Feldman Tutoring - The Importance of Excellence and Respect

Feldman Tutoring - The Importance of Excellence and RespectAt Feldman Tutoring, we believe that learning and developing are vital aspects of success. As such, we strive to provide an environment that fosters the development of both students and instructors. These core principles are the basis for all our programs that are designed to help individuals improve their grades, learn new material, and continue to advance in their academic careers.Instructors and students are equally important components to a successful teaching and learning environment. In addition to this, we also recognize the importance of instructors who respect the values and boundaries of each student. Teaching should be informed by a commitment to ethical behavior and strong academic standards. We strive to instill these values into all we do and offer instructors the tools necessary to enhance student achievement and success.We also recognize the importance of caring, genuine concern for our students. Each student has a unique perspective and therefore each needs to be treated with compassion and care. As an institution, we pride ourselves on treating each student with the utmost respect and the commitment to educating and mentoring them into the professional world they deserve. All instructors in our tutoring programs are held to a high standard of quality and good workmanship.Our tutors teach students to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to succeed. The two most fundamental aspects of any learning process include instruction and self-directed learning. This is where the individual learns through developing and applying the knowledge acquired through classroom and/or self-directed practice and studying.This same philosophy is carried through into every aspect of our tutoring program. Every student is taught and encouraged to develop his or her own individual abilities and capacities. Regardless of the time or place, whether it be at home at school, or in a professional sett ing, everyone's individualized learning plan is incorporated into the tutoring and learning environment.Another important facet of our environment is our employees. We strive to instill the concepts of respect, compassion, self-direction, and a sense of personal responsibility for yourself and your peers. Feldman Tutoring, as well as our tutoring programs, are committed to the continued growth and education of each of our students.Ultimately, we strive to create an environment that celebrates life revolves around the overall goal of achieving high academic achievement. Each one of our students' academic successes serve as a testament to the value of Feldman Tutoring. We want to ensure that each student's ability to achieve is fostered and fosters personal development.To achieve these goals, we recognize and practice a set of core values that make us a better organization. These core values include: giving students the tools and resources to achieve academic success; a commitment to the fulfillment of our students' individual needs; a commitment to our mission and vision; and a belief in the transformative power of community. These core values form the backbone of our educational environment and are a cornerstone to our success.

Everything about Thales the Mathematician

Everything about Thales the Mathematician From Thales' Theorems to His Discoveries ChaptersThales of Miletus: The Life of the MathematicianHow Thales Influenced Math CoursesThales From Math to AstronomyThales in the Context of the GreatsMathematics is a subject that often comes up in debates about the education sector, where it is repeatedly one of the subjects that school children struggle the most in. It is considered to be an essential step in the academic career of students, where students are expected to consolidate their knowledge every year in order to to be successful and understand new mathematical notions.What is involved in the framework and what is at the origin of this discipline? Cosines, reciprocals, fractions, quadrilaterals, relative numbers, circumferences, symmetry, tangents, inequalities â€" revising over courses in mathematics can become less stressful when viewing it through the lens of history. One of the many great examples is the great scientist and mathematician: Thales. Check out his history to both unlock some of the strategic concepts y ou might be struggling with and improve your capabilities within them! MyriamMaths Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £200/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr parikhMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KamalMaths Teacher 5.00 (9) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PetarMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GowsikaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RubenMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ConorMaths Teacher 4.75 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThales of Miletus: The Life of the MathematicianIn the life of a mathematics student, there are two names that are impossible to forget: Pythagoras and Thales. The latter, a professor of the former according to historical texts, was a philosopher born in Miletus around 625 BCE. Aptly named, the Greek philosopher Thale s of Miletus is considered as one of the seven sages of ancient Greece, along with other Greek philosophers: Solon, Chilon of Sparta, Pittacus of Mytilene, Bias of Priene, Cleobulus of Lindos and Periander of Corinth.Founder of the school of Milesians, Thales started off his academic career as a philosopher and scientist by going to Egypt at a very young age, thanks to good relations that existed between the country and his maternal city, Miletus. It was there that a young Thales discovered the knowledge of Egyptian and Babylonian sciences.Once there, he learned geometry, astronomy, and philosophy â€" all knowledge that was a core part of the educational training of Egyptian priests. This trip to Egypt is not really supported by data, according to ancient Greek historians. In fact, only some records written years after the death of Thales have been able to attest to the life of the scientist and place him in Egypt at the time.Once he reached adulthood, Thales returned to the Greek c ity of Miletus to create the School of Milesians. Thales used his position to spread his knowledge in mathematics and Greek philosophy, all the while continuing to perform observations and scientific experiments.Throughout his life, Thales used his observation in order to discover how the world functioned. According to the legend, he calculated the height of the great pyramid, helped predict a lunar and solar eclipse and put into practice the theorems of Thales.Check for a reputable maths tutor near me here.Ancient Greece, and especially Miletus, had a deep influence on Western philosophyHis mathematical and scientific research are considered as having revolutionized the times.Considered as a sage, Thales always prided himself on explaining his discoveries from a rational point of view instead of a mythological one, las was tradition at the time. For him, the process of observation and creating proofs were the base of scientific reasoning.According to some accounts written many year s after his death, Thales died around 547 BCE in Miletus while attending a gymnastic competition. Found in the bleachers, he had apparently died of hunger, thirst and age.Some other great mathematicians and philosophers from this area include Archimedes!How Thales Influenced Math CoursesEveryone has heard of, and even learned, many of the theorems that Thales discovered. Thales was the first to mark the history of mathematics in the creation of his scientific formula and principle. Here are five of the geometric theorems he has been credited with:A circle is bisected by a diameterAngles in a triangle are equal if their opposites are two sides of equal lengthIntersecting straight lines produce opposite angles that are equalA right angle, and its corresponding right triangle, can be drawn inside of and using a semicircleIf a triangle’s base and two angles are given, the triangle can be drawnWhile these may sound too simple today to have ever been considered revolutionary, they actua lly give us a lot of information and were considered a major innovation at the time. Thales’ theorems are utilized to calculate certain relationships of longitude and proportions in geometric figures possessing parallel lines. They are also used to calculate many concepts in trigonometry, when there is the presence of two parallel lines.According to legend, Thales discovered this theorems while calculating the height of a pyramid. To do this, the mathematician calculated the shadow of the pyramid to the floor. With the help of a cane, Thales was able to calculate the dimensions of the pyramid of Egypt in relation to the shadow of his cane.While Thales is credited with these theorems, however, they were already known by the Babylonians and Egyptians. We know this most notably thanks to the proof elaborated in the book Euclid’s Elements, which deals with the proportionality of areas of triangles of equal height. However, Thales was credited with putting words to the latter.Thales does not receive credit in many countries for some of his theorems. For example, the English call one of his theorems the Theorem of Interception, while for the same theorem the Germans call it the Theorem of Rays. However, these are all not completely identical and it resembles more the theory of Pythagoras.The history of Greek mathematicians is incomplete without the mention of ThalesThales From Math to AstronomyDuring the course of his life, Thales utilized mathematics to understand important notions of real life. Math exercises, prime numbers, decimals, equations, medians, subtraction, addition, philosophy, architecture â€" math served as a tool to understand the world around him.Early on in his career, Thales developed a passion for astronomy and analyzing the sky. Because of this he is considered as one of the pioneering forces behind of Greek astronomy.Similar to his research in mathematics, Thales utilized the method of observation for constellations in order to understand h ow the universe functioned. He made many discoveries in these areas:Used the little dipper to guide sailors in the open oceanCalculated the length of a year thanks to intervals of a solstice and equinoxesIndicated the pathway of the son in between the two tropicsListed the ephemerisHis discoveries were only a small part of his observations. Most notably, he analyzed the number of days in a year and concluded that the year is not 365 days but 365 days and a quarter. This discovery would later be the the base of leap years.Thales also observed stars in movement, the diameter of the sun and the moon â€" all the while using the same system of measuring objects relative to the shadow of a cane. He also located the position of Pleiades, calculated the orbital inclination of zodiac, etc.Thanks to his observations, Thales also could have predicted a large harvest of olives according to Aristotle. He applied these observations of nature in order to explain how the world functioned, but most often simply ended up ameliorating the lives of those around him. For example, sailors learned how to orientate themselves thanks to him and navigation advanced tenfold.Astronomy and all of its associated fields owe a lot to Thales, who was not but a simple mathematician. To learn more about how these discoveries influenced the work of another great mathematician, Rene Descartes, click here!Thales in the Context of the GreatsAll of Thales’ discovers have placed a special mark on the field of mathematics. Arithmetic, complex functions, whole numbers, polygons, multiplication, factorization, probability - his knowledge and discoveries are still taught in our day and in our maths courses, which is what places Thales as one of the biggest mathematicians of history.Ancient philosophy was impacted by thinkers like ThalesHowever, more than his discoveries, Thales theorized knowledge that was already established by the Egyptians or Babylonians. The mathematician didn’t just content hims elf with this knowledge, laid out in mythological truths, but searched to observe and prove all these affirmations that he encountered during his studies through math. In this way, Thales baffled his contemporaries.In a book by Jean Voilquin, the scientific French editor explained that Thales wanted to “replace mythological explanation” of phenomena “by physical explanation.” This is what leads Voilquin, along with many others, to name him as “one of the precursors to Greek science.”Thales’ scientific legacy is magnified by the discoveries made by his School of Miletus. Called the Milesian school, or “Ionian School”, their work revolutionized the field of science and they have come to be known as pre-Socratic philosophers. His teaching, specific to Thales, favored visual perception and observation in order to inject practicality into knowledge.The school included mostly geometry and astronomy, Thales’ two preferred fields, but it also worked on subjects like biol ogy, physics, and metaphysics. They were the first students to be called Physics-ians and studied everything about nature.The Miletus School disciples utilized concepts like the four elements in order to give explanations over the function of the environment. All these studies are considered as the first scientific investigations into nature and have left an indelible contribution to the sciences.Thales didn’t just mark the field of mathematics in antiquity, but also the history of science   as a whole, inspiring works of even Sir Isaac Newton. For that, we should remember his name along with his achievements.

What is a Rational Number

What is a Rational Number A rational number is a number which has a numerator and a denominator. Rational numbers are also called as fractions and in some cases they can also be described as a part of the whole. Generally rational numbers are represented in a/b form where a and b are any integers except b 0. If the number in the denominator is 0, then the rational number becomes undefined and is no more called a rational number. In some cases rational numbers can be simplified further as well. Example 1: Add the given two rational numbers: 4/7+ 3/7. Given expression: 4/7+ 3/7 Here both 4/7 and 3/7 are fractions and they are being added together. In order to add or subtract two fractions, we have to make sure that the fractions have the same denominator. Both 4/7 and 3/7 have the same denominator 7, hence they can be added directly! This gives: 4/7+ 3/7= (4+ 3)/= 7/7. 7/7 can be simplified by dividing the top and the bottom by the factor 7-7/7= 1/1 Therefore, 4/7+ 3/7= 1/1= 1. Example 2: Multiply the given two rational numbers, (3/5) * (4/6) Given rational numbers: (3/5) * (4/6) Now in order to multiply the given two rational numbers, we multiply the numbers in the numerators together and the numbers in the denominators together. This gives: (3/5) * (4/6) = (3 * 4)/ (5 * 6) = 12/30 Now we can simplify 12/30 by dividing the top and the bottom with their common factor 6- 12/30 = 2/5 Hence we get: (3/5) * (4/6) = 2/5.

What Are The Formalities To Study In Portugal

What Are The Formalities To Study In Portugal Everything You Need To Do Before Going To Study In Portugal ChaptersDo You Need A Passport To Study In Portugal?Do You Need A Visa To Study In Portugal?How To Register For University?Other Formalities You Might Have To Go ThroughWith a rise of 15.7%, the natives of the United Kingdom continued to be the sixth expatriate community in Portugal with a total of 22,431 people in 2017.Portugal offers a friendly living environment for British students who would like to pursue their Portuguese studies outside their country.But what are the steps to take before leaving to Portugal? IrineuPortuguese Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GabrielaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouisePortuguese Teacher 5.00 (2) £27/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RodrigoPortuguese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BlancaPortuguese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarolinaPortuguese T eacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (6) £11/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDo You Need A Passport To Study In Portugal?British students are not required to have a passport to travel to Portugal, even if their language stay lasts more than three months.The country is part of the Schengen area, ensuring the free movement of persons, as is the UK.If you wish to spend a few months during your university studies in Portugal, only a valid identity card is required.You can apply for a first adult passport if all of the following apply:you’re a British nationalyou’re aged 16 or over (or will be in 3 weeks)you’ve never had a UK passport beforeYou can also apply if your last UK passport was an old handwritten blue or black one.You can use your child passport until it expires, even if you’re over 18. An adult passport is valid for 10 years. If you’re in the UK, you can either:apply online - it costs £75.50apply with a paper form - it costs £85There’s a different way to apply if you’re overseas.There will be no change to the rights and status of EU citizens currently living in the UK until 30 June 2021, or 31 December 2020 if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.You must send original documents. Photocopies are not accepted. If you do not have your original certificates (for example, your birth certificate), you need to get an official copy.If your documents are not in English or Welsh, you need to send a certified translation. You can send laminated documents if that’s the only format they are issued in.You’ll need your full birth certificate or adoption certificate and either:your mother’s or father’s full UK birth certificate, or the Home Office certificate of registration or naturalisation, or a British passport belonging to one of your parents that was valid when you were born, or a British passport number for either parentevidence of one of your parents’ immigration status in the UK at the time of your birth, for example, a foreign passport belonging to one of your parents that was valid when you were bornIf you send documents relating to your father, you must also send your parents’ marriage certificate.Once you've got your passport, you'll need to get your flights! (Source: jackmac34)Do You Need A Visa To Study In Portugal?For a stay abroad in a country of the Schengen area, as a UK citizen, you do not need a visa.However, you will need to apply for a temporary residence permit (Autorização de Residência) on arrival if you wish to stay for more than three months and less than one year. A fee of 7 € will be charged.You must apply for your residence permit within three months at the Foreigners and Borders Service (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) of your city.In Lisbon:Avenida Antonio Augusto de Aguiar 20 1069-118 Lisboa Tel: (351) 21 358 55 00In Porto:Rua D. Joao IV 536 4013 Porto Tel: (351) 22 589 87 10The documents to be provided are as f ollows:The application for a residence permit,Your identity card or passport,A passport photo,Proof of your student status.If you wish to stay for more than one year, you will need to apply for a residence permit from the same department.To do an internship or work in Portugal, young British people do not need a visa either, but a work permit. All you need to do is present your passport, your employment contract or proof of income if you do not yet have a contract.Working visas usually take a while to get in Portugal. But it is common that you would be authorised to start your employment before you are issued your work visa.In addition, you will need to have a non-resident Contributor number be in good order with the Portuguese tax serviced. You will be asked for proof of residence in your country of origin.Please note that this number will be required to complete a lot of procedures. If you plan to settle permanently in Portugal, it is better to apply.Lisbon is one of the oldest ca pital in the world. Take the tram up the hills of the city and be transported through its history.How To Register For University?For students, another question arises: how to register at their host university?First of all, you must have a secondary school graduation certificate, essentially your A-level results, corresponding to the certificado of habilitaçoes do ensino secundàrio or diploma de ensino secundàrio in Portugal.To register, you will need to request an equivalence of the A-levels from the Portuguese Ministry of Education.Your application will only be accepted after you have passed the entrance exams, called Provas de ingresso.You can be exempt from this requirement if you have already completed a degree in Portuguese depending on the institution you are aiming for in Portugal.Otherwise, the entrance exam includes 1 to 3 subjects depending on the university course you are considering to take. The universities themselves set the minimum mark to be obtained each year in order to be able to enter their course. But if it is a very popular university, the minimum grade to get in may be much higher than usual...The tests obviously depend on the course chosen and the university concerned. Ask them directly for more information. To obtain the application form, ask the coveted educational institution directly. The procedures are carried out until the end of June-early July.For some courses, prerequisites may be required as soon as you apply (this is the case for physical education in particular).Be aware that a quota system promotes access for young people of Portuguese origin living abroad.Your Portuguese language level will also be assessed. It is mandatory to master the language in order to study Portuguese abroad.The Portuguese university systemPortugal is also part of the Bachelor's master's doctorate system, which aims to standardise diplomas across Europe.A university cycle in Portugal is therefore equivalent to a British university cycle.There are two types of establishments in Portugal with the same organisation:Universities: general and theoretical knowledge, Polytechnic institutes: vocational education.The University of Coimbra is renowned for studying law, management and literature, while the universities of Porto and Lisbon are particularly sought after by students in economics and medicine.The system is comparable to the British system:1st cycle licenciatura (bachelor): three to four years of study depending on the course. Obtaining 180 to 240 ECTS credits. For polytechnics, it may also be the Bacharelato (bachelor) in three years,2nd cycle mestrado (master): one to two years of study to deepen a specialization or become more professional,3rd cycle doutoramento (doctorate).The academic year begins in mid-October and ends in mid-May, much like in the UK.The cost of living abroad varies depending on the nation you choose to visit. Eligible Erasmus+ students receive a grant of €280 â€" €330 a month towards accommodati on and living costs, on top of any existing allowances or loans that are in place through your current university.There’s also an extra €120 a month available for students who already qualify for supplementary support for higher education, and further financial assistance for students with special needs.You do not have to pay tuition fees at the university you choose to visit, and you may even be able to take advantage of a financial contribution for your existing UK tuition fees if you study abroad for the whole academic year.Speak to the Erasmus+ representative at your university to find out more.stoi is situated 10km north from the coastline and has two interesting tourist attractions: the Palácio de Estoi and the Milreu Roman Ruins.Other Formalities You Might Have To Go ThroughDepending on the length of your stay, you may have to take other steps.To have water, electricity or internet, you can easily do it with the companies managing your network by phone provided you speak Portuguese. In most cases, the invoices are in the owner's name and you pay the money directly to the owner.To subscribe to a telephone contract, simply go to the shop of an operator who will provide you with a local SIM card. You can pay a monthly fee or use a pre-paid cardTo open a bank account if you do not have an address yet, here are the required documents:Identity card or passport,Proof of residence in the country of origin,Your Tax Identification Number,An address in Portugal for sending correspondence.To open a bank account if you already rent a home, here are the documents requested:Identity card or passport,Proof of residence in the country of origin (proof of address and tax number)Portuguese taxpayer card,Proof of application for a residence card,Proof of address in Portugal (rental contract or invoice for water, electricity, gas, telephone).You should now have a better idea of everything you need to do before leaving for Portugal.

A Guide to the International Baccalaureate Program

A Guide to the International Baccalaureate Program The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a non-profit organization offering holistic and intensive curricula to students aged three to 19. There are many benefits to participating in an IB program: Students in the Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes frequently outperform non-IB students. Additionally, IB Diploma Programme students are more likely to apply and enroll at top colleges and universities. These benefits, coupled with the global worldview and independent thought encouraged through the programs, leave students in a great position for further success. Want to learn more about IB options? Weve created a guide to the International Baccalaureate Program, so that you can learn more about the IBs four programs and how to get involved. About the Primary Years Programme The Primary Years Programme was first introduced in 1997 for children aged 3-12. Rather than being academically rigorous for young children, the educational goals of this program are holistic development and to encourage an interest in lifelong learning. The curriculum prepares students to be active learners and participants both in and out of the classroom. About the Middle Years Programme In 1994, the IB adopted the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students ages 11-16. Although challenging, the MYP curriculum is intended to be inclusive of all academic abilities and interests. The program forces students to draw practical connections between their studies in class and reality beyond the classroom. MYP is generally a five-year program for students; however, some students may find themselves in an abridged version of the program, consisting of two, three, or four years of study. Students that participate in the Middle Years Programme are well positioned to succeed in the IB Diploma Programme or Career-related Programme. About the IB Diploma Programme The most well-known IB program is the Diploma Programme (DP). Students who have previously completed the MYP are prepared to do well in the DP, but the program is designed so that students can succeed, even if their first IB program is the Diploma Programme. The DP was founded in 1968 and is geared toward high school students aged 16-19. The DP, just like the prior programs, offers a holistic approach to education. High school students in IB courses should expect to complete research, community service, and an extensive essay as part of the programs core requirements. He or she would then select courses from six core subject areas: studies in language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, and the arts. Upon completion of coursework, students take exams that may qualify them to earn college credit, similar to AP courses. About the Career-related Programme First offered to IB schools in 2012, the newest IB offering is the Career-related Programme (CP), which is available to students ages 16-19 and aims to prepare students for specific internships, apprenticeships, and careers. It is similar to the Diploma Programme, but differs in requirements and focus. The CP is best suited for students who have a specific career path in mind, as students will participate in a two-year professional program of their choice. CP students will complete a minimum of two Diploma Programme courses, in addition to career-related study and the CP required courses. The CP curriculum ends with written exams to ensure students have met the requirements of the program. How to get involved in the International Baccalaureate Program In order for a student to enroll in the IB curriculum, his or her school must be approved to offer IB programs. If you are interested in such a curriculum, ask your advisor if the school provides IB instruction. If so, find out how to sign up. If not, you or your parents can talk with school administrators about seeking authorization to teach one or more of the programs. You can also search for the nearest IB World School through the IBs website, if your school is unable or unwilling to provide IB curriculum. IB has a lengthy history and offers many educational choices for students of all ages, with a reputation to match. If you are interested in pursuing an IB Diploma or other program, dont be shy about asking your school to get involved. Interested in IB tutoring? Check out our gallery of available IB Extended Essay tutors and IB Theory of Knowledge tutors.

Office Politics 101 Play Positive - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Office Politics 101 Play Positive - Introvert Whisperer Office Politics 101: Play Positive What’s the worst Office Politics you ever witnessed play out around you? Share in the comments! Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!  Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

What is it Like to Attend Virginia Tech

What is it Like to Attend Virginia Tech The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Caroline is a Washington D.C. tutor who specializes in ACT prep tutoringand Biology tutoring. She is a 2013 graduate of Virginia Tech with a Bachelors degree in Microbiology. See what she had to say about her undergraduate experience: 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? Caroline: A lot of the charm of Virginia Tech is its rural campus. The town of Blacksburg is small and friendly, and I have never felt threatened walking across the campus or down Main Street. There is a fantastic, free bus system for students that runs to the major apartment complexes and to several stops on campus. There are also many bike racks and fairly light traffic so that biking is not daunting. Tech is also unique because freshmen are allowed to have cars on campus, which is a bit of a rarity in larger universities. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Caroline: People are daunted by the class size of Virginia Tech, but the professors are remarkably available. They are required to have set office hours that you can attend with questions and most professors frequently encourage their students to take advantage of them. Most classes have TAs, though you will interact the most with them in lab classes (I was a Biology major, so I had lots and lots of labs). My academic adviser was my best resource at Tech, and also became my boss when he allowed me to work in his lab. We are still in contact and he is always available if I have questions or need advice. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Caroline: Virginia Tech freshmen are required to live on campus their first year and I believe that it was a very valuable opportunity for me. The freshman rooms are typical, small dorms with two people per room. Some have air conditioning, though most dont. This is really only an issue at the beginning of the year however, because by September its usually cooled off and all rooms have very efficient heating. If a student decides to stay in dorms for the rest of their academic career, they can live in very nice suite- or hotel-style dorms. All of the academic buildings are on one side of the campus and dorms (and food!) on the other, so it really does feel like a large community when walking around on the student side of campus. No dorm is more than a 15-minute walk away from class and no more than five minutes from food. The dining halls are amazing, and include one buffet-style and many other a la carte options in multiple dining halls including lobster, Chik-Fil-A, Pizza Hut, and Dunkin Donuts! 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? Caroline: The largest majors at Virginia Tech are the Natural Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics), Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, and Computer), and Design (Industrial and Architectural). I was a Biology major with a focus in Microbiology. Virginia Tech is a research university, meaning that many professors are required to perform research as part of their job. Finding research opportunities in Biology was simple and really has helped my career potential after graduation. Professors of Biology were passionate and engaging, and were some of my favorite people outside of the topics they discussed. There are many clubs for all Natural Sciences and Engineering as well. 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? Caroline: Freshman year was a rush of meeting new people in my dorm, classes, and clubs. Every freshman is there to look for friends and with over 20,000 undergraduate students, there is very likely to be someone at Tech whom you will become close with. Greek life is present and very active at Virginia Tech, with many of the major organizations represented, but it is not overbearing. The houses are set apart from campus and I never felt any pressure to follow the typical Greek path. I became a brother of Alpha Chi Sigma, the professional chemistry fraternity, and still keep in contact with other brothers and miss the many events that we sponsored in the Blacksburg community. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Caroline: Another perk of a large research university is the diversity of well-known companies that recruit at Tech. Major STEM companies recruit frequently, and there are separate job expos for engineers and other well-represented groups on campus. The Career Center is a very good resource to use to prepare for the interactions at these expos as well as for interviews after graduation. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Caroline: Dorm lounges are frequently filled with groups of friends on the weekends, but tend to thin out and quiet down during the week. It is very common to see people studying on weeknights, though it is still a more active area than the library would be. The student union is very nice and spacious, and many students choose to meet in small groups there to work on projects or grab some food while they study (there is a Sbarro for tasty pizza, as well as a couple of other food options). The library is an excellent place to study and is truly massive. It has more than enough computers for everyone and tons of table space. The wi-fi is strong across campus and very fast in the library, so you can bring your laptop and scope out a table quickly. There are even study rooms that are free for any student to use. You can shut the door for an intense study session, and they even have large whiteboards for working on practice problems or organizing your ideas. 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? Caroline: Blacksburg is a small, rural town with many less people than the student body of Virginia Tech. If you want a large, fast-paced, urban environment, then Blacksburg is not for you. However, I adored it because of the numerous hiking opportunities nearby (youre literally in the Appalachian Mountains and will often run into hikers doing the full Trail or parts of it). My favorite doughnut place in the word was right down the street from my apartment, and was a local business that had been there for decades. The restaurants downtown are fantastic. Downtown Blacksburg really picks up on the weekends and especially on game days. I absolutely love going to Hokie Football games, and the town swells in size as alumni flood in from every bordering state to support their favorite team. If downtown and sports arent your thing, however, you can always hang out on the Drillfield (a massive quad) in the middle of Techs campus and read or participate in club sports that practice there ever y evening. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Caroline: As Ive mentioned, Virginia Tech is a pretty large university. Coming from a small private high school, I was afraid the large class size would be daunting and uncomfortable. Instead, it pushed me to work harder and try to stand above the average. In more general classes, like Intro Chemistry, a class size of 300-400 is not uncommon. However, as you become a more specialized student, your classes will shrink. My 400 level senior Biology classes frequently had 30-50 people, which was an ideal learning environment for the more challenging material. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Caroline: In one of those large classes I was talking about, Ecology, there were about 300 other students. The professor was gregarious, passionate, and engaging, but the material was difficult for many people. He would make a point to test you on your understanding of concepts, not memorization of facts, and most of his test was reasoning through questions that you hadnt been hyper exposed to in lecture. I would study as much as I could, take tests, and go home feeling like I had failed. Somehow, the subject just clicked with me, though. I got high scores on all of my tests and ended up explaining concepts to classmates when they realized that I understood them. At the end of the semester, I placed out of my final exam because of my high average grade. On the last day of class, our professor walked in with an armful of roses. He told us that it was his tradition to give something back to the hardest working students in his class every semester. He called out names one by one, and gave out a rose to the students (male and female!) with the highest averages in the class. When he finished giving out single roses, there was one full bouquet sitting on the table in front of him. He called out my name, shook my hand, and gave me an armful of flowers in front of the class. I had managed to get the highest average score and I could not have been prouder of any experience at Virginia Tech. Check out Carolines tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.