Preparing For AP Chemistry Free Response Questions

Preparing For AP Chemistry Free Response QuestionsA lot of AP Chemistry students didn't enjoy the first free-response section from the AP Exams. In fact, there was even a moment when students had to leave the exam room because they just couldn't sit through the free-response section. I'm going to share some tips that I learned in order to be prepared for this question section.The first thing you have to remember is that your preparation will determine how well you do in the free response section. You have to focus on answering the questions correctly and getting the correct response on the project. I'm going to share with you a tip that will really help you prepare for the free-response section.The idea is to take out all the class work from the class that you will be reading for the project. Take a page and read that page. Start by going to the 'disclaimers' section and reading those first. Then you can read the 'interpretation' section.Don't stop there, if you can take out a page t hat only has two paragraphs and a thesis statement from the class then you're set. This gives you more time to review your notes and make sure that everything you read is correct. Take a few minutes to go through your notes and make sure that you have your notes aligned so that they are going where they should.Another tip for you to prepare for AP Chemistry free response questions is to bring a pencil and paper and a spare test sheet. There is nothing worse than coming home and having to write a paper at 10 pm. Bring a spare one to take your mind off things.Step one is to get the test right. It is the second step that takes the most time.In the third step, take the group test and see how well you did. Most students tend to get behind on their homework.The last step is to read over your study guide and make sure that it is updated. It is helpful to review the study guides you use to get some extra practice with your homework.

These Kumon Instructor Brothers Will Do Whatever It Takes To Motivate Their Students

These Kumon Instructor Brothers Will Do Whatever It Takes To Motivate Their Students These Kumon Instructor Brothers Will Do Whatever It Takes To Motivate Their Students Jason and Rico Au, Instructors of Kumon of Calgary South and Kumon of Calgary Castleridge Red, Green, Blue, or Purple. Jason Au, Instructor of Kumon of Calgary South, knew that by the end of summer his jet black hair would be dyed bright.   What he didn’t know was what color he would be sporting. That decision was up to his students. Jason’s brother Rico, Instructor of Kumon of Calgary Castleridge, faced a similar predicament. The color choices were different, but he knew his time with black hair was limited. How did the former marketing professional and elementary school teacher end up in this position? Jason and Rico Au have been involved with Kumon for almost a quarter century ­â€"first as students, then as centre assistants, and now as Instructors. Despite spending time in other careers, both brothers jumped at the chance to own the centre that they had attended as children. When their childhood Instructors decided to retire and sell their other centre, the brothers bought that one, too. Rico and Jason both love working with children, but their two decades of Kumon experience has taught them that students don’t always run into the centre eager to learn. Encouraging students can take patience, empathy, and even a bit of ingenuity.   Sometimes it’s as simple as providing additional examples so a student learning algebra for the first time can solve problems confidently. Or it could mean sitting down with a kindergartner, listening seriously to her concerns and working together to come up with a plan. Even if her concern is figuring out how to carve out more minutes in the day for playtime. (These are both situations that Rico and Jason faced recently.) Whatever it takes, the Aus are committed to making sure their students don’t get discouraged, but instead look forward to doing their Kumon. This dedication led to a rather unique contest last summer. Wanting to encourage their students to study hard over the summer, the brothers offered up their hair as a sacrifice. Every time a student completed all of their homework assignments for the week, they were given one vote to choose what color their Instructor would dye their hair. In the end, they voted for Jason to dye his hair blue, and for Rico to dye his hair neon pink. Even though they’ve gotten a few funny looks for their bright hair color, the brothers agree it was worth it to motivate their students and have some fun in the process. As Jason told us, “In the Kumon setting, we are afforded the luxury of being able to work and grow with our students for a number of years; the opportunity to be able to make a positive impact to hundreds of kids and help make learning easier and more fun is one that we truly treasure and enjoy.” Before becoming an Instructor, what did you do? Rico: I was an elementary school teacher for eight years. I taught Grades 5 and 6 and was a Learning Leader for three years at my school. Jason: I was a marketing and communications professional before becoming an Instructor. My career in public and media relations  gave me the opportunity to work with a wide range of clients, including non-profit organizations and clients from real estate, oil and gas, architecture and the auto industry. What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as a Kumon Instructor? Jason: Never say never. I don’t try to speculate on what kids can do. I try my best to keep an open mind and let our students show us what they’re capable of, while providing advice and counsel along the way. I used to think it was impossible for someone to finish the program in a year; until we had a few students who showed us how wrong we were and successfully (and happily) did that. Rico: Dont judge a book by its cover. Each person has their own potential and you never know what someone can do unless you give them the opportunity to learn and practice! What achievements are you most proud of? Jason: I’m extremely proud of the relationship we have with our team of staff, and the relationship that our team has with our students. Many of our current staff really wanted to join our team because of the impact that our former staff members left on them. Being able to help groom our students and our team into responsible and contributing members of society who go on to do bigger and better things â€" that makes me proud. Rico: We are both very proud of the fact that our students enjoy coming to our Kumon classes because we (Instructors and Staff) have developed very positive relationships with our students. The positive learning community that we have created at our centres is one of the things that I am most proud of! What do you like to do in your spare time? Rico: I like to travel and build Legos. I enjoy going to Kumon Conferences because its a great way to travel!   [In addition to areas I’ve gone to for conferences,] Ive travelled to England, Paris, Canada’s east coast, Japan, and I hope to one day be able to travel to Australia, New Zealand, and Africa! Jason: As Rico and I work together running both centres, family time is something that I cherish. So whenever I have spare time, I do my best to spend it with my wife and two kids. I’m very fortunate to have a very supportive wife who helps look after our family while being a teacher at the same time! Learn more about the Kumon Franchise opportunity and discover additional franchisee success stories. You might also be interested in: Kumon Instructors: Small Business Owners, Franchisees, Educators Instructor Spotlight: Aoi Fujiyama Instructor Spotlight: Rudi Hwang Father of Second Generation Kumon Students Talks about Motivation and Self-Learning These Kumon Instructor Brothers Will Do Whatever It Takes To Motivate Their Students These Kumon Instructor Brothers Will Do Whatever It Takes To Motivate Their Students Jason and Rico Au, Instructors of Kumon of Calgary South and Kumon of Calgary Castleridge Red, Green, Blue, or Purple. Jason Au, Instructor of Kumon of Calgary South, knew that by the end of summer his jet black hair would be dyed bright.   What he didn’t know was what color he would be sporting. That decision was up to his students. Jason’s brother Rico, Instructor of Kumon of Calgary Castleridge, faced a similar predicament. The color choices were different, but he knew his time with black hair was limited. How did the former marketing professional and elementary school teacher end up in this position? Jason and Rico Au have been involved with Kumon for almost a quarter century ­â€"first as students, then as centre assistants, and now as Instructors. Despite spending time in other careers, both brothers jumped at the chance to own the centre that they had attended as children. When their childhood Instructors decided to retire and sell their other centre, the brothers bought that one, too. Rico and Jason both love working with children, but their two decades of Kumon experience has taught them that students don’t always run into the centre eager to learn. Encouraging students can take patience, empathy, and even a bit of ingenuity.   Sometimes it’s as simple as providing additional examples so a student learning algebra for the first time can solve problems confidently. Or it could mean sitting down with a kindergartner, listening seriously to her concerns and working together to come up with a plan. Even if her concern is figuring out how to carve out more minutes in the day for playtime. (These are both situations that Rico and Jason faced recently.) Whatever it takes, the Aus are committed to making sure their students don’t get discouraged, but instead look forward to doing their Kumon. This dedication led to a rather unique contest last summer. Wanting to encourage their students to study hard over the summer, the brothers offered up their hair as a sacrifice. Every time a student completed all of their homework assignments for the week, they were given one vote to choose what color their Instructor would dye their hair. In the end, they voted for Jason to dye his hair blue, and for Rico to dye his hair neon pink. Even though they’ve gotten a few funny looks for their bright hair color, the brothers agree it was worth it to motivate their students and have some fun in the process. As Jason told us, “In the Kumon setting, we are afforded the luxury of being able to work and grow with our students for a number of years; the opportunity to be able to make a positive impact to hundreds of kids and help make learning easier and more fun is one that we truly treasure and enjoy.” Before becoming an Instructor, what did you do? Rico: I was an elementary school teacher for eight years. I taught Grades 5 and 6 and was a Learning Leader for three years at my school. Jason: I was a marketing and communications professional before becoming an Instructor. My career in public and media relations  gave me the opportunity to work with a wide range of clients, including non-profit organizations and clients from real estate, oil and gas, architecture and the auto industry. What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as a Kumon Instructor? Jason: Never say never. I don’t try to speculate on what kids can do. I try my best to keep an open mind and let our students show us what they’re capable of, while providing advice and counsel along the way. I used to think it was impossible for someone to finish the program in a year; until we had a few students who showed us how wrong we were and successfully (and happily) did that. Rico: Dont judge a book by its cover. Each person has their own potential and you never know what someone can do unless you give them the opportunity to learn and practice! What achievements are you most proud of? Jason: I’m extremely proud of the relationship we have with our team of staff, and the relationship that our team has with our students. Many of our current staff really wanted to join our team because of the impact that our former staff members left on them. Being able to help groom our students and our team into responsible and contributing members of society who go on to do bigger and better things â€" that makes me proud. Rico: We are both very proud of the fact that our students enjoy coming to our Kumon classes because we (Instructors and Staff) have developed very positive relationships with our students. The positive learning community that we have created at our centres is one of the things that I am most proud of! What do you like to do in your spare time? Rico: I like to travel and build Legos. I enjoy going to Kumon Conferences because its a great way to travel!   [In addition to areas I’ve gone to for conferences,] Ive travelled to England, Paris, Canada’s east coast, Japan, and I hope to one day be able to travel to Australia, New Zealand, and Africa! Jason: As Rico and I work together running both centres, family time is something that I cherish. So whenever I have spare time, I do my best to spend it with my wife and two kids. I’m very fortunate to have a very supportive wife who helps look after our family while being a teacher at the same time! Learn more about the Kumon Franchise opportunity and discover additional franchisee success stories. You might also be interested in: Kumon Instructors: Small Business Owners, Franchisees, Educators Instructor Spotlight: Aoi Fujiyama Instructor Spotlight: Rudi Hwang Father of Second Generation Kumon Students Talks about Motivation and Self-Learning

A Short Overview of Wet Chemistry Analysis

A Short Overview of Wet Chemistry AnalysisWet chemistry analysis can help make all the difference in a research or analytical project. Wet chemistry is a tool which can be used to test, observe and control the reactions of different chemicals in the laboratory environment. If you are looking for ways to analyze and control the reactivity of a chemical, the wet chemist is an ideal solution. This article will give you a short overview of what this branch of science has to offer.Wet chemistry involves studying the chemical reactions of a substance by detecting their energies. The process begins by placing the substance in a container, such as a bottle, or other closed container.One way of doing this is to place liquid samples or a mixture of liquids into a container that cannot be opened without dissolving the substances. The containers also must be sealed with a sealer. Depending on your needs, the liquid may be a mixture of substances that would be too risky to use.The experiments wou ld then proceed using a light source to detect the energy levels of the compounds. The liquid is often weighed and measured, so that the activity level can be found. Other instruments may be used to monitor the reactions for a short period of time. This allows you to measure the rate of reaction and the response time.Using the liquids allows you to study their response and reactions to light or to gases. For example, you could put a new dye in the liquid for some hours at a time, then monitor how it absorbs the light. Using a spectroscope would allow you to determine the absorbance spectrum of the dye, which in turn would give you an energy spectrum.If you are conducting a certain experiment, the light or gas will be forced through the sample to the top of the sample tube. To simulate a simple diffusion reaction, the sample and the reaction are simultaneously introduced. With the fluid medium, light and gas are introduced to the samples, and the samples react to the sample and the l ight.Understanding wet chemistry is important for different aspects of the lab. It is especially important for chemical safety reasons, especially for scientists. The dry chemist does not have to be concerned about safety. Wet chemistry analyses can also be useful for environmental protection, especially in places where there are no regulations regarding the disposal of hazardous wastes.

Queens Tutoring Services - Enhance Your Potential Through Online Tutoring

Queens Tutoring Services - Enhance Your Potential Through Online TutoringThe Queens Tutoring Services is highly experienced in delivering an exclusive learning experience. They have been known to offer the top class tutoring that ensures you are better prepared for your exams and for the tasks that will come your way. They provide the most preferred syllabus, designed by the experts in their field. The course content is designed keeping in mind the specific needs of the students, to make sure that they get the right kind of tutoring that will let them become more adept and proficient at what they do.Their lectures are designed keeping in mind the needs of the students as well. The objective of such tutoring services is to enhance their potential and aptitude in performing. They help the students to formulate their own options and enjoy using such courses. The experts have always maintained high standards of excellence in their respective fields and have the capability to give the bes t to the students. The professors are equipped with vast knowledge about the specific subjects they will teach to their students.Customised and customized programs are offered to the students. The course material is properly written to suit the needs of the students. Each student is assigned with a mentor who is specially designed for his or her needs.The tutors are not only needed to help improve the grades but also to help students to understand the subjects and hence boost their chances of getting through their college admissions. The students will be able to get a clear picture of what they are required to achieve, from the very first day of the tutoring session.The main objective of the tutoring services is to develop the talent of the students. Students will be able to learn everything from the very first day.The classes are offered at NIS Business College. The tutors are provided with a uniformed budget and students are paid according to the number of lessons they complete. T hus, the quality of the tutoring services is of higher quality than any other similar institute.The colleges at NIS offer one of the most innovative programs. All the tutors are supplied with proper uniformed budget to facilitate the students to pursue the course in an optimum manner. Such outstanding programs have helped many students to excel in their exams and get admission in the better institutes.

How to Keep Your Kids Engaged in Music Lessons

How to Keep Your Kids Engaged in Music Lessons Suzy S. When booking new students for music lessons, we often hear, How long will it take to see results?   We tell our customers that it really depends on each students ability to learn and how much dedication and effort they choose to put into it. Meaning, if a student is enrolled in weekly lessons but fails to show up for lessons and/or practice regularly, they probably wont see a drastic improvement. However, if they attend their scheduled lessons while continuing to practice and push themselves, they will be amazed at what they can accomplish. When we explain this to parents, another concern usually arises How can I help encourage my child to practice and stay engaged in lessons? The good news is that there are many ways parents can help keep their children excited about their lessons. We asked some of our talented TakeLessons music teachers to share how they encourage parents to get involved and got some really great feedback.   Check out this piece written by one of our Dallas guitar teachers, Jerry W. Jerry lists some interesting ideas for parents to make the musical learning process more enjoyable for their kids. Once the kids are engaged and practicing regularly, they are more likely to see their results faster! Jerry writes: Tips for Music Teachers: Young Guitar Students, Parents Practice Each year, I am approached by parents who request that I teach guitar lessons to their children.   I am always flattered that they would choose me to teach their child.   The child is usually enthusiastic as they begin their musical journey.   After about a month, the student’s attitude begins to shift from enthusiasm to the realization that they have undertaken a lifelong journey of learning.   Based on my experience, I have observed a number of ways parents can help keep their kids engaged in the process. 1. Stay informed about the lessons.   Parental involvement in the learning process is essential.   Students, oftentimes, get caught up in the details of the lesson that they are learning.   In this situation, they tend to lose sight of the long term goals.   Parents can lend a “big picture” perspective to the child.   Parental involvement can be anything from visiting with the teacher after each lesson to view the material that has been assigned to actually taking lessons with the student.   Taking lessons together is a great way for parent and child to foster a common interest.   Oftentimes, the parent can actually assist the student at home and can even practice together. 2.   The importance of the teacher’s attitude toward each student, and their progress, cannot be overstated.   The teacher must communicate with the parents each little “victory” in the learning process.   Honest communication to the parents of the areas which are going well, as well as areas which need improvement is very helpful in keeping the student engaged in the process. 3.   Parents, just like teachers, can develop creative ways to keep students practicing.   These strategies can include:   seeing that the student use play-a-long Cds, recording practice time, practicing with the student, and taking the student to performances of great artists.   Parental involvement in this way can be very effective in helping the student achieve both short term and long term goals. Learning is, quite simply, not a “one size fits all” process.   A Harvard education professor once stated that “you cannot make some learn something.   You can only create circumstances under which they want to learn the subject.”   Therein lies the great challenge for any teacher.   Common sense parental involvement can go a long way toward creating such an environment. -Jerry W.

6 Summer Learning Programs for Students of All Ages

6 Summer Learning Programs for Students of All Ages For many students, summer represents a time to build upon classroom knowledge by extending oneself academically in a summer learning program. Choosing the right summer learning program for your child can be difficult, as programs vary not only in focal topics, but also in length, size, and quality. Taking your childs interests and academic strengths into account, as well as consulting other parents whose students have gone through programs of interest in previous summers, is a great way to begin narrowing down your search for an appropriate summer learning program. To narrow your search even further, consider the following list of summer learning programs: For elementary school students: Camp Invention This unique camp combines STEM concepts with fun activities, like building and writing a code for your own robot, to help kids find practical application for concepts theyve learned in school. Many parents and teachers have noticed that the first few weeks of the regular school year are often dedicated to re-teaching concepts that had been taught in previous years. Camp Invention, as well as other hands-on camps, help to connect students with practical, tactile uses for the science and math principles learned in school, and in doing so help prevent the necessity of re-teaching in the fall. [RELATED: 6 Activities to Keep Students Learning this Summer] Hunter College Campus Schools Summer Enrichment Program for the Gifted Like many other universities and university systems, Hunter College Campus Schools provides quality instruction to elementary-aged children throughout the summer. More than a program aimed at bridging the gap between one academic year and another, enrichment programs such as this one seek to academically challenge students in non-competitive environments. At Hunter, for example, students are enrolled in a well-rounded curriculum that touches upon more advanced and nuanced topics than they are used to and does not include any homework or formal assessments. Enrolling your child in this or a similar program may not only prevent summer learning loss, but may also boost his or her present knowledge. For middle school students: Education Unlimited Summer Camps for Rising 6-8th Graders Education Unlimited offers several intensive, short camps focused on a variety of academic and vocational topics tailored to middle school students. From public speaking, to science for girls, to mock trial, these camps aim to nurture the emerging interests of this age group. This allows your child to delve deeper into an interest of his or hers and to associate that interest to what he or she has already learned in the classroom with camps, such as those offered by Education Unlimited, that connect the academic to vocational skills. Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Summer Programs Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth offers several summer programs for middle schoolers at U.S. universities as well as abroad in Hong Kong. These summer programs are academic camps, offering enrichment and interdisciplinary thinking often absent from typical middle school curriculums. Along with their higher thinking, the camps, which are held on college campuses, offer the perks of higher educational facilitiesnamely fully-loaded labs, athletic facilities, technologically-equipped classrooms, and dorm rooms for a first look at the college experience. The camps are immersive and may challenge your student to think in tandem with his or her peers to solve complex problems and to tackle academic concepts above grade level. [RELATED:How to Create a Summer Reading Program for You and Your Child] For high school students: NYU Precollege Program Like many other colleges, New York University offers a summer precollege program to high school students. In addition to getting a taste of college life by choosing a major and living in dorms, these types of programs can help high school students earn college credit and build their college resumes. These programs are often longer in length than the on-campus ones offered to middle schoolers and are also more truly college courses (as opposed to simplified interdisciplinary explorations) than those offered to younger kids. The New York County District Attorneys Office High School Internship Program(and similar programs) In the fall of senior year of high school, student will have to start answering questions about what they would like to do in the future. Using the summer to explore potential careers through internships available to high school students is a valuable summer learning experience. Several reputable employers, such as the New York County District Attorneys Office, offer several-week peeks into potential careers. Completing an occupational internship may help direct your student as he or she begins to apply to colleges and research potential majors. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

What is it Like to Attend University of Southern California

What is it Like to Attend University of Southern California The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Kalee is a Los Angeles tutor specializing in a multitude of subjects including MCAT prep tutoring, Chemistry tutoring, and Finance tutoring. She graduated from University of Southern California in 2012 where she studied Business and Natural Sciences. See what she had to say about he alma mater: 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? Kalee: The USC campus is located in South Central Los Angeles. Most students live either on-campus or within one mile, and therefore, walk or bike to classes. Because the surrounding area is not the safest, the university offers two services to ensure student safety at night. First, Campus Cruiser is a car service for students who wish to travel within a one mile radius of the school between the hours of 6pm-2:30am. Second, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) will pick up and drop off any student at the hours in which Campus Cruiser is not running. Students definitely do not need a car if they plan on staying on campus, but you cannot get around the LA area without one, so it is recommended after the first year. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Kalee: Every professor has designated office hours for meeting with students outside of class. However, every professor I have had has made themselves available outside of office hours by appointment. The teaching assistants teach discussions sections with a small group of students (10-20) and hold office hours. Since all of them are graduate students, they are very open for students to reach out to them outside of class and ask questions about the class, research, etc. Students are required to see their academic advisors every semester before registering for classes (depending on the school). Advisors are also available during walk-in hours and appointment. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Kalee: The dorm life at USC is great. Each dorm has a different character, so students can choose what vibe fits them best. All freshmen are required to stay in USC housing and have a USC dining plan with meals and/or dining dollars. There are three dining halls on campus and many restaurants/fast-food options. Students will leave their room doors open while they are inside so people walking by often stop by for a chat. There are also organized events by the RA or the building government aimed to help students build relationships with their floor and dorm building. 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? Kalee: I would say the majors that are best represented are those housed in the named schools on campus, such as business/accounting (Marshall), journalism/communication (Annenberg), and film production/cinematic arts (School of Cinematic Arts). With that said, the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences just received an enormous naming donation so majors housed in that college are well supported financially and by advising. I majored in Business-Cinematic Arts (a competitive joint program between the Marshall School and the School of Cinematic Arts) and minored in Natural Sciences because my ultimate goal was to enter medical school. USC was extremely supportive of my varied, and unusual area of study. They actually encouraged diverse studies through their Renaissance Scholar program. Though it is about five and a half years of course units, USC allowed me to fit it into four years. 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? Kalee: Living in a dorm made it very easy to meet people and make friends as a freshman. I believe that most people at USC remained close to their freshman year dormmates throughout college. At the beginning of every semester there is an involvement fair, where students can sign up to join a few of the hundreds of campus organizations. Involvement in these clubs is the best way to make lasting friendships, because the other people in the club share the same interests as you do. Now that I have graduated, I can say that I met my best friends through campus organizations and study abroad programs. Greek life does play a significant role in the campus social life as many freshman and sophomores choose to rush. I was not involved in a sorority, and can say with confidence that if Greek life is not for you, you will still have an amazing college experience. Just get involved! VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Kalee: The Career Center serves both past and present students of the university with advising, workshops, and campus recruitment. Several times during my four years I used the Career Center resume advising services to understand what companies were looking for and how I could tailor my resume to appeal to each one. Many reputable companies are involved with the formal on-campus recruiting process, but are mostly finance or accounting companies. Examples include JP Morgan Chase Co., Apple, Bain Co., Accenture, KPMG, Deloitte, and Ogilvy Mather. These positions are also largely for local positions in the Los Angeles area, so if students want to move to different cities across the country, it is more difficult. The Career Center can advise you on steps to take to appeal to jobs in other cities, but do not offer anything beyond that. Another thing to note is the Trojan Network, an online listing of graduates willing to speak with current students about their careers and how they got there from USC. This is an excellent resource for informational interviewing. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Kalee: There are study spaces in every library, with Leavey Library being the only one on campus to be open for 24 hours. Students are also welcome to study in spaces in the Campus Center, dorm/apartment lounges, and on-campus coffee shops. I mostly studied in my own room at my apartment, so each student can study where they learn best. The public spaces available can fill up during midterms or finals, but you can always book group study rooms in the libraries. 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? Kalee: Los Angeles is one of the most vibrant cities in the world, and it has the added benefit of great weather year-round! If youre interested in sports, you can go see a Lakers game or a Dodgers game (and of course you have to root for your USC Trojans!). There is plenty of shopping, restaurants, and nightlife when you move either to downtown or the west-side. As for outdoor activities, you have several beaches and hiking trails within a 30-minute drive. Students also plan weekend mountain trips and go to Big Bear or Mountain High (about 2-3 hours away). Los Angeles is also the heart of Hollywood, so film screenings, movie premieres, and industry talks are easily accessible. As I have described, there is plenty to do in Los Angeles and the surrounding area (Disneyland, Las Vegas), but you need a car! And you must be weary of traffic, because even though Google tells you it is four miles away, it could easily take you 45 minutes. I would say for the first two years students mostly stay near campus, and tend to venture out a little bit their junior and senior years. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Kalee: Though USC is a private university, it has about 16,000 undergraduates and another 16,000 graduates. I loved this about the school. I was meeting new people, and making new friendships literally until the moment I graduated. By having a student body of this size, you do not feel suffocated, and yet do not feel anonymous either. The class sizes for general introductory courses could get as large as 300 people, but every large class at USC has a discussion section with only 20 other students. Once you move onto upper division classes, the class size drops dramatically to 10-40 people. This way, you can make valuable relationships with professors in the subjects you are actually interested in pursuing further. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Kalee: One of my favorite classes at USC was Introduction to Film (CTCS 190) taught by Drew Casper. If anyone has the chance to take a class by Drew Casper, do it! Even if you are not interested in pursuing the cinematic arts. He is an amazing orator, and keeps the class on their toes for the entire four hours. He would dance around the stage, tell us intimate stories, and yell about aspects of the industry that frustrated him. Every one of the 300 students in the class hung off of his every word and could feel his passion for films and for teaching. Though it was a large class, Casper was adept at making each student feel engaged and involved. It is hard to describe why this professor was so incredible, but ask each student that has taken a class from him, and they will have something to say about Drew Casper. Check out Kalees tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.