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Foundation for the Future: How to Network While at University

8/28/2017

 
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Many university students make the assumption that a degree is enough to get ahead professionally. Unfortunately, given how competitive the job market is, our schooling may be little more than a footnote to human resources departments forced to sort through countless resumes. This assumes, of course, that you've found suitable places to send your resume in the first place.

With university being so much more accessible today thanks to the availability of student loans and other financing options, the market is flooded each year with graduates. This means businesses can afford to be more selective in who they hire, with some eschewing outside candidates entirely.

Given the competitive job climate, it's never been more important for you to have a strong network of both fellow graduates and seasoned professionals who can offer advice and steer you towards opportunities. Regardless of your major or career field, there are five key steps to building a network while in college.


1. Pay Your Dues

​Building a strong network obviously requires getting out there and meeting people. Finding an internship or volunteer opportunity while earning your medical specialties degree, for example, is a proven way to meet individuals with established careers in the same field. These opportunities rarely require full time hours, with most offering flexible scheduling opportunities for students with hectic course loads. One advantage to interning is that it allows you to build your network in a professional environment, meaning potential colleagues will get to see exactly what you bring to the table.

Best of all, the benefits don't stop at networking. Plenty of colleges offer credit in exchange for hours spent volunteering and interning, not to mention that a well-placed position will help pad out your resume with relevant industry experience and net you a reference for future interviews. Finding an internship to build your network is no different than looking for a job, with the positions often being posted on the same sites businesses use to scout full-time employees.


2. Class Participation

You may not realize it, but just by virtue of being enrolled in college, you're already part of a budding network. Between classmates, professors, academic advisers, and other individuals that form your college experience, you have access to a vast network of people also looking to build connections.

Fellow classmates are your future colleagues and competition, so building relationships early is essential if you hope to have allies, as well as contacts in other industries once you enter the professional world. Furthermore, your professors have years, if not decades of experience, and with that experience comes their own networks of colleagues. In other words, begin building your personal network by forging strong bonds with your peers, but also form connections with experienced individuals who can weave you into their already established networks.


3. Get Your Money's Worth

Your college tuition doesn't just go towards books and lab fees. As a student, you are also granted access to your campus's career services office, a valuable resource if you're trying to build a network. While your classes are meant to give you the theoretical knowledge that underpins your chosen career path, it's the career services office that gives students the real-world tools and connections needed to succeed. Many students pass through their campuses without so much as a cursory visit to career services, a crucial mistake.

"Career Services" is a broad umbrella and you might be surprised by how much your college's department has to offer. Their staff provides everything from help building your resume, information on internships, and, most importantly, access to your campus's alumni network. Reaching out to graduates is a sound method of adding like-minded people to your network and can often give you access to career opportunities reserved for alumni.


4. The Career Cotillion

There are conventions and social events for everything from comic book collecting to knitting, so it should come as no surprise that your college holds events specifically designed for networking. Frequently organized according to academic discipline and with participation from the campus alumni network, these events are attended by former students looking to scout talent from the next generation of graduates.

Furthermore, these events will give you an opportunity to socialize with fellow students outside of the classroom setting or party scene. This is vital, as your network should have a healthy mix of peers and established professionals. Attending these events is absolutely essential, even if it means skipping a class. Don't limit yourself to campus events, either. Local job fairs, chamber of commerce meetings, and other public events are useful for branching out beyond the academic community.


5. Networking in Your Pajamas

Face-to-face meetings are an important part of networking, but the Internet is an equally valuable social market waiting to be tapped. Your digital network is just as important your local connections, since it will garner you contacts from around the globe. Best of all, it can be done without ever leaving your dorm. Facebook and LinkedIn are the "big two," so to speak, as the former will connect you with peers, while the latter is perfect for meeting experts in your future career.

Don't be afraid to message or add strangers, as the worst you'll get is ignored. Make sure to take full advantage of every social network's full suite of features. Join groups and scan event pages for networking opportunities. Remember also that building your network goes beyond just socializing with individuals. Most businesses have social media accounts and interacting with them is an excellent way to build professional contacts. If you're lucky, it could even lead to a future career opportunity.


It Takes a Village

Common wisdom holds that it takes a village to raise a child. As we grow older, so to do our aspirations and the demands that face us. Naturally, as your life broadens, so too must the web of relationships and connections that comprise your support network. The college campus is the perfect environment for developing the social bonds needed to succeed professionally. Go out and meet people, take advantages of campus services, and before long you'll have a vast network of individuals willing to help you on your journey towards a successful career.

Dixie Somers is a freelance writer. Find Dixie on Facebook.

Your Complete Last-Minute To-Do List Before Studying Abroad

8/25/2017

 
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You’ve already made the first big leap—you’ve decided to study abroad in the U.S. Your time abroad will be full of unique opportunities and exciting experiences, but going to a new country can be daunting. You may be worried about being prepared, and that worry may grow as your departure date approaches. Instead of being worried, make sure you are properly prepared by following this last-minute to-do list:

 
Verify your travel information
The first step is, of course, getting there. Make sure you know the times of your departure and arrival. Flights can change, so keep checking frequently as your flight gets closer. Also, make sure you have all transportation arranged to get to and from the airport.
 

Print any maps you might need
Maps may seem old school, but depending on your cell phone provider, your phone may only work when connected to wireless internet, so you won’t be able to access GPS in most cases. Maps will help you navigate throughout your new city.
 

Ensure your important documents are safe
Studying abroad means you’ll need to have some important documents with you, like your passport and other valuables. Don’t put those items in your checked luggage—carry it on, and try to keep them close to you.
 

Have cash on hand
If you can get it ahead of time, it’s good to have American money on hand. If you can’t, try to find an ATM as soon as possible to get cash, just in case of any emergencies.
 

Make a budget
It’s easy to spend a lot of money when you’re in the midst of an exciting experience. To prevent overspending, set a budget for your time abroad, and make an effort to stick to it.
 

Put your name on all your items
Add labels that include your name, address, and phone number on the inside and outside of all the luggage items you have. This can help prevent any confusion or lost luggage in transit.
 

Write a list of what to pack, and check it
Think of everything you’re going to need on your trip. Look at the weather to make sure you have all the appropriate clothing that you will need in your new city. Think of other items that might be essential, like multiple phone chargers, school supplies you might need, and maybe a few things to remind you of home, like photos or your favorite snacks. Make a list of everything you’ll want, and go over it several times to make sure you’ve got it all.
 

Figure out how to communicate with home    
Depending on your phone and your provider, the way you can contact home may vary. It might be FaceTime or Skype, or you may be able to call and text. Check with your service provider and see what your options are. Make sure you follow any instructions carefully so you don’t get charged extra fees.
 

Do some research
To ease any other worries, do some research on what America is like and how you can be prepared for the culture. The more prepared you feel for this experience, the more at ease you will be going into it.
 
Checking these items off this list should ease your concerns, but if you’re still worried, try talking with other students who have already studied abroad in the U.S. They may be able to offer some insights on what to expect, or they may share advice about mistakes they made or items they forgot to bring.
 
​
Catherine Martin is a contributing writer for UniversityTutor.com, the world's largest global marketplace for finding independent tutors. 

GMAT Idioms: Hope and Fear

8/22/2017

 
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These two verbs, to hope and to fear, are similar, not only in their focus on expectations for the future, but also in the large diversity of idioms they can take.  In this post, I hope to exhaust the idioms for these two verbs, as you’ll want to understand this distinction for the GMAT exam. First of all, to hope, by itself, is an intransitive verb: that is, it does not take a direct object. By contrast, to fear is a transitive verb and can take ordinary nouns as direct object.

1) My mom fears mice.

2) Many older people fear change.

3) New investors fear losing all their money in one spectacular crash.

In #3, the direct object of the verb “fear” is a gerund phrase.

The old stand-by: the “that” clauseBoth can take a good old fashion “that” clause.  Technically, this would be a substantive clause — the substantive clause would be the direct object of the verb to fear.

4) The President hopes that the recent drops in unemployment will continue through the end of the year.

5) Mahler feared that, like Beethoven and Dvorak before him, he would die after completing his Ninth Symphony.


Idioms with hope 

The verb to hope also takes the infinitive. It takes a simple infinitive if the subject of the verb to hope is the same as the subject of the infinitive.

6) I hope to go to Ireland next year.

7) She hopes to complete her Ph.D. by the age of 16.

If the subject of the hoped action is different from the subject of the hoping, then the infinitive takes a subject — remember the subject of an infinitive follows the preposition “for” and is in the objective cases (e.g. me, her, him, us, them).

8) I hope for him to recover from the illness quickly.

9) The CEO hopes for the new head of the marketing division to revolutionize the company’s customer base.

This is grammatically correct, although the “that” clause format, discussed above, might be a bit more concise.

The noun “hope” can take the preposition “for.”  Often, in this context, the noun is used in the plural.
10) Hopes for a storybook future can blur the vision of young romantic couples.

11) The analyst argued that hopes for a swift recovery of the retail sector of Appleton’s downtown business district are largely unfounded.

The preposition “in” can also be used with the noun “hope.”  Most often in this combination, the word “hope” is the object of the verb “to place” — this is the only form that could appear on the GMAT.

12) The economist places great hopes in the ability of for-profit businesses to clean up the environment.

13) In a highly unusual choice, the manager placed his hopes in the young rookie pitcher in the ninth inning of a close ball game.


Idioms with fear

The adjective “afraid” is used with an infinitive (“He is afraid to fly“), but neither the verb “to fear” nor the noun “fear” takes the infinitive.   
The noun “fear” takes the proposition “
of” — the object of “of” is the thing feared.
14) Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13.

15) Fears of a trade embargo caused the shipping company’s stock to drop 7% in single day.

The adjective “for” is also used with both the verb “to fear” and the noun “fear“, but with a very different sense from the proposition “of.”  Whereas “fear of X” means X is the thing feared, “fear for P” implies P is someone or something the subject likes, something that could be damaged or destroyed by the thing feared.  In other words, “to fear for Q” means “to hope to protect Q from something feared.”  In this construction, the actual thing feared, the actual threat, is often left implicit.

16) I fear for my life.

17) The diplomat fears for the fragile ceasefire in the region.

18) Because climate change is threatening many niche ecosystems, the biologist fears for the survival of several endangered species.


Summary

Know the idioms given in this post, and continue practicing these by applying yourself to a series of GMAT sample questions. As always with idioms, read, read, read! Search for the idioms in this post in context. You understand English best when you understand it in context.


This post originally appeared on the Magoosh GMAT blog.

How to Overcome a Language Barrier While at University

8/14/2017

 
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The ability to study in a place far away from your home country can be both exciting and terrifying. While meeting people from different walks of life and participating in new traditions can be fun, it can be hard to navigate a new language, especially if you are not 100% fluent. Sure, you may have had to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) in order to be accepted into an American college, but the real test comes when you have to apply those skills in unfamiliar situations. Here are some common language barriers you may encounter in your studies, as well as ways to overcome them:
 

1. It’s common to misunderstand regional accents and colloquialisms

You may be used to hearing a very clear, very “middle-of-the-road” American accent (such as the kind on nightly news programs), so you may be confused when you hear a professor or classmate with a very pronounced regional accent. If the accent doesn’t trip you up, sometimes they may refer to something that sounds strange to you (for example, the phrase “six on one hand and half a dozen on the other”). Don’t be afraid to ask the speaker for clarification or to repeat something if you don’t understand.
 

2. Don’t only practice English with people from your country

It’s easy to connect with people from the same background because you face similar challenges. The downside of this approach is that they may not know much more than you do about cultural differences in communication. Try to interact with people from the local community, and immerse yourself in the local culture to get a better feel for how language is used in different situations. Locate a mentor who will give you feedback about your language skills. Avoid social isolation by becoming more involved on campus and speaking English whenever you can.
 

3. Communicate with your professors

Contrary to popular belief, your professors want you to succeed in their classes. Raise your hand in class to ask the professor to go over a point again or explain something in a different way if you don’t understand. If speaking up in class is uncomfortable for you, visit the professor during their office hours or make an appointment to discuss your concerns. It may also be a good idea to tape your lectures so that you can look up what you don’t understand or ask classmates for their assistance. Take advantage of campus resources like study groups and writing labs to help with your written communication.
 

4. Don’t be too hard on yourself

Try not to get discouraged when you have trouble understanding someone or when you may have phrased something incorrectly. Many students, especially if they come from a country where English is not one of the main languages spoken, have difficulty understanding everything. While you are acclimating to campus culture, it is important to take care of yourself during this time. Enjoy hobbies, hang out with friends, and participate in other leisure activities to help alleviate some of the pressure. Set goals for yourself and celebrate your accomplishments along the way.
 
​
Niki Bridges is a contributing writer for UniversityTutor.com, the world’s largest global marketplace for finding independent tutors.


​

An ESL Student’s Guide to the ACCUPLACER

8/7/2017

 
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What is the ACCUPLACER Test?
​
The ACCUPLACER is a test put out by the College Board which evaluates a students’ math, reading, and writing skills. The ACCUPLACER is primarily used as a placement exam but also for admissions purposes. The test is delivered on the computer and it primarily consists of adaptive multiple-choice questions. As an adaptive test, the test changes its level of difficulty based on the student’s response. There is no time limit while taking the exam, and it can be anywhere from 12 to 40 questions in length. While there is no passing or failing this exam, the results are extremely important. Your score on the exam dictates program placement, course level, and course exemptions. 


What’s Included on the ACCUPLACER Math Test?
The ACCUPLACER Math test includes three parts: Arithmetic, Elementary Algebra, and College-Level Math.


Arithmetic

The Arithmetic portion consists of 17 questions which measure a student’s ability to use basic mathematical operations.


Elementary Algebra

The Elementary Algebra portion consists of 12 questions and measures a student’s ability to solve problems using algebraic concepts.


College-Level Math

The College-Level Math portion consists of 20 questions and measures a student’s understanding of college-level mathematics.

Prepare for the ACCUPLACER Math Placement Tests


What’s Included on the ACCUPLACER English Test?
The ACCUPLACER English test includes three parts: Sentence Skills, Reading Comprehension, and an Essay.
 

Sentence Skills
 
The Sentence Skills section of the ACCUPLACER English test consists of 20 questions which assess a student’s understanding of English grammar and English sentence structure. There are two types of questions on this test. the first involves correcting English sentences and choosing the most appropriate substitution. The second asks a student to rewrite a sentence based on a certain criterion and maintaining the same meaning. 
 

Reading Comprehension
 
The reading comprehension section of the ACCUPLACER English test consists of 20 questions which assess your ability to understand and draw conclusions about written materials. There are two kinds of questions. The first type introduces passages and asks you to answer questions based on the passage. The second presents pairs of sentences followed by questions analyzing the relationship between the two statements. 
 

WritePlacer Essay
 
On the essay section of the ACCUPLACER test, you will be presented with a written assignment which will measure your ability to communicate your ideas in writing.  

Prepare for the ACCUPLACER English Placement Tests 


​Make sure you are prepared for the three English sections; Sentence Skills, Reading Comprehension, and the WritePlacer essay with this comprehensive preparation pack. By practicing in advance, you can learn the mechanics of the WritePlacer Essay, recognize the rules for Sentence Skills, and learn how to understand and analyze written text. Get access to an ACCUPLACER grammar guide, and additional English grammar exercises. Access over 320 practice questions with detailed explanations and a personalized score report.  The preparation pack also includes essay assignments similar to those you will face on the test. It includes guidance on how to successfully write an essay. Learn where your strengths and weaknesses lie.
 

What’s Included on the ACCUPLACER ESL Test?
 
This is a shorter 20 question version of the ACCUPLACER designated for those with English as a second language (ESL). Many colleges use this tool to evaluate ESL students to ensure they have an effective academic experience. The ACCUPLACER ESL test can be administered alone or with combined with the other ACCUPLACER tests. The ACCUPLACER ESL results are used to place ESL students in English immersion programs, developmental classes, or college-level classes. Many colleges use the ACCUPLACER ESL because it ensures that they will retain a higher number of students through accurate course placement.


ESL Reading Skills

The ESL Reading Skills test consists of 20 questions and measures an individual’s literal comprehension and ability to draw an inference when reading a passage. The test has short passages with 50 words or less and slightly longer passages with 50 to 90 words.


ESL Sentence Meaning

The ESL Sentence Meaning test consists of 20 questions and evaluates how well an individual understands English sentences. It tests your knowledge of word meaning and overall sentence comprehension. 


ESL Language Usage

The ESL Language Use test consists of 20 questions and evaluates an individual’s ability to use correct grammar within a sentence. Ensure you brush up on your understanding of subject-verb agreement, subordination, and coordination. 


ESL Listening

The ESL Listening test consists of 20 questions and evaluates the ability of a non-native English speaker to listen to and understand one or more native English speakers speaking in English. The test measures both literal comprehension and implied meaning.
 

Why is it Important to Prepare for the ACCUPLACER Placement Exam?
 
The ACCUPLACER test can be an added stress when you begin college or university. Save both time and money and prepare for the test in advance. Ensure you are placed in accurate courses and transitional programs. Unfortunately, college and university tuition is extremely pricey and you don’t want to spend unnecessary extra money. Reduce some of the stress associated with beginning college and lessen your future work load by preparing in advance. Check out this ACCUPLACER premium preparation pack. Practice today with over 1,000 practice questions!


The premium pack includes:
  • Three practice ACCUPLACER math tests
  • Three practice ACCUPLACER English tests
  • Additional Grammar exercises
  • Additional Math exercises (385 questions)
  • Additional English exercises
  • Detailed Score Reports
  • Immediate 24/7 online access
 

This article was contributed by Jennifer Feldman.  Jennifer is a speech and language expert and blogger at TestPrep-online.  She specializes in writing about test preparation.

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