Asvab Tutor Videos - Finding the Best Asvab Tutor For You

Asvab Tutor Videos - Finding the Best Asvab Tutor For YouWhether you're looking for a private tutor to help you with your Asvab test or you need help with your Asvab tutoring, there are many different types of Asvab tutors available online. Most of them work as one-on-one tutors who can assess your Asvab scores, give you a written report on your progress, and even give you individualized guidance for a particular subject.Because of the increasing demand for tutors, we are seeing more tutors teaching Asvab online. It is not uncommon to see Asvab test tutors giving tests via a web browser at their home office. This makes it possible for students to retake the test from their own home, even when they are currently in another country.If you are currently going through a testing process such as the Asvab or are already studying for the test, you may be interested in finding a tutor that can review your study material. This can also include reviewing your answers to previous exam questions so that you will know what areas to focus on. You can use Asvab tutor videos to provide the necessary reminders as well as strategies that you may have overlooked during your test prep.A good tutor should be able to help you understand your specific study plan and how to better understand your scores. Many people, especially those who are just starting out, find it difficult to understand how much improvement in their scores are actually capable of. Some people may have difficulty conceptualizing the concept of maximum improvement while others may not even realize that their score is not optimal.One thing to consider when you find a tutor is whether they have a clear understanding of the Asvab review process. Many individuals become frustrated with finding themselves unable to correctly answer questions because they believe that they were taught the right answers in class. When you have an Asvab tutor that uses the format of anactual Asvab test, you will be provided with an excelle nt guide that gives you the correct answer to every question.In addition to the quality of your tutor, you should look for a tutor that is easy to communicate with. This will make communicating with your tutor easier and much more comfortable for both of you. Remember, your time should be spent studying and not playing Angry Birds or doing anything else on your phone or computer.If you are looking for a quick and easy solution to your Asvab test or are having trouble understanding your studies, there are many different tutors that can help you improve your score. Whether you're a first timer, studying for the first time, or preparing for your second attempt, it's important to utilize the resources available online to get the information you need to improve your score.

How to Learn a Language by Watching Movies 10 Tips and Tricks to Dodge Potential Pitfalls

How to Learn a Language by Watching Movies 10 Tips and Tricks to Dodge Potential Pitfalls How to Learn a Language by Watching Movies: 10 Tips and Tricks to Dodge Potential Pitfalls Everyone wants the picture-perfect movie ending.You know the oneâ€"the music swells, the main character smiles, the credits roll as you pick the razor-sharp popcorn hulls from your gums.But to get to that picture-perfect ending, the main character had to overcome some pretty big obstacles like cunning villains, a thwarted romance or an army of giant spiders.If you want to learn a language by watching movies, youll also face some obstacles on your route towards fluency. Sure, they wont have as many legs as some cinematic obstacles, but they can be just as intimidating and can keep you from your picture-perfect ending.Luckily, you can prepare yourself to navigate the pitfalls with ease and confidence.Watch out for these common pitfalls so you can find your way to picture-perfect language learning by watching movies! Why Learn a Language by Watching Movies?There arent many methods of learning a language more beloved than watching movies. After all, there are brilliant films in nearly any language you can think of, including  Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian  and  Spanish. Regardless of what language you want to learn, theres probably a movie in that language that youll love.First of all, watching movies familiarizes you with native speech. Since movies are intended for native speakers, the language used generally reflects authentic speech. Sometimes, historical or fantasy films might not be accurate reflections of current speech norms, but most contemporary movies use common language that people who watch the film also use. By listening to authentic, native speech, youre more likely to be able to understand actual speech in context.Additionally, watching movies puts vocabulary in context. You wont just have to rely exclusively on the words themselves to understand whats happening. If you dont understand a word, you can often guess based on whats happening and visual cues, like characters facial expressions. Plus, yo u can see how vocabulary might be used in different situations, helping you understand when different words are appropriate.Finally, watching movies is addictive and fun. Once you get on a roll, youll just want to keep watching them. And when youre watching in your target language, the addictive nature of movies can lead to massive improvements in your language skills.However, a lot of language learners dont know what theyre doing when it comes to learning a language with movies. It can be tempting to just watch a movie and hope to learn from it. But because so many learners are unprepared, they often fall victim to pitfalls and dont get as much out of the movies as they would have hoped.Not to worry, were here to help!How to Learn a Language by Watching Movies: 10 Tips and Tricks to Dodge Potential Pitfalls1. Watching Movies Without SupportThe mistake:When watching movies in your target language, it can be tempting to go at it alone. After all, you know how to watch movies, right?T he solutions:If you havent watched a lot of videos in your target language, you might not be ready to dive into a full-length movie just yet. Practicing with supportive resources will give you the skills you need to watch movies in your target language.Start with shorter videos on FluentU.FluentU is one tool that can help. Regardless of your skill level, FluentU can help you upgrade your skills through authentic video content, like movie trailers, music videos, news and more.  Each video is captioned and the captions are annotated, giving you easy access to any words definition, several example sentences and an associated image. Want to see how a word is used in other videos? Just click it.If youre looking for uniquely engaging activities, you might also try Quiz mode. This mode combines videos, pictures and example sentences in flashcards and exercises, giving you plenty of in-context practice. Plus, FluentU is personalized. Since the program uses an algorithm that takes into accou nt your user learning history, the questions you see will be based on what you already know to ensure they are the right level for you.Want to use FluentU from your computer? Use FluentU online. If you prefer your learning on the go, you can also download the FluentU app from iTunes or Google Play.Watch short videos on YouTube.Another resource you might use to brush up your skills before diving into full-length movies is YouTube. There are plenty of short videos in other languages, and many offer subtitles. For instance, Korean students might watch girl-group MAMAMOOs song Paint Me, complete with lyrics in Korean and English. Watching shorter videos like this is a good way to transition towards longer works, like movies.Use additional resources for support.If youre ready to dive into movies head on, though, that doesnt mean there isnt another support you can use. Using a translator app  with a voice translation option, like Google Translate (iOS | Android), is a quick and easy way t o look up any words or phrases you might be unfamiliar with as you watch.2. Choosing the Wrong MovieThe mistake:It can be tempting to watch the biggest blockbuster, but big doesnt always mean best, especially when it comes to language learning.Rather than selecting viewing material based on difficulty level and vocabulary, language students often select movies solely based on what they feel like watching. While you should definitely choose a movie that interests you, there are so many more factors to take into consideration.The solutions:Check the movies difficulty level.First, youll want to consider the difficulty level of the movie. You can often assume this based on the genre. For instance, most childrens movies are relatively easy. Some action movies are also approachable since they frequently lean more on visuals than dialogue. However, serious, deep movies (the type that get  the Oscars) are usually a little harder for language students to follow since they may lean more heavi ly on subtleties that can be hard to catch in a foreign language.Target specific vocabulary.Next, youll want to consider what type of vocabulary a movie is likely to use. For instance, a police procedural will probably include a lot of technical terms that you might not need to know in your target language. However, movies like romantic comedies usually feature more common vocabulary. Similarly, if you want to learn a specific set of vocabulary, you might consider finding a film that will use those terms. For instance, if you want to learn legal terms, look for a legal drama.Dont forget to enjoy!Finally, consider what movies youll actually enjoy. Enjoying a movie is a valuable motivator to keep watching and therefore learning. Plus, why bother learning a language with movies if it isnt going to be fun?3. Going in ColdThe mistake:All you need to do to prepare for watching a movie is pop some popcorn and press play, right? Well, you might want to do a little more than that (and were n ot just talking about adding butter to your popcorn).If you go in cold, youre making watching the movie more challenging than it needs to be. After all, if you dont know anything about the movie, it will be more difficult to follow. You may end up focusing less on the language itself and more on trying to figure out who characters are, what theyre doing and why that guys eyebrow is so nefariously arched.Worse still, if its difficult for you to follow the movie, you might lose interest and give up altogether, thereby missing out on your opportunity to improve your language skills in one of the most fun ways imaginable.The solutions:Do a little research.Do a little preparation ahead of time. Were not talking about an in-depth study of the themes or camera angles, but something far simplerâ€"look up the movie before you watch it. If you can find a summary, read it. Better still, read a few summaries. IMDB and Wikipedia  usually have English-language summaries of popular foreign-languag e films. Reading a summary ahead of time can give you context to fill in anything you miss.Know whos who.You might also look up the actors ahead of time. Pay attention to the characters names as you look at images of the actors faces. This way, when you start watching the movie, youre not wasting any time trying to remember whos who.4. Getting OverwhelmedThe mistake:Movies can seem long very long.Since most listening activities are relatively brief, a lot of language students havent listened to their target language for such long stretches. However, movie lovers often assume that because they can watch a movie in their native language, they can watch it in their target language.While you can totally watch a movie in your target language, learning from such a long work can be overwhelming because understanding your target language can take a lot of focus and thinking. With so much effort involved, watching movies can become overwhelming.The solution:Split it into chunks.One of the be st ways to avoid getting overwhelmed is segmenting the movie. Rather than trying to watch the whole thing at once, break it into smaller chunks. You might not be ready to watch two hours in your target language just yet, but you can probably handle watching one scene.Breaking the movie into chunks will ensure your listening practice doesnt get overwhelming. As an added bonus, a few minutes of viewing are much easier to work into your daily schedule than a full-length movie.5. Rushing ThroughThe mistake:When you watch a movie in your native language, you probably watch it straight through with only a few breaks to get more snacks. However, when youre trying to learn a language, watching straight through might be rushing the process too much.There are a couple reasons for this. First, you might miss something. It can be harder to pick up key details in your target language, so you might get lost. Additionally, repetition is valuable for language learning and watching a movie straight through just doesnt provide the sort of repetition you need to memorize vocabulary or grammar rules.The solutions:Take breaks to process information.Because of this, youll want to take frequent breaks. After every scene or two, you might take a break to think about what you just saw. What happened? What new vocabulary did you hear? Considering this will give you time to process what youre watching.Watch it again and again!Then, you might also consider rewatching key scenes, paying particular attention to interesting quotations, new vocabulary or challenging grammar rules. If you like a line, try memorizing it! Not only will this help you memorize the vocabulary, you can also use it as a model when constructing similar sentences in the future.6. Expecting to Understand ImmediatelyThe mistake:Youve studied the language. You do well in class or your independent studies. You should be able to understand the entire movie right off the bat, right?Not necessarily. Many resources for studen ts are slower and easier to understand than native speech, so even students whove studied extensively might not be able to understand authentic resources like movies right off the bat.Plus, expecting to understand immediately is doing yourself a disservice. If you expect listening to be easy, you might be disappointed and demotivated when it isnt as easy as you thought it would be. Worse still, you could start to question your own skill.The solution:Set reasonable expectations.To dodge this pitfall, dont set your expectations too high. Trust that youll understand part of the movie, but realize that not understanding everything is nothing to be ashamed of and doesnt reflect on your overall knowledge.Understanding native speech takes time, even if youve studied extensively. Keep watching, though, and at some point, you might be able to understand entire movies in your target language the first time you watch them.7. Watching PassivelyThe mistake:Most of the time, you probably dont int eract with movies. And if you do, chances are strong that the people you usually watch with arent so eager to watch more movies with you.Yes, most movie fans are passive viewers, quietly watching their favorite films. But when youre learning a language, you need to engage more. After all, watching a movie will give you listening practice, but if you want to really maximize the learning punch a movie can pack, youll need to do a little more than watch.Listening, speaking and writing are very different skills. While watching movies can improve your listening skills, it doesnt usually do much for your speaking or writing skills, which could lead to an imbalanced skill set. But if you put in the extra effort and engage, you can transform movies into well-rounded language practice.The solutions:Integrate speech into movie-watching.To get the most out of your movie viewing, you should try to speak in addition to listening. For instance, try interacting with a movie. During dialogue  scene s, pause and guess what the next character will say. When you hear a line you like, repeat it aloud. Hey, you could even shout advice to characters if thats what youre into. The key here is speaking your target language.Write it down.In addition, keep a notebook and pen handy. Make notes as youre watching: Write down words you dont know, phrases you like and anything else that catches your ear. For an added challenge, try summarizing a scene in your target language after you watch it.8. Looking Up Too Many WordsThe mistake:OMG! I dont know that word! I need to look it up! Those words might come out of your mouth a lot when youre watching movies in your target language. In fact, it can be tempting to look up the exact meaning of every single word youre not 100% familiar with.While this could be a good vocabulary-building activity, it doesnt provide great listening practice. After all, youll be focused too much on individual words to really understand the overall message.Plus, part of the reason why listening practice is so valuable is that it prepares you to fill in any words you dont know based on context. In conversation, you may hear a word you dont know. Having experience in determining meaning based on context will help prepare you for this situation.The solution:Get the gist of it.Instead of focusing on individual words, focus on overall meaning. If you miss a word or two, thats fine. Sometimes, it just isnt realistic to pause and look up every word you dont know, so learning how to fill in any vocabulary gaps with educated guesses is a valuable skill.9. Leaning Too Heavily on SubtitlesThe mistake:Subtitles are magical. If you cant understand a spoken language, you can still enjoy a movie by just reading it.However, for language learners, this can prove problematic. Subtitles can be a great tool to help you understand whats happening even if you miss a few words. However, if youre not careful, you might find yourself inadvertently reading a film and not l istening at all.The solution:Strategize your subtitle use.To avoid this, its good to develop a strategy. For instance, you might try alternating watching segments with the subtitles on and off. Listen to the scene in your target language and see how much you understand. Then, turn on the subtitles to check how much you caught. Turn the subtitles back off to see if you can understand more now.Skim the subtitles.If you dont want to repeat segments so often, you can also develop a strategy for how you read the subtitles. As soon as a subtitle pops up, you can skim it quickly and then focus on listening to the spoken dialogue. Otherwise, focus on the dialogue and if you realize you dont understand, quickly skim the subtitle after.Always remember that subtitles are just a tool to help prop you up until youre skills are refined enough that you dont need them. Your ultimate goal should be weaning yourself off from them.10. Learning AloneThe mistake:Watching movies is often a solitary pursu it. After all, only one hand can fit comfortably into a box of Junior Mints.Language learning, on the other hand, is an inherently interactive pursuit. Conversational skills are best developed with actual conversation.The solutions:Engage in communal movie-watching.To really upgrade your language skills, youll need to interact with others. However, that doesnt mean you need to give up your favorite movies! You might start a movie club in your target language.Gather a group of learners, native speakers or just some friends, then pick a movie in your target language. You can watch it as a group or independently and discuss it afterward.  Not only will you get the great listening practice that movies provide, youll also get conversational practice and a nearly endless stream of potential conversation topics.Connect with fellow fans online.You can also connect with other movie fans online through message boards or fan sites. There are many fan forums for specific regions and/or language s. For instance, Spanish film fans might enjoy posting in Foro de cine  (movie forum). To find a forum, just search the name of the language and movie forum in your target language.Dont let being unprepared ruin the end of your journey to learn a language by watching movies. Watch out for these pitfalls and be prepared to smile as the credits roll!

9 Ways to Make Money as a College Student

9 Ways to Make Money as a College Student When you cant cut spending anymore, its time to bring in more money! Options like these can make a big difference on your financial situation and help you  take control of your finances: Catering Get a part-time job as a caterer.  Youll develop great multi-tasking skills and it shows employers that youre an  extremely organized  person. Becoming a human guinea pig You can try everything from medical tests to market research. Being a test subject  can be an interesting and educational way to spend your time and earn some money. Working as a campus brand representative Brands will pay you to represent them on your college campus:  passing out samples, posting about the brand on social media, etc. Tutoring Are you a good tutor?  Have you ever considered becoming a private tutor? Services like TutorZ help you  connect with students to offer tutoring and  coaching. Driving For Lyft Or Uber Have a car and some spare time? Great way to earn some extra money is driving for  Lyft  or  Uber. Working as a tech support  agent You can help clients with social media or get paid for teaching  older people how  to use modern technology. Running errands for people You can do things like go grocery shopping, pay bills, and go to the Post Office or pharmacy. Babysitting You think its for high school students only? Think again. Parents would prefer an older, more responsible college student watching their kids. Buy and Resell Textbooks You can buy textbooks online at sites like  eBay  and resell them at a site like  BookScouter. The hours are super flexible. 9 Ways to Make Money as a College Student When you cant cut spending anymore, its time to bring in more money! Options like these can make a big difference on your financial situation and help you  take control of your finances: Catering Get a part-time job as a caterer.  Youll develop great multi-tasking skills and it shows employers that youre an  extremely organized  person. Becoming a human guinea pig You can try everything from medical tests to market research. Being a test subject  can be an interesting and educational way to spend your time and earn some money. Working as a campus brand representative Brands will pay you to represent them on your college campus:  passing out samples, posting about the brand on social media, etc. Tutoring Are you a good tutor?  Have you ever considered becoming a private tutor? Services like TutorZ help you  connect with students to offer tutoring and  coaching. Driving For Lyft Or Uber Have a car and some spare time? Great way to earn some extra money is driving for  Lyft  or  Uber. Working as a tech support  agent You can help clients with social media or get paid for teaching  older people how  to use modern technology. Running errands for people You can do things like go grocery shopping, pay bills, and go to the Post Office or pharmacy. Babysitting You think its for high school students only? Think again. Parents would prefer an older, more responsible college student watching their kids. Buy and Resell Textbooks You can buy textbooks online at sites like  eBay  and resell them at a site like  BookScouter. The hours are super flexible.

Sweet Way to Boost Your Brain Power

Sweet Way to Boost Your Brain Power Today is National Chocolate Caramel Day. The combination of chocolate and caramel is one the most tempting tastes created by humans. This is a great reason to forget about diet and to celebrate this day with a piece of delicate chocolate-caramel dessert. It is also a perfect time to recall everything good we know about chocolate and caramel. Caramel is a confectionery made by the heating of sugars of various types. It might not be the healthiest product but we can’t ignore the fact that it is a rich and easily accessible source of glucose and other carbohydrates. Glucose is the primary energy provider in the human body and an important metabolic intermediate. Actually, glucose  is a universal fuel used by most organisms on earth, from microbes to humans. What is the most important fact is that glucose is the main source of energy for the brain and the lack of glucose impairs some important psychological processes, such as decision-making and self-control. So, a caramel candy may serve as a great support to the exhausted student’s brain during an exam or a test. Chocolate provides even more useful properties for the brain than caramel. Flavanols, a key component of dark chocolate, improve the blood flow around the body and in specific areas of the brain. This effect lasts for two or three hours and allows you to sharpen  general brain performance, to clear your thoughts, to increase alertness and to improve memory. In addition to enhancing brain functioning, the ingredients of chocolate protect brain from various harmful effects and keep you in a good emotional state. Other foods, such as cocoa, green tea and red wine, can work similarly to chocolate but a cup of hot green tea or a glass of wine are not always within easy reach. All these make chocolate a super food for the brain of a young student. There were many discussions about harmful effects of sweets of all kinds during the last few years. However, almost any food in abnormal quantities can be harmful. So don’t deprive yourself of useful qualities of chocolate and caramel, just don’t exceed reasonable limits. Enjoy National Chocolate Caramel Day with your favorite treats and stay healthy and smart!

What Is Science Chemistry?

What Is Science Chemistry?The beauty of science chemistry is that students are able to learn about the behavior of the molecules within a substance as well as how to identify it. Students also learn how science involves experimentation and physical experimentation and that they can analyze the effects of each experiment they conduct. Science chemistry offers students a foundation for all other subjects in chemistry.Science makes use of mathematics in order to further explore the workings of nature and, most importantly, in order to learn about how to protect themselves from the many dangers associated with the environment. Science also includes the study of the world around us and how this affects our lives. Science involves exploring the many different types of matter that exists in nature and of course, the interactions between matter. This can be used as a foundation for everything from astronomy to marine biology.Scientists study the ways in which matter behaves in the form of so lids, liquids, gases, and their interactions. It is through the study of these types of matter that scientists are able to make so many discoveries and develop so many technologies that we take for granted today. Even those that have not been around for very long will notice the difference in the way everything is manufactured. There is no denying that science has had a major impact on our lives.Science has many branches, including biology, physics, chemistry, geology, astrophysics, botany, and anthropology. These include all of the subjects that have taken place at some point in time in a university or college. Not to mention all of the disciplines that take place in schools and other teaching institutions. Students can also learn more in basic science as they are taught the basics of chemistry and biology. This will allow them to understand that there are differences between the two and to understand their importance in their own lives.Science also involves experimentation. Some e xperiments may help in the development of drugs, but some other experiments may end up helping to save lives or even cure diseases. When students investigate the use of these drugs, they are helping to make the world a better place to live in. Chemists are also able to design medicines and drugs that are more efficient, more potent, and more able to fight diseases.One of the main features of science is that it builds on itself. It is through scientific research that we are able to create new and better products that help to make our lives better. Science can also be used to help us develop our understanding of how the earth works and what is happening in the various layers of the earth. Chemistry therefore involves examining the results of this process. Once we know the process, we can apply it to various things like society and the environment. It can be a great help when making sure that everyone has a healthy and safe environment to live in.So, if you have never learnt science be fore, don't wait too long! You'll soon realise just how much it is going to help you and your family.

Define Metal Chemistry

Define Metal ChemistryThe basic goal of the student who desires to learn about metal chemistry is to be able to define metal chemistry in a reasonable amount of time. The second goal, if not better, is to be able to define metal chemistry in a reasonable amount of time, and to know why it is vital to make sure that you study it carefully in the first place. For many years, the idea of studying this subject was not something that was encouraged by the schools.This was because the 'definition' was not one that had any meaning at all. It was merely a fact of life. Anybody who made an effort to learn how to define metal chemistry or found a way to define it, was considered by the educational system to be some kind of retard. In some schools, they were even considered to be totally unqualified to take on the discipline of metal chemistry!The concept of a metal was also very nebulous to the teachers. How could you describe a chemical element as an alloy? The only reason that the schools we re slow to change the old teaching methods was that the schools thought that they were doing a good thing - teaching children how to be critical thinkers.When the concept of metals became properly defined, the curriculum was changed. The students were taught to look beyond the concrete definitions that had been given by the teachers, and to discover the reasons for why metals are special. They were taught to think that metals are just part of the periodic table, and to figure out what, in essence, made them special, in terms of their properties.So, when you are wondering how to define metal chemistry, remember that there are many different factors that have to be examined. There are many different elements, all with their own unique properties. Each element has its own set of sub-properties, which are usually separate from other elements, but sometimes they come together.What makes metals special is not their physical properties, which would be in some ways exactly the same as those of everything else. What makes metals special is the fact that the sub-properties that they have to give them properties that other elements do not have, and which they can add to the substances they are already in, as well as making different substances behave differently.This fact is known as Dura-Mold, and it is the basis of why everything in the periodic table is not a metal, or at least not a metal that is on the same level as any other element. If you are considering making your own carbon in your own laboratory, it will still have some properties, just like a metal, that will allow it to bond to other substances. It will also have a number of properties that some other substances will not have, such as being electrically conductive.

Should I Go To University of California, San Diego

Should I Go To University of California, San Diego The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. William is a San Diego tutor specializing in Biostatistics, Calculus, Grammar and Mechanics, and much more. He graduated from University of California, San Diego in 2012 with a Bachelors degree in Bioengineering. See what he had to say about UCSD: 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? William: The transportation is currently great, with shuttles and bus passes included in tuition. The school is planning on ceasing these services soon, however. The campus and surrounding neighbourhood is very safe, and fun to bike around. Parking on campus is hard to find, so it is best to get to school early or park somewhere else and bike/take the bus to school for the rest of the way. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? William: Most professors are free for their scheduled office hours, although some may be too busy. Academic advisers are usually free for walk-ins or appointments, although things can get busy for them at the beginning of the quarter, when everyone is trying to switch classes. Teaching assistants are your point of contact for learning and are most often the most reliable, accessible learning resource on campus (some even hold end-of-quarter review sessions or workshops to help you in your class). VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? William: Dorm life is great you will meet many new friends and dont have to worry about getting groceries (this can be a difficulty if you dont have a car) or cooking (also difficult if you dont have a kitchen). On-campus dining halls provide pretty good food, although you might get tired of it after the end of the year! Resident advisers and security officers can be intrusive of your privacy at times, but if you stay on their good side they will be nice. If you are interested in meeting international students, look into living at I-House your second year. It will be an unforgettable experience, I promise. 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? William: At UCSD, the sciences are very developed. UCSD pulls in a lot of research money for the Biological Sciences and Engineering, and it shows in the undergraduate program. UCSD also has great programs for Psychology, Neuroscience, Theatre, and Political Science. I chose to pursue Bioengineering because I loved AP Biology in high school and excelled in mathematics and physics. UCSD has the 5th best undergraduate Bioengineering program in the nation, so needless to say, the program was top-notch. 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? William: It is fairly easy to meet friends who are your immediate neighbours as a freshman. From there, you will meet people in clubs or organizations, study partners from classes, or even people who dont go to UCSD. Although I chose not to pursue Greek life because I was happy with my group of friends and didnt want to dish out quarterly dues, the Greek system can be a great place to network and assume leadership positions which look great on applications to jobs or grad school. There is no frat row at UCSD due to the banning of fraternity houses by the La Jolla community, but the Greek system does have a voice in student politics. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? William: Getting advice from the Career Center is a good idea for those who are looking ahead to grad school or the workforce after college. Dont put off preparing for the next step after college, even as youre getting familiar with your undergraduate experience. Being a leader in clubs and professional organizations, pursuing summer internships (paid or unpaid!), and working in professors labs will pay off big time, especially if you are applying to jobs or grad school with years of these experiences under your belt. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? William: Study areas are abundant and spacious. I still use some on campus when I need a quiet place to work, and you will discover new ones throughout your college experience. Beware of studying with those who dont actually study but just want to chat because you most likely wont get much work done. Personally, the library is not my favourite place to socialize. 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? William: La Jolla is a very expensive, residential area where a lot of rich people live (parking tickets are $70!). For fun, check out Pacific Beach, or you could go downtown as well. There are often events on campus as well, including music performances at The Loft or Porters Pub, often featuring well-known artists with free admission for students. Coming from Montana, I immediately started surfing because nearby Blacks Beach is one of the better beach breaks in the world and a 10 minute walk away. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? William: The student body, at least for the Sciences and Engineering, is huge. Dont expect too much individual attention in class. Language and Arts classes tend to be smaller, but the best way to receive personal attention in classes is to go to TA sections and office hours (my favourite, because they go over homework problems) and professor office hours (usually only 3 or 4 other students show up, if any). VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. William: I loved taking the Calculus 20 series. One teacher in particular, Professor Stevens, was the most energetic teacher I have ever had. Solving problems involving complicated integrals are not the most fun part of calculus, but she made it exciting and enjoyable. Check out Williams tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors. Should I Go to University of California, San Diego Abby earned her bachelors degree in biology from University of California, San Diego in 2016. She specializes in numerous subjects including science tutoring, ISEE tutoring, and algebra tutoring. Want to get a student perspective on University of California, San Diego? Read on! Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Abby: The campus is situated on the edge of La Jolla, a city in the San Diego area. Though the surrounding area is urban, the campus itself is huge and fairly secluded from the rest of the city. There arent too many roads that intersect through the school, which really allows the campus to feel like its own safe community, and I have never felt in danger while on campus. Despite this secluded feel, there are plenty of buses, bike paths, and parking lots around the school that make it easy to find transportation to, from, and around campus. There is also a free campus shuttle for all students. It goes to common student housing areas around campus, as well as off campus. However, plenty of students use skateboard, scooters, and bikes to get around on campus because the campus is pretty big and classes can be as far as 2 miles apart. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Abby: The professors and teaching assistants hold weekly office hours, which they state at the beginning of any class. If asked to, most will personally meet students that cannot make the stated hours. Their contact information is also available online, through the UCSD website. Academic advisors are also easily available. There are different sets of academic advisors for each college (UCSD has 6 colleges within the university), as well as specialized advisors, such as for study abroad, financial aid, career advice, etc. and they take appointments or walk-ins almost every day. All of these advisors are also available through an online platform for students called the VAC (virtual advising center). You can ask questions directly to your department, college, or one of the specialized advisors, and someone will reply to you within 24 hours. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Abby: The campus has both on-campus dorms and apartments. In both cases, students are required to purchase a dining plan, which includes dining dollars that can be spent at any of the university markets (a small convenience store) and dining halls (a cafeteria or restaurant style). There is at least one of each in all of the 6 colleges. Each dining hall serves some similar foods, but often also serve some unique items. For example, one has made-to-order pizzas, while another has a variety of Mexican food dishes. In addition, there are always events on campus. They can be hosted by the entire university, by a specific college, your own housing community, or even different clubs on campus. And every event is unique and different, some even seem pretty strange, but that means there is always something fun and interesting to do on campus. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Abby: UCSD excels in the sciences, the arts, and engineering. There are a vast majority of science and engineering majors, but I have met many different people majoring in anything from political science to literature who still feel at home at UCSD. UC San Diegos 6 college system is especially unique since each college has different GE requirements and some are more beneficial for specific majors. For example, I was a part of Revelle College and though it has one of the heavier science GE course loads, it was perfect for me since I am a biology major and a lot of those GEs were a minimum requirement for my major as well. I found both the biology department, Revelle college, and numerous school clubs very supportive in my biology studies. There were always events to introduce me to seminars, professors, and the latest scientific research, as well as networking events to help me meet new people and learn about the different opportunities available with a biology degree. 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? Abby: It was super easy to make friends and meet new people. A lot of the lifelong friends Ive made are the people I lived within my room, in my apartment, in my building, and even in my college. Each housing community has a Resident Assistant (RA for short) who is in charge of making a friendly community space and setting up community events (for example, movie nights, learning to cook, or arts and crafts) to help everyone meet people and find similar interests. There are many different Greek organizations on campus, and its a great way to meet people, but Ive never joined one and still feel inclusive and welcome on campus. With tight restrictions and a lack of a true Greek Row (a specific area where many Greek houses are present), UCSDs Greek life is not a big aspect of the school. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Abby: The Career Center is a great asset to all students, though not many students take advantage of it. They provide walk-in appointments every day and for more, in-depth help. Longer appointments with specific advisors (with specialties such as medical school applications, interview help, resume reviewing, etc.) can be made online. They also have plenty or fliers and booklets that provide written advice and notes on any career topic. They also offer a student job portal to easily connect students to different types of jobs, both on and off campus. Ive found many of my jobs, volunteer positions, and internships through this portal. The Career Center also sets up events such as workshops or lectures with guest speakers and recruiters from different companies. About once a quarter, they also set up a huge event with big recruiters, in every job field to the school and invite students to come, speak with them and provide resumes. Ive used a lot of these resources personally and have al ways come out with more information than I had going in. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Abby: There is always a place to study. There are lounges in nearly all the housing communities on campus, an additional few in each college, and there are plenty in the university center, which is called Price Center. There are also two libraries on campus. Geisel Library, which is 8 floors and one of the largest libraries in the world, and the Biomedical Library, which is located in the attached medical school facilities. Both have separated quiet and collaborative spaces for all your studying needs (by yourself or in a study group). Around midterms and finals, these places do get more crowded than usual, but its not too hard to find a place to study. In addition, Geisel Library opens for 24 hours a day for the entire finals week to help students get in all the last-minute studying they need! Describe the surrounding town. Abby: Theres always something fun to do outside of campus. There are several different geographic areas around campus that make it easy for anyone to find something they like. Theres nearby oceanfront, where kayaking, paddle-boarding, tide-pool walking, and cave exploring are popular activities. There are also several things to do in the mountainous areas. For example, many students hike the (easier) Torrey Pines Reserve beach hike, or the (more difficult) Potato chip rock hike. You can go camping at Joshua Tree Park or visit one of the inland ranches for a day of horseback riding. There is a small town in the mountains, called Julian, which is famous for its wonderful pies, old-time aesthetic, and annual apple festival. Theres also the historical Old Town in the city, with a mix of the Mexican and colonial heritage of San Diego, complete with old-timey themed stores and people in costume. Not too far away from there are the museums, gardens, and street shows of Balboa Park. just rem ember that when I was at UC San Diego, I absolutely loved exploring the surrounding city. There were so many different things to do and try, all within an hours drive. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Abby: The class sizes are generally very large, especially for GE classes, such as general chemistry, English, and mathematics or common major classes, like introductory major courses for biology, political science, chemistry, etc. These classes usually have about 400 students, but I have had classes with well over 600 students, taking up 2 lecture classrooms, with the professor in one room and projecting a live feed to the other room. Outside of these lectures, all classes have several discussions, with about 30-40 students, led by teaching assistants. They help clarify concepts in lecture and answer questions students may have. This system allows for both communication with the professor (in a large class setting) with the more personal classroom setting with teaching assistants. Some classes are less popular and can have less than 50 students. I really enjoyed these classes (I took a theatre studies and cultural studies class in this setting). I personally, would prefer smaller cl ass sizes because each student receives more interaction with the professors and teaching assistants, outside of their office hours, but the generally large class sizes have never inhibited my learning. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregret. Abby: I remember I was sitting in one of my Humanities classes during my freshman year and my professor was talking about the Aeneid, a book we were reading. The epic is about a man named Aeneas who escaped the fall of Troy and traveled to Italy. In the middle of class, my professor pulled off a large piece of cloth that had been hiding something large the entire class period. It was a portable stove! He suddenly started frying some scrambled eggs in class while still lecturing. He made an analogy about the lust and love Aeneas experienced in Italy to the fiery hotness of a frying pan. Then he finished his scrambled eggs, gave some to my friend, and continued to lecture. That was one lesson Ill never forget. Check out Abbys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.