The Caltech Chemistry Department

The Caltech Chemistry DepartmentIf you're looking for an exciting and challenging career as a chemistry major, Caltech is the place to be. Caltech is a highly regarded and extremely rewarding undergraduate college with chemistry programs. Caltech has produced many famous physicists, physicians, and mathematicians. In fact, even today, many students aspire to a career in chemistry.The Laboratory Science is one of the most prestigious, exciting and challenging of all the sciences. Not only is it very interesting but it's also the kind of discipline that offer immense scope for growth. Other sciences such as physics, mathematics, and computer science are the things that really count the most. It is the realm of great things to come.One of the best things about this class is that you get to take as many courses as you like. Not only can you choose the chemistry that interests you, but you can also choose to take one of the more specialized classes such as polymer science, or organic chem istry. A lot of classes will be available for you, so look at each course you take, and think about what it would mean to you in the future.Of course, in addition to your classes, you will also have to take some important parts of the course. One of the most important parts is a thesis. Because of the environment that you are in, you will be expected to work on a lot of projects and assignments, and you should get a strong report of your work.Going to Caltech also means that you're going to be exposed to a lot of other things besides your studies. You will be involved in many other fields besides studying and preparing your thesis.There are many labs on campus. The good thing about labs is that you can do whatever you want to do with them. However, the bad thing is that if you forget to finish the assignment, it might end up on the bulletin board.So, if you decide to go to Caltech, you need to realize that your goals are much larger than just a full time job. It's possible to have a career in science, and not just study. The opportunities are really wide open.

What Types Of Drums Are There

What Types Of Drums Are There Find The Best Kits To Learn Drums ChaptersAll That You Need To Know About Jazz Drumming!What Is A Fusion Drum Kit?Learn To Play Rock Style DrumsHow To Play The Drums Without A Drum KitIf you’ve decided to take the plunge and learn how to drum, then congratulations! You’re in good company, as many people across the U.K. practice playing a musical instrument.Once you’ve decided to learn a new instrument, such as the drums, it can feel a bit disorientating when getting started on your musical journey. For instance, do you know what kind of kit you’d like to buy, what style of music you’d like to play, or what the basics of learning to drum are?Thankfully, the more time you spend practising drumming and learning about the instrument, the easier it becomes to answer all these questions.When it comes to deciding on a musical style to play, some people start out with a clear idea of the kind of music they like and would like to drum to, whether that’s rock n roll, blues, jazz, or another style entirely.Equally, some people have little idea, and are happy to play a selection of styles â€" there is no right answer when it comes to deciding what type of music you’d like to play.This article aims to shed some light on the different types of drum kits that you may encounter depending on the style of music that you’d like to play.There are lots of different types of drums, including rock n roll drum kits. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, Silentpilot, Pixabay)A hi-hat, ride and crash cymbal.Additionally, you may want to put some thought into the kind of drumsticks that you’d like to buy when using a jazz drum kit. If possible, try and aim for drumsticks that are light and thin. Often, you might see a 7A recommended for this particular type of kit.As with buying any type of drum kit, the main thing is to make sure that all the elements that you’re buying will suit the purpose that you want and complement your own aspirations, needs, and playstyle.So, if you’re set on playing jazz music or somethi ng like Bossa Nova, then you’ll probably want to avoid looking at things such as electronic drums, which are more suited to different types of music.Of course, there are no rules, especially when it comes to music and jazz! As long as you’re comfortable with the equipment and the tools that you have and you’re happy playing jazz with the kit that you have, then don’t feel pressured into changing kit for something that’s considered more suitable for a jazz playstyle.Choosing which types of drums you'd like to play can be a difficult decision. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, congerdesign, Pixabay)What Is A Fusion Drum Kit?Jazz drum kits aren’t the only type of drum kits available on the market. In fact, there are plenty of different types of kit out there, which cater to different ability levels, musical styles, and budgets.One type of drum set that beginners, or even younger children, tend to do well with is a fusion drum kit. It’s also worth noting that this type of kit is als o perfectly suitable for more experienced drummers as well, so it’s a very versatile kit that you can get a lot of value from.However, a fusion drum kit does have its own particular speciality, and that is in its design to help drummers play styles such as:Jazz or rock fusion; andFunk.Of course, it’s still worth noting that you are free to play other styles of music on a fusion drum kit!In terms of its size, a fusion drum kit sits in the middle between the larger rock n roll drum kit and the smaller jazz drum kit. This can be a great bonus for anyone who values some extra space when buying a drum kit or wants a kit that is a little bit more portable than standard-sized sets.Although everyone is free to customise their drum kit as they would like, as a rule of thumb a typical fusion drum kit is likely to contain the following elements:A 20-inch bass drum;Three tom-toms (10, 12, and 14 inches);A 14-inch snare drum; andA hi-hat and ride cymbal (although a splash and crash cymbal ma y also feature).If you do have your heart set on a fusion drum kit, try to find a way to test out the various elements in the kit before you buy them. This is because the best way to find out if a set or its composite elements are for you is to try them out in person and see whether they would suit your budget and playstyle.Equally, if you get stuck when it comes to deciding which elements or brands to buy, don’t hesitate to speak to a sales assistant at a music shop, who should be able to give you a hand, or at least point you in the right direction of someone who can.Drum lessons can help improve your skills on particular elements of a drum set, such as the cymbals. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, Foto-Rabe, Pixabay)Learn To Play Rock Style DrumsDrums are a crucial part of any band or group. One of the most popular styles of music that drummers like to learn is rock n roll, which is understandable, given how many famous drummers have played this style of music, from Dave Grohl to John B onham, Travis Barker and beyond.If you’d like to rock out on your drum set, then you might consider buying a rock n roll drum kit. Essentially, this type of drum kit tends to be similar to a standard-size drum kit, although its configuration is slightly different.An example of what you might find in a rock n roll drum kit is:A bass drum (22 inches);Three tom-toms (12, 13 and 16 inches); andA snare drum (14 inches).You may also encounter a hi-hat and ride and crash cymbals in some rock n roll drum kits.One of the most important parts of a rock n roll drum kit is the bass drum, so if you are looking to learn how to play rock music, learning how to master the bass drum should be one of your main goals. Of course, you don’t have to learn how to play on a 26-inch drum like John Bonham was famous for, a more standard-sized drum would also suit!If you feel like you need help with your drumming technique once you have a kit set up, then you may also find it useful to enlist the help of a drum teacher. Online tutoring websites, such as Superprof, offer a selection of drumming tutors that are happy to help all levels of experience, whether you are a beginner drummer or you have intermediate or advanced skills.So if you'd like to learn how to play the drums, for example, to improve your fundamental skill in drumming, or to improve your overall rhythm, then having drum lessons, even online drum lessons, can be very beneficial for some people.How To Play The Drums Without A Drum KitWhile having your own drum kit would be ideal when it comes to learning how to drum, sometimes it’s just not practical to have a standard-sized drum kit in your home.For example, if you:Have a small flat or home;Don’t have enough money for a standard-sized drum kit; orDon’t want to disturb your neighbours with the noise you might make,Then you might not feel able to purchase a drum kit.However, if you are committed to learning how to drum, the key is not to despair, as there are ways y ou can learn to drum without a drum kit, or even if you don’t have access to a typical drum kit or a kit such as those highlighted above.A snare drum is just one of the types of drums you might play with. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, benmclendon, Pixabay)Option 1 â€" Buy A Small Drum KitAlthough a standard-sized drum kit might be out of the question, that’s not to say that you couldn’t learn to drum with a more compact kit.There are lots of advantages to having a small or compact drum kit. For instance, if you plan on regularly playing at gigs, then you might appreciate having a smaller drum kit, as your set up and dismantling times can greatly reduce when compared to setting up a larger drum at a venue.What’s more, if you’re tight on space where you live, a compact drum kit can provide the answer to those issues.The other bonus when it comes to small drum kits is that they are generally cheaper to buy than their standard-sized counterparts, which makes them brilliant for anyon e on a budget.Option 2 â€" Try Virtual DrummingIf you’re looking for a way to practice drumming but don’t have a drum set to hand, then you can also turn to technology for a solution.There is technology out there, such as Freedrum, which can let you play a virtual drum set  without having to actually have a physical kit in front of you. By attaching devices onto a set of drumsticks and linking in with your phone, Freedrum lets you play the drums and listen to how you’re doing.So if you’d like to practice when you’re out and about, on a train, or at home, then you have that freedom!Option 3 â€" Make Your Own DrumMusic is all about self-expression and creativity. So, if you don’t have a drum set to hand, why not make your own?There are plenty of groups and performance artists in the world that have repurposed everyday objects and have turned them into musical instruments, and if you want to practice the art of drumming there’s nothing to stop you using such objects as we ll.At a pinch, you could learn some of the basics of drumming by tapping on a flat surface, or by making use of a few pots and pans â€" let your creativity guide you!The great thing about making your own drum kit is that you could also save some money when it comes to paying for a drum kit. So, if your budget is particularly stretched, making your own drumming or percussion instruments can be a good solution!However, you don't have to make your own instruments purely for monetary reasons - it can also be fun to experiment and try out new materials and objects to see how they would work as drumming instruments.Regardless of which type of drum kit you decide to use, it’s worth remembering that if you do at any point need help with your drumming skills, or want to find time to have further practice, then you could always reach out to a drumming tutor for some structured assistance.Superprof has a number of drumming tutors who would be more than happy to help you improve your level of proficiency.

What to Expect from Exceptional Calculus Tutoring

What to Expect from Exceptional Calculus Tutoring What to Expect from Exceptional Calculus Tutoring Calculus may well be one of the most challenging subjects a high school student will encounter. An extension of Algebra and Geometry, the subject of calculus expands into the complex mathematical concepts of things like parametric equations and applications of derivatives. We know that proficiency in calculus is critically important in a number of college majors and professions, which is why so many high school calculus students seek out calculus tutoring. But what should you expect from calculus tutoring designed to truly deliver improved academic performance? Individual Instruction Calculus tutoring should be anything but a communal endeavor. Your needs are specific to you alone, which means you can expect a calculus tutoring experience to be one-on-one with a highly-qualified tutoring professional. Your tutoring will be tailored to your specific learning style, and will afford you the platform to freely ask questions as they arise. Active Engagement Calculus simply cant be mastered with the passive absorption of knowledge; calculus depends on critical thinking, which is why you should expect your calculus tutoring experience to actively engage you in deep critical thinking that requires an explanation of reasoning. Dialogue can also help foster confidence and increase a students willingness to participate in class, which is also crucial for optimal learning. Manageable Goals Every great calculus tutor helps students set specific, measurable and timely goals. With exceptional calculus tutoring, youll always know where youre going and how youre getting there. A tutors job involves much more than simply securing a good grade at the end of the term, he or she is responsible for helping you master specific skills and concepts within a given time frame, and celebrating when those goals are achieved. Preparation for Upcoming Exams An effective calculus tutoring program should not be a wholly independent from the schedule of your high school calculus class. While the focus of calculus tutoring expands beyond daily management of homework, it should concentrate on upcoming quizzes and exams as needed. Though your tutoring program may primarily devote your efforts to specific calculus skills, when the time comes for an exam on transcendental functions, that should be top priority. Let Huntington Learning Center provide exceptional calculus tutoring for you or your student! Schedule an appointment online, call us as 1-800-CAN-LEARN or visit our subject tutoring page for more specific information about our services.

AP Tests European Degrees

AP Tests European Degrees ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog Plenty of students take AP courses as a way to prove to colleges that they are capable of handling exactly the sort of work that universities demand of students. However, while taking the courses themselves is often quite important in admissions decisions at American universities, the scores often matter more for the purpose of getting advanced credit. Therefore, for many students, the difference between a 4 and a 5, depending on the university that he or she ultimately ends up attending, is not that vast. In Europe, things are very different, as subject-specific exams like AP tests often make up the entire rationale for a decision by an admissions committee to accept or refuse an applicant. After all, European universities base their decisions on academics, meaning that factors like sports, extracurricular activities, jobs, or other attributes have little, if any, impact on whether or not a student is accepted. To understand why this is, it is useful to first understand a bit more about how European universities work. Most obviously, European degrees tend to take only three years, as opposed to four (though some Scottish and Irish universities are the exception). Similarly, European universities typically focus their degree studies within one or two fields. In the United States, if someone wants to study economics, she typically takes between a quarter and a third of her courses in economics, another quarter or third in general education requirements, and the rest as electives or towards a minor or second major. In Europe, upwards of 85% of a student’s courses are taken in the major area, with relatively little room for electives, much less another area of study. Because of this, European degrees expect applicants to be passionate about a field of study and to have also already learned the basics. A chemistry lecture in the UK or Germany for chemistry degree students will not waste time going over the basics of the periodic table, as is often the case in the United States; students are already assumed to know the difference between atomic mass and atomic number. That need to demonstrate passion is where the personal statement and letter of recommendation come through; notice that both of those are singular, as European admissions offices rarely require, or even permit, more than one of each. So what does that mean for AP students? First and foremost, if a student is already taking a number of AP classes, she is already on the way to being a competitive candidate for studying overseas. However, taking the class is not enough. Instead, it is important to do well on the tests in question, as those are what ultimately will help universities evaluate whether or not a student is up to the required standard. Just as in the United States, different universities have different AP requirements; Oxford and Cambridge expect their applicants to get fives, while less famous universities are happy to admit students with threes. As a result, students who want to apply to top European universities should be prepared to focus their efforts on tests that they expect to do really well on; for those students who genuinely enjoy their subjects of choice, this could be especially fulfilling. Additionally, the subject of the AP tests matters immensely. Students interested in studying English literature should expect to do well on AP English Literature, AP English Language, and one other related class. Good choices would be an AP History class, an AP foreign language class, or AP Art History. AP Calculus BC would likely be wasted on an English admissions committee. On the other hand, it would be of great interest to someone wanting to study science, engineering, or even economics. In fact, many medicine programs (which is an undergraduate degree in the UK) require AP Chemistry and AP Calculus, leaving the other option open between Physics and Biology. In the end, the effort required to get the appropriate scores to study in Europe can be substantial, but ultimately it is often a smaller headache than balancing many of the other factors that weigh on students applying to American universities. For students who know what they want to study and show considerable passion, it can be a great way to spend high school focused on learning more about what he or she thinks is interesting rather than attempting to meet an admissions committee’s idea of the perfect applicant. About the Author Kevin Newton is the owner of An Education Abroad, a company that helps students who are interested in earning degrees around the world. To learn more, visitwww.aneducationabroad.com.

italki World Cup Language Challenge Week 2 Goal

italki World Cup Language Challenge Week 2 Goal Lindsaydoeslanguages is blogging about her World Cup Language Challenge and were reposting here to share with the entire italki Community. This blog post originally was posted on Lindsaydoeslanguages.com website. Week 2 of the World Cup Language Challenge is almost over! Time flies when you’re having fun, hey? 7 lessons in now and already, I’m feeling much more confident with my spoken Portuguese. I’ve had a great selection of teachers so far. Be sure to check them out if you’re interested in learning Portuguese! Not only am I beginning to identify the differences between Portuguese and Spanish, but I’m also picking up the slight differences between Brazilian and European Portuguese. This week’s video is more football related, mainly because the World Cup actually started yesterday, partly because I want to get my football vocabulary in early before week 6 when I’ll be commentating some football â€" in Portuguese! Eek! I decided that instead of a news story, I would read an extract from the Portuguese Wikipedia entry about the World Cup, sorry, Copa do Mondo. I didn’t even look at it before filming the video, which was a conscious decision to highlight the things I need to work on. One thing I wasn’t not too sure about was numbers â€" especially years! It also made it clear that there’ll be some football lingo such as ‘nil’ that I’ll have to learn. Have a look at the video right here: Do you think there’s an improvement from last week’s video? If you have any Portuguese football vocab you think would be useful, let me know in the comments! italki World Cup Language Challenge Week 2 Goal Lindsaydoeslanguages is blogging about her World Cup Language Challenge and were reposting here to share with the entire italki Community. This blog post originally was posted on Lindsaydoeslanguages.com website. Week 2 of the World Cup Language Challenge is almost over! Time flies when you’re having fun, hey? 7 lessons in now and already, I’m feeling much more confident with my spoken Portuguese. I’ve had a great selection of teachers so far. Be sure to check them out if you’re interested in learning Portuguese! Not only am I beginning to identify the differences between Portuguese and Spanish, but I’m also picking up the slight differences between Brazilian and European Portuguese. This week’s video is more football related, mainly because the World Cup actually started yesterday, partly because I want to get my football vocabulary in early before week 6 when I’ll be commentating some football â€" in Portuguese! Eek! I decided that instead of a news story, I would read an extract from the Portuguese Wikipedia entry about the World Cup, sorry, Copa do Mondo. I didn’t even look at it before filming the video, which was a conscious decision to highlight the things I need to work on. One thing I wasn’t not too sure about was numbers â€" especially years! It also made it clear that there’ll be some football lingo such as ‘nil’ that I’ll have to learn. Have a look at the video right here: Do you think there’s an improvement from last week’s video? If you have any Portuguese football vocab you think would be useful, let me know in the comments!

4 Great Ways to Study for the SAT this Fall - TutorNerds

4 Great Ways to Study for the SAT this Fall - TutorNerds Orange County SAT Tutor Tips: 4 great ways to study for the SAT this fall Students know it’s coming; they all have to take the SAT at some point this fall or winter. This is a critical test, and many students will end up taking it several times to reach their particular desired score. Great SAT scores can sometimes lead to scholarships or other forms of financial aid based on merit and can certainly help students get closer to admittance to their dream school. However, there’s so much pressure put on doing well on this test that many students get overly stressed out. One of the best ways to combat this type of stress is to be well prepared and only have to take the SAT once or twice and then move on to more fun activities. These are a few great ways students can study for the SAT this fall (Our private Orange County SAT tutors are ready to help). 1. Read (a lot) Students who read â€" and this can mean novels, the newspaper, blogs, or journals â€" tend to have a much easier time on the reading comprehension and vocab sections of the SAT. Students who read a lot tend to expand their vocabulary naturally and have a better understanding of root words as well as the different emotional meanings of words. Additionally, students who are used to figuring out challenging elements found within the written language will find it relatively easy to comprehend the terms found within the 2016 SAT. Students who read naturally will already be developing these skills, but students who dont like to read for fun can start by reading a couple of novels or reading a shorter newspaper or journal articles that fit well within their schedule. 2. Knowledge of history Students who have a basic knowledge of historical figures as well as important events within history â€" both political and social â€" tend to do well on standardized tests such as the SAT. Whether or not students will directly demonstrate their knowledge of history on the exam is to be determined, however, students who are also history buffs tend to have excellent analytical skills and be able to understand cause and effect, both essential for an exam such as the SAT. Theres still time for students to brush up on their historical knowledge and understand how one thing leads to another or why certain consequences occurred due to an event or conflict found within history. 3. Great math memory Some students do well in their math classes and have no trouble remembering formulas or procedures. Students who have an excellent memory for calculations and who can understand the importance of step-by-step elements of advanced math are also more likely to do well on the SAT. To some degree, having an excellent math memory is a natural talent, but students who work hard to learn and memorize can develop these skills overtime. Math is a subject where practice makes perfect, so its a good idea for students to do a little bit of math a few days a week so they can learn these important skills without becoming overwhelmed while they prepare for the test (READ: 5 reasons to avoid cramming for a test). 4. Eliminating unimportant information The SAT will always provide test-takers with some information that is entirely irrelevant. However, its up to the student to determine which information is unimportant and which they need to focus on to get the right answer. Whether students are doing a mathematical word problem, reading through a passage, or just trying to pick between two good answers, being able to get rid of irrelevant information is the key to success. If all else fails, students who have this skill will be able to eliminate answer choices â€" something that has always been an essential skill for standardized test-takers â€" so they can choose between two decent answers and have at least a 50-50 chance of getting a question right. Its never too late to start prep for the SAT this fall. Call us today for more information on our experienced Orange County SAT tutoring. 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.

3 Intern Blogs You Should be Reading

3 Intern Blogs You Should be Reading Photo courtesy of Flickr user Sarah Ross Beginning an internship can be quite stressful, especially your first internship with a large company. Luckily, there are many helpful blogs that offer tips and advice from other interns experiences. 1. Ed2010: Eds Intern Diaries Ed2o1o.com is known for its helpful information regarding magazine and media internships, jobs, and advice. Additionally, the website has an anonymous Intern Diaries blog platform.  The interns write about their experiences in their particular departments, without releasing specific information such as what company they are working for, their name, and sometimes their location. The advice ranges from mid-internship review to Office Gossip. 2. Her Campus: Intern Diaries HerCampus.com which is tailored specifically for college women brings in its Intern Diaries by discussing helpful advice  and problems that interns could possibly run into. Of course fashion tips and healthy eating snacks are thrown into the mix. One helpful post I suggest interns read is The Intern Survival Kit. One helpful exert from the Intern Survival Kit reads:  Okay, I will admit I have always been the girl that refuses to buy “sensible” shoes (all of the high heels in my closet are at least 4 inches tall), but when you work in a corporate office running up and down hallways and stairs going to meetings all day it is completely necessary to have comfy flats to wear. 3. The Washington Post: That Intern This hilarious blog specifying That intern by interesting things interns decide to do or they way they behave while interning at various companies. While the reads are helpful, they tend to be a source of intern comic relief.  Theres the Escalefter Intern, the Super-Old Intern, and many other funny favorites. One helpful passage from the Escalefter Intern reads, Pedestrian traffic halts, and people shout at the escalefter intern: Stand on the right! The left is for walking! Move! Get out of the way! Check out these interesting and informative blogs periodically during your internship so you can learn from other interns mistakes.