Student Reps

Selecting and hiring a qualified editor for your dissertation is critical to the favorable submission you desire. Some criteria for this task include: a solid working knowledge of English grammar; access to a plethora of interesting and appropriate vocabulary; the mindset that their job is not to re-do your hard work, but to restate information for better flow as needed; referring often to the editing tool set by the university/board of examiners for citing sources, and all formatting issues.

Solid Working Knowledge of English Grammar

Because your grader is first to notice any of these errors, your entry must be grammatically correct. And let’s remember spelling and correct punctuation come in this category as well. To fulfill this requirement, someone with experience in teaching English, preferably to upper level high school students and college students is ideal. An added bonus for consideration is the English professor who has taught advanced composition where the proper nuts and bolts of writing are expected.

Access to a Plethora of Varied Vocabulary

Of course a thesaurus is usually a source of help in this area. In large part, the main focus is to present descriptive verbs when appropriate instead of the constant variations from the “to be” family. A well-read individual characterizes another possible choice for editor.

Only a Restatement of the Work for Better Flow

On the heels of the topic of vocabulary use, comes this essential item. Editors must remember the piece before them is not their own work, but if awkward phrasing, unclear transitions, or a general need for clarity are present they must remedy them. Either by suggesting alternatives or making the changes and indicate said alterations. Material in the chapters of the dissertation needs to flow smoothly, in addition to being logically organized and consistent. For example, if the writer states in the opening the discussion will be on points A, B, and C in chapters 1, 2, and 3, but instead goes in a completely different direction, the editor should identify the inconsistency and recommend ways to correct it.

Referring to the University’s Tool for Formatting and Citing Sources

It is imperative that authors pay strict attention to their institution’s formatting and citing requirements. Some schools have their own version of the basic MLA, APA, or Turabian styles guides. A good editor can adapt their skills to these.

Like the papers and essays of high school…and possibly earlier…dissertations must demonstrate organization. A project of this length normally divides into chapters. And although the quantity of chapters may vary, the contents usually include an introduction, possibly a survey of existing literature on the topic, a chapter containing the hypothesis and methods, several chapters detailing any research, followed by a concluding chapter summing up the work and offering suggestions for further research. A professional editor ensures these chapters stay on the topic, then weave together to develop a cohesive final product.

Thus the bottom line in writing begins in elementary school when the individual is very young: an introduction, body – points for discussion, and the conclusion – restatement or proof of the validity of your introduction. And so a valid editor, without question, could be an experienced English teacher. After all your board of examiners were probably English and/or writing teachers at one time.

A good editor always trusts in superior tools .Top editors and universities across the United States place their trust in Grammarly grammar checker a user-friendly topically adjusted grammar tool.

You’re a student; you have just graduated from high school or university and don’t have a clue about want you want to do next. The job market is pretty much impossible to get into, the thought of being at home for the next month or twenty doesn’t excite you in the least and you don’t want to or can’t afford to stay in education any longer.

Now is probably the best time in your life to take a gap year!

A Gap Year is a significant amount of time (not necessarily twelve months) in which students go and explore the world around them, discover their talents and interests and gain some life experience before settling down and focusing on a goal.

Here are just some of the benefits students can gain from taking a gap year:

• It’s a chance to make you stand out from the crowd! Think how many high achieving students’ employers and admissions staff see on a daily basis: a gap year is a great way to make you seem interesting and experienced.
• A Gap Year gives you the opportunity to trial out a career you’re interested in in a real life setting. There’s no point going straight into a career or course and realising months into it that it isn’t the right thing for you.
• A Gap Year gives you the chance to travel and see the world around you. Take a Gap Year picking grapes in a vineyard, travel the countryside learning a new language, or volunteer with a charity working with war-torn children in Africa. There are so many organisations you can talk to that can recommend places to suit you and your interests.

So where are the popular places to go for students?

A common choice is an Australian Gap Year. Australia has a vibrant youth culture, hot weather and is probably one of the most beautiful and diverse places in the world. Australia also encourages travelling students with work experience opportunities. In your Australian Gap Year you could end up shearing sheep on a farm in the Outback or waiting tables at a bustling Sydney restaurant.

However, not all people are interested in the same thing and maybe you’re interested in a place a bit more unique. You could travel down to South America and take an Argentinean Gap Year, learning Spanish and teaching English to locals. A Gap Year to Asia is something different, a chance to experience a totally new culture and way of life and learn that Chinese food is a lot different than it is in your local takeaway! Or maybe you would like the chance to give something back by volunteering in a developing country where you can really make a difference to someone’s quality of life.

The most important thing about a Gap Year is learning about yourself and what you want to be. As more universities offer the chance to defer courses and the job market becomes more competitive; it can be a relief to take a break, travel and experience everything you want to first hand. Meet new people and make new friends and maybe even come across amazing opportunities that you wouldn’t have had anywhere else.

Crispin Jones is a writer for Sport Lived who specialise in Australian gap year travel and Argentinean gap years for students.

It seems that sometimes, homeschooling gets a bad rap. But, why? Most often, arguments against homeschooling center around social factors and quality of education. However, if you take the time to research the subject and seriously consider the meaning and results of homeschooling, you might just find that homeschooling could be the best route for your children. Here are five reasons to consider homeschooling.

Different learning styles. Different people learn in different ways: some learn by sight, some by sound, and others by movement. Public education is a one size fits all institution, which just doesn’t cater to children who don’t learn best using the methods prescribed by the public school system.

Time matters. Studies show that students only spend an average of ten to thirty minutes a day (out of six hours) in active application of the material they are being taught. What’s more is their instruction time is being shared with twenty to thirty other children. It’s not unusual for homeschooled children to spend only three hours a day in “schooling,” and to still be advanced in comparison to students in the public school system. Just think what your children could do with all those extra hours during the day that would otherwise be wasted in school: outside activities, piano lessons, dance, games with friends and family . . . the possibilities are only limited by your imagination, and how YOU want to spend your time.

Socialization. One of the biggest arguments parents have against homeschooling is that they feel homeschooled children are somehow not socialized. But that’s just not true. Homeschooled children are socialized – just not by their peers in the public school system. When you think about it, what are children in public schools being socialized to? Drinking, bullying, drugs, sex, materialism? No thanks.

Flexibility. Homeschooling allows for complete flexibility when it comes to setting your school schedule. If you travel a lot and want to take your children along with you, then homeschooling allows you to keep your family intact no matter what the circumstances.

Limited resources. Let’s face it: schools always seem to be struggling to meet budget needs, and it seems the government is always struggling to fill those needs – sometimes inefficiently. By homeschooling, you are able to provide resources that a public school may not be able to provide; you set the budget and call the shots.

Homeschooling may have a questionable reputation in some circles, but generally speaking, that is only due to a lack of understanding of the true nature of homeschooling. Homeschooling can be a valuable tool for you and your family – and can greatly improve your quality of life – if you approach it as a true learning experience.

About the Author: Enoch Tallarico is a huge advocate of catering the educational system to the needs of children. He also enjoys writing about higher education, grants for college, and alternative education practices.

As technology advances, so too does our ability to creatively solve problems. Whether it be using a built-in GPS application on our Smart Phone to find a destination or tracking down old classmates using social media sites–technology has changed the way we approach situations. No where is this more apparent then in the college classroom. These days, college students are able to utilize the multitude of creative solutions made possible by computer technology to balance lives chock-full of midterms, exams and budding social lives. In fact, this generation of college students has grown up in an already computer literate world, and that fact, coupled with the burgeoning market of tech products, makes this group of young adults equipped to deal with time management and scholarly pursuits better than ever before.

Technology provides students with solutions that go above and beyond:

Beyond the composition notebook…

Students no longer have to take notes completely by hand, hoping their writing is legible come study time. Laptop computers are an easy solution to this problem as most students are already well-equipped typists. Students can easily transport a laptop to and from class as most laptops are designed for portability.

Beyond the text book…

The internet provides a simple solution for students and professors alike, as instructors no longer have to photocopy and hand out tons of supplemental course materials to their classes. Instead, students can access this material on websites (such as Blackboard) where their professor has posted them directly. Because everything is in one location and so easily accessible, this eliminates the need for tracking down a professor if a sheet is lost  or even keeping track of all materials in a folder or notebook. Entire text books can also be downloaded to laptops or e-readers. This technological alternative is usually much cheaper than a physical copy and solves a financial problem that many college students struggle with.

Beyond the dorm mixer…

College can become a daunting and lonely experience, especially for freshmen or transfer students. Meeting new people while trying to keep up with the academic rigors of course load can sometimes become overwhelming. At larger institutions, the extreme class sizes make it difficult for students to meet peers. Social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook can assist students with matching names and personalities to the faces they see in the classroom.

Beyond the teacher’s mailbox…

Before college campuses got wired up to the world wide web, students had to make sure physical copies of their assignments were turned in to their professor by the due date. Even when situations occurred that were beyond the students control, the lack of that physical copy could be the difference between a pass and a fail. However, with the help of email, now students who are sick, in a snow storm, or dealing with a family emergency 4 states South can email their assignments right to their teacher’s inbox.

Beyond the library…

Because of the plethora of scholarly articles and journals online, students no longer have to deal with relying on finding research materials strictly from bookstores and libraries, where books can be out of stock and periodicals can be checked out (until after the due-date)!

Beyond the scheduled appointment..

Most importantly, technology has revolutionized communication. Email, Google Chat, message boards, and Facebook groups all work to keep the lines of communication between student and faculty open and readily available. This serves as a wonderful solution because the  communication is immediate and can be done from virtually anywhere. Students can ask questions about their assignment, link up with classmates for a study group, peer review papers and alert teachers to an upcoming absence without hassle and without doing much more than clicking a few keys.

Technology savvy college students across the globe use Grammarly grammar checker. Grammarly is a complete resource for grammatical excellence. Take a moment to review English Grammar Rules Handbook

For any couple, regardless of their age, the first date is always the most daunting part of the relationship. Ensuring that this goes smoothly will ensure that a good foundation is built, providing the best possible chance for future success and happiness. But how exactly do you have the best first date?

The most important thing to remember about first dates is that there is no fool-proof way of guaranteeing success. All first dates will be different and should be targeted towards the preferences and likes of the individuals. That being said, there are a few ways in which people can help improve their chances of success by avoiding certain faux pas.

Don’t Be Late

There is nothing worse than making your date feel like they have been stood-up, so always make sure that you are early or on time to your dates. This will make you look interested and will show that you are a committed individual – two things which will be seen as attractive features by your love interest.

Don’t Be Too Adventurous

This may seem like a strange suggestion but many dates fall flat on their face because those organising them have tried to achieve too much. Keep first dates simple to limit opportunities where problems could occur. Whilst many people avoid clichés such as attending the cinema or going out for dinner this can often be a good way to break the ice.

If you are considering these options but want to be more original then there are a number of ways in which you can make the experience more unique. Looking for new cinema releases and checking reviews of them can help you to see a film that is guaranteed to please. Picking the cinema can also be very important – the Odeon cinema in Leicester Square is well known for its impressively large screens. Taking your first date somewhere like this will show that you put more effort in than simply turning up at your local picture house, whilst still ensuring the date remains grounded in familiar and comfortable territory.

Don’t Look Disinterested

This is an obvious point, but looking disinterested during your date will not bode well for future plans. You should always make sure that you show interest whilst engaging in conversation with the other party. No-one wants to be on a date with someone who doesn’t say a word, just as no one likes to date someone who won’t let them get a word in edgeways. Try to strike the perfect balance in order to give you and your partner the best chance of getting to know each other.

For those nervous about lulls in the conversation, taking your date to cocktail bars or pubs can often help to keep the conversation moving. Not only will it provide a comfortable and familiar setting for individuals but they will also be able to take a sip of drink when trying to think of something to talk about – ensuring that conversation flows smoothly and freely.

You’ve all heard the tips on how to get a good room mate or how to get along with your room mate. You may have even heard ones on how to bond with them. These tips are probably engrained in your head; however, have you ever been taught how YOU can be a good room mate. You may think you are perfect and don’t have any annoying traits, but you need to realize that everyone gets bugged by something. Here are some ideas to help you be the best room mate possible.

What Bugs You?

Think about what bugs you the most about a person. You can even make a list if you feel like you need to. Some things that bug me are when people borrow my clothes and don’t hang them up, or when people leave dirty dishes in the sink. When you know what bugs you, you can grasp an idea of what bugs other people. Do not do any of the actions on your list that drive you crazy or you will be the one driving everyone else crazy!

Chit-Chats

>As a way of getting to know your room mate, just straight up ask them about their pet peeves and tell them yours. This way, you will know exactly what irks them and there will be no excuse for them to ever be bugged at you. If you talk it out, you will figure out if they like to be alone when they’re mad or upset, or if they like to be consoled. Knowing your room mate’s pet peeves will help you be more considerate toward them and will help you understand them when they seem frustrated or annoyed.

Can I Pencil you In?

Another good way to make sure you are being the best room mate possible is to know their schedule. If you know that they have an early class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, don’t bring all your friends over to hang out on Monday and Wednesday nights. You know if you were the one who had to get to bed early, you wouldn’t want a bunch of loud kids to be your bedtime lullaby.

Include Them

Don’t act like you don’t know your room mate when your friends are there. Ask them to hang out with you. Your room mate may decline but they will know that you are a nice person who is trying to include you with their friends. Most likely, they will also invite you to meet their friends. Having lots of friends in different types of groups helps you broaden your horizons and see new perspectives.

Sparkly Clea

>If you are a clean and tidy person, this will eliminate many potential conflicts between you and your room mate. Try and pick up your things off of the floor and just be overall neater than you probably were when you lived with your parents. If you do this, it will be appreciated by your room mate and hopefully they will also feel the need to be cleaner.

Having a room mate for the first time can be hard and frustrating at times. Don’t put all the blame on someone else though. If you are having major problems, you need to look at both sides of the spectrum and see what you can do to improve yourself as a roomie.

About the Author

Meagan Hollman is a writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers is a website that strives to help potential students determine what kinds of online colleges can help them reach their goals. The site even helps students find online mba programs to fit their needs.

When a student makes the choice to study abroad, they are not just adding a new address to their list. Not only are they expanding their horizons, but they are also gaining a cultural experience that cannot be had by staying home. No matter how exciting it might be, however, the student could still have questions. What should they do? What should they consider or see?

1. Absorb the Language

Although some students will already come from English speaking countries, this is still something for them to think about. It is important to absorb certain vocabulary words and sentence structures in order to avoid confusion and settle in more quickly. This helps them not only in a setting for learning, but also as they go about their daily chores and tasks. The more they understand the less nervous and scared they will feel. Their grasp on the language does not have to be perfect, but an attempt to improve what they already know is always helpful.

2. Look Around

The art of studying is always important, but this should never be all that a student does when they are in London. Taking the time to hold conversations with locals, observe cultural rituals, and so on can help a student become more well-rounded and aware. They can ask questions that have always sat at the back of their mind, learning more than what they could find from a textbook. The idea of adventure should not be feared; instead, it should be embraced as tightly as possible.

3. Have a Sense of Humour

Many people experience culture shock when they go from one country to another. Some of them choose to remain puzzled or even upset by these cultural differences, leading to difficulty in adjustment. When a student chooses to harness their sense of humour, they are likely to handle things differently. They should not think of something as strange or impossible to understand; it should simply be something that requires further research or observation. The student will be away from home, and to do well they must adjust. They need to have fun with it, rather than think of it as something to survive.

4. Keep a Record

It is one thing to visit relatives, but it is another to study abroad. In order to have something to look at and enjoy for years to come, the student should purchase or make a journal. Each day or whenever they feel up to the task, they can write down what they saw or did. When they eventually go home they can then easily recall everything, preventing the endeavour from becoming a series of foggy memories.

5. Choose a Good Living Location

If the student will not be living on school grounds, they should try to find a place that provides a healthy and safe atmosphere.

Studying in London can provide benefits that no person could count in one sitting. However, in order to properly make the best out of their new surroundings, the tips above should be put under consideration.

Tom writes on behalf of Richmond University which is the American University in London. Richmond have a limited amount of space on their courses for next year so if your looking for London Universities clearing, check out Richmond’s University clearing places 2011.

For the students of business arena a doctorate degree in business administration may play a great role. It will prepare them to take up a long and rewarding career. It will open the door to take up a senior position in the corporate world, or begin a role as a researcher or teacher in academia.

Why Is It Required?

Many thought earning potentiality is the only driving force to acquire a higher degree. Nonetheless, graduates holding a PhD are able to command the highest salaries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for instance, financial mangers with higher level qualifications earned a median income of $90,000 in 2009. A prediction is made that opportunities for holders of doctorate degrees in business administration will grow at a rate of around 13% up until 2018.

What Are The Courses?

The actual courses would depend upon the student’s chosen career track. Students can get DBA on accounting, finance, strategic planning, modern communication practices, ethics, international relations and organizational theory. Students should have to complete and defend a research project or thesis which would have to be unique in nature.

What Are The Requirements?

Bachelor’s honor in a related subject and perhaps even a master’s degree are the requirements to gain admission into this type of doctorate program. Eligibility criteria do vary dependent upon the school and faculty. Many institutions may accept applications from potential students who have many years of hands on experience in industry in lieu of previous academic success.

Why Online?

Online doctorate in business administration is now available and it comes with inherent advantages compared to attending traditional brick and mortar schools. Students can continue a career with their studies. They can choose their time to complete the academic tasks. Online degree comes with great possibility for those who live in a remote area where there is no good university or no suitable program of their choice from a local university.

What Are The Steps To Choose Studying Remotely?

First step to study remotely is choosing distance learning programs that are accredited by a recognized accrediting institution. Be careful as there are many fake schools and institutions are there. Second step, before enrolling in and online program, is comparing the curricula from a number of different institutions. Be clear and specific about your career goal and choose the course that will best match your career goals.

With every year that passes, students in the UK are recording record results in A-levels, prompting suggestions that the qualifications themselves are getting easier. While such blanket statements in the media give little credit to the efforts of both the students and their teachers, there is some evidence to suggest that it is easier to achieve a higher grade in certain subjects than others, and this gives rise to the potential for prejudice against those subjects that are considered “soft” options.

Research by Durham University found that the so called “STEM” subjects, covering Science, Technology, English and Maths, were quantifiably more difficult, resulting in students taking these subjects averaging lower grades. It is understandable, then, that over the last decade, the number of students taking these STEM A-levels have fallen significantly, perhaps as a direct result of the student’s perception of their difficulty, or perhaps because educational institutes with one eye on their league table standings are less vociferously encouraging their students to sign up for the more difficult courses.

When asked directly, most universities claim that all A-levels are equally valuable, with only certain courses favouring particular qualifications where there is a direct link between the A-level and prerequisite knowledge for the degree course. A recent Guardian article investigated this, and most universities that responded were clear that they did not discount students who have taken the so-called soft subjects.

Around the same time that the Guardian were conducting their research, however, the “Russell Group”, who represent a number of top UK universities, released a guidance book for students called “Informed Choices”. In it, they suggest that certain courses such as Maths and English provide students with key skills that enable them to succeed on degree courses, advising that students consider carefully the implications of not taking any of the STEM A-levels.

Clearly when a group as influential as this make such strong statements, they are reflecting the common wisdom, and despite what the Universities may claim in public, when faced with a direct choice between students for an oversubscribed course, it would seem likely that admissions tutors would prefer the STEM qualified candidates. Students, it seems, must make some tough decisions when deciding what courses to follow.

To add an extra layer to the debate, a credible alternative to A-levels exists in the form of the International Baccalaureate qualification, now being adopted by an increasing number of schools in the UK, particularly by independent schools. Students of the IB are able to combine subjects in a similar fashion to A-levels, but must take a Maths course, a Science course and a foreign language; they also study how to learn effectively and have to produce an extended project similar to a University dissertation. Again the choice is not clear cut; while some Universities are aware of the IB and value it highly due to significantly lower dropout rates on degree courses by those who have completed it, many are simply unaware of the IB and so regard it as less desirable than even soft A-levels.

Regardless of whether there is any truth that some A-levels are more difficult than others, it is clear that a perception exists that STEM subjects are more impressive, and students would do well to bear this in mind when making their choices.

Article by Matt Parker, education and private school blogger.

Whether you are at school, college, or university you will be sitting for examinations frequently. A lot of students face difficulties whilst studying, and even more do not actually know it! Ever wonder why you got such a low grade in that exam that you studied so hard for? Here are some easy ways that will help you study effectively and get the grade you have always wanted.

Memory:

Not all human brains work the same. Some respond the most to visual memory, while others to verbal. If you are not aware of your brain’s preferred memory type, try them out and see which one allows you to comprehend, or memorize, better. However, you can make use of both memories together. Read your notes out loud, think out loud and then re-write them in your own way. Also, memory connects to the place in which you study, where specific things in that place will remind of what you were reading at that time.

Chatting:

Talking to people is very handy when it comes to studying. After you finish a certain chapter, chat with people who covered the same topics and discuss them. Ask questions, make comments and answer questions. Discussions tend to raises different perspectives which will broaden the horizons of your own perspective and propose points that you probably haven’t though of. You may also be able to arrange a few sessions of private tuition as a one to one session can be really helpful. You will learn more than you think you would.

Time:

The time of the day in which you study also plays a role in enhancing the studying process. This, of course, depends whether you are a night owl or a morning bird. However, scientific research proved that the brain works most efficiently in early mornings. So save yourself few hours by being efficient in making use of the time when your brain can operate within its maximum capacity.

Practice:

Practice is perhaps the most vital indicator of whether or not you are on the right path. Practice does not only test your knowledge on the topic you are studying, but improves your exam skills and the way you tackle questions. When answering past papers or practice questions, always put yourself in the conditions of a real exam and limit yourself to the time you will be given. By doing so, you will find yourself less stressed when sitting for the actual exam and more confident when answering exam papers.

Written by Elizabeth James, who writes for kumon.co.uk