Physical Chemistry, 10th Edition - A Good Textbook to Learn Chemistry

Physical Chemistry, 10th Edition - A Good Textbook to Learn ChemistryThere is a strong debate over whether the Physical Chemistry 10th Edition is 'bad'good'. As a matter of fact, people are still debating the same question in the light of the new version of the Biology System, which includes many updates and new content. But the fact is that this is not just another revision of the Physical Chemistry textbooks.On the contrary, this book is considered to be one of the best books in the field of Chemistry. While this is certainly true, it is not just another edition of an old version. The physical chemistry textbook goes back in time to the 1820s and goes to the present day.For those who do not know, the new edition was only recently released. It represents the most recent state of knowledge and incorporates the latest technology that has become available since then. One of the most important features of this book is that it has the power to introduce concepts at any level to the stude nt of chemistry.This helps you grasp things much faster as compared to other textbook or practice problem solutions. It also enables the student to recall the concepts at any level of study in order to complete the problems. Another feature is that the question papers have been revised and extensively reviewed. There is no doubt that these are the major reasons why the physical chemistry 10th edition has been acclaimed by so many students around the world.Even if the new edition does not come with the same power as the previous editions of the textbook, it still provides you with all the vital ingredients that will enable you to be successful in your studies. The introduction of the units in the new edition has also made things more systematic.So, if you are a chemistry student who is looking for an important text, the physical chemistry 10th edition might be the right choice for you. To answer the question whether it is 'bad'good', the answer is really a bit difficult to say.To be more precise, this is like a more advanced and elementary textbook. However, it is certainly more advantageous than the last edition because of the immense coverage of the concepts and their application.

The Best Books on Cooking for Beginners

The Best Books on Cooking for Beginners Books with Easy Cooking Recipes for Beginners ChaptersLarousse’s Gastronomique5 Ingredients - Quick Easy FoodCooking Basics for DummiesHow to Cook Everything: 2,000 Simple Recipes for Great FoodJoy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary EditionAre you sick of cooking frozen pizzas or pasta for your guests?Do you struggle when it comes to frying an egg?Are your vegetable soups prepared in a mug?Don't worry! Anyone can learn how to cook. However, before you start tackling tasty dishes and become the next celebrity chef (why not?), you’re going to have to decide how you’re going to learn to cook.Your introduction to the world of cooking can come in many forms depending on the learning methods you choose to use.  Some people will need to take regular tutorials while others might benefit from attending cooking classes with others, which are becoming more popular thanks to cooking shows. Some people prefer to learn on their own.  However you decide to learn to cook, you should consider investing in at least a few books.If you want to coo k, you don't necessarily need all the best equipment. (Source: sferrario1968)Whether you want to learn some basic cooking techniques, pick out the ingredients you'll need, learn how to cook an egg correctly, or get into baking, before you fire up the oven, here are a few good books for anyone who needs help when it comes to cooking.Cooking classes near me you should consider enrolling for.This is a useful book for anyone just starting out with cooking and since it’s a book, it won’t matter too much that it’s written by Jamie Oliver (some people really don’t like the guy). Most importantly, everything in it is simple!As you could have guessed, every recipe contains just 5 ingredients. However, you don’t need to be an expert in the kitchen to prepare or cook these ingredients. The focus is that anyone should be able to make these dishes.In addition to all the dishes being easy to make, they’re also very healthy dishes with a focus on nutrition, perfect if you’re on a die t or just trying to eat well. The recipes are also organised into useful sections based on the main ingredient. Whether you're cooking chicken, beef, pork, lamb, fish, eggs, vegetables, salad, pasta, rice and noodles, or sweet things, you'll easily find some inspiration.Recipe books, whether you buy them or they're passed down from generation to generation, can be really useful. (Source: StevePB)If you lead a busy life, this book will also be great for you since most of the recipes can be cooked in a very short amount of time.This is one of the most popular books on Amazon and is one of the cheaper options, too. Gourmet food doesn't need to be complicated, after all!The advantages:Simple and easy recipes for novice chefsWell-presented recipes that anyone can followEasy-to-find ingredients. You won't have trouble filling your fridge and pantry.Healthier than many other cookbooksThe disadvantages:Not as thorough as some of the other books we’ve recommended.If you’re used to imperi al measures, you won’t find them in this book.Simple, well-presented, organised by main ingredient, healthy.Not as thorough as other books, no imperial measures. £11.99Cooking Basics for DummiesGood visuals, simple, your dishes will look like the pictures.Few recipes for vegetarians and vegans. £10.32How to Cook Everything: 2,000 Simple Recipes for Great FoodTechniques clearly explained, plenty of recipes.Imperial measures, American terms. £19.15Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary EditionHigh quality, explanations of cooking techniques, a lot of recipes.Older recipes, narrower range of recipes, less international variety. £16.20These are the kinds of books that will even convince people that think they hate cooking that it can be a really enjoyable and rewarding activity. If books are a little too old-fashioned for you, don’t forget the internet is home to plenty of useful websites and video tutorials to help you learn how to cook.Find cooking classes in London with a private tutor .Watch videos to learn techniques.Consult the best websites for cooking tutorials.

How To Solve Matrices

How To Solve Matrices In science commerce and even in our daily life it is often convenient to represent set of numbers in rows and columns, called arrays. Such an array of numbers arranged in rows and columns is called a matrix. How to solve matrices: - Addition and subtraction of matrices: - If A = | a b | B= | e f | | c d | | g h| Then A + B = | a + e b + f | | c + g d + h| And A B = | a e b f| | c g d h| Question 1: If A = | 1 6| and B = | 2 5| | 3 4 | | 8 7| Find A + B. Solution: - A + B = | 1 6 | + | 2 5| | 3 4 | | 8 7| =| 1 + 2 6 + 5| | 3 + 8 4 + 7| = | 3 11| | 11 11| Therefore A + B = | 3 11| | 11 11| Question 2: - If A = | 2 -5 | B = | 3 2| |1 0 | |6 7| Find A B. Solution: - A B = | 2 -5 | - | 3 2| |1 0| |6 7| = | 2 3 - 5 2| | 1 6 0 - 7 | = | -1 -7| | -5 -7| Therefore A B = | -1 -7| | -5 -7|

Travelling to Rio de Janeiro

Travelling to Rio de Janeiro What You Need to Know Before Visiting Rio ChaptersVisiting Rio: The Different Areas of the CityThe Cost of Visiting Rio de JaneiroAccommodation in Rio de JaneiroThe Best Time to Visit Brazil’s Second City“Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience.” - Francis BaconEvery year, Rio de Janeiro becomes more touristy. In 2018, the city welcomed 1.5 million tourists just during the Rio carnival, 400,000 more than the previous year.  If you want to visit Brazil, don’t miss Rio de Janeiro. The second-largest city in the country is home to plenty of cultural and festive sights.Here’s our advice for planning a trip to Rio de Janeiro, where you should visit, how much it'll cost, where you can stay, and the best time to visit. IrineuPortuguese Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GabrielaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouisePortuguese Teacher 5.00 (2) £27/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RodrigoPortuguese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BlancaPortuguese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarolinaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (6) £11/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsVisiting Rio: The Different Areas of the CityRio de Janeiro is by the Guanabara Bay on the Atlantic Ocean and is surrounded by hills and the Atlantic Forest. If there's one thing you visit in Rio de Janeiro, this should be it! (Source: 32800)Rio is divided into four main districts:The North ZoneThe Central ZoneThe South ZoneThe West ZoneMost tourist activities are located in the centre and south of the city. In these areas, you’ll find the city’s main attraction whereas, in the west, you’ll find wealthy areas away from tourists.When you arrive, you’ll land in the north of the city, known for its slums, locally known as favelas. Brazil is one of the most unequal countries in the world: the very poor rub shoulders with the very rich but cannot afford to pay rent in the centre or south of the city.CentroThe Central Zone is a mix of old and new. This is where you’ll find Avenida Rio Branco, which runs through the business district. The old colonial homes lead right up to modern business buildings.You can also visit Cinelândia, where there are magnificent buildings to see and visit: Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro, National Libr ary of Brazil, and the Museu Nacional de Belas Artes.Santa Teresa and Lapa near Cinelândia run along the river. If you want to enjoy a bit of samba or a forro.Santa Teresa shares similarities to Montmartre in Paris with the Escadaria Selarón and the old 145 tram crossing the old aqueduct. This bohemian neighbourhood is home to plenty of artists and workshops.Rio’s South ZoneIf you’ve come to Rio to enjoy beautiful beaches, you’ve come to the right place. Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, and Urca are areas in the south of the city where you can head to the beach with a good book (or a caipirinha, we won’t judge).There are also plenty of parties, especially during the carnival period and the new year. If you want a great view of the city, the cable car to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain is waiting for you. On the other side, you can enjoy the statue of Chris the Redeemer by heading up the Corcovado mountain from Santa Teresa.Find out more about the areas of Rio de Janeiro.The C ost of Visiting Rio de JaneiroThe cost of visiting Rio will depend on how you like to travel. Brazil isn’t one of the cheapest countries in South America and generally, you’ll spend around £30 on accommodation, food, and activities. In some cases, you could end up paying a similar amount in some European countries. Before you head to the beach, work out your budget! (Source: leogaleno)Rio is more accessible than São Paulo but it’s still more expensive than a lot of Brazilian cities. There are 5 main things that you’ll need to budget for:FlightsAccommodationFoodAttractionsTransportFlightsOn average, return flights can cost around £700 but it’ll depend entirely on when you go.  We recommend that you get your flights at least 3 months in advance and use sites like Skyscanner or Google Flights.AccommodationAccommodation will probably be your second biggest expense after the flights. The rates can vary wildly and at certain times of the year, be as expensive as in cities like New York or Paris. You can also save some money by staying in youth hostels, budget hotels, or Airbnbs.Work out your budget per night and use sites like Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Airbnb.To help you better understand the Brazilians, why not get Portuguese lessons?FoodTravelling is a great way to learn about Brazilian culture through food: açai berry purée, bolinhos de aipim, moqueca (a Brazilian Amazonian fish stew), vatapa, and plenty of fresh fruit. You can enjoy yourself for around £10 per day!Our advice is to enjoy street food or restaurants that charge by the kilo.Tourist AttractionsVisiting Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountain cost around £15 each. The botanical gardens cost under £4 and there are plenty of free attractions around the city. You’ll need to pay around £3 for a ferry to Ilha Grande. Our advice is to get your tickets ahead of time so that you won’t have to wait in a queue to get them.With Copacabana beach, Ipanema beach, and plenty of other natural wonders on Brazil's marvellous coastline, there are plenty of things to see and do.TransportPublic transport in Rio isn’t great. Buses aren’t very reliable so it’s probably best to avoid them. The metro is more reliable but it only runs in the centre and south of the city down to Ipanema. Taxis are more affordable and sa fer at night.  We recommend getting the 99pop app so that you can save around 20% on your taxi.Accommodation in Rio de JaneiroRio’s reputation as a dangerous city is hard to shake. In one respect, this is true and you should be careful and opt for travelling by taxi at night. Similarly, don’t leave valuable items on display and avoid unsafe neighbourhoods. Think carefully about where you're going to stay in Rio. (Source: Walkerssk)Don’t hesitate to ask your hotel or hostel about places to avoid. The locals are also very concerned about pickpockets and thieves and will know the city better than you. Don’t let this put you off, though, as there are plenty of safe places in Rio and if you’re careful, you’ll be fine.Some of the safest areas are Urca, Ipanema, and Leblon. Copacabana, as a popular tourist destination, is also a popular destination for pickpockets. In Santa Teresa, you don’t need to worry too much as long as you aren’t walking around the city centre late at night.Anyway, let's look at accommodation in Rio.Hotels in RioThe cost of hotels in Rio will depend on the type of hotel and where it is. There are a lot of high-end hotels in Rio but they tend to be cheaper than they’d be in the UK.You can expect to pay between £40 and £80 a night for a double room with breakfast included in 3- and 4-star hotels. You can e ven get ocean views or a pool.Youth HostelsYouth hostels are popping up all over Rio and there are plenty of them all over the city, especially in Copacabana.  If you’re travelling alone, this is a good way to meet people.  You can pay between £7 and £15 a night for a bed in a dorm with breakfast included.Airbnbs in RioYou could also choose to rent a flat in Rio. Airbnb allows you to rent a room and rub shoulders with the locals or an entire property to yourself.  Again, the rates will vary on when and where you go but you can get studio apartments for as little as £20 a night in Santa Teresa.The Best Time to Visit Brazil’s Second CityRio has a humid tropical climate and it’s generally quite warm and humid throughout the year. Like most tropical countries, there are two main seasons: the dry period and the rainy period. During the Carnaval, Rio is incredibly busy! (Source: 489327)The dry period, between October and December, is the best time to discover Rio, but you can also go between March and May if you don’t like the heat (with temperatures around 25 °C) and want to avoid the rain and storms.Carnaval takes place during the rainy season and is usually in February or March depending on the year. During the rainy season, temperatures can exceed 35 °C and it rains regularly.However, it doesn’t usually rain for the entire day and if you just have to see the carnival, then you’re going to have to deal with the rain.You’ll need at least 4 days to enjoy the different areas of Rio. It would be silly to not enjoy your trip by enjoying samba classes, forro shows, the statue of Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor), and the beautiful beaches.Discover the best time to visit Rio.So when are you going to Rio de Janeiro?Before you go, you might want to learn some Portuguese.  Fortunately for you, there are plenty of talented Portuguese tutors on Superprof!  There are three types of tutorial available, each with its advantages and disadvantages: group tutorials, online tutorials, and face-to-face tutorials.Group tutorials are great for those on a budget as you can share the cost of the tutor's time with the other students in attendance. It could be useful if you're going to Porto with a group of friends, though.Similarly, online tutorials are good if you're on a budget as the tutor doesn't have to travel and can, therefore, charge less per hour. Your tutor might even be from Brazil.Finally, face-to-face tutorials are between just you and the tutor. This is the most costly type of tutorial but it's also the most cost-effective.

Tangent Cosine Sine Tutors

Tangent Cosine Sine Tutors Trigonometry is the branch of Mathematics and it involves the study of the measure of triangles, their angles and their sides. Trigonometry is based on six important trigonometric functions known as sine, cosine, tangent, cosecant, secant and cotangent of a particular angle. Sine, cosine and tangent of an angle are considered the 3 most basic trigonometric functions and the measure of the remaining 3 trigonometric functions can be derived from them. With the help of these trigonometric functions, we can find the measure of the sides and the angles of any given triangle. Example 1: Express sec()/ cosec() in terms of tangent of the angle, tan(). Given expression: sec()/ cosec() Now, secant of an angle, sec() can also be written as 1/ cos(). == sec() = 1/cos(). Similarly, cosec of an angle, cosec() can also be written as 1/sin(). == cosec() = 1/sin() Therefore, sec()/ cosec() = (1/cos())/ (1/sin()) Taking the reciprocal, we get: sin()/ cos() Now we know that, sin()/ cos() = tan(). Therefore, sec()/ cosec() = tan() Example 2: Simplify the given trigonometric expression [tan() * cot()]/ [cosec()] Given expression: [tan() * cot()]/ [cosec()] Now we know that tan() = sin()/ cos() Also, cot() = 1/tan() and therefore it can also be written as cot() = cos()/ sin(). And, cosec() = 1/sin() Substituting this, we get: [tan() * cot()]/ [cosec()] = [tan() * 1/tan()]/ [1/sin()] Hence this gives: 1/ [1/sin()] = sin() (By taking the reciprocal) Therefore, [tan() * cot()]/ [cosec()] = sin().

How to Choose Your First College Roommate

How to Choose Your First College Roommate There are so many different ways to go about choosing your first college roommate nowadays. You can play it safe and room with someone you knew from high school. You can join the Facebook group for your incoming class and meet someone on there. You could meet someone at your summer orientation or you could just go totally random and hope for the best. Well, if you choose the last option, then youll just have to cross your fingers that the situation works out okay. But if you go a different route, one that involves you meeting the person beforehand in some fashion, there are a few crucial things you should evaluate in order to make an informed decision on this roommate prospect. Is this person a hermit or a party animal? This question is not meant to imply that every student must fall into one of these categories; quite the opposite, actually. These are two extremes that can be difficult to live with for each of their own reasons. Having a roommate who is pretty much always there can easily get on your nerves. It will inevitably cause issues related to personal space and privacy, as well as possible conflicts when you have friends over. On the other end of the spectrum, a roommate who takes the social aspect of college to an extremely high level can make your living situation problematic. They may host loud social gatherings in your dorm room way too frequently and seriously get in the way of both your studying and sleeping. Things can get very easily distracting as well as potentially risky depending on what this person brings into your room. A roommate with either one of these extreme tendencies will negatively distract you in more ways than one. Are they messy or clean? If youre a neat-freak and your roommate never cleans up, you will definitely be unhappy. Make sure you two have at least some kind of alignment on this scale of cleanliness. Finding a way to cooperate regarding these sorts of household chores is integral to being able to live with someone contently. You dont want to have to harass your roommate to wash their dishes, just as you dont want to be the one harassed. Wherever you stand on this issue, make sure your potential roommate is well aware of it and okay with it before you two finalize the co-habitation. A difference in opinions on this subject will leave nobody happy. Is this person a night owl or an early bird? Again, your roommate does not need to be one of these extremes and hopefully wont be, but it is something you need to take into consideration before living with them. If you love to sleep in late and their alarm is always sounding off like a siren at 6 A.M., things are going to get annoying. Or if you like to get to bed at a decent hour but they are staying up until 5 in the morning with a bright laptop screen shining through the room, youll find yourself very disturbed. Sleep schedules are classic ways to pit two roommates against each other, so dont let it happen to you. Steer away from someone who differs from you in this department greatly because it will not be as easy to tolerate as you might think. How outgoing is this person? You may like a person and enjoy spending time with them, but would you enjoy talking and spending time with them all the time? Some people view a roommate as someone to constantly chat with and hang out with, while others need their alone time occasionally. If your roommate is the type of person who will always be talking your ear off, make sure that is something you want. If you are big on privacy, this person probably wont let you have it as much as youd like. The same goes for the other perspective; if you are the one who wants a roommate to be a constant buddy you can have fun with, then youll be very bored and lonely if this person barely ever wants to be social. It is nice to have a roommate who is a friend, but not everyone sees the experience of living together as a never-ending opportunity for socialization. Being able to respect each others personal lifestyles is more than necessary for this to work. When going about the selection process, remember that a person you like may not always be someone youd like living with. Living with someone is a whole different ballpark than simply being friends with them you wont always get along in both situations. That is why thoroughly answering each of the aforementioned questions is so important before making your final decision. Recognize any potentially harmful differences now rather than later. Once you find someone who balances out with you well on all these factors, youll have a great choice for a roommate.

Ask an Admissions Expert Audrey Kahane

Ask an Admissions Expert Audrey Kahane Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Audrey Kahane earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology and her Masters degree in Counseling, both from the University of Pennsylvania. Previously, Audrey served as a University of California, Los Angelesinstructor for its College Counseling Certificate Program. She has been writing a college-themed column in a Ventura County community newspaper for more than a decade. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? Audrey: I have my students start their applications during the summer before senior year. The Common Applicationopens on August 1, but the essay prompts are already available. Its much less stressful to get your applications done during the summer, without the pressure of daily homework and tests. Also, nobody should expect to submit a first draft of the essay. By starting in the summer, students have enough time to write multiple essay drafts, resulting in the strongest possible application. VT: What are the best ways to go about selecting a terrific essay topic? Audrey: Think of a story from your life that reveals something about you that admissions officers wont learn from the rest of the application. Students often think they need to write about a major event or big idea, but the most compelling essays are often about a moment or a seemingly-mundane experience that caused a shift in how the student sees herself or the world. Make sure that the story includes some reflection. Essays are not just about what happened, but why this experience matters. Spend some time brainstorming until you find an idea that excites you. You may need to try out several ideas until you find the right one, and thats fine, because once you have the right idea, the writing will flow. If its exciting for you to write, it will probably be exciting for admissions officers to read. VT: Are there any essay topics you get tired of seeing or would warn students to stay away from? Audrey: While I never rule out a topic, it is certainly more challenging to come up with a fresh approach to the how our basketball team was struggling but came together and triumphed essay. Writing about painful experiences, like divorce or death in the family, or a struggle with an anxiety disorder, can also be difficult. While these experiences can certainly impact who you are and how you see yourself and the world, it is important to think about what admissions officers will learn about you that will make them see you as a compelling addition to their college. If you write about a difficult life experience, make sure the essay shows how you have grown from the experience and developed qualities like resilience and persistence. If you feel you need to tell the story in order to explain a drop in grades, it may be better to use the additional information section of the application to provide context for your academic performance. The main essay is where you want to show admissions officers what you will bring to the campus community. VT: What is the biggest mistake a student can make on a college application? Audrey: Likeability is rarely talked about, but its very important in college admission, especially when colleges have lots of applications from well-qualified students. One admissions officer said that when he reads an application, he asks himself, Would I want to eat pizza at midnight in a dorm with this person? Students sometimes try so hard to impress admissions officers, but think about it when someone tells you how great she is, do you like that person? The goal in a college application is not to impress the reader or come across as perfect, but to create a bond with the reader. Its great to be confident, but its even better with a touch of humility. VT: What is the typical process an admissions officer goes through to evaluate applications? Audrey: It depends on the college. At some big public universities, the process is simply a matter of meeting GPA and/or test score requirements. At many colleges, an application will be read by two readers, and one is often a territory representative who is familiar with the students high school. At some schools, applications will go on to a committee review. Many colleges use a holistic approach, where admissions officers evaluate the rigor of the curriculum and grades as well as test scores, but also consider teacher recommendations, extracurricular activities, application essays, and many other factors that cant be quantified. They evaluate a students achievements in the context of the opportunities available to that student. There are institutional needs that come into play as well. The college might want to recruit more students from a certain part of the country. If financial aid resources are limited, the school might need more full-pay students. VT: What do you think is the single most important thing a student should make sure they present in the best possible way on their application? Audrey: Colleges will get many applications with similar transcripts and test scores. You want to submit an application that only you can write. This means using a conversational approach in your essay and helping admissions officers hear your voice your attitude, your personality, your take on the world. Youll know that your voice is coming through if friends or relatives can read your essay (without your name on it) and know instantly that you are the person who wrote it. Your essay should sound exactly like you. VT: How should students go about determining the culture of a university, and whether they would be a good fit? Audrey: The first step is to think about what kind of culture would be the best fit for you. Does your vision of college include cheering for your team at football games? Or does your ideal Saturday night consist of seeing an independent film and discussing it over cappuccino? Once you know what is important to you, there are lots of resources, including guidebooks and websites with student reviews. One of my favorite suggestions is to start reading the school newspaper, which should be available online, to learn what issues are being discussed on campus, as well as whats going on lectures, concerts, and other campus events. Check the organizations listed on the student life section of the schools website to see if there are clubs that sound interesting. If you love the outdoors and find that a school has a hiking club, ski club, and bicycling club, you know there are people who share some of your interests. You can even email the contact person for the club to ask about the school. Talking with students is the best way to learn about the culture of a university. Talk to friends, neighbors, or relatives who attend the school, and if you are visiting, arrange to meet them and some of their friends. VT: Early-action, early-decision, binding/non-binding, regular decisions...With so many choices when applying, what do you recommend to students? Audrey: This is a complicated question, and the answer depends on the student and on the college. If a student is considering applying early decision, which is binding, she needs to be sure that she would attend if accepted, and that her family does not need to compare financial aid or scholarship offers. Early action is not binding, but many colleges see early action as evidence of a students interest, which can be helpful in admission decisions. Early applications are not always the best strategy, especially for students who need to show improvement in grades during the first semester of senior year. Some colleges defer all students who are not admitted early and reconsider their applications during regular decision. If a college does not defer many early applicants to regular decision, and there is a strong risk of rejection during the early round, it may be better to wait and submit your strongest application. VT: How important are grades and standardized test scores when admissions decisions are being made? Audrey:Grades are always important. In addition to looking at grade point average, many admissions officers will look at the trend, so a low grade in 9th grade is less likely to impact admission decisions than a low grade in 11th grade. Standardized testscores are also important at the colleges that require them. Students who dont perform well on standardized tests should make sure to apply to some test-optional colleges. The good news is that there are more colleges choosing to become test-optional every year. VT: What tips do you have for students asking their teachers for letters of recommendation? Audrey: A required letter of recommendation should be from a junior- or senior-year teacher. If your favorite teacher, who you know will write the strongest letter, is from sophomore year, thats fine for a supplemental letter. That doesnt mean you always ask a teacher from the class where you got the highest grade. Sure, its great to have a teacher rave about how you are the best writer shes seen in ten years of teaching AP English, or to have your History teacher write that you contributed the most insightful comments to class discussions but if a teacher writes that you fought to be admitted to AP Chemistry even though you didnt meet the schools requirements for taking the AP class, and that you came in for extra help after school every week and were committed to mastering the material even though it was a struggle, that is a letter that can really impress admissions officers. Most importantly, you want a letter from a teacher who knows you well and can provide details about your academic endeavors so the recommendation doesnt sound like the 100 other letters the admissions officer is reading that week. An English or History teacher is often a good choice since admissions officers like to know that students can write well. If youre applying to engineering programs, a math teacher recommendation would be important. Ask your teachers before the end of the school year, especially if they get lots of requests. Then you can follow up when school starts, and give them a list of your colleges with application deadlines. If you dont currently have a class with the teacher, it can be helpful to give her a brief letter, thanking her in advance for writing the recommendation and reminding her of your favorite project from the class, or a paper that she said was unusually well-written. It can also help to tell your teacher about your college plans. If youre applying to business programs, your teachers letter might include examples of the leadership youve shown in class as well as your facility with statistics. Teachers in some schools may be asked to write 40 or 50 recommendations, and they can understandably get burned out. They write recommendation letters on their own time, often giving up evenings and weekends. Be considerate and give them at least four weeks. Its also not in your interest to have a frazzled teacher scrambling to write a letter three days before the application deadline. Be sure to write thank-you notes to everyone who wrote a recommendation for you, and share your good news when you get your acceptances. Visit Audreys website for more information. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

The Luck of The Irish Talking About St. Patricks Day in English

The Luck of The Irish Talking About St. Patrick’s Day in English St Patrick’s Day, which is celebrated on March 17, is almost upon us. Do you know why it is celebrated? Do you know where it originated?Let’s learn about it in this lesson.First, let’s look at some words associated with St. Patrick’s Day. These are missing from the text. See if you can fill them in.1. Leprechauns2. Patron3. Emerald4. Snakes5. Superstition  6. Harp7. Celtic  8. Shamrock9. Corned10. MarchingWho  was St. Patrick?It is not known for sure whether St. Patrick was born in Wales or in Scotland, but it is known that he was born in the 4th century while  Britain was under Roman rule. Legend has it, he was kidnapped by slave traders at age 16 and brought to Ireland, also known as the ____ Isle, where he was forced to work as a shepherd.  According to his writings he was told by God in a dream to flee his captors by going to the Irish coast where he would board a boat and return to Britain. He did this by walking 200 kilometers. He is said to have been so moved by the ex perience that he studied to become a priest on his return home.When he became bishop, Patrick was called to Ireland to help convert the natives to Christianity. Writings from the time set out that he used the green three-leafed _____ to explain the idea of the holy trinity to the Irish. He traveled throughout the country, establishing churches, monasteries, schools and hospitals, all with the aim of converting the Irish to Christianity. He also said to have banished all the_______ from the island of Ireland.  His mission in Ireland was said to have lasted around 30 years. He died in Northern Ireland on March 17 461 AD. Today, he is known as the _____ saint of Ireland.  How it St. Patrick’s Day celebrated today?Although St. Patrick’s Day is technically a ______ feast day, it is celebrated around the world. On this day, parades take place with floats and ______ bands. Rivers and fountains are colored green. People dance and drink beer to mark the day. Celebrations of Irish culture also take place around this time.In Ireland, people eat a special meal of ____ beef, cabbage and soda bread.Other Associations with St. Patrick’s DayLittle mean old men called _______ are also associated with Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day. It is said that they are shoemakers by trade and that they have a hidden pot of gold.In Ireland, there is a wall on Blarney Castle called the Blarney Stone. It is said that kissing the stone gives people the gift of eloquence. This is an example of a _______.The instrument associated with Ireland is the _____. It is mostly played by women with long hair and dresses.Sayings Associated With St. Patrick’s Day.  Some useful sayings associated with St. Patrick’s Day include:  1. (He has) the luck of the IrishThis means that someone is very lucky indeed as the Irish are associated with luck.2. May the road rise to meet youThis is a way to wish someone an easy, stress free, life.  2. Don’t rain on my paradeThis means don’t ruin or spoil my p lans just as rain would spoil a parade.Did you find this blog helpful? Feel free to share it on Twitter and Facebook.