Should I Go To Haverford College

Should I Go To Haverford College The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Matthew received his Bachelors degree in History from Haverford College. He is currently a tutor in Philadelphia specializing in Chemistry tutoring, History tutoring, Literature tutoring, and several other subjects. See what he had to say about his experience at Haverford College: 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? Matthew: The Haverford College campus is an arboretum, so the grounds are particularly nice. In the spring and fall, the trees form a screen between the core of campus and the surrounding suburban neighborhoods. The campus buildings are centered on Founders Green, and anywhere on campus is within easy walking distance. Haverford College is also very close to a major train line that travels into Philadelphia, so using public transit is very convenient. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Matthew:Haverford College does not have teaching assistants, so all of our contact is with our professors. The professors are open and friendly, and they love spending time with their students. Many live on campus or in the surrounding neighborhoods, so they are available to meet with students almost anytime. (I had one professor promise that he would meet us at any point day or night as long as we provided him with food!) VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Matthew:The buildings on campus are fairly close together, so everything is easy to get to. There are a wide range of housing options, from apartments, to suites, to dedicated singles, and this gives students a fair amount of choice. There is one dining hall on campus, but the apartments are equipped with kitchens. There is also a caf in the student center. Haverford College hosts numerous events throughout the school year, but most friendships start through one of the many extracurricular activities. 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? Matthew:Haverford Colleges most popular major is Biology, but as a liberal arts college, many other majors like Political Science and English are not far behind. I studied History and Greek, and I enjoyed the professors and classes in both departments. The History department is more geared toward modern history at present, but the professors provided me with ample support and encouragement as I pursued my medieval interests. 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? Matthew:Haverford College has no Greek life, so that is not a problem! Haverford College tries to foster strong connections between the freshmen through Customs Week and the related Customs groups. Some of my closest friends were from my Customs group. The small size of the student body allows you to get to know people well, and the environment is very welcoming. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Matthew:The Career Center supports students by offering many workshops throughout the year, bringing in many well known companies for job fairs, and providing extensive resources to students who are looking for both temporary and permanent employment. Haverford College also networks with nearby Bryn Mawr College to be able to provide even more resources for students looking for internshipsand jobs. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Matthew:We have three libraries on campus, as well various study areas, dorm common rooms, and a caf. The main library has many areas to work in, ranging from comfortable chairs, to open tables, to more quiet carrels. The two new dorms include dedicated study spaces, which is a good improvement. I studied in many different places on campus, but I tended to work in my carrel in the main library. 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? Matthew:Haverford College is sometimes described as a bubble, but it does not need to be. There are various shopping areas and restaurants in the immediate vicinity, but one of Haverford Colleges real perks is its proximity to Philadelphia. I frequently took the train into the city to visit museums and to hear the Philadelphia Orchestra. Haverford College also sponsors trips to art galleries, sporting events, and the ever-popular cheesesteak run during finals week. It is great to be in the suburbs with easy access to all that a city like Philadelphia has to offer! VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Matthew:The student body is under 1,200 students, but about half of the students study abroad during their time at Haverford College, so the actual number on campus is smaller. One of the interesting aspects of Haverford College is its close connection to Bryn Mawr College and Swarthmore College. Students are able to take classes at any one of the three schools, and many do. My classes averaged around 10 people the small class size and the emphasis on seminar-style learning enabled us to go much deeper into the material. Class sizes are larger in the sciences, and those classes are more lecture-oriented. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Matthew:I became very close to many of my professors throughout my time at Haverford College, but my Greek professor was my favorite. I approached him about reading more Greek together for fun, and this blossomed into a Greek reading group at his home every week. We read Greek, drank tea, ate cookies, and talked about life. He also took pity on those of us who came from far away and hosted us for holidays! My time with him underscored the personal experience provided by Haverford Collegeand the accessibility of the professors. Check out Matthews tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Chemistry Revision Books

Chemistry Revision Books The Best Books for Revising Chemistry ChaptersRecommended Texts for GCSE RevisionA-Level Revision MaterialsIt could be considered a rite of passage, one that establishes all of your future opportunities to earn well and pursue the career path you’d long set your sights on.Your school leaving exams and university entrance exams are no small ordeal and preparation for them starts months â€" maybe even years ahead of the actual sitting.If you are in your last year of secondary school or in the interim phase of your academic career, meaning you are preparing for your A-Levels, you must be subjected to so much pressure: to study, to choose your subjects, to earn good marks...Of all of the information available to today’s students in the digital realm, the traditional manual still stands out as one of the best, most reliable resources for studying any subject, including chemistry.What are the advantages of books over other media?Books tend to be organised in such a way that the material flows sequentially, from one topic t o the next, until their logical conclusion, after everything has been covered.Compare that to web pages that actually encourage skipping around from site to site by providing links to ever more material â€" how confusing!Books make it easy to track your study progress; they give you a physical and visual indication of how far along you’ve come in your studies.In the endless parade of online materials, it is hard to determine if you’ve started at the beginning or middle of your subject matter, and the end is never in sight!Books permit highlighting or otherwise marking important points for future review â€" without you having to frantically search for where you placed that bookmark, and why.Books are ultimately accessible: no need for a WIFI connection or a charged battery. (you will need a light source come nightfall, though, if you plan to study after dark.)Nothing says ‘I’m serious about my studies’ like poring over the open pages of a book, possibly with a neon coloured marker in hand.Do you agree with this assessment?In this article, Superprof highlights some of the best books you could find to solidify your knowledge of chemistry; some specifically meant to prepare you for exam day.From chemical interactions to isotope counts, we aim to provide you with the broadest selection of bound study materials possible so that, come time to test, you will feel fully confident of your mastery of molecules and their composition.Really, confidence is half the battle of successfully completing an exam, and the best way to gain it is to know your subject material cold.So, as the saying goes: it’s time to hit the books!Get a physics and chemistry tutor here.entropy chart? How about a standard enthalpy table?You will find these, along with molecular structure diagrams and other general chemistry tables accompanying their relevant texts.At the end of each segment, you will find exam practice questions and, interspersed throughout the text are test-taking tips t hat are sure to help.Many students shudder at the thought of chemistry as a subject and the idea of reviewing years worth of learning condensed into one focused exercise is enough to fill anyone with dread.That is why this review guide does its best to emphasise the needed nuggets of knowledge, keeping discrete topics bite-sized and written in downright lighthearted tones.You may order this book from Amazon for as low as £5.00Although used manuals are available, we recommend buying a new volume so that you won’t be possibly subjected to former test takers’notes and highlights.Besides, that is not a steep price to pay for a boost in your knowledge of chemistry, especially as your future hangs in the balance!If you are certain you will sit the AQA exam, you may prefer CGP’s GCSE for AQA edition.Although the science remains the same no matter which exam you confront, some questions that feature on the OCR version of the test may not factor on the other exams.For example, one exa m may call for detailed knowledge of scientific notation while another merely glosses over it, drilling down instead on bonding and the atomic structure of the various elements.In spite of its specialist theme, this review manual costs just a few pence more on Amazon; you may own it for under £6.You might also be interested in their accompanying workbooks, all of which get rave reviews.Find out what other chemistry resources get rave reviews!You should choose only a couple reliable texts for your A-Levels chemistry review Source: Pixabay Credit: CongerdesignA-Level Revision MaterialsWhen it comes to review materials for these exams, things get a little trickier.Quality manuals for the AS exam abound but digging for AS and A levels, the complete materials for both years of study, things get a bit more difficult.Again we turn to CGP, our partner in learning, to find exactly what we are looking for.New for the 2018 study year, this volume features everything you need to know for eithe r the OCR exam or the AQA. (They are separate manuals, of course).Study modules are arranged in such a way that the review is progressive; from best practices in the lab to how to conduct a successful experiment.For instance, the AS study modules include a review of:acids and basesredox reactionoxidation-reductionthe periodic tableionisation energiesstoichiometryalkane and alkene reviewand more!And then, after glossing over such elementary topics such as atoms, electrons and covalent bonding, you slide right into physical chemistry, free energy and synthesis.Year 2 review topics include, among others:rates, equilibrium and pHenergycarbonylsanalysis â€" chromatography and spectroscopyAt the end of select study modules, you will find practice questions that cover the material you have just reviewed and, towards the end of the book, there are exercises and an answer sheet explaining why the selected response is correct.Note: these are particulars of the OCR study guide. The AQA manual is similarly set up but places its emphasis on the topics reflected in that exam.This volume is available on Amazon for under £15!As a bonus, you will be granted access to the online version of this textbook, free with your purchase of this bound edition.What other chemistry revision websites are there?You may be a serious scholar even without textbooks flying around your room! Source: Pixabay Credit: 27707Being the serious scholar that you are, you may consider a further purchase: the OCR AS/A Level revision workbook.The most helpful feature of this companion paperback is its page-for-page match feature that makes it easy to reference the text as you complete the practice questions.You will also be treated to skills building pages the same types of questions found on the exam.It too is available on Amazon, and for only £6 new!By no means are we discouraging the use of online chemistry review resources, especially as some of them are really quite useful and engaging.In fact, makin g use of resources found on the web alongside a structured review guide such as any of the books featured in this article is more likely to bring you a satisfactory result than using any one resource to the exclusion of all others.The takeaway from all of this is that you, like the molecules you so ardently strive to know, must have some sort of structure; a study arrangement preferably built around something tangible, such as a book or classroom sessions.You may also consider review sessions with a chemistry tutor as such an event to build extracurricular studies around.Keep that in mind as you go through your chemistry topics, study module by study module.Good luck!Now discover the best apps for studying chemistry on the go!