Decisions GRE or MAT

Decisions GRE or MAT GRE/MAT Graduate School Blog What if I told you that there was an alternative to the GRE that included no essays, almost no math, was administered in less than one-third of the time and offered for less than half of the cost? If you’re a liberal arts grad like me, you’d probably be rather excited about this incredible entrance requirement alternative! Well, this exam already exists. It’s called the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) and it is accepted by hundreds of graduate schools across the country, primarily for acceptance to programs with focuses in the humanities and social sciences. The MAT is a 60-minute computer-administered exam consisting of 120 four-part analogy questions, where applicants must select one of four choices that best complete the proposed analogy. These analogies test a number of subjects including vocabulary, social sciences, mathematics, natural sciences, arts, literature, and music among other topics. Due to this minimalist format, the exam eschews long-form problem solving or writing skills in favor of rewarding esoteric logic, quick thinking, and broad cultural knowledge. Do Your Target Schools Accept the MAT? This is the first and most important consideration, when deciding whether to take the MAT. Obviously, most prospective graduate students have specific programs they are targeting and those schools may or may not accept this lesser-known exam. Let’s begin by discussing programs that generally won’t accept the MAT for their standardized testing requirement. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) degree programs most often will not accept the MAT due to its lack of mathematics content. Of course, if you were a STEM major in college, it’s unlikely that the GRE Quantitative section represents a major challenge that you are looking to avoid. However for post-graduate degrees that do not have a mathematics component, the MAT is gaining some acceptance as an alternative test. So, if you are experiencing anxiety about completing the GRE with any degree of success, especially the Quantitative section, it is well worth emailing or calling your target schools’ admissions offices to see if the MAT is a viable option. How to Prepare for the MAT Because the MAT is such a basic exam, preparation usually takes less time than what is ideal for the GRE. In general, an 8-12 week prep plan is the minimum recommended amount of time needed to prepare for the GRE, but that can often be halved for the MAT for a couple of reasons. First, the question format requires less process-based instruction since there is only one question type to prepare for. Second, the exam content is generally learned over time by rote memorization of certain abstract facts, which often can only be retained for a finite period. In short, the MAT is, quite possibly, the only grad school exam you can cram. There are, of course, even helpful apps, like this MAT prep solution from Pocket Prep, to help you do that. That said, the format is not simply a straightforward A is to B as C is to D analogy, and there are traps that can be identified with some practice. MyGuru offers in-person and online MAT tutoring to assist students in preparing for this unique test by utilizing official practice tests from Pearson and our extensive experience in helping students understand, identify, and break down analogies. If you want a less strenuous testing experience, and your school accepts the exam, consider the Miller Analogies Test! About the Author Stefan Maisnier is the Director of Online Tutoring at MyGuru and MyGuru’s top Miller Analogies Test tutor. He has been tutoring graduate school candidates for more than a decade since even before he earned his Masters of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University.

Dont Forget the Subject! Common ESL Mistakes

Dont Forget the Subject! Common ESL Mistakes Recently Ive been noticing a lot of my ESL/EFL students that speak Spanish or Portuguese as a first language make a similar mistake, leaving out the subject of certain English sentences.For example, Ive heard several students say: Is hot.Can you see the problem with that sentence? It is missing a subject. The sentence should be, It is hot, with it as the subject.The reason for this mistake is fairly obvious. In Latin-based languages, such as Spanish or Portuguese, the subject is often part of the verb. In Spanish, for instance, the same sentence would read: Hace calor. The verb hacer has been conjugated to indicate the subject.In English, the subject is separate from the verb, and only changes it in the third person singular with a few exceptions (to be is one of the exceptions). Saying Is hot, would be similar to saying Hacer calor in Spanish. People would probably understand what you mean, but the sentence sounds strange.Ok, we hope that helped you. If you have any questions about English, feel free to contact us or write them in comments, and we will help.If youre interested in English classes, please contact us with the link above. Click here if you are interested in Spanish classes.

What Is The Value Of Education

What Is The Value Of Education Children are often not sure of the value of the education that they are provided with. They watch TV and see people living fantasy lives using very little academics, yet living a very comfortable, and sometimes even excessively posh lifestyle.TV shows like the Kardashians, and Real Housewives that purport to be Reality TV do not show a reality that promotes academic values. A common questions I ask children is, “Who are your heroes?”Personally I find a lot of inspiration from the story of Michael Faraday. A scientist of humble origins from a time when scientists where the pop stars of the day. Faraday changed lives as we know it inventing the electric motor. He was also responsible for many other breakthroughs in science, but the contribution of electrical motors was a real game changer. I love watching documentaries on historical scientists. But this is just one way to show the value of education.In our lives we often use our education, but may not realize it. Taking children wi th you to the grocery store for instance, or using their help in assembling a recipe can provide real life examples of when math with fractions can be not just relevant but useful. Your child will almost surely be excited to eat a meal in which they played an important role!Another instance where students can use their academic skills in a family setting is discussing the story arc of a movie, or critically reviewing a news story of interest to the family. For example perhaps a family can discuss a recent news article, not just for the content, but for the quality of writing, how it could have been made more convincing, and why the author chose to wrote the article using his or her chosen writing conventions as opposed to perhaps the writing that is observable in a how to article, or a trade magazine. If a student wants a raise in allowance, or a toy you can ask them to write an article explaining their interest, and providing critical feedback about how they can improve their writi ng.Children are capable of being quite convincing if they are properly motivated.To provide a story that allows children to see the value of education I commonly tell children a story as follows.Let’s imagine that you own a McDonalds. It is estimated that one in every eight Americans has worked at McDonalds. (source:http://ow.ly/JBM5a). Many jobs are very similar to jobs at McDonalds, for example jobs at Burger King, Wendy’s Popeye’s etc. It is estimated that almost half of the U.S. workforce has worked a fast food job at least once in their lifetime (source:http://ow.ly/JBMdK).So after informing students of this fact I say that there are multiple jobs that they can assign people to. Someone to sweep the floors and clean the equipment, someone to be the cashier, someone to make the burgers, and someone to be the manager. I say that the cleaner gets minimum wage, the cashier makes a little more and that the manager can make about $20 an hour. I explain how decisions the manager can make can have a huge impact on the profitability of the store. For example if the manager can be on top of things such as keeping up employee profitability, making sure the floor environment is clean, and also assuring that all materials are on hand and ready to assure fast and efficient operation of the business that instead of selling 20 to 25 burgers per hour, the business can sell 25 - 40 burgers per hour. I ask students usually at this point to explain if they see this as reasonable or possible.I also explain that of course burgers are associated with accompanying sales of drinks and fries. If we estimate that each transaction with a customer nets a profit of approximately three dollars , and we can estimate that each managed store on average conducts thirty transactions per hour then we can estimate that these stores are pulling in nine hundred dollars an hour. However without a good manager these stores would not get the fifty percent boost in productivity and would only make six hundred dollars an hour. (it is important to remember that the fifty percent boost on the net is calculated on the original number, so fifty percent of six hundred is actually three hundred and the sum is therefore nine hundred..) The difference of three hundred dollars multiplied by twenty four hours equals a net difference of seventy two hundred dollars per day. If students cannot follow the calculations conducted in this short presentation, I tell them that they are not yet ready for management. I then point out that if they have made basic calculation errors during our session that they may not be ready for the position of cashier, for even a mistake of five dollars in only five percent of daily transactions can lead to a difference of how much? Why don’t you do the math? It’s fun!Anyways, students often do not plan to go into a career in food service, but this little exercise can show a student that if they aspire higher, that they will have to use the lessons the y have learned in school!Keep Studying!

The Thoughtless Age - Tutor Hunt Blog

The Thoughtless Age The Thoughtless Age The Thoughtless AgeSubjectsWe are living in a world of ever increasing automation. This isn`t to say that technology is becoming a more integral part of our lives - that would be a trite statement indeed. What it means is that we aren`t required to put as much thought into the every day tasks of life. Only a few decades ago the kettle would whistle when it was boiled - and if you didn`t answer its banshee screech the water within would soon become part of the atmosphere, boiled away to vapour! Now of course kettles have a thermostat, and will turn off the heating element once their contents have bubbled and roiled for a few seconds. There are even machines that will make the whole cup of tea, adding just enough milk and sugar to suit you. Perhaps soon the contraption will deign to drink the beverage as-well, and save you the trouble of all that sipping and swallowing. In our plastic-fantastic world of ready meals and microwave snacks the art of cooking is fading fast - why go to all the effort of preparing and combining numerous ingredients (some of which you might even have to seek out in different shops!) when you can just peel back the advertising membrane, pop the the whole thing in the machine, press a few buttons, twiddle a few knobs and voila! you have something masquerading as a meal. Best get it down your neck quick though, before the additives and preservatives start reacting with the air. Soon there will be self driving cars - just open the door, get in and sit down, and tell the machine your destination. In moments you will become part of tributary system of other automobiles, all travelling in excess of 100 mph, each device only a short distance from its neighbour. A cattle parade of the future. Electric toothbrushes, robotic vacuum cleaners, dishwashing machines - It can all be done for us, no exertion is needed. Contractions of any major muscle groups will soon be a thing of the past. Our lives can be lived for us - and the machines are going to get them right. Many job roles are being replaced by automatons of one sort or another. When self service checkouts were introduced into our supermarkets about a decade ago, people were amused. The consensus seemed to be that it was a mistake - that someone at head office had enjoyed an long and inebriating lunch, then issued a few drunken proclamations that were somehow taken seriously. `Customers scan their own products? Then they`ll be able to choose which ones they want to pay for!` seemed to be the popular thought at the time. Of course the insidious devices worked rather better than many hoped, and numerous jobs were replaced by these beeping, bagging area contraptions, all without protest: not a luddite in sight. How far could the education sector be automated though? It seems too incredible to imagine an android at the end of a classroom, explaining the nuances of a shakespeare sonnet with a tinny, emotionless voice. This might be the wrong way to visualise things though - after all, the self service checkouts hardly fit the image of a robot, even though that is just what they are. Just think what a learning resource something like Youtube is, how many major universities (including Harvard and Berkeley) upload and large amount of their lectures. A year ago my son expressed an interest in learning the guitar, and when it became obvious this interest wasn`t going to abate, wasn`t just another ephemeral passion like so many others (stamp collecting, painting, archeology) we purchased him an acoustic guitar. A few months later I heard my son listening to some fairly technical guitar playing in his room, and I paused to enjoy the music myself. I was reminded of my teenage years, how I was going to be the next Kurt Cobain, and change the world with the brilliance of my compositions. The music was good, obviously some `unplugged` album by a new performer whose name I would never have heard of, but was all the rage right now. Walking into my son`s room I was astonished to discover that he was the one playing. I asked him where he had learnt to play so well, how he had become so proficient in only a few months. `On youtube dad - they have thousands of teachers. You just pick one you like, and work your way through their lessons.` There are it seems lessons for almost anything on this most popular video sharing website. Those who malign it for being nothing but a juvenile repository for funny cat videos are quite significantly misjudging its encyclopaedic catalogue of more academic and useful information. I myself, not being particularly computer literate (perhaps it would be more accurate to say I don`t spend hours a day staring at a screen - the world is more engaging, more beautiful to me than anything the liquid crystal screen can conjure up) was ignorant as to the the full breadth and range of its resources. There are videos to help you learn how to juggle, to fix your car, to cultivate your garden to blooming success; to paint, to diagnose medical ailments, to write a novel; there are numerous and extremely edifying videos (I have begun using them) on cookery; and there are videos on learning the guitar - and just about every other instrument you can think of. Though this repository of information would put the library of Alexandria to shame (and no fire can so easily destroy it) watching a video is not the same as getting a lesson from a teacher. The demarcation is perhaps not so clear though - if a teacher is simply speaking to the class, and not engaging with them, and not attending to each pupil`s needs, then they might not be providing a pupil with anything they can`t learn online. The great benefit of one to one tuition is that the teacher can give their full attention to just a single pupil - gauge their understanding of new concepts and techniques as the lesson progresses, and discern the specific points the pupil is struggling to comprehend. For the moment teachers are probably safe - there`s no `Robbie the Robot` coming to take their job any time soon. Things are changing fast though - only a few years ago the proposition of a self driving car would have seemed lubricous, something out of a science fiction film. Those just beginn ing their career as a cab driver may well find themselves supplanted by a self driving automobile (how apt the etymology of this word is becoming) well before they retire. 2 years ago0Add a Comment

Building a connection with your international students

Building a connection with your international students As foreigner teaching abroad, you might be worried your students have a hard time relating to you. However, the opposite is almost always true - they’re curious and keen to get to know you. Making yourself available and approachable will allow you to forge a stronger connection with your classes. There are a few techniques you can use to achieve this.1. Make yourself approachableAs a new teacher from a different country, your students may not initially feel they can talk to you, particularly if they’re shy when it comes to speaking English. However, if you’re working in a middle or high school, it can be really beneficial to both you and your students to invite them them to come and talk to you at anytime about anything. Dedicate some time in your week to students. Be welcoming and understanding. You could recommend your pupils make an appointment with you, or simply display some available hours on your office door, if you have one.2. Catch up with classSpend a few minutes ever y morning, or at the start of each class, catching up with your students. How are they feeling today? What have they been doing outside of school? Do they have any interesting news? Encourage them to share their lives with you and talk to them about what you’ve been up to as well. What are your hobbies? What local sights have you visited recently or customs have you taken part in? Share your perspectives on life in their country. Not only will you learn more about their lifestyles and their personalities, they’ll also get a valuable insight into how you think and that understand that their teacher is human too! This helps get students engaged with you and settle into their lesson.3. Get involvedIt’s a requirement of many international schools for teachers to take part in extra-curricular activities. If there is an opportunity to do so, offer to run a class or group. Whether it’s sports, music or art, engaging in a fun activity with your students is a fantastic way to gain a better understand them and the way they think, as well as gain their respect and trust. It lends the chance to relax and bond in the school environment.

It`s Time To Get Your Weekend On

It`s Time To Get Your Weekend On Hi everyone, its time to clock off, wind down and get your weekend on. I`m so glad it`s the weekend, but when am I not? I have no particular plans, but what I love about United States is that you can find here whatever you want: music, sport, culture, cuisine, kitsch, wildlife, beaches, thrills For those who need to catch up on studying TutorZ has a team of tutors that covers all subjects and grade levels from elementary school subjects to college. Ready to get help from an expert? Find an experienced Tutor now. Have a fun weekend!

Tutor NYC - Teaches Your Language Skills in New York

Tutor NYC - Teaches Your Language Skills in New YorkIf you want to speak English, then the idea of speaking with a tutor in New York may sound like a dream come true. Whether you want to go on your own or work with a company, a tutoring service in New York can make the transition from class to exam more pleasant.It used to be that if you wanted to speak with an English tutor, you either had to go to a public school, or take the state test. For those who needed help, the exam was usually on the first day of school, if not the first day of school at all. Now, those who need tutoring will be able to find one wherever they are in the country.In New York, many people are going back to school to get an English degree. The idea is to study the English language, and to learn the craft of writing and speaking in a world that demands more from its language. To make this possible, some people have decided to switch to an ESL program, or an education in English. However, for those who don't wish to learn English as a second language, or have a serious problem with their own grammar and sentence structure, a tutor may be an option.An ESL teacher or a tutor in New York may be able to help you with any problems you have with your English. Not all students need to speak English as their primary language, so a tutor will be able to help you understand it in a way that makes sense to you. With help, you'll be able to learn the basics of the language, which is essential for any study abroad program.Tutoring in New York offers a wide variety of services. Most schools in the city have experienced professionals who work with students of all ages, backgrounds, and interests. They'll be able to meet your schedule and your individual needs, so you can do the things you want to do in the classroom without having to worry about any extra hours you'd need to fit in for extra classes.One of the main advantages of going to an ESL school is that there are so many different kinds of courses t hat students can take. Whether you want to learn English as a second language, learn the craft of writing, or even study Latin, there's a class for everyone.While other cities are changing and growing, the number of students getting an education in English in New York remains steady. Even when other cities add new programs, New York will still be here to offer a full range of classes. If you don't have the time to go back to school, a tutor in New York can help you feel comfortable and at home wherever you go.