How Colleges Make Admissions Decisions

How Colleges Make Admissions Decisions How colleges make admissions decisions In about 30 seconds. Hours of tedium and toil into your application, schoolwork, extra-curriculars and SAT/ACT all comes down to a quick 30-second yes or no. The sad truth is, thats usually how colleges make admissions decisions. In 2012, Rachel Rubin, a doctoral student at Harvard, surveyed 75 of the most competitive colleges regarding admissions processes. Her research revealed that there really is a black-and-white approach to some admissions, despite the constant claim we look at students holistically. College admissions have multiple steps to go through; however, most dont make it past the very first one. Step one: GPA/Test-score screeningMost schools set minimum GPA and SAT/ACT requirements. If youre significantly above the requirements youre in. If youre significant below youre out, and if youre somewhere in the middle, youre on the fence. It really is that simple. At top schools, youll need to score in the top 10% on your SAT or ACT and have a GPA of at least 3.5. But, top schools will demand that you take a tougher curriculum, meaning if you dont have any AP classes, you probably wont get in. You will need at least a 28 on the ACT and a 2,100 on the SAT (for 2012 statistics). Most colleges post their ACT/SAT requirements online. 76% of the colleges surveyed said this is how they make admissions decisions. The others (comprised mostly of selective liberal arts schools) said they look for students who are a good fit with the colleges standards and culture first. In other words, they look at your essay, recommendations and application questions first, then your grades/test scores. Step two: Quick read of your applicationIf you meet the GPA/test score requirements, schools then consider your essay, extra-curricular involvement and application. Some colleges assign letter grades to each student. A and B students will be accepted D and F students wont be, and C students will receive further review. Admissions committees are looking for students who stand out, students who will thrive at their school. You have to show passion and that youre headed for a great academic/professional career. But, most importantly, you have to DO SOMETHING. If youre majoring in Creative Writing, write a collection of short stories and publish them on a WordPress site. Include the link in your essay. Science majors can complete a project and enter in a competition. Write about your findings. For business, try to start a small company, even if its just you. It doesnt have to be successful and profitable, but the fact that you tried sets you above the rest. Those are the types of students who get accepted based on essays and letters of recommendation. Step three: Scrutinize your applicationSome colleges will make a decision after step two, but others will further consider your application. This is where they look at you holistically and compare every detail of your essay, involvement and recommendations to other students. This is usually the last step, but some colleges may require an interview. The intangibles:Colleges favor students for a variety of factors beyond race/ethnicity. Your selected major could play a role, especially if its uncommon in the applicant pool. Schools try to avoid making decisions based on students financial needs. But, all factors equal, a student who has no financial needs may get in over one who has major financial needs.

What is the USMLE

What is the USMLE Medical students spend a significant amount of time in school. Once a doctor has their M.D., or Doctor of Medicine degree, theres one last thing to do before they can practice medicine: get licensed. In order to become licensed to practice medicine in the United States, doctors must pass the USMLE. Given in a series of three steps, this exam, administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners, is designed to test a physicians knowledge and ability to provide appropriate medical care. If youre planning on pursuing a career in medicine, keep reading to learn what you need to know about the USMLE exam. USMLE basics The USMLE is a three-step examination that tests what youve learned about providing appropriate medical care to patients. The USMLE is given at different times throughout a students allopathic medical school career. If you pass all the steps of the USMLE, you become eligible to apply for a license to practice medicine in the U.S. [RELATED: 10 Study Habits to Avoid] USMLE Step 1 Step 1 of the USMLE is designed to assess whether or not youre able to apply basic scientific concepts when practicing medicine. Most medical school students take it after their second year. This step incorporates practical questions about a number of subjects, including anatomy, behavioral sciences, microbiology, pharmacology, physiology, and others. Step 1 is given in eight hours on one day, and is divided into seven 60-minute parts. There is a maximum of 40 questions in each partaltogether, there is a maximum of 280 questions. Students are not allowed to retake Step 1 if they pass just to earn a higher score. This test costs $630. [RELATED: Time Management Tips for Students] USMLE Step 2 This portion of the USMLE is meant to judge your ability to apply your medical and scientific knowledge to practicing medicine in a clinical setting under supervision. Most medical students take Step 2 during their fourth year of medical school. Step 2 is divided into two parts: Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge) Step 2 CS (Clinical Skills) During the CK part of Step 2, you will demonstrate your basic clinical knowledge and skills throughout eight 60-minute blocks spread out over a nine-hour test day. In this part of the exam, youll answer multiple-choice questions that run through different medical scenarios that you must determine how to react to. Step 2 CK costs $630. Step 2 CS is an in-person exam where you see multiple actors who play roles as patients. When you see these patients, you must perform a physical exam, collect their medical history, diagnose any conditions he or she may have, and write a patient note based on your interaction. Youll have 15 minutes for your patient encounter and 10 minutes to write your patient note. Step 2 CS costs $1,290 to take. USMLE Step 3 This is the last part of the USMLE, and its usually taken upon a students graduation from medical school during their first year of residency. It tests your knowledge of medicine and ability to practice unsupervised. This is a two-day examination that covers a wide range of medical issues, from pregnancy and childbirth to behavioral and emotional disorders. Step 3 of the USMLE is held over two days. The first days test session lasts about seven hours, and includes 232 multiple-choice questions split into six 60-minute blocks of 38 to 39 questions. The second days test session lasts about nine hours and is split into six 45-minute blocks of 30 multiple-choice questions. The last part includes 13 patient case simulations that last 10 to 20 minutes each. This test costs $875. USMLE scoring You must pass all parts of the USMLE in order to apply for a license to practice medicine. Each part of the test, except Step 2 CS, is weighed on a three-digit scale. The minimum passing scores are 194 for Step 1, 209 for Step 2 CK, and 196 for Step 3. Step 2 CS is scored as pass or fail based on your performance. [RELATED: 3 Efficient Ways to Study on the Go] After you pass all parts of the USMLE, you can request a transcript be sent to the medical licensing authority of your choice. If you can get through these many years of testing, it can pay off in the form of a rewarding career in medicine. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Charity News

Charity News HEART is selected to receive funding from Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Charlotte HEART is selected to receive funding from Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Charlotte January 28, 2014 Eleven Years of Ivy League Giving Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Charlotte through the Management Development Program to Donate $50K To Local Charities January 14, 2014 Charlotte, NC â€" At 6 p.m., Thursday, January 30, 2014, the Harvard Business School (HBS) Alumni Club of Charlotte will celebrate their eleventh Management Development Program and reveal the names of local non-profit agencies slated to receive a portion of the program’s $50,000 surplus. By way of history, HBS Club of Charlotte’s MDP program utilizes volunteers from their own alumni base to teach a 13 week Management Development Program â€" a mini-MBA program based on Harvard’s famous case study method â€" for mid and high level executives throughout the Carolinas. The executive education program has become popular with over 120 local corporations, including Bank of America, Coca Cola Bottling, Duke Energy, Electric Guard Dog, Snyders-Lance and Wells Fargo. Electric Guard Dog CEO Jack DeMao commented, “Well worth the time and money involved. My CFO had to drive 90 minutes each way to attend, yet he immediately saw the value. Many of the cases he studied have already had direct applicability in managing our high growth business. His growth as an executive those 13 weeks was greater than other programs we have paid 10 times as much for. We will continue to send executives to this program in the future.” Students were no less enthusiastic. “Different discussion leaders allowed us to see different perspectives on broader topics like leadership style, culture, finance, etc.” commented Chris Baisey, a Senior Operations Manager at Red Ventures. Duke Energy Communications Manager Jennifer Zajac echoed, “The takeaways from this course included knowing your values, seeking first to understand, and the importance of taking risks.” But the MDP celebration is not just a night of executive emulation; it’s also a night of giving. The club uses the company-sponsored tuition to promote and fund homeless shelters, crisis assistance, and help for abused and neglected children here in the Charlotte area. The club’s 11 years of giving totals over $350,000. “Activism in the community is a Harvard tradition, and this club’s membership is particularly keen on upholding that tradition,” HBS member and MDP Chair Bill Berry commented. “The charities here in the Charlotte region are exceptional. Everyone at the Harvard Business Club of Charlotte has a favorite they want to help and if they teach, they get a vote in which charities will receive monies. As a result, we’re never short of volunteer teachers.” Out of numerous charities nominated by MDP instructors, there will be 14 non-profits who will receive a cash award. Representatives from the winning charities will receive their award at the January 30th event, which will be held at The Whitehead Manor Conference Center, 5801 Sardis Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210. A club’s activism is never successful without support. Bill Berry also thanked the sponsorship of The Center for Intentional Leadership, McGuireWoods, LLP and McColl School of Business â€" Queens University of Charlotte. For more information, or if youd like to attend the celebration and learn more about attending the MDP course or sponsoring someone to attend the MDP, please contact Grace Hayes at 704-366-2835 or via email at sarnt. Find us on the web at http://www.hbscharlotte.com.

Huntington Learning Center Joins the Coalition for the Homeless to Collect 5,000 Filled Backpacks for NYC Students in Need

Huntington Learning Center Joins the Coalition for the Homeless to Collect 5,000 Filled Backpacks for NYC Students in Need Annual Drive Aims to Better Prepare Students and Alleviate Constraints for Homeless Families Oradell, NJ, August 8, 2018 For the third year in a row, Huntington Learning Center has partnered with the Coalition for the Homeless for its annual drive, Project: Back to School, to provide homeless children with the supplies they need to be successful in the classroom. Together, the organizations and additional partners, hope to collect and distribute more than 5,000 new backpacks filled with supplies for students in kindergarten to 12th grade prior to the start of the new school year. Through August 22, select Huntington Learning Center locations will serve as collection centers. Interested participants are encouraged to bring backpacks and school supplies to any of the following drop-off locations: Wish List #2 Pencils Pocket Folders Ruler Markers, Crayons Glue Sticks, and More! Participating Locations Bronx - 1807 Williamsbridge Road Brooklyn (Park Slope) - 808 Union Street Brooklyn (Bay Ridge) - 514 86th Street Queens (Flushing) - 35-30 Francis Lewis Blvd #205 Staten Island - 2791 Richmond Ave, Suite 200 According to the Coalition for the Homeless, over 115,000 NYC students experienced homelessness in 2017. At this rate, 1 in 7 elementary students will face homelessness before their elementary school graduation. With many resources scarce or nonexistent for homeless families, students often show up to school empty handed. Project: Back to School was established to change that. We believe every student has the right to the best education possible, said Anne Huntington, Vice President of Huntington Learning Center. We are proud to join the Coalition for the Homeless again and come together with our community to make sure NYC students have the tools they need to thrive in the classroom. For so many kids whose families simply cant afford to buy school supplies, the start of the school year can bring feelings of stress and shame, said Dave Giffen, Executive Director of the Coalition for the Homeless. We are so happy that Huntington Learning Center has been so committed to helping us ensure that every homeless child can walk into school on that first day feeling proud, prepared, and ready for whatever lays ahead. To learn more about Project: Back to School, visit: http://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/event/2018-project-back-to-school/. About the Coalition for the Homeless Established in 1981, the Coalition for the Homeless is the nation's oldest advocacy and direct service organization helping homeless men, women and children. The Coalition helps more than 3,500 homeless New Yorkers each day living in extreme poverty, offering a variety of programs that address immediate needs and help men, women and families overcome long-term barriers to employment and stability. For more information about the Coalition for the Homeless, visit www.coalitionforthehomeless.org. About Huntington Learning Center Huntington is the nations leading tutoring and test prep provider.Its certified teachers provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. Huntington preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Huntington is accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. Contact Information: Kim JaffeJaffeK@HLCmail.com

How Long Does It Take to Learn a Language 4 Steps to Reach Beyond the Riddle!

How Long Does It Take to Learn a Language 4 Steps to Reach Beyond the Riddle! Weve all been there, right?Toying with the idea of learning a foreign language?After reading up on how other people have done it, you might be thinking, Hey, maybe this things not impossible! Maybe I  can learn a new language on my own!But then you remember those language classes in high school or university.You think, Man, did I really spend  two years learning Spanish/French/German/Chinese with nothing to show for it?As doubt creeps in, you then wonder, How  long  does learning a new language take, anyway?How long until you own the language?Until you can navigate a foreign country flawlessly in it?Until you can proudly tell friends, family or employers that you  speak the language? All Beginners Want to Know How Long Learning Their Language Will TakePeople dont want to waste time, money and resources tilting at windmills. They want  predictability. After all, karate has its belt system, musical instruments are graded and you can work through certain problems to increase your skil ls in math or programming.There are some standardized structures for languages, too, but since the real test is often how well you can use it, the levels may at first seem less defined and harder to grasp.Learners may worry that theyre not talented enough to learn a language. After all, only a handful of students are good at languages in school, right?Learners feel rushed by their own lofty goals. After all, you want to use the language right now, dont you? You want to watch TV or play games in the languageâ€"and understand everythingâ€"as soon as possible. Or maybe youre hoping to break into a new field where the language is particularly helpful or lucrative.To start with whats out there, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) has published data about the major world languages. For an English speaker taking intense classes, it would take six months to learn Spanish to a professional level, and nearly two years to learn Korean to the same level. But take this information for what its w orthâ€"we cant all take classes through the FSI, and we dont all have unlimited time (or money) to spend on languages!There are infinite factors at play hereâ€"so whats the answer? How long does it really take to learn a language?Honestly, this question doesnt have much of an answer.I like to think of it  as a Buddhist koan, or a question wrongly asked. A question intended to provoke doubt and thought rather than a simple, concrete answer.There is no algorithm that lets you punch in data to get the length of time itll take to learn your language!A simple Google search will come back with a thousand blog posts that will tell you the same thing:  It depends.What can we do with that? Not a whole lot.So instead of answering this riddle with a particular length of time, this post will give you a better idea of the factors at play and how to manipulate them.Follow these four steps beyond the unanswerable riddle!How Long Does It Take to Learn a Language? 4 Steps to Reach Beyond the Riddle! 1. Define what you mean by learn.And you thought your question was simple, didnt you? Wrong!Youve got to ask yourself a  tough question here. What does a learned language look like to you?The answer will vary widely from learner to learner. Even simple concepts everyone talks about (such as fluency, for example) are difficult to define and measure. Does fluency literally mean the ability to speak fluidly? Does it include a high level of literacy? Do you need to be able to function  as well in your target language as you do in your native language? What does it mean to you to be fluent in a language?Youll have to decide these things for yourself. I recommend checking out the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale  used in the European Union to measure professional language proficiency. It breaks down language levels into specific and well-defined areas, in both passive (reading and listening) and active (writing and speaking) skills.What level will you be h appy with? Are you a dabbler who wants some conversational skills before your big trip to a new country? Or has this particular language always been of interest, and you wont rest until you know it like your native language? Or is it a dead language that youll never need to speak, so a high reading level will suffice for you?For best results, include all four skills in your goal setting: reading, listening, speaking and writing.Furthermore, take into account how you like to practice! If youre an outgoing conversationalist who loves to talk to new people, your conversational and basic listening skills will surge ahead, but perhaps at the expense of reading and writing. If you prefer reading, then thats the skill thats going to get good. If other skills are important to you, just know that it might take longer for lesser-used skills to catch up.And finally, think about the breadth of subjects you want to discuss. If you study for about an hour a day for a year, youll probably be able to engage in conversation and read a newspaper. But itll take much more time to acquire the skills necessary to read classical literature or to participate in a discussion about your work or field of study.2. Decide how much time and effort you can put in.Its pretty much common sense that the more you put into learning something, the faster youll get something out of it. If you immerse  yourself in the language, live in the country and spend a couple hours every day at concentrated study, youll get good at the language and fast.However, some of us have demanding jobs and families or other responsibilities. We cant all pack up, quit our jobs, leave the country and become linguistic hermit-monks.If you can only study half an hour a day, three times a week, it will definitely take you longer to get good at your language, but that doesnt mean its not a worthwhile project! It certainly doesnt mean youll never reach your goals. Keep going for it!For those of us with a little  more flexibi lity (but short of the linguistic hermit-monk  type of  flexibility), think about the goals youve set. How lofty are they? And how can you engineer your life to accomplish those goals?If you want to understand TV and movies, maybe you can give up some English (or other native language) media and replace it with media in your target language.An easy way to do this is by learning with FluentU.  FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.If you want to speak with confidence, make some time to find an online conversation partner, and make sure you practice speaking consistently.If vocabulary is something you want to improve, wake up fifteen minutes earlier each day and get in some SRS reps before work or school. You can listen to target language music and podcasts during your commute or your walk to class. The possibilities are endless!Theres one caveat: If you do  have the li festyle flexibility of a linguistic hermit-monk, dont think you can trick nature into giving you native-level fluency in ninety days. Sure, youll make quick gains in some areas, but you cant make a Faustian deal with the devil to learn a language in a ridiculously short period of time.Some things in language learning simply take time. Remember: A language quickly learned is a language quickly lost. Short periods of time devoted to learning can mean weaker retention if you happen to slack off for a couple of weeks. On the other hand, if you go at a steadier pace for a longer period of time, a couple weeks off wont hurt you as much.3. Figure out if your desired language is related to one you know.Language families matter! Look up the language youre interested in and figure out if its something close to what you know. Most European languages are distantly related, but some languages like Danish and Swedish are so similar, many consider them to be dialects of each other. A language like Farsi will be easier than Arabic for an English speaker because it happens to belong to the Indo-European language family. Arabic is Afro-Asiatic and doesnt share much at all with English.If you learn a language close to one you already know, the time it takes to learn that language will be reduced in proportion to how close the languages are. You can cheat a little when it comes to vocab and grammar. Simply put, youll get some parts of the language for freeâ€"certain grammar patterns will be similar or identical, and youll recognize some  vocabulary.As an example, Im a native English speaker, and French was the first foreign language I learned to any significant level. I learned mostly through immersion and heavy SRS usage, and it took about a year to get comfortable in the languageâ€"to express myself and understand most of what I heard and read. A few years after that, I learned Spanish, and the difference was practically night and day.With French, it took me awhile to wrap my h ead around some features that are common in Romance languages (a subfamily of the Indo-European family, all of which are descended from Latin), such as certain complicated verb conjugations and heavy use of the subjunctive mood. But with Spanish, I picked these up  much  faster because I already got the general idea from French. I reached a similar  comfortable  level in Spanish at about nine months. It was like starting a language that was already half-learned!If youre curious about your chosen target language, do some research! Try checking it out on Wikipedia and reading a little bit about it academically. If youre interested in an Indo-European language, find it on this easy-to-read family tree.  Note its close relatives and which languages share common ancestry. If it takes several branches to link your target language and your native tongue through a common ancestor, then you know the two languages are a bit further removed than if the languages had only recently split from a common ancestor. Similar family trees are just a Google search away!So, what does this mean for you? Should you deliberately choose closely related languages? Should you choose Dutch if youre an English speaker or Czech if you know Polish?My advice is this: Learn the language that really appeals to you, armed with the knowledge that an unrelated language will have a steeper learning curve. Motivation to learn a language you genuinely like will keep you going when the learning gets tough, so being aware of language families is only meant to keep you informed.Adjust your expectations! Refer back to the FSI chart if youre a native English speaker, and keep those levels in mind so that you dont lose confidence.4. Expect the long haul, and enjoy it if you can!I know this sounds a little pessimistic, but its really meant help you stay positive as you embark on your language learning journey.Youre interested enough to try learning a language, so go for it. Jettison that old myth that langu age learning is a hard slog with rewards only at the end of the line, when youve achieved fluency. The Internet allows you to learn using movies, TV, video games and booksâ€"itll be fun right from the start!  Learning a language is one of the most rewarding hobbies you could take up, and Im talking about the  process  of learning, not  having learned a language.Nevertheless, expect learning a language through self-study to take something on the order of years rather than months, keeping in mind that learning through classes alone would take much longer. I expected learning French to take about two years to get to a level at which I would be happy, and I was pleasantly surprised when that time period turned out to be much, much shorter.Language just isnt something that can be rushed. Linguist  Stephen Krashen  writes about how certain infrequent grammar points simply take time to click, even for children and toddlers!  It just isnt something that you can sit down and drill into your head.Think of it as  acquiring language instead of  learning. Expect it to take time for your language to grow, and enjoy the processâ€"theres no rush.Besides, youll forget all about this tricky koan once youve gotten addicted to target language TV dramas and hip hop!

?? How to Prepare your Child (and You!) for University

?? How to Prepare your Child (and You!) for University How to Prepare your Child (and You!) for University It’s A-Level Results Day and a massive congratulations are in order!For now, it’s time to put your feet up and relax with a nice glass of champagne.Eventually, however, your thoughts are going to turn to university. In a couple of months, your child will be leaving the roost and taking their first steps towards adulthood.This can be a pretty stressful time, both for your child and for you, and so we’ve put together a brief guide to help you get prepared.It’s Going to be EmotionalYou probably already knew this, but just in case you didn’t… Yeah, things are going to get emotional.Your child’s going to be experiencing a wide range of emotions. They’ll be excited about the new experiences that are coming round the corner. They’ll be sad at the thought of being away from home. And they’ll be nervous, because they’re moving to a new city, living with strangers, and they’ll finally have to cook for themselves!As for parents, well you’re going to be going through al l of those emotions but on an even larger scale. If this is your first child who is going to university, then this is all going to hit you fairly hard.The first thing you need to remember is that emotional reactions are perfectly normal and healthy. It’s also worth keeping in mind that your child is likely to try and hide how they feel, and put on a brave face.Communication, as always, is key. As you approach move-in day, take the time to talk to your child and assess how they feel. Often, simply talking about it is enough to make you both feel better.Emotion is fine, regardless of how embarrassed your child will be when you’re a blubbering wreck in front of their new flatmates.Get Everything you Need Believe it or not, students now take a lot of stuff with them to university. It isn’t like the good old days where you’d turn up with a few tins of baked beans and just make do.Your child will want to take all kinds of belongings with them, including hair straighteners, a beer fridge, games consoles, a TV, and their entire wardrobe.There are, however, certain things that your child will definitely need, and so you should make sure you focus on those items. The rest is just a bonus.Necessities include cooking utensils, some food to keep your child going during the settling-in period, detergent, bedding, stationary, and toiletries.You can see a full checklist here.Make sure you stock up on everything you need well ahead of time. The last thing you or your child wants is to be rushing around the supermarket the night before they move in.Having said that, be ready to rush off to the shops once you arrive and your child realises they didn’t pack their toothbrush!Talk About MoneyFami lies hate talking to each other about money, and so we realise this could potentially be tricky. However, talking about budgets, and how you’re going to support your child financially, is really important.Chances are, your child has never had to seriously stick to a budget before. Unless you want phone calls in the middle of the night because they can’t afford the next round of drinks, you’d better teach them how.Sit down together and make a list of various costs, estimating how much they’re likely to spend each month. Then work out how much money a month their maintenance grant works out to. At this point, you can see if you’re going to need to send them money each month.Spoiler: You will.At this point, you can work together to make their budget work. Cutting down on the alcohol is good for their wallet and their health. Cooking big batches of food works out cheaper. Do they need that gym membership, or can they go for a run? Helping your child to create and stick to a bu dget will help them massively at university, and reduces the stress that a lack of money can bring. It’s also a great skill for them to use throughout the rest of their adult lives.Teach Them to Cook If your child can’t cook, then one of two things will happen. Either they’ll live off toast and starve, or they’ll live off takeaways and their wallet will starve. And neither is particularly good for them.A startling number of teenagers can’t cook, and so when they finally have to fend for themselves they don’t know what to do.The run-up to move-in day provides you with the perfect chance to teach your child how to cook.Focus on quick, easy, and cheap recipes. Your child doesn’t want the finest cuisine, they just want something nutritious and tasty that they can knock together in a hurry.Some student classics include stir fry, spaghetti bolognese, and pasta bake, but there are plenty of great recipes out there for you to try with your child.Teach them the basics. How to cook an egg, boil pasta, prepare veg.Trust us when we say that knowing how to cook well will make your child’s university experience ten times better.Let Them GoAs much as it will hurt you to hear it, y our child is now an adult. They’re leaving the safety and comfort of the nest, and learning to fly on their own.That can be pretty hard for parents to take, and so they often end up forcing themselves into their child’s life. But doing that will only serve to annoy your child, and stress them out further. As far as your child is concerned, they’re ready for this. They feel like a mature adult, even if they do still rely on you to iron their clothes.It’s time to let them go.If you feel like you’re intruding on your child’s life a little too much, then you need to take a step back. Give your child room to spread their wings and they’ll soar.Good LuckMoving to university is an exciting time, both for you and your child. It’s normal to be nervous, but try to focus on the positives.University will help your child to grow as a person. They’ll become more independent, more confident, and more ready to go out into the adult world.Your hard work has got them to this point, remember, so give yourself a pat on the back, put your feet up, and take a well-earned break.Best of luck to you and your child!

9 Ways to Impress Your Boss

9 Ways to Impress Your Boss Image via Isorepublic.com Be reliable: Do what you say you will do Bosses are always glad to have reliable employees, because they know these employees can be trusted. Trustworthy, reliable employees take problems away from their bosses because the boss knows if their employee promises something, it will happen without having to nag them. If you want to impress your boss, you should be a reliable employee. This advice sounds silly because it should go without saying. From childhood, we are taught that if you say you will do something, you should do it, right? If you are hired to perform a certain set of tasks, shouldn’t you perform those tasks? Of course! Unfortunately, some people do not do that. They promise they will do something, but they don’t follow through. Unreliable employees like these will be fired very quickly because they will add to the boss’s problems (since the boss will have to be constantly reminding them to do their work) rather than take away from them. On the other hand, you will impress your boss if you actually follow through on your promises and do what you say you will do. Reliability will help you not only in the workplace, but everywhere else in life. Be punctual: Arrive on time and don’t leave early You may have heard it a million times, but it’s cliché for a reason: punctuality is more important than you might think. It is not only about completing a certain number of hours at work, but it is also a sign of respect. Arriving to work on time shows that you are a diligent worker who is serious about their job. The same goes for leaving your workplace early. You could take the easy way out by arriving late and leaving early, but this will not help your credibility as a worker or your relationship with your boss. Being punctual, and staying until you are needed, is especially critical when you’re trying to build credibility at your new workplace. You don’t want to develop a reputation as the newbie who is always late, do you? An employee who cares enough to show up on time will be considered a reliable employee. If you are reliable, your boss will know they can trust you and they will be impressed. Be proactive: When you finish, ask for more work When you finish your work for the day, don’t just leave your workplace. Instead, you should ask your boss for more work. It’s easy to just leave the building once you are finished for the day, but that’s taking the easy way out and it will not impress your boss; that is what an average employee would do. Instead, as the stellar employee that you are, you should take initiative and ask if your boss or if any of your co-workers need help. This shows that you genuinely care about your job and your responsibilities. Your boss will appreciate that you care enough to ask for more work. That will certainly leave a good impression on them, simply because you decided not to take the easy way out. Infographic by Alyssa Laffitte Take initiative: don’t be lazy This goes with the previous point, but bosses love it when their employees  take initiative. They like these employees because they know they won’t have to be “babying” them, they can dedicate their time to something more important. You should not be waiting around to get instructions from someone. Instead, you need to take charge of your own time. It’s especially important to take initiative when you KNOW what you should be doing next, as your boss will be annoyed if they have to tell you what to do next every single time. Remember, the goal is to give your boss fewer problems, not more. Taking initiative means they don’t have to baby you, and thus, fewer problems for them! Be diligent: don’t cut corners. On the contrary, go above and beyond When you do your work, don’t cut corners. It is easy to simply do the bare minimum of what is expected of you, but this is not the way to be a good employee. On the contrary, go above and beyond. When you are assigned a task, produce the best work you possibly can. For example, if your boss asks you to write a report, it will be easy to just fill it up with “fluff” content to make it longer. You might be tempted to cut corners and write it this way because it is quick and easy. However, this will result in a poorly written report. If you want to impress your boss, you should not cut corners this way. Instead, you should write a high-quality report that includes examples and well-thought-out details. Yes, this report will take more time and energy to write, but it will impress your boss. Be present: stay focused when you are at work In general, we young people have a reputation for not living in the present moment. We tend to spend more time staring at a screen than taking in the world around us. This causes us to not only miss out on what’s happening in the real world, but to do a bad job at work, too. For example, if you are focused on your phone, you are not dedicating yourself to your assignment from work at that very moment. In other words, you are not present at work, because your mind is somewhere else. As a result, you will not complete the task as well as you could have because you are too busy being distracted. (For example, it’s very easy to let a typo or a decimal point error slip when you are not paying close attention to the task at hand.) Spare yourself the trouble and be present while you are work. Put away your phone; resist the urge to scroll through Facebook or to play online games during work time. Plus, your boss will appreciate that you are focused on the task and not on your phone. This will help you produce better quality work, which will impress your boss. Be civil: be a team player around your co-workers Another way to impress your boss is to be civil with your co-workers. The last thing a boss wants to deal with is a conflict between two of their employees. Try not to discuss sensitive or extremely personal topics with your co-workers. Especially do not gossip to (or about) your co-workers. These things could lead to a conflict. Instead, keep things civil, respectful, and professional when you are at work. Of course, sometimes a conflict can still arise. In this case, try to resolve the conflict with the co-worker directly, without involving anyone else. If that doesn’t work, then you can get someone else involved. Additionally, many projects require teamwork. When working with a team, don’t be difficult and remember that decisions must be made in consensus. Be sure to contribute your two cents during group meetings, especially because you have great creative ideas, but make sure to consider others’ opinions, too. They are part of the team, just like you, so they also deserve to be heard. If the majority of the group turns down your idea, be civil about it. Don’t give your boss another thing to worry about. Avoid conflict with your co-workers by keeping a civil and professional relationship with them. Again, your boss will be glad they don’t have to deal with fighting co-workers. Image via Isorepublic.com Be creative: solve problems Creativity is an admirable trait, especially in an employee. When you come up with a brilliant idea, it shows that you are invested in your work and that you actually care. You spent time thinking about the problem and came up with a solution no one has thought of before… that’s amazing! Your creativity and your care will impress your boss. Also, creativity is a big part of problem-solving. Use those creative thinking skills to come up with solutions to problems your company is having. You can start by thinking about some problems your company is facing and the root causes of those problems. Then, try your best to implement those ideas. This is sure to impress your boss. For example, if productivity numbers have been low recently, try to figure out why that is and address the ultimate root cause of the problem. Once you have a solution for the cause to the problem, propose it! Your boss will be thankful to have one less problem to worry about and that you took the initiative to resolve it. Creative problem-solving (and the implementation of these solutions) will take problems away from your boss, and they will be very thankful for that. Take ownership: genuinely care about your work It is easy to slack off and to do a mediocre job when you do not care about your work. Your apathy and lack of effort will be apparent in the quality of work you produce. Your boss will notice and they will not like that. However, if you genuinely care about your work and are invested in it, you will want to do a good job. In fact, it will be hard to do a bad job. You will want to do an excellent job because you actually care about it. Your enthusiasm for your project will come through in the quality of your work. So try to genuinely be invested in your work, as this will help you produce good quality work. And of course, good quality work will impress your boss. Your boss is an important person in your life, so you should work hard to maintain a good relationship with them. In a nutshell, just do not be a lazy employee. On the contrary, show them that you are responsible, hard-working, and can handle your workload. Make your boss’s life easier. Do not be the employee who gives them problems; rather, be the employee who takes problems away from them. You can do this by being punctual, not cutting corners (produce only good quality work), taking initiative of your projects, and being present in your workplace. Don’t be lazy and take the easy way out, rather, be responsible and do your best. If you do these things, you will impress your boss and show them that you are a responsible employee.