Ask an Admissions Expert Susan Goodkin

Ask an Admissions Expert Susan Goodkin Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Susan Goodkin is a national college consultant specializing in admission to highly selective colleges such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Brown, and much more. She is a graduate of Harvard University, as well as Oxford University where she was a Rhodes Scholar. Susan has been featured in several well-known publications such as The Washington Post and The Miami Herald. She currently does college admissions consulting at the California Learning Strategies Center. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? Susan: First, too many students think working on applications just means drafting essays. The list of extracurricular activities is extremely important in the application process, especially for schools such as the Ivies. A carefully drafted activities list can help a student strengthen his or her application, but too many students leave that part of the application for the last minute. Students can save themselves a lot of stress and can turn out much better applications if they start working on the essays and the extracurricular lists (as well as their list of honors and awards) the summer before 12th grade. Once the school year starts, finding quality time to work on applications is a lot harder. Students should also be aware that this year the Common Application will no longer have a topic of your choice option for the 500-word essay, but instead will offer five essay prompts.These new prompts have recently been released, so theres no excuse for not working on them during the summer! VT: What are the best ways to go about selecting a terrific essay topic? Susan: While there are many approaches to coming up with a good essay, Im going to suggest some easy approaches that have worked well for many of my clients who are stumped. Heres something that might surprise a lot of students, but Ive found that parents often have great ideas for essays maybe because theyve been focused on every up and down in their childs life from day one! So, my first suggestion for coming up with an essay topic is to spend time around the dinner table with your mom and/or dad and talk about possibilities. Students can also make a list on their own of the events in their lives that have been important to them. Those moments dont necessarily have to be big moments. As an example, I always tell my students that an essay talking about the day they won the science fair will often be less interesting to an admissions officer than an essay that tells the story of how they became interested in the topic of their science fair project. VT: Are there any essay topics you get tired of seeing or would warn students to stay away from? Susan: I dont get tired of any essay topic that tells me something truly unique about a student. But I see a lot of essays written about community service that could have been written by any of thousands of students (Volunteering at the homeless shelter made me see how lucky I am, and now I realize its very important to give back to the community.). Ive also read some terrific community service essays by kids who have explained how volunteering shaped their career aspirations, or shaped them in profound ways. One of the cardinal rules of essay writing is to ask yourself if anyone else could have written the essay; if the answer is yes, you need to start again. VT: What is the biggest mistake a student can make on a college application? Susan: Apart from the obvious glaring errors such as an application that includes lots of typos and misspellings, lately Im seeing students make another kind of critical error. Many students are now applying to well over ten colleges, and too often they try to recycle essays for different colleges. Sometimes that works, but often the recycled essay doesnt really fit the new prompt. Its critical that students answer the actual prompt! Relatedly, students often give generic answers to the question, Why do you want to come to our college? Students need to do their homework -- the strongest essays include specific details about the college. A strong why here essay helps convince an admissions reader that the student would be a good fit for the college, and vice-versa. For colleges that are concerned with yield rate the percentage of accepted students who end up enrolling a strong why here essay is also important because it suggests that if accepted, the student will likely attend. VT: What is the typical process an admissions officer goes through to evaluate applications? Susan: The process varies widely depending on the school. Some large state schools, for example, hire outside readers to review the essays. Most schools including the more elite schools -- will have all parts of the application reviewed in-house. Heres a tip to find out more about the admissions process of a college youre interested in: go onto the colleges website and check to see whether there is an admissions blog. At many colleges, admissions officers (and/or students who work in the admissions office) will blog about the process, and applicants can learn a lot of useful information from such blogs. VT: What do you think is the single most important thing a student should make sure they present in the best possible way on their application? Susan: By the time a student applies to college, much of the information on their application, including their test scores, GPA, and activities, is pretty much set. Nor can they entirely control their recommendations. The essays are completely within students control, and offer students an opportunity to shape their application by telling admissions officers their story apart from the numbers. Students need to think hard about the story they want to tell, and make sure they tell it in a compelling way. VT: How should students go about determining the culture of a university, and whether they would be a good fit? Susan: Theres no substitute for visiting a college when school is in session. Once there, students must do more than just take the college tour. They need to sit in on a class (preferably in a subject theyre interested in as a major); check out the flyers posted on campus, which will tell a lot about what causes and activities students are interested in; eat in the cafeteria, and while there, chat with the some of the students about what they like and dont like about the college; check out a dorm room; and read the student newspaper. In addition or when a college visit just isnt feasible students should go onto the college website and read the student blogs, as well as perusing the Facebook pages of student groups they might be interested in joining. Ive learned that you can glean a lot about campus culture from the web! VT: Early-action, early-decision, binding/non-binding, regular decisionsWith so many choices when applying, what do you recommend to students? Susan: Applying early decision generally will increase a students odds of being accepted -- particularly at selective schools that routinely lose some of their most-impressive admitted students to even more selective schools because the colleges know all students admitted through early decision have committed to attend if accepted. However, students shouldnt apply early decision if theyre not absolutely sure their ED school is the one they want to attend; if they want the opportunity to compare financial aid offers from a number of schools; and if they arent a solidly competitive applicant. Applying EA wont help your odds of being accepted as much as applying ED, but there are fewer drawbacks since you dont have to commit to the college. Unless students think they will increase their odds of acceptance by applying later (perhaps because they think their senior grades, or some other achievement, will strengthen their application), I generally encourage them to apply EA to one (or where possible, more) of their college choices because its always a relief to hear early in the process that youve been accepted. Along those lines, I also advise students who are applying to schools with rolling admissions (that means the school reviews the applications, and makes decisions on them as they come in, so students can learn of the decision relatively shortly after they apply) to try to get their applications in early in the year. Again, hearing early in the process that youve already been accepted to one or more of your schools makes the long wait to April decisions much less stressful. VT: How important are grades and standardized test scores when admissions decisions are being made? Susan: The importance of grades and standardized tests varies greatly between colleges. Large state schools are most likely to focus more on grades and standardized test scores, while giving less weight to activities and recommendations (some schools dont even require recommendations at all). At the most selective schools, unless youre a star quarterback or the like, great grades and test scores are merely a minimum requirement to be competitive for admissions. Many a valedictorian with impressive test scores is rejected. On the other hand, an increasing number of excellent schools no longer require SAT or ACT scores. VT: What tips do you have for students asking their teachers for letters of recommendations? Susan: Teachers recommendations can play a critical role in bringing students to life for the admissions committee. Colleges are looking for recommendations that say more than that the student is a hard worker who got an A in the class. Ideally a teacher recommendation will address topics such as the genuine interest the student showed in the class, what the student contributed to the classroom, and how he/she stood out from other students. Students should ask for recommendations from teachers who know them well, and who can share anecdotes that will illustrate the students strong points. It also helps if students give the teacher a resume, so the teacher has a sense of the students accomplishments and interests outside the classroom. You can reach Susan by visiting LearningStrategiesCenter.com or by calling 805-642-6686.The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

The Places to See the Best Sculpture Collections.

The Places to See the Best Sculpture Collections. Museums, Sculpture Parks, and Galleries: The Best Spots to See Sculpture. ChaptersRome: A City as Art MuseumNational Museum of Anthropology, Mexico: Sculptures from the Other Side of the Atlantic.The British Museum: The Monumental Home of the World’s Treasures.The Louvre: Paris’s Home of Western Art.Musée Rodin: Dedicated to the Father of Modern Sculpture.Florence: Birthplace of the Italian RenaissanceKröller-Müller Museum: The Netherlands’ Best Sculpture Park.National Archaeological Museum, Athens: Where Greek Sculpture Started.New York: A City of Incredible Museums.Xi’an: The Biggest Sculpture Collection in the World.Indian Museum, Kolkata: India’s Best Sculpture Collection.It’s all good having seen your artworks online. It’s great having read in books about sculptors, painters, and artists. Yes, good for you if you’ve watched a TV show about the masterpieces of the art world.But, really, we all know it’s not the same as seeing them in the flesh. Or rather in the white marble, terracotta, ceramics or whatever. This is particularly tr ue of sculpture as an art form â€" out of all the visual arts.Sculptors work in three dimensions â€" not just two. The principles of sculptural design have nothing to do with a flat page. To appreciate the work of a sculptor to the full you must see it in reality. The different perspectives, the size, the materiality of the work demands this.So, the question becomes, where can you go and see all of these famous sculptures that are talked about all over the place? What art center or museum of art holds all of this famous stuff?It’s a great question â€" and the answer may be a little frustrating. Because the real answer is all over the world!But, to narrow it down a little, it depends on what you want to see. Because if it is prehistoric stuff you are after, you’ll need to head somewhere different to the place you’d go if you fancied some baroque. Just as if you wanted to see the modern forms of sculpture â€" kinetic sculpture, snow sculpture, site specific work, glass sculpture , abstract sculpture, or an assemblage â€" you wouldn’t really want to go to a place focusing on the Paleolithic.There are many different types of sculpture, and you need to decide which one you prefer!Here we list some of the best sculpture museums in the world, and it will be up to you to decide which one tickles your fancy.We hope you enjoy it! CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover al l our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsRome: A City as Art MuseumRome, really, is a very special place. Not only does it hold some of the most beautiful churches, cathedrals, and museums in the world, but it is, in itself, a museum. Just walking down the street you are going to see things more beautiful than anything you’ve ever seen in your life.There’s only one reason for that. Rome was, of course, the capital of the Roman Empire. It became then the seat of the Catholic Church. And then it became the capital city of one of the richest countries on the planet. So, of course there is plenty of stuff there to see.So, go there for Roman art and Roman sculpture. Go there to see works by Bernini and Leonardo da Vinci â€" and other works by those in the High Renaissance and afterwards. Go to see colossal pieces of public art and architectural sculpture.And read our article about the world famous sculptures!Vatican Museum: Not Just Religious, but Full of Art History too.And don’t forget, some of the most amazing carving, reliefs, Roman statues, and ancient art are to be found in the Vatican.There’s also an excellent collection of modern art, a sarcophagus or two, and paintings by all the famous people you know. Don’t forget the Sistine Chapel of Michelangelo too.Nati onal Museum of Anthropology, Mexico: Sculptures from the Other Side of the Atlantic.In this series on sculpture, we’ve mainly focused on the art of sculpture in the western canon. Yet, obviously, there is so much more to the medium than that produced these little civilizations in Europe.Whilst we’ve been fixated on the Hellenistic and the Romanesque, the Brancusi and Picasso, the Greek and Roman and modernism, there’s been a lot more going on about the world. Mexico’s National Museum of Anthropology is one place that proves this â€" and it shows, really, how limited our view has been.The NMA showcases art, sculpture, and artefacts from pre-Columbian times in Mexico â€" depicting deities, animals, and all sorts of other things.The British Museum: The Monumental Home of the World’s Treasures.Due to the ‘controversial’ (to put it mildly) history of the British Empire, London has become home to historical treasures from across the world. It is, in fact, one of the largest museums in the world â€" with over eight million objects.From colossal granite sculptures from Ancient Egypt to one of the oldest musical instruments in the world, from the Parthenon Marbles to Spartan bronze sculpture, from amazing varieties of figurative sculpture to contemporary art.For the arts world, this is a hugely important place. In very few places in the world will you be able to find all these things in one place. And it's got work by some of history's greatest sculptors. For sculpture artists from across the centuries, the British Museum is your best bet.The Louvre: Paris’s Home of Western Art.If there is a museum in the world that competes with the British Museum for vastness and value of its collection, it’s the Louvre, in Paris.Whilst all of the works after 1850 are now in the Musée D’Orsay (which you should visit too whilst you’re in town), the Louvre houses all sorts of exquisite work from antiquity to the eighteenth century.So, check out some of the most famous work from Ancient Greece and Mesopotamia. And then walk along the hall and see work from Michelangelo and Antonio Canova. It's a treasure trove for those interested in the history of sculpture.It’s a privilege to be in this place â€" so appreciate it.Find out the different art classes on Superprof.Musée Rodin: Dedicated to the Father of Modern Sculpture.The history of modern and contemporary sculpture can really be traced back to one man, Auguste Rodin, who transformed, in th e late nineteenth century, the way that people made sculpture.The Musée Rodin, another sculpture museum in Paris, holds the largest collection of his work, including great pieces such as The Thinker, The Kiss, and The Gates of Hell. As the museum hosts many of Rodin’s drawings too, one can follow the principles of design, the reconstructions, and thought that went into this great artist’s work. The chief of modernist sculpture CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson fr ee!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsFlorence: Birthplace of the Italian RenaissanceItalians are pretty lucky, honestly. Thanks to the fact that it was in Italy that grew the majority of the artistic developments up until the nineteenth century, the country is full of a lot of cool stuff.After Rome, Florence is another a city that may as well have a wall built around it and be called a museum itself.Head towards Piazza della Signora (you just have to follow the crowds) and you’ll find Cellini’s famous Perseus, and you’ll find Michelangelo’s David in town too.Check out the Galleria dell’Accademia and the Uffizi Museum for concentrated doses of art. Walk around the Uffizi and you’ll see statues of the all the biggest names of the Renaissance.Learn everything about sculpture.Kröller-Müller Museum: The Netherlands’ Best Sculpture Park.Holland’s Kröller-Müller Museum is a sprawling landscape of sculptures, winding paths, forests, and cycling tourists. In itself, without the sculpture, it is a gorgeous place to be.It was set up back in the thirties as a home for the founder’s mammoth collection of Van Gogh paintings â€" and today it has the second-largest collect of the Dutch painter’s work in the world.Yet, we’re talking about sculpture â€" and you’ll need to go into the garden for that. Here, you’ll find work by Rodin, Henry Moore, Jean Dubuffet, and more.National Archaeological Museum, Athens: Where Greek Sculpture Started.Ancient Greece is a by-word for artistic and cultural excellence and innovation â€" and it’s no surprise then that contemporary Athen s holds a remarkable selection of fascinating artefacts, statues, masks, jewellery, and sculptures.The museum runs from the prehistoric section to late antiquity and holds plenty of ancient Greek sculpture (and Roman replicas!).The Mask of Agamemnon is particularly cool.New York: A City of Incredible Museums.New York, to state the obvious, is New York. And, given that it is still the centre of the world, it has probably the best collection of art museums and galleries in the world too.Check out the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Guggenheim Museum â€" the latter of which is like a sculpture in itself. Across the three museums you’ll find work by Constantic Brancusi, Alberto Giacometti, Henry Moore, Rodin, and Bernini.And, of course, one the city’s most famous landmarks is the Statue of Liberty â€" one of the most recognised pieces of sculpture on the planet. From body sculpture to wire sculpture, New York has everythingXi’an: The Biggest Sculpture Collection in the World.If you like your sculpture to take your breath away with sheer scale, jump on a flight to Xi’an, China.Here, you’ll find the largest collection of terracotta sculptures in the world. You’ve probably heard of them: the Terracotta Warriors.These were made to defend an ancient emperor in the afterlife, and they were buried with him. This Qin Shi Huang had a retinue of over eight thousand terracotta warriors after death.It’s quite an impressive sight.Indian Museum, Kolkata: India’s Best Sculpture Collection.The largest and oldest museum in India is Kolkata’s Indian Museum. It covers everything from art and archaeology to zoology and botany.It has an amazing collection of sculpture from across India â€" from Buddhist sculpture to Hindu deities.

My Experience at Princeton University

My Experience at Princeton University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teachtheyre sharing their college experiences as well. Stephen received his bachelors degree in history from Princeton University. He is currently a tutor in Manhattan specializing in English tutoring, Latin tutoring, social studies tutoring, and several other subjects. See what he had to say about his experience at Princeton University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Stephen: The town of Princeton, New Jersey is a beautiful, relatively quiet locale that is very much shaped by the university. The campus is small, Public Safety has a fairly large presence (although they are not really out to get students), and there are buses, but a bike is all you need to get around, if that. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants at Princeton University? Stephen: Very. Professors know they will be required to teach undergraduates when they take the job, so while their levels of enthusiasm may vary, you will never get a teacher who does not want to be teaching. In my experience, the vast majority of instructors, from tenured professors to graduate students, enjoy interacting with students outside of class, and they love it when people show up for office hours. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Stephen: I could write a whole thesis (some people have) on the eating clubs, but I think the majority of students find them fun, and there are other things to do, although the social life definitely revolves around them. From what I can tell, the campus dining options are above average, though the eating clubs vary wildly (Terrace is the best!). I can say with confidence that in my four years, I was in some of the worst dorms on campus and some of the best, and they were all pretty comfortable, all things considered. Some residential colleges have way more places for students to congregate than others, which is a little annoying, but not an insurmountable social obstacle. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Stephen: Economics, history, and computer science are some of the biggest departments, as well as the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. I chose history because I realized sophomore year that every time I wanted to take a class just for fun, it was in that department. That decision was largely due to my personal interests, but it is definitely the case that the history department is exceptionally well-run and focused on giving undergraduates a great experience. I cannot say enough good things about that department. Both my department and the school were generous with financial support of my thesis research. 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? Stephen: Greek life takes a back seat to the eating clubs, which do play a huge role in social life. The nice thing is that you do not join those until your second year, if you do at all, so you do have a bit of time to find your niche before people start to choose clubs. It is definitely true, however, that once people join clubs, they start to form new groups and some of the ones you formed freshman year break up, which is too bad but probably not unique to Princeton University. How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services at Princeton University? Stephen: If you are into consulting or finance, you will be one of many people who Career Services seeks to support, and in general, they seem to do a good job. In addition to those firms, technology companies like Google, Amazon, and Facebook recruit heavily. I do not have anything nice to say about Career Services ability to help you if you are not in those fields. How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Stephen: Dorm lounges vary wildly depending on the residence college, but Frist Campus Center has a ton of great spaces, and the libraries are also excellent. You will not have much luck finding a space in Firestone Library during thesis season, but it is a massive, if slightly intimidating, space where you can usually find somewhere to study. Chancellor Green Library is one of my favorite places in the world. Describe the surrounding town. Stephen: The towns main streets are adjacent to Princeton University, so if you do have a reason to go into town it is very convenient. The area is largely residential, great for jogging but not exactly the most happening place on earth (or even in New Jersey). There are a few bars worth checking out, and there is also the Princeton Record Exchange, a renowned record store you have to visit if you are at all into music. Otherwise, Princeton is a charming town full of boutique stores and excellent restaurants that most people cannot afford to frequent. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes at Princeton University? Stephen: To me, the student body was the perfect size. I was meeting new people and making new friends right up until graduation, but the size of the campus and student body meant I would see people I knew almost every time I walked across campus, which was nice. It really feels like home after you have been there for a while. I do not believe I ever heard a complaint about class sizes. More often than not, the small class sizes mean you get to know your professors pretty well. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most. Stephen: Being a history major, I looked for easy, interesting, introductory-level classes to fill my science requirements. The ones I chose, Molecular Biology 101 and Astrobiology 201, turned out to be some of the coolest classes I ever took. Molecular Biology was taught by three of the biggest names in the field, one of whom was the Nobel laureate Eric Wieschaus. This man had made astonishing contributions to the study of genetics, but here he was, clearly taking joy in explaining biology to people like myself. I learned a lot of useful, fascinating things from him, and I am still touched by his earnest desire to educate. The same goes for my now-retired astrobiology professor, who managed to take complex concepts about mapping the universe and deliver them to us in a highly entertaining manner that stuck with me long after I forgot most of the actual material. Check out Stephens tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

The Kickboxing World Champions You Need to Know

The Kickboxing World Champions You Need to Know Here are the World’s Biggest Kickboxing Champions ChaptersSo, Who Are the Best Kickboxers in History?One of the most exhilarating, dynamic, and brutal combat sports around, kickboxing isn’t for the fainthearted. And if you want to be a kickboxing world champion, you need to be able to pick up a bloody nose and keep punching.But you need more than that too. You need the footwork of a dancer, physical fitness in truckloads, and a strong style. Add in the insatiable appetite for the victory â€" and the next and the next â€" and you are nearly there.Even that’s not enough. Because the ultimate fighting champion has something more than this too. Something less easy to define, less precise. But you only need to watch someone like Petrosyan or Aerts to know that it’s there. Workout like a champion of kickboxing AndreyBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KostiaBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LeeBoxing Teacher £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SajBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KaranBoxing Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThomasBoxing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HaileyBoxing Teacher 4.50 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidBoxing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsSo, Who Are the Best Kickboxers in History?It’s a tricky question. Every fan of the combat sport has their own answer. And unlike the kickboxers who are up there fighting, not everyone defends their corner â€" on this precise question â€" with the same grace and elegance. We’re expecting loud voices and high feelings, sure. But try not to throw any punches of your own.So, if you have an answer of your own, let this be a way to reconsider the records and achievements of a different kickboxer. Or, if you have only watched men fighting, use it as an opportunity to learn about some female fighters too.For those of who are new to this high intensity sport and are looking for a bit of context in the world of kick boxing, for those of you who are just after some new inspiration, then this is your place. These are some of the fighters who have won the most bouts, who have remained undefeated for longest, who have had the most knockout victories, or have made a name for themselves in some other way.We hope you find it interesting and inspiring â€" and take your inspiration into your own kickboxing classes.Lucia RijkerActually potentially the most famous kickboxer in the world, Lucia Rijker has been given all sorts of nicknames: ‘The Most Dangerous Woman in the World’, ‘The Dutch Destroyer’, and even ‘Lady Tyson’.Her fame, besides her incredible record in the ri ng, comes from her role in the Oscar-winning film, Million Dollar Baby. Besides being an actor, she does kickboxing and boxing â€" and is excellent in both. She’s an incredibly talented person.Apart from one KO in a match of exhibition kickboxing, she is undefeated. In professional boxing, her record is seventeen matches with seventeen wins (and fourteen knockouts). In kickboxing, it’s thirty-five wins out of thirty-six (with twenty-five knockouts and one draw). Not bad really.Peter AertsHe’s one of the greatest heavyweight and super heavyweight kickboxers ever. Now forty-eight, he won his first world title when he was nineteen â€" and went on to win twelve world championships in Muay Thai kickboxing and the K-1 World Grand Prix.He’s known for his high kick â€" earning him the nickname ‘The Dutch Lumberjack’ â€" which won him plenty of titles. With a record of 106-35-2 in kickboxing, he’s a name to be reckoned with. But he’s an icon more than that.He also set the qui ckest time for a K-1 Grand Prix final: just under seven minutes. Guess what, his high kick knocked out his opponent there too. Be a hero of kickboxing yourself!Giorgio PetrosyanGevorg ‘Giorgio’ Petrosyan is an Armenian-Italian middleweight kickboxer who has one of the best records â€" and one of the best defensive fighting styles â€" in the history of the sport.Petrosyan started in Muay Thai kickboxing and moved to ‘Oriental rules’ kickboxing in 2008, where he kicked off his new style with a unanimous decision win.His record speaks for itself really â€" 101-2-2 â€" and he’s won pretty much all the championships that exist.With his combinations of low kicks and body kicks and his almost impenetrable defense techniques, Petrosyan could be on the top of the world for a long time to come.Find out more about the rules of kickboxing!Badr HariA former heavyweight champion, Badr Hari is a bit of a character. Involved in all sorts of criminal assault cases â€" in which he was described, essentially, as a short-tempered narcissist â€" as well as in the odd doping scandal, Hari has a bit of reputation in the wider world. And not necessarily a good one.However, the Moroccan king seems to like him, having praised him in 2009. And, honestly, his record in the ring is really quite phenomenal: 106-13-0. And it’s not over yet.Jorina BaarsThe current International Sport Karate and Kickboxing Association welterweight champion, Jorina Baars has a Muay Thai boxing record of 46-0-3. Just for this she deserves a place in this list.Her mixed martial arts (MMA) record is not quite as good, but Muay Thai is her speciality â€" and she does it excellently.With sixteen knockouts to her name, as well as a victory over Cyborg Justino, she’s not only a kickboxing champion but she’s one of the greatest â€" and most consistent â€" martial artists ever.Rico VerhoevenGlory Kickboxing right now put him at number one heavyweight in the world (and they’re not the only ones). And he’s slowly built his reputation (and his nickname) from the ‘Prince of Kickboxing’ to the ‘King’.He’s a pretty formi dable fighter, and one that has gone from strength to strength in recent years, being named Kickboxer of the Year by different organisations successively.He claims to owe his jab to Tyson Fury, who helped him in his kickboxing training and the development of his fighting techniques.Buakaw BanchamekSombat Banchamek, or Buakaw Banchamek as he is more commonly known (‘Buakaw’ meaning ‘white lotus’) is a Thai welterweight kickboxer and winner of the K-1 World MAX Championship (twice!) â€" as well as a titleholder in featherweight and lightweight fighting championships.At the age of thirty-seven, he has a record of 238-24-12, with a respectable seventy-two knockouts.After a period of retirement â€" in which he played for a while with a university’s football team â€" he is back in kickboxing fitness with his kick boxing gloves on.Find out about the different types of kickboxing!Robin van RoosmalenWhilst he is still young â€" and whilst he does not have the records of some of the more established names in this list, Robin van Roosmalen is a featherweight force to be reckoned with.On a kickboxing record of 51-17-3, there’s nothing to be sniffed at, at all. Yet, his real feats have been his upsets, which have pitted him as an underdog but from which he has come out on top.With two Glory Featherweight championships to his name, one Glory Lightweight, and an It’s Showtime ‘Fast Furious’ fighting championship too â€" van Roosmalen has achieved an awful lot. And there’s plenty more to come.Here, by the way, is your beginner's guide to kickboxing. To be a champion, you need to train hard.Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino VenancioSpecialising in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and wrestling, Cris Cyborg is the only female fighter to have held three world championships across the major female MMA promotions.She’s been named female fighter of the year more times than you can count â€" and her MMA record is twenty-one wins out of twenty-four fights.As of September, she’s got more fights to come, after signing a deal with Bellator MMA.Ernesto HoostLong retired, Ernesto Hoost is one of the iconic names of kickboxing â€" having won the K-1 World Championship four times as well as a whole host of other titles to boot.A super heavyweight from the Netherlands, beyond his own exceptional record â€" 99-21-1 â€" and his fighting prowess he is known for his long-running rivalries with Peter Aerts and Bob Sapp.He won full contact fighter of the year in 2004 from Black Belt Magazine.Sittichai SitsongpeenongSomeone who is totally at the top of the ir game right now in both kickboxing and Muay Thai is Sittichai Sitsongpeenong, the Thai Glory Lightweight Champion and â€" according to some â€" the current number one lightweight fighter in the world.We said ‘according to some’, but what we meant was ‘really, according to a lot of people’ â€" as his awards for best fighter are too many to count.A really formidable force in both Muay Thai and kickboxing, Sittichai is the one to watch these days.What gear do you need for kickboxing? Find out!Semmy SchiltOne of the heavyweight boxers who have won the most titles, Semmy Schilt was really a giant of his division.The only person to win the K-1 Championship three times in consecutive years and â€" along with Hoost â€" the joint recordholder for the number of Grand Prixs, Semmy Schilt has an impressive record in both kickboxing and MMA.Unfortunately, he was forced into retirement in 2013 due to the discovery of a heart condition.Ramon DekkersAn eight-time Muay Thai world champion, Ramon Dekkers was just an incredible fighter to watch.Due to his incredible fast pace and his aggressive style, he usually found a way to overwhelm his opponent.Unfortunately, had a heart attack after training in 2013 â€" and his death has been one of the sport’s greatest losses.What are the health benefits of kickboxing? AndreyBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KostiaBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LeeBoxing Teacher £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SajBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KaranBoxing Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThomasBoxing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HaileyBoxing Teacher 4.50 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidBoxing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors

Writing Anxiety - Private Tutoring

Writing Anxiety BobbiM Apr 3, 2014 Do you have writing anxiety? Many students experience a great deal of stress when asked to write something for a class, especially if they are asked to write during class under the added pressure of time limitations. Students might be anxious about having to think up a good idea, flesh the idea out, and then have their writing evaluated by their instructor. They sit staring at a blank page waiting for the words to come. This is sometimes called writers block and it is a very frustrating experience. However, writing anxiety becomes harmful when students experience writers block almost every time they try to write. When students are anxious about writing, they try to avoid it as much as possible because they find it such a stressful activity. Coping with writing anxiety: -Write often. Like any skill, your ability to write will improve with practice. You may want to keep a daily journal where you record your experiences. Or you might want to do some free writing by giving yourself a fixed amount of time to write about whatever you want. Another alternative is to sit on a bus or in a coffee shop and write some character sketches about the people you see. Work from a plan. Its helpful to make a list of the points you want to make and them use your list to guide you when you are writing your paper. If you are having trouble organizing the points you want to make, talk to a classmate or a tutor about your ideas. Most campuses have a writing center or a place where students can talk to a tutor a out their papers at any stage-from choosing a topic, to reading rough drafts, to critiquing final drafts. For essay tests, predict questions. Use your class notes and topics emphasized in the text to predict the kinds of questions that might be asked. Start early. Because students were experience writing anxiety try to avoid writing, they often procrastinate until the last minute. Sometimes these students believe that they can write only under pressure, but they are fooling themselves because they are actually making their stress level greater by waiting until the last minute. If they do not make a good grade on the paper, they blame it on the fact that they have trouble writing instead of the fact that they churned it out quickly. Excerpt from  College Success Strategies  by Sherrie L. Nist and Jodi Patrick Holschuh.

Separable and Nonseparable Phrasal Verbs

Separable and Nonseparable Phrasal Verbs One of the most difficult things about the English language are phrasal verbs. Our English students struggle with phrasal verbs even at the advanced level. So, we will be doing a series of videos to help our students tackle the phrasal verb challenge.This first video is very important, it is about separable and nonseparable verbs. Sometimes we can separate a phrasal verb. For example, you can say both: He put a coat on and He put on a coat.Sometimes we CANNOT separate the verb, for example:  He ran into a friend is ok, but not He ran a friend into. Watch the video to learn why and when to separate phrasal verbs.Try these exercises to see if you understand: take off, put on, or run into1. She ________ the coat ________ before she went outside. 2. They ____ __ a new opera, that was very successful. 3. Luke was driving too fast and he ____ ___ a tree. 4. Have you ____ ___ Frank lately? 5. Did you ____ it ___ the table? 7. I need to ______ some time _____ work, while my grandmother is v isiting. 8. Please _____ ____ your shoes before coming in. 9. I _____ the money ____ the table when no one was looking. 10. Our plane _____ ___ three hours late because of a mechanical problem.Rewrite these sentences using the correct phrasal verb. 1. The plane is leaving the ground. 2. I unexpectedly saw my cousin at the football game. 3. You almost hit a light post when you were driving the car too fast. 4. My mother attached her name-tag on her shirt before the meeting. 5. I removed my shirt before I got in the shower. 6. After my shower I dressed in a new shirt.Put the object in parentheses in the correct place: 1. She put on (her coat, the rack) 2. I took off (my shoes) 3. I took off (it) 4. Paul ran into (a tree) 5. Luke ran into (her, at the grocery store) Anna 1. She put the coat on before she went outside. 2. They ran into a new opera, that was very successful. 3. Luke was driving too fast and he ran into a tree. 4. Have you ran into Frank lately? 5. Did you put it on th e table? 7. I need to take some time off work, while my grandmother is visiting. 8. Please take off your shoes before coming in. 9. I took the money off the table when no one was looking. 10. Our plane took of three hours late because of a mechanical problem.Rewrite these sentences using the correct phrasal verb. 1. The plane took off the ground. 2. I unexpectedly ran into my cousin at the football game. 3. You almost ran into a light post when you were driving the car too fast. 4. My mother put her name-tag on her shirt before the meeting. 5. I took my shirt off before I got in the shower. 6. After my shower I put a new shirt on.Put the object in parentheses in the correct place: 1. She put her coat on the rac. 2. I took my shoes off. 3. I took it off. 4. Paul ran into a tree. 5. Luke ran into her at the grocery store. LOIEnglish Anna Good: Question #2; They PUT ON a new opera. (you can use put on as a way to say someone is hosting something. i.g. She put on the charity event f or the woman shelter.Next section:The plane took off. (we dont need the ground in this sentence because it is implied or logical)Great job! Thanks for answering! Silvia Deplano 1. She put the coat on before she went outside. 2. They have taken off a new opera, that was very successful. 3. Luke was driving too fast and he runned into a tree. 4. Have you putted on Frank lately? 5. Did you put it on the table? 7. I need to take some time off work, while my grandmother is visiting. 8. Please take off your shoes before coming in. 9. I putted the money on the table when no one was looking. 10. Our plane took off three hours late because of a mechanical problem. Rewrite these sentences using the correct phrasal verb. 1. The plane is taking off the ground 2. I unexpectedly ran into my cousin at the football game. 3. You almost ran into a light post when you were driving the car too fast. 4. My mother putted on her name-tag on her shirt before the meeting 5. I to ok off my shirt before I got in the shower. 6. After my shower I putted on a new shirtPut the object in parentheses in the correct place: 1. She put her coat on the rack 2. I took off my shoes 3. I took it off 4. Paul ran into a tree 5. Luke ran into her at the grocery store LOIEnglish Silvia, Question #2: They have PUT ON a new opera. We can use put on when we someone is hosting something; For example she is putting on a charity event, to raise money for Typhoon victims.Question #4: Have you RAN INTO Frank lately. We can use run into for when we see someone by chance. I ran into an old high school friend at the concert.Question #9: I PUT the money ON the table.(put doesnt change in the past tense.) You could also say; I took the money off the table when no one was looking.The next section:Question #1: The plane is taking off. (You do not need the ground as it is implied.Question #4: put doesnt change in past simple; My mother PUT her name-tag ON her shirt before the meeting . (There are 2 objects in this sentence: name-tag, her shirt; remember when there are 2 objects you MUST separate the verb.) Question #6: put doesnt change in past simpleGood Silvia! Thanks for answering. Cristina 1- put the coat on 2- run into 3- run into 4- run into 5- take it off 7- take some time off 8- take off 9- put the money on 10- take off1- she put her coat on the rack 2- i took off my shoes/i took my shoes off 3- i took it off 4- paul ran into a tree 5- luke ran her into at grocery store LOIEnglish Cristina,Question #2: put on (this can be used to say someone is hosting an event) Question #3: RAN into (past tense) Question #10: TOOK off (past tense)Next section:Question #5: Luke ran into her at the grocery store. (This doesnt have a Direct Object and in this meaning/definition NEVER takes a Direct Object and therefore is inseparable. Look at the sentence before. .at the grocery store is an adverbial phrase) Sean Hwang 1. She ___put_____ the coat ____on____ before she went outside. 2. They _take___ off__ a new opera, that was very successful. 3. Luke was driving too fast and he _ran into a tree. 4. Have you _run into_ Frank lately? 5. Did you _put_ it _on__ the table? 7. I need to _put_ some time __on___ work, while my grandmother is visiting. 8. Please _take off your shoes before coming in. 9. I _put the money on the table when no one was looking. 10. Our plane _took off_ three hours late because of a mechanical problem.Rewrite these sentences using the correct phrasal verb. 1. The plane is leaving the ground. The plane is taking off the ground. 2. I unexpectedly saw my cousin at the football game. I unexpectedly ran into my cousin at the foot ball game 3. You almost hit a light post when you were driving the car too fast. You almost ran into a light post when you were driving car too fast. 4. My mother attached her name-tag on her shirt before the meeting. My mother put her name-tag on her shirt before the meeting. 5. I removed my shirt befor e I got in the shower. I took off my shirt before I got in the shower. 6. After my shower I dressed in a new shirt. After my shower I put on a new shirt.Put the object in parentheses in the correct place: 1. She put on (her coat, the rack) She put her coat on the rack 2. I took off (my shoes) I took off my shoes 3. I took off (it) I took it off 4. Paul ran into (a tree) Paul ran into a tree 5. Luke ran into (her, at the grocery store)Luke ran her into at the grocery store LOIEnglish Sean, Question #2: put on a new opera-we can use put on to mean host. Question#7: take some time off work.we use take off-to indicate free from something.Good work!

Transitioning from GCSEs to A-levels

Transitioning from GCSEs to A-levels The move from Year 11 to sixth form is really significant. For many pupils, this is the first time that they will be treated like an adult: no more school uniform and a greater degree of freedom. With this freedom of course comes extra responsibility and pressure. These tips can help your child prepare for the change: 1.A-levels involve a huge amount of work, especially if your child is starting with four or more AS levels. Help your child by providing them with clear space to work on, access to a computer and room for their files and books. 2. The move to sixth form can be very stressful. Keep the channels of communication with your child open at all times and make sure they feel able to chat to you about their worries. 3. A-levels involve more self-study and in-depth work than GCSEs. If you child isn't sure how to work in this way, a few sessions with a study skills tutor or subject-specific tutor can really help. 4. Unfortunately A-levels happen at a time when teenagers want to party as much as possible. Set some boundaries with your child: it's important to have some rest and relaxation, but not at the cost of their studies. 5.Start researching universities and degree programmes as soon as sixth form starts. When your child can contextualise their studies and see what they can lead to, they can become more motivated and hard-working.

The Meaning of Science ~ Its History and Branches

The Meaning of Science ~ Its History and Branches The word science originates from the Latin language. There it is called scientia and means knowledge. Looking up the word science in Websters New Dictionary we find: knowledge attained through study or practice. Reading on it says covering general truths of the operation of general laws, especially as obtained and tested through scientific method and concerned with the physical world.” In other words, science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge. This system uses experimentation  and  observation to describe and explain natural phenomena. The term science also refers to the organized body of knowledge people have gained using that system. Until the late 20th century, the history of science, especially of the physical and biological sciences, was seen as a narrative of true theories replacing false ones. Science was portrayed as a major dimension of the progress of civilization. Recent historical interpretations view science in terms of competing paradigms or conceptual systems battling for intellectual supremacy in a wider matrix that includes intellectual, cultural, economic and political themes outside pure science. Science as defined above is sometimes called pure science to differentiate it from applied science, which is the application of research to human needs. Fields of science are commonly classified along two major lines: First, the  natural sciences  such as biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, and environmental science. Second, the social sciences such as political science, linguistics, economics, psychology, sociology and anthropology. Physics has been a paragon of the natural sciences.  It deals with matter and energy in space and time. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena covering enormous scales: from the subatomic particles to the Universe as a whole. All laws and forces of nature originate from mathematical symmetries of space and time, so modern physics currently focuses on studying these symmetries. There are number of physical theories that became world famous. For example, Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle. It states we only can know the position of an electron with a high degree of certainty, but not its momentum and vice  versa. Another famous theory is Albert Einsteins  Theory of General Relativity.  In his theory Einstein showed that space and time are not absolutes and that gravity is not simply a force applied to an object or mass. Rather, the gravity associated with any mass curves the very space and time (often called space-time) around it. Lastly, The Big Bang Theory is also attributed to the field of physics. It postulates that the universe began 13.7 billion years ago with a massive expansion event.  The Big Bang Theory has recently gained popularity though the TV show that was named after it. Biology is another important science in the group of natural sciences. It  deals with the study of life. It describes the characteristics, classification, and behaviors of organisms, how species come into existence, and the interactions they have with each other and with the environment. Biology has many specialized areas, covering a wide range of scales, from Biochemistry to ecology. Probably the most famous theory in the field of biology is Charles Darwins theory of Evolution and Natural Selection. This theory accounts for the tremendous diversity of life on Earth and so famously declared that we humans originate from primates (monkeys). Should you be interested in any of these branches of science I recommend to talk to one of our 3800  science tutors.