How to Choose the Right Safety SchoolsÂ

How to Choose the Right Safety Schools   This post is the final installment in our three-part series on how to choose the right reach, match, and safety schools. Since the college application process is so competitive, its not guaranteed youll get into your reach or match schools. This is where safety schools come into play: they may not be your first choice, but you have a great chance of gaining acceptance. That being said, apply to safety schools youd actually like to attend, in the event that you dont get accepted to your top-choice schools. Spend time identifying safety schools that are a good fit by noting academic requirements, planning campus visits, and researching local schools. Here are three ways to choose the right safety schools: Research academic requirements when choosing the right safety schools Its important to spend time investigating which safety schools are the best fit for you, specifically in regard to academics. A colleges academic profile can typically be found online, and it will detail the schools average test scores and GPA. For the school to be classified as a safety school, your academic background should exceed the schools average numbers. In addition, ensure the school offers academic programs and tracks that you would be interested in pursuing. There is no use applying to a college if it doesn't have academic programs that spark your interest. [RELATED: How to Choose the Right Reach Schools] Conduct campus visits when choosing the right safety schools Even though a safety school isnt your first choice, its still important to ensure you would enjoy attending if youre admitted. To get a clearer picture of the college, plan a school visit to see if you enjoy spending time on campus. Ask yourself questions like: How do I feel about the size and overall atmosphere of the campus and student body? Does the school have campus services that I would require or take advantage of? Are there extracurricular activities that appeal to my interests? If you cant visit a prospective safety school in person, take a virtual tour online. Its not the same as being there in real life, but virtual tours can still give you a good idea of a schools atmosphere. [RELATED: How to Choose the Right Match Schools] Shop local when choosing the right safety schools It can be easy to focus on schools far from home, but local colleges can offer you many opportunities as well. You have the advantage of familiarity with the surrounding towns and local support from family. Additionally, local colleges can be a great fit financially. The option to live at home can, in the long run, save you a good deal of money. Talk with your guidance counselor about strategies for applying to safety schools to ensure you get the most out of the ones you choose. [RELATED: What to Do After Youve Submitted Your College Applications] Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

The Benefits of Personal Training

The Benefits of Personal Training The Many Advantages of Fitness Training at Home with a Personal Trainer ChaptersDo You Need Specific Equipment to Train in Your Home?What Equipment Will Your Personal Trainer Ask You to Get?How Can I Use the Things Around my House to Workout?What Are the Advantages of Training with a Personal Trainer at Home?Maybe I could work out at home with a personal health and fitness trainer...In fact, with the health and fitness industry booming, plenty of people have decided they wanted to become a personal trainer and get a nationally recognised personal trainer certification.  They’ll come to your house and provide a fully-personalised workout schedule without you having to set foot in the gym.While this type of personalised coaching service can sometimes be costly, there are plenty of benefits to it, too!  By training at home with a personal fitness trainer, you won’t need to get all the gear!What other advantages are there to working with a personal trainer in your home? Personal trainer Manchester, in London, and all over the UK are on Superprof. CalumDr ama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDo You Need Specific Equipment to Train in Your Home?What if your home turned out to be the best gym ever? This isn’t a question we often consider as we usually think that our homes aren’t the best places to work out. However, with a bit of ingenuity, you can do some impressive things with the various rooms of your house.If you're looking to get in shape, you'll probably need some weights. (Source: pixabay.com)Interested? Let’s have a look for a personal trainer who will travel to your home. Firstly, a quick search in Superprof’s database will show all the personal trainers who work near you. There are plenty of them so don’t worry about finding one in your area at a rate that works for you. However, you should take care making sure they’ve got a personal training certificate.Once you’ve got in touch with an online personal trainer, what do you need for the training sessions in your home? Do you need certain equipment in order to work out at your house?This depends on the type of sessions you’re asking your personal trainer for. You might find it hard to do step workouts if you live in a bungalow, for example. Doing karate? You may need pads, etc. Strength training? Some weights might be useful. For everything else, by choosing to work on your fitness with a certified personal trainer in your home, you might never need to buy any equipment at all.Wanting to lose weight? Your personal trainer can help you break a sweat without having to invest in an exercise bike or a treadmill! Building muscle? Aside from weights, your personal trainer will help you work out using make shift weights from things found around your house.Put simply, doing exercise in your home doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to buy all the expensive equipment. This is one of the main advantages of personal training in your home. Getting in shape, losing weight, or building muscle in the gym at home will be effective as long as your personal trainer is effective!What Equipment Will Your Personal Trainer Ask You to Get?Creativity can come in handy when it comes to personal fitness training in your house or flat. In the event your personal trainer needs you to buy some equipment, what will you need to get?You should get yourself a yoga mat for your workouts! (Source: burst.shopify.com)Again, this depends fully on the type of training you’re doing with them:Losing weightGetting in shapeGeneral fitnessStrength trainingFlexibility trainingCardioZumbaAs you know, there are plenty of different specialisations and types of fitness professional. So what do I need to buy? Sports clot hing, for a start. You shouldn’t be working out in those old baggy clothes that have been in your wardrobe for years. Nike, Adidas, Puma (to name a few) have a range of quality gym clothing, cycling gear, and running shoes. There are also other more affordable brands.You’ll also need to get a gym mat which is useful for doing stretches and cardio and ab workouts. As we said before, weights are probably always going to be necessary if you’re toning or building muscle. You’ll need a step for step workouts if you don’t have one.Finally, your personal trainer might even ask you to get a decent sound system so that you get your workout jams pumping!How Can I Use the Things Around my House to Workout?Now that we’ve got the necessary equipment for our training programme, we just have to work out what things in our home we can use to exercise. Make sure that you work out safely during your personal training sessions!What things in your home could you and your personal trainer us e to work out? If you’re not sure, your coach will be! The garden’s a good place to start for those lucky enough to have one. A small square in the fresh air is ideal for cardio sessions. Cardio training can help you lose weight and improve your endurance. This type of training can open up your bronchial tubes. Better to breathe in the fresh air!For everything else, inside the house can work perfectly. Have you got any steps? If you do, your personal trainer will probably make you use them. Steps can be really useful when it comes to working out your leg muscles and your glutes when combined with squats. Step workouts may also feature in weight loss programmes.You can use a sofa for your workouts. (Source: pixabay.com)Your sofa can also be useful for strength training and doing dips and elevated push-ups. Finally, a bit of bedding can always be used for a few sit-ups!What Are the Advantages of Training with a Personal Trainer at Home?We can agree that getting a personal fitness instructor to come to your home is quite a luxury. Would you like to quickly get back into shape because you’re sick of training programmes that haven’t worked? Sick of working out on your own without seeing any results? If this sounds about right, then investing in a personal trainer is probably the way to go! Let’s have a look at the advantages...Fully-personalised TrainingAfter your first few sessions, your personal trainer will analyse your physical abilities and work out some reasonable and achievable fitness goals for you. How are they reasonable? One of the best benefits of having a personal trainer is the fact that they can put together a personal training programme while considering a huge number of factors.Once they’ve completed their analysis, your personal trainer will put together a training programme that’s been adapted to you taking into account various aspects of your life.Firstly the sporting aspect of your life. They’ll probably start with a bit of runn ing and some muscle toning, fitness exercises, and maybe a bit of self-defence (why not?) to get you to a good level in terms of overall fitness.Your personal trainer will probably look at your lifestyle. They’ll look at ways to help you lose weight and sleep right. It’s likely that your personal trainer will give you nutritional advice. Given how important eating right is, you should always listen to the professionals.Exercising from the Comfort of Your Own HomeThis is much better than getting on public transport, isn’t it?Some people don’t really enjoy going to gyms or health clubs. That’s understandable. Especially if you’re crammed into a tiny gym. However, even if you have a lot of space, it can’t beat having your personal trainer come to you and provide you with a personalised workout.Your personal trainer might take you to a nearby park to exercise. (Source: pixabay.com)Imagine being able to do your exercise immediately after work when you get home. Then imagine being able to immediately get showered and get the dinner on without even leaving your house! Doesn’t that sound much nicer than travelling for miles to end up stuck in the corner of the room?You’re Often More Motivated to Exercise at HomeHaving a personal trainer can help you save a lot of time.When you work during the week, it can be tricky to find a free hour. Even more so if you need to spend time with your family. It’s hard finding two free hours in an evening before you have to go to bed.That means you probably don’t want to lose any more time than you have to working out. Heading to a gym for an hour to work out can often take you two hours by the time you’ve made your way there and back!Save time by having a personal trainer come to your house!Organise Your Training Sessions around Your ScheduleGroup fitness classes can be fun. It’s true! You can meet you people and encourage each other to push even harder. Nevertheless, they're not personalised.Every person the re needs to adapt to the class. What can you do if you find it too difficult?The advantage of having a personal trainer is that your training programme will be tailored to you! Above all, you can adapt it to your schedule and fit it around your work and family commitments. You’ll love being able to choose exactly when you want your training sessions.Tell your personal trainer when you’re free and they should be able to accommodate your schedule!The Financial AdvantageWhile  getting a personal trainer   is usually more expensive than a gym or health club membership, you will save money on transport and you’ll only pay for the actual sessions you have. How many times have you paid for a full month at the gym and only been once or not at all?

What is it Like to Attend American University

What is it Like to Attend American University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences, as well. Kelsey is a Philadelphia tutor and 2013 graduate of American University. She holds a Bachelors degree in International Studies and specializes inseveral subjects such as ACT prep tutoring, History tutoring, and Reading tutoring. See what Kelsey had to say about her time at American University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Kelsey: American University is in a great area of Washington, D.C. It is within the city limits, but it still has that small campus feel. The university provides a shuttle that runs continuously throughout the day directly to the nearest Metro stop, Tenleytown-AU. Many students ride bikes, but most walk or take the shuttle on a daily basis. VT:How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Kelsey: Professors at American University are required to hold office hours regularly, and most are happy to meet by appointment. However, as many professors teaching at American University are also working throughout Washington, D.C. in their respective fields, they are not as accessible as professors from more rural colleges. Their expertise is a bonus, but you have to work hard to form close relationships with the faculty. Every student at American University is assigned an academic adviser based on the school of their admission (mine, for example, was the School of International Service) who will be their guide throughout college. I personally had a wonderful experience with my adviser, and I can truly say she was my biggest supporter during my years at American University. However, other students I have talked with have said their advisers were not as involved or supportive. It may depend on your assigned adviser, and you can ask to switch if you feel someone else would be more helpful. You can receive additional advisers for special programs, such as a dual major or, in my case, the honors program. American University does not utilize teaching assistants except in very large courses (usually introductory level). As I was in the honors program, my classes were always under 30 students, and I never worked with teaching assistants. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Kelsey: All students are required to live on campus and to have a meal plan during their freshman year. The dorms are clean and have many new facilities (and, I presume, even more additions since I left a year ago). The dorms are broken up into general assignment, honors program, and special programs (such as major-specific housing). There are many dining options on campus, and the food in the main dining hall (the Tavern) is usually very good. The campus makes a concerted effort to accommodate all dietary needs. The one drawback of housing at American University is overcrowding. When I was attending, even students in honors dorms were put in mandatory three-bunk rooms (with three students living in a space originally intended for two students). That being said, the resident assistants are friendly, and the university staff was always accessible. Most students decided to live off-campus by their junior year. Local housing is fairly accessible but, given the schools location in Washington, D.C., can be expensive. Most students share an apartment with several roommates or rent houses with a large group of other American University students. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Kelsey: American University is almost completely geared toward the Political Science and International Studies majors. The School of Public Affairs, School of Communication, and School of International Service are the biggest draws for the university, and the most attention is paid to them on campus. These programs are well funded by the university, and speakers, symposiums, and other events are held for students majoring in these subjects every day. However, if you are interested in other fields, or if you are not sure what subject you are interested in, American University may be a challenging place. The school is full of very driven students who have clear career objectives, and it can be difficult to be an undecided major in that environment. I majored in International Studies with concentrations in Peace and Conflict Resolution and Europe. I knew before applying to schools that I wanted to focus on international relations, and I was very satisfied with my choice of major in college. American University is one of the best international studies schools, and I feel that I got a very thorough education that has helped me be successful post-graduation. I am currently a law student focusing on international law, and I have always found myself to be one of the most prepared students in my current classes. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Kelsey: While it has many strong points, American University is not a very sociable campus, at least in my experience. As I mentioned above, the students drawn to American University (and Washington, D.C. in general) tend to be very motivated, ambitious people. This can make for great professional connections after graduation, but it creates a competitive atmosphere on campus. I am sure that many people had better experiences, but having moved to Washington, D.C. from a small town, I personally had trouble finding a group of friends my freshman year. I did, however, make friends later in college through groups like the American University Chamber Singers. American University has a very large, active Greek life community. While I did not personally participate, I have many friends who rushed and had very positive experiences. It is not, however, a requirement to being social at American University by any means! VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Kelsey: One of the many advantages of American University is the massive amount of internship opportunities available in the city. The Career Center is a big part of the campus support system for these internships. They offer services like resume reviews and mock interviews throughout the year, as well as private appointments. For undergraduates, there is generally one large career fair per year, where tons of organizations come to campus looking for future interns. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Kelsey: There is generally plenty of room on campus for studying. The library has tons of study cubbies, as well as a spacious lounge area with a caf. There are also other great student spaces, such as the Davenport Caf (located in the School of International Service) or the Mary Graydon Center. I never had a problem finding places to hang out with friends. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Kelsey: There are lots of shops and restaurants within walking distance of the school, most located in Tenleytown. Some students prefer to stay close to campus, while others (like myself) really embrace living in Washington, D.C. I usually went downtown or into different neighborhoods every Friday and Saturday. These excursions were some of my best times at American University. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Kelsey: As I mentioned above, I was in the honors program, so even in my general education classes, there were never more than 30 people. I have heard from friends not in honors that some first-year classes can be quite large, some going over 60 students. All of my upper-level courses were very small (10-15 students). As my major became more and more specific, I knew the people in my classes quite well. I was very happy with the class size and individual attention I was given by professors in class. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Kelsey: While this may be a humiliating story, I hope it helps incoming freshmen! When I was in my last year at American University (my third year, as I graduated early), I was taking an overbooked courseload and simultaneously trying to finish my senior honors thesis. I thought I was handling the stress fine, until one day in my favorite class (an International Peace and Conflict Resolution intensive course), I answered a question and got it completely wrong. My professor did not make a big deal out of it, and just moved on to another student to answer. Ordinarily, this would not have bothered me, but stressed out as I was, I had a complete panic attack in the middle of class. I had to rush out of the room to the bathroom, telling everyone I was having an allergic reaction. I was so embarrassed! When I emailed my professor later to explain what had happened, she was very understanding and everything went back to normal. However, I regret putting so much pressure on myself and not asking for help sooner. It is great to be a self-motivated, ambitious student, but sometimes we can confuse independence with stubbornness. If I had been more willing to talk about the pressure I was feeling, maybe my professor could have helped me before I had a mini-meltdown! I urge any student, whether you decide to go to American University or another school, to find a good support network at college and reach out when you need help. I think it would have made my college experience much more positive. Check out Kelseys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

30 MORE Awesome Graduation Songs to Sing Along With

30 MORE Awesome Graduation Songs to Sing Along With Sign up successful If youre a singer, you may even be  asked to perform at a graduation ceremony or party. And the toughest part isnt  getting up there on stage â€" its  choosing what  to perform for the audience! So, how do you choose the best graduation song to sing? Here are my tips: Consider your audience.  Is it at a more formal institution? You want to select something more traditional, or even classic pop.   Are you performing at a friend’s party after  the big ceremony? Well, maybe current pop may do the trick! Consider the message.  Whether it’s formal or informal, youll want a song that inspires both grads and family! Some of the themes that work include lasting friendships, new beginnings, hope, and confidence. To get you started, here is my list of 30 fantastic graduation songs that you may want to consider for 2016 Traditional Songs 1. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from “Carousel” 2. Homeward Bound  by Marta Keen 3. “An Old Irish Blessing” 4. “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban 5. “The Prayer” by Josh Groban 6. “The Impossible Dream”  from “Man of La Mancha” 7. “Amigos Para Siempre”  by Andrew Lloyd Webber 8. “Time to Say Goodbye”  by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman Newer Pop Songs (90s to current ) 1. “Count on Me” by Bruno Mars 2. “Brave” by Sara Bareilles 3. “Now and Forever” by Carole King 4. “You Were There” by Michael Jackson 5. “Firework”  by Katy Perry 6. “Dare You to Move”  by  Switchfoot 7. “Best Day of My Life” by  American Authors 8. “When You Believe”  by  Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey 9. “Hero”  by  Mariah Carey Classic Pop Songs (80s and older) 1. “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong 2. “Make Your Own Kind of Music” by Mama Cass Elliot 3. “One Moment in Time” by Whitney Houston 4. “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles 5. “That’s What Friends Are For”  by Burt Bacharach 6.  â€œIn My Life” by The Beatles Broadway and Movies 1. “No Matter What” from “Whistle Down the Wind” 2. “Defying Gravity” from “Wicked” 3. “Any Dream Will Do” from “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” 4. “Dream For Your Inspiration”  by The Muppets 5. “Go the Distance” from Disneys “Hercules” 6. “Our Time” from “Merrily We Roll Along” 7.  â€œYou’ll Be In My Heart” from Disneys “Tarzan” Final Tips for Singing at Graduation Events Not only do you want to choose the right song, but you want to be sure you’re super prepared for your big performance. Your voice teacher can help you make sure that the song is suitable for your level and voice type, as well as help you polish it. No voice teacher? No problem! TakeLessons  can help connect you for in-person or online voice lessons. Break a leg! Readers: Know any other good graduation songs to sing? Leave a comment with your suggestion! Post Author:  Molly R. Molly R. teaches online and in-person singing lessons in Hayward, CA. Her specialties include teaching beginner vocalists, shy singers, children, teens, lapsed singers, and older beginners. She joined TakeLessons in November 2013.  Learn more about Molly  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  Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs Office

Learn to Develop Your Interpersonal Skills

Learn to Develop Your Interpersonal Skills Here’s How â€" and Why â€" You Should Develop Your Interpersonal Skills ChaptersWhat are Interpersonal Skills?Why is it Important to Develop Your Soft Skills?How Can You Develop Your Communication Skills?Online Resources to Help You Develop Your Interpersonal Skills!The world these days â€" particular the business world and the world of employment - is loud with the language of interpersonal skills. Whatever you want to call them â€" social skills, personal skills, verbal communication skills, or soft skills â€" employers love them.In fact, beyond all academic achievement or knowledge of relevant hard skills, employers want to know that you can effectively communicate and interact with colleagues, clients, bosses, and customers.This is the reality of the workplace of today, in which teamwork and collaboration, agility and autonomy are the keywords. The days of quietly sitting down to trudge through your work are over. Sociability, cooperation, and networking are the names of the game.Of course, this is precisely the reason why interpersonal skills are ha ving their moment in the sun â€" with listening skills, body language, conflict resolution, and adaptability being now taught all over the world.Here, we going to show you the things you need to survive in this business environment â€" and we’ll show you just what your strong interpersonal skills can do for your life, job prospects, and personal development.Let us show you around the new world of interpersonal skills. TraceyPersonal development Teacher 4.93 (9) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors IsamPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarriePersonal development Teacher £24/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyPersonal development Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MichelePersonal development Teacher 4.73 (7) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlloydPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat are Interpersonal Skills?Interpersonal skills are the competencies, qualities, and personality traits that allow people to interact with others and communicate effectively. Really, they are the social skills that you learn as you grow up and which allow humans to build relationships, to get along, and to work collaboratively.Yet, with the business world’s ability to turn natural character traits into virtues, and its tendency to theorise and quantify the most basic social interaction and ways of being, interpersonal skills have become identified as a particular skill set that you really can’t do without.And, honestly, they are important. When big teams of people come together to work, good communication is crucial for conflict management and a generally harmonious atmosphere.Here, we’ve supplied some examples of the life skills that you can’t take for granted in business â€" and in the wider world. Because good interpersonal skills are not just useful to advance your career, but they are good to know for better relationships in general. Become a leader with your new interpersonal skills!Emotional IntelligenceThe major interpersonal skill that people refer to â€" and that you will need to ensure that you have â€" is emotional intelligence. This generally refers to your ability to be aware of and manage your emotional responses to things.You can see how in a work environment this might be important. When you are giving and receiving feedback or when you are managing people more generally, keeping your emotions in check is crucial â€" for the benefit of the team.Effective CommunicationAnd emotional intelligence is at the heart of effective communication in general.Communication is often misconstrued as the ability to speak, and write, clearly. Yet, that’s only half the story. Effective communication is the result of that â€" which is indeed a skill â€" and the abilities to listen and understand.Effective communication is usually broken into three parts: verbal communication, non-verbal communication, and listening. B ecause even when you are speaking, you are communicating a huge amount through your eye contact, facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice too.Leadership SkillsYou don’t need to be a leader to need leadership skills, which are usually described as the abilities to inspire and motivate, make decisions, and support and instruct.Actual business leaders need these for sure. However, in all interactions with colleagues they are helpful too.Teamwork.And alongside leading, working alongside others is crucial. Taking other people’s ideas on board, finding compromise, giving and receiving constructive criticism â€" all of these are elements of effective teamwork.If you want to find out more about the different types of interpersonal skills, check out our article, What are Interpersonal Skills? Communication is essential in the business world - as well as outside it.Why is it Important to Develop Your Soft Skills?There are plenty of reasons to develop your interpersonal skills â€" not least because they help you in all aspects of your everyday life.Whilst we don’t have the space to consider all of the different benefits of enhancing your communication skills right here, you can check out our article on the reasons to develop your soft skills to find out more.Employers Value Good People Skills â€" and You’ll Boost Your EmployabilityThe most obvious benefit in this context is that, as we’ve already mentioned, employers love people with great communication skills.This won’t only make you more attractive in a job interview. Alongside this specific context â€" in which you can demonstrate your self-awareness, your strong work ethic, and everything else â€" interpersonal skills are the fuel that help you to network, meet others, and sell yourself as an expert.In terms of your career, good interpersonal skills are crucial.You’ll Gain Trust and Respect in Your Working Environment and ElsewhereIf you are already in work, the benefits of your interpersonal skills don’t just disappear. Rather, an essential part of success at work is your ability to gain and give trust and respect.To be trusted with greater responsibility, and to treat others with respect, will change your experience of work â€" as others will treat you as you have treated them.They’ll Help You to Learn and Grow YourselfAs we can say a hundred times, interpersonal skills are not only useful in the workplace. And the ability to regulate your own emotions â€" or to really take on criticism â€" are such powerful skills to have in your armoury outside of work.This is because they help you become a better person in general â€" and will help you develop too.How Can You Develop Your Communication Skills?Whilst we now know why interpersonal skills are crucial, what many people want to know is how to improve their own aptitude in this skill set.Obviously, this is a legitimate concern and the rest of this article is dedicated to answering that question.Firstly, there are some simple tips for you to start improving your interpersonal skills straight off the bat. For more, check out our piece on developing your interpersonal skills.Practise Active ListeningActive listening is one of the most concrete part of the interpersonal skill set. It refers to a particular repertoire of actions and responses that demonstrates that you really are listening when people are talking to you.Keeping eye contact, nodding, and repeating back the words of the person speaking show that you are engaged.Keep a Positive AttitudeAt the heart of effective interpersonal skills is a positive attitude â€" a refusal to get down in the dumps, complain, and moan.People love a self-starter, someone who contributes their all and is happy to do it.If you are going to make one change to your attitude to int erpersonal skills, it should be this one. And it will make you feel better about life too. You can't get by in business without some interpersonal skills.Remember the Value of Being EmpatheticEmpathy is crucial in interacting with others â€" as it allows you to see to why others might be struggling, not performing at their best, or feeling the way they do. This basic understanding will inform all of your other interactions with them.So, just practise it. Try a simple thought experiment. Imagine yourself in someone else’s shoes â€" and you’ll be much better at understanding their perspective in the long run.Stick to Your ValuesWhat people value as much as understanding is integrity. And if you are hoping to be noticed for your own interpersonal skills, standing by your values is the number one rule.Stand up for what you believe in â€" and this will inform all of your other interactions.Online Resources to Help You Develop Your Interpersonal Skills!Believe it or not, there are many different resources online through which you can find guidance on your interpersonal skill s.From online tutorials to blog articles and exercises, the internet holds an awful lot of potential for you to learn about effective communication.Here are some of our favourite resources â€" and you can find more in our article on developing your interpersonal skills online.Try Udemy for Online Courses in Communication SkillsUdemy is a massive provider of online courses. For people looking to build their communication skills, there are all sorts of resources available for you.Take video courses in leadership skills, negotiation skills, or public speaking â€" and then get out into the world to put your new skills to use.Check Out the Range of Blogs that Help with Your Interpersonal Communication Skills.The internet is also simmering with blogs, articles, and feeds sharing information about effective communication.Try Mark Sanborn’s blog on leadership and public speaking â€" or follow Jolynn Chow for guidance on all things nonverbal communication.

Meet the Tutorfair Foundations 1,000th volunteer!

Meet the Tutorfair Foundation’s 1,000th volunteer! Last week the Tutorfair Foundation placed its 1,000th volunteer. What a remarkable thing! These 1,000 people have been a vastly talented and experienced group, coming from all walks of life and from all over the globe. They’ve all taken time out of their schedules, shared whatever they could with less advantaged students across the country and asked for nothing in return. Not all heroes wear capes! With such a huge number, it’s so easy to forget that each one of them has had a unique experience â€" all coming to us from different places and hoping for different things. To remedy this, we want to take a moment to introduce the world to our most recent fantastic volunteer â€" our 1,000th recruit, Janet. Tell us a little bit about you… “Hi, I'm originally from Liverpool but have lived in London area since I was a student. I have a BSc in maths and astrophysics and a Ph.D in astronomy. My thesis was on the evolution of supermassive black holes in galactic centres.” When you’re not thinking about supermassive black holes, what do you get up to? “I worked in IT for 25 years, final role was as project director for a successful outsourcing bid to run the IT and telecoms for a UK bank. I then took early retirement and have been spending my time since then volunteering in science education for a number of charities, coaching and playing badminton and monitoring butterflies and moths for nature organisations.” What do you do when you’re volunteering with the Foundation? “I’m tutoring in Oaklands School in Bethnal Green. I go in on a Wednesday afternoon to work with two small groups of Year 13 Physics students.” What made you decide to get involved? “I came across the Foundation after a Google search for volunteering opportunities. This particular opportunity fitted in well with other tutoring I am doing in central London. I spend a lot of time down in Devon now but come up to London each week during the winter months so finding several tutoring roles within the same timeframe is very time efficient for me and rewarding as well.” So you’ve done lots of tutoring in the past? “I have tutored both secondary and primary school students in central London in maths and physics for the past five years. I’ve also been tutoring online for the past couple of years.” What are you hoping to get out of your experience with the Foundation? “I want to feel that I have helped them in achieving their academic goals and see some hard evidence for this.” Finally, what do people need to know about volunteering with young people? “It’s very rewarding but it can be daunting initially. You need to be patient, particularly with younger students, and be prepared to do some preparation in advance of the tutoring sessions. This is particularly important if you’re working with older students, in order for them to get the most out of the sessions.” Want to get involved? Sign up today with the  Tutorfair foundation.

Personalized Learning and its Benefits

Personalized Learning and its Benefits Improving Academic Performance You can walk into any classroom today and see that different students struggle with different things. Some students at the elementary school down the road might have a hard time doing fractions during math class while others might struggle with remembering the capitals of all 50 states. Maybe a college student is in an Intermediate Accounting class, but her previous professor from Intro to Accounting only went over straight-line depreciation and never mentioned double-declining depreciation. She lacks that foundation she needs to succeed in her class. It is not her fault. Her previous professor just decided to emphasize a different topic of accounting instead. Personalized learning is important because each student has his or her own individualized needs and focus areas to reinforce. Students learn in different ways. They come from different backgrounds. They even have varying academic foundations. When it comes to a student’s education, one-size does not fit all. More effort will have to be put into identifying topics and subjects that each student individually struggles with. Maybe it is a teacher, a professor, or a tutor explaining it to them in a different way by using a visual graphic instead of writing it out on a white board. Maybe it means going over that biology material a few extra times to make sure the student understands it. Maybe it comes to a few extra hours of studying those GRE vocabulary words to guarantee you really have them down. Thankfully there are many great opportunities, services, and tools out there to help personalize the learning of each student. Professors have office hours that students can attend and ask questions. Teachers are normally in their classrooms during lunch. Both of these options are both a) remarkably underutilized by students and b) completely free. These two options should be considered step one to improving your academic performance. Private tutoring is, in many ways, the gold standard of customized instruction, but it can be expensive. However, there are also great online learning tools out there to help personalize the learning experience for each student. Kahn academy is perhaps the most popular. It’s free, and has a fast growing library of high quality, on demand video content in a wide variety of subjects. It allows a student to build their own study plan around the concepts they might be struggling with. Magoosh, ePrep, and Leanerator offer low cost, video-based, adaptive test prep environments for the ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, and many AP tests. Most of these solutions offer content and unique technology solutions to allow a student to customize their learning experience with varying degrees of structure. Administrate has a great video on personalizing education using technology. Our Memory Science platform is a different type of online learning tool. It uses key tenants of neuroscience to deliver Byte-Sized chunks of information that help students learn and retain anything that they might struggle with. A student can create a supplement herself to help her remember the process of a reaction in O-Chem, or purchase premade content on macroeconomic theories. The Memory Science platform is a place for you to spend time on the topics and materials that matter to you. About the Author Memory Science is a neuroscience-learning platform that utilizes Byte-Sized Learning to help students learn efficiently, retain more, and perform better. You can find us at https://marketplace.memoryscience.com/marketplace/ hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, 'f08a3c58-464f-4164-a82e-313b7951bbb2', {});

Let Us Dress You For Your Internship Interview

Let Us Dress You For Your Internship Interview http://www.business-casualforwomen.com There is nothing wrong with going to your internship interview dressed in business casual clothing. This rule is especially true when the company you are interning for is not the suit-and-tie type. However, you should look professional. Never wear jeans on an interview or your first day (unless authorized by your employer). Some companies may look down on jeans in the workplace, and you definitely do not want to be the odd one out or lower your self-esteem during the interview. The woman in the picture above serves as a great example of business causal wear for an interview. She is wearing black dress pants instead of a skirt; she is not wearing jeans. Her button-up blouse complements her light sweater perfectly, and she is wearing fashionable flats that are professional, avoiding the ever-uncomfortable high heels. Professional and Classy http://lolobu.com/ As I mentioned before, you can never be overdressed when going to an interview. If you feel comfortable in a dress or skirt and blouse with high heels, go for it. It is always better to be a bit more fancy looking than being the girl that is way undressed for the workplace. You should try to look your absolute best; however, being comfortable is very important as well. If you are going to feel insecure in a dress or do not have much practice walking in heels, do not wear them. Confidence is key in interviews and first days on the job! The woman in the picture above shows a great example of a professional and classy outfit. The colors are neutral, which you can never go wrong with and her pencil skirt is the perfect length for staying classy. Adding Pop to Plain http://www.fenzyme.com If you are feel more comfortable wearing simple colors such as all black, there is a simple fix for what may look like a dull outfit. Adding a large or flashy piece of jewelry can make any plain outfit pop. This could be a bright colored necklace, a flashy watch, stacks of bracelets, or even rings. The woman pictured above has a wonderful combination of business casual with her tight black slacks and simple black blouse. Her high heels and fashionable necklace turn her plain outfit into very chic interview ware. GUYS Business Casual https://lookastic.com Guys can never go wrong with wearing khakis, pretty much wherever they go. It is fairly normal for young men to dress business casual in a workplace, depending on the company, of course. For men, a nice pair of khakis pairs well with a simple or designed button-up short sleeve or long sleeve shirt, along with a stylish jacket. Layers work great when wearing khakis because it makes the outfit look more professional, like the mans clothing in the picture above. This way you will feel confident, while still looking great on that internship interview. However, note that business causal for men does not mean tennis shoes. Professional http://www.stylemepretty.com If you are pretty certain that the company you are going to intern for has a professional setting, it is best to wear a suit and tie. Even if you get to the interview and not even your interviewer is wearing a suit, hey, at least youll still look great. Again, it is better to be overdressed than under-dressed for an interview. The man in the picture above looks great in his suit and the color grey works great for when you are not trying to look too professional. Notice the navy blue tie adds a pop of color without overdoing it. His Oxford shoes pair well with the suit as well; the brown or even black will go with almost anything. Wearing an outfit like this gets you to look ready for the part of being serious and ready to take on the job. In-Between http://costinm.tumblr.com This man dressed in an outfit in between business casual and professional, which is great to do when you maybe do not own a suit yet, or are unsure about the workplace dress code. He is wearing khakis, but adds a tie to his white button-up which makes him look relaxed and professional. You can also add a nice watch to an outfit like this, to add more style. The key is to be comfortable enough to be confident while looking the part as well. Do not focus an extreme amount on the way you look. Although it is important, the skills you are bringing to the table are far more important to your potential future employer.