Then, seek connections: Did I take on too many responsibilities, academically or otherwise? Was my performance better or poorer than in past years? Delve deeperWhat did I do to earn high marks in these courses? What study habits did I rely on? Did I abandon them in classes where I received low grades? Will I need to take a course like this again? Am I satisfied with my results? Any and all questions are valid, so feel free to expand upon this list and to experiment. If you are struggling with your studies, here is some great information on how to identify your study stylewhich may help you in the future. What should you do with the information you gather? Once you complete the self-reflection process, you may feel overwhelmed. This is completely natural. If you took notes during the active, questioningphase, closely review them. Highlight observations that seem especially salient. If you did not take notes, jot down several now. Once you have done so, step away for 24 to 48 hours. This will allow you to decide upon a plan of action with a fresh mind. When you return to your observations, examine them for similarities across classes. Did a specific habit, such as reading your textbook in the morning orworking with tutors, contribute to your success in biology and English literature? Did a particular practice harm your performance in geometry and history? What can and will you do differently next semester or next year? What will you not change? If you are initially uncertain about how to address the issues that self-reflection raises, what resources can you turn to for further guidance? Build a short list of items to continue or implement in your future courses, and then store it in a safe location. You will need it when the academic year begins anewas well as when it is time to evaluate your academic performance again!

SAT Subject Testing Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace

SAT Subject Testing Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace SAT Subject tests are the assessments tests taken by students in specific individual subjects in order to analyze their skills and knowledge in a particular subject. SAT Subject testing is the process of testing students according to their own preference of choice in a subject. This testing gives the students the opportunity to showcase their strength in their selected subject and these scores will be later sent to colleges and universities for the admission process. SAT Subject tests are standardized tests and are recognized by colleges and universities in the United States. There are about 20 SAT subject tests given in subjects like Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, Foreign languages etc. So students can select the subjects in which they are interested in and can get good scoresin the test accordingly. However it is important for the students to check the admission requirements from their respective colleges or universities before taking the test. Since some colleges prefer test scores only in few particular subjects, it is recommended to verify it with the college officials. The test paper in these tests consists of multiple choice questions and the students are given a time period of 1 hour. These tests are designed such that they examine the students ability to answer questions from the important concepts of the subject and to manage time simultaneously. Subject test scores allow students to display their academic talent and it helps them to get enrolled into specific majors or programs in a college.

4 Things to Know Before Starting High School

4 Things to Know Before Starting High School This post is part of a week-long series to help new high school and college students prepare for their freshman year. Throughout this week, visit the Varsity Tutors blog for advice, tips, and tricks for this critical transition. As the first day of high school approaches, your uncertainty about whats to come may be growing. Youre about to face a new school, new teachers, and new classmates. While this can feel intimidating, high school also includes a wealth of opportunities that middle school never did. In an effort to feel more at ease going into this transition, its important to be as prepared as possible by gathering insights on what to expect. There are many things to know before starting high school: it requires an increased work ethic, it invites you to challenge yourself, and it allows you to explore new interests, for instance. Excited to begin high school, but looking to feel better prepared? Keep reading to learn four things you should know before starting high school: 1. High school will demand a stronger work ethic than middle school The transition from middle school to high school is rife with new expectations, one of which is a stronger work ethic. Once you start high school, youll be tasked with more homework, projects, quizzes, and tests. At the beginning of the semester, you may be given a syllabus in each class, often outlining major due dates throughout the semester. Set aside time to mark these in a planner or an online calendar. This way, you can better track assignments in all of your classes and properly structure your study sessions. 2. High school is an opportunity to challenge yourself High school opens many new doors, both socially and academicallyyoure presented with a multitude of extracurricular and academic options that you likely didnt have before. That being said, strive to select activities and courses that will pose a challenge. This may sound intimidating, but its important to continually task yourself with learning new things and expanding your skills. If youve always wanted to learn more about coding, for example, inquire about any possibilities for advancement on your schools campus. Whenever you have the option to choose electives, select ones that will teach you new and exciting course material. Speak with your parents, teachers, and academic counselor to discuss which classes and activities may be ideal for you. [RELATED: How High School and College Students Can Setand AchieveAcademic Goals] 3. High school requires you to make proactive decisions A big difference when starting high school is that you now must be a more proactive student. Whether it be in your classes or your extracurricular activities, make choices that will ultimately set you up for success. It can be tempting to skip a study session or meeting time, but this could hurt your overall grade or participation in your activity. You must stay on top of all of your assignments, activities, and outside responsibilities. If you notice youre not grasping a particular concept in your geometry class, its up to you to do something about it. Ask your teacher for extra help at lunch, find a friend who can help you with homework, or consider tutoring. Dont wait until you fail an exam to seek assistance. While you arent filling out college applications just yet, its key to remember that letting grades and participation slide early on in your high school career can affect you down the road. [RELATED: Time Management Tips for Students] 4. High school is a time to explore your interests High school presents you with many activities and opportunities at your fingertips. Youll be presented with a plethora of extracurricular activities, sports teams, and academic tracks. Exploring your interests also sets you up to meet other classmates and to boost your eventual college applications. As you begin high school, identify your interests and skills to find the right fit for you. For example: Are you organized, and do you enjoy planning events? Student council may allow you to be involved in the planning of school activities. Are you concerned with global human rights? You might enjoy your high schools Amnesty International club. [RELATED: Should You Join a High School Language Club?] While starting high school can feel intimidating at times, it challenges you to become a better, more thoughtful student. Youll be presented with many new academic and extracurricular opportunities, and its up to you to make the most of them. Good luck! 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.

What Your Medical School Essay Reader is Thinking

What Your Medical School Essay Reader is Thinking The following piece was written by Dr. Michelle Finkel. Michelle has been featured in ourAdmissions Expert seriesand is a former HarvardMedical School faculty member. She is the founder of Insider Medical Admissions. If you havent yet had a chance, please take a look at my last piece on writing a medical school personal statement. As I mentioned then, I wrote my personal statements for medical school and emergency medicine residency without much of a clue as to what went on behind the closed doors of medical admissions committees. But I quickly gained a lot of insight when - years later - I found myself reading essays and making admissions decisions as a Harvard Medical School faculty member. In assessing application essays, first at Harvard and now as a professional medical admissions adviser for over six years, I have learned that as much as its hard to believe - faculty are people too: They dont want to be bored. They need to be convinced. And they dont want to miss dinner (keep your essay streamlined and succinct). My last entry had a reality show theme, so Ill continue in that vein, offering you more of my confessions about reading personal statements: Creative non-conformists with wacky personal statements make me shutter. There is no question that being different is an asset in medicine. Those who think outside the box consider diagnoses that others miss, craft approaches to tough patients that others dont conceive of, and come up with solutions to systemic problems that can positively change medicine as a whole. However, being different does not mean being unprofessional. Yes, you want to distinguish yourself in your personal statement, but you want to do that by showcasing your unique and impressive pre-professional accomplishments, not by submitting a zany essay. Think of it this way: It would be a shame to annihilate your career goal because youve made a reader cringe when you were simply trying to write imaginatively. This is not to say your personal statement should be boring! By using good writing techniques crafting a catchy intro, using robust language, even choosing a compelling sequence you can write an outstanding essay while still showcasing your accomplishments. For the skeptic who insists, Michelle, Im special. I can do something wild and not scare off the reader, I will tell you the following anecdote: In all of the time I read essays at Harvard, I remember only one applicant who submitted a truly wacky essay who still received rave reviews (there was a lively discussion about his weird personal statement, however, before he got the thumbs up). This person was a true superstar applicant. He came to our program, was loved by patients and staff alike, and eventually became an emergency medicine chief resident. The point of this story? I remember him because he was an outlier the only applicant in years of assessing candidates whose strange essay did not kill his candidacy. Much like CPR, the vast majority of eccentric essay writers don't respond to heroic efforts to save their candidacy. Take home point: You get one bullet. Dont use it to shoot yourself in the foot. When an applicant does not put a lot of work into his/her essay, I do not put a lot of consideration into his/her candidacy. Im amazed at how many applicants study hard for the MCAT, prepare zealously for tests, and yet dont spend the time necessary to write a strong essay. Of course top grades and competitive MCAT scores are essential for a viable medical school candidacy (you must be this high to ride), but the essay is the admission committees clearest window into what youve done and what your priorities are. It is your way of distinguishing yourself colorfully. Conversely, it allows the committee a means to screen out applicants whose lack of effort or poor judgment is reflected in the personal statement. Writing a great essay takes work and a lot of lead time. Before you hit the keyboard, consider alternate approaches three or four topics for your introduction, for example. Also, make a list of all of the accomplishments you want to highlight. Moreover, don't overlook the basics: Start with an outline to ensure sound organization, develop graceful transitions between paragraphs, and provide convincing examples that support your assertions. Don't let the red ink frighten you. Expect to write ten or more revisions of the personal statement before you are ready to submit. Get help from someone who has extensive medical admissions experience by accessing the resources available to you: If you are fortunate to have an adviser, relative, or family friend who has sufficient expertise, ask that person to review multiple drafts. You may not require the services of an experienced admissions consultant. A motivated applicant who has strong interpersonal and communication skills and full access to sound medical advising can not only survive, but thrive in the applications game. However, for those applicants whose advising resources are less optimal, who are targeting highly competitive institutions or programs, who are applying with specific geographic constraints, who are coming from lesser-known or international institutions, or who do not feel sufficiently confident in their current writing and interviewing skills, the right admissions consultant can make a positive difference with long-lasting consequences. Bottom line: Writing your medical essay is not the time to pull an all-nighter. Now, leverage the knowledge Ive given you above to anticipate a future readers objections so that you can strengthen your personal statement and reach your career goals. VisitInsider Medical Admissionsfor more information, or check out Dr. Finkel onFacebookandTwitter. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

2018 American Education Week

2018 American Education Week The Huntington Learning Center, along with educators and communities around the country acknowledge American Education Week during the week of November 12 - 16, 2018. The week was created by the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Legion in 1921 to inform the public of the accomplishments and needs of our nations public schools and recognize the professionals who make a difference in ensuring that every child in our country receives a quality education. Each day of the week will spotlight the different people who are critical in building great public schools for the nation's 50 million K-12 students. American Education Week's celebration days include: Monday, November 12: Kickoff Day The nationwide kickoff, with activities and events at schools around the country. Tuesday, November 13: Parents Day A day for parents and/or other family members to join their children at school for a first-hand look at a typical school day. Wednesday, November 14: Education Support Professionals Day A day to honor the contributions of public support staff, such as instructional assistants, office workers, paraeducators, bus drivers, custodians and security guards. Thursday, November 15: Educator for a Day A program that invites community members to school to be guest educators. This day gives them the opportunity to get a feel for all aspects of a school day. Friday, November 16: Substitute Educators Day A day that honors the professional substitute educators who keep classes running smoothly when regular educators must be absent. Co-Founder and CEO, Eileen Huntington of Huntington Learning Center encourages community members to show their support for students and public schools during American Education Week. Public schools welcome all students, regardless of ability or background, she says. We are appreciative of the many people who come together to give children a quality education. At Huntington, we see firsthand that a positive school experience helps children go on and be successful in college and their careers. There are many individuals involved in helping each student build that foundation, from parents to teachers, from guidance counselors to mentors. This week and always, we celebrate them and their efforts. American Education Week is co-sponsored by the National Education Association, the American Legion, the U.S. Department of Education, the National Parent Teacher Association, the National School Boards Association and many other groups. We at Huntington Learning Center could not do our jobs well without the support of parents, teachers and other community members, adds Huntington. To learn more about American Education Week and how to get involved, visit www.nea.org/aew. For more information about Huntington Learning Center, contact Huntington at 1-800-CAN-LEARN or visit www.huntingtonhelps.com. 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.

SAT Adversity Score

SAT Adversity Score The SAT Adversity Score is supposed to give context to an applicants SAT score by rating his or her neighborhood and high school. The College Board, which administers the SAT, recently introduced its Environmental Context Dashboard (ECD), but it quickly became known as the Adversity Score. The College Board claims this score allows colleges to incorporate a students school and environmental context into their admissions process in a data-driven, consistent way. The Adversity Score does not alter SAT scores or take into account a students personal characteristics beyond their test scores. Instead, it aggregates publicly available information about schools and neighborhoods. It has three components: Students'SAT scores can be seen within the context of the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of SAT scores from their high school. Information on the high school, including senior class size; percentage of students who meet federal eligibility criteria for free and reduced-price lunch; rurality/urbanicity; average first-year SAT score of colleges students from that high school attend; and the percentage of seniors taking an Advanced Placement exam and other information about AP scores and exams. Contextual data on the neighborhood and high school environment, which is calculated using data drawn from a combination of publicly available sources (e.g. U.S. Census Bureau and National Center for Education Statistics). The goal is to allow them to view a students academic accomplishments in the context of where they live and learn. Whether college admissions officers decide to consider the Adversity Score is up to them. The College Board claims the information is not intended to replace or contradict existing information about schools and neighborhoods. It will refresh its Adversity Scores underlying data each year. The tool was piloted for use by admissions officers at 50 colleges and universities in 2018-2019. This fall, the College Board will expand the pilot to more than 150 colleges in a research partnership and continue to shape the tool. It will become broadly available in 2020. Anecdotal feedback from the initial pilot is that the Adversity Score helped colleges recognize hardworking students who care about school but might come from an environment that made it difficult to fully thrive. Some admissions officers reported that the Adversity Score helped them contextualize college entrance exam scores within a high school to give a better idea of what success looks like in a certain area. More information about the Environmental Context Dashboard aka Adversity Score is available on the College Board website.

Mutiara International Grammar School

Mutiara International Grammar School Mutiara International Grammar School Mutiara International Grammar School is an equal opportunities employer committed to the on-goingprofessional development of all of our employees. We are looking for dedicated and dynamicmembers to work with us in an international school setting. At MIGS, we offer a friendly work-environment, enriched by development opportunities along with: The support of well-qualified and experienced professional staff Opportunities to participate in a wide range of sporting, musical, creative and recreational co-curricular activities Guidance in developing strong personal and social skills Experience in working in an established international school in Malaysia. Aspiring candidates for teaching positions must be committed to effective teaching and haveinspiring leadership qualities beyond the boundaries of the classroom. Hiring for new 2018/2019 Academic Year commencing 3 September 2018. Requirements: Possess an Educational Degree or a relevant Degree with a PGCE or equivalent Previous experience delivering the UK Curriculum Key Stage 2, 3 or 4 is an added advantage Fluent in English English, ESL, Humanities and if posibble science experience, eg: biology. Please send your resumetohrd@migs.edu.my Please download and complete our application form(please see attachment) then email it with your resume, a copy of certificate of higher education, cover letter explaining about your experience andwhy you want to work with us and recent photo: Contact : Ms Zulina/Ms Najihah School name : Mutiara International Grammar School, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Fax : 603-42523452

Finals prep Why You Should Book Your San Diego Tutor Now

Finals prep Why You Should Book Your San Diego Tutor Now Finals Prep: Why You Should Book Your Private San Diego Tutor Now Final exams are just a few days away, and students are frantically prepping for these important exams. Whether students are in elementary school or getting ready for college its important they do their best because finals are usually worth a large percentage of their overall grade and encompass a large amount of information from the beginning of class until now. Tutors can help students stay organized, review challenging information, and prioritize one exam over another. Students at any level are encouraged to book a session with their tutor today, so they are ready for final exams its never too early to start prepping for finals with the help of a private San Diego tutor. 1. Organize and prioritize One of the most important things students can work on with their tutor is to organize all of the information they need to study for final exams as well as prioritize one exam over another. For instance, they might be struggling in math but doing well in English and should prioritize their math study. Alternatively, one exam might be worth 50% of the overall class grade while another might be worth only 10%. Regardless of the situation, students should share their syllabus and class notes with their tutor so they can help students stay on track in this manner. 2. Work on review Every student should be reviewing information they learned earlier in the year, especially if the final exam is cumulative. However, this review can become overwhelming because encompassing an entire semester worth of material takes a lot of time and prep. Tutors can help students sift through chapter material in old tests and quizzes to see which information might be more important and which subjects a student needs to review based on their previous grades. A student may have done very well on something they learned three months ago but may not remember the specifics of that assignment. Even a little bit of a review can make it easier for students to soar through final exams. 3. Avoid distraction It can be very easy for students to get distracted from finals prep and focus more on social activities at this time of the year. Students are also distracted by the holidays and family visits that take up a lot of their time. Tutors help students focus on the here and now and help them get away from distractions that can potentially derail their finals study. Its much harder to get into social media or watch TV when a tutor is sitting across the table from the student. Avoiding distractions is one of the best ways students can make their finals prep effective at this point in the year (READ: Irvine Tutoring Tips: Make Studying a Social Activity). 4. Boost GPA One of the most practical reasons to book a tutor during finals week is for students to boost their grades on final exams, thus raising their overall GPA. This is especially important for students in 10th through 12th grade, who will be sending their grade sheets to potential colleges and universities as part of the admissions process. Some colleges give students a conditional acceptance but require they keep their GPA high during their senior year to ensure they are an all-around good student. Many finals are worth 25% or more of an overall class grade so working with a tutor is definitely worth the time and effort to ace exams. Its never too early to book your San Diego tutor for finals. End the semester strong with the help of our experienced and highly educated tutors. Call us today for more information. Great news, Orange County! We’ve launched   www.TutorNerd.com to offer the best online and in-home tutoring in SoCal. Get 50% off your first online or in-home tutoring session with code: SUCCESS. The code is for a limited time only, so book your tutor today! 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.