How To Teach A Tutor

How To Teach A TutorIf you're considering taking on the task of teaching a tutor-type person, you may be wondering if it's worth the effort. The truth is that there are several different perks for each option and ultimately it comes down to your personal situation as well as how much you want to commit. Let's examine these three different scenarios for what they're worth and how to determine which is right for you.The first option for taking on a tutor is with private tutors who are available when and where you need them. This can be a luxury in itself because many people will be available in the same room at the same time. If you can't commit to a larger class or maybe just don't have the time to make it to school all the time, this might be the best option for you. Of course, it also depends on whether you think that making a face-to-face appointment is still as effective as meeting online or if you would rather have some other option. However, private tutors are usually much more affordable than public or private schools.Another advantage to getting your lesson from a private tutor is that they can often offer a wide variety of choices when it comes to giving you free online lessons or they can provide you with free video lessons or lecture software. In general, your tutor will be able to give you information from various subjects that you could have trouble with and help you tackle that aspect of your course that you need help with. You should also consider the convenience factor. If you have a busy schedule, they may be able to give you a much more extensive lesson plan than you could get in the classroom.The downside to this option, of course, is that you may not get as detailed a lesson or you may find that your tutors are not as proficient at things that matter in your particular field as they are at other subjects. Still, if you only need one or two private lessons a month or if you're really not as concerned about time, it's an option worth exploring. The next option for learning how to teach a tutor is through an educational institution. If you have your own space at home or at school, there's a good chance that they will be happy to teach you. They are also typically much cheaper than private tutors. This doesn't mean that you have to stick with them for life, though, because some schools may be unhappy with the constant interruption of a tutor who has been the case with them previously.The great thing about this option is that you'll also learn a lot about yourself and how you work that might come in handy later on. If you have to really push yourself to get your homework done or if you are struggling with a particular concept, this can help you get over that hump. Some schools and institutions also have a better reputation and may have more resources than private tutors so you may find that you get to work with a more qualified teacher who can actually get you through your homework in the class.No matter which option you choo se, finding the right tutor can be a really big commitment and will definitely take some work and sacrifice. But if you find the right one for you, you'll be glad you did. Just remember that you are in charge of your own course, but if you know what you need to do to get it completed, then you can very easily get the most out of it.

Math Madness (in March) - Heart Math Tutoring

Math Madness (in March) - Heart Math Tutoring Math Madness (in March) Math Madness (in March) March 3, 2019 For anyone interested in getting more plugged into the cause around math, education, and/or opportunity, we are keeping math stats and event opportunities coming during the month of March. Math Matters! Did you know that math achievement at age 7 is predictive of socioeconomic status at age 42? This is after controlling for IQ, academic motivation, and socioeconomic status at birth. (Ritchie Bates, Enduring Links From Childhood Mathematics and Reading Achievement to Adult Socioeconomic Status, 2013) Surprise not only do school-entry math skills predict later achievement in math, but they ALSO predict later achievement in reading! (Greg Duncan et al, 2007, School Readiness and Later Achievement) Fill the Gaps Only 44% of economically disadvantaged students are on grade level in Grades 3-8 math in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.(2018 NC End of Grade Tests)Research shows targeted experience with numbers can help! Confidence matters, too. Only 3 in 10 African American students with strong likelihood of success in Advanced Placement math actually take it. Of those who dont, half report lacking the confidence to enroll. (The College Board, 2012) Learn more in March! March 6th is International Math Day. Heart Tutoring will appear on Fox 46 around 7:45AM. March 6th is also the 2nd Annual #CommitTo80 event hosted by Read Charlotte, with Dr. Michael McAfee, President CEO of PolicyLink as keynote speaker. March 14th is Pi Day, and representatives from Heart Tutoring will be hitting the town for informal/optional gatherings all day with any tutors, donors, friends, and staff who want to meet. Find out who, when, and where here. CMS Foundation is hosting Teacher Talks, inspired by TED Talks on Tuesday, March 19th at 5:15PM atMcGlohon Theater at Spirit Square. On March 26th from 8-10AM, Leading on Opportunity Council Co-Chairs James Ford Andrea Smith will lead a meeting about how we drive economic mobility for all. Plug in for regular updates from this group by joining the Community Impact Alliance. Executive Director Emily Gaffney bumped into Heart tutor Brad Platt at CMS career fair on 2/23. Brad is recruiting students straight out of high school for Duke Energys Customer Service and Lineworker career opportunities. Great things can happen if you have math and reading skills! Throwback to Pi Day 2017 at Montclaire Elementary with Wilsons World!!

Cover Letter Tips For Non-Writers

Cover Letter Tips For Non-Writers pexels.com Many students just breaking out into the workforce may be unfamiliar with cover letters, and can be hesitant about writing them. When a job posting asks for a cover letter, it can chase student applicants away from it, especially those that feel like their writing skills are not the strongest. But you want to make sure that your future is not limited simply because you are not sure of how to write a cover letter! Do not let your insecurities limit your future. A great cover letter can be written by both writers AND non-writers alike, if you follow the following tips! Know What a Cover Letter Is Before you can write a truly excellent cover letter, you need to have a good understanding of what a cover letter is. What is its purpose? What is its goal? How does it help you to write and have a cover letter with your job application materials? Start by realizing what a cover letter is. The Balance explains that a cover letter is “… a document sent with your resume to provide additional information on your skills and experience…. The letter provides detailed information on why you are qualified for the job you are applying for… specific information on why you’re a strong match for the employer’s job requirements…. Employers use cover letters as a way to  screen applicants for available jobs  and to determine which candidates they would like to interview.” Knowing what a cover letter is and what it will provide employers helps you to figure out exactly the best way to write one. What information do you need to provide to really sell yourself? Even if your writing is not top notch, having the right information in your cover letter will help you to attract job offers and potential employers. pexels.com Use a Template If you still feel overwhelmed by the prospect of writing a cover letter and are not sure if your writing is up to snuff for the job, then using a template is highly recommended! Different kinds of jobs require different information, so you do need to find or create a template that will really work for you and not just the first thing you find or create. If you decide to create your own template, just work really hard to write the best cover letter for your industry as you can. You know your field and what you want to do best, and it is highly recommended that you work to create your own template first if you can. It might be a little scary to do, but once you have your template, you can use it over and over again for all your job hunting needs with only minor tweaks. If you decide to go down this route, you should definitely visit your Career Center on campus to get help writing one so that you feel absolutely confident in the material that you are sending out. If you do not feel comfortable to write your own outline of a cover letter, go online as there are many templates out there. You just need to make sure you are picking one that is well written and better tailored to your needs than any old generic template. You do want your cover letter to be interesting and relevant to the job opportunity, so just be sure to make the wisest choice! Customize Your Cover Letter One step you always need to make you take and do not skip is customizing your cover letter! It is great if you have a template to use, but you need to customize that template, usually for every single job you apply for. There is always something a little bit different about the job posting that you should tailor your cover letter to. Show your best self, not your laziest self, and put your best foot forward. Writing a cover letter might take a little bit more work, but when the job offers come rolling in, the results will have been worth it!

Do You Need a Tutor for Your Teenager

Do You Need a Tutor for Your Teenager Alarming Signs that reveals Your Child Need a Tutor: Do you want bright future of your child? Here we are going to discuss an amazing opportunity for your children to have it. When students are confused in their studies and family schedules are too saturated, then a need for a Tutor is arisen. If you believe that your child can score extra marks while studying at home with your guidance, then hiring an expert Tutor is best option for you to adopt. Here we will discuss the benefits of tutoring process in detail. Why has this practice become so popular nowadays? Lets start from understanding your needs. Alarming Signs that reveals Your Child Need a Tutor: First of all, you will have to recognize the needs of your child. Although some children perform quite well at school, some of them need extra care to increase their grades. That is the case, when experienced tutor is required How to recognize the issue? Decline in Grades:   If notice that your childs grades are slipping continuously while he is doing a lot in class and at home, then you should have to hire a well-educated Tutor immediately. He will gradually help your child in clearing his ways in studies. Time Management Issue:   If your child gets confused in balancing his project preparation and homework, then he definitely face a time management issue. Also your child can struggle to balance his efforts between several different subjects. In both cases hiring a tutor is a solution Lack in Confidence:   Does your child feel blue? Doesn’t he explain his problem in studies well? Then Tutoring is the best way for him/her to cope with these problems. It will enhance his/her confidence. with the help of an expert tutor your child will become self-assured. Therefore this is one of the reasons for tuition in primary school. Decline in Parental Supervision:   It is impossible for parents to pay enough attention to their child`s homework while working. Thus, for this sake, a professional tutor can really help in solving this problem while supervising your child as an expert. Disabilities in Learning Process:   Tutor is a good choice when your child is affected badly by the problem of learning disability. Some disorders like Dyslexia, ADHD and visual difficulty will be conquered child to stop focusing on his studies. A professional tutor will work over here for such special cases. Tutoring is getting Fame these Days. Why? Tutoring will give your child needed attention that cant be provided while teaching   in a crowded environment of any class. Quality of education in most schools are not really up to the mark therefore tutoring process will help your child while providing basic and qualitative education. Through the tutoring approach, all your child’s learning needs will be fulfilled. School teacher doesn’t have enough time to supervise each and every pupil personally. Hence, an expert tutor will supervise will help your child with an individual approach. Professional Tutor is taking responsibility for the quality of education of your child as well as ignites your childs interest in specific subject. Performance of your child will be improved with the help of tutoring process as good Tutor will help him/her in difficult subjects. With the help of tutoring your child will get higher grades. This will increase his self-esteem and confidence. Great Personalities Inspired by Tutors: Brian Williams, a famous news anchor and managing director of NBC credits his success to his English Literature teacher named Mr. Bob Kitzin. He says that his tutor had turned around towards success. Patti LaBelle, an award-winning singer puts special devotion to her teacher Ms. Eileen Brown who helps her in her singing career. President Bill Clinton holds a special place in his heart for his tutor Mr. Virgil Spurlin who improved Clintons identity in his music life. Conclusion: Hence, we can say that Tutoring is also the best way to assist students whose grades are declining or those, who face difficulties in the distribution of effort among various subjects. Tutors will help them by creating a reasonable balance. Tutoring is no doubt great way of teaching. The process of tutoring is always beneficial for all students who seek expert’s guidance. If your child encounter problems during your studies then tutoring process is the best idea for you to take. A specialized tutor will help your child in finding information and understand the child`s problems in learning effectively. We highly recommend you adopt tutoring for your child not only for his bright future but also to help him in coping with other challenges.

New SuperBug Spread By Pets

New SuperBug Spread By Pets pixabay.com And what bug is more commonly heard of nowadays than the many strains of E. coli? Well, a pet shop worker was found infected by the fearsome strain of E.coli that resists antibiotics. And the dogs in the store carried the same strain. The man, a 50-year-old that has kidney inflammation, had this E. coli infection with the mcr-1 gene, the DNA that resists the antibiotics used to treat such illnesses. Tests were then conducted on 39 dogs as well as 14 cats in this pet shop, revealing that four dogs and two cats carried this strain of E. coli. According to the researchers: “All six isolates were resistant to colistin, polymyxin B, cephalosporin, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin … These findings suggest that mcr-1 producing E. coli can colonize companion animals and be transferred between companion animals and humans. The findings also suggest that, in addition to food animals and humans, companion animals can serve as a reservoir of colistin-resistant E. coli.” Of course, after the 50-year-old man was admitted to the hospital, two other men in the same ward were infected with the same strain of E.coli. Researchers haven’t concluded that he was the cause of the infection in the other occupants, but common sense would suggest that’s exactly what happened. So the problem becomes exponentially greater now, as this strain of E. coli appears to be easily spread, and it’s not yet curable. Based on past studies, researchers believed that people may be infected by the food they eat specifically animal products. Of course, the Zika virus has recently taken the media by storm, but the mcr-1 strain of E. coli really shouldn’t be taking a back seat, especially with the risks that come along with it. According to Dr. Thomas Frieden, when giving a speech about the Zika virus, “The medicine cabinet is empty for some patients. It is the end of the road for antibiotics unless we act urgently.” Researchers found the strain quickly, located on the plasmid. What is a plasmid? According to NBC News, it is a “little structure of DNA that exist outside the chromosomes where most of the DNA is found. They’re handy little carriers that can pass off a stretch of DNA as easily as a courier hands an envelope to a client.” And according to the researchers, this is the worst possible place for the virus to be. They claim to have large amounts of concern in the location, especially because the plasmid was carried by E. coli itself, which already housed superbug qualities before even picking up a mcr-1 strain. E. coli has seven resistant genes in and of itself, encoded in its DNA. On the plasmid, it has many more. But most importantly: the E. coli isn’t yet invincible. Right now, it’s able to be killed off with carbapenems, an antibiotic that was tested on a 49-year-old patient who is now home and doing well despite having been infected. But, like many illnesses, early detection is going to be a key to stopping the strain from doing serious damage or resulting in death. The CDC and state health officials track down everyone that patients with this strain of illness have come in contact with. They do this not only to find the source, but to make sure that it hasn’t/won’t continue to spread. And researchers have worked tirelessly to ensure there aren’t other strains out there at the moment. They are just trying to keep such a super bug from hitting the general public in mass proportions. The goal is simple: catch the problem early and solve it. Even the President of the United States, Barack Obama, has directed the government to work on a solution to this problem, before these superbugs are attacking mass populations. Still, the drug development process takes years and costs billions, so the idea of a cure is definitely far from being realized. In fact, it really hasn’t even started. And now that pets are also in danger, the fear of this superbug spreading has just increased exponentially. Companion animals and food animals both potentially infected doesn’t leave the human race with many other options. And even worse, scientists are worried that this E. coli bacteria with the mcr-1 gene will pass this same gene to another superbug, which could have other mutations as well. If this were to happen, it would create a superbug that resists all known antibiotics. In other words, it would be 100 percent incurable. And according to the CDC, already more than 2 million people are infected by drug resistant germs every year. Of these 2 million, 23,000 die from the infection.

How To Get More Students Visiting Your TutorZ Profile

How To Get More Students Visiting Your TutorZ Profile Many tutors ask how to get more students visiting their TutorZ profile. This is a very good question which we love to answer. Moreover, it is January â€" the best month to tackle to this type of strategic task. To most tutors is well understood that the more students visit their profile the higher their chances of receiving a new tutoring request. At TutorZ ever 13th visitor decides to contact a tutor. In technical marketing terms we say TutorZ has a conversion rate of 7%, that is converting every 13th student visiting your profile into a tutoring lead. TutorZ has over 40,000 tutors on its site. This means these other 40,000 tutors compete with you for your prospective tutoring clients attention to receive tutoring requests. Practically, however, its a smaller number of tutors competing with each other because the tutoring market in the US. is segmented. The segmentation takes place geographically, by subject and my other attributes. The main segmentation takes place geographically. For example, a in-home tutor in New York does not compete with an in home-tutor in Houston, TX. But tutors do not have to be 1000 of miles apart to be segmented, even a few miles often suffice. In New York, for example, tutors in Brooklyn rarely compete with tutors in Manhattan even though they are only 5 miles apart. The East River forms a natural barrier between the two city regions that must be crossed over the Williamsburg or Brooklyn Bridge. Traffic Jams and higher costs of transportation pose a significant hurdle for Brooklyn tutors to come over to Manhattan. The second main segmentation happens by subject. Lets say youre  a math tutor and the other tutor in your geographic location tutors English and writing. In this case youre not competing with that other tutor.   This is in contrast to the situation when you and the other tutor offer math lessons. To improve your chances of getting the tutoring job you would need to stand out in your subject offering.   How?   By showing that you have a special math background such as degrees in math, science or special course work in statistics, probability, or numerical analysis.   Already demonstrating that you have experience in say algebra 2 would be a competitive advantage.   In other words, tailor your tutoring profile around your specialties. A complete different way to get more students to is increase the ranking of your profile. There are various ranking factors that influence whether a tutor appears higher on our search.   These factors include your profile, job response time, ratings and reviews. We now explain these ranking factors in more detail. First, the more descriptive your profile is the higher the ranking. And dont forget your profile picture and mentioning your specialties. Second, when you receive a tutoring job make sure you respond as quickly as possible your students message.   After having tutored your student, ask for ratings and reviews from her.   Any rating â€" including a low 1 or 2 star rating â€" has a positive effect on your ranking.   The same is true for reviews, any review including one with not so kind words will boost your ranking.   In summary, tutors who communicate quick and professionally with their students and do great   tutoring work will outrank competing tutors. For more detail on ranking and apple awards check out: https://www.tutorz.com/tutor/ranking-awards

Tutoring For Math Is As Important As Finding The Best Program

Tutoring For Math Is As Important As Finding The Best ProgramIf you are looking for some extra help in your matriculation to Baruch College, you need to do all you can to ensure that you are being offered with some of the best tutoring possible. The college offers a variety of Math tutors and on what aspects of the subject are they suitable. With this information, you will be able to figure out whether you need to have a tutor for the introductory part of your matriculation or for the more advanced ones. So if you are thinking of a tutor for Math, you will want to be sure you get the best service that is available.If you have some questions about the Math tutoring, don't worry too much. They have all of the relevant resources that are needed for your needs. There are many people who are going to be able to answer any questions you might have about the tutoring. They will know the best resource for you. You are also going to be able to find the right tutors to meet the type of support you are looking for.This is an opportunity for you to go into school and get some education so that you can become a better person. The Math Tutoring is important because it will give you a good foundation for everything that you are going to need to know. This is why most students go through this process.There are tutors at Baruch College Math Tutoring who have degrees in this field of study. They offer some of the best options for you to work with. There are also some tutors who only provide a portion of the complete amount of work needed for the subject.If you are looking for some tutoring for College Math, you are going to have to do some research to make sure you find the best tutors. They are all over the web. Some people useAdWords to find out who is best and if you are able to find this out then you will be able to offer your services to the person that is going to be paying you.Of course you will want to do your homework before choosing the tutors that you will work with. They will need to be able to help you understand the concepts and work with you as a team to get you the results you want. If you are really determined, this should not be much of a problem.Make sure you find a tutor for College Math that works with you to find out what will work best for you. This is just as important as finding a tutor for your Mathematics so take care to find the perfect match.

Science Regents Review

Science Regents ReviewIf you're in high school, your chemistry regents review will be conducted in less than a month. You've probably made it through this part of the course with flying colors. Unfortunately, for those of us who struggle with the concepts that most students learn in high school, our regents review can seem far less eventful.To be fair, everyone has a different approach to the lessons that are the most important in science courses, and when you think about it, chemistry regents will be no different. Even so, if you're not making good progress, it's time to consider ways to speed up your work.First of all, don't try to think that you need to go back and re-read material that was covered in class. The best way to get things moving is to look at what you're already learning, and then see what else you could do with it. Do some research on topics that interest you, or make a list of things that you want to learn more about.Second, look at what you're already doing. If you 're studying in class, keep track of where your notes and assignments are and look over them. When you're doing homework, pick a book or lesson plan that's easiest for you and start with it.Third, be sure to use your study materials. If you're just using a book as a supplement, don't assume that everything that you've learned in that book will be transferable to the classes that you take in college.Finally, if you can't do something you want to do, don't worry about it. No matter how much effort you're putting into a science class, it's never easy to get everything done. As long as you're taking action in whatever you're trying to accomplish, you should be able to keep making progress.Don't lose sight of the reason that you took this course in the first place. Don't force yourself to work too hard or to make too many mistakes just because you don't know how to make things happen, you'll end up frustrated will be bad at everything you do.

What is it Like to Attend North Carolina State University

What is it Like to Attend North Carolina State University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Carl is a Washington D.C. tutor who graduated from North Carolina State University. He received his Bachelors degree in English and currently specializes in many subjects including Reading tutoring, Writing tutoring, and SAT prep tutoring. See what he had to say about his alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Carl: NCSU is in an urban setting about three miles from downtown Raleigh. It is very safe and has a good bus system, although it is easy to get around via bicycle as well. Cars are harder to deal with on campus. Parking spots are available on campus but are limited and hard to come by. The school has a couple park-and-ride locations, however, and the shuttles stop at a number of spots around campus. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Carl: The professors and other instructors made themselves very available and many of them would meet with students outside of normal office hours. In my time at NCSU, I had one professor who was neither helpful nor available and even missed a good number of scheduled lectures. She was also generally unavailable but was tenured and considered an expert in her field, and thus my complaints went unheard. I think every instructor other than her was much more helpful and available than I expected, though. Overall it was a great experience to study under the faculty at NCSU. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Carl: NCSUs campus is bisected north and south by a railroad track. The class buildings are on the north side and the dorms on the south side. A number of tunnels connect the north and south sides of the campus, so getting to class and getting back to where you live is easier than it might appear to be if you just look at a map or aerial view. My freshman year was in 1989-1990, and they have since upgraded many of the dorms. Back then we had no air conditioning and the heat was only on October through March, I think. We were hot a lot and then cold a lot and then comfortable during the height of the winter. The dorm I was in (Becton) was one of the oldest on campus. Even back then, many newer dorms were being renovated and some were getting air conditioning installed. I have not been in a dorm there in more than 20 years, but I hear they are very nice now. Dining options were great. The chow hall was great. All the food was great. Because NCSU has an agricultural school, you get fresh milk and ice cream in the main dining hall. It does not get much better than that. I did not take advantage of many socialization opportunities because I grew up in Raleigh and had friends there already. However, there were constant programs and social activities that I could have attended. In addition, I did not pledge a fraternity, although there is a very active Greek system there with many popular fraternities and sororities. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Carl: Historically, NCSU is known best for its Engineering, Agriculture, and Science programs. It is also becoming well known for its Business and many other programs. I graduated with a degree in English. Before arriving at that major, I was registered as an Economics major and before that as a Sociology major. I chose English because of the writing and editing curriculum that was available. I had always been a strong writer and felt drawn toward that, and the English Department had some top-notch professors and instructors. I was what most people term a non-traditional student. I did not have anyone to pay my way through school, so I worked to put myself through. As a result it took ten years for me to graduate, and the English curriculum I signed up for was technically no longer on the books by the time I finished it. This I learned about two weeks before graduation when I went to see my advisor and make sure that everything was set for the big day. My advisor happened to be the head of the department, and pointed out to me this issue about the curriculum. He said not to worry and pulled some strings to make sure I was able to graduate under the old system, despite it no longer being valid. That is how people are at NCSU, for the most part. They want you to succeed, and even sometimes bend the rules a bit to make them fit the situation where it makes sense. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Carl: Meeting people is easy. It is a big school with lots of activities, mixers, social opportunities, clubs, associations, and more. Greek life is prominent and visible but not being part of that does not negatively affect ones ability to meet others. Most people do not get involved in the Greek organizations, but these are quite popular for some people. If you have an interest in something, chances are some of the other 30,000 or so people on campus are also interested. You will definitely have the opportunity to meet folks. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Carl: The Career Center told me that they were there to support the Engineers, Agriculture students, and Science majors and that they could not help me as a Humanities student. This is not their official stance, and I doubt they would say that today, but that is what I was told when I was looking at graduation. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Carl: Study spaces are abundant. The library is a great place to find a nook, as is the student union building. My dorm did not have a lounge and the ones I visited in other dorms were mostly not conducive to studying. Many of the classroom buildings have study areas or lounges. Once I found a handful of places to go for studying I never had trouble finding a quiet spot somewhere. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Carl: Raleigh is a real city and has a lot to do. I would say that, as a local, I would rate it somewhere between interesting and boring. Probably slightly more toward interesting, but that might be because I am older now. There are great restaurants, clubs, bars, theatres, art events, galleries, shopping centers, coffee shops, antiques, quaint shops, health food, concert venues, and more. Raleigh has everything Manhattan or San Francisco has, but not quite as much of it. Near campus are many places to go and things to do, but students typically do not venture to downtown Raleigh. Unless you have a traffic ticket and need to go to court, or maybe have an internship or job downtown, most students do not go there. As a result, they miss out on the best barbeque in town, which is at Coopers Barbeque, off Fayetteville Street. It is worth seeking out to get some of the local flavor and culture. There are not the big town/gown issues like you see in some places like Cambridge, Mass. or even Chapel Hill, N.C. Raleigh mostly still thinks of the school as State College, as it was once known and as one of the physical plant smokestacks still says, the letters made from different colored brick during its construction. Raleigh is a big enough city that the school does not overtake or even dominate discussion among the locals. Because of this, NCSU is just another part of the economy, not a rival in town. It is a local school and many high school students end up there. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Carl: NCSU boasts a student body whose size has eclipsed 34,000. That makes it a rather large institution. This has good and bad aspects. On one hand, it is easy to be anonymous. On the other hand, it is easy to slip out of sight and get lost. It is small enough that running into people you know, whether from your dorm, class, or other social circles, is not unusual, but dont expect people to know you and greet you as soon as you walk into the student union. Instructors will not hunt you down and ask why you missed two classes in a row. They will not call you to see why your grades are slipping. They will have time for you if you seek them out, though. Class sizes run the gamut. I had a few classes that had about ten people and others that had 200. Most were in the 20 to 25 student range, and I was happy with that. It gave me the opportunity to speak and ask questions or sit back and listen without having to actively participate. It was a rare occasion that I did not have access to meaningful conversation in class if I wanted to engage the professor and other students. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Carl: Dr. Durant, now retired, taught an English literature survey class and was one of the most entertaining, interesting, and devoted professors I met. He kept telling us, from the first day of class, that he was the credit giver and not the credit taker. He insisted that we all started off with 100 points in his ledger and that our wrong answers on exams would cause him to deduct points, rather than us starting with zero and having to earn the points. Mathematically, I assure you, it works out to the same process, but this was part of his generosity of spirit that made him a great instructor. He was kind and friendly and never thought it beneath him to lower himself to our level, base and as we may have been in his eyes. Dr. Durant had a way of telling stories and talking about literature that made his students, at least me, listen and read in a way they never had before. He helped me appreciate literature in a new way and I will always be grateful for that. Dr. Stewart, a religion professor, is the type of person who epitomizes rigor in the pursuit of academic excellence. His regimen for grading papers was so serious that many of his students became frustrated from not having received their papers back in a timely manner. However, his process for scoring them was exhausting to hear about. He strove to be fair but tough, to help students expand themselves and their knowledge. His example of what it means to be a scholar is the highest I have seen. One particular lesson he taught a class I was in was that we needed to be better about doing basic research as we read. I have a dictionary on my desk, Dr. Stewart said, that is black on the edge of the pages from having been thumbed through by me over the years. Every time I come to a word I do not know I look it up. If I have to do that after this many years, then I expect you to do the same. It was a lesson in humility but also in what it means to study a subject rather than simply read abou t it in a passive way. Dr. Stewart will always be a professor I look up to. Check out Carls tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.