How to Prepare for Your Med School Admissions Interview Part 5

How to Prepare for Your Med School Admissions Interview Part 5 By Michelle Finkel, MD Insider Medical Admissions The following piece was written byDr. Michelle Finkel. Michelle has been featured in ourAdmissions Expert seriesand is a former Harvard Medical School faculty member. She is the founder ofInsider Medical Admissions. In my last several guest posts on the Varsity Tutors Blog, Ive covered both prominent and subtle aspects of the interview day. Check out my July entry for advice on how to let your story show your glory and how to fake it until you make it, and my August entry emphasizing that you can run; you can hide; but you cant escape the weaknesses in your application. Septembers piece reviewed geographical issues how to ensure you persuade programs that you are willing to relocate to a substantially different location (you can check out anytime; but you can never leave) and solid strategies for demonstrating interest in schools thats amore. Finally, Octobers entry included advice on how to tactfully navigate interview day social events shiny happy people holding hands and how to manage illegal questions with poise youve got to hide your love away. As weve seen through those entries, the medical school interview day itself is complicated and imposing, and managing it graciously is critical. But many applicants give short shrift to creating a solid post-game strategy, work thats also essential to avoid missteps. In todays entry, well cover those often-overlooked points. Unforgettable After the interview day ends, you should take a moment to put your feet up and congratulate yourself for getting through the inconvenient travel, small talk with strangers, and ability to appear fresh and pleasant when youre really quite exhausted. Then, after youve taken a few deep breaths, you should take out your pen and paper and get started on your thank you notes. Two years ago, a medical school applicant wrote me to say that the Dean of the school at which she had recently interviewed called her to tell her that he was impressed with her candidacy and the hand-written thank you note she had sent. The client thanked me for my help with her application and for the thank you note tip. (As you might have guessed, she was admitted to that med school.) Writing a thank you note after a medical school interview is low-hanging fruit: Its an easy-to-perform courtesy with high impact for minimal effort that is frequently overlooked by otherwise competitive applicants. Its worth the few dollars at your local superstore and the three minutes apiece. But what should the letter contain, to whom should it be sent, and is email or snail mail the best method for delivery? First, the letter should be brief and clear. Thank the faculty member for the invitation to interview and ensure you point out that you would make a great contribution to the school if accepted. If you discussed a particular topic with the faculty member that would be appropriate for the note, you can include it. A brief but thoughtful thank you note can be only a few lines long and still make a positive impression. The flip side is that a flowery or inappropriately casual letter can leave the impression that you have the insincerity of a beauty pageant contestant or that you are overconfident mistaken perceptions that the recipient may rely on when she nixes your candidacy at the admissions committee meeting. Second, I recommend writing more letters rather than fewer, meaning that if you think you should write a letter, do it. Heres a tip: If you spent more than five minutes with someone one-on-one, consider writing him/her a thank you note. (Also write notes to those faculty members who participated in any group interview you had.) A brief and considered thank you note won't hurt and might help, so be generous with them. Finally, send your thank you notes through snail mail. (If you also want to email a note, that is fine as a supplement, but it should not replace a hand-written note.) The reasons are several-fold: First, email may be viewed as lazy. Hand-written thank you notes take more time, which shows. Second, its easy to delete, archive, or ignore an email. Also, to put an email thank you note in a hard file, the receiver needs to take the time to print out your email. You dont want any barriers between you and your good impression. I do recommend getting those handwritten thank you notes in quickly. The night after youve completed your interview or the next day is a good time to write and send. In addition to thank you notes, another tactic is writing a letter of intent. These optional updates to schools can confirm your interest, while showcasing old and new aspects of your candidacy. Programs often seek not just top recruits, but recruits who are genuinely grateful to be at their specific institutions, and sending a supplemental letter demonstrates that sentiment. If you plan to write a letter of interest, though, ensure you affirm your strong interest in the institution while keeping your writing brief. (I strongly advise one page maximum.) Also, make sure you distinguish yourself with your accomplishments: In editing letters of intent, I note that applicants often make the mistake of focusing on their desired institution's virtues. These programs already know their strengths; unfortunately, you won't further your candidacy by reiterating them. In my next blog, well discuss how to manage some sticky interview situations. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Study Data Analysis at University

Study Data Analysis at University Programs for Data Scientists ChaptersWhere to Take Data Analytics Courses for FreeBest Universities for Data AnalystsOther programs in the UK for Data Science and AnalysisOnline Resources for AnalyticsWhat is data and why is it important? While this question seems like an easy one to answer, our relationship with the enormous amounts of data created on the daily has become and increasingly mired one. For those looking to study machine learning, data visualization, programming languages and more, answering this question is vital.The job of the data scientist isn’t one that can be boiled down to a single job description. Data driven fields are vast and diverse, spanning from biochemistry and health medicine to law and governance. If you’re interested in turning unstructured information into predictive and valuable insights, choosing the right program can be overwhelming.While deep learning algorithms, data wrangling with Hadoop, or transforming data sets into interactive visualizations can sound like tasks per formed only in the private sector, governments have also become important stakeholders in the world of data within the last decades. Even the seemingly innocuous video sharing app, TikTok, has become a source of contention between the US and China with regards to user privacy - resulting in a lawsuit claiming user data theft.Data mining, processing and advanced analytics all play an integral role in business, government and the personal lives of the majority of the population. If you’re interested in studying data analysis in university, this guide will walk you through the different pathways you can take in predictive analytics as well as the best data science programs offered around the world. Data analysis can have applications in every field from thermodynamics to epidemiologyNumber of Papers Authorized by and Institution in an Academic SubjectCategory Normalized Citation Impact (the ratio of papers published to citations of papers)International Collaboration (number of publications that have been found with authors from at least two different countries)Number of Papers Published in Top JournalsNumber of Staff of an Institution Winning a Significant AwardWeights Assigned Based off the Maximum Value of:1505010100100If you’re searching for a Master of Science, or MS, in data science or a BA in the field, may programs in the top universities tend to offer two main pathways for a statistics or data science career. The first involves mathematical statistics and the second, computer science. These are the top two unis in the UK for statistics according to the Shanghai index.University of CambridgeWhile there are no bachelors at Cambridge for statistics, there are masters, Ph D, and MPhil programs where you will be able to experience wrangling large amounts of data and perform exploratory and in-depth analysis using many different data products and software. Here are some of the programs they offer:Advance Computer Science MPhilMachine Learning and Machine Intelligence MPhilDoctoral Training in Data, Risk and Environmental Analytical MethodsUniversity of WarwickOne of the best universities for statistics in the UK according to the Shanghai ranking, you’ll be able to enjoy a wide variety of courses in which you’ll be able to analyse data, use all data given to solve business problems, and benefit from either unsupervised or supervised learning techniques. The Department of Statistics at the University of Warwick offers Bachelor’s degrees in:MORSE/MMORSE (Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics)Math Stat/MMathStat (Mathematics and Statistics)Data Science (Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science)They also offer an MSc and a Ph D in Statistics. When doing your research into statistics universities, make sure to keep track of the pros and cons of each potential programTimes Higher EducationKnown as the THE university rankings, below you'll be able to view how each university is scored:Teaching: 30%Research: 30%Citations: 30%International Outlook: 7.5%Industry Income: 2.5%Makeup of each indicatorReputation Survey: 15%Reputation Survey: 18%Proportion of international students: 2.5%Staff to student ratio: 4.5%Research income: 6%Proportion of international staff: 2.5%Doctorate to bachelor's ratio: 2.25%Research productivity: 6%International collaboration: 2.5%Institutional income: 2.25%The THE university ranking system also offers a ranking system by subject. Although no clear statistics field, they do offer a ranking in econometrics. While a closer look into their ranking reveals that neither of their top ranked universities actually have an econometrics specialization, they do offer great statistics and data science programs. Here are the top three universities around the world according to the THE rankings.Learn more about the data science profession with our guide!Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyLocated in Massachusetts in the United States, MIT offers a couple of different pathways into the statistics field. You’ll be able to learn the basics of programming languages, data cleaning and more. Here are their programs:Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in StatisticsUndergraduate Minor in Statistics Data ScienceMicroMasters program in Statistics and Data ScienceUniversity of StanfordLocated in California in the US, this is one of the best schools for statistics according to the THE rankings. Here, you won’t be able to attain a bachelor’s degree in statistics or data science. However, you will be able to put your programming skills into practice with learning models, a capstone project or more. Here is what they offer:M.S. in StatisticsM.S. in Data ScienceBiostatistics Training ProgramUniversit y of OxfordWhile you won’t be able to sharpen your skills in R programming or in utilizing statistical software, you will get an in depth background into the mathematics involved in everything those programs do. One of the best universities for statistics according to the THE rankings, here are some of the programs offered up at Oxford:BA and MMath Mathematics and StatisticsMSc in Statistical ScienceMSc in Mathematical ScienceDoctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in StatisticsQSThe QS World University Rankings is published by Quacquarelli Symonds and scores its universities based off of the following:Academic ReputationEmployer ReptutationFaculty to Student RatioCitations per FacultyInternational Faculty RatioInternational Student RatioWeight40%10%20%20%5%5%Whether you’re looking for non-technical training, a capstone course, courses in business analytics or business intelligence, there are many different statistics programs to search from. Here are the best universities in Europe, not i ncluding the ones already mentioned, based on the QS rankings.ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of TechnologyOne of the best places to study statistics and data science, these programs will give you the foundation you’ll need to become a data analyst. While they only offer a bachelor’s degree in Computational Science and Engineering, they do offer Masters degree in statistics. They are offered in:Data ScienceStatisticsImperial College LondonWhile they also don’t offer a BA in statistics, they do offer higher level programs for statistics. You’ll be able to put your data engineering, big data analytics and data processing background into practice with these programs:MSc in StatisticsPhD in Statistics When practicing your statistical methods, take advantage of the libraries and archives in your areaOther programs in the UK for Data Science and AnalysisIf you're a statistician or want to be one and are looking for programs that allow you to manipulate new data, teach you how to properly access data courses and more, here are some more programs in the UK for data analysts and scientists that have specializations in more fields.Artificial Intelligence ProgramsUniversity College LondonUniversity of KentUniversity of SheffieldLoughborough  UniversityUniversity of LeedsBiostatisticsUniversity of LiverpoolUniversity of GlasgowKing's College LondonMachine LearningUniversity of St AndrewsDurham UniversityUniversity of SouthamptonUniversity of ManchesterGet to know more about your favourite programs and apply now!Online Resources for AnalyticsFrom Apache Spark bootcamps to certification training, you can find anything online. If you're not exactly interested in a full on course but, rather, need help on a particularly difficult concept, there are also plenty of resources for statistics help.Get advice with analysing complex data with Stack Overflow and Stack Exchange's Cross Validated. These are awesome forums that are answered by professionals, students and data lovers from around the world. Check out our guide on the best online resources for data analysts for more!

GCSE History Revision - Russian Revolution

GCSE History Revision - Russian Revolution History is a cracking subject. It’s full of real-life stories: fascinating and often surprising! History has shaped the world we live in so it is vital for us to learn and reflect upon the events that happened in our past. Russia has had a very turbulent history that hugely influenced international relations in the twentieth century so although it’s rather horrifying to discover what happened (not actually so long ago), its also very interesting. Twentieth century Russia is a modern world depth study offered for GCSE History with all three exam boards, AQA, OCR and Edexcel, so here are some revision notes to help explain that all-important Russian Revolution. It’s a good time to look at the impact of the First World War too, with the centenary being marked this year. The March Revolution (also known as the February Revolution) in 1917 resulted in the end of the Romanov Dynasty in Russia. But why did this happen? Historians love to have a good debate so ‘how far the impact of the First World War contributed to the revolution’ is often discussed. As you discover more and more about this topic, you might develop your own opinion on too. So, what actually happened to Russia during the war? The Military   The Russian army was not a great one. Although Russia had the largest army out of all of the countries in the war, in proportion to its population it was just half the size of the army of France and Germany. The Russian army was also not well equipped, as 6.5 million troops only had 4.6 million rifles - bit of a problem there!  No surprise then, that in 1914-15, the army experienced large defeats and, by 1915, 4 million Russians had been killed, wounded or captured. As you can imagine, the people of Russia were getting very dissatisfied. So, in 1915, Tsar Nicholas II decided to go to the frontline and become Commander-in-Chief of the army. However, this then meant that the Tsar was directly responsible for the army and consequently, any failures of the Russian military would be associated with his failure as a leader. Not a great move by Nicholas! By 1916, fewer and fewer troops were willing to fight at the front and over half of the soldiers stayed in the urban barracks. Nicholas was losing the support of his troops as well as his people as they gradually blamed him more and more for Russia’s failures. Difficult Living Conditions Living conditions in the large cities during the war were awful, especially in Petrograd and Moscow. There was a huge shortage of supplies. Food and fuel were very hard to come by, especially as the railway had virtually collapsed by 1917 - leaving food supplies rotting in stranded carriages. Moreover, hundreds of factories had closed during the war, leaving thousands of people unemployed. Gold standard was abandoned and more and more notes were put in circulation causing severe inflation! The costs of food and fuel quadrupled (even though there was hardly any available) and savings were virtually wiped out. The urban population was cold, hungry and out of work and people became very angry towards the Russian government. Alexandra and Rasputin With the Tsar fighting the war at the front, his wife Alexandra was left in charge, with a monk called Rasputin. They made a mess of the government as they kept changing ministers, replacing good ministers for their own friends. Between August 1915 and February 1917, 36 ministers were changed: not good for the country’s stability! It didn’t help that in a war fighting against the Germans, Nicholas’ wife was herself German. Alexandra and Rasputin were made a mockery of and it ultimately discredited the Tsar’s leadership - the Russian people were becoming less and less willing to support him. No political reform As Nicholas II was busy with the war, it was a good opportunity to allow some political reform. The Duma era came as a result of the 1905 Revolution but this was often criticised for being a ‘Rubberstamp democracy’. The Duma was the lower house of the Russian parliament but due to the Fundamental Laws issued in April 1906 it had very limited powers. The Duma therefore called for concessions during the war but the Tsar rejected their appeals, which led to the creation of the Progressive Bloc (made up of two thirds of Duma members) who wished to form a Duma-based government and basically run the country for Nicholas. But Nicholas wanted to keep his autocratic power and rejected these ideas too. Yet, as the Tsar showed himself to be increasingly incapable of running the war and country, the Progressive Bloc became a focal point of resistance - leading the Russian people to take matters into their own hands. Big events followed. See below to view the timeline. (The dates are according to the old style Julian calendar -13 days behind the rest of Europe) 25th February - General Strike - troops were beginning to side with demonstrators. Policeman is shot by a cossack (soldier). 27th February - Unofficial meeting of the Duma, who taking control of Russia away from the Tasr. 28th February - Tsar Nicholas II attempts to return to Petrograd but is prevented from doing so by his own troops. Now he’d lost the support of the army and the Duma! 2nd March - Provisional Government formed out of Duma Committee. Nicholas signs Decree of Abdication for himself and on behalf of his son, Alexei. 3rd March - New government publicly declared. 4th March - Formal declaration of the abdication of the Tsar and the end to the Romanov dynasty after 300 years! Bye bye Nicholas! That was by no means the end of Russia’s problems though; the mayhem continued and in October 1917 the Bolsheviks took over in a second revolution. So how far was the First World War to blame for the March/February Revolution? Was it the main cause or was it just the trigger to a revolution that had been long-due because of the failures of autocracy? You decide! If you fancy having some more help with your GCSE History revision, then why not visit the Tutorfair website and find the right tutor for you. Here’s a small sample of some of History tutors: Phineas P - Experienced tutor who gets great results Aren R - Inspiring, enthusiastic, knowledgeable PhD student Images from  commons.wikimedia.org   CC-by,  en.wikipedia.org  CC-by  and  sv.wikipedia.org  CC-by

SAT Math Topics 5 Tips on What You Need to Know - Private Tutoring

SAT Math Topics 5 Tips on What You Need to Know Anna L Oct 26, 2019 Want to know what are the new SAT math topics? The math section of the SAT is designed to test your knowledge on problem solving, critical thinking, modeling, algebraic functions and using tools strategically. Seems like pretty broad concepts doesn’t it? Don’t worry, this is your definitive guide on the exact SAT math review topics that are currently being covered. By the end of this article you will know what math is on the new SAT, and how to review for it effectively! SAT Math Review The SAT math topics are about getting real. The good news is that the SAT doesn’t test you on every single math topic you have ever had studied. Feel free to breathe a sight of relief. Instead, it selects areas deemed the most relevant in college courses and careers. The SAT Math test focuses on areas that play a large role in colleges and a variety of careers, therefore applying real world math. These focus areas are: Heart of Algebra â€" create, manipulate and solve algebraic equations. These questions center around linear equations â€" equations that involve two variables that change as stated by a consistent pattern. Problem Solving and Data Analysis â€" is all about being quantitatively literate. These questions require you to create and use a model, as well as understanding the difference between the model predictions and actual data collected. Passport to Advance Math â€" includes questions that require the manipulation of complex equations and functions that are typically needed in STEM-based careers. On top of these areas, the test also covers additional key concepts that don’t fall into any of the above categories. These include coordinate geometry, basic trigonometry, area and volume. 5 Ways to Review the SAT Math Topics 1. Know how to complete grid in questions Students are often given advice to learn the style of questions and the format of the test. But what does this mean when it comes to the SAT? In the SAT math section there are multiple choice questions and grid-in questions. Answering multiple choice questions are fairly straightforward â€" simply select the answer you think is correct. Grid-in questions are different. These are questions where you are going to have to come up with the correct answer on your own. Dont ask me why grid in is the terms used, I dont have that answer! 20% of the questions on the SAT math test are grid-in questions so it’s definitely worth your while to understand how they are answered. You are given the instructions for the grid-in answers, but reading them can waste a lot of time. Instead, familiarize yourself with the instructions on practice tests â€" the instructions are the same. This allows you to spend more time thinking about your answers on test day. 2. Become familiar with the provided formula sheet Many students breathe a sigh of relief when they hear they don’t have to learn every single formula. But that doesn’t mean you can rest easy. You still need to know when to use each formula. Even knowing where the formulas are located on the sheet will save you valuable time. Have the sheet available during every single revision session and refer to it regularly. Pin it somewhere for you to study on a regular basis â€" a mirror, the refrigerator, or on the back of the bathroom door! 3. Work backwards Sometimes it’s easier to start by looking at the multiple choice answers available. You may be lucky enough to rule out a couple of options straight away, but if not, try putting the various options into the equation. This tactic has potential to actually be more time consuming, so may not be ideal for every question, but it’s certainly a good one to have in your bag of tricks. 4. Use the daily practice app The College Board not only provides official practice tests, but also an app to help track your progress. You will receive a question each day with hints and explanations. It’s a great way to maintain your math skills and to remind you to keep preparing for your math SAT! 5. Make the most of other subjects It may come as no surprise that you use math skills in a variety of subjects. Because the SAT math section has such a focus on real world math, subjects such as science and social science are incredibly relevant. Apply your math knowledge in these subjects and you are unknowingly preparing yourself for the SAT math test. Any questions that involve data analysis, graphs, percentages, ratios and tables are useful in preparation for the SAT. Topics Covered in the New Math SAT As you have already learned, the math SAT covers three main topics, with anything leftover categorized under additional math. This section will give you a SAT math topics breakdown, providing you with a thorough understanding of exactly what math is on the SAT. The Heart of Algebra In this section, questions are focused around equations based on real-world topics such as distance, speed, mass, volume or everyday financial topics. Questions may ask you to; Solve linear equations and linear inequalities Interpret linear functions Answer equation word problems Graph linear equations Solve linear function word problems Solve systems of linear equations Answering these questions may require you to; Use multiple steps to simplify an expression or equation Select a graph that shows an algebraic equation that you saw in Algebra 1 course or Algebra 2. or choose the equation that describes a graph Indicate how a graph would be affected by a change in its equation You Might Also Be Interested in: How to Study Math: 35 Math Tips You Should Know Problem Solving and Data Analysis In this section, questions revolve around the application of ratios, percentages, and proportional reasoning. Weve come up with a collection of more topics and what might be asked of you below: Ratios, rates, percentages, units, and proportions â€" solve multi-step problems with a given ratio, rate, percentage or unit. You will also need to know how to calculate ratios, rates, percentages and units using the information provided. Table data and data inferencesâ€" analyze the data presented on a table and use it to answer questions Scatterplots â€" select the best equation to fit various scatterplots. Graphs and tables â€" understand and identify key features, as well as summarizing and evaluating the data presented in them Data collection and conclusions â€" determine whether data collection methods are accurate and reliable Statistics determine mean, median, mode, range, and/or standard deviation Passport to Advanced Math Students who are interested in STEM-based careers will need to pay particular attention to these type of questions. They involve complex equations and functions, and focus on the following areas; Solving quadratic equations Interpreting nonlinear expressions Quadratic and exponential word problems Radicals and rational exponents Operations with rational expressions and polynomials Polynomial factors and graphs Nonlinear equation graphs Linear and quadratic systems Structure in expressions Isolating quantities Functions Now that you are familiar with the new SAT math topics you can go ahead and prepare easily and aim to get the results that you need for schools! Always remember that the SAT math exam is only covering information that youve already learned. So prepping and taking some time to review the material will help to refresh your memory and remember how to quickly and accurately complete problems in these areas. Remember to work hard and apply yourself, the rest is easy!We can help you find the best private tutor near you! It’s simple and secure â€" Get real results fast. Your first hour with any tutor is protected by our Good Fit Guarantee: You don't pay for tutoring unless you find a good fit. Choose Your Subject â€" Add Your Zip Code â€" Find Top Rated Tutors Starting Today! InPerson or Online Online InPerson

British International School Sierra Leone

British International School Sierra Leone British International School Sierra Leone British International school and Montessori Education Freetown is a co-educational day school that caters for all races and creeds. The school is located on the beautiful Hills of the Leceister Peak Mountain regions of Regent. The climate is conducive and pupils can enjoy the soft cool breeze of the Mountains. All around are beautiful scenery of the area and in the distance is a lovely view of the ocean. Our school environment is clean, bright and welcoming offering the children an atmosphere of peace, comfort, and joy. The school is housed in a safe and secured gated premises with security guards manning the gate. The staff are qualified, trained, dedicated andever so ready to support the developmental needs of every childin the school. The basic objectives of the British International School and Montessori are to provide a quality nursery, preschool through primary school education for all children aged 14 months to 12 years using the Montessori approach as the primary medium and the Cambridge International Examinations curriculum as the secondary medium. The basic goal can be subdivided into three conceptual categories; Spiritual, Intellectual and Social. The Spiritual Objective of the British International School and Montessori is to encourage children to strive towards a high moral standard of showing love and concern for all and everyone that they meet in their daily life. Our goal is to encourage each child to understand the meaning of responsibilities and respect towards each other, parents, teachers, others and the environment. The Intellectual Objective is to develop each childs intellectual and creative potential to the fullest. Our goal is to guide the children through an academic curriculum and programme that will provide them the necessary skills to function as a contributing member of society. The learning atmosphere will balance work and play, thereby helping the children to like what they are learning and create a hunger for more learning. This will also give them self esteem as they realise their abilities and strengths. The Social Objective is to model the childrens interaction towards one another with courtesy, graciousness, and gratitude. We will create co-operation rather than competition. Our goal is to foster unity among staff, pupils, parents, friends, and other family members.

Young Pianist Proves Practice Makes Perfect

Young Pianist Proves Practice Makes Perfect Young Pianist Proves Practice Makes Perfect Casey, 11-years-old, Math Level K Reading Level HI The age-old saying “practice makes perfect,” is often said by our teachers and parents. This saying relates to just about anything we’re learning. From riding a bike without training wheels to baking a delicious cake, all new skills need time and practice. For 11-year-old Casey, she recognized the importance of daily practice and discovered that it’s the key to unlocking her success. At a young age, Casey developed a passion for music and has dedicated time to strengthening her skills on the piano. Like any instrument, playing the piano is a complex activity that combines coordination and the use of multiple senses like hearing, sight, and touch. To master a new solo piece or perfect her technique, Casey adopted a daily practice routine. When Casey enrolled in Kumon, she quickly realized how transferable those skills were to her studies. “Kumon helped me establish a daily routine,” said Casey. “Overall, the most beneficial thing Kumon has taught me is that practice makes perfect. Putting in the time always pays off in the end.” In 2017, Casey was presented the opportunity of a lifetime to compete in the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition. Musicians and vocalists from across the globe auditioned for their chance to perform on stage at the world famous Carnegie Hall. Casey was committed to practicing and was more than ready for the world to hear her talent. It’s no surprise that she impressed the judges and placed third in the competition. What do you enjoy most about Kumon? In the Kumon Reading Program I enjoy discovering new books. I also love the feeling of making it to a new level and mastering a difficult concept. How has Kumon helped you outside of the classroom? Kumon helps me establish a daily routine. Knowing that I have to complete my worksheets, I’ve learned to balance and schedule my other chores and activities. I don’t waste time by sitting around watching television or playing video games. If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? Beneficial. What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a human rights lawyer or even a delegate in the General Assembly for the United Nation. Who is your biggest inspiration and why? Every day I am inspired by many different people and can’t choose just one person. I motivate myself to reach my goals and continue to work hard. What’s your favorite book and why? My favorite book is “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” by J.K. Rowling. I love this book because despite dark moments, the characters always work together and remain motivated to work towards their goal. What was your experience like at the 2019 Kumon Student Conference, and what was your favorite part? The Student Conference was a motivating experience and I enjoyed hearing from former Kumon Students. It was great to hear their struggles because it showed me that I am not the only one who gets stuck on challenging worksheets once in a while. What advice would you give to kids just starting Kumon? Don’t get discouraged when working on challenging worksheets. Be patient and continue to try and solve the questions. If you don’t give up, they will become easier for you. It’s worth putting in the time! Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: Practice is the Key to this Young Cello Players Success Focus And Confidence Help This Young Musician Achieve His Goals Accomplished Pianist Applies Focus and Discipline in Her Everyday Routine Perseverance Helps This Young Tennis Player Win On And Off The Court Young Pianist Proves Practice Makes Perfect Young Pianist Proves Practice Makes Perfect Casey, 11-years-old, Math Level K Reading Level HI The age-old saying “practice makes perfect,” is often said by our teachers and parents. This saying relates to just about anything we’re learning. From riding a bike without training wheels to baking a delicious cake, all new skills need time and practice. For 11-year-old Casey, she recognized the importance of daily practice and discovered that it’s the key to unlocking her success. At a young age, Casey developed a passion for music and has dedicated time to strengthening her skills on the piano. Like any instrument, playing the piano is a complex activity that combines coordination and the use of multiple senses like hearing, sight, and touch. To master a new solo piece or perfect her technique, Casey adopted a daily practice routine. When Casey enrolled in Kumon, she quickly realized how transferable those skills were to her studies. “Kumon helped me establish a daily routine,” said Casey. “Overall, the most beneficial thing Kumon has taught me is that practice makes perfect. Putting in the time always pays off in the end.” In 2017, Casey was presented the opportunity of a lifetime to compete in the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition. Musicians and vocalists from across the globe auditioned for their chance to perform on stage at the world famous Carnegie Hall. Casey was committed to practicing and was more than ready for the world to hear her talent. It’s no surprise that she impressed the judges and placed third in the competition. What do you enjoy most about Kumon? In the Kumon Reading Program I enjoy discovering new books. I also love the feeling of making it to a new level and mastering a difficult concept. How has Kumon helped you outside of the classroom? Kumon helps me establish a daily routine. Knowing that I have to complete my worksheets, I’ve learned to balance and schedule my other chores and activities. I don’t waste time by sitting around watching television or playing video games. If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? Beneficial. What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a human rights lawyer or even a delegate in the General Assembly for the United Nation. Who is your biggest inspiration and why? Every day I am inspired by many different people and can’t choose just one person. I motivate myself to reach my goals and continue to work hard. What’s your favorite book and why? My favorite book is “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” by J.K. Rowling. I love this book because despite dark moments, the characters always work together and remain motivated to work towards their goal. What was your experience like at the 2019 Kumon Student Conference, and what was your favorite part? The Student Conference was a motivating experience and I enjoyed hearing from former Kumon Students. It was great to hear their struggles because it showed me that I am not the only one who gets stuck on challenging worksheets once in a while. What advice would you give to kids just starting Kumon? Don’t get discouraged when working on challenging worksheets. Be patient and continue to try and solve the questions. If you don’t give up, they will become easier for you. It’s worth putting in the time! Discover even more student success stories. 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How to Navigate the Process of Finding and Accepting Student Loans

How to Navigate the Process of Finding and Accepting Student Loans Image via Isorepublic.com Fill out the FAFSA Filling out the FAFSA is a great way to start finding government, need-based loans that you qualify for. Yes, it’s time-consuming, but it will be worth the effort if you get a good loan out of it! Check your school’s financial aid website to see when the deadline is (usually, it’s April 1). You can also fill out the College Board CSS/Profile form to help you find even more loans. Actually pay them… You can get into a lot of trouble for not paying your student loans. Make sure you have monthly reminders in place so that you do not forget to make your payment. Also, be sure to budget a good amount for your student loan payments every month. And do it soon! It’s also important to pay off your student loans as soon as you can, especially if your loans have higher interest rates. The longer you wait to pay them off, the more interest you will accumulate, and you’ll have to pay way more than you originally thought. Don’t get yourself into this situation; just be sure to have a good payment plan. Do your research No two loans are the same. This is why it is crucial to know what you are getting yourself into before signing off on that loan. There are a few key things you should definitely know before agreeing to take on a loan: •Is the interest on the loan subsidized or unsubsidized? If it is subsidized, that means the federal government will pay the interest until you graduate. If it is unsubsidized, you are responsible for paying all the interest (all the more reason to pay it off faster!). Subsidized loans are usually available to undergraduate students who qualify for need-based aid. Unsubsidized loans are available to almost all students. •What can you use the money for? There are some monies that you can only use for certain things. For example, some things can only be used for room and board, or for books. Make sure you can use the money you’re getting for what you need. •Do you have to pay a “loan origination fee”? In some cases, you might be charged a fee when you first take out the loan. It’s usually around 1-4 percent of the loan, and it will be included in the loan. (Think of it as a down payment rather than an additional payment.) Don’t accept more than you can pay off A common mistake many students make when taking out loans is accepting more than they will be able to pay off. As a rule of thumb, don’t take out more than 25 percent of your expected entry level salary. If you’ve already taken out that much and still need more money to cover your tuition, try looking to other resources to meet your financial needs. Find other sources of income Remember how I said you should find other sources to meet your financial needs? Let’s talk about them. It’s best to look into these resources first to minimize your student loans. Here are other places that can help you pay your way through school: •Look for scholarships or grants on websites like fastweb.com (and check out these tips to make sure the scholarship you’re applying to is not a scam!) •If you have the time, get a part-time job. You can even look into work/study programs and paid internships. •Look for opportunities that may lower your tuition costs. Although this wont technically help you pay for your school, it’ll lower your bill and thus, you won’t have to take out even more loans. For example, usually, if you are a resident assistant (RA), the school will cover your room and board costs. Consider working in public service If you decide to work in certain public service fields, your student loans will be forgiven after you have made 120 monthly payments working full-time. Usually, government organizations and not for profit 501c3 corporation workers may be eligible for this forgiveness. Check out U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website to find out more about public service loan forgiveness. Paying for college is a tricky thing. Taking out student loans is definitely an option to help you pay your way through school. Just be sure to do your research and know what you’re getting into before you sign and click “accept.”