How to Handle the College Application Process as a Parent

How to Handle the College Application Process as a Parent The following piece was written by Kofi Kankam. Kofi has been featured in our Admissions Expert series and is a former admissions interviewer for The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also the co-founder of Admit Advantage. His face was alight with the joy of life. Not a care in the world, he would always greet me, arms open, beaming, I love you, Mom. Good morning. I trust you slept well. Anything I needed, from the floors being mopped to cleaning out the refrigerator, done without pestering or even request. But all of a sudden, fall semester of senior year, he morphed into some other teenager. So, if you happen to have the kid described above, God bless you because your next one is sure to be his out-of- control, system-bucking counterpart to balance things out. The reality is that few of us experience the extremes of the personas described above, but life does sometimes change, and not necessarily for the better, for many families walking through the college application process. From an already stressful and over-scheduled existence, families delve into college season viewing the application process as the element that sends someone in the family, head-first, plunging into the deep end. And quite often, it is the parents. The gripes and complaints vary, but overwhelmingly, I hear three most often. Here they are, presented in no particular order, with some tips and strategies on how to overcome them: I just cant get him motivated to complete his applications. Ah, procrastination. It is the root of much parental frustration and angst. It has reared its ugly head in the past but likely with less at stake. Heres the first thing that you, as a parent, must acknowledge this is your childs college experience, not yours. If you are in a position to assist your son or daughter with organizing their materials and you feel comfortable doing so, then by all means, feel free. Create a chart or timeline that is useful in helping them understand the time constraints that can define the pressure-cooking application season. Send them reminders about looming deadlines for standardized tests, college visits, high school recruiters, and applications. Assemble documents that they may need to reference in order to complete the applications and then check in regularly to gauge their progress. However, you must realize that the more handholding you do during this final year of high school, the harder the transition will be come freshman year of college. You kn ow the old saying about leading a horse to water? Well, consider your child the horse. At some point you will need to cut the ties that may cripplingly bind and let your child rise or fail to rise to the occasion. You know your child and the amount of assistance they may need to be nudged along; use this as your compass without crossing the line. You do not want to be that parent on the college campus advocating for a grade change next fall and then five years later discussing his promotion on the job. If your child seems resigned to failure, even with the scaffolding youve put in place, perhaps he isnt ready for college at 17 or 18 years old and a year to grow and experience what life is like outside the world of academia may suit him well and motivate him to take more of a proactive role the second time around in the application process. We cant even talk about his applications without the conversation morphing into an argument. Children are very perceptive, especially college-bound seniors. If college has become your singular focus, they will pick up on it immediately. Remember, your child is more than a mere application. Try to revert to conversations of yesteryear and show a genuine interest in your child beyond his applications and pending acceptances. Let him know that you are there to bounce ideas off of and review materials as needed. You must also realize that application season is a particularly vulnerable time for students. Try to recall your own experience with applying to college. Too long ago? Go back to your last job interview. Remember the feeling of outlining all of your experience and qualifications and then waiting for the verdict? Well, this is your childs new reality. Often, for the first time, these students are putting their existence of the last three plus years on the line for evaluation, and that is a scary prospect. A short fuse or resistance to engage in an ongoing dialogue with you about applications may be less a reflection of his feelings for you and more an indication of how scared and insecure he may be feeling during this process not to mention the delicate dance he is now doing to manage all of his academic and extracurricular commitments beyond the applications. Let your child know that you recognize the stressful nature of this period and are there as an outlet. Encourage him to take a break and plan something fun, like a trip to his favorite restaurant or seeing a movie. The greater the sense of normalcy and balance you can maintain, the more likely he is to come to you to discuss his college application questions and woes. He wont even let me read his essay. The shroud of secrecy that envelops college essays often drives parents insane. Equally, parental badgering and inquiries to read the essay often annoy kids beyond belief. As a parent, the first thing you should ask yourself is what is your motivation for reading the essay? Will you be critical or judgmental? Will you attempt to hijack the essay and make it your own? In reviewing the essay, your motivation should be to support your child in writing an essay that is authentic, relevant, and effective. It should be his voice that comes across, it should answer the question being posed, and it should leave a lasting impression on the reader. When you ask your child if you can read the essay, try to do so in a manner that is supportive and encouraging. Again, reflect on your own similar experiences in which one piece of writing or project carried significant weight, and share the experience with your child. Acknowledge the difficulty of conveying something meaningful in a few meager paragraphs but also affirm your belief that he is capable of writing a strong essay. And rather than always asking directly, Can I read the essay now?, show a genuine interest in his writing process by inquiring, Hows the essay coming along? When you do finally get the chance to read the essay, youll want to remain as objective as possible and only offer feedback that is candid and constructive. If you completely destroy the essay, its not likely that your child will continue to solicit or accept your feedback. Highlight the strengths of the essay and encourage him to develop weaker areas by pointing out portions of the essay that are effective. Finally, if you find that both you and your child have drawn lines in the sand and are unable or unwilling to talk out your differences regarding the essay, seek the advice or counsel of someone else. This may come in the form of a family friend who has recently gone through the application process. It could also be an aunt or uncle with whom your child has a strong and less contentious relationship. It could also be an English or History teacher for whom you child has written other papers. Realize that sometimes it is the collective feedback from a few trusted key sources that can ultimately shape and guide an essay that is well written and engaging. Visit Admit Advantage for more information. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

How ESOL Courses Can Opens Doors, Financially Professionally

How ESOL Courses Can Opens Doors, Financially Professionally ESOL Lessons can Help Further your Career ChaptersUse English to Find Your FootingMaking your English Skills Pay OffLearning Business English with ESOL ClassesLet Your English Language Skills Lead the WayNaturally, we don't mean that in the literal sense: you will not find a preposition offering you a job. Nor has Harrod's employed any adjectives or adverbs to function as doormen.However, if you are hoping for a new start in life, better pay at your current job, or a new position entirely, rest assured: your efforts at learning English will bring those rewards.According to the British Council, English language exports total in the billions of pounds â€" and that figure is set to grow: the more people who migrate for educational opportunities, the greater the revenue they will generate.Additionally, those who travel abroad to fill ESL teacher slots further drive the global economy and cultural exchange.And those are just the education statistics. Let us tell you the many ways learning the English language can benefit you soci ally, economically and professionally.Finding your footing in a new environment can be overwhelming (Source: Pixabay Credit: Snicky 2290)viability on the job market has increased.It is now time to profit from all of your hard work!Bilingualism in the WorkplaceConsensus from the scientific community is that people who are bilingual have increased attention spans, and are thus better workers.Speakers of more than one language have also proven to be better at multi-tasking and finishing projects ahead of schedule.Therefore, employers actively seek prospective hires who can speak more than one language. Another reason is the fact that multi-lingual persons are absolutely vital in today's global business arena.You could increase your pay by 5 to 20%, simply by the ability to communicate in another language!Besides landing a position in sales, marketing or shipping, you could carve out a niche for yourself in any multinational corporation you work for by proposing to teach your English-sp eaking colleagues basic phrases in your native language.Job Facts from Around the WorldEnglish has really emerged as the global language.China hires more than one hundred thousand native English speakers each year, to function as Esl teachers and as consultants in their many global firms.The ten top telecommunications firms are based in IndiaThe most lucrative oil and gas company jobs are in Arabic-speaking countries.Ethiopia's coffee industry ranks in the top ten globallyEurope desperately needs software developers and engineersIf you are native to any of these regions, you could start a lucrative tutoring business. Once you are more or less fluent in English, you can teach your native language to workers destined for those countries.If this idea interests you, print handbills offering your services and hand them out in car parks or shopping centers, as permitted.You can post a copy of such a flier at your local library, supermarket, and petrol station, too.By far the best way to a ttract clients who want to learn a foreign language is to establish an online profile. Superprof is a site where you can list your language abilities and offer lessons via webcam, or as a home tutor.Private tutors earn an average £20 per hour in the UK â€" a natural way to profit from the language skills you already possess! And, what a fantastic way to build community connexions!Talking with people in your community will help you build connexions (Source: Pixabay Credit: Leo Valente)Learning Business English with ESOL ClassesIn general, business English is defined as the vocabulary, phrases, jargon and topics that relate to business.Business English is an umbrella term relating to vocabulary meant specifically for finance and  tourism, as well as  international relations and trade.Depending on what area of business you are interested in and/or qualified for, your vocabulary  should consist of words meant specifically for that arena.Before learning Business English, you should have a fair grasp of speaking English in general. You can test your fluency and pronunciation  by having conversations with native English speakers.If you prefer to test your ability without an audience, you could take quizzes online.If you are uncertain about your grammar and vocabulary abilities, perhaps you could take some English lessons, either online or with a group of other ESL learners.Because business English has its own vocabulary, it is important that you have a good foundation of the English language before you learn phrases that relate to the direction you wish to take in business.English fundamentals include verb tenses, adjective and adverb use, sentence structure and proper use of expressions.In all cases, taking an Ielts practise course and passing that exam is necessary to further your business intentions.Employers, professional registration bodies and government immigration agencies often require proof of English language skills as part of their recruitment or admissi on procedures.Listening skills are as important as reading or speaking skills in business, so you should devote a substantial part of your English study time to audio materials. Those can include podcasts, audiobooks and radio broadcasts.When learning business English, it is not as important to learn slang as it would be to learn the vernacular specific to the industry you aspire to work in. However, you might want to learn to use an idiom or two, just to melt the ice with any prospective employer or anyone you would teach your native language to.Learn how to make English learning easy with our guide to simplifying ESOL Courses.Let Your English Language Skills Lead the WayWhether you are just getting established in your new environment or have been studying English for a long time, rest assured that your English skills will provide you with opportunities to earn money and social standing.The more English learning you pursue, the better your chances of being hired for a lucrative pos ition by a multinational firm.As an English learner, you can take advantage of free English lessons at your local library or through the British Council, learn English online â€" through podcasts or with a tutor, or enroll on english courses in london and beyond.These many ways to learn English will indeed open doors for you: professionally, financially and socially. Why not make learning a new language fun as well!And you won't need any adverbs or tricky vocabulary to hold that door open!Discover how learning English can give you greater access to higher education and online materials.

University of California, San Diego A Student Interview

University of California, San Diego A Student Interview The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Sharanya is currently a junior at the University of California, San Diego majoring in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. She specializes inmany subjects including Spanish tutoring, Writing tutoring, SAT prep tutoring, and much more. Check out her review of her school: 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? Sharanya: The University of California, San Diego is located in the affluent coastal city of La Jolla, California. The campus is generally very safe, and the option for a student to call a Community Service Officer to walk him or her back to his/her dorm or apartment on campus is just one phone call away come evening. Students have access to the bus routes that service the campus, most parts of La Jolla, and other parts of San Diego. A car can serve as a convenience for those who wish to access the parts of San Diego that are unreachable by bus. Moreover, many students bike to get from class to class, especially when going from one end of campus to the other. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Sharanya: Professors and teaching assistants hold office hours, where students can go and ask any questions about course material that they have. Academic advisers both for students majors and colleges are available for students to talk to in order to develop a four-year academic course plan that ensure a timely graduation date. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Sharanya: The University of California, San Diego has six different undergraduate colleges (Revelle, Muir, Marshall, Roosevelt, Warren, and Sixth) that determine not only the general education courses students take, but also their on-campus housing location. I myself am a Marshall studentduring my freshman year, I lived in the residence halls, which are structured as a suite-style living space (each houses anywhere from nine to 14 people); during my sophomore year, I lived in one of the on-campus apartments (each houses anywhere from four to six people). There are multiple resident assistants (RAs) for each section of campus housing; each one takes on a residence hall building or an apartment cluster. The RAs are there to make each students on-campus college experience as fun and welcoming as possible. There are six dining halls on campus (one in each of the six colleges), as well as four specialty eateries where students can use their dining dollars to eat. Additionally, the RAs wil l put on many socializing/team-building events for their residents to come out and get to know each other. 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? Sharanya: The University of California, San Diego is a public university that emphasizes the importance of researchthe university is best known for its Division of Biological Sciences (as well as their medical school), its Rady School of Management, and its Jacobs School of Engineering. I am currently pursuing a degree in biochemistry and cell biology because I want to work in either a pharmaceutical company or a public health organization in the future. The University of California, San Diego is one of the best ranked schools for Biological Sciences in the United States, and it provides many opportunities for research in this particular branch of science. 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? Sharanya: During my time so far at the University of California, San Diego, I find that most of the friends that I have made are either from on-campus housing arrangements or my classes. Joining a club/student organization or a Greek organization can make it easier for students to develop a close-knit group of friends. I myself am not in a Greek organization, but my friends that are find that the sisterhood/brotherhood that comes with being in a sorority/fraternity is very fulfilling, socially and emotionally. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Sharanya: The Career Services Center on campus is a great resource for students who need help obtaining jobs/internships relevant to their majors. Every so often, the center will hold informational sessions and other workshops to provide students with more information about searching for jobs, building a good resume, and acing job interviews. Some companies even come to the University of California, San Diego every so often, and the center holds career fairs on campus for students to hand in their resumes to companies, as well. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Sharanya: In addition to the main library located in the center of the campus, there is a Biomedical Sciences Library located at the medical school. There are also many study areas and lounges located throughout the campus, as well. Although they are quickly filled up during finals week, finding a quiet space to study throughout the quarter is not that difficult. 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? Sharanya: The University of California, San Diego, despite the institutions name, is located in La Jolla, an affluent coastal city north of downtown San Diego. There are a few beaches that are about a 20-minute walk from the western edge of campus; many students go there to surf, swim, and hang out in their spare time, weather permitting. La Jolla has a shopping center called La Jolla Village Square, as well as a Westfield Shopping Mall that are both easy to access by bus. Most students frequent either or both of these places to get whatever shopping they have done. La Jolla also has a downtown area with many restaurants and small boutiques, as well as a cove where people can observe the many seals that live there. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Sharanya: The University of California, San Diego has an undergraduate student population of approximately 24,000 students. Because it is a public university, lecture class sizes can range anywhere from 100-400 students, but most courses have a smaller, classroom-style learning component in addition to the lecture. At first, I was a bit overwhelmed with lecture classes, as they can make it more difficult for some students to ask questions. However, professors have office hours where students can come in and ask whatever questions they have in a one-on-one setting. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Sharanya: At a large university like the University of California, San Diego, it can be hard for the professor to know each and every student (and vice versa). One unique thing that my school offers to its students is the opportunity to Dine with a Prof, where students are able to enjoy a free meal with a professor they would like to get to know better outside of the lecture hall. Two of my classmates and I took advantage of this opportunity and did Dine with a Prof with one of our humanities professors, and we were able to have a good conversation with him over some delicious food. Check out Sharanyas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Getting Started with Adobe Lightroom

Getting Started with Adobe Lightroom How Can You Use Adobe Lightroom to Retouch Photos ChaptersInstalling Lightroom CCGetting Used to LightroomThe Different Tools in Lightroom“All photographs are accurate. None of them is the truth.” â€" Richard AvedonOf all the programmes for editing photos, Lightroom is one of the best. This software is great for anyone wanting to get started with photo editing.According to a study by Into Trends, between 37% and 44% of American photographers use it. There are even suggestions that Lightbox can be used to do 80% of what Photoshop’s used for.Even amateur photographers can use Lightroom. Since its creation in 2002, it’s become an essential tool. Thanks to Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC, retouching a photo’s never been so simple.So how can you get started with Lightroom?Don’t Panic!With Lightroom, you can get the most out of your photos. (Source: rawpixel)It should be noted that all photos in Lightroom are organised by date by default. To see them, you just need to click on “Catalog”.On the right, you can see all the metadata. The metadata includes information such as the iso and the dimensions. It’s a way to find out more about the photo in question.Follow the best photography courses on here.On the left, you can see the folders where your photos are stored. To add a folder, you just need to select the photos and click on the small “+” in “Collections” and then click “Create Collection”.Simple but effective!On a Mac?Think about using Aperture.The Different Tools in LightroomLightroom is a programme for editing photos and it includes a number of simple and effect tools for photographers. These include:Red-eye correctionNoise reductionCropping an imageChoosing and applying presetsRemoving faultsChanging the coloursUsing the brushImproving the white balanceClippingIncreasing the sharpnessApplying layersAccentuating certain coloursAnd other plugins!Let’s focus on some of the powerful features that beginners can use on Lightroom.Find some amazing online photography courses on Superp rof.Applying a Lightroom PresetWhat’s a Lightroom preset?These are a series of rules that can be applied to individual photos and groups of photos.  There’s a good number of free presets available. Some can improve the warm tones, others can remove noise, and you can find presets for almost everything. There are sites with tutorials and free presets.  To install a preset, you can just follow the instructions on the site, download the file, and open them in Lightroom. Click on “Import”, ensuring that you create a special folder for your presets.To use your favourite presets, you just need to right-click and select it. You can then modify them if you don’t like them.Removing Red-Eye with LightroomIn low-light photos where a flash has been used, the subjects’ eyes can appear red. Don’t worry! You can fix this with Lightroom.Click on the “Develop” module. Zoom into the part of the photos and click “Red-eye Correction” on the right of the screen.  Place the cross on the eye you need to correct, adjust the dimensions of the circle and then using the size and pupil tool you can darken the red-eye effect.  You can do the same for the second eye. Now you look more human!Blurring Part of a Photo on LightroomWho’s never dreamed of taking a photo where one part of the photo is beautifully sharp and the other part is blurred. With a digital photo, a computer or phone, and Lightroom, you can create this effect.You might want a shallow depth of focus for small subjects. (Source: michaeljberlin)You can choose a radial filter. You just need to select the area you don’t want to blur.You can also invert the mask, accentuate or reduce the blurred area, and change the blur effect. This is how you can get a profession-looking photo without tutorials.In short, Lightroom is a goldmine of tools for retouching photos and organise them. You can get a license that allows you to enjoy new functions, plugins, and extras.  Have fun with your photo editing!If you ne ed help with Adobe Photoshop CC, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, or any other image editing software, consider getting a tutor to help you!There are three main types of tutorial available on the site: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and the best one for you really depends on your situation.Face-to-face tutorials are the most personal and have you and your tutor working together for the whole session. Of course, this bespoke service comes at a cost, making it the most costly type of tutorial available.Online tutorials are similar to face-to-face tutorials with the main difference being that the tutor isn't physically in the room with you. Thanks to services like Skype, a tutor can teach you remotely using a webcam and an internet connection.Finally, there are group tutorials. In these types of tutorials, there are several students and just one tutor. With all the students sharing the cost of the tutor's time, the se tutorials are usually the cheapest per person per hour but each student won't get the bespoke tutoring or one-on-one time that they would in the other types of tutorials.

Zero and First Conditional Exercises and Examples with Video

Zero and First Conditional Exercises and Examples with Video How do you know when to use zero conditionals or first conditionals in English? Are you even sure what zero and first conditional sentences are? Here is an explanation, video along with a zero and first conditional exercise to help you.Examples of Zero Conditional SentencesZero conditional sentences are used to make imperative statements and statements of fact, such as:If the temperature is below o Celsius, water freezes.If it rains, well get wet.If today is Friday, tomorrow is Saturday.If you dont have money, you cant buy anything.Examples of First Conditional SentencesFirst conditional sentences are used to talk about real or probable situations, for instance:If I go out for dinner, I will order a cheeseburger.If we dont have money, we can borrow some.If it rains, I wont go to the baseball game.If I eat anymore cheeseburgers, Im going to be sick.If I get sick, I wont go to the movie tonight.Still not sure? Dont worry! We can help you understand with this weeks video and exercise. L earning how to form these more complex sentences will help you express more complicated ideas in English.Zero or First Conditional Video:Zero and First Conditional ExercisesComplete the conditional sentences below in comments, and we will respond. Remember to add a modal verb if the sentence is first conditional.Example: If we (to go) ___ to the grocery store, I _______ (to buy) milk. = If we go to the grocery store, I will buy milk.1. If you go to the grocery store,  ___ (to buy) me some vodka.2. If I talk to your dad, I ______ (ask) him to call you.3. If plants dont have water, sunlight and soil, they ____ (to die).4. If I leave work early, we _____ (to go) to the movies.5. If you have the time, ___ (to call) your mother.Now try writing a zero conditional and a first conditional sentence of your own.Need more help? Try taking an English class with us. YM 1. If you go to the grocery store, buy me some vodka. (zero conditional)2. If I talk to your dad, I will ask him to call you. (first conditional)3. If plants don’t have water, sunlight and soil, they die. (zero conditional)4. If I leave work early, we can go to the movies. (first conditional)5. If you have the time, call your mother. (zero conditional)(first conditional) If it rains, you’ll better take an umbrella.(zero conditional) When you come home, close the window. LOIEnglish YM nice work. You have some problems with number five. If it rains youll better take an umbrella. YOU HAD is a false modal verb. It cannot be used with WILL The correction is: If it rains you HAD BETTER take an umbrella. Luiz If you write a clause starting with when, wouldnt it be a time clause? Of course, you use the same verb tense sequence, but you cant say it is a conditional, can you? iara 1. If you go to the grocery store, You will buy me some vodka. 2. If I talk to your dad, I will ask him to call you. 3.If plants Dont have water, sunlight and soil, they will die. 4.If I leave work early, we will go to the movies. 5 .If you have the time, you will call you mother.

Inglês para empreendedores Skype English Classes

Inglês para empreendedores Skype English Classes Marina Miranda, colunista da Pequena Empresas Grandes Negócios, salientou em seu recente artigo Oportunidades para empreendedores a importância de adquirir fluência no inglês.A autora deu dica de estudar o idioma no Skype English Classes apontando a conveniência de estudar na internet com professores falantes nativos e com horário e local flexíveis. Este serviço atende uma necessidade emergencial para empreendedores cada vez mais globalizados e comunicando com estrangeiros, porém sem tempo de ir a uma escola de língua tradicional.A oportunidade sócio-econômica que o Brasil passa fica limitada com barreiras linguísticas. Muitos negócios promissores não dão certo pela falta de domínio na língua-franca dos negócios, o inglês.Empregar um vocabulário em um contexto gramatical correto não é o suficiente. Aprender uma língua requer compreender os nuances sutis, verdadeiros códigos internos. O ideal de fazer uma imersão total por anos em uma cultura e língua estran geira é algo inviável para a classe empreendedora.Agora, graças à disponibilidade de banda-larga e iniciativas como a Skype English Classes é possível ter uma experiência real de aprendizado com falantes nativos. Um professor nativo tem a vantagem de dominar expressões idiomáticas, confiança em ensinar, transmitir cultura, além da pronúncia impecável.

Online Content, Conventional TV, and the Golden Age of Television

Online Content, Conventional TV, and the Golden Age of Television image via http://likealady.bg/ Television advertising  became prevalent  in the 1950s, when companies like Kraft and General Electric  sponsored entire television shows. NBC revolutionized the concept in the 1960s with “TV Spots,” which we all know today as commercials. Advertising went from taking up 9 minutes of an hour-long program in the 1970s all the way up to 19 minutes in the ‘90s. Once advertisers were able to gain information regarding the demographics of different shows’ viewers thanks to Nielsen Ratings (the data collection system on the ages and amounts of people watching a given network show), they utilized product placement. Different series became vehicles for certain products, intertwining the characters’ choices and the plotlines with commercial goods. In my opinion, this poses a risk to the creative control of the show.   The advertisers are funding these shows, and since the series are operating on the given company’s dollar, which parts of the show are generated without profit-oriented bias, and which are forced upon the writers from the promotional demands and financial motivations of the corporation? image via http://protoepicnews.blogspot.com/ A show that does a great job of making fun of this is 30 Rock. The series focuses on a fictional NBC television show run by Liz Lemon (Tina Fey).   In the first few seasons, General Electric owns NBC, and Jack Donaghey (Alec Baldwin) plays the overbearing president of NBC who wants to assume control over Lemon’s creative choices. Each episode is speckled with jokes about vertical integration and product placement, with clear wisecracks at GE, who owned NBC in real life at the time. In one scene, Lemon is in Donaghey’s office. She gives a spiel about how great Verizon Wireless is, then looks directly at the camera and says, “can we have our money now?” A show like 30 Rock that actively draws attention to the commerciality aspect of network TV is the exception to the rule. Since network TV depends so much on corporate funding, the shows try to cater to the masses, which makes sense: the more viewers, the more ad spots are worth (since more people are seeing them and are likely to buy the product), so, the more money the show makes. This is where it gets problematic for me again, from a creative standpoint. For example, a comedy that tries to make everyone laugh will probably be less substantial of a series than one with a unique tone, catered to a certain taste. This could be why shows like Arrested Development didn’t do well initially. Fox cancelled the show after just three seasons, even though it won an Emmy. Arrested has dry, quick humor and expects the viewer to be smart enough to catch onto jokes, rather than dumb itself down for the sake of getting more viewers. This juxtaposes against series like Two and A Half Men,  which has  been called “mindless” comedy, yet has been on the air for 12 seasons and peaked at over 24 million viewers. In fact, the success of Arrested Development after its original run, and its subsequent Netflix season four revival, is a good example of the payoff of an online television medium compared to the traditional network model.  After working under the Netflix umbrella for the fourth season, the cast members criticized the show’s former network, Fox, regarding the conflict between airing a quality, creative show, even if it wasn’t a moneymaker for the network. David Cross, the actor who plays Tobias Funke, denounced the network: The networks were still behind in figuring out how people were watching TVâ€"they were still in that antiquated way that started in the 50s with a Nielsen Box. You cant look at the Nielsen ratings just because theres a family in Rhode Island that wasnt watching it at the timeâ€"thats not how people are watching TV anymore . . . The worst thing that happened to Fox was Arrested  winning the Emmy, cos they had to keep it on. Fox didnt have any real guts, but its a business [and] theyre not in the business of putting out great TV; theyre in the business of making as much money as they possibly can for Rupert Murdoch. Cross goes on to discuss how Netflix allowed Mitch Hurwitz, the show’s creator, to take creative control of the show and supported his decisions, whereas Fox would normally fight with Hurwitz and give him notes to change certain things. Where Fox was like “a girl you were dating who didn’t quite get you,” Netflix was “overly gracious and supportive.” When you think about harboring a creative environment necessary for a great television show, which one seems like it would produce higher quality content? image via doseoffunny.com Online mediums like Netflix and Hulu can’t use Nielsen Ratings for their shows; there are no time slots for these series, so theres no way to calculate how many viewers are tuned in since people watch on their own time. Ted Sarandos, the Chief Content Officer at Netflix, discussed the company’s own method of “ratings” when it comes to original content creation.  He specifically referenced House of Cards: “We read lots of data to figure out how popular Kevin Spacey was over his entire output of movies. How many people actually highly rate four or five of them? If you liked The Social Network, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button  and Fight Club, you’re probably a Fincher fanâ€"you probably don’t know it, but you are.” Sarandos continues that once the company has a sense of how many fans are out there, it can “more accurately predict the absolute market size for a show.” When you can predict a market size, you don’t have to cater to the masses. So where Nielsen measures an arbitrary rat race for the highest volume of viewers, Netflix utilizes a calculated forecast based on viewer preference and artistic style and genre. Again, which method seems like it would keep a show afloat based on real merit? The growing artistic diversification of online television is becoming more and more apparent. Choosing a TV show to watch is becoming more like browsing a library with endless material of all types and genres, rather than a passive activity mottled with infrequent, arbitrary channel surfing. The Internet is an interactive tool, one where the users actively seek out content they want to watch. Predetermined time slots don’t hold the clout they once did. Mass-market appeal is no longer the winning strategy. Don’t get me wrong: broadcast television is the best medium when it comes to time-sensitive, cultural content, like the news. It can be a unifying medium in times that call for national involvement, like when the first plane hit the World Trade Center on 9/11, or when the news broke that Osama Bin Laden was captured and killed.   However, scripted series seem to be a different story altogether. Television is in its Golden Age, and it is thanks to these online mediums who are providing the creative freedom and creating premium content funded by subscription dollars, rather than bowing down to advertisers. Television is reaching its peak quality. You might be wondering why this is all of any importance. It’s just TV, after all. However, television is an integral part of our culture, whether we realize it or not. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, TV unified our nation through shows like I Love Lucy, The Brady Bunch, and Friends.  People identified with it, and it became a representation of our culture. The thing about appealing to the masses (read: most network television) is that many aspects of our culture get overlooked, and minorities are often underrepresented or not represented at all. Online mediums like Netflix have been able to break this barrier in recent years. Series like Orange is the New Black, with an almost all-female cast in a women’s prison, probably wouldn’t last on traditional television. The show stars white, black, Latina and Asian women, depicting many minorities all at once. The diversification of TV on these online mediums will only increase a more diverse representation of America. Tim Wu of The New Republic magazine said it perfectly: “A culture where niche supplants mass hews closer to the original vision of the Americas, of a new continent truly open to whatever diverse and eccentric groups showed up. The United States was once, almost by definition, a place without a dominant national identity. As it revolutionizes television, Netflix is merely helping to return us to that past.”

5 Ways to Communicate With Your TA

5 Ways to Communicate With Your TA 5 Great Ways to Communicate With Your TA Most college underclassmen will take several classes in a large hall with a professor who gives lectures and designs the curriculum but who doesnt necessarily grade assignments. In this case, a series of teaching assistants will work to design tests and assignments and do the majority of the grading. Its critical for students to be in contact with their TA on a regular basis because they’re in charge of the student’s final grade. Also, since they write many of the lesson plans, they will know how to answer complex questions and help students solve academic problems. 1.   Important information on the syllabus The first thing students should do is read through the entire syllabus. This document gives students a ton of information about how to communicate with their TA, who the TA is, and what responsibilities they have. Each lecture class is different, and some TA’s are there simply to assist the professor with clerical work while others do everything outside of the first lecture. The syllabus will also let students know who their TA is, sometimes organized by student number or last name, as well as how best to get in touch with them. Some TA’s exclusively use their school email while others prefer students forward queries to their personal email account. All of this information is conveniently found in each class syllabus. 2.   Meeting with your TA Students are encouraged to meet with their TA in person so they can put a face with a name. Most students dont bother to get in touch in person, and so they become one student out of 100 who sends an email here in there. Students who take the time to make an appointment are more likely to be taken seriously and given participation points if theyre available. If the TA has ultimate authority over student grades, its extra important they know which students are really serious about learning. Each TA will have a different schedule that will change from semester to semester as they are Masters or Ph.D. students themselves. Underclassmen are encouraged to find out their TA’s availability at the beginning of the term (READ: 5 Ways to Have a Well-Rounded Experience on Campus). 3.   Online communication with your TA Much of the student’s communication with their TA will occur online. Simple communication will take place by email but todays teaching assistants may also use more cutting edge technology to keep in touch with larger classes. Students are encouraged to inquire about different forms of digital communication that their TA may be implementing into the curriculum. 4.   Clearing up grading discrepancies Once in a while, there will be a basic clerical error that students need to clear up with the TA. Students should always be polite and professional when inquiring about something of that matter so as to maintain a good rapport. Students who wish to have their assignment re-graded should refer to their syllabus for the professor’s policy. This is a tricky topic because a re-graded assignment may end up receiving an even lower grade than it originally did. 5.   Working with multiple TA’s Each student will be assigned a TA who works with a part of the class. However, sometimes TA’s work as a team helping all of the students together and some courses will have a lead TA. Students are encouraged to be mindful of who they are communicating with and make sure information is getting forwarded to the correct person. The first thing students should do when they start a new class is finding out who their TA is and how long it takes them to return an email. This will set the tone and timeline for communication for the entire semester. Still in the process of applying to college? Our experienced Irvine college admissions consultants are here to help. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.