Do You Have to Pay Other State Taxes For Tutoring?

Do You Have to Pay Other State Taxes For Tutoring?A lot of people wonder if they have to pay other state taxes for tutoring. You don't have to pay them for your own classes either, because there are plenty of online tutoring courses that will help you figure out if you need to pay or not.In the United States, you are entitled to tax deductions on any income you make from any type of state taxes, which is called federal income tax. Of course, that does not include the local income taxes that are paid by every American citizen. You only have to pay other state taxes for tutoring if your state is a part of the US.The federal school taxes in some states are also based on the federal tax code, but state and local school taxes will be taken into account. There are so many different deductions available that it can be hard to figure out which ones are applicable to your particular situation. Some of the most popular deductions for parents who work from home include the deduction for the cos t of their student's lunches, and deductions for tuition, transportation, and books. In addition, there are other deductions that are specific to working parents, such as a deduction for help with child care expenses, which will help offset the cost of daycare.You are also entitled to a deduction for your child's room if they are not living with you. This is really important if you are providing full time care to your child, since this would be considered part of your income. Many parents who work from home, but would rather stay at home to take care of their children, choose to get their child the maximum possible deductions available for things like room and board. While they may pay for the rent, utilities, and other bills, they would not have to pay child care expenses.Each state has its own different tax codes, and these codes cover almost everything in every state. When it comes to paying taxes, it is essential to know how much money you need to pay and whether or not you have to pay additional taxes for things that are usually deductible from your income. Although you might be taxed on your income, there are some things that are usually not subject to tax, such as, for example, things you buy on credit.There are some things that are common for all states, but every state has a different set of tax deductions for everyone. You will find that if you want to make sure that you are eligible for all deductions available, you should always check with the IRS to make sure that you are receiving all deductions that are necessary. Some of the most common deductions include:With the option of getting a student loan, you can take advantage of all of the funds that you save on interest by paying for your education by paying off your debt consolidation loans with the aid of federal grants and scholarships. The fact that you are paying a small percentage of the total amount, which can be very useful for paying your taxes, helps make it worth it.

What is it Like to Attend University of Oregon

What is it Like to Attend University of Oregon The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Tarryn is a Portland tutor who specializes in many areas of math such as Algebra tutoring, Geometry tutoring, Pre-Calculus tutoring, and more. She graduated from University of Oregon in 2012 where she earned her Bachelors degree in Finance. Read her thoughts on the University of Oregon: 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? Tarryn:The University of Oregon is set in Eugene, Oregon and is a fairly small campus. You can get from one side to the other with a brisk walk in about 15 minutes. That being said, there are few metered parking spots; however, I did not have a car for four years and never had a problem. Most people walk or ride a bike, depending on where they live. Lots of people own bikes or skateboards to ride around town in their spare time. The campus is extremely safe. There is a police office about a block from campus, and there are many emergency boxes, which can be found every block or so on campus. Security guards and police on bikes are happy to walk you home if you feel unsafe. There is an APS (Assault Prevention Service) bus that is available to drive students whenever they feel unsafe or need to go a far distance at night. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Tarryn:All of my professors have been extremely passionate about the classes they teach, and they provide much guidance to students to help them succeed. Professors have an amazing amount of office hours, and if you cannot make those due to conflicts, many will meet you when it is best for you. All professors are available through email and normally get back to you very quickly. Academic advisers tend to be located near your college of study. There tend to be multiple advisers for each major, and they have a lot of experience. I have found them extremely helpful! VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Tarryn:I would highly recommend living in the dorms. I actually was on the same floor as a girl I went to elementary school withit was so crazy! The dorms are a great way to meet new people; some may study the same major as you, and others may not. It was a great experience and something I would never pass up. The dining options are fantastic. The university has several dining halls. One is a cafeteria (all-you-can-eat), and the other two have multiple restaurant options. The university also has a Grab N Go, which is a mini-market where students can pick up food and drinks for their rooms. Most students utilize the point system, which offers multiple options depending on your needs. Points roll over each week, and I have never found myself needing more. The location of the school is really nice. Eugene is a small town. There is not a whole lot to do there, but the university acts as the town. The surrounding restaurants all support the Ducks by having specials and putting stickers and banners in their windows. Everyone in town is very school-spirited. I never found myself needing to go anywhere off campus, besides to the movie theaters and the mall (both of which are less than a 10-minute drive away). The school has many activities on campus, and there are multiple cheap food options on the corner next to campus. Everyone at the university is very friendly. I was so shocked when I crossed the street and someone said hi to me that did not even know me. Everyone lends a helping hand, making socialization the least of your worries. My advice is to take advantage of clubs and campus activitiesthey are a great way to meet people. 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? Tarryn:The main majors at the University of Oregon are journalism, business, and architecture. There are many other options as well, and all are represented. The school has a career fair every fall and spring where students get the opportunity to be recruited and meet with potential employers. The school also offers seminars and meetings on how to create resumes and complete interviews. I was a finance major, which fell under the business school. The business school is absolutely amazing; it has a huge building on one side of the campus filled with professors offices, classrooms, computer labs with free printing, a caf, tutoring, advisers you name it. I never felt like I was out of options when I needed help. Everything was in one place, and the professors do a great job at preparing you for life after college. The career fairs set up through the business school and the university are very helpful; the business school does a great job of preparing you too. 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? Tarryn:As a freshman, I joined a FIG (Freshman Interest Group). In a FIG, you have the same three classes during your first term with the same 25 people. This was great because it meant an instant group of friends. The dorms also were a great way to meet people. I joined a sorority my freshman year. At the University of Oregon, Greek life is not huge, but it makes a large school feel small. That was one of the best decisions I made in college. I am still best friends with a lot of my sorority sisters, and it was a great experience that I would recommend to anyone who is looking for a close-knit group of friends. It is a great way to get involved on campus, keep your grades up, and get involved in the community. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Tarryn:As mentioned before, the Career Center does promote a career fair twice a year that companies from different fields attend. The career fair is set up for those companies to gather information and conduct interviews. At times, there are interviews set up through the Career Center. This is a great way to get experience, and many can even have a prospective job lined up by the end of the day! VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Tarryn:The Knight Library is the largest library on the West Coast. There are many floorsthe main floor has computers, newspaper articles, and old films to watch; the second through fourth floors are filled with reference material, study tables/cubicles, and private rooms that you can reserve. The basement has a caf that many use to meet in groups. The library has designated quiet areas, which students actually respect. The library is completely full during finals, but during any other time, it is generally not packed. It is by far the best library. There is the law library too, which is designated for law students, but it is also available to others. 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? Tarryn:Eugene is a small town, but the university acts as a town. Many people support the Ducks, and the town is very lively and spirited. There is a mall and a movie theater with a dollar theater not too far away that most students like to take advantage of. There are also many opportunities near campus. We actually think of them as being on campus because they are basically located across the street. There is a Duck Store with supplies and apparel (and Apple products), small restaurants, and a Starbucks. Most students tend to stay on campus, as many do not have a car. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Tarryn:One reason I chose the University of Oregon was because it had about 22,000 students. The class size is about 60 for a typical business class, and lecture halls can have between 250 and 500 students. The class sizes were actually very manageable and were great for group projects. They were also designed for class discussions. As a freshman, I took advantage of any opportunity to make myself not just a head in the crowd; I joined Greek life and got involved with the business school. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Tarryn:My capstone business class (last upper division class you take as a senior) by far solidified my career choice. I actually had the same professor for my first and last business class. I enjoyed his teaching style so much. This professor was spectacular not only because of the way he taught his classes, but also because of the fact that he was so interested in his students. If he saw you in the hallway, he would go out of his way to say hi or ask how your day was going. In the classroom, he welcomed questions, even ones he did not know the answers to. He was not afraid to say, You know what? That is a great question; lets explore. I felt like I learned so much from his class; he had a way of taking the material he was responsible for teaching us and twisting in his own life experiences. That is what made the difference for me. Check out Tarrynstutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Can You Do Math Effectively with Online Math Tutor

Can You Do Math Effectively with Online Math Tutor Math basically is an interpretation of universal truths through logical analysis of formulas and theorems which need a number of problems to illustrate them. Doing Math thus becomes a hard and hazardous task for many students and they miserably attempt problem solving to find no good results. Seeking the help of an Online Math Tutor becomes an urgent matter for many such students and they also do it for their immediate stress relief or better scores in Math areas. What you need to expect from an online Math tutor? Subject expertise Years of experience to handle any challenging homework task Psychological approach to student mentalities Brainstorming sessions for deep subject insights Punctual and prompt in communication Supported by hi- tech tools Revising the subject topics and repeating the chapters if necessary Who is an effective Math tutor? A person who focuses on your basic skills in Math and strengthens them Picking out your loopholes at the very outset and trying to set them right at once Brushing up your knowledge of previous chapters and giving training in the weak areas for avoiding loopholes What benefits you gain from an effective Math tutor? Personalized care and attention which you miss in your classroom atmosphere Training you not only for today’s Math struggles but strengthening your Math strategies and subject knowledge for tomorrow’s subject learning Teaching you tips and strategies which help you in your exam hall Providing homework help on time to avoid late submission Helping you progress in your Math grades from C to B or B to A. Teaching you stress management techniques for overcoming Math anxiety Boosting your self-image about Math understanding Teaching you more than a method for solving a problem Training you in techniques that help you complete your Math test paper with success Why to avail Math homework help? Math Homework Help from virtual tutors bring s a positive outlook on Math work changing your negative attitude towards Math through white board explanations from tutors and their instant rectifications of your errors with step by step analysis of each homework problem. The tutors answer your queries at any time with patience and with understanding of your struggles and dilemmas in Math areas. Math Homework Help For Getting Into The Crux Of Math Pro Assignment help- booster of scores Math assignments are a real headache for students who find Math classes boring and not engaging. They want some assistance for their assignments since they know not the formula or method to arrive at the solutions for the given problems. Math assignment help is a great success or with timely assistance and guidance from tutors who know how to complete Math assignments with adherence to deadlines and guidelines and thus enable students to score high in their assignments. Tutor Pace renders Math help for students to get over their obstacles in doing Math and get onto the top of the class with fantastic scores.

Reasons to Learn Spanish How It Can Further Your Career

Reasons to Learn Spanish How It Can Further Your Career Why Study Spanish: To Live and Work in a Spanish-speaking Country ChaptersThe Benefits of Learning Spanish Span a Wide Number of FieldsWhy Learn Spanish: It Could Be a Lucrative InvestmentLots of Native Speakers but Few BilingualsEnglish with Spanish: A Killer CombinationThere are a ton of benefits to learning Spanish. For one, Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world in terms of the number of native speakers. This makes it a very important language in a number of different fields, one of which is the world of business.Learning business Spanish in order to work in a Spanish-speaking country will mean that you have to learn Spanish online, take Spanish lessons near me, or even hire a Spanish teacher to help you learn through private Spanish classes.If you’re hesitant about it, here are a few reasons that should help you decide that learning how to speak Spanish and getting Spanish lessons is right for you and your career!  The history of Spanish has made it widespread in the world today, and its continued growth has made this langua ge indispensable for so many recruiters.Spanish is a big plus when it comes to finding work in both Europe and Latin America. (Source: rawpixel.com)Communication is at the heart of business. Whether it’s for establishing strong links with clients or providers, in this line of work, you have to speak Spanish perfectly. Why not use your Spanish to make a lot money for a company and yourself?Why Learn Spanish: It Could Be a Lucrative InvestmentAfter Chinese and English,  Spanish is the third most spoken language in the world (although English has less native speakers, it has more people who speak it as a foreign language). The figures speak for themselves.Learning Spanish could be a lucrative decision for a number of reasons.Speaking Spanish can help you earn more money. (Source: pixabay.com)Attractive Property MarketYou can’t have missed the recent Spanish housing crisis.  If you want to buy a vacation home, Spain is a great choice for buying property.There are also plenty of coun tries in Latin America where you could make a number of cost-effective investments. Whether you’re interested in Argentina, Mexico, or Colombia, why not look at the housing market?Speaking Spanish could help you communicate comfortably at each stage of the property buying process, and it could help you find the right one for you.Professional OpportunitiesThere are a whole host of reasons to learn Spanish, one of which relates to the numerous business opportunities for those who speak Spanish.  There is so much business being done with Spanish-speaking markets, too.There are also thousands of businesses with branches in Spanish-speaking countries and so many popular tourist destinations in Spanish-speaking countries.  We’re not just talking about Spain, either.The growing Spanish-speaking communities around the world are creating opportunities for those who can speak Spanish.If you want to find a job using Spanish, you'll need to go beyond the everyday verbs and phrases that you learn as a beginner. You'll  need to have a good understand of technical vocabulary relating to the field of experitise, too.Emerging Markets in Latin AmericaIf you were still debating 'why learn Spanish?', then the impressive economic growth in Latin America should persuade you. This economic growth in South America has made Spanish a language that you have to know.Spanish is the mother tongue of almost every country in South and Central America. A work permit would allow you to work abroad if you’ve studied Spanish.The growth of Latin America has brought a lot of professional opportunities with it. (Source: Porapak Apichodilok)Emerging markets like Mexico, Chile, and Argentina stand out.  Similarly, countries like Peru and Colombia are starting to grow and seem like interesting economic opportunities.  Cheaper labor and a wealth of raw materials is making Latin America very popular for business.Improvements in production and exports have led to an economic shift. The big players on the continent have made themselves international players.This incredible economic shift means that there are thousands of professional opportunities available to those who can speak Spanish.Lots of Native Speakers but Few BilingualsDespite usually being cultural melting pots, foreign language skills in the English speaking countries are often lacking. There aren't many bilinguals.  They are at risk of being left behind in global markets due to a lack of professionals that can speak other languages.The teaching of Spanish at school can sometimes be a bit hit and miss. (Source: pixabay.com)This problem is compounded given the increasing demand for foreign language skills.  With classes often overcrowded, it’s hardly surprising that some never really manage to learn a foreign language.Additionally, the writing is often incorrectly favored over speaking.  Classes often focus on grammar and literature instead of using the language. In other words, it’s too academic.  Finally, the re’s usually more focus on other classes like English. Science, and Maths.  As you probably understand: if you want to have a good level in Spanish, you can’t solely rely on what you learned at school. The good news is that there are advantages to all Spanish learning methods, so finding one that suits you and can compliment what you learn at school shouldn't be too hard as your strive towards fluency.English with Spanish: A Killer CombinationWhile English on its own isn’t enough to set you apart from other candidates, combining it with Spanish will really help.Spanish is the third most spoken language in the world, an official language in 20 countries, and  Spanish-speakers account for 6% of the world.While Chinese and Arabic are both good choices to learn, they can be more difficult than Spanish to learn.Whether you want to learn professional Spanish or everyday Spanish, you can opt for private tutorials at home or online tutorials.  If you just want to learn a valuable skil l, speaking Spanish is one of your best options.It also means that you can go to beautiful cities like Madrid or Barcelona for an internship and immerse yourself in the language.  As a speaker of both English and Spanish, you’ll have a lot of professional opportunities and it’ll also help if you want to move abroad to a Spanish-speaking country for work or find somewhere nice to retire to.Whether you’re an engineer, technician, or business person, there are plenty of opportunities for Spanish speakers. With a mastery of two of the world’s most popular languages, your resume won’t go unnoticed when it lands on the desk of a recruiter.

The Japanese Tea Ceremony Guide

The Japanese Tea Ceremony Guide A Guide to the Japanese Tea Ceremony ChaptersWhat Are the Different Types of Japanese Tea?How Did the Japanese Tea Ceremony Originate?What Happens in a Tea Ceremony?How to Behave in a Chanoyu“You're all late for tea!” - March Hare, Alice in Wonderland4.1 million tonnes of tea are produced globally every year. This equates to 130kg per second. While China is the largest producer of tea, Japan is famous for its tea ceremony.Preparing tea in Japan is an important part of Japanese culture and you need to pay particular attention to it. Respect, humility, and managing your emotions are all important social norms in everyday life and when preparing tea.If you’d like to learn more about the Japanese tea ceremony, we’ve got just the article you were looking for. NanaJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YukoJapanese Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EllyJapanese Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MomokoJapanese Teacher £20/h1s t lesson free!Discover all our tutors MelanieJapanese Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamesJapanese Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PippaJapanese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarikoJapanese Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat Are the Different Types of Japanese Tea?Green tea is known in Europe for detoxing, earl Grey is also very popular for its flavour, and there’s also Chinese white tea. Usually, we’ll drink tea from a bag or use real tea leaves and leave them to infuse before drinking it. Unlike what you might think, the teapot doesn’t affect the type of tea. Tea in Japan isn't exactly like tea in the UK. (Source: Free-Photos)In Japan, there’s only really green tea. Of course, there are plenty of different varieties of green tea. The main differences are down the harvest and how the leaves are treated afterwards. Most of the time, the leaves are steamed for a minute to stop oxidation after collection.Sencha: this is the most common type of green tea and is only really available in Japan.Bancha: this is from tougher leaves than those used for sencha. This is the lowest-quality of tea although it’s the second-most popular.,Hoji-cha: this is a very cheap green tea which is heated to 200 ºC before being rapidly cooled. It has a very particular taste.Gyokuro: this is luxury tea in Japan. To guarantee its quality, it’s kept in the shade for 20 days before harvest. The chlorophyll and flavours concentrate in the softest leaves. It’s not very bitter at all because it doesn’t contain many catechins.Matcha: this is the tea used in the tea ceremony. It comes from gyokuro tea. The leaves are reduced to a fine powder.Genmaicha: a mix of tea and roasted popped brown rice.Tamaryokucha: a tea with a fruity flavour.There are many other types of tea consumed in Japan but most of the differences appear during the manufacturing process.How Did the Japanese Tea Ceremony Originate?Before we talk about the origins of the Japanese tea ceremony, we need to talk about the origins of tea. Unsurprisingly, tea originated in China where it was used as a medicine long before it was an everyday beverage. The Japanese tea ceremony originated with Buddhist monks. (Source: sasint)But how did it go from medicine to beverage?Buddhist monks were forbidden from drinking alcohol and to stake awake during their meditation, they would drink tea. Bit by bit, its consumption spread to the aristocracy and then the working classes.Nowadays, tea is part of everyday life in China. In China, most water isn’t drinkable. You need to boil water from the tap before you can drink it. At this point, it’s quite common to add tea leaves or other herbs to add flavour to the boiling water.Tea appeared in Japan in the 9th century and was popularised by the Buddhist monk Eichu. It was first consumed by the Japanese nobility and spread to the rest of the populace during the 12th century. Change can take time.The tea ceremony was influenced by Zen Buddhism and the writings of Lu Yu that mentioned the temperature and utensils used for drinking tea in the 8th century.However, the practice changed a lot between t hen and the 16th century and took on board practices brought in by the samurai and working classes. The philosophy of the tea ceremony was codified by the priest Murata Juko and Sen no Rikyu who developed the key concepts of wa, kei, sei, and jaku.Nowadays, the ceremony isn’t practised a lot in Japan but it’s a symbol of the culture and history of the country. In fact, most Japanese people don’t know the ins and outs of the tea ceremony and will probably only attend one or two of them throughout their lives.What Happens in a Tea Ceremony?If you want to immerse yourself in Japanese traditions and see a tea master conduct a Japanese tea ceremony, you should know what to expect. There's an established order that needs to be followed in Japanese tea ceremonies. (Source: 12019)The ceremony follows a number of specific steps which are always the same. It takes a lifetime of practice and there are even ancestral tea ceremony schools to train tea masters in the art of conducting tea ceremonies.Here are the main parts of the tea ceremony:The preparation: the tea master sends invitations to their guests. They then prepare spiritually for the ceremony by ridding themselves of all thought to be in complete harmony with nature. They also need to clean the house and the tatami. If there’s a meal, they need to prepare it in advance.The arrival of the guests: they also need to prepare themselves for the tea ceremony and leave their worries outside the tea room and wash their hands before they come in. Shoes need to be left outside and the guests cannot enter until asked to by the tea master.Cleaning the tools: the bowls, whisk, bamboo, and spoons all need to be cleaned before the guests arrived in a precise, harmonious, and careful manner.Preparing the tea: whisking the matcha will cause it to foam and froth and release its powerful flavour.Serving the tea: traditionally, only a single bowl is used. It needs to be passed from guest to guest. Sometimes, the tea master will prepare a bowl for each guest.Completing the ceremony: at the end, the tea master will clean their tools in front of the guests. Guests may then be asked to look over the utensils.There are several things you’ll need to perform a tea ceremony. It depends on the tastes of the tea master to arrange the room as they see fit. That said, they’ll need a tea caddy (chaki), a whisk (chasen), a spoon (chashaku), a bowl (chawan), and a pot (kama) that replaces a teapot.How to Behave in a ChanoyuTo make the most of a tea ceremony, you need to prepare. Japanese culture is extremely codified and even as a tourist, you’ll be expected to behave appropriately. Attending a tea ceremony all ows you to learn a lot about Japanese culture and identity. Tea ceremonies are a great escape from some of the busier places in Japan. (Source: sofi5t)You can attend a practice session before going to a tea ceremony. These sessions are designed with non-Japanese tourists in mind and there’ll be an explanation in English.In a tea ceremony, there are usually 4 or 5 guests. Each has a particular role to play, especially the first guest, the shokyaku. Their role will be as a guide or a Japanese person familiar with the tea ceremony. They will communicate with the tea master, the teishu.A few things you should know:Do not enter before being asked.Remove your shoes before entering.Bow as a sign of respect as you enter.Sit in the seiza position (on your knees) where you are told.Do not speak, eat, or drink before being asked to.You must eat and drink everything you are given.Do not smoke.In case of any doubts, do not say anything. Wait until you’re told what to do.You can easily attend tea ceremonies in Tokyo and Kyoto and even in the UK if you want. The tea ceremony is quite simple if you follow the rules.So do you have any more questions about the tea ceremony?If you'd like to learn the language before you go to Japan or a Japanese tea ceremony, you should get in touch with one of the many talented and experienced private Japanese tutors on Superprof. With three main types of private tutorial available, face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials, there's a solution for every type of learner and budget.Group tutorials are great for those on a budget as the cost of the tutor's time is shared amongst all the students in attendance. While you won't get as much one-on-one time with your tutor in these tutorials, if you and a group of friends are going to Japan and would all like to learn a bit of the language, they're a great option.Face-to-face tutorials tend to be the most effective tutorials because they're tailored to an individual student who'll have the tutor's undivided attention throughout the sessi on. However, with all the extra work the tutor will put into tailoring their tutorials, you can expect to pay more and these types of tutorials are usually the most expensive.Online tutorials are similar to face-to-face tutorials but your tutor won't actually be in the room with you. Thanks to the internet, you can get Japanese tutorials via webcam and they're usually cheaper than face-to-face tutorials. Your tutor might even be in Japan!

The Myths and Truths About Supplemental Essays

The Myths and Truths About Supplemental Essays The following piece was written by Rachel Korn. Rachel has been featured in ourAdmissions Expert seriesand is a former University of Pennsylvaniaadmissions officer, as well as the founder of her own admissions consulting firm. Aside from the required, main college essay, many colleges and universities often ask for at least one more essay or short answer question. Though instructions for these supplemental essays can vary greatly, the essays usually have the general theme of why are you applying to us? The schools want to check that you are sending thoughtful, well-reasoned applications that you are not just throwing an application their way because of their strong name or location near you, for example. How do you write these essays? Here are some myths and facts about them to help you succeed. Myth: I can write one essay and just modify it for all my schools. Fact: Admissions officers know when you do that. Really. You know you have not written a deep enough answer if you can replace the schools name with another schools name and it is still 100% correct. Myth: I have not been able to visit a college due to time, finances, or distance. I cannot possibly know enough to write something strong for these essays. Fact: Not true! You can interact easily with current students via the schools websites, attend college fairs and speak to alumni, or read websites and other materials to successfully get a feel for the schools and then find great, unique reasons why you like them. With proper research, you can get the schools enough without stepping a foot on the campuses. Myth: I can just copy paste from the college website. I can spend five minutes surfing and find a class in my major or a professors name in my field to cite and show something personal about the school. Fact: Admissions officers are not impressed by web-surfing skills. In fact, they expect you to be surfing. They are impressed by the students who dig deeper to say what things actually mean to them. Is that school you want a specialist in your field, or does it send many graduates into the job you may seek after college? Does the school not just have successful sports teams, but strong team spirit and a tradition of campus unity at home games in big stadiums? Is there a special tradition there that you find interesting? What are unique academic or extracurricular programs at that school that match the activities and interests you show in your application? What is the feel of the school that you like? Does it specifically support creativity or intellectuality; is it a particularly liberal or conservative campus; does it have an emphasis on an interdisciplinary education; is it especially diverse or does it have a particularly large number of international students; is it small and community-oriented so you can get to know everybody or is it a large place where you can constantly meet new people? These things go deeper. Show why you like the things you cite. The information should be necessarily unique with each school. Myth: These supplemental essays are not so important I dont have much time and I can just throw some ideas down. Fact: Your admission may depend on these essays! At the competitive colleges at which I worked, my colleagues and I have advocated for wait-listing students whom we loved and thought belonged in the class just because they wrote poor supplemental essays. We would be disappointed, and even a bit angry, because we really wanted to enthusiastically admit the students. Sometimes we did, but sometimes we didnt. How did those students fail? They wrote essays far shorter than the suggested word limits, used interchangeable general ideas that could have applied to many colleges (especially to our competitors and the competitors names may have even appeared in the essays), and used language significantly different from and weaker than the main essays (clearly not spending time editing the supplemental essays). These are all signs that students did not take care to make thoughtful, targeted applications. So, we asked ourselves if these students liked us beyond our reputation. We fought about admitting them. Did such students, even if they were superstars, deserve spots in the class over those who proved they understood us and might be more likely to accept our offers of admission? At the end of the day, remember, admissions officers ideally want to admit students who hopefully will attend. You can prove that they have a shot at you through well-written supplemental essays. As you can see, these essays directly reflect the seriousness of your application. These essays are your one chance to say to the admissions committee, I researched your school and found out that I really like it and would love to be there! They may be the last things admissions officers read in your application, so after the readers fall in love with you, dont leave them on a sour note. Give these essays as much time, attention, and revision as your main essay and give yourself your best chance at admission. Visit RachelsAdmissions Consultingsite. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Dyslexia Resources a Guide for Parents

Dyslexia Resources a Guide for Parents In a school environment, a child diagnosed with dyslexia can struggle with confidence and self esteem.  The classroom can often be an overwhelming place to learn. For this reason, outside help from a specialist tutor can always be helpful. Susan T is a specialist teacher in Dyslexia (SpLD) with a post Graduate Diploma in SEN (Dyslexia) Here she outlines what exactly Dyslexia is and what as a parent you can do best equip your child to be independent, successful learners. ........ Dyslexia Resources: a Guide for Parents First of all, what is dyslexia? There are many misunderstandings about dyslexia, which can be confusing especially if you are a parent of a child who has been assessed as having dyslexia. Even the term varies! You may hear ‘dyslexia’ , ‘specific learning difficulty’, ‘learning disability’, ‘learning difficulty’ or ‘learning difference’. The word 'dyslexia' actually comes from the Greek and means 'difficulty with words', it affects around 10% of the population and is a life long condition. Most importantly, dyslexia does not affect intelligence. Dyslexia is actually really about how information is processed. That is, how information is taken in, understood, remembered, organized and then how this knowledge is demonstrated. Children with dyslexia can have difficulties at all of these stages and generally, these difficulties can be seen in relation to print. For example, a child may be baffling to teachers â€" they appear bright, articulate and knowledgeable yet cannot produce written evidence to match these skills. Dyslexia can and often does, however, extend beyond the printed word into, for example, difficulties with organization, general ‘clumsiness’, the concept of time, numeracy/ mathematics and sustaining attention. So, how can I support my child? Firstly, some initial considerations. Your child will have good days and bad days â€" be relaxed about this! Progress may not be linear â€" it is important that the trajectory is upward over time, but there will be highs and lows along the way. Consistency with school is recommended therefore finding the right school for your child is crucial. Strategies to help with Reading Practice in reading is important. The reading material can be anything that is going to interest your child. There are many books now available that are ‘high-interest’ that is, the content will be suitable for a 9 year old although the reading age may be pitched at 6 years. Newspapers and magazines are also very useful sources of reading material. ‘First News for Schools’ is a newspaper aimed at children and contains a range of literacy resources at different levels. Remember to always praise your child! - It’s important that your child does not become averse to reading because of the demands it places on him/her â€" ensure the emphasis is on what your child reads correctly rather than incorrectly. You can support your child’s reading development in many ways â€" here are some ideas:  Pre-reading - talk! Use your child’s prior knowledge and experience and discuss what they already know about the text before reading. Here are some suggested questions for pre-reading activities: Who are the main characters? How do you know they are the main characters? What do you know about the characters? Do you know anyone like these characters? How do you think the book/passage will end? Have you read another book or seen a film with a similar story to this book? Looking at the front cover, what do you think the book/article is about? What do you think will happen in the book/article Research suggests that pre-reading discussion is one of the best predictors of a successful outcome in a reading activity. 2. During reading  Decoding Thus is a well-known reading strategy but an over-reliance on this can be demoralizing for dyslexic children as comprehension and reading fluency can become compromised. Context clues. Use any pictures available. Refer your child to the same word that he/she read on a previous page. Use your child’s prior knowledge and experience. Meaning is held in memories, and in the language children use to express what they have experienced.   Reading, therefore, should ‘make sense’ within the context of what they already know or understand, about their world.   Children draw upon meaning when reading. Use syntactic clues (the order of words in a sentence). Language follows certain rules - ‘runs dog the fast’ - does not make sense. Use semantic clues. Good readers develop an expectation that reading about, for example, cats will contact words such as tail, purr, whiskers etc Paired reading â€" basically, reading together! Let your child take the lead when confident and step in when he/she comes across an unfamiliar word that is proving difficult to figure out. Don’t forget, it isn’t wrong to read the word for your child. Strategies to improve spelling Your child will have target words and spelling patterns to practice. Here are some ways you can help at home: 1.Word search Create your own word searches using your child’s target words. Find here a great example by Puzzlemaker 2. Media search     Your child has 10 minutes to look for his/her target words and highlight them in a newspaper or magazine. 3.  Colourful words Ask your child to identify the tricky part of the word and then write it in bold eg s a i l b e f o r e t h e y s h i r t 4.Scrambled words Jumble up the letters and ask your child to spell the word (you can use Scrabble letters) 5.Missing letters Write the word leaving out the tricky part for your child to complete eg b l a _ _ (black) 6.Listen carefully Ask your child to sound the letters in the word for you to write. Has he/she made the correct sound-letter correspondence? 7.  Design a word Write a word in bubble writing and colour in each letter with a different pattern. 8.Mnemonics Eg big elephants can’t always use small elevators (because)  9.Air spelling/Salt box spelling This is a game to play with your child. Ask your child to use his/her index finger to write the word in the air slowly, saying each letter and ‘seeing’ each letter. When the word is finished, ask him/her to ‘underline’ it and say it again. Pour salt into a shallow box/tray (about 3cm deep) and then ask your child to practice writing his/her spellings in it with his/her index finger. ...... If you would like additional help with dyslexia resources  Susan T is available as a tutor on Tutorfair. Alternatively find a  wide range of fantastic  Dyslexia Tutors  on Tutorfair. Check out more Tutorfair blogs here 1. How to Regain Confidence 2. Five Strategies to improve Academic performance