Avoid Your College Bookstore

Avoid Your College Bookstore Nearly all colleges have bookstores located on or close to campus. And every single one of them is a lot more expensive than it needs to be. A lot of these bookstores are affiliated with the university. These bookstores know what books the professors assign, and they usually have those books in stock. However, they understand that they have little to none competition, granting them the liberty of jacking the prices up. They know students will buy books there because they have a dearth of other choices. However, online book buying Web sites, like Amazon.com or half.com, offer less expensive alternatives. With Amazon, students can buy from Amazon itself or other sellers. People post used/new books, their condition and their prices. Students can simply electronically purchase the books, and the seller will ship it. Students can expect to save anywhere from 40-70% from buying textbooks with Amazon, compared to prices at college bookstores. Also, students can sell their used books on Amazon for nearly the same price they bought them for. However, Amazon takes up to 15% commission on all sales. Sometimes selling a book back at the bookstore could make you more money, but you can always check both sources before selling. When you sell a book, you name your own price and its condition; then if someone buys it you ship it to them. Its a very simple process. However, shipping can take anywhere from three days to three weeks, and usually the seller determines the method of shipping. If one buys a book from Amazon itself shipping usually takes no more than three to five days. But, purchasing from another seller through Amazon which is always much cheaper can take a few weeks for shipping. The extended shipping times can cause problems; however there are many ways to avoid them. Students can email their professors a couple weeks before the quarter starts, inquiring about which textbooks they use, and purchase them early. Students could also check their colleges library and rent out the textbooks they need; then return them when their Amazon books arrive. Also, students could order their books online, buy the same book from the local bookstore and return it for a full refund when their books purchased at Amazon arrive. College bookstores usually have a deadline around three weeks into the quarter, which gives your books just enough time to ship. Also, students should ask around to see if anyone has the textbook you need lying around in their room. They will probably let you borrow it for your semester. Students could even start a facebook group with other students at their college. Create an open group for exchanging and borrowing textbooks. This could be a great way to borrow textbooks from your fellow students for free. Most professors do not care how students acquire their books, and some even recommend that students do not buy them in bookstores to save money. Some professors might even suggest students buy the textbook at the bookstore, copy all the pages they need to read from it; then return it for a full refund. With all the options readily available to save or even get free textbooks it makes zero sense for a student to buy one at the bookstore. This is not a pledge or a rally to encourage students to boycott their bookstores. They probably sell wonderful pencils and staples, the absolute finest. We are just trying to introduce you to saving thousands of dollars in your years as a college student. College kids are always as broke as they will ever be in their lives. Now, hopefully, you might have a little more spending money.

French Culture 101

French Culture 101 Everything You Need To Know About France: Culture, Language and Etiquette ChaptersForming French Culture: History of the French LanguageFrench Culture and Philosophy: Understanding the WorldFrench Writers and their Impact on French CultureThe Face of France: French Celebrities You Ought to KnowLoving French Culture: Attaining French CitizenshipNo Faux-Pas Possible: The Etiquette of French CultureWhat do you think about when you think about France? French food? Its art and architecture? The Eiffel Tower, perhaps, and the Arc de Triomphe, the palace of the Louvre or other famous monuments? Or the impact of French artists on European art, the Romantic Delacroix, the impressionists such as Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir and Edgar Dégas, or post-impressionists such as Paul Cézanne or Gaugin? Or perhaps its history, with Catherine of Medici’s persecution of the Protestant Huguenots?Or have you considered its languages and their fascinating evolutions, the myth surrounding French celebrities, or its literary heritage? Here is an overview of some fascinating asp ects of French culture you may never have considered.Enlightenment took the intellectual revolution of the Renaissance one step further and paved the way for true scientific research.However, this required a restructuring of how we see the world, and of religion’s place in it.Enlightenment: Baroque PhilosophersThe Age of Enlightenment not only brought us a fairly useless French dictionary (in its quest for Purity, the Académie’s dictionary failed to include perfectly usual colloquial expressions) but one of the great scientific endeavors of all time: the Encyclopédie Universelle. With articles by all the great minds of eighteenth-century France, its editor, Denis Diderot, was himself an intellectual and philosopher. His philosophical musings include The Philosophical Thoughts (1746), an appeal to the reconciliation of reason and feeling, traditionally in opposition, in order to achieve a psychological balance, and The Skeptic’s Walk (1747), a dialogue between a deist, atheis t and pantheist in which each attempts to explain the universe. It was banned for a long time before ever seeing publication (some sources maintain the manuscript was seized by the police as an attack on Christianity), but was finally published posthumously in 1830.The Enlightenment brought about a new way of seeing the world. This was true not only of scientific endeavours, but of politics as well. Two of the great minds of the era wrote treatises on political philosophy: Mirabeau and Montesquieu.The two became acquainted in the army and are notable for their interest in social economy and political anthropology, centuries before such subjects came to be taught at universities.Victor de Riquetis, Marquis de Mirabeau believed that a country’s riches lay in its population, and since that population needed to be fed, a country’s treasure lay in its agriculture rather than trade. His interest in the common man earned him the sobriquet “l’ami des hommes”, the Friend of Man. Hi s treatise on taxation, encouraging direct taxation rather than relying on private “tax famers”, earned him a stint in prison courtesy of the French government and a two-month exile to his estates at Bignon. His views corresponded well with the Physiocratic school of thought founded by Quesnay.Charles Baron de Montesquieu was one of the most famous French philosophers of the Enlightenment. Photo credit: byb64 on Visualhunt.comCharles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu wrote extensively on the philosophy of history, but is best known for his political work The Spirit of the Laws. Montesquieu wanted to do away with the last vestiges of feudal thought as reflected by the États-Généraux, a conclave of representatives from each of the “classes” of society: clergy, aristocracy and commoners. Instead, Montesquieu divided French society into the monarchy, aristocracy and commoners. The kings, as sovereigns, would remain separate from the administrative branch of government, which itself would be divided into the judicial, legislative and executive branches, each tending to its own concerns and keeping an eye on the others by a system of checks and balances - a political system used by many modern democracies. Montesquieu thus influences French politics even today.Turn of the 19th and 20th centuries: Henri Bergson and Paul ValéryHenri Bergson lived between 1859 and 1941. His philosophy was influenced by Kant and Spencer insomuch as a critique of their works allowed him to sketch out his theory on free will, introducing the concept of duration in order to harmonise it with theories of causality and creativity. He also coined the idea of the “élan vital”, or vital impetus, to explain evolution beyond a purely mechanical process. His study of creativity also led him to research what causes laughter.A celebrated poet and mathematician, Paul Valéry wrote a number of musings based on aphorisms or bon mots, some of which he published in articles, others having come from his Cahiers, a diary in which, every day, he put down a thought on any subject, from mathematics to philosophy. His views coincide best with constructive epistomology, but Valéry himself never subscribed to any school.For more influential French philosophers on Superprof, why not take French lessons London?writing his own plays. Mostly satirical, touching on subjects such as religious hypocrisy, hypochondriacs and avarice, his plays were heavily influenced by the Italian commedia dell’arte, and often involved stock characters such as the incompetent doctor, the lover, etc.Through the patronage of Louis-Philippe, brother to Louis XIV, he gained the right to perform at court - to general acclaim, although some of his satire, such as the Tartuffe, caused outrage by hitting the aristocracy just a little too close to home.Jules VerneGenerally considered the father of science fiction, Jules Verne (1828-1905) published fantastical tales that somewhere i ncorporated the most cutting-edge technology of his time, indulging in fantasies of how they might be improved and evolve. Scaphanders, electrical torches, submarines - all found their place in his roaring tales of adventure. From A Thousand Leagues under the Sea and its iconic character, Captain Nemo, to the Journey to the Centre of the Earth to the Mysterious Island, many of the novels from his “Extraordinary Voyages” have been adapted by Hollywood.Only two of his stories were rejected for publication. One, Paris in the 20th Century, paints an eerily accurate picture of a city - in the 1970s, perhaps, before home computers and, of course, smart phones.Jules Verne is a French writer known as the father of science-fiction. Photo credit: sheffieldhammer on VisualhuntHis gift for extrapolating possible technologies based on the possibilities offered by new inventions of his time has influenced a sub-genre of science-fiction, steampunk, in which stories are set Vernesque universes filled with gas lighting, differential engines and dirigeables.Albert CamusBorn of French parents in Algeria, growing up in poverty, Camus studied philosophy and finished his diploma despite suffering from tuberculosis. Though often called an existentialist because of his early friendship with Sartre, he saw himself as an absurdist, seeing the dichotomy between the value of our lives in the grand scheme of things and the value we must give our life to live it to the fullest.He moved to Paris with his second wife in 1940. Having been a member of first the communist, then the anarchist party, he fought in the French Resistance during World War II.Camus worked as a journalist for various magazines and wrote several novels and philosophical treatises; he received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957 his best-known work is L’Étranger (The Stranger), which is part of his absurdist cycle. The Stranger is characterised by the protagonist’s indifference to life around him and the very simple language structure the author uses to underline it. For that reason, it’s a good book for a beginner exercise in reading French.The Face of France: French Celebrities You Ought to KnowWhile for most of the 20th century, France was known for its cinema and music, celebrities of French film such as Brigitte Bardot and Luc Besson are now rather overshadowed by France’s politicians.For example, François Mitterand was, together with America’s Reagan, Russia’s Gorbatchov and Germany’s Helmut Kohl, a symbol of post-war prosperity and change. France’s longest-running president (at a time when the mandate was still for eight years), Mitterand led France from 1981 to 1995. He was a strong voice in the European Economic Community and was one of the main architects of the Maastrich Treaty that founded the European Union in 1993.More recently, Nicolas Sarkozy, French president from 2007-2012, has made the headlines both with controversial policies and a stormy private life. He divorced his wife shortly after the election, met Carla Bruni, a singer and former model, a month later and married her in 2008. The couple gave the Elysée its first presidential baby in 2011.His constitutional reforms, modifying some of the checks and balances between Parliament and the Presidency, are among his more controversial acts while in power.Following Sarkozy in 2012 was François Hollande, France’s most unpopular president to date owing to his reforms on labour laws and pensions. During his presidency, Hollande had an affair with actress Julie Gayet, thus ending his relationship with reporter and acting First Lady Valérie Trierweiler, once more bringing the President’s love life into the papers.By the 2017 elections, Hollande’s approval ratings were so low he decided not to run for a second term, but endorsed Emmanuel Macron instead, who won against Marine Le Pen and is now France’s current president.Loving French Culture: Attaining French CitizenshipIs a yea rly trip to France not enough to satisfy your francophilia? Or do you already live in France and tire of applying for work visas? Angsty about Brexit and eager to have an EU passport? You can try and apply for French citizenship.Of course, the easiest way to become a French citizen is to be born French, or at least in France (if you were born on French soil and have lived more than 5 years in France after your 11th birthday, you automatically become a French citizen at 18), but if your family has been living in France for over 25 years, are over 65 and one of your descendants is a French citizen, you qualify. You can also qualify if you are married to a French national, even if you are not currently living in France (though your spouse must be registered as an expatriate at the local French embassy or consulate.)If none of the above apply but you are over 18 and have been living permanently in France for at least five years and have a basic grasp of the French language, you can cont act your local préfecture and see if you qualify. The process takes some time, as your dossier is sent to the ministry in charge of naturalisation and processed there, then your brand-new papers as a citizen of the French Republic sent back to your local préfecture (or embassy).France supports multiple citizenships, so no need to turn in your British passports!No Faux-Pas Possible: The Etiquette of French CultureNow that you are naturalised a French citizen, you need to be able to function in polite French society! What is proper French etiquette?Remember above all that while French street culture is very informal, French business culture is much more formal than in many other parts of the world. Until you find your footing, always opt for more formality rather than less.Please and Thank-YouIf you are simply having a nice holiday in French, there are four things you need to know:Please is s’il vous plaîtThank-you is merciHello, how are you is bonjour, comment allez-vous? (infor mally: Salut, ça va?)You will be kissed.Meet and greetIn the business world, you will be shaking hands; the formal greeting - “bonjour”, or “Ravi de faire votre connaissance” - comes shortly before the handshake, often with a little pause in-between.French business etiquette is very formal. Photo credit: amtec_photos on Visualhunt.comAnywhere else - you will be kissed. An acquaintance meets you on the street?Hop, la bise!They are introducing you to another acquaintance, or one of their family?Hop, la bise!The bise consists of alternate light kisses on each cheek. Most often the lips don’t truly touch your cheek at all, but you will be grasped by the shoulders.The number of kisses varies from region to region - just go with the flow and you will be fine!Remember to address anyone you meet for the first time with “vous”, until they offer the more informal “tu”.French punctualityGenerally speaking, you should always be on time. However, the French do have a more flui d approach to punctuality, so don’t be surprised if your business appointments are a little late. As the newbie, though, it’s better to err on the safe side and arrive early.Unless, that is, you are invited to someone’s house. Then you should consistently be a quarter of an hour late, to allow the host to make any necessary last-minute touches to the house or meal. If you are running later than 15 minutes behind, you should call to let the hosts know.Polite communicationFrench letters are very, very formal, and e-mails have kept more of that formality than in other countries. A letter should start with “Cher Monsieur (Last Name or le + “man’s title or simply”) or “Chère Madame (Last Name or la + “woman’s title”) and end in any one of several formal parting phrases. The most ubiquitous, perhaps is: “Veuillez agréer, Monsieur/Madame le/la (title or name here), à l’expression de mes salutations distinguées”.As formal as their letter-writing is, most Fren ch people simply answer the phone with “Allô?” You are then expected to say “bonjour” and state your name and business.The French in general keep late hours, but you should not call anyone after 10 PM unless it’s an emergency.Ready to dive into French culture? Why not tune into French radio, watch France 24 or subscribe the French news magazin Paris Match? Or improve your French grammar and vocabulary with one of our Superprof tutors.

5 Quick Tips for Writing a College Application Essay

5 Quick Tips for Writing a College Application Essay The following is a guest post written by Anna Carapellotti of Admissionado, a premier college admissions consulting company focused on helping students get into their dream schools. Often, these final college application essays are the toughest essays to tackle, assuming that you already exerted significant effort on essay-writing this winter. So, whats the best way to buckle down and hammer out a great essay when you have little time to do so? Here is a five-step approach to quickly (and effectively!) write a college application essay: 1. Read the prompt This may sound like a painfully obvious first step, but many applicants will write essays that do not consider the prompt. Sometimes this is simply negligence or a misunderstanding. Other times, applicants are set on writing something that they believe will help their candidacy, even if it doesnt really answer the question. Unfortunately, failing to address the prompt in your response will never help your application! [RELATED: 4 Ways to Find Application Essay Writing Inspiration] So, we encourage you to carefully read the promptand then read it again, and consider what the admissions committee is looking for in the answer. (Hint: the prompt is likely not a trick question!) 2. Think about your answer Now that you understand what the prompt is asking of you, its time to think about your answer and organize your thoughts. There are several ways to approach this: you could write an outline, do some freewriting, etc. You should approach this in whichever way allows you to get the best results. Some prompts, such as the ones that ask why you want to attend a particular school, will require doing some extra research. While it may seem more efficient to just dive right into writing the essays themselves, writing an outline and doing some research will, in reality, make the essay-writing process so much easier. Besides, youre applying to these programs because you want to attend them, so this process should be exciting! 3. Write! Dont just sit there staring at the blank page. Start writing and accept that the first draft is not going to be perfect; it never is. However, if you have already written an outline and organized your thoughts, as we suggested above, the first draft should be pretty good! We also suggest that you dont worry about the word limit in early drafts. Give yourself plenty of room to flesh out your ideas. [RELATED: The Importance of Writing Skills] 4. Rewrite! To ensure a completely coherent essay, you may wish to write two to four iterations before submitting. After you have written a solid first draft, set it aside for a couple of days before going back in to edit it. (Of course, how many days you have to set your essay aside will depend largely on how far in advance you started working on your application!) Even if youre running short on time, set your essay aside for at least 24 hours, which will allow you to come back to it with a fresh perspective. You will be more likely to notice what is missing and where your writing is lacking clarity. [RELATED: Top 10 Essay Editing Tips] The rewriting stage is the time to ask for the input of others, as well. Ask a parent, friend, counselor, or someone else whose advice you trust to provide some feedback. They will likely notice leaps in logic or areas lacking clarity in your writing that you failed to see! 5. Trim and polish Once you finally have a draft that youre happy with, one that conveys everything that you want it to say, you should give it a good polish. Remember, you should adhere to any word limits required by the college/university, as failure to follow directions is seen as unsavory by admissions officers. (Often, youll have no choice but to remain within the word count because the online platform will not let you enter more than is allowed.) Also check to make sure that your essays are error- and typo-free! The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Singing Competition Secrets Are They Really Worth It

Singing Competition Secrets Are They Really Worth It Suzy S. Thinking about auditioning for a televised singing competition like  American Idol? Here,  Corona, CA teacher  Milton J.  shares what could be an even better idea For years, we’ve tuned into our favorite singing competitions, voting for our favorites each week, and hoping they win the coveted record deal at the end of the season. We’ve watched as the juggernaut American Idol â€" a derivative of Pop Idol from Europe â€" gave way to others like The Voice and X-Factor. Many other worthy (and not-so-worthy) opponents have aimed to get a slice of the reality singing competition show pie. Yet, one thing many of us aspiring performers and singers dont realize is that local and regional singing competitions are actually a much better start than trying for a television show as your first venture into stardom. It’s First A TV Show I first tried out for American Idol at 17 years old. I was wide-eyed, eager, and willing to do whatever it took to get the smile from Paula, the fist pump from Randy, and the tepid accolade from Simon. What I soon realized over my two-day endeavor was that this was about 85% TV production and faux-reality, and only 15% singing competition and talent search. The Voice and X-Factor are no different. That does nothing for the kid who makes it to the round right before getting on television as their first foray into competition. While that didn’t deter me from the performing life at all, it very well could spell doom and gloom for the less-than-strong yet incredibly talented performer. These shows are perfect launching pads, but serve the seasoned performer with an established fanbase that’s larger than their circle of family and friends much better. Utilize Local and Regional Singing Competitions As a Launching Pad The best launching pad for the novel performer taking lessons and improving every day is local and online singing competitions. Here in Southern California, a great competition to get your start is the SoCal Icon Annual Solo Vocal Competition. Last year I had a student, Autumn Carter, place second in the Riverside competition, and I will have three others compete next year. In fact, Autumn is readying a callback audition for The Voice this December! Additionally,  the Hal Leonard Vocal Competition  and the Singist Vocal Competition are all launching pad-type competitions to help you along the path of becoming a performer. National Television Singing Competitions Are Still Worthwhile With all of that said, it is still a worthwhile endeavor to try out for American Idol and The Voice. These shows have established fanbases, solid-enough ratings to warrant new upcoming seasons, and possibilities for stardom that cannot be slighted. However, the best way to maximize your return on these television shows is to come in seasoned with a fanbase ready to be unleashed to propel you to the top. Are you ready to take the plunge? Find a local TakeLessons instructor today and bring these tips to your first lesson as you and your teacher cultivate your plan to take flight on your dream! Milton J. teaches guitar, piano, singing, music recording, music theory, opera voice, songwriting, speaking voice, and acting lessons in  Corona, CA. He specializes in classical, RB, soul, pop, rock, jazz, and opera styles. Learn more about Milton here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by  familymwr

How to Make Legendary New Years Resolutions

How to Make Legendary New Years Resolutions Megan L. Did you celebrate New Years Eve at a big holiday bash or with a quiet evening at home? However you chose to ring in the new year, this is a great time for reflecting on the past year and setting goals for the year to come. With each new year, we have a chance at a new beginning, to change a habit or to try something weve never done before. If youve resolved to spend 2014 learning a new skill or working on a creative endeavor, you may be unsure of how to set goals to help you keep your resolution. Here at TakeLessons, were big believers in using SMART goal setting. But, if youre looking for a little extra new years inspiration, check out these lists of goals from music legends Johnny Cash and Woody Guthrie. Even the Man in Black made New Years resolutions. This handwritten list was auctioned in 2011 for $6,400! One of the interesting things about this list is how delightfully simple some of Cashs goals were. Numbers 5 and 6 in particular can be accomplished with ease several times a day. Its a great reminder to all of us that its important to set small goals alongside our larger ones. Achieving our small goals helps us gain the confidence we need to tackle the big ones. Johnny Cash also included piano practice on this list. Cash was famous for singing and playing the guitar, but this list shows that he wasnt satisfied with just those skills. Why not branch out in 2014 and try your hand at something new or unusual for you? The results might just surprise you. For even more goal setting inspiration, check out a few of Woody Guthries 33 new years resolutions from 1942. You may be familiar with his work even if you dont recognize his name. Guthrie wrote many classic American folk songs, including This Land is Your Land. His work has inspired artists from Bob Dylan to Wilco, and his influence continues to be felt in the folk music scene today. Like Cash, many of Guthries goals are simple. However, he also set the very ambitious goal to write a song a day. At first glance, this might seem like a crazy feat to accomplish, but its actually a wonderful goal with a great lesson we can all apply to our own goals. First, notice that he just set out to write a song every day- not a hit song, not a great song, just a song. If you have a creative goal, you can certainly apply this philosophy when making your own resolutions. Find a way to get in the habit of doing creative work without putting pressure on yourself to be an artistic genius. The more time you spend on your craft, whether it is music, acting, or dance, the more improvements you will see in your skills overall, even if you dont see huge gains from one day to the next. What are your New Years resolutions? If you want to learn something new, improve on a skill, or branch out creatively, enrolling in private lessons is a great way to make sure you keep your resolution this year. TakeLessons offers private, one-on-one lessons with qualified instructors in music, performing arts, and academic tutoring. Search for your perfect teacher today! You might also like Videos We Love: Girl Learns to Dance in a Year The Importance of Perseverance, As Told by Hilarious GIFs Don’t Start Lessons Without Asking this Question Megan L. TakeLessons Staff Member and Blogger Photo by hebedesign

How to Plan Your GMAT Prep Schedule

How to Plan Your GMAT Prep Schedule Planning your GMAT prep schedule is the first step to success on the exam. But what should be on that schedule? How much time should you dedicate to certain topics? When should you implement specific strategies, like GMAT practice tests or study groups? How should you maximize your prep in the weeks close to the test? Lets look at a template for GMAT prep over a two-month schedule, which can be extended or compacted for your personal study needs. Here is a general overview: Suggested GMAT prep timeline Determine when you plan to apply to a graduate school business (MBA) program Register for the GMAT Take a practice exam to find out your current strengths and weaknesses Study and do related test prep Take additional practice exams to measure your progress GMAT Prep Schedule Week 1: Take a practice exam to determine your current starting point, even if you have taken the GMAT previously. Once you get your results, go back over the test to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Did you perform better in the Quantitative section than you did in Verbal? Did you have difficulty with the Analytical Writing Assessment? Was it tough to put the pieces together for the Integrated Reading section? Figure out what areas need the most attention. Next, register for the GMAT. This will give you a definite end point to work toward. (For this template, the exam day will occur two months from the start date.) Then, create a study schedule. Dedicate consistent blocks of time on your calendar specifically for preparing for the GMAT, ideally two to three hours every other day. GMAT Prep Schedule Week 2: Start reviewing how to approach each question type, and complete practice questions from each section of the exam: AWA, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, and Verbal. Note your performance on each question type and review the questions you answer incorrectly. Also, make a trial visit to the testing center. Plan alternate routes as well, in case there are any unexpected impediments on exam day. Introduce yourself to the center manager. Find out the locations of the lockers, water fountains, and restrooms. Advanced preparation is key to experiencing a smooth test day. GMAT Prep Schedule Week 3: Take your second practice exam. You should concentrate on building your familiarity with the material and applying the approaches you have developed to answer different question types. Based on your results, decide whether you should continue getting ready for the GMAT on your own or seek outside help with your preparation by possibly joining a study group or enlisting assistance from a GMAT tutor. Once you have made your decision, adjust your schedule accordingly and stick to it. GMAT Prep Schedule Week 4: Continue studying each section of the GMAT. Begin to spend more time on challenging sections while maintaining your skills in areas in which you have more proficiency. For instance, if you have mastered the art of sentence correction, but still have difficulty with the math covered on the exam, consider moving on to data sufficiency and problem-solving. You should notice some progress as you increase your understanding of the exam. GMAT Prep Schedule Week 5: Sit for your third practice GMAT. Now that you have more experience with the question types, take this opportunity to increase your stamina and further develop your test-taking abilities. Pace yourself as you move through the sections, and stay on track. Dont worry about getting every question correct. Focus on maximizing your score. Use your time wisely, and use all of the time provided. After you tabulate the results, compare your performance on this practice exam to your previous work. Determine where you are improving, where you still need work, and what changes you have noticed over your studying period. GMAT Prep Schedule Week 6: Keep goingdont give up! As you continue working through practice questions, take the time to look at where you started and where you are now. In addition to checking whether you answered a question correctly, examine the construction of the questions with which you have trouble. Are lengthy questions more challenging for you, or questions with variables, or ones involving inference? Patterns should emerge regarding your test-taking habits. GMAT Prep Schedule Week 7: Take your final practice exam. Simulate the testing center experience as well as possible by tackling all of the sections over a specific time period and taking your timed breaks. After completing the test, compare your results to your previous attempts. Look at what has changed and what has stayed consistent. Decide which areas you can improve over these last two weeks before your GMAT. GMAT Prep Schedule Week 8: During this last week of GMAT prep, focus your attention on fine-tuning your skills for the next six days. Then stopdo not cram on the day before the exam. You can feel confident that youve done tons of substantial preparation up to this point. Instead, use this time to rest or engage in an activity you enjoy. Make sure you get a good nights sleep on both the night before the exam and the previous night. You need to retain your energy for the big day. On the day after exam, celebrate! You survived the GMAT. It is now time to plan your next move in the MBA application process. If you are happy with your scores, start working on your essays or plan a campus visit. If you would like to increase your scores, then take a short break before you jump back into study mode and take the exam again. Either way, following this eight-week GMAT prep schedule can help make this standardized test experience less intimidating and more manageable. Two Month GMAT Prep Timeline Action Week 1 Register for a GMAT test date, take a practice exam Week 2 Do practice for each section of the exam, visit the testing location Week 3 Take another full-length practice exam Week 4 Continue test prep, determine if you need additional help (private tutoring) Week 5 Address specific areas for improvement Week 6 Take a third full-length practice exam Week 7 Continue to examine your progress, take another full-length practice exam Week 8 Avoid cramming the night before, prepare yourself mentally and physically for test day 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.

Convert Standard Form To Vertex Form

Convert Standard Form To Vertex Form Convert standard form to vertex form is an effective tool for graphing quadratic functions. Quadratic equation can be expressed in two forms. They are standard form and vertex form. The standard form of quadratic equation is ax2 + b x + c = 0. The vertex form is y= a (x - h)2 + k where (h, k) is the vertex. We can convert quadratic function from standard form to vertex form by completing the square. A quadratic function is much easier to graph when written in vertex form. Example 1: Rewrite the equation y = 2x2 - 8x + 1 in the form y = a(x - h)2 + k by completing the square. Solution: For solving the equation y = 2x2 - 8x + 1 = First, factor out a 2. This is done because in order to complete the square, = The coefficient of x2 must be 1. = y = 2x2 8x + 1 = y = 2(x2 4x) + 1 = Now, complete the square. Take half of the coefficient of x, 4/ 2 = 2 and square it = 22 = 4. = Add this to the equation. Since it is added, it must also be subtracted to keep the equation equal. Then, simplify. = y = 2(x2 4x + 4 4) + 1 = y = 2(x2 4x + 4) + (-8 + 1) = y = 2(x-2)2 - 7 Example 2: Rewrite the equation y = 4x2 - 24x + 46 in the form y = a(x - h) 2 + k by completing the square Solution: x2 needs a coefficient of 1 in order to complete the square. = y = 4x2 - 24x + 46 = y = 4(x2 - 6x) + 46 = y = 4(x2 - 6x + 9 9) + 46 = y = 4(x2 - 6x + 9)+ (-36 + 46) = y = 4(x 3)2 + 10 = This equation is in vertex form is y = 4(x 3)2 + 10

Learn English Idioms for Sickness and English Vocabulary for Illness

Learn English Idioms for Sickness and English Vocabulary for Illness Here you will learn some of the English idioms for Sickness and also expressions and phrases connected with illness.Scroll down to watch Under the Weather idiom meaning. English Idioms for Sickness Don't keep this to yourself, tell the world: Many of my English learning students confuse the use of 2 words  Health  (noun) and Healthy (adjective). This  also got me thinking about the ways of describing how you feel in English when you are unhealthy or not well.  Bad health usually suggests to me a more long term condition that may last several months or years. (He suffered from bad health for a few years before he died). We are going to focus on the more short term English words and phrases.Some of these words and expressions will be more formal and others informal. Some are very specific to the feeling and others are more general in their meaning. English Idioms for Sickness + Sickness Vocabulary I feel a little off colour  today.This usually means you are not quite sure what you have  (what your illness is) but you do not feel yourself (feel generally unwell).I think I must be coming down with something    (the beginning of a cold or flu) or I am a little under the weather  today. When I hear the expression “sorry I must be coming down with something”  I often think it is an excuse to cancel an arrangement, to avoid going to school or to get out of something you just simply do not want to do.There are many phrases and expressions in English that are much more specific about the symptoms and the way you are feeling.  I have a cold or I am getting the flu are very specific.  Note that in English we use “A cold” but “ THE flu”. So different use of the articles.Describing how you feel in English can be difficult because only you know really what you feel like at that time: I feel unwell, I am ill, I feel bad, I don’t feel well are all well used phrases. Sickness Vocabulary - How to Describe Symptoms When you have a cold, the flu or a virus you more often give the following symptoms:I have  aches and painsMy throat is soreI have a stuffy noseMy nose is blockedI have a headacheI have a high temperatureI feel hotI have a feverOften the cause of the illness is due to something you ate or drank. In these situations we often feel like we want “to get or to be sick”.I want to vomit.    I feel like throwing up  or puking (more slang and informal)This can be covered generally by using the phrases:I picked up a bugI caught a bugIt’s just one of those 24 hour bugsIf we are ill and cannot go to work, school or university we usually have to take a sick day  (for work) or inform the school or university that you cannot attend that day.Some people are not really sick but feel like they need an extra days rest so they “pretend”  (tell a little white lie) they are sick and we refer to this in English as pulling a sickie. Other English Idioms about Sickness As sick as a dog   I am very sickI am at deaths door   really very unwellOther English idioms for sickness that we use can also have a theoretical meaning such as:As sick as a parrot   usually means to be very annoyed or angryI am sick to death of   I am really tired of somethingSome examples of using English Idioms for Sickness:Michael had wanted to buy a Harley Davidson bike but really could not afford it. He was as sick as a parrot  when his friend told him that he had just purchased one!The mother was constantly telling the children to stop shouting and fighting. She had had enough. She screamed out I am sick to death of your shouting and fighting you have to stop now!!So enjoy your week, stay healthy but learn English idioms for Sickness and other words to describe your symptoms (just in case!). As I said, English students often confuse HEALTH vs HEALTHY. To help you better understand the difference,   here is a short video lesson for you that I created to explain the difference between English adjectives that confuse everyone. One of the explanations is about the difference between HEALTH and HEALTHY. Watch carefully! One of the most common English idioms about sickness is TO FEEL UNDER THE WEATHER. It doesnt really make any sense to a non-native English speaker, does it? How can you feel under the weather? You can be under the table, under your duvet but under the weather?   My second video lesson is about this common English idiom, watch it and find out FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER meaning. Under the Weather Meaning If you follow this link, you will be able to find out UNDER THE WEATHER meaning origin.