What is it Like to Attend the United States Naval Academy

What is it Like to Attend the United States Naval Academy Cole is an Atlanta-based tutor specializing in math tutoring, science tutoring, and a number of other subjects. He earned his bachelors degree in aerospace engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 2015. See what he had to say about his experience there below: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Cole: Navigating the United States Naval Academys campusor better known as Yardis easy due to the relatively small size of the campus. The Naval Academy is considered a military installation, so gates surround the property; however, the campus is only a short walk from the heart of downtown Annapolis, Maryland. Due to the small size of the campus, academic buildings are within a ten minute walk from the dormitory, which makes cars and bikes unnecessary for students. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Cole: The Naval Academy is fairly unique in that professors are hired to teach as opposed to completing research. This means that the emphasis remains on the students, which is reflected by their dedication to aid students success. At about a 20:1 student-teacher ratio, class sizes are very small in comparison to normal colleges. In addition to the class sizes, teachers are flexible with their schedules and will work with students to actively correct any deficiencies. These two qualities enhance the undergraduate learning experience. As is similar with many colleges, the role of academic adviser is performed by teachers. Another great quality about the academics is the fact that no teaching assistants are hired. Furthermore, a student can communicate directly with a teacher about any problems. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Cole: The academic and military aspects of the Academy are very different. Students will be expected to effectively juggle military and academic responsibilities. That being said, dorm life is vastly different than many civilian colleges. All students must reside in the main dormitory named Bancroft Hall. The layout of the dorms is probably fairly similar to civilian dormitories; however, students are required to reside in Bancroft the entire four years. Because the school is government-funded, students will be expected to attend breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the main dining hall. Students will also be required to attend other military obligations that occur sporadically throughout the week. While this all may seem strict, there are still plenty of opportunities for students to socialize; many clubs meet during the evening. Unfortunately, students are not allowed to leave the campus during the week, so socialization is confined within the gated area (it is still relatively large). Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Cole: While STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) majors are the most supported at the Academy, many pursue Humanities degrees. Prospective students should keep in mind that everyone graduating from the Academy will fulfill the requirements for a Bachelors of Science; furthermore, regardless of your declared major, a student will be required to take several STEM related courses. These include: calculus, physics, engineering, and computer science. I personally studied Aerospace Engineering (AE) because I wanted to become an engineer and thought that AE was a unique challenge. I would say that, overall, the STEM programs are exemplary compared to other colleges. From the caliber of the teaching staff to the available technology, I was impressed by my academic experience. 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? Cole: The Academy is structured hierarchically. This means that freshmen are considered the most subordinate in comparison to the rest of the classes. This can be daunting for students who were not aware of this before attending the school. Freshman yearor better known as plebe yearis especially difficult because ritualistic tasks create an environment of stress. Plebe year is designed to indoctrinate students with a sense of military understanding and respect. Let me be clear: prospective students should do research before applying to understand if this school is a good fit. For some this is not the best fit, but for others, the Naval Academy will open some incredible doors. That being said, plebes will generally form great bonds with roommates and teammates. Unfortunately, Greek life is not allowed at the Academy. Regardless, students will form lasting bonds going through this program. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Cole: Students that attend the Naval Academy will receive a free four-year education in return for five years of obligatory service. Students will commission as Naval or Marine Corps officers upon graduation and can be assigned to a variety of communities. Within the Navy, these can include Surface Warfare, Submarines, Aviation, SEALs, or EOD. For those that join the Marine Corps, they will receive assignments upon successful completion of follow-on training. One of the best advantages of attending the Naval Academy is the opportunities that come after leaving the service. With professional leadership and technical experience, many employers prefer Naval Academy graduates over other candidates. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Cole: Many students will study in the library or academic buildings. The library provides a relaxing atmosphere and features a coffee bar for late-night studying. Other academic buildings are also open at night if the library becomes too crowded. Describe the surrounding town. Cole: The Naval Academy campus sits adjacent to downtown Annapolis, which is a city that is rich in history. From the Academy, the Chesapeake Bay and other maritime activities can be observed and enjoyed. Not only is Annapolis a quaint, yet excitable town, it is conveniently located halfway between Baltimore and Washington D.C. Downtown D.C. can be easily reached without a car if a student wants to go on a day trip. Prospective students should understand that venturing outside the gates is only authorized during the weekend, and that this policy is strictly enforced. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Cole: The student body is comparably small to many civilian universities. With only about 4,500 students enrolled, prospective students can expect to be in classes with a 20: 1 student-teacher ratio. As aforementioned, this small classroom size allows a student to interact directly with the teacher when a concept is misunderstood. In addition to the small classroom size, my experience has shown that teachers are generally flexible with their schedules. These are some great perks when considering academic performance. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Cole: One of my most memorable experiences occurred throughout my Senior Design class. For our Capstone (term) project, we built a satellite that would communicate with us in space. Myself and several other colleagues built the housing structure, integrated the radio transponder unit, and organized the chip boards within the small container. It was really interesting to view the final project and realize that our small device would not only be in space, but that it would be communicating with us on Earth! Check out Coles tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Studying for the SAT Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace

Studying for the SAT Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace Many students find the SAT exam very difficult and question themselves whether they can get a good score on it. It is true that SAT exam is little hard, but it should be remembered that the exam is designed for high school students only. So it is surely possible to get a very good score on SAT provided the student learns and prepares the concepts accordingly. The SAT test paper consists of 3 important sections: Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. The main purpose of the SAT is to examine the students logical and conceptual knowledge. It is important to remember that little tricky concepts can be understood only if the students basic knowledge is strong. Therefore instead of practicing too many hard questions, it is beneficial if students first start learning from the basic topics. In order to get a good score in the Reading section, students need to understand the proper usage of words in a sentence. This section contains sentence completion and passage based questions. For the reading comprehension questions, students must first understand the main idea of the author in the passage and should then answer the questions. In the Mathematics section, students are provided with the commonly used formulas during the exam but it is the students duty to learn how and when to use the formulas appropriately. In the Writing section, students must focus on their point of opinion on the given topic and should support their opinion accordingly to write a good meaningful essay.

Sum of Normal Distributions

Sum of Normal Distributions A normal distribution is a probability distribution which can be clearly represented using a bell curve. A standard normal distribution is also a normal distribution, however the mean of such a distribution is 0 and the standard deviation is 1. A bell curve, also known as the normal distribution curve is a graph which depends on factors such as the mean and the standard deviation of set of real numbers. The z-score value of normal distribution is given by a formula which depends on the mean standard deviation and the normal random x value. Example 1: For a set of random variables, given the normal random variable to be equal to 15. If the mean of the given set is 5 and the standard deviation is 2, then what is the standard score or the z-score? Given, x = normal random variable = 15 Mean, = 5 Standard deviation, = 2 The z-score = (x )/ This implies, z-score = (15 5)/ 2 = 10/2 = 5. Therefore, the standard z-score is 5. Example 2: For a set of random variables, given the normal random variable to be equal to 24. If the mean of the given set is 18 and the standard deviation is 3, then what is the standard score or the z-score? Given, x = normal random variable = 24 Mean, = 18 Standard deviation, = 3 The z-score = (x )/ This implies, z-score = (24 18)/ 3 = 6/3 = 2. Therefore, the standard z-score is 2.

French Vocabulary Hacks How to Tell if a Word is Masculine or Feminine

French Vocabulary Hacks How to Tell if a Word is Masculine or Feminine Suzy S. How can a word be masculine or feminine, and how do you tell the difference? Tutor Willy M. shares some secrets to help you memorize your French vocabulary One of the hardest things for many students of French to learn is how to tell the difference between masculine and feminine French nouns.  Gender with regards to words is not something we spend a lot of time thinking about in English, but in French vocabulary every single noun will have either a masculine gender or a feminine gender. Words that use the articles  le  or un  are going to be masculine, and words that use the articles  la  or une are feminine. Sometimes assigning gender to a word might seem arbitrary, but there are a few tricks that will help you tell if a word is masculine or feminine. The best place to start is by looking at the end of a word. Common Feminine Endings There are several endings that will clue you in to a words gender. For example, feminine nouns typically end in the letter “e.” Consider these word endings: esse, enne, euse, orde, anche, ouche, etc. If you notice a word that ends in -e, most of the time that word is feminine. So if you are taking a French test and the teacher wants to confuse you by giving you a word that starts with a vowel, you might see the word lactrice.  An article with an apostrophe can be confusing when trying to determine gender. But if you notice that the word ends in an e, or in this case the ending is â€"ice, you can guess (correctly) that this word is feminine. One other thing that I have noticed about feminine French vocabulary words, is that they also sometimes end with an â€"a. These words tend to be words that came into French from Arabic speaking colonies of French. They are often the French adaptations of Arabic words. Common Masculine Endings There are a couple exceptions to the ends in e rule.  Typically words that end in â€"ege, eme, ome, aume, age and â€"isme are masculine. The following endings also tend to be masculine: an, ent, ai, ou, et, eu, ut, is, â€"il, and ex. There are some endings that are typically masculine such as â€"on, but if you find it coming after a letter s or the letter c, it will often be feminine. Nouns that end in consonants like t, x, d, l, f, m or s, etc. tend to all be masculine words. So if you are taking your French test and you see a word like refus, a refusal, you can see the s at the end and make an educated (correct) guess that it is le refus. So now you have a few tips to help you identify the gender of French nouns. I hope you keep studying and put your French to good work one day. And if you do well, send me un béret  from your travels abroad! Learn more French vocabulary and become fluent with help from a private tutor. French tutors are available to work with you live online via Skype or in-person depending on locations and availability.  Search for your French tutor now!   Willy M. teaches guitar, ukulele, and mandolin lessons in Winston, NC. Willy studied French for over 6 years in high school and at Earlham College. He traveled to Quebec, Canada where he was able to practice with native speakers. While working as an ESL teacher for World Relief, Willy had the opportunity to translate for people from former French colonies, such as Haiti, the Congo and Vietnam.  Learn more about Willy  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 Barret Anspach

6 Awesome, Unexpected Cover Songs You Need to Hear

6 Awesome, Unexpected Cover Songs You Need to Hear Suzy S. Singers, why limit yourself to one genre? Many artists have produced amazing cover songs to put their own spin on tunes, even those not in their particular genre. Here, St. Augustine, FL voice teacher Heather L.  shares six covers worth a listen How amazingly awesome is it to hear a song re-sung by a singer in a way thats totally unlike the original version? The correct answer? Really amazingly awesome! Sometimes it can change the way we hear the lyrics completely, sometimes itll make us laugh or cry, and sometimes, its just plain mind-blowing! Some songs might just showcase another artist, while others bend genres and provide a whole new sound and feel. If youve ever heard metal covers of pop songs, you know what we mean! Below are some of the best cover songs ever enjoy! I Will Survive Originally performed by Gloria Gaynor, covered by CAKE This may be the weirdest, most unexpected cover song of all time. Gloria Gaynor sang the original survivor ballad with elegance and soaring melody, and CAKE pretty much just reads the lyrics. And it couldnt be cooler! Shine Originally performed by Collective Soul, covered by Dolly Parton and Nickel Creek Post-grunge band Collective Soul had a big hit with Shine. But in this cool cover song, iconic country singer Dolly Parton jams with progressive bluegrass band Nickel Creek and takes it to another planet. And shes smart enough to cut out a couple of the superfluous yeahs that Collective Souls lead singer belts before the chorus. Rather Be Originally performed by Clean Bandit, covered by  Pentatonix The British electronic group Clean Bandit got their first number one hit in the U.K. just last year with Rather Be.   And the a cappella supergroup Pentatonix has already covered it and made it a hit of their own by using their voices in amazing ways to create the electronic sounds of the original.   Listen and try to hear how the vocalists make the drum, scratch, and bass noises! Jolene Originally performed by Dolly Parton, covered by The White Stripes Jack White is a huge fan of classic country, and his cover of Jolene is a real tribute sung and played with love. Dollys original is sweetly sung in her honey-coated voice, and Jack pretty much yells it. At least he plays the guitar intro the same way. Take Me Home, Country Roads Originally performed by John Denver, covered by Toots and the Maytals Even the most die-hard fans of John Denver, arguably the most popular country/folk singer of the 1970s, have probably never heard his music played by a reggae band. Its even more happy-go-lucky and smiley than the first one. Nothing Else Matters Originally performed by Metallica, covered by Tori Amos Metallica is the ultimate metal band of the 1990s, and Tori Amos is the ultimate girl-on-a-piano. What happens when she covers them? Cover magic! The words really shine through when youre singing them at half the tempo. And listen, she does. If nothing else, awesome genre-bending covers teach us that anything is possible in our craft and your creativity is only limited by your imagination. Einstein taught us that imagination is more important than knowledge. Well, heres hoping he was right! Readers, what do you think? Whats on your list for the best cover songs ever? Leave your favorites in the comment section below!   Heather L. teaches singing, piano, acting, and more in St. Augustine, FL, as well as through online lessons. She is  a graduate of the prestigious Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, and has performed with the New York and Royal Philharmonics, the New Jersey and Virginia Symphonies, the American Boy Choir, and the internationally renowned opera star Andrea Bocelli.  Learn more about Heather 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

5 Steps to Ensure a Stellar Letter of Recommendation

5 Steps to Ensure a Stellar Letter of Recommendation 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. Youve nailed down your school list, have a solid draft of your Common App essay, and feel like youre well on your way to being college bound. Now, its time to ask for letters of recommendation. A recommendation letter should be written by someone who knows of your strengths, personality, and accomplishments. These letters are taken seriously by admissions committees, as they are seen as candid descriptions of you and your character. Since you generally will not get to see what goes into your letter, here are some tips to ensuring you get a great one: 1. Ask early Whether your recommender is your teacher, coach, or manager, its important to keep in mind that theyre very busy. So, make sure that you ask them far enough in advance to give them plenty of time to actually write a quality letter. We usually recommend asking four to six weeks in advance, with four weeks being the absolute minimum. Particularly in high school, it becomes especially important to ask for your letters early, as most of your fellow students are rushing for the same deadlines and asking the same teachers, counselors, etc. for letters of recommendation. Asking early will not only ensure that your recommender has the time to put thought into your letter, but it will also show them that youre on top of your game, which could lead to an even stronger letter! 2. Ask someone who will write you a positive letter How can you know if someone would write you a good letter? Well, the first thing to consider is your memory. Do you have a good rapport with this person? Have all of your interactions been positive? If its a teacher, have you gotten good grades in their class? If its an employer or volunteer supervisor, have you performed well on the job? Is the work you have done with this person relevant to the program to which you are applying? If you have answered yes to most or all of the above questions, then chances are this person will write you a strong letter. Also, when asking your prospective recommender if they can write you a letter, consider gauging their response. If they say yes enthusiastically, then chances are their letter will reflect said enthusiasm. If they are hesitant, or if you asked them via email and they didnt respond, it might be worth it to ask someone else. [RELATED: 5 Things to Consider When Seeking Teacher Recommendations] 3. Provide your recommenders with all of the necessary details While it is important to give your recommender plenty of time to write the letter, dont ask them for such a favor before sorting out all of the details theyll require first. This could include the precise name and information about the university to which youre applying, the nature of your goals and how this program will help you reach them, a reminder of your relationship with the recommender (and how this relationship is relevant to what youre hoping to accomplish), when the letter is due, etc. If youve selected someone who is ready and willing to write you a good letter, then theyre going to need all of this information to do just that. 4. Waive your right to see the letter While Federal Law grants you access to your recommendation letters after youve been accepted to an institution, it is recommended that you waive your right to review them. You wont be penalized either way, but choosing not to waive might cause your recommender to write a less candid (and less passionate) description of you, or might signal to the admissions committee that you do not trust your recommender. If you have followed the advice laid out in sections one, two, and three, then you should feel completely comfortable leaving the rest up to your recommender. [RELATED: How to Survive the College Application Process] 5. Say thank you Obviously, this step comes after your recommender has written the letter, but its crucial dont forget to say thank you! And we dont mean a quick email. Write them a handwritten card. If they really went out of their way to support you in the application process, consider getting them a small gift, such as flowers, coffee, or chocolate. A great letter of recommendation can make or break your application, so be sure to show your recommender that you are truly appreciative. So, to recap, ask someone (early!) who will write you a strong recommendation, provide them with all of the necessary information, and dont forget to say thank you. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Start Off - Phrasal Verb of the Day

Start Off - Phrasal Verb of the Day Todays phrasal verb of the day is: Start OffInfinitive form: Start OffPresent Tense: Start Off/ Starts Offing form: Starting OffPast tense: Started OffPast Participle: Started OffStart Off can be a separable or inseparable English phrasal verb. It can be used in four different ways:When an event or activity begins or when you start an event or activity by doing something to get things started [separable]1. The audience went wild as Justin Bieber starts the concert off by showing his abs.2. Rumor has it that the principal is starting the event off with a dance number. This ought to be an interesting one!When something or someone starts a certain way in the beginning, but noticeable changes can be seen [inseparable]1. Their relationship started off really well, but got really bad in the end.2.  The movie starts off well, but now it has become quite boring that I want to stop watching it.When someone begins a career, life, or existence [inseparable]1. Did you know that Tom Welling, the guy who played superman, started off a career as a construction worker before he became an actor?2. Our manager himself started off as a salesperson. He got promoted two years later.When you begin a journey [inseparable]1. The mountaineers had to start off early so they could reach the mountains peak by noon.2. We have to start off early for our road trip. I promised the folks well get there before 10 A.M.Exercises: Write your answers in comments and we will correct them.Fill in the gaps from the video above:Complete the sentences below with the correct form of Start Off.1. The members usually ____ the ceremony ____ by singing the National Anthem.2.  Kelly said that they _____the program ___ late so everyone still has a chance to catch up.3. The event is usually _____ ____ by fireworks.4. Ms. Anderson _____ ____ as an assistant in this school, now she is at the top.5. If you wanna make it there on time for the party, then I suggest you leave now.  Trust me, youd want to leave now and ____ ___ early.Change the example sentences above to negative sentences (or positive, if the sentence is already negative). Then change them to questions.

Should I retake my A Levels

Should I retake my A Levels The A Levels can be a make or break you thing for many students. They can determine whether you gain admission to the university of your dreams or any university for that matter. Also, A Level scores can hold you back from receiving the degree you want. If you don’t obtain high enough scores in the subjects you need for your degree, then you cannot pursue that career path. Call and check, it never hurts to ask! If you did not receive the scores you were hoping, don’t panic. Take a deep breath and consider some options you may have available to you. First, you should contact the university/universities that you were seeking admission to and ask if they have had many applicants to your field of study. If they have openings, you may be able to get in with your current scores. It never hurts to check! Retaking the A Levels Check to see if your school or college will allow you to resit your A Levels. If they don’t allow retakes, then look into other schools or college that may let you resit them. If you are considering retaking your A levels, you should talk to your teacher to see if they think you will do any better on your second attempt. Many students achieve better scores the second time around, however, everyone differs. Referring to your GCSE scores can also help in determining whether or not it’s worth it for you to retake the exams. Many schools and colleges use GCSE scores to predict how pupils will perform on A Levels. If you are planning to retake the exams, then you will need to officially decline your offers from universities in order to start the retaking process. A Levels can only be taken again during the summer, usually in June. You can talk to your Head of Sixth Form or class tutors to receive more information about retaking A Levels for individual subjects. What is the best decision for me? You should really think hard about if you want to retake the A Levels. If you truly gave it your best shot the first time and don’t think you’ll improve, why take it again and waste that time? Also, if you put forth your best effort on a subject you need for your degree and didn’t do as well as you were hoping, you should determine whether this career is the one for you or if you should pursue another path. Provide an explanation Don’t worry about universities judging you based on the fact that you took your A Levels again because declined A Level grades are not displayed anywhere. Although when you re-apply for the university/universities, you can explain why it has taken longer for you to  complete your A Levels in your personal statement. When applying for subjects such as medicine and veterinary science, most universities will not accept pupils who have taken 3 years to complete their A Levels unless there have been extenuating circumstances. Achieving the best possible scores can be difficult and very trying at times. Tutorfair has many tutors who are willing to help you as much as you need to help improve your scores and achieve your dreams. Didn't get at least a C in Maths or English GCSE? Read our blog  post on what you could do to help.