How to Choose the Right Reach Schools

How to Choose the Right Reach Schools This post is the first part of our three-part series on how to choose the right reach, match, and safety schools. Over the course of the next two months, visit the Varsity Admissions Blog for advice on how to tackle this part of the admissions process. If youre applying to college, youre probably familiar with the words safety, match, and reach. They represent the three types of institution that a student can apply to: Safetyschools you know youll get into Targetschools you think youll get into Reachschools youre not sure youll get into. You can identify your safety, match, and reach schools by comparing your credentialssuch as GPA and standardized test scoresto that of the average admitted student. These statistics are usually available on a colleges website. It can be tempting to only apply to safety and match schools in order to forego the disappointment of being denied admission to your dream, or reach, schools. Fear of rejection, however, is no reason not to apply to these colleges and universities. When choosing the right reach schools, use your skill set to your advantage and identify what a reach school actually means to you. Choose the right reach schools by thinking bigwithin reason Create a list of dream schools, and then consider the academic profile of the average admitted student. If you are within a reasonable range of this profilefor example, within 0.25 or 0.5 grade pointsyou should weigh applying. Most colleges and universities place significance on extracurricular activities and application essays, in addition to academics. So, even if your academic game isnt extremely strong, theres a chance your other assets could boost your application. However, if a reach schools academic standards are much higher than you can achieve by the time you graduate, you might want to rethink your application. Not only is it unlikely youll get in, but if you do get in, you may struggle with the coursework. Its key to apply to schools that are a good academic match so that you can get the most out of your education. [RELATED: 5 Quick Tips for Writing a College Application Essay] Choose the right reach schools by using all of your skills to your advantage Youll have a better chance of getting into a reach school, regardless of your academic profile, if you can prove youll be an asset to the college or university in a unique way. For example, if youve won awards in art or music in high school, apply to a school with a well respected arts or music program that offers scholarships in those areas. Talk about your non-academic skills and interests in your application essay or during your admissions interview. Be sure to include all of your extracurricular activities and how long youve been involved in them on your applications. [RELATED: 3 Common Questions Students May Ask in Admissions Interviews] Choose the right reach schools by remembering that not all reach schools are Ivy Leagues Theres no doubt that Ivy League schools offer amazing academic and extracurricular programs. However, other private and public colleges and universities offer rigorous and exciting programs as well. When searching for reach schools, keep your academic and personal interests in mind. There are many colleges and universities with specialized academic and extracurricular offerings that align with what you like most. Dont feel that for a school to be your reach school, it has to be an Ivy League institution. Be honest with yourself about your goals and what you bring to the table, and you will be able to identify the right reach schools for you. [RELATED: What to Do After Youve Submitted Your College Applications] Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Online Transformations in Geometry Tutors

Online Transformations in Geometry Tutors In a 2-dimensional coordinate plane, a given object can be transformed by changing its position, its inclination or its size. There are 4 important types of transformations commonly used in geometry. They are: translation, rotation, reflection and dilation. These 4 types of transformations change the object as it slides turns, flips or the size changes respectively. During translation, rotation and reflection the size of the object never changes, however during dilation the size of the object either enlarges or shrinks. Example 1: The length of a side of an object is 12 units. The length of the image of the same object is 3units. Which transformation is used here? Given: object side length = 12 units Image side length = 3 units. Here, clearly the size of the object has been changed since the length of the object is changed. Therefore the transformation used here is Dilation. Scale factor = (Image length) / (Object length) = 3/12 = 1/4 This implies that the objects size has been reduced by a scale factor of 1/4! Example 2: In an X-Y coordinate plane, PQR is a triangle where point P is at (3, 2). The image of the triangle PQR has the point P at (0, 6). Which transformation is used here? Given: point P= (3, 2) and point P= (0, 6) Since the points have been moved, hence the transformation used here is Translation! The x coordinate has changed from 3 to 0==change= 0 (3) = -3 = 3 units to the left. The y coordinate has changed from 2 to 6 == change= 6 (2) = 4 units up.

How Much Does Geography Tuition Cost

How Much Does Geography Tuition Cost The Price of a Geography Tutor ChaptersReasons to Engage a Geography TutorDetermining the Cost of a Tutor to Study GeographyGCSE Geography Tutoring CostOn the whole, consumers want the best value for their money.This economic maxim is defined as the optimal combination of cost, quality and sustainability with regard to requirement and need and it applies to everything, including private tuition.The home tutoring business is growing by leaps and bounds in the UK, driven by caregivers intent on providing their charges with the best possible opportunity to succeed academically.However, tutoring in geography is a tiger of a different stripe.The discipline, while more vital a study today than it ever has been, has seen its importance lag behind more prominent subjects such as math, languages including English, and other sciences such as physics and biology.As though to underscore that fact, geography is not taught in schools at Key Stage 4; nor is it a part of core GCSE requirements.This poses a real challenge to stude nts electing to sit GCSEs in Geography.The last two years of their secondary education apparently given over to teaching to the test, it is difficult for our young scholars to maintain and cultivate their geographic knowledge base unless they engage in self-study.What about primary school students? Geography is included in their curriculum and they might need help to prepare them for SATs. They might need a geography tutor...Superprof now looks at all of the reasons one might seek tutoring in geography and helps you determine a reasonable price for each.special educational needs, a substantial percentage of whom would greatly benefit from one on one tutoring sessions.In this situation, tutoring services would likely be in the form of ongoing academic support, with exam preparation being incidental to the overall effort.What about ESL students?Speakers of other languages would naturally progress faster, in classwork and in learning English, if they had individualized help from a priv ate tutor.Each one of these unique conditions stands to raise the cost of in-home tutoring because they suppose the tutor must have extraordinary credentials.For ESL students, the tutor may need to speak a second language. SEN student tutoring would require extra skill in educational strategies and test prep would imply that the tutor must be especially knowledgeable about that particular exam.Where does geography fit in all of this?Unless any of the above-mentioned conditions apply, if the student needing supplemental instruction and/or homework help is learning geography as a part of the school’s standard curriculum, s/he would fall into the category of learners who engage a tutor to sharpen study skills.However, if that curious-minded learner is intent on eventually graduating from university with a geography degree and is in the last year of secondary school, s/he may be entirely dependent on a home tutor for guided learning.As you might have deduced, the cost of such tutoring might be a bit higher.Discover everything you need to know about taking geography courses!Asking the right questions, both of yourself and your tutor's qualifications, is the best way to get the best price! Source: Pixabay Credit: QimonoDetermining the Cost of a Tutor to Study GeographyBesides those mentioned above, what factors determine how much you would pay for private tutoring in geography?The student’s level: younger learners have shorter attention spans, so academic tutoring sessions tend to be shorter in duration and the concepts are more elementary.The more advanced the student, the more complex the concepts to be absorbed, meaning that the tutor must have a higher degree of knowledge in the subject.The type of tutoring: homework help and general academic support are ongoing; the tutor is more of a learning coach than someone who instructs.Test prep involves special knowledge and possibly more time, whereas tutoring an undergraduate student requires the tutor to have adv anced levels of education.The delivery method: home tuition, meaning the tutor makes scheduled visits to your home, can be fairly pricey in comparison to online tutoring.Another option would be working through a tutoring center but the price there may be even higher than a tutor coming to your home!Individual or small group: the best tutors generally give a bit of a discount for pupils willing to learn with three or four mates.Tutoring companies embrace this philosophy too; through them, you may engage a tutor who would add you to one of his study groups.Your location: tutors are in far greater supply in big cities than smaller ones or in the countryside.However, statistics show that tutoring in London costs more than in Bristol, Bath or Birmingham.Scheduling: many geography teachers moonlight as geography tutors on evenings and weekends; you may pay a premium for tutoring on weeknights.You may also find undergraduates paying their way through college by tutoring lower-level student s so you might have to take their course schedule into consideration.Another factor to think about is that, besides geography textbooks or other learning materials for the tutor to work with, s/he would provide a more diverse range of study resources, perhaps at an added cost.Finally, we must look at the tutor’s investment into his/her education.If s/he has spent years at university earning a doctorate degree and then a decade or so doing fieldwork, s/he would present impeccable credentials... but may not work cheap.Some might wonder why one would study geography to that extent but you understand it!Engaging a highly-degreed professor to teach your 7-year old geography is not strictly necessary Source: Pixabay Credit: 3Dman_EUGCSE Geography Tutoring CostWe start with this particular demographic because these students are the most critically in need of guidance in their studies; of someone to motivate them and keep them on track.With no formal learning of new concepts and nothing t o keep secondary school students focused on expanding their geography knowledge, there is a danger that they may abandon their desire to establish themselves in a career as geographers.That would be quite a pity because, while this career field is relatively small in comparison to other sciences, projected job growth over the next ten years hovers around 35%!How does that do for an incentive to major in geography?On the average, you can expect to pay more for one hour of tutoring in Geography (around £25) than you would pay for maths tutoring (approximately £22) or English (about £24), or indeed a tutor to review material from the combined sciences portion of the GCSE exam (just under £23).Furthermore, if you live in London, your average price is estimated at just over £25 per hour. Contrast that with the per-hour rate of tutors in Nottingham of just under £20.Of course, these are just guidelines; they don’t take into account the depth of study or the level of education any specific tutor has achieved.If you were hoping to engage a highly-degreed professor of geography, quite rightly, those sessions would come dear: upwards of £40 per hour.On the other hand, you may consider someone who has just undergone their A-Levels in geography; someone who is preparing to enter university or is already a freshman; in their first year at university.There are benefits to engaging a tutor who has recently undergone the same ordeal you face, not the least of which is a lower price.A tutor who has recently sat A-Levels may be able to share effective test-taking strategies as well as help you internalise specifics of physical and human geography.Also, being close to you in age might mean a better and more immediate rapport than you might achieve with a more formal tutor; one who has years of experience in the classroom and in tutoring.Lastly, though not formally trained to recognise them, such a tutor may click with your learning style to provide you with a unique and unforgettable learning experience.The best is not always the priciest; oftentimes, what we identify as ideal is what works best for us.Now that you have pricing guidelines to go by, it is time to shop around; find a geography tutor that will work best with you to achieve the results you need â€" namely that high mark on your exam so that you can take your geography studies all the way to university and beyond!Now learn what careers you can embrace with a geography degree...

Online Statistics Help Tutors

Online Statistics Help Tutors Definition: - A science dealing with the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of numerical data. Like almost all fields of study, statistics has two aspects: Theoretical and Applied. Theoretical or mathematical statistics deals with the development, derivation, and proof of statistical theorems, formulas, rules, and laws. Applied statistics involves the applications of those theorems, formulas, rules, and laws to solve real- world problems. Example of statistics: - We may make some decisions about the political views of all college and university students based on the political views of 1000 students selected from a few colleges and universities. Other example could be as we want to know the expected value and probability of shares of a company. Use of statistics: - Following are the importance of statistics in some different sectors and disciplines. 1) Statistics and planning: - Statistics is indispensible to planning. In the modern age which is termed as the age of planning, almost all organizations in the government or managements of business are restoring to planning for efficient working and for formulating policy decisions. 2) Statistics and Mathematics: - Statistics is a branch of applied mathematics which specializes in data. 3) Statistics and economics: - Statistical data and techniques of statistical analysis have proved immensely useful in solving a variety of economic problems, such as wages, prices, consumption, production, distribution of income and wealth etc.

Why Im not a Cult-Follower of the Resume-5 Step Resume Intervention - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Why I’m not a Cult-Follower of the Resume’-5 Step Resume Intervention - Introvert Whisperer Why I’m not a Cult-Follower of the Resume’-5 Step Resume Intervention I woke up this morning with a deep need to be cynical about the importance everyone puts on the resume’.  The resume’ has reached almost a celebrity status = more important than it really is.  I think this feeling is the result of too much exposure this week to people seriously groping around for anything that will help them get employed.   I even had someone get frustrated with my input on their resume’, as it seemed to contradict what another person told them.   I think that tells the story completely.   There are as many versions of a resume’ as there are people that they represent and as many or more people with opinions on how to construct them. Granted, I’m doing a series of Teleseminars on resume’s at the moment, but right up front, I tell everyone that there is no mystique or mystery to the resume’.   The resume’ is also not the crown jewel to the job search strategy.   I think I’m getting frustrated with how so many people are treating it as if it were the end all, be all.   It’s not.   It’s a document.   It’s only one of many working parts to a good job search strategy. In my teleseminar, I give 15 tips to creating a good resume’, but today I’m going to unload on what I see to be the issues with the people who are so uptight about their resume’s. Not clear about the job you are seeking â€" I just wrote an article about this, so I’m not going into detail, but I see so many people not really clear about the specific job they are pursuing.   If you’re not clear, neither is your resume’.   Solution: Get clear, and then construct your resume’. Not ready to commit yourself in your resume’. â€" I have seen resume’s and have asked their owners what kind of job they were going after.   The two things didn’t match.   I see this with people who are often ambivalent about what they are pursuing, because they really don’t want to go after the job they just did or the one they are talking about. They may simply not be willing to narrow down the choices to 2-3 specific jobs. The issues with this are: 1- your resume is wimpy.   It lacks commitment.  2- If you lack this much commitment on your resume’ and in your heart, it shows.   No hiring manager wants to hire someone who really doesn’t want to do the job or doesn’t know what they want to do.   Solution: Pursue jobs you really want to do, then write your resume’ to match. Stop asking everyone’s opinion â€" It doesn’t matter whether you’re asking about your resume’ or your newest hot date â€" at some point, you have to stop asking what other people think.   The reason is that everyone will have a different opinion and after you get enough of them, they will conflict.   That conflict will only make you frustrated and confused.   Solution: Ask a few people with background on the topic and stop there. Then make your own decisions about the “what” and the “how” of how you are going to construct your resume’.   Remember, it’s your life, so it’s your decision.   Then proceed with confidence.   As an adult, you get to listen to these inputs, but you decide what works best for you and what helps you represent yourself the best. THERE IS NO PERFECT RESUME’ â€" Please, please, please understand this one at your core!   There is no perfect or correct resume’.   We don’t produce perfect anything.   You can have resume’s that look professional, are easy to read and reflect the best of your background.   That’s what you’re shooting for.   Solution: Go the library and get a book on resume’s with loads of good examples, then emulate what you see with your information.   It is that simple. Stop being so uptight about your resume’ â€" Remember I said earlier that the resume’ is only one of the many working parts of your job search.   That means you have other actions you need to be taking in your job search that are equally important to landing a job.   You need to keep all of those actions in balance. Don’t let the current environment lead you to believe that the resume’ is more important than it is. Also, you resume is never really “done”.   It will be tweaked and changed to match specific companies and jobs you will be seeking.   That’s ok.   That’s how it work. Solution: Relax â€" you will create a fine resume but you also need to protect yourself for attitudes that don’t serve you.  Stop reading the newspapers and listening to the news.   Limit your exposure to other job seekers.   You don’t need to hear things that make you feel negative or cause you to over-react.   Do things to boost your self-confidence and attitude. So there you are.   I have read 1000’s of resume’s in my career.   Most of them were just fine.   All of them could be improved, if you asked.   Just remember this: YOU are the crown jewel to your job search. Personal Branding starts with how well you speak about YOU.   I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook â€" The Definitive Guide to Creating and Using an Elevator Speech.   In this guide, I give you simple to follow instructions for creating a “wardrobe” of ways to talk about you â€" to leave a lasting impression.   Get your copy now: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

Complex Fraction Solver Online Tutoring

Complex Fraction Solver Online Tutoring Complex fraction solver is a useful tool that helps to convert a complex fraction into simplified form of fraction. Complex fraction is a fraction in which both numerator and denominator or either one contains a fraction.The complex fraction may contain fractional expression or just a fraction. There are 2 methods to solvecomplex fractions. One is finding common denominator for each expression and simplifying. The 2nd is to findcommon fraction that we multiply with all the terms to simplify. This tool complex fraction solver is also anonline calculator that intakes complex fraction and converts them into simple fractions. Example 1: Simplify by complex fraction solver (4 + 1/x) ------------------------- 3 + (2/x^2) Solution: We will simplify numerator 1st ; 4 + 1/x = (4x+1)/ x (Now simplify denominator) 3 + (2 / x^2) = (3x^2 + 2) / x^2 Now inverse the denominator fraction and multiply numerator and denominator we get, ((4x + 1) /x) (x^2 / (3x^2 + 2)) (4x+1 ) x = -------------- = (4x^2 + x) / (3x^2 + 2) 3x^2 + 2 Example 2: Simplify by complex fraction solver 1 + 18/1 divided by 15/4 Solution: We have 1 + 18/1 divided by 15/4, so we can inverse the denominator and then multiply the 2 fractions (1 + 18/1) x 4/15 (we simplify 1 + 18/1, we get 19/1) 19/1 x 4/15 (19 x 4)/(3x5) 76 / 15 76 /15 The final answer will be 76/15.

Training for the HSK 1 Exam

Training for the HSK 1 Exam How Can You Prepare for Chinese HSK Exams? ChaptersWhat Exactly is the HSK 1 Chinese Exam?What Skills Will You Need to Learn for the HSK 1?How Do You Prepare for the Mandarin Chinese Test?Advice for Succeeding on the Day“Knowledge is having the right answer. Intelligence is asking the right question.” - UnknownAccording to a study on Chinese language teaching, there are around 30 million people in the world learning Chinese. When we say Chinese, we mean Mandarin Chinese, one of the many Chinese languages spoken in mainland China and the one most commonly taught to people both inside China and around the world.You may want to learn to read, write, and speak Chinese for professional reasons which means you'll need to prove your level of fluency with Chinese exams.If you've just started learning Chinese in a language school or with a tutor, why not work towards taking the HSK test to certify your level in the language?As a beginner, the first test you can take in your second language is the HSK 1 exam.  In this guide, we’l l tell you what the exam is, what you'll need to learn, how to prepare for it, and what to do on the day.Here is a course you can use to learn Mandarin London. NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat Exactly is the HSK 1 Chinese Exam?The Chinese HSK is a level test similar to the TOEIC or TOEFL for those who learn English. It’s a test that attests the user’s proficiency in the language. The HSK is the official exam of the Confucius Institute (Hanban).You'll be expect ed to know some Chinese characters. (Source: Donations_are_appreciated)Just like the TOEIC, the HSK is widely recognised around the world. It’s proof of the user's proficiency without having to  do any additional tests. This official Mandarin exam is very useful if you want to travel to China or study as an exchange student.Find Mandarin classes London here.There are six levels in total The HSK 1 is the first level. The test lines up with the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment) reference levels. The HSK 1 is the lowest level of this test and is equivalent to the A1 level.The Chinese exam lasts 35 minutes and includes two parts: listening and reading. These two parts are very important. Each part includes 20 questions and four exercises for a total of 100 points.  Don’t panic as you have three minutes at the end of the listening test to write down your answers.To pass the exam, you need a minimum of 120 points. However, the higher your score, the more you can show it off.Ready for an adventure?You’ll need to sign up to the Hanban site. Registration costs £20.What Skills Will You Need to Learn for the HSK 1?Once you’ve signed up for the Chinese test, it’s time to start practising for the big day.However, what skills will you need to learn?Make sure you learn your characters. (Source: rmac8oppo)One of the most difficult things about Chinese is learning all the Chinese characters. Each level of the HSK test has a number of characters you’ll have to learn. The more characters you know, the easier it’ll be to read and write in Chinese.You’ll need to learn a lot to reach level 6 and become bilingual.  For the time being, and to get the HSK 1 exam, you’ll need to understand some simple and common expressions.Revising VocabularyTo pass the HSK 1 exam, you’ll need to know 150 characters. To help you, we’ve provided the Pinyin transcription alongside.Here’s a small list of characters you sho uld know:? / ài / love? / ba / eight?? / bàba / father?? / beizi / cup?? / Beijing / Beijing? / ben / this??? / bù kèqi / you are welcome? / bù / no, not? / cài / dish, vegetables? / chá / tea? / chi / eat??? / chuzuche / taxi??? / da diànhuà / call? / dà / big? / de / of? / dian / point?? / diànnao / computerUnderstanding Simple PhrasesSome exercises in the HSK 1 exam require you to complete sentences with a Chinese character. This means that you’ll need to understand the structure and know the character.  Practise the different common phrases with the right vocabulary. You can use online resources to help you with this.Accustom Your Ear to the Chinese AccentKnowing how Chinese is pronounced is useful for passing the test and you should accustom yourself to the Chinese accent.  In fact, in the listening part of the exam, you’ll hear a native Chinese speaker. It would be a shame to mess this part up because you’re not familiar with the accent.How Do You Prepare for the Mandarin Chinese Test?There are a number of solutions to help you pass the test and learn all the Chinese characters you need to. With Private Chinese tutorials, group classes, Chinese lessons, and online learning, there’s something for everyone. You’ll need between 2 and 3 hours of Chinese study per week per semester.Travelling to China is a great way to learn more of the language. (Source: 3dman_eu)Taking Chinese LessonsIn most cities in the UK, you’ll find somewhere offering foreign language lessons or Chinese associations providing Chinese language education. The Confucius Institute members are some of the first places you should consider visiting.Chinese lessons will teach you what you need to know about Chinese vocabulary. Chinese teachers will also provide you with useful techniques and recommend resources like dictionaries for remembering new words and characters.Practise Your Chinese OnlineYou can also find past papers for the HSK on the internet. By familiarising yourself with the exercises on the exam, there won’t be any surprises the day you sit down to take the test.With websites and apps, there are plenty of different ways to prepare for your exam. With just a quick online search, you’ll find the perfect site or digital resource.Teaching Yourself ChineseYou can also teach yourself Chinese characters. Learning Chinese on your own is a great option for your very first steps. However, you may eventually hit a roadblock.  After all, all resources have their limits.You could always travel to China in order to practise speaking Chinese with native Mandarin speakers. It’s much easier to learn Mandarin by going abroad. You’ll also have an opportunity to learn experience Chinese culture, Chinese food, and events like the Chinese new year, etc.Get Help From a Private Chinese TutorIf you don’t want to commit to the full year of studying or would like to benefit from personalised lessons tailored to you, you can opt for private Chinese le ssons with a tutor. These allow you to choose your own Chinese programme.Unlike other Chinese language courses (like Chinese MOOCs or the Chinese A Level), you're in charge of your own language learning. If you need to focus on the spoken language, your tutor can put together a course with a lot of intensive activities on Chinese pronunciation and having a conversation.If you're struggling with Chinese grammar, they can make sure you have enough time to study the rules of the language and focus on reading and writing.For those interested in the country, your tutor can blend language and culture and teach you about Chinese history as well as Chinese Mandarin language skills. After all, you'll be the only student in the class and the language course is just for you.Advice for Succeeding on the DayAfter you’ve done all your preparation, you also need to sit the exam! Here’s some advice for doing your best on the day.Make sure you relax before taking your exam. (Source: Pexels)Take Your Time to Understand the ExerciseA lot of people lose points on exams because they haven’t fully understood the activity or haven’t paid enough attention. Make sure you don’t make this mistake. Take the time to read the instructions for each exercise. We obviously don’t mean spend five minutes on each instruction but don’t skim either.Don’t make the mistake of assuming what the exercise wants you to do without fully reading it as it may be slightly different to what you’ve practised.Read the instruction and then look at the exercise itself to make sure you’ve understood what’s expected of you. Doing this is never a waste of time.ConcentrateThis is easier said than done. The test only lasts 35 minutes. You don’t have any time to get lost in your thoughts. You’re being tested on whether or not you know the vocabulary and you need to be sure of yourself.Even if you hesitate on a question, don’t waste time being lost in your thoughts. Move on with the exercise and come back to it later. Your level in Chinese should correspond with the level of the test, so there’s really nothing to worry about.Learn to RelaxMultiple choice questions can stress some people both before and during the test. During your studies, learn to relax. This will be really useful on the day of the exam.Do some breathing exercises and relax. Knowing how to relax can help you to get the most out of your brain, especially when you’re going to need it, like during an exam!

Getting Gritty With It

Getting 'Gritty' With It Improving Academic Performance Failure ain’t what it used to be. Or, at least, failure is understood differently today, as we examine more closely how much it actually helps us in the long run. When we allow failure and setbacks to be learning experiences and jumping off points for the development of resilience and grit, our lives transform. We refine our character all the more, but like a fine work of art that benefits from revision and reframing. Nowhere is such an experience in growth more valuable and applicable than education. Several years ago, a man named (fittingly) Paul Tough, published the excellent book How Children Succeed, which explains in great detail that the process of trying something difficult and not coming up smelling like roses actually provides an excellent opportunity to grow - not only for students, but as individuals. Tough explains, in a nutshell, that although cognitive ability and IQ might still be factors in one’s ability to succeed in education, character and non-cognitive skills can weigh just as heavily on a student’s ability to learn and thrive and that such development of character often comes through the practice of persistence in the face of foundering. You can watch Tough here give an excellent talk on his research and developments and applied practice in schools today. Too much emphasis today is on the end goal or the good-enough grade rather than the process of challenging learning. Too much emphasis is on the over-protection of children and young adults from adversity and potential harm rather than the encouragement to face challenges with curiosity and gusto. Though such intentions like focusing on grades and protecting young ones from adversity are well-meaning, the results are plain, as Tough continuously illustrates in his book, as well as the following article on Edutopia explains: children and adolescents who do not go through necessary trial and error experiences, and yes, even outright failure, are less equipped to handle higher education and the eventual real world. Not only that, but they are missing out on opportunities to develop a character rounded out with strength, resolve, perseverance, and courage. Grit is a term Tough uses regularly throughout his book, which can also be defined as pluck, nerve, fortitude, or strength of character. The idea of grit being applied in education was first coined by Angela Duckworth in her book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. It is an invaluable trait to possess, and both Tough and Duckworth argue that it often develops most strongly in students who are willing to go for sometimes overwhelming challenges without too much fear of failing and the subsequent willingness to learn from that failure. You can check out if you have the five most common characteristics of grit here. We have to look at what our culture means by the term “failure.” Is it simply not succeeding in the long run? No. A better perspective on failure might be understanding that mistakes are inevitable and that perfectionism stifles growth. Failure is not necessarily earning a failing grade on a report card; it might be not making the basketball team one year or getting a lower than expected mark on a science project or dealing with the consequences of putting off studying for an entire semester. It could also mean struggling early on in an extra difficult class before one decides they need extra help or more time spent in the library. These little learning experiences are what help individuals develop grit and understand that a willingness to keep trying, learning, studying, practicing, even in the face of “failure,” is a worthwhile human attribute. If you are a parent, you might want to allow your children to take a few bigger risks now and then; let them risk making a handful of hefty mistakes. Let them risk a bad grade or a cut from the sports team or a last place contestant in a competition. Or, if a student yourself, why not go out on a limb and take that more challenging class or extra curricular activity you know nothing about and see what happens? You might just develop extra grit in the aftermath and become an overall more successful individual down the road. A good way of looking at it is thinking about what type of character you aim to possess rather than simply making the grade or avoiding imperfections. As Tough explains, “what matters…is [that we] develop persistence, self-control, curiosity, conscientiousness, and self-confidence.” Go for it! About the Author Stephanie Ingraham is a former English teacher turned writer and tutor with a BA in English from UCLA and a Masters in Education from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles. She is deeply passionate about education, psychology, child and adolescent development, literature, and writing. She believes the education world can benefit greatly from the meditation world - mindfulness and self-compassion are key! In her free time she loves reading and writing, music, baking, yoga, dance, animals, and exploring new cities. She currently lives in Chicago, Illinois.