Move Tutor Ultra Sun - Improving Physical Function With Movement

Move Tutor Ultra Sun - Improving Physical Function With MovementThe Move Tutor Ultra Sun is a very nice addition to the Move Tutor family of mobility and agility devices. This gadget uses the body's own natural healing mechanisms to automatically improve your coordination, balance, flexibility, and stability.The Move Tutor Ultra Sun consists of a backpack that has a harness for you to use when using the device. Once your hands are securely fastened in the harness, the backpack is slung over your shoulder and you can go about your business with confidence. This device can be used by anyone who has had a stroke or spinal cord injury and will work on either arm.When using the Move Tutor Ultra Sun, you will be able to perform many activities. It is suitable for playing games, running, stretching, and stretching while walking. In addition, when using the device, you will also be able to walk forward and backward, or just step out of your way when standing still.You will feel like you have plenty of energy and enthusiasm once you start using the Move Tutor Ultra Sun. For those who live on a strict diet, the motion sensors will monitor the calories burned and show you how many calories you have burned as you do each of the steps. You will also get reminders to keep track of your progress, and you will be able to see where you stand with each exercise.You will be able to talk with a person right in front of you using the Move Tutor Ultra Sun, just by blinking your eyes in the appropriate direction. It is a great technology that has many uses. Just imagine being able to hold a conversation while moving around a mall, or with someone in a crowd.It is easy to apply a warm or cold towel, to the Move Tutor Ultra Sun, to hold your towel while you are exercising. You will be able to hold a cup of hot tea or coffee and drink while still exercising. This gadget does not involve any physical exertion, but it helps you to stay active.One of the other exciting benefits of the Move Tutor Ultra Sun is that it will help you maintain your body's balance. You will be able to walk backwards, or stop at different places on a sidewalk to take a deep breath. You will be able to walk without falling and will have an enjoyable workout all the while.Many people have benefited from using the Move Tutor device. If you have had a stroke or spinal cord injury, you will find this device very useful, and it will benefit everyone that uses it.

Five things English majors should do this fall - TutorNerds tutornerds.com

Five things English majors should do this fall - TutorNerds tutornerds.com/ Tips From a Los Angeles English Tutor: Five things English majors should do this fall Thousands of college students will decide to major in English because it leads to so many different career fields that specialize in research and writing. Students who choose this course subject as their major field of study should be prepared to do a few things this fall, so they are on track for graduation and get a foot in the door to the job or company that interests them most our private Los Angeles English tutors are here to help you succeed. 1. Take a prerequisite All English majors will need to take a series of prerequisites before they can move on to courses within their chosen subfield. Prerequisites, such as English 1A or English 101, are very popular and taken by general education students as well as English majors, meaning the courses fill up fast. Students should take a look through the course requirement handbook or meet with an academic counselor to make sure theyre taking all of the prerequisites available during the fall term. Otherwise, students may have to wait until the next fall and possibly delay graduation in order to get into required courses (READ: 4 Reasons to get an Irvine Back-to-School tutor). 2. Apply for an internship English majors should definitely consider applying for an internship with a company that interests them. This is one of the best ways for students majoring in a broad field to figure out how they will specifically put their new skills to use. Completing an internship will help college students determine their strengths and weaknesses and what they want to be doing for the next 30 years or so. Internships also look great on a student resume and help new adults develop professionalism so they can be a contributing member of any workplace. 3. Meet with an English professor English professors serve as a great resource for students who want to know about the career field as well as the classes available to them. English is an incredibly broad major and students might end up as a writer or editor, a teacher, a researcher, or working at a corporate office. English professors can give tons of valuable insight to students who are willing to reach out. Even if a student doesnt know exactly what they want to do for their whole life, they will gain a ton of skills by taking advanced level English courses. 4. Read! It may seem obvious that English majors will be reading a lot but its also important that they read a certain number of books considered to be great literature. There are tons of texts on the Great Books list that students will never get to know about in their high school English courses. Students can consult a professor, teaching assistant, or even just do some online research in order to find out which novels will best push their knowledge to the next level. Students who are well-versed in famous authors and titles will be more likely to excel in their classes and improve their reading comprehension to a point that is expected of an English language expert. 5. Join a club or society for English majors One of the best ways for students to network and get career ideas is to join one of their on-campus societies or clubs geared towards English majors. This gives underclassmen, especially, an opportunity to learn from their more experienced peers, get recommendations on classes and professors, get a foot in the door in the career field, and enjoy being around like-minded people. Most college campuses will have several organizations geared towards people who love English and literature and will provide an opportunity for students to socialize and have fun in addition to focusing on academics. Finally, our experienced Los Angeles English tutors are here to help you succeed in your courses. Call us today to learn more. 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.

5 Quotes About Language Learning to Motivate and Inspire You

5 Quotes About Language Learning to Motivate and Inspire You 5 Quotes about Language Learning to Motivate and Inspire You Learning a new language can be a lot of funâ€"you discover new cultures, new people, new movies and new books!It broadens your horizons and keeps your brain healthy.But sometimes you need a little push to keep on studying and learning, and what better way to do that than with inspiring quotes?There are plenty of quotes about language floating around the Internet. However, these quotes never talk about the down and dirty parts of language learning. Language learners don’t seem to generate these quotes. The quotes try to lift your spirits, but they rarely come with practical advice!Thats why I now present you with five quotes by two famous polyglot language learners. These will inspire you to keep going when you feel like you aren’t making progress, and they’ll give you some new ideas to try out, too! 5 Quotes about Language Learning to Motivate and Inspire YouQuote #1:No language is studied merely as an aid to other purposes. It will in fact better serve other purposes, philol ogical or historical, when it is studied for love, for itself.  â€" J.R.R. Tolkien, from “English Welsh,” a lecture given at Oxford in 1955J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, loved language for aesthetics and historical purposes.He was an avid learner of many, many languagesâ€"he had knowledge of Latin, Greek, Finnish and Medieval Welsh, among many others. Those certainly aren’t your everyday choices for language study! Despite those niche skills and preferences, he invented several fictional languages for his stories, including Quenya and Sindarin, and was an esteemed philologist, as well.Learning a host of ancient languages combined with Finnish allowed Tolkien to become rich and famous from The Lord of the Rings, but somehow, I don’t think he was betting on that from the beginning.Tolkien’s love for languages drove him firstâ€"the language’s use came after. This is a wonderful lesson to learn when many choose to learn languages for fashion able reasons or monetary gain.How can you apply it? Benefits of learning a particular language should be secondary, and even then those benefits might not always be readily apparent.Fads pass and economies change. If you love the language, that love will last longer than some goal that’s dependent on the outside world. For example, everyone wanted to learn Japanese in the ‘80s when its economy was booming like no other. Then they hit a recession. Better to have learned Japanese for the manga and anime!If you’re still deciding which language to pick up, apply Tolkien’s wisdom in your own life by choosing a language you genuinely like! Pick a heritage language, or the language of a culture that fascinated you as a kid. Maybe you even have that one language for which you have an irrational love. If those things match up with an economically advantageous language, then so be it, but it certainly shouldn’t be your first thought.Quote #2:The basic pleasure in the phonetic elemen ts of a language and in the style of their patterns, and then in the higher dimension, pleasure in the association of these word-forms with meanings, is of fundamental importance. This pleasure is quite distinct from the practical knowledge of a language, and not the same as an analytic understanding of its structure. It is simpler, deeperâ€"rooted, and yet more immediate than the enjoyment of literature.â€" J.R.R. Tolkien, “English Welsh,” Oxford, 1955Aesthetics of language is a subject not often talked about, but Tolkien thought about it all the time, especially when he was inventing his own languages. Tolkien valued aesthetics above the practical purposes of language, like chatting with native speakers or reading novels.How can you apply it?When you’re feeling burned out, take a step back and listen to the language for what it is. Relax and listen to talk radio or music in your target language without any expectations.Try TuneIn Radio to find international radio stations i f you dont live in a country that speaks your target language. You can even try shadowing, a learning technique championed by Dr. Alexander Argüelles (a polyglot himself), to better listen and absorb the sounds of your language. Shadowing involves listening to recorded audio in the language and saying the audio yourself almost simultaneously with the recording to help you produce the sounds and rhythms of a native speaker.Really admire the sounds and the rhythm! Your skill level doesn’t matter so much for thisâ€"you don’t need to understand everything to appreciate the aesthetics of a language.Quote #3:I only have one mother tongue: Hungarian. Russian, English, French, and German live inside me simultaneously with Hungarian. I can switch between any of these languages with great ease, from one word to the next. Translating texts in Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, and Polish generally requires me to spend about half a day brushing up on my language skills and perusing the m aterial to be translated. The other six languages I know only through translating literature and technical material.â€" Kató LombKató Lomb was a Hungarian translator, simultaneous interpreter and, clearly, an accomplished polyglot. She knew 16 languages, but she wasn’t shy about letting people know that she wasn’t some supernatural geniusâ€"she knew her languages at different levels. Some languages she could only read, and some got pretty rusty from disuse.Lomb accepted that language learning never stops and that one’s language level is always in flux.How can you apply it? Multilingual people rarely know all of their languages at the same level. Language learners often feel that at some point they will have “learned” the language and that they won’t have to study anymore. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Even very accomplished learners always upkeep the languages that are important to them. If they don’t, they know that the language will weaken.On the other hand, many learners also believe that polyglots speak their languages all at the same level. Polyglots often have to brush up underused languages, much like Lomb did. Some only have an intermediate knowledge of some languages, and some can only read in others. Languages are complicated, and they aren’t easy to measure!So, keep track of your languages! If you know you’re getting rusty, know that you can always brush up on a language.Quote #4:A book can be pocketed and discarded, scrawled and torn into pages, lost and bought again. It can be dragged out from a suitcase, opened in front of you when having a snack, revived at the moment of waking, and skimmed through once again before falling asleep. It needs no notice by phone if you cant attend the appointment fixed in the timetable. It wont get mad if awakened from its slumber during your sleepless nights. Its message can be swallowed whole or chewed into tiny pieces. [] You can get bored of itâ€"but it wont ever get bored of yo u.â€" Kató Lomb, Polyglot: How I Learn LanguagesLomb learned Russian through trashy romance novels, which she writes about in her book Polyglot: How I Learn Languages. Learning through novels was her favorite method. She would parse through them and decode them, using dictionaries only if she was dying to know what a word meant.How can I apply it?Read more novels!Native-level novels, no matter the reading level, are great for beginners and seasoned learners alike. The massive context allows you to pick up words even when you’re not intending to. The long descriptive passages provide plenty of less common vocabulary, and the dialogue gives you everyday phrases and common slang. Best of all, you can copy out words and sentences into your SRS to remember forever!Where can you find novels in your target language? Check out Project Gutenberg for books in the public domain (but be wary of older books in case of goofy, archaic vocabulary). The Amazon Kindle Store for your country might have  a selection of popular books from the bigger languages (for example, in the US store, I’ve found e-books in Spanish, French, German and Italian). Amazon third-party sellers are also a good betâ€"just search for author names or book titles in the target language. And, of course, a good used bookstore can have some great finds!Quote #5:Language is the only thing worth knowing even partly.â€" Kató Lomb, Polyglot: How I Learn LanguagesAs I mentioned earlier, Lomb had an incomplete knowledge of many of her languages, but she wasn’t afraid to use them, whether she was translating or simply talking to someone.How can you apply it?Many language learners have an all-or-nothing mentality. Theyll dramatically  think, “If I’m not fluent in a year, then all is lost!” I am personally prone to catastrophic thinking when I mess up grammar or can’t think of the word I wanted. After all, if I can’t do it perfectly, then I  must not know anything!This, of course, is wrong.This kin d of thought process only serves to discourage language learners and keep people away from learning a new language at all. Any level of language acquisition is worth far more than you think!Get back to the basics. Simple greetings and polite words go a long way when talking to someone in his or her language. No matter your level, pick up a high-quality phrasebook for your language (the ones from Lonely Planet  are like mini textbooks, and available for both major and less-popular languages!) and make sure you’re strong on the basics.Hopefully, you’re now super revved up to get back into learning your language.Remember that even the best, most illustrious polyglots experienced the same struggles as we do, but we can take their ideas and use them, maybe even better than they did themselves!After all, Sir Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.”

What Did Julia Louis-Dreyfus Say About Group Chemistry?

What Did Julia Louis-Dreyfus Say About Group Chemistry?If you've been wondering what that comment by Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the 'Seinfeld' episode was all about, you're not alone. Take a few moments to read the following article and then you'll know the answer. It's interesting to see how much behind-the-scenes gossip is told in those episodes and how they can provide some insight into the lives of the actors, especially when it comes to playing the roles.Julia, who played Elaine, was the daughter of a very successful plastic surgeon and mother of two children. While it's clear that her parents were great in their own right, the comic timing for her character's statement was another telling clue. At that time in the show's history, members of the cast had taken the advice of their parents and they'd kept up the same demeanor, so as not to make the cast look like they were cheating on their spouses.There's a great scene in the 'Seinfeld' episode where George's wife, 'Maude' (Amy Brenn eman) comes into the apartment while he's having an argument with his ex-wife, Elaine. They are arguing about where they should move next, and she offers him a hot cup of coffee that was prepared by his dad. In an instant, her presence as the mother of two kids created a whole new dynamic for the characters that made them much more likable.As an actor, one of the best lessons one can learn is how to play a part with respect to group chemistry. Just because the characters have similar interests doesn't mean they can't develop some other skills for themselves. This can be a real eye opener for those who've ever tried to play a part where they're supposed to have some uncanny gift for a specific skill, but just aren't very good at it. While many times, they do not become successful actors because they couldn't pull off the part, they may learn what can help them succeed even if they're not really gifted at acting.Also, those who don't stick with the act of acting sometimes feel they ar e stuck. If they don't get to act and perform their talents at any point, they'll start to see other things as being much more important. This is especially true when you're not happy about the way you look or how you may sound, but you are desperate to find someone who understands what you're trying to say.You may see some actors that you think could probably improve their acting abilities by simply watching how the cast of 'Seinfeld' acted. While you can't learn exactly what went on behind the scenes with the comedians in that episode, you can pick up a few tips and tricks by listening to the conversations. By using a little study of what's going on behind the scenes, you'll be able to direct your own performance and ultimately help improve your acting as well.When you're feeling down or you feel you're losing your head, take a minute to listen to the sound track of the show and identify the characters who seem to talk a lot. These are the people who may be having a difficult time at the moment but are passionate about what they are doing. They're able to express themselves clearly and from a level of wisdom that is beyond your normal ability. When you're in this place, you're just glad you were able to hear their side of the story.

What Is the Chemistry Jobs in Oregon Doing to Make Them So Popular?

What Is the Chemistry Jobs in Oregon Doing to Make Them So Popular?Do you think that the trend in finding chemistry jobs in Oregon is more about simply keeping up with the times or do you see it as a sign of the times and that there will be many more opportunities in the future for folks who are interested in careers in chemistry? When looking at the availability of these types of jobs, it's good to see the big picture. So how do you know if the job opportunities in Oregon will continue to grow and that it's time to move to the Pacific Northwest to enjoy the current boom?What's happening in Oregon right now is just one of many in this state. When you look around the world as a whole, the future for jobs in chemistry is very exciting. You're only limited by your imagination and your ability to keep up with the many types of opportunities out there. What's important is you have a passion for chemistry and that you like working with things and that you believe in the possibilities that exist.Just because jobs in Oregon might not be as plentiful as they were in the past doesn't mean they're all filled to capacity. In fact, the types of jobs available are becoming more varied in their demands. If you love to work with matter and substance, then there are plenty of opportunities available for you in Oregon.In fact, the types of jobs in Oregon that you might have been interested in are starting to change. For example, if you've always wanted to work with the elements of nature such as water, then you can enjoy working in a lab and studying the chemistry of water. On the other hand, if you like to design chemical solutions, then you might want to consider an industry where you help design products that are being used to make these solutions.Chemists are in demand and if you want to join one of these new jobs then you need to understand the kinds of skills you'll need to possess. You may have been interested in working with water, but you'll need to find out what other aspects of chemistry you'll be able to master before you consider applying for a position with the labs that are popping up all over the state. When you consider the type of lab jobs available, then you can get a feel for the kind of work you can expect to do and what it's going to take to be successful.The opportunities in Oregon are continuing to expand. What you need to realize is that there are many jobs available in chemistry that will allow you to be part of a company and a community that are dedicated to learning about the world around us. It's a wonderful experience and one that you won't want to miss.The employment outlook for jobs in Oregon is very promising, so when you're considering this as a career, you need to understand that there are great opportunities in many industries and that you can't live without a science degree. These days, you might have many more opportunities than you expected.

Thanksgiving Crafts That Teach Students Gratitude

Thanksgiving Crafts That Teach Students Gratitude Thanksgiving is an ideal time to introduce children to the concept of cultivating gratitude. For younger students, this may be the first time they have considered that not everyone has the comforts and opportunities that they do. For all students, instilling the habit of practicing gratitude has been shown to increase empathy and improve physical and psychological health and resilience. Thanksgiving crafts that teach students gratitude can include a gratitude journal, a thankful wreath, or a tree of thanks. When getting into the spirit of the season, consider crafts like these to incorporate gratitude into your holiday, while also continuing to practice those creative skills. Keep reading to learn about thanksgiving crafts that teach students gratitude: Thanksgiving craft group #1: Gratitude calendar, journal, or photograph challenge For a month-long or extended focus on gratitude, consider creating a Thanksgiving calendar or journal, or weigh joining a gratitude photograph challenge. These activities result in hand-crafted projects, with the added benefit of a daily practice over the course of a month. For the calendar, a poster board serves as the backdrop for 30 paper pockets, each labeled with the date. Every day, students can insert a slip of paper into the pocket that states what they are thankful for that day. Alternately, using cardstock or construction paper, create gratitude journals with your child. Sit down together in the mornings or at the end of each day to fill a page with thanks for something in your lives. A gratitude photography challenge lets your student experiment with technology by taking a picture each day of something he or she is grateful for. At the end of the challenge, students can create a collage or a slideshow to share at Thanksgiving dinner. [RELATED: 3 Ways Students Can Benefit From Journaling] Thanksgiving craft group #2: Thankful handbook, tablecloth, or wreath These activities are prepared in advance, and children can ask for input from friends and family on Thanksgiving day. Students can trace the outline of one hand on craft or construction paper, and then compile and decorate a small journal of hand-shaped pages that visitors can fill in. If your child enjoys writing, he or she can transcribe what family members say they are thankful for; otherwise, participants can fill in the pages themselves. A thankful wreath uses: A circular wire frame Clothespins Paint or markers A Sharpie. Students can paint the clothespins ahead of time, pin them to the frame, and then ask guests to contribute by writing something they are thankful for on a painted clothespin. Last, consider buying an inexpensive cotton tablecloth for your child to decorate, and then ask guests to write their gratitude on their section of the tablecloth sometime during dinner. [RELATED: 4 Educational Family Field Trips] Thanksgiving craft group #3: Garland, paper quilt, or tree of thanks A final suggestion is the type of craft you can reuse for decor every year. Students can create a garland with: Individual hanging leaves A tree with bare branches that can be filled in with leaves or handprints A paper quilt from alternating squares of plain and decorative paper on a canvas or wooden board. Then, draw a picture or write a small sentence about what you are grateful for on individual flags, leaves, or paper squares, and display it during the holiday. Families can add to these each year with new experiences and new thanks. [RELATED: Holiday Gift Ideas for the Student in Your Life] Whether you choose a long project, a way to include family and friends, or something youll revisit each holiday season, taking the time to sit down together and reflect on your lives can inspire gratitude. This is a meaningful way to cultivate a habit of giving thanks this holiday season and beyond. 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.

SAT Teachers Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace

SAT Teachers Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace SAT is one of the widely popular tests taken usually by high school sophomores, juniors and seniors to get into colleges and universities after high school in the United States. SAT is taken by students not only residing in the United States but also residing in other countries. The test dates for SAT are issued for a particular academic year considering both national and international students. To take the test, the fastest method is to register online on the official website of the College Board by following simple instructions. Students can choose their appropriate test date and test location according to their convenience and can pay for the test fee online through a valid card. Due to the high standard of the exam and constant demand for good practice, there has always been a requirement for SAT teachers. However it is important for the student to first start giving a fixed particular time daily for SAT practice and then try to learn and improve their conceptual knowledge. Teachers specialized for SAT also can help students in achieving their dream score as they can walk through the students through various important and tricky sections according to the level of the student. Understanding the basic concepts involved in each subject and also answering questions in the given limited time frame is the most important point for the students, and learning the method from the teachers familiar with the format of the test is a good start to remove doubts and weak points in a particular subject.

What to Do After a Bad Grade

What to Do After a Bad Grade Getting a bad grade can immediately induce panic and stress. After receiving a lower-than-expected grade, though, its key to take a step back to analyze the situation and strategize how to move forward. After a bad grade, meet with your teacher to discuss it further, review your mistakes, and make an action plan. If youre looking to improve in a particular class, keep reading to learn what to do after a bad grade. Meet with your teacher or professor after earning a bad grade As soon as you can, schedule a meeting with your teacher or professor during office hours, your lunch period, or after school. Your teacher or professor has your best interests in mind, so theyll be happy to clarify your grade and help you understand the rationale behind it. During this meeting, bring specific questions that you have about your grade. Ask your teacher or professor questions like: What can I take away from this specific assignment that will help me on future assignments? Are there any practical tips or steps that you recommend? Your teacher can often point you to strategies and resources that you might not know about. Additionally, they can help you understand this bad grade within the overall scope of the course (i.e. how this might affect your final grade). [RELATED: How High School and College Students Can Setand AchieveAcademic Goals] Review answers/areas of weakness after receiving a bad grade Once youve met with your professor or teacher, review the assignment and identify specific areas of weakness. Note exactly where you went wrong on this particular assignment, and pinpoint concepts you may need a deeper focus on moving forward. If you got a bad grade on a math assignment, have your teacher help you work through specific problems step-by-step so you can gain a firm understanding of how to solve the problem. If you struggled with an essay assignment, inquire with your teacher about how you can better hone your writing and strengthen your assignments in the future. Depending on class policy, your professor might offer opportunities for retakes or rewrites. While you can ask your teacher if these options are available, its important to note that not all classes allow this and to focus on ways to improve your grade in the future. [RELATED: Time Management Tips for Students] Create an action plan after a bad grade Once youve identified areas of improvement, its time to create an action plan to continually improve your grades. To do this, its important to designate times in your schedule for this subject. What time during your week can you dedicate to this subject or a particular upcoming assignment? What kind of support do you think would be helpful for getting you to the next level? Identify resourcesboth inside and outside of your schoolthat can help you focus your studies. These support services could include a math or writing center, specific teachers, and peer study groups. It also might be useful to visit your guidance counselor or advisor to see if they have any tips as you move forward. [RELATED: How to Make a Smart Study Routine] In times like these, your peers and classmates are often excellent sources of support. Do you have any older friends whove gone through this particular class that you can chat with and ask for advice? Establishing a support system will help you turn this bad grade into a positive learning experience. 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.

Should I Go To University of California, Davis

Should I Go To University of California, Davis The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Jason is a San Francisco tutor specializing in Essay Editing tutoring, Latin tutoring, AP English tutoring, and more. He is a graduate of University of California, Davis with a Bachelors degree in Comparative Literature and Russian. See what he had to say about his school: 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? Jason:UC Davis campus is very nice. Some of the architecture is bland, a function of when the campus went through periods of expansion. But the quad is a great place to lie in the sun; there are grassy areas and benches all over campus to sit outside and study or hang out, and the overall environment is friendly, academically-minded, and very college, so to speak. The library is first-rate, with millions of volumes and plenty of study space. The student facilities are also excellent, and there is no shortage of ways to stay in shape, to meet up with friends, and to study. I have experience on other college campuses, and Davis is especially nice and easy. The campus abuts downtown Davis, which is a cute, safe college town with lots of shops, casual eateries, and movie options. Other parts of Davis also offer dining and entertainment options, such as a great brewery, batting cages, bike paths and parks, and a variety of restaurants that make for good date-spots. The city of Davis is a college town surrounded by rural and agricultural areas. If you want a more city evening, Sacramento is only 20 minutes to the east, and San Francisco is about a 90-minute drive to the west. UC Davis and the city of Davis are about as bike-friendly as it gets. The landscape is basically flat, the streets are wide, and the motorists know that there are bikes all around, so they are considerate and careful. In addition, student fees also make it free to ride the local bus network (which is actually run by the Student Association). Getting around campus is a breeze, although the campus is quite big, and sometimes you have to cover a large distance (relatively speaking) between classes. This, however, is solved by the bicycle. The only thing is that, when it rains, youre either walking or getting that mud stripe up your back from the bike tire. But most classes, honestly, are in central campus, which can be comfortably crossed on foot in about 10 minutes. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Jason:My experience with the faculty, staff, and teaching assistants (TAs) was great. I was often visiting office hours, which professors and TAs kept reliably, and I got a lot more out of my education because I made this extra effort. Its really the only way to get a great letter of recommendation coming out of college. My professors were always quick to reply to emails, and they were always available to get a coffee and discuss class stuff. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Jason:I lived in Tercero, which is one of the housing areas. The DC (dining commons) was the best on campus, and students came from all the other living areas to eat at our DC. The food was fine. Its not Paris, but what college campus is? The DC would often do gourmet nights, though, where they let the cooks present special meals, such as gorgonzola walnut pasta, or Asian specialties. The salad bar was solid, and the grill was reliable. The living quarters were functional, but not luxurious. Unless things have changed, your dorm will not be especially posh, but I also cant recall ever thinking that things were bad. Its a dorm. How nice does it have to be? I had internet, air conditioning, furniture, and friends. I was a 15-minute walk to my classes, or a five-minute bike ride. Seems fine to me. The best part was all the social events my dorm put on. We would watch football games and the Oscars in the common area, we did movie nights, and even held a formal dance. Everyone in my dorm building was pretty close, too. We were often on intramural teams together for all the sports and did a lot of socializing in town. The university does a good job of giving students lots of socializing options: there are tons of clubs and the intramural (IM) program is one of the most robust in the country. 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? Jason:I would say that the hard sciences are the most represented and get the most funding at Davis. Most of my friends were computer science or biological systems engineers, but I was a comparative literature major with a focus on Russian and Classics. The Classics program was small but strong, and my preparation helped me considerably in graduate school. The Russian program was even smaller, but the professors I had were invested in me and very helpful. In general, the comparative literature program was more focused on Spanish and French, and so most of my fellow majors were in those classes. I took a lot of French classes, too, and they were excellent. I got great training from excellent scholars who made sure we had the help we needed. 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? Jason:I didnt participate in Greek life, so I cant really say how central it was to the campus social scene, but I know there were fraternities. As it worked out, I made my best friends on day one in my dorm, and we hung out pretty much everyday after that. I also made friends in my classes and would play basketball, go out, or hang out with people I met that way. The campus would show great movies in one of the lecture halls, there was a pub on campus, and other activities to keep people from disappearing into their studies. Again, the IM leagues were also a great way to meet people. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Jason:Because I was both graduate school bound and had a major that isnt really recruited into big companies, I dont know how this all worked and I didnt use the Career Center much. They helped me a bit with my graduate school entrance essays (letter of intent and resume), but it was not career-focused because those were not my needs. I do know that all my friends got good paying jobs at major companies during their senior years and graduated into good positions at places like Genentech, HP, Yahoo, and other start-ups and biotech firms. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Jason:Both because Davis students are committed to their work and because the campus is pretty big, there is no shortage of places to study and work. The Memorial Union has tons of tables, benches, and places to study while maintaining access to coffee; the library has great reading rooms, study areas, and computer labs; the campus is covered with benches and picnic tables to study outside. The dorm lounge was plenty big, but it was really a place to socialize, so not that much studying went on there. People were more likely to study in their dorm rooms. There are also many cafes in town that serve as great places to study. 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? Jason:Davis is not a metropolis, but because of the university, its a cosmopolitan and diverse place. There are lots of ethnic restaurants, shops, bars, pizza places, and other casual dining options. If you want to go to a Hollywood-style club, you probably wont get that in Davis, but I was never bored. When I was jonesing for real culture, Id just go into San Francisco. It wasnt far away, and I had a car. On weekend nights, especially, downtown is bustling, and so is campus. They are right next to each other, so the activity kind of spills from one to the next. Its a safe and charming community, but not at all a clubby type place. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Jason:I had an unusual experience. Most of my classes were around eight students, but this is because I was studying unpopular subjects (Greek, Latin, Russian). Most classes were larger, but even my literature classes were only around 20. There are plenty of ginormous lectures, with hundreds of people, but thats what lab and discussion sections are for: youll get your contact with instructors if you want it. For me, a big campus and student body was great. If you want a 12:1 student-faculty ratio, why are you considering a UC at all? These are big schools with lots of students, but with that size comes resources (library, concerts, athletic facilities, etc.) that youre not likely to get at the smaller liberal arts schools. You need to decide what you want your college experience to be. If you want small classes and you want to study chemistry, a UC is probably not a good option for you. It was a great option for me and my friends, and I have never regretted putting UC Davis on my res ume. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Jason: My favorite professor at Davis was David Traill, a Greek professor, and I was a research assistant to him for a year. I helped him transcribe the diary of an important archeologist for a book he was working on. I really enjoyed being given real responsibility and taking part in his research. He trusted me, but more than that, he mentored me. He helped me become a better researcher, a more careful reader, and he made sure to get to know me. He wrote me great letters of recommendation for graduate school, and he floated my name to other faculty who needed help with their research and classes. Even though I was at a big university, Traill made it feel like a small college where professors went out of their way to mentor us and help us grow. I also loved my Introduction to Winemaking class! Check out Jasons tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.