A Good Organic Chemistry Tutor Washer Can Make an Irresistible Difference

A Good Organic Chemistry Tutor Washer Can Make an Irresistible DifferenceOne of the best things about hiring an organic chemistry tutor washer is that the expense for such a method of tuition really can't be beat. Here's how it works: the tutor will load your lesson and lecture materials, you will have the materials, and then you will take an online course in organic chemistry at a university. That is the way it is now, that is the way it will always be, but what will happen in the future?There are going to be many more tutors out there for organic chemistry, but most of them won't be as good as the best-known one on the market today. This is because the business model of this method of tuition is much more business oriented than that of regular education. They have all sorts of research that has to be done, or they won't be able to give the best tuition.For example, some people would think that the professor and tutors in other subjects that are on a lot of college syllabi must be v ery smart and knowledgeable, but that is not necessarily true. It's true that in this field, there are often a lot of sub-professors, but the qualities of these professors vary tremendously. If you look into the school books, you will see that each sub-professor gets a different amount of time on his syllabus. The quality of his work also changes a lot.The tutor washer method is a little different. Instead of a large teaching staff, each individual instructor has more freedom to work with a customized online program and loads the lesson materials.One of the advantages of this system is that it does not take as long to develop a student's understanding of the subject matter as the tutor. The tutor will have to spend his entire day putting together a lesson and a lecture, and then he will need to go through and compile the materials for the whole lecture so that he can hand them over to the student at the end of the class. Not all students are suited to doing this sort of thing, and t he system used by most colleges these days can really add up to a lot of material that has to be downloaded and therefore slow down the whole process.Another advantage of this system is that the tutor does not have to worry about getting the materials from a traditional source. Because the syllabus is online, this tutor washer is going to be able to take the materials from wherever he finds them, but the advantage for him is that he can still have some control over where they come from. He will be able to take materials that have been created with the benefit of a 'course grade' which is given to every student for every single lecture.All in all, a good organic chemistry tutor washer can make an enormous difference to the learning experience. He may just be the difference between being a good organic chemistry student and a better organic chemistry student.

The beginners guide to teaching abroad in the Middle East

The beginner’s guide to teaching abroad in the Middle East Are you considering teaching in the Middle East? If your answer is yes, then we’ve got some good news for you! There are a wealth of teaching opportunities for teachers at all levels in the Middle East and each country in this fascinating region has something unique to offer. From average teacher salary and benefits, to typical start up costs and the cost of living, as well as the most popular areas to find teaching jobs in each country, we’ve done the research on teaching in the Middle East so you don’t have to! Read on for more information on teaching in the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan. Country Average Teacher Salary Benefits Start up Costs Cost of Living Teaching job hot spots (urban/rural) UAE (United Arab Emirates) $2,400 - 5,500 USD Airfare, health insurance, housing, tuition, end of contract bonus None Housing costs are high Abu Dhabi, Dubai Egypt $2,300 - 4,500 USD Airfare, housing allowance, health insurance None Low Cairo, Alexandria Saudi Arabia $4,500 USD Airfare for teacher, spouse and dependents, housing allowance, relocation allowance, end-of-contract bonus None Medium in urban areas Riyadh Qatar 9,000 - 14,000 QR (approx. $2,400 to 3,700 USD) tax free Airfare, housing allowance, health insurance None High in urban areas Doha and other rural areas Kuwait 792 KWD (approx. $2,600 - 4,000 USD) tax free Airfare, housing allowance, health insurance None High in urban areas Kuwait Jordan $3,000 - 3,800 USD Airfare, housing allowance, health insurance, professional development None High Amman

If You Want To Speak A(ny) Language Dont Learn It

If You Want To Speak A(ny) Language Dont Learn It From time to time I feel a great temptation to share my own learning and teaching experiences with other people. The way we learn something is critically important to the final outcome. How do we learn languages? Normally, we memorize some basic words and phrases, then we learn some grammar rules and try to compose phrases using wrong words and making predictable mistakes since the interference from the native language is so strong. Why is it that after years of studies many still fail speaking fluently? Do they fail because they are stupid and lazy? Definitely not. At the very beginning of our lives we learnt our native languages perfectly well, so we are capable of learning languages. Probably, the way we acquire a new language is not the most efficient. Most likely, it is quite inefficient. We didnt learn the native language as a sum of vocabulary and grammar rules. We never thought about the grammar at all, and yet we succeeded. Photo source: Nina How do kids acquire their first language? They use it from the very first minute. They hear voices of people around and react to them. Meanwhile their brains collect statistics of the word usage, grammar structures and pronunciation (neurologists believe every healthy human brain has a capability to collect and analyze the language statistics by nature). Then kids try to express their emotions, needs and wants with sounds mimicking the speech of other people and adjusting their grammar and word usage according to our reaction to their speech. So the more a kid speaks the better he gets at it. We have to learn from our own childhood experience how to acquire a language; after all, it was successful once. Of course, it is impossible to recreate the circumstances of our early pre-language childhood, but what we can do is to change our learning strategy. Stop learning and start using seems to be a more efficient way to acquire a new language, and this is not so hard to do. First of all, it is useful to remember that there is a difference between using a language passively (listening and reading) and actively (speaking and writing). When learning a new language, one should develop both active and passive language skills. It is relatively easy to improve reading and listening in our age of the Internet. Passive skills are all about consuming language. For developing listening skill, you can watch movies, listen to online radio broadcasting and the music you like, memorize lyrics with no efforts (this is, actually, how I learnt English). It is not a big deal to find a good book to read (please note that this should be the book you really want to read) and/or to subscribe to blogs on topics that are interesting to you. Active language skills means that you produce some text (oral or written) and address it to your audience. Finding an audience that is ready to help a non-native speaker with corrections is not so easy, but again, there is the Internet with its powerful resources like  iTalki. I would also suggest a website  www.forvo.com  that is a social pronunciation dictionary. I use it each time when I hesitate how to pronounce this or that word. So why not use the advantage of the Internet epoch? Why be so persistent in methods that rarely lead to success instead of trying a natural way of acquiring a language? If you want to learn dancing you go to the dancing studio, pick up a partner and dance, improving gradually. Buying a book “Waltz and Tango course” instead would be ridiculous, wouldnt it? Language is a practical skill too, just like dancing, however, nobody has found learning a language from books absurd. Let us be like children, forget that learning is hard work (it is!) and enjoy discovering a new language, tinkering with it, exactly like we tinkered with our first language many years ago. About the author: Eugenia  is a Professional Russian and English language teacher.  Eugenia enjoys explaining complicated grammar things with simple words. She helps people acquire a new language naturally simply by talking about interesting things.  Eugenia has a 5-star feedback rating, and has  taught over 161 sessions on italki. If You Want To Speak A(ny) Language Dont Learn It From time to time I feel a great temptation to share my own learning and teaching experiences with other people. The way we learn something is critically important to the final outcome. How do we learn languages? Normally, we memorize some basic words and phrases, then we learn some grammar rules and try to compose phrases using wrong words and making predictable mistakes since the interference from the native language is so strong. Why is it that after years of studies many still fail speaking fluently? Do they fail because they are stupid and lazy? Definitely not. At the very beginning of our lives we learnt our native languages perfectly well, so we are capable of learning languages. Probably, the way we acquire a new language is not the most efficient. Most likely, it is quite inefficient. We didnt learn the native language as a sum of vocabulary and grammar rules. We never thought about the grammar at all, and yet we succeeded. Photo source: Nina How do kids acquire their first language? They use it from the very first minute. They hear voices of people around and react to them. Meanwhile their brains collect statistics of the word usage, grammar structures and pronunciation (neurologists believe every healthy human brain has a capability to collect and analyze the language statistics by nature). Then kids try to express their emotions, needs and wants with sounds mimicking the speech of other people and adjusting their grammar and word usage according to our reaction to their speech. So the more a kid speaks the better he gets at it. We have to learn from our own childhood experience how to acquire a language; after all, it was successful once. Of course, it is impossible to recreate the circumstances of our early pre-language childhood, but what we can do is to change our learning strategy. Stop learning and start using seems to be a more efficient way to acquire a new language, and this is not so hard to do. First of all, it is useful to remember that there is a difference between using a language passively (listening and reading) and actively (speaking and writing). When learning a new language, one should develop both active and passive language skills. It is relatively easy to improve reading and listening in our age of the Internet. Passive skills are all about consuming language. For developing listening skill, you can watch movies, listen to online radio broadcasting and the music you like, memorize lyrics with no efforts (this is, actually, how I learnt English). It is not a big deal to find a good book to read (please note that this should be the book you really want to read) and/or to subscribe to blogs on topics that are interesting to you. Active language skills means that you produce some text (oral or written) and address it to your audience. Finding an audience that is ready to help a non-native speaker with corrections is not so easy, but again, there is the Internet with its powerful resources like  iTalki. I would also suggest a website  www.forvo.com  that is a social pronunciation dictionary. I use it each time when I hesitate how to pronounce this or that word. So why not use the advantage of the Internet epoch? Why be so persistent in methods that rarely lead to success instead of trying a natural way of acquiring a language? If you want to learn dancing you go to the dancing studio, pick up a partner and dance, improving gradually. Buying a book “Waltz and Tango course” instead would be ridiculous, wouldnt it? Language is a practical skill too, just like dancing, however, nobody has found learning a language from books absurd. Let us be like children, forget that learning is hard work (it is!) and enjoy discovering a new language, tinkering with it, exactly like we tinkered with our first language many years ago. About the author: Eugenia  is a Professional Russian and English language teacher.  Eugenia enjoys explaining complicated grammar things with simple words. She helps people acquire a new language naturally simply by talking about interesting things.  Eugenia has a 5-star feedback rating, and has  taught over 161 sessions on italki.

AP Chemistry Writing Tutor

AP Chemistry Writing TutorIf you have been interested in AP Chemistry Writing, you know that it can be a challenging course. There are a few basic concepts that must be mastered first before you can move onto more difficult and advanced subjects.AP Chemistry Writing requires you to use a guide to assist you as you write your essays. A good guide is essential in any course. A student with enough knowledge about the subject should always know how to prepare and what is appropriate for them to write.Before you can begin writing on a topic, you will need to know where you are at with the area and a reasonable level of understanding on that subject. This will allow you to fill in all the blanks to make an effective essay. Remember that it is the student who will carry the bulk of the workload in class.One of the best ways to improve the overall grade in AP Chemistry is to read through your assigned papers and identify areas you feel are lacking. You might want to go back to the assignment and see if you changed anything that didn't work. After identifying the areas, check to see if you found some things from the reading and essay that you could improve upon.Aid can be purchased from your school's bookstore. Or you can hire a professional to do the work for you. The latter would usually cost a few hundred dollars but you might find this to be well worth the money if you are consistently struggling to get a satisfactory grade in the course.Be sure to ask about the aid packages before you sign up for any of these. They can vary in price from school to school.The role of a science teacher is important in helping students learn science and then excel in it. In addition to making them know what the subject is about, a chemistry writing tutor will also help them with getting their work published so they can earn points towards their degree.

Why Bountiful Library Tutoring Jobs Offer Great Opportunities For Online Income

Why Bountiful Library Tutoring Jobs Offer Great Opportunities For Online IncomeTo answer your question, the answer is yes, bountiful library tutoring jobs are being advertised in the Internet. If you're worried about going to college for school and not making money, this is a great option for you. These tutoring jobs aren't just for a long term job, they're also an ongoing career in which you can actually be your own boss.One of the best things about these tutoring jobs is that you can expect to receive no tuition payment, which means that you won't have to worry about your money. Unlike the infamous tuition reimbursement plan in college, there is no way for a student to make money with the bountiful library tutoring jobs because there's no fee to be paid. So instead of struggling to make ends meet while paying for your tuition, you can finally start enjoying the fruits of your labor.Tutoring jobs are in high demand. As a result, it's one of the best places to get started when it com es to starting a business online. When you sign up for these paid tutoring jobs, you will need to work online, which is where all the hustle and bustle of the world's busiest online career marketplace come into play. The more time that you spend at your job, the more money you'll earn.So just because you sign up for the bountiful library tutoring jobs, doesn't mean that you're going to be sitting at home with your eyes closed working from your couch all day. In fact, when you sign up for the tutoring jobs, you will be assigned to a tutor that will meet with you each day and either visit you at home or show you around campus.Once the tutor meets with you at your home, you will then go back to the office and give him a lesson. The tutor will then give you a grade, and if you pass or fail, you will either get paid a fee or receive another lesson that will either focus on the area that you failed or improve on it.There's no need to worry about having free time, as you will now have mone y in your pocket, as well as a steady income, which means that you don't have to worry about any free time. Even if you decide to take a vacation, you will be able to find a job immediately after getting back from your vacation.The Internet has opened the door for many people to start a lucrative and successful business online. Now all you have to do is sign up for bountiful library tutoring jobs and start generating extra income from home.

What Should You Expect From a YouTube Com For an Online Class in Organic Chemistry?

What Should You Expect From a YouTube Com For an Online Class in Organic Chemistry?When it comes to learning Organic Chemistry and a YouTube Com for an online class, the first question most people have is about how long the course should be. For those of you who are serious about learning Organic Chemistry and a YouTube Com for an online class, then the answer is simple. It is going to take you a very long time.When I started to learn Organic Chemistry, the best course that I could find was the one from a chemistry textbook. That wasn't very appealing at all. There is nothing worse than having to sit through an entire chapter of all of your hard work just to get to the end of the course because you need to get to the part where the textbook says to go to the next chapter.You need to remember that learning Organic Chemistry and a YouTube Com for an online class is not going to be easy. You will need to devote some time to every day of the course. This is a very difficult course, so if you don't want to waste any more time than you have to, you are going to have to put a lot of work into the course.Of course, when you finally finish the course, you are going to find out that the Organic Chemistry videos that you have been watching didn't do anything for you. The reason that they did not do anything for you is because the Organic Chemistry video or the YouTube Com video, never gave you the answers that you were looking for. The only thing that they really did was make you feel good about yourself and really motivated you to continue doing the course.The reason that the Organic Chemistry videos didn't do anything for you is because the Organic Chemistry video did not give you the actual test questions. The only way that you are going to be able to study the Organic Chemistry videos and Organic Chemistry test questions is by using your textbook. That is the only way that you are going to be able to study and take the tests.In order to really study and understand Org anic Chemistry, you are going to have to take an actual course from a university that is devoted to the subject. The reason that this is the only way that you are going to be able to do this is because you are going to have to invest a lot of money into the course. You are going to have to spend a lot of money just in order to get the course.If you are seriously considering taking an Organic Chemistry course, then you really need to think about what you need to do in order to get your money's worth. The very first thing that you need to consider is whether or not you are going to be able to afford the course. After that, you need to decide if you are going to be able to put in the time to study and understand Organic Chemistry.

Online Tutoring - New era in education

Online Tutoring - New era in education 0SHARESShare With the advancement in education system,  online tutoring  is becoming like a treat for the students. The amazing and user friendly audio-video interface, online teachings offer an easy and fun environment to learn. Flipping through the textbooks pages students often feel the needs a teacher to guide and online tutorials plays the same role. Now no matter where you stay, the online master can teach you from any corner of the world and that too in a click! While studying through the text books students often feel perplexed and fall in the dilemma of reaching the solution. Well, for this comes the online  homework help. Online tutors provide you with 247 supports. You’ll get an experienced teacher as per your requirements and needs. With the amazing and great collections of questions, facts and figures the online tutor gives you an entirely new experience. Now your homework, assignments etc. will get accomplished in a simple go! The  math tutors  are widely available over the internet to guide you in your routine learning and prepare you for the main exams. It also provides you an on-screen white board and space where you can write your doubts thereby interacting with your experienced teacher. It will not just enhance your present score but prepares you for the future aspects too. So try online tutorials for free in the initial phase and then register with a minimum cost to avail the endless benefits!      Chat With Our Expert Tutors Now!! [starbox id=admin]

My Experience at University of California-Berkeley

My Experience at University of California-Berkeley The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Daniel is a San Francisco-Bay Area tutor and 2014 graduate of University of California-Berkeley. He holds a Bachelors degree in Anthropologyand tutors several subjects, specializing inCollege Essay tutoring, GRE Verbal Reasoning tutoring, and Writing tutoring. Check out what Daniel had to say about his time at University of California-Berkeley: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or rural is the campus? Did you feel safe on campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Daniel: University of California-Berkeley is a bustling, urban campus ringed by businesses, restaurants, office buildings, clothing stores, and cafes. It is centrally located in the city of Berkeley with easy access to BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), as well as a multitude of regular bus lines that head toward attractions in Oakland, Emeryville, San Francisco, and beyond. There are several all-night buses for those late trips into the city. Though there is certainly crime in and around campus (typically muggings late at night), the university police force is a presence, and the campus provides a reliable late-night shuttle service. Bikes are very common, often with dedicated lanes or streets, and cars are absolutely unnecessary (plus you will quickly find yourself inundated with late-night airport trip requests as that person with the car). VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Daniel:Professors and GSIs (graduate student instructors, or teaching assistants) hold weekly office hours. Depending on the popularity of the professor, time slots can fill up almost immediately. Although professors are usually friendly and helpful, it often seemed to me that teaching was not their academic priority. GSIs may be just as busy, but they generally lavish more attention and time on students. It helps that the average GSI is much closer in age to the average undergraduate. My major adviser was knowledgeable and supportive, but from what I have heard, that does not necessarily carry across all departments. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Daniel:I never lived in the dorms, but I lived in the off-campus student cooperative system for several years. A very popular option for students (with an accompanying long waiting list), the Berkeley Student Cooperative consists of 13 houses and three apartment buildings scattered around the north and south sides of campus. The houses range in size from 17 to 149 members (all students), who work, cook, study, and socialize together. In the apartments, priority is given to low-income students. Two members cook dinner for the house six days a week, and there is a fully stocked kitchen. Decisions are made democratically at weekly councils, and members pool money to put on frequent social events. Veteran co-opers can go on to become house managers, central office employees, or members of the Board of Directors. 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? Daniel:STEM majors are generally better funded than the humanities and social sciences. University of California-Berkeleys Computer Science and Business majors are considered especially selective (and well-funded), as is the College of Chemistry and the College of Engineering. New Astrophysics, Business, and Engineering buildings are currently being built, as well as a new art museum which may house the Art Practice major. I majored in Sociocultural Anthropology. I felt drawn to Sociocultural Anthropologys unique combination of philosophy, critical theory, and interpersonal fieldwork. Anthropology at University of California-Berkeley has many world-class faculty members and a strong graduate program, meaning strong graduate student instructors. Sadly, Anthropology does not garner much attention from the university, so graduate students receive very little funding. This means fewer discussions can be held. Discussions are small, GSI-led classes meant to explore and reinforce what is l earned in the weekly lecture. I found my discussion classes to be regularly enlightening, and I disliked their relative scarcity. Other relatively underfunded majors, like Philosophy, do have discussion sections for every course. Other than that, the university provides an adequate framework for undergraduate research opportunities in Anthropology and other fields. Paid research opportunities are occasionally available, usually subsequent to a volunteer position. 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? Daniel:Living in student cooperative housing, I found it very easy to make friends. The student co-ops emphasize consent, antidiscrimination, and other safe-space social activities. It is noticeably more difficult for students living in apartments, but certainly not impossible. Many students struggle until they find a club with like-minded people. Luckily, there are a plethora of student organizations available. Greek life (sadly) plays a significant role on campus despite the numerous sexual assaults which have been reported in recent years. There are certainly positive and productive Greek organizations, particularly the academic fraternities and the queer fraternities and sororities. VT: How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services? Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Daniel:I know many people who have found the Career Center to be a helpful and supportive environment. There are several large career fairs every academic year, as well as many smaller, major-specific recruitment fairs and information sessions. VT: How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they overcrowded, easily available, spacious? Daniel:There are dozens of on-campus libraries, reading rooms, study lounges, and cafes open to undergraduates. Different students study more efficiently in different levels of noise, light, color schemes, etc., and the plethora of venues available suit any situation. 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? Daniel:Berkeley is a vibrant city with tons of interesting restaurants, bookstores, and parks. The campus is located next to bustling and urban downtown Berkeley, as well as more quiet and quaint neighborhoods like North Berkeley and Elmwood. Anyone who gets tired of Indian food, botanical gardens, and Marxist libraries can hop on a bus or BART and head into Oakland for an arts fair and amateur professional wrestling every first Friday. Emeryville has Ikea, Target, and other big box stores, and San Francisco has anything and everything. For nature enthusiasts, Tilden Park and the Strawberry Canyon Fire Trails are easily accessible. Marin is also available, if a bit more of a trek. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Daniel:University of California-Berkeley is a large school, though not unmanageably so. It is easy to find oneself within a fairly circumscribed social circle where coincidental mutual friends are common. The class sizes vary greatly, and most large lectures are helped by smaller discussion sections. I generally enjoyed my smaller classes more, but large lectures are an inevitability at a university with celebrity professors. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most. Daniel:My first semester after transferring to University of California-Berkeley from a community college, I signed up for a Medical Anthropology course based on the provocative title Critical Bioethics. As the course began and we read and discussed my professors work, I realized, to my shock, that I had already been taught this. Her cases had been used as boilerplate examples and her ideas taught as basic anthropological theory in my community college classes. I came to realize that at University of California-Berkeley, it is normal to stumble into a class with someone whose exceptional work has become fundamental to a field. Check out Daniels tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

What is it Like to Attend University of California-Berkeley

What is it Like to Attend University of California-Berkeley The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Yasmine is a San Diego tutor specializing in LSAT prep tutoring, Writing tutoring, French tutoring, and much more. She graduated from the University of California-Berkeley in 2012 with a Bachelors degree in Political Science. Check out her review of her alma mater: 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? Yasmine: UC Berkeleys campus is a fun mix between a closed, structured campus and a sprawling, integrated city campus it s the best of both worlds! Cals buildings are each different, and the layout of the campus creates pockets of unique environments, such as the more serene, nature-filled North side, and higher-traffic South side. Berkeleys campus is particularly wonderful because it is very accessible by both foot and bike. (Bikes can only be ridden within the more dense areas outside of regular class hours.) Students can easily leave a class at Dwinelle on South side and make it to their next class in North Gate within seven to eight minutes by walking. Every Cal student receives a semester bus pass during their tenure at the school. Without a pass, it costs $2.10 to hop on the bus, so the pass makes getting groceries or heading down to BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) the Bay Areas subway system simple. The majority of people who attend Berkeley do not have cars, and would be bur dened by them if they did. However, it is always nice to befriend a vehicle-owner and take advantage of the easier trips to the grocery. I bought a bike my junior year of college and absolutely loved how late it allowed me to leave my house for morning classes, and found that it opened up the campus for me. That being said, bikes (or more accurately, bike seats, handlebars, baskets, pedals, or whatever can be scrapped) are regularly stolen in Berkeley, so beware. Nevertheless, I rarely felt unsafe in the campus or town. Always walk with a buddy at night or call the BearWalk night escort service and youll be plenty safe. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Yasmine: I found that all the professors and teaching assistants that I reached out to were very helpful. The greatest obstacle in connecting with these advisors will most likely be you but I highly recommend putting in the effort and meeting with your professors and TAs in the classes you find interesting. They can provide fantastic support and insight, and it will be much easier to get a well-written, powerful letter of recommendation for internships, jobs, and graduate school if you put in the little effort now. It will be considerably less worry later! VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Yasmine: If it isnt clear yet from my earlier responses, I loved my undergraduate experience at Cal. Ive talked to many other undergrads while at school and found that dorm experiences can vary from being paired with your future best friends to making you consider transferring to another school. There was only one person I knew who considered transferring, and after her first year, she found her niche and enjoyed her next few years. Lucky for me, my first-year dorm experience was at the very best friends end of the spectrum. I lived in a 2-person room in the co-ed Unit 1 hall (located a few blocks from campus) and was fortunate enough to live on the most social and intellectually-stimulating floor I could imagine. However, if you dont find your dorm or floor particularly attractive, it is very easy to locate your niche elsewhere on campus. Joining a club or professional fraternity is easy just walk through Sproul Plaza (one of the campus main entryways) and youll find any club you c ould desire. You can also join a social fraternity or sorority. Personally, I did not go this route, but many of my close girl friends did, and they enjoyed their experiences. Its also not particularly hard to make friends in your classes, especially once you begin taking courses specific to your major. Youll soon see just how small a 26,000-person school can be. Fortunately, Cal campus dining options are plenty. There are several cafeterias which you will likely frequent during your first and maybe your second year, which are not half bad. I believe Cal installed the first college campus all-organic salad bar in the country! The fun really starts when you venture into the dining options that the city of Berkeley has to offer. There are too many fantastic restaurants to name, but you can safely know that finding delicious, relatively inexpensive food will not be a difficult task. If you choose to cook for yourself, Berkeley Bowl provides the most fresh, delicious, and cheap produce I have ever encountered. 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? Yasmine: UC Berkeley is a fantastic school and is a world-leader is so many areas; however, since it is such a large university, it cant look after each and every one of its blossoming undergrads and care for them tenderly until they reach the final goal of earning a Bachelors degree and landing a full-time job. It is my understanding that Cals Career Center is good, but I cannot speak to whether it is fantastic or terrible with confidence because I didnt take much advantage of it. I would call this my #1 mistake at Cal. Why do we go to college? To get a job. Unfortunately, this extremely basic realization didnt dawn on me until a few years into my undergrad education. I highly recommend that future Cal students understand that while the resources to help you are available at Berkeley, you will need to work (sometimes quite hard) to seek them out, and the bureaucracy at Cal is very real and can be quite frustrating. Berkeley has cultivated some world-leading programs, particularly in research-oriented majors. Mathematics, Sciences, and Engineering majors are very highly respected and carry much clout. I studied Political Science, which is another leading program at Cal. Whatever you study at Berkeley will be respected. 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? Yasmine: I am friendly and somewhat shy, and I had no trouble making friends as a freshman. Of course, every person will be unique, but the majority of the people I met over the years really enjoyed their social life at Cal. Whereas the large size of the undergraduate population could be terrifying, somehow you still see the same people on your walk to class in the morning, and eventually youll run into each other elsewhere and a budding friendship will ensue. If you find that your dorm experience is not as wonderful as you had hoped, seek out a club or social fraternity. Greek life is just one of the many communities on campus. Everything is available to you at Cal, but sometimes you actually need to go out and find it. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Yasmine: As Ive mentioned, the Career Center is an available resource, but you must seek it out. At smaller schools, you may be required to sit down with your advisor each month to chat about your progress in completing your major or your job prospects, but I did not find that to be the case in my major (Political Science) at Cal. However, I have heard that other, smaller majors do make the effort to support you more in that way. In addition to resume and cover letter critiquing, and mock interviews, the Career Center hosts an online employment page that can be very helpful for finding part- or full-time summer or graduate positions. Also, I have heard that reputable companies do recruit on campus for business, consulting, or legal positions, but I did not participate in them and so cannot elaborate. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Yasmine: Berkeley has some fantastic libraries, and each blossoms into its own persona with every unique student. For me, Doe Library was for leisurely studying and fantastic naps, Main Stacks was for crunch time, and the Music Library was for Saturdays. If you arent feeling any of the 32 libraries on campus, there are a plethora of great local cafes to escape to (and eat in). Libraries and cafes can get crowded during finals weeks, but I imagine this is true at almost every university. If you need to do research for a paper or a URAP (Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program) position, there are over 10 million books at your disposal. Berkeley has the most extensive library system of any public university in the country, so you should be able to knock out that paper without a hitch. And if the book youre looking for isnt available in any of the Cal libraries, you can check the other UC system libraries and request it for your use. In terms of libraries and research, Berkeley has yo u covered! 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? Yasmine: Berkeley is a fun town with many different sub-niches. The immediate campus surroundings are very collegial and comforting, with many cafes, cheap dining options, and shops. If you head East toward the Berkeley Hills, you will find great, nearby hiking trails. The surroundings include more high-end shops and restaurants, each neighborhood carrying its own ambiance. Of course, you can always escape to San Francisco which is less than 40 minutes away by BART a great weekend adventure. There, youll find unlimited opportunities for fun, food, and shopping. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Yasmine: The undergraduate student body is about 26,000, which can be an intimidatingly large number. However, the campus, student body, and class size never felt nearly that big to me. Most classes consist of about 30 students. Many of these smaller classes are discussion sections led by graduate students. Introductory courses tend to be large (up to 500 students), but as you get into more advanced courses, the sizes shrink quite rapidly. Seek out your professors and TAs, allow them to put a face to your name, and you should do pretty well. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Yasmine: Before I started school, I developed a small infatuation with the concept of the universe. While attending Cal Day when I was visiting my brother (he went to Cal, too!), I stumbled into a public lecture on The Universe and its Accelerating Expansion by Professor Alex Filippenko, a world-renowned astrophysicist. The course was completely outside of the scope of my intended major, but I was fascinated. When I decided to attend Cal, I sought out Filippenkos introductory astrophysics course and ended up taking his 11-person seminar the following semester. Learning under such a world-renowned professor in a field that I had little to no prior experience in seems very unique to the experience at Berkeley. Check out Yasmines tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.