By Mary Walton

Many college students don't take grammar into account when they're writing their assignments. However, they don't realise how important good grammar is. Without it, their writing can be difficult and frustrating to read. If you want to improve your grammar and clinch better grades on your assignments, use these nine tools to your advantage.

1. Academized: If it's the grammar itself that you are struggling with, give this English Grammar Handbook a try. It breaks down all the issues you may have with grammar in an easily understood way. If you keep this page handy when you're writing, you'll find that it's much easier to avoid making errors.

2. Assignment Help: This site offers a plethora of useful tools for any college student, but this assignment help guide is the best place to start before writing. It goes through the different types of voice used in essays, the arguments you need to use, and even how to lay out your essay itself. If you're wondering how to start writing, this is where you should go.

3. Cite It In: Another important part of essay writing that many students forget about is citations. If you don't cite your sources properly, you can be flagged for plagiarism when you submit your work. To avoid this happening, use this tool to create correct citations for your sources. Just copy them into your essay and you're ready to go.

4. BigAssignments: If you want somewhere to really dig into writing and how it works, this writing center is the place to be. It's staffed by professional writers who specialize in writing academic texts, so you can be assured that they know their stuff. Come talk to them when you're trying to figure out why you're struggling with your grammar, and they can walk you through it.

5. Grammar Check: This tool is great if you need to check your work quickly. Proofreading can take a while, but this will remove a lot of the work at a single stroke. All you have to do is copy your text into the text box, and it will highlight any issues it finds. Then, all you have to is click on them to correct them, than you can paste the text back into your document.

6. UK Writings: This academic writing site offers the help of professional writers to any student. If you're struggling to find the time to write your essay, or you need someone to proofread and edit it, then get in touch. They can help you out and create an essay that you're proud to submit.

7. Guide To Grammar And Writing: Do you need a guide that you can navigate quickly? Then this is the grammar site you want to use. It features drop down menus that let you pick from several different grammatical issues, such as conjunctions, tenses and paragraph creation. There are even quizzes available so you can test yourself on what you have learned.

8. OXEssays: The hardest part about being a student is that you have no one to read your essay before you send it out. Therefore, there's no one to catch the mistakes you missed on your first pass through. This writing tool can be that second person for you. Just send the work in, and it’ll proofread and edit it for you. All you have to do is submit it.

9. Purdue Online Writing Lab: This grammar resource houses a full and detailed explanation of any grammatical issue you've ever had. Find the theme that you need help with, such as prepositional or pronouns, and you can access a useful, in-depth article about it. If there's an issue you need help with, you're sure to find the answer here.
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Keep these tools bookmarked and in a safe place for when you need them the most. When you're writing or proofreading, you'll be glad you kept them. Use them when needed and you'll see your writing improve and your grades skyrocket! 

Mary Walton is a professional editor currently living in Santa Monica. She's starting educational blog Simple Grad to share her thoughts on education and writing. Follow Mary on Twitter and Linkedin!

By David White

Not so very long ago, American colleges and universities had strict expectations for their application process, including specific standardized tests and particular application formats. In recent years, however, many of these schools have become more flexible. Although these changes are dependent upon individual college or university preference, one of the most common is greater acceptance of universalized applications.

Among these new approaches to the college application process is the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success. The purpose of the Coalition application is to provide prospective college students with tools that can help them better navigate the process. Theoretically, this is achieved by reframing the college application experience as a long-term process, rather than a senior-year task. 


How is the Coalition application different?
For those students who plan to apply to more than one college or university, the application process can be complicated—and it undoubtedly requires strong organizational skills. For instance, each school will ask you to submit common items like your high school transcript and your personal statement, but they may also request additional documents (like evidence of community involvement or a digital portfolio, if you apply to an art program). 

In order to streamline this collection-and-submission process, the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success has created a virtual locker, or a digital space in which students can store objects like letters of recommendation, project materials, and unofficial transcripts. When a student is ready to submit his or her application, he or she can draw from the contents of this virtual locker. This means that instead of cobbling an application together in a short amount of time, students can begin gathering materials months or years in advance.


Will the Coalition application increase my chances of acceptance?
No matter the application you use, there is no way to guarantee that you will be accepted to a particular college or university. However, the Coalition application may help you demonstrate the abilities, experiences, and knowledge base that are unique to you. 

You will still be required to provide schools with whatever they deem necessary for their application process, including basic demographic information. The contents of your virtual locker, however, will enhance or supplement the more traditional elements of your application. For example, on your application, you might note that you have volunteered in your community for the past two years. This, in and of itself, might not distinguish you, but thanks to the digital space provided by the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success, you can include an article or video that shows your community involvement in action. 


So—is it truly useful?
Like many things in life, the Coalition application is ultimately what you make of it. If you simply provide a writing sample and nothing more, the application may not do much for you when it comes to making a fantastic impression. But if you collect a large amount of material over several years, you may build a very strong and impressive application indeed.

The benefits of the Coalition application may seem minor, but applying to college can be very complex—and stressful! The process can take considerable time, and it might cost considerable money. Given that information, yes—the Coalition application may be very helpful to you.


Is there anything else I should know?
One important fact to note is that roughly 90 schools in America currently accept the Coalition application, including Ivy League institutions, large and small schools, and rural and urban campuses. The Coalition application is not available outside the U.S. 


David White is a contributing writer for UniversityTutor.com, the world's largest global marketplace for finding independent tutors. 

In addition to the typical challenges that are experienced by most university students, international students must also contend with acclimating to a new—and sometimes profoundly different—cultural environment. Fortunately, there are many off-campus resources that make this transition easier by providing advice and assistance. 

These are incredibly valuable resources that can make a student’s first year a more positive experience, but they are not the only options available. Indeed, even campuses located in rural areas are situated within a larger community that is often happy to engage with students. If you are looking for additional or more private assistance in acclimating to your new surroundings, consider the following off-campus resources:


1. Employment and volunteer sites
For most students, university is a chance to form new friendships, explore new interests, and capitalize on new opportunities. You will likely meet others through courses and on-campus activities, but if you wish to build a truly diverse network of connections, pursuing off-campus experiences can also be worthwhile.
While you may have the opportunity to gain or strengthen field-specific skills via an assistantship or internship, off-campus employment is a great way to participate in the community and to meet people. However, if you choose to work, keep in mind that it could affect your student visa. To ensure that you are complying with all the applicable regulations, speak with your international or student employment office. If compensation is less important to you, consider a volunteer placement, which has many of the same benefits. 


2. Health and mental health services
Many colleges and universities provide accessible and affordable health and mental health services to students. These resources are an asset during very stressful times, but you may prefer an off-campus option. In this case, there are many types of health and mental health providers that range from private doctors, to hospitals and clinics. 

If you wish to explore your options, a simple online search of local providers can give you some degree of insight. You can also contact your insurance company for more information. 


3. Social groups and support centers
Most schools make a strong effort to support the cultural and emotional needs of their students, as well as their academic needs. For instance, there are numerous on-campus extracurricular activities and groups that allow students to pursue non-academic interests and socialization opportunities. However, the on-campus groups and supports on your campus may not be broad, or they may not address your particular interests. Unless you plan to start your own on-campus group, you may have to venture off-campus.

Depending on your university’s location, this might be challenging. Urban areas typically cater to diverse populations, and they will likely have many off-campus options for you to explore in your free time. Suburban and rural areas, on the other hand, may have fewer options. They may also be problematic due to limited public transportation. 

Regardless of which environment you live in, the first place to look for off-campus groups is at shared spaces like community centers and libraries. These buildings often have bulletin boards or other areas where you can find announcements or add your own (if you are interested in beginning a group.)  


David White is a contributing writer for UniversityTutor.com, the world's largest global marketplace for finding independent tutors.