Personal Computer Tutor/Tech in Portland, Oregon

Personal Computer Tutor/Tech in Portland, OregonA personal computer tutor/tech in Portland, Oregon is an expert in teaching basic computer skills. These teachers are essential to the improvement of computer skills in our society and we as users need to be aware of who they are. These tutors have extensive experience and therefore can offer courses on computers in Portland, Oregon.Pedagogic schools are colleges that provide education in a specific area. They may focus on tutoring students for special needs or provide computer courses. Computer tutors in Portland are trained and licensed and are on the forefront of this field.When you decide to enroll at a pedagogic school, you will find that there are many options. Some of these schools offer classes based on technology or business. Others are in their infancy. With so many choices it can be difficult to choose the best option for your needs.Tutors in Portland have experienced instructors who understand your needs. The skills and theo ries they teach will not only help you learn how to use computers but will also teach you how to take advantage of the resources of the computer world. Students are encouraged to become involved in these courses because they will learn valuable information from them. Teachers will help you develop valuable skills that will enable you to meet new people in the computer world. As a student you will be introduced to new ways of thinking that can apply to other areas of your life.The University of Victoria in Canada offers online courses as well. They have hosted computer science programs that have been able to accommodate the growing needs of their students. This includes advanced programs that focus on technology and those in the United States and Canada. It is very important that students of all levels can obtain the education that they need to be successful.There are administration offices that offer assistance to their students. Whether it is a federal or state government office or a private university, you will find that you can find what you need. Most of the administrative offices that handle computer courses have established themselves as a leader in their field.A personal computer tutor/tech in Portland, Oregon is not only to be a mentor, but a resource that can offer you access to all the resources you need. Your computer tutor/tech can be the link between you and your future employer. You can check your progress by logging into your account to see what you have accomplished.

Teach Away Shortlisted for Global Education Supplier of the Year Award 2014

Teach Away Shortlisted for Global Education Supplier of the Year Award 2014 TORONTO, CANADA |Teach Away has been announced as one of ten outstanding finalists for the Global Education Supplier of the Year prize at the 2014 Gulf Educational Supplies & Solutions (GESS) Education Awards.The 2014 GEAs are the first of their kind and aim to give recognition to the region’s best suppliers of educational products and services, as well as the most dedicated teaching professionals and top performing education institutions.The Global Education Supplier of the Year Award highlights organizations that directly or indirectly supply quality products or services that meet everyday educational needs. The winners of each award, which span over sixteen categories, will be chosen by an independent panel of judges.Teach Away has been successfully matching the most talented native-English speaking teachers with education institutions across the Gulf for over ten years, enabling consistent delivery of exceptional, world class teaching programs.Director of Teach Away, David Frey , says: “We’re obviously delighted by the news that we’ve been shortlisted for this award. It’s great to have our continued hard work and strong partnerships in the Gulf region recognized and we can only strive to further our successes in the years to come.”The winner of the award will be announced at a gala event hosted at the H Hotel in Dubai on March 5th.

Back-to-School Month September Report

Back-to-School Month September Report This post reports about company activities in the month of September, the back-to-school month in 2013. While the back-to-school season started late and slow, the month of September 2013 ended strong. In fact, with an number of 746 tutoring jobs this September became almost as successful as the all-time record of October 2012 when we referred 769 students to tutors. Moreover, the unique visitor count crossed the 10,000 mark for the first time; 10,248 to be precise. In our analysis, the downward trend in web stats observed over the summer months was stopped primarily due to two events. First, the annual back-to-school season when students return to school looking extending their learning options through tutoring. Secondly, an unexpected Google search update: Hummingbird. This new algorithm ranks Tutorz search snippets higher for longer search queries, e.g. Chinese tutor new york city. Hummingbird is a milestone in Googles path away from the traditional keyword match algorithm towards a more semantical (meaning-based) match. In this context, our work with the Google webmaster tools most likely contributed to our back-to-school success. Supporting signal of our Hummingbird hypothesis is another a drop in the bounce rate from 52% in July to 47% in August to now a mere 42%. (When Google sends better matched visitors to TutorZ the bounce rate would drop.) Another signal in support of our Hummingbird hypothesis is the increase in pageviews per visit which is now at 5.38. Yet as always there are some downward stats: The Alexa traffic rank decreased from 200,000 to 277,000 for the US region. Worldwide, the traffic rank remains steady at 800,000. Furthermore, Craigslist and Backpage marketing tools continue to performing quite poor. Also, the TutorZ PR rank remains at a constant 3, no upgrade to 4 in sight. The marketing department achieved several big events this September. TutorZ was named a California Company of Excellence by the Small Business Institute in Washington, DC. Next, the principal authority on homeschooling awarded TutorZ the Top Homeschooling Curriculum award. Then there was Johns excellent article Another School Year Begins and Lillys stunning success of her post on How Japanese Children Multiply (718 likes and 20,000+ views).  Finally, we produced the 2nd video of our Chinese for Travelers series. On the technological front we can report an update to production server with the better performing Apache 2.4 and PHP 5.4. We have released improvements to our tutor profile pages which are a part of our long-awaited ratings review feature. Next, we now have 4 fully automated and well-designed emails directed at tutors (activation, welcome, profile completion and social media email). These email aim to improving the profile content, social media exposure and assessment of tutor quality. Furthermore, the old registration incomplete system was retired in favor for the new tutor approval system. Overall, TutorZ had a better than expected back-to-school season. Stay tuned for our ratings review feature in October together with even higher stats.

4 Brilliant Interactive Resources to Use in Your Language Learning

4 Brilliant Interactive Resources to Use in Your Language Learning 4 Types of Neat Interactive Tools for Learning a Language Online Humans need to interact.In our daily lives, we send each other pictures, text, chat, meet up for coffee and plan get-togethers.So why should language learning be any different?Books are great, but sometimes you need to add some fun, interactive resources into the mix!Interactive learning resources can mean a world of difference in your language learning.They can help create community, or simply provide feedback.Even online apps and tools can go a long way to making your learning feel relevant and connected.Theyre a breath of fresh air, and including them in your language learning journey will keep you motivated and having fun.So take a break from traditional learning methods, and start using some interactive resources online! 4 Types of Neat Interactive Tools for Learning a Language Online1. Journal with PurposeSome  of the coolest online resources are language-learning blogs and diaries. On these sites, you can post a blog entry in your target language, and native speakers will co rrect your grammar.Turnaround is quick, so you can often have your corrections within the same day. And since more than one native can correct your entry, you’ll often get more than one right way to express a conceptâ€"that’s great help in developing nuance. You also can ask them to clarify their corrections. All in all, it’s a great way to practice writing!Popular Journaling WebsitesLang-8: The most well-known journaling site, Lang-8 has a huge community, and you wont have difficulty finding native speakers to correct your work. Correct others entries in your native language to rack up points and increase your visibility on the site!italki: While italki is better known for its language exchanges and tutoring, it also provides a platform for those of us who want to focus on writing. The Notebook feature  works much like Lang-8, although the community often uses it more for asking questions about the target language.How to Maximize Online JournalsSo, you’ve decided to make an account on either Lang-8 or iTalki. Now what? How can you get the most out your language practice?Mix in SRSIf you use an SRS (spaced repetition system), you can enter corrected sentences into flashcards so that you review the corrections with regularity. You can enter the whole sentence with an English translation on the back, and you’ll remember the correction! If you get more than one correction, put both on the front of the card so you remember the variety. Simply seeing the corrected sentence over and over will solidify the correct grammar into your memory.If you enjoy SRS and want to make this tool as efficient as possible, you can combine this with Olly Richards Grammar Hero course, which is designed to help everyone master the building blocks of languages in a fun, easy way.Stick with a ScheduleWriting practice can be great, but youll reap more benefits if you stick with a schedule. Regular practice will help you improve far more than sporadic writing and feedback. Whethe r it’s daily, weekly or monthly, regularity  will ensure you make progress.Variety!This whole post is about adding interactive variety to your language learning, but we can add variety within these resources, too. To get the most out of online journaling, write about a host of different things. Diary entries are great and easy to compose, but they use limited vocab and grammar since you’re only talking about yourself and simple things that happened during the day.To branch out:Try writing book reviews for novels or comics you read in your target language.Summarize a TV episode or movie you watched.Type out your textbook exercises so that native speakers can correct them.If youre enrolled in a class, get feedback on your class assignments.Write faux (or real!) letters to friends, family, penpals, fictional characters, etc.And if you’re imaginative and creative, try your hand at writing short stories or poetry in your target language! Variety will stretch your linguistic muscles by forcing you to adapt to different styles and formats. The vocabulary youll use in a book review is vastly different than what you would use in a friendly letter. And variety means you wont get bored!Keep It AttainableIf journaling seems intimidating, keep your word count goals simple and attainable. If 200 or 300 words is all you can do on a weekly basis, that’s fine! Rememberâ€"consistency is better than sporadic wordiness.2. Learn Languages Through Interactive GamesGames are a great way to solidify vocab and grammar. They can make memorization fun by giving you achievable goals to strive for! Now, when you’re addicted to a game, at least you can say it’s educational.Popular Game-ified WebsitesDuolingo: Learn basic vocabulary and grammar by completing your Duolingo Skill Tree. Youll work through basic greetings to abstract concepts by taking quick and easy quizzes. Duolingo tracks your learning streaks if you play every day!FluentU: FluentU provides access to short snippe ts of native materials, along with all the resources you need to decipher and learn the language. Learn your target language through movie clips, trendy music and hilarious commercials!Memrise:  Memrise allows users create flashcard sets that take advantage of spaced repetition. There are plenty of language options, so Memrise is a great way to get started on a new language or to brush up on advanced vocabulary.How to Maximize Language Learning Games#goalsGet the most out of your gaming by, again, setting goals. If you commit to a certain number of lessons each day, the consistency is sure to pay off. Set alarms and reminders to make sure you put in the time!Play to Win!Many of these game sites tally your score in some fashion, which means you can compete! For example, Duolingo has its Lingot system where you rack up points for maintaining long streaks of consistency, Memrise tracks your points and posts them to your courses leaderboard and FluentU keeps track of what percentage of a video youve learned so far.Whether you compete against your real-life friends, strangers on the leaderboards or just yourself, youre sure to boost your progress! And if you cant find someone to compete with, check out point #4 on this list to find some language-loving friends to challenge.Dont Go OverboardAll that being said, games are supposed to be fun.  So, if you dont have much time to learn or are feeling stressed out, these game-ified methods will be most effective if you play in shorter spurts in between other tasks, language-related or otherwise, as opposed to forcing yourself to do a long stretch all at once.3. Hack Your Language ExchangesOnline language exchanges have never been more popular. Your speaking ability progresses by leaps and bounds when you can talk with a real live native speaker. The feedback and practice are priceless, and you can get all this without leaving the country!Popular Language Exchange WebsitesConversation Exchange: This is a general language e xchange website. You can search for conversation partners using a number of different criteria. Message someone who seems like a good bet, and go from there! This site is used only to contact people initiallyâ€"all speaking practice happens on Skype or a similar app. Conversation Exchange is great if youre looking for a long-term partner and regular practice.HelloTalk: HelloTalk is a twist on the traditional language exchange setup. With the HelloTalk app, you select your target language, and the app  gives you a list of matches for you to talk to. Choose one and start talkingâ€"no need to download Skype or anything else! HelloTalk is great for quickly finding someone to practice with; however, other language exchange sites might be better if youre looking for a long-term friendship.How to Maximize Your Language ExchangeFind a Great PartnerNo matter which resource you decide to use, including a language exchange in your study regimen really helps, especially after you’ve reached a n intermediate level or so. But finding a good language partner can be hard. A partner who has more in common with you will be easier to talk to than a random person.Consider:AgeCareer or field of studyMarried/single/kids/no kidsInterests and hobbiesLevel of language learning intensity (It’s hard to keep to a schedule if your partner is interested only in practicing when it’s convenient, and vice versa!)Get Some Conversation InspirationOnce you have a partner, you need to keep conversations going, and this can be difficult when there’s a language barrier and when you don’t quite know each other yet.Try questions from resources like Conversation Starters World. Sure, the questions are cheesy, but in language exchanges it keeps things varied and fun. It’s the same principle we talked about with language journalingâ€"you want to talk about a wide variety of topics to get the most out of your language exchange. Talking about the weather or what’s new isn’t going to keep yo u going for long!Connect to the CultureYou can also use your partner for native media suggestionsâ€"movies, music, books! When youre not a member of a particular culture, it can take time to get that “insider” level knowledge. With a new friend who’s grown up in it, you can access more pop culture!Take Notes and StudyAnd finally, take notes during your exchanges and review them regularly. SRS is helpful here, as always, but don’t let your conversations go by without digesting the helpful information you get.4. Take Advantage of Online Language Learning CommunitiesInteraction doesn’t have to come part and parcel with the resource itself. Instead, you can seek out interaction and community to support your language learning! We all know having a friend or two striving for the same goal keeps us all on track. But what if we can find more than that? There are a number of forums online with serious and newbie language learners alike. Commiserate with fellow newcomers and get adv ice from veterans. Everyone benefits!Popular Language Learning ForumsHow to Learn Any Language (HTLAL): This is the oldest and most popular language learning forum. These learners vary from people learning a language for work or study, to  serious hobbyists and polyglots.A Language Learners Forum: A sister site to HTLAL. The original forum had technical difficulties, so some users moved here to continue talking and practicing. The community, however, is not identical to HTLAL, and more recently, its grown into its own entity!Unilang: This site  has language-specific forums where people learning the same target language can share resources and advice. Whether youre learning Faroese or Spanish or Latin, youll find others who share your passion!How to Maximize Language Learning ForumsCompeteWhile the games listed in point #2 are great platforms on which to compete, these communities are where youll find fellow serious language learners. Language learning communities also get creative w ith their competitions, so dont feel limited to games that explicitly keep score!HTLAL and A Language Learners Forum regularly compete in Super Challenges where learners commit to watching a huge number of target language movies and reading a mammoth amount of target language books.For the less hardcore out there, there are six-week challenges, where learners keep score on Twitter. During a six-week challenge, learners commit to a goal they make themselves, and then try to put in the hours to achieve it within (obviously) six weeks. Learners with busy schedules are free to make achievable goals for themselves, while learners with more free time can shoot for the stars!Log Your ProgressAdditionally, language logs are an awesome feature of HTLAL and its sister site. The HTLAL and A Language Learners Forum logs can be found here and here, respectively. You can keep track of your language learning (goals, achieved goals, new materials, etc.) and other learners can comment. Iversen, an a ccomplished Danish polyglot, writes his log in multiple languagesâ€"use his example for inspiration!If youve decided to join Unilang, share your progress on one of the language-specific forums. Others will benefit from your breakthroughs.And if youre having a rough time, users can suggest resources or provide other help. It’s community at its finest!Keep trying out exciting interactive resources, and breathe new life into your studies!Experimentation is everything when it comes to learning a new language, so keep exploring and stay curious about all the great ways to learn and practice.

Career Options Of Students With Green Chemistry Institute

Career Options Of Students With Green Chemistry InstituteGreen Chemistry Institute is a registered non-profit educational organization that is dedicated to teaching the principles of organic chemistry, botany, plant and soil sciences and the art of herbal medicine. You can further take up science as an alternative career if you choose this course and find out for yourself how much you can earn. You must be aware of the online opportunities available to you and know about them.The core principle of organic chemistry is the study of the structure and properties of substances. Organic chemists are tasked with identifying the specific elements present in certain substances. To prepare the chemical reactions that can be used to synthesize new compounds, organic chemists have to study the pathways of the reaction and be able to predict the speed and efficiency of the process in order to select the appropriate reaction and use the most appropriate equipment. Their job also involves the anal ysis of properties and reaction rates of the desired substances, which are considered safe or dangerous to human health.One of the major concerns about chemistry is the concern on the chemical composition of the atmosphere, food products and medicines. A good knowledge of organic chemistry is crucial to help you understand the validity of the testing process, and thus be able to obtain the best results from your clinical testing. You will also be able to easily determine the presence of hazardous chemicals in your foods and medicines.You will be taught about herbal medicines and traditional medicine in detail. Some of the medicines known to have medicinal benefits are turmeric, cardamom, lavender, eucalyptus, and fennel. Though these natural drugs do not provide any treatment against diseases, they help to lessen the pain and discomfort of the body by masking it.You may choose to pursue a career in the field of organic chemistry after you complete your education. You will be exposed to the latest techniques and equipment for working in laboratories. You will also be taught about the biochemistry, microscopy, solid state chemistry, metabolism, fluid dynamics, physics, thermodynamics, bioeconomics, and chemistry applicable to organic chemistry.Many students and professionals from different fields are switching over to this career because of the working environment and busy lifestyle. With green chemistry institute, you will have an opportunity to perform laboratory work, designing research projects, assisting in lab work, and preparing data regarding the medicines you want to study. Besides this, you will also have a chance to discuss the latest developments and techniques in the medical field and to get a chance to observe the latest technologies in the pharmaceutical field.The curriculum will make you familiar with plant sciences and their applications in the various fields of knowledge. With this, you will be able to start your career right away and start ear ning money with few years of experience.

What Are the Benefits of Being a Member of Smart Tutor?

What Are the Benefits of Being a Member of Smart Tutor?Smart Tutor is a project by Cynthia Staunton that connect children with their needs through teachers who are certified and experienced in the areas of mathematics, social studies, and science. Staunton was able to get her children into some of the best public schools in their region of Tennessee. Now they are all attending the same high school, and it is a big transition for them.The blog is about their experiences as parents and the experiences of their children. It is also about a group of teachers who have been working together as a group for several years now. They regularly meet and share ideas, and communicate through email, instant messaging, and voice messages. They also connect with one another and offer help to other teachers, like the board of directors of a special-education organization.The project was originally intended to start with four tutors, but now there are eight members. Each member is an education teacher with a master's degree in education. Some of them have taught before, while others have been certified for many years. The project was started because the teachers felt there was a need for a program that was aimed at providing great teaching to disadvantaged students, and that they could network with others who wanted to do the same.This overall process of networking is what makes this type of endeavor so unique. Staunton wanted the teachers to get together and talk and build a sense of community among themselves. It is a good way to increase the overall satisfaction of the teachers' job and to also give them something to work on. Their mission is to improve the quality of education that children receive, and to provide it to children where it will matter the most.Smart Tutor is different than most online tutoring services because most of them involve connecting people online. That can be quite scary for some. That is one of the reasons it is so popular. Instead of giving kids a si mple test, like the one included in tests that usually test vocabulary and critical thinking skills, Smart Tutor gives teachers a test that requires everything from reading and writing to math and science knowledge.It can also give tutors' feedback on how they can improve the way they do their teaching. This is not a time for passive learning. You are responsible for your child's success or failure, and you have to put that into action in order to get the best results.Since tutoring with Smart Tutor is all done online, the teacher has many ways to be involved. They can set up meetings with teachers from other districts who are interested in their program. They can join discussion boards that allow them to interact with others who are also doing the tutoring. All of these ways to help to make the experience more productive for the teachers involved.

y Intercept Definition

y Intercept Definition The place on the graph where a line intersects the y axis is known as the y intercept of the line. Because x coordinate of all the points on the y axis is zero, therefore the value of x coordinate for y intercept is also zero. We put the value of x equal to 0 in the equation of a line to find its y intercept. Example 1: Find the y intercept for the line 2y = 6x + 3. Solution: The first step for finding the y intercept of the given line is to put the value of x equal to zero in the equation of the line and solve the equation for y. 2y = 6 (0) + 3 2y = 0 + 3 2y = 3 2y / 2 = 3 / 2 y = 3 / 2 Hence the y intercept of the line given above is (0, 3 / 2). Example 2: What is the y intercept for the equation given below: 2 x2 + 7 x 3 y2 + 6 y = 0 Solution: To find the y intercepts for the given equation, we will put the value of x equal to zero and solve the equation to find the corresponding value of y. 2 (0)2 + 7 (0) 3y2 + 6y = 0 0 + 0 3y2 + 6y = 0 - 3y (y - 2) = 0 - 3y = 0 or y 2 = 0 y = 0 y = 2 So the y intercepts of the given equation are (0, 0) and (0, 2).

6 Things You Can Do to Support Your Young Composer

6 Things You Can Do to Support Your Young Composer Sign up successful However, composition can be taught to children. Most young children are creative and musical by nature, which is evident in their love of nursery rhymes, sing-a-longs, musical toys, and vivid make-believe worlds. In addition, composition: Instills deeper music intelligence beyond simply listening to music or playing an instrument. Fosters general life skills, such as problem-solving and decision-making. This includes thinking in and about sound, exploring sounds, and generating, testing, and selecting ideas. Imparts self-esteem.  Composing music that students can then listen to, download to their cell phone, and play for their friends is a unique and powerful experience. Want to help? As a parent, here are six things you can do to support your young composer: 1. Expose them to a lot of music Providing children with a musical environment at home is very important, as they will most likely start to compose by mimicking the music they hear around them. Play the radio in the car, let them watch cartoons with music, sing children’s songs with them, take them to a musical now and then, and have some Mozart playing in the background while you’re cooking. They will absorb it all. 2. Introduce them to a musical instrument Composing music is a lot easier when you have an instrument to compose on. The most common instrument for composition is piano, because you can play melody and accompaniment at the same time. Guitar is another popular option. Playing an instrument also helps children learn musical theory and note-reading, which will ultimately make them better musicians and more confident composers. Even getting a small keyboard and letting them play around on it can be very helpful in encouraging musical exploration. 3. Focus on telling a story Composing can be very abstract. To make things a little more concrete, focus on telling a story with music. Ask them what sounds remind them of specific emotions and images. For example, holding down the pedal on the piano will have a “dreamy” effect, while playing staccato notes on very high keys might sounds like a little bird. Going down by half steps might be someone walking down the stairs. Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf is a wonderful example of personifying music, so I would suggest listening to this piece together as a start. 4. Don’t censor them When your child first sets out to write music, don’t worry about her being the next Mozart. The piece she writes might be completely non-sensical, with no clear structure or hook and starting out that way is fine. Her first drawings were probably messy blobs, but you still proudly displayed them on the refrigerator. Think of early compositions in the same way. 5. Create a tangible representation of the composition There is nothing as powerful to students as having a tangible representation of their work. Because musical notation is a relatively advanced skill, don’t worry about having them write their music down yet. You could record their piece on a CD and display it with the rest of your CD collection. Or they could draw a picture of their piece if it tells a story or make an abstract finger painting. And don’t forget to give it a title! This is one of the most fun parts for them and makes them feel the piece is real. 6. Consider private composition lessons Once your child shows interest and aptitude for composing music, enrolling him in private composition lessons will help him grow. A teacher trained in music composition can give young composers direction, instruct them on harmony and form, get them to think more abstractly, encourage them, and help them find their unique musical voice. Middle school or even late elementary is not too young to start, depending on their own motivation and interest. On a personal note, I began making up songs at age four, began piano lessons at age six, and was formally composing music by age nine. I was lucky enough to have a private piano teacher who encouraged me and never made me feel I was too young for composition. No one ever told me I couldnt do it, so I assumed I could â€" and I did, eventually earning my Masters in Music Composition. Composition isnt just for prodigies â€" it’s a form of artistic expression that every child is capable of doing. And who knows? With the right encouragement and guidance, they might surprise you. Natalie L. teaches singing, piano, songwriting, and more in New York, New York. She has a Master of Music in music theory and composition from New York University, a Bachelor of Music in musical theater from the Catholic University of America, and a certificate in vocal performance from the Peabody Prepratory.  Learn more about Natalie here!   Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by  Ian Muttoo

Ask a Medical School Admissions Expert Dr. Michelle Finkel

Ask a Medical School Admissions Expert Dr. Michelle Finkel Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Dr. Michelle Finkel is a graduate of Stanford Universityand Harvard Medical School. Upon completing her residency at Harvard, she moved up as a faculty member and eventaully became the Assistant Residency Director for Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency where she interviewed many applicants and reviewed countless applications, personal statements, and resums. Dr. Finkel is currently a board-certified Emergency Physician and the founder of Insider Medical Admissions. VT: What is the single most important thing applicants should focus on in a medical school application? Michelle: Your overall goal throughout the application process is to distinguish yourself from other candidates, and the best way to do that is by showcasing your achievements. The admissions process is a persuasive one: Your role is to convince medical schools that you deserve a slot at their institutions. The best way to persuade is with facts, just like a lawyer does when s/he is trying a case in front of a judge. Saying you are compassionate or hardworking is not convincing. You need to prove your value by relating your academic, clinical, research, community service, leadership, international, or teaching achievements in a way that builds your case. VT: What are the biggest mistakes one can make on a med school application? Michelle: A few of the mistakes Ive see are as follows: 1) Excessive modesty. It's okay to be a shy person but not a shy applicant. 2) Applying unrealistically. Ensure you apply to enough schools and make sure your list includes true safety schools. To get a sense for your competitiveness, compare your GPA and MCAT scores with those in the Medical School Admissions Requirements book published by the AAMC and speak to an experienced advisor. 3. Having no clinical experience. Institutions not only want to see that you are committed to patient care, they need to ensure you have some small idea of what you are getting yourself into. 4. Sacrificing your GPA for extracurricular activities. Achieving academically is critical, even if you have a compelling candidacy in other ways. Applying to medical schools is like trying to get on a ride at Disneyland; if your grades are not as tall as their sign, they won't even let you get in line for consideration. Applicants have told me they feel thei r bad grades have followed them like a criminal record. Dont let this happen to you. VT: How much time should be set aside to adequately prepare for and complete a med school application? Michelle: Good writing takes a long time; successfully finding a qualified reader to critique a rough draft and then incorporating critical feedback takes even longer. Start to craft your personal statement, AMCAS activities, and most important statements in January with a goal of getting them submitted as early as possible, which is usually early June. VT: What do med school admissions officers look for most in an applicants essays/personal statements? Michelle: They are seeking example of achievement written in a compelling manner. In other words, a riveting essay that has no content no evidence of a candidates achievements isnt adequate. Nor is a statement that has a lot of content but is boring to read. VT: Is there anything on a students application that would automatically disqualify him/her from being considered for the program? Michelle: These factors depend on the institution. Different schools weigh academics, MCAT scores, and extracurricular activities differently. Of note: AMCAS does include a criminal background check; illegal activity can be a deal breaker for many schools if not adequately explained. VT: What undergrad majors best prepare one for med school applications? Michelle: The key here is to excel academically in whatever major you choose. Im not the kind of advisor who will tell you to pursue something you dont like to get admissions officers attention. That tactic is not only annoying, it usually doesnt work. VT: Is there anything you might see on a students application that would quickly put them ahead in the running? Michelle: A breadth of achievements academic, clinical, research, community service, leadership, international, and teaching are notable. Also, pursuing a passion successfully can get you noticed. When I was applying to medical school, I highlighted my work in domestic violence and sexual assault prevention. I showcased the leadership I had had in spearheading, coordinating and implementing a campus-wide awareness week. Pick something that calls to you, and really take it up a notch from what others have done in the past. VT: What advice do you have regarding MCAT test prep? Michelle: Start early and note how you best learn. Pursue a program that complements your learning technique. You might do best with a private tutor, formal program, or by studying with friends. VT: What do med school admissions officers look for in recommendation letters? Michelle: When I was in academic medicine, a colleague once pointed out the word shy in a letter of recommendation because he took that term as very pejorative! The point is that officers are looking for small hints in every letter, and you want yours to be as good as possible. You should not settle for so-so letters; you need to get the most superlative letters you can. In other words, consider a mediocre letter a bad one. For more admissions help, contact Dr. Finkel at InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com or Like her page on Facebook.The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.