What Makes a Chemistry Internship the Best Opportunity?

What Makes a Chemistry Internship the Best Opportunity?What makes a chemistry internship the best opportunity for anyone to gain experience in an area they are interested in? Chemistry summer internship programs offer your the chance to join a large network of people who share a passion for chemistry and enjoy being a part of an advanced class.Chemistry can be fun and exciting, especially if you choose to pursue it as a career. However, it is not without its pitfalls, and those with some previous chemistry knowledge should not consider it a shortcut to a fast track to an exclusive club. Chemistry summer internships provide the opportunity to gain a great deal of practical experience in a very accessible manner.A chemistry internship is the best opportunity for someone who is looking to put their science-in-a-frame to work. It can be a great stepping stone into a new field, or even a stepping stone to a science job in the future. In many cases, this type of internship allows students to see how they will fit into the working world of a university-based chemistry lab.For those who seek a job at a company with a place for them to fit in on the team, becoming a chemist could be the right option for you. If you are interested in taking the next step to a more active science career, why not consider taking a chemistry internship?Chemical scientists need to be able to perform the scientific tasks necessary to create chemical compounds, and they need to be able to communicate their findings to other people. The more knowledge that you have in chemistry, the more benefits you will get from working with other professionals and managing a lab environment. Being able to conduct research and analysis has many advantages, and many different types of universities and laboratories offer summer internships for this very reason.At most universities, there is a particular type of chemistry graduate that is expected to stay on campus and start a laboratory in the summer after grad uation. For those who wish to make a career in this field, a chemistry internship can help. During your summer internships, you will find out what it is like to work in a lab environment, meet other chemistry majors and stay ahead of the curve. The more experienced you become, the more you will have to contribute to the school's efforts.An internship provides the perfect opportunity for anyone to make new friends and begin to expand their skill sets. A science professor who enjoys helping students through the process can offer an important mentor during your summer.

The Career Advice No One Ever Gives You

The Career Advice No One Ever Gives You Photo Via: http://www.timothylutts.com Look no further. If you want to get ahead at work and ensure you’ll become an asset to the company you work for, it takes effort. So to help you out, here is the career advice that no one ever gives you. 1. Attitude is everything. Photo Via: http://www.commdiginews.com Whether you’ve learned this or not, the way you present yourself at work (and in your personal life) influences how people perceive you. Having a positive attitude and hanging around with positive people will go a long way, especially in the eyes of your boss and coworkers. I know we’ve all heard about picking friends carefully, but in the workforce, it carries much more weight than you think. So keep your attitude in check, and that means in your personal life as well. 2. Mentors can make or break a career. Photo Via: https://usfconnect.files.wordpress.com Typically, when you start a new job, you find a mentor, or someone higher up in the company than you are to learn from and help you advance. No one ever tells you this, but picking a mentor is something that’s ultimately up to you, and that choice matters. Just because someone is assigned to help you doesn’t mean they need to be your mentor. You can look up to anyone in the company and develop a professional relationship with them as well. Picking the right mentor isn’t only important for helping you better yourself in your given field, but also for helping you advance in that field. Whether you use them for recommendations, advice or just as a role model, a mentor is one of the most important people in your professional career, so choose wisely. 3. You need to be present. Photo Via: http://knote.com It’s common sense that spending your workday on Facebook, or taking selfies with Picpal isn’t exactly productive, and it certainly isn’t going to get you a promotion. But many people don’t know that physically leaving your office and communicating in person with your boss/coworkers is one of the most important things you can do during the day. Of course, this doesn’t mean leave your work behind in the office to rendezvous at the water cooler, but rather that face time with your employer can show your engagement with the job (and office) as well as display your hard-working attitude and communication skills. If you have a question, don’t just send out an email every time. Go physically ask your boss and have a conversation about it. This is one of the easiest ways to avoid mistakes and to show that you care. 4. You arent permanent. Photo Via: http://racetalkblog.com Despite what many think, getting a job does not mean you’re there until you quit. This is where the advice you actually do get comes in handy: do what you want to be doing. Because if you aren’t, your employer will notice. So while it’s easy to take a job for some extra cash and go through the motions everyday, at some point, your boss is going to notice you aren’t progressing and he/she will replace you with someone that will. You always need to be improving, you need to be actively working and you need to care about what you do, or none of the above tasks are going to be possible. Faking it until you make it may work from time to time, but in the business world, you’re expendable, so you definitely need to act like it. 5. Looks arent everything, but they matter. Photo Via: http://sunshinesigningconnection.com And finally, no one ever tells you how important your looks are in the business world. And I know we’re told to dress nice for work and such, but that’s not all that you have to do. How clean you are is indicative of how much you care about yourself, which translates to how much you’ll care about your life, job, etc. So while wearing slacks and a button up shirt may seem like enough, it isn’t. Your hair/face need to be washed daily, you shouldn’t look like you just crawled out of bed a few minutes ago and you certainly shouldn’t ever looked stressed out or tired. Yes, this seems like too much attention to detail, but I assure you, it isn’t. There’s a reason you look your best when you go to a job interview, and it’s the same reason that you look your best when you go to work for the day. Looks matter in the business world, even if they shouldn’t. So there you have it: the career advice no one ever gives you. So take advantage of this advice and apply it to your future career choices or your current ones. While they may not make detrimental differences in your professional life, your employer will take notice, and it just might set you ahead of somebody else when it comes time for that promotion.

Why Studying History is Important (and Why Its Fun)

Why Studying History is Important (and Why It's Fun) Chances are you’ve had to take at least one history class before, and your thoughts at the end might have gone something like “this is boring - when am I ever going to need to know when the Battle of Hastings happened?” (1066, by the way). The history we are taught in our classrooms can feel like an endless barrage of names and dates, battles and wars, historical figures and political leaders. Who cares? What you’re learning isn’t history. Sure, those things happened, and yes they’re important, but history is so much more than just an event and a date, and maybe a war here and there. History shows us why things happen and how things happen; how we go from knights and castles to tanks and bunkers; how empires are built and how they are town down; how states are founded and how they fall. History is a story: history is the story of conquest and of conquerors, of empires and emperors, of exploration and adventure, of love and betrayal, of trust and deception. History fills our human need for tales about ourselves and about the things that we have done. History is every bit as fantastic and as exciting as a novel. You need look no further than the Russian Tsars, the Egyptian Pharaohs, or the French Revolutionaries to see that history is a thrilling tale. What does that make history then? History is, in short, the study of change, and this makes it one of the most useful of disciplines. The world is driven by change, which is continuously shaping our lives in ways that we don’t even realize. Change affects us from the highest levels of governments and countries down to the most trivial details. Studying history is the key to understanding how these forces shape our lives today - the past is the key to the present. History provides context for everything that we see around us today, and the key to understanding the world we find ourselves in now is to look at how it came to be. Here are ten reasons why history is crucial to our education.1. History he lps us understand other cultures. Why are other cultures different from ours? Why is it that some cultures are antagonistic with each other, while others coexist in harmony? Why are there different customs, different traditions, and different religions from culture to culture? The answer to all of these questions lies in history. Without history, it is impossible to understand how cultures come to be. As the study of change, history identifies the driving forces behind cultures. A culture’s history is integral to the shared identities of its members, and you can’t see the full picture of a culture without understanding the history behind it.2. History helps us understand our own society. Similarly to how we can understand others through the study of history, we can also come to understand ourselves. Why do we do things the way we do? How did these social structures and traditions come to be? Looking at history in this light illuminates the forces acting on our own society throug h history and into the present. The student of history draws on politics, sociology, economics, and anthropology, all of which feed into the history of individuals and societies. In order to successfully navigate our society in the present day, it is essential to know what came before, the driving forces of change that shape our lives, and the individuals of the past who shaped our society.3. History helps us understand our own identities. History isn’t just a collection of famous names and events woven into a story that takes place in the past. History is the story of the past, and of everybody in it. Every individual had a place in shaping the historical narrative we know today, and every individual today has a place in molding the history that unfolds today. In order to understand our place within society, within our culture, and even within our own family, it is essential to realize that our present is the product of what came before, and the past provides a context for everyt hing we do as an individual. Knowing where you fit into history gives you a context for yourself, your culture, and your world today. History gives you an understanding of your own identity.4. History builds citizenship. Why are we good citizens? Because we have an understanding of a shared past and a communal identity, and we get this shared experience through our common knowledge of our history. Learning about how we came to be as a community informs how we see ourselves as a group in the present day, and we do this through knowing our history. Knowing how our shared experience came to be and what has defined us in the past gives us a reason to work towards a better society today. This is why American history is taught in school: it tells us why we are American, how we got to be American, and what it means to be an American today.5. History gives us insight into present-day problems. Without understand the root of a problem, there is no hope of solving it. This is what history doe s: it identifies the driving forces of society, of government, of individuals, of change, and it traces these features of the past to contemporary features of the world. We can’t confront international crises without one of the most basic tools in our belt, namely understanding how the crisis arose and what forces shape them. Conflict cannot be resolved without comprehending the historical roots of a situation. If we want to stand any chance of confronting the pressing issues of our world, we need to start at the root of the problem: we need to know history.6. History builds reading and writing skills. In many ways, history is as good as an English class at developing reading and writing skills because it employs many of the same techniques, as well as adding several other elements. Studying history involves reading different sources - be they documents, letters, or even novels - and pulling out themes and patterns, motifs and details, and making sense of what these features tell us about the past. This is similar to the task of the English student, but even more, history adds layers of politics and social change that inform the modern world. Writing is the vessel to communicate the exciting discoveries and keen observations of the history student, and as such history teaches us to read thoroughly and write well.7. History builds interpretation and analysis skills. History is based on the records left behind in past decades and centuries, so the study of history is inherently an act of analysis and interpretation. Similarly to how one reads classic literature in order to understand something about the author and society from which it originates, one looks at historical documents and letters, and indeed novels and art, to understand the time period that created them. This gives the history student several skills that carry over into every walk of life and are among the most useful tools to carry into the world. We learn how to compare conflicting interpretati ons and identify biases. We learn how to see an issue from multiple perspectives. We learn how to assess evidence and determine its value. A good understanding of history will leave any student with this indispensable inventory of skills that can carry anybody far in life.8. History helps us understand change. History is the study of change. The world around us is in a constant state of change, and understanding the role of change in society plays a pivotal role in being able to interpret the world that we see now. Without understanding why things used to be different and how they interacted to shape one another, it is impossible to get a complete picture of the here and now. History will give us a firm grasp on why things change, the mechanisms that drive change, the significance of some features of change to others, and the different magnitudes of change. Conversely, by giving us an understanding of change, history also helps us comprehend stability and the continuities that exist from past to present and from society to society. In short, history is a tool to understand the world.9. History allows us to learn from the past. “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.” This oft-quoted saying tells a great truth: history has patterns. One of the continuities in history is the mistakes that are made century after century as people live in pursuit of the same self-interested motives. Wars are fought for the same reasons. Regimes topple through the same shortcomings. Riots and revolts accompany the same abuses. Men and women take stands against the same oppression time and time again. This is why history is essential to the repertoire of the politician and the ruler, because understanding the failures of the past puts us one step closer to addressing the shortcomings of the present.10. History is the greatest of stories. History has so many practical uses that it’s easy to forget that history is also a story, a thrilling adventure that takes p lace across the world and through the ages. This story encompasses the great empires of China, Rome, and Britain, the conquests of Alexander the Great and Napoleon, the explorations of Marco Polo, and the defeat of the Spanish Armada. It’s a story of romance in the royal courts of Europe, of honor in the Japanese samurai, and of spycraft in the American Revolution. There is the devastation and tragedy of two World Wars, the rise and fall of dictators and oppressors, and the fight for rights and liberties in a world of abuses. History is a tale that spans the entire human experience, and it is a tale in which we all have a part to play.

Instructor Spotlight Sherman Liu

Instructor Spotlight Sherman Liu Instructor Spotlight: Sherman Liu Meet Sherman and Margaret Liu. They are the proud owners of Kumon of Nutley (New Jersey). The minute that I walked into their Center, I immediately felt their dedication to not only their students, but also their community. Their Kumon Center isn’t just a business to them. It’s like an extension of their family. “Margaret and I are both 200% hands-on,” said Sherman. “It’s our personal business and we care so much. We want to ensure quality. It’s not just about pushing paper.” Sherman and Margaret were first introduced to Kumon when they saw their two young nieces doing worksheets at their kitchen counter more than 20 years ago. They were amazed at how they could do different operations of fractions at such a young age with the speed and accuracy of adults! That day, they decided that their son would also do Kumon when he reached the appropriate age. Three years later, they enrolled their four-year-old son at Kumon of Nutley. “We received a first-hand look at the Kumon philosophy when we saw how much our son benefited from the Kumon Method and the daily practice,” said Sherman. “The perseverance helped build our son’s study skills, work ethic, and confidence.” A few years down the road, the Instructor of Kumon of Nutley was looking for a Kumon family to take over the center. Sherman knew that he wanted to become a Kumon Instructor and help more families and students benefit from the program, but he wasn’t quite ready to leave his job as a lead network systems engineer at a major telecommunications company. Sherman’s brother-in-law decided to take over the Center as the Instructor and Margaret worked closely with him on the daily operations. Sherman helped out at the Center after work for four years and then officially took over the Center from his brother-in-law in 2014. Sherman’s 19 years with Kumonâ€"first as a Kumon Parent for nine years, then working in his brother-in-law’s Center for four years and now as a Kumon Instructor for five yearsâ€"gives him a unique perspective! He shares his experience with us below. What is it about being an Instructor that you enjoy the most? I have to say that the process of helping a student learn, improve and achieve! The transformation of a student into a confident, cheerful learner gives me so much joy and satisfaction. What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as a Kumon Instructor? I think it’s the awareness that we as Instructors are in a position to change a student’s future, a family’s hope in their children and the future of our society. What achievements are you most proud of? Sometimes the smallest efforts can achieve the greatest results. Helping a student change his/her attitude towards learning, helping parents understand the importance of having a strong and solid foundation, and seeing the results of the joint effort and hard work. You might also be interested in: Instructor Spotlight: Aoi Fujiyama Kumon Instructors: Small Business Owners, Franchisees, Educators Instructor Spotlight: Alex Tang Instructor Spotlight: Jennifer Ju Instructor Spotlight Sherman Liu Instructor Spotlight: Sherman Liu Meet Sherman and Margaret Liu. They are the proud owners of Kumon of Nutley (New Jersey). The minute that I walked into their Center, I immediately felt their dedication to not only their students, but also their community. Their Kumon Center isn’t just a business to them. It’s like an extension of their family. “Margaret and I are both 200% hands-on,” said Sherman. “It’s our personal business and we care so much. We want to ensure quality. It’s not just about pushing paper.” Sherman and Margaret were first introduced to Kumon when they saw their two young nieces doing worksheets at their kitchen counter more than 20 years ago. They were amazed at how they could do different operations of fractions at such a young age with the speed and accuracy of adults! That day, they decided that their son would also do Kumon when he reached the appropriate age. Three years later, they enrolled their four-year-old son at Kumon of Nutley. “We received a first-hand look at the Kumon philosophy when we saw how much our son benefited from the Kumon Method and the daily practice,” said Sherman. “The perseverance helped build our son’s study skills, work ethic, and confidence.” A few years down the road, the Instructor of Kumon of Nutley was looking for a Kumon family to take over the center. Sherman knew that he wanted to become a Kumon Instructor and help more families and students benefit from the program, but he wasn’t quite ready to leave his job as a lead network systems engineer at a major telecommunications company. Sherman’s brother-in-law decided to take over the Center as the Instructor and Margaret worked closely with him on the daily operations. Sherman helped out at the Center after work for four years and then officially took over the Center from his brother-in-law in 2014. Sherman’s 19 years with Kumonâ€"first as a Kumon Parent for nine years, then working in his brother-in-law’s Center for four years and now as a Kumon Instructor for five yearsâ€"gives him a unique perspective! He shares his experience with us below. What is it about being an Instructor that you enjoy the most? I have to say that the process of helping a student learn, improve and achieve! The transformation of a student into a confident, cheerful learner gives me so much joy and satisfaction. What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as a Kumon Instructor? I think it’s the awareness that we as Instructors are in a position to change a student’s future, a family’s hope in their children and the future of our society. What achievements are you most proud of? Sometimes the smallest efforts can achieve the greatest results. Helping a student change his/her attitude towards learning, helping parents understand the importance of having a strong and solid foundation, and seeing the results of the joint effort and hard work. You might also be interested in: Instructor Spotlight: Aoi Fujiyama Kumon Instructors: Small Business Owners, Franchisees, Educators Instructor Spotlight: Alex Tang Instructor Spotlight: Jennifer Ju

College Application Essay - Free Help? Or How To Get Past The First Section of Your College Application?

College Application Essay - Free Help? Or How To Get Past The First Section of Your College Application?Can a college application tutor really help? For most students, it's too difficult to get past the first section of an application without help. But is that help necessary? Or, is there a simpler way to get through the application process without asking for extra help?The answer to both questions is yes. There are many college application essay tutors who offer their services free of charge. You can always find a free or low cost essay book on the Internet. Or, you can ask a friend or colleague to help you write your essay and then you can pay for that service.One thing to be careful about when you decide to use a college application essay tutor is that they might offer their services for the wrong reason. Sometimes, this is where they come in handy. So make sure that you ask them for a formal academic degree before you use their services.Another common mistake is that you might hi re someone who charges more than you would have had you written your own essay. Remember, the essay tutor you're using should be able to write the essay for you, not someone else. It's really hard to research on your own, so let a professional writer to help you out with this process.A good college application essay tutor doesn't mean that they can only help you with grammar rules. They will help you formulate questions and write a powerful essay that shows you are a smart student.Make sure you ask the essay tutor for some type of sample essays that they have used before. If they don't have any experience in writing them, this is a red flag. If they offer to send you a sample and you look at it, don't take their word for it. essay This is because your professor may write it first or the college admissions officer might want to see an essay first. There is no reason to trust that someone you just met or an acquaintance that has never worked for you before can write your essay. By usi ng a professional essay writer, you'll save yourself time and money, which you'll probably be spending on college application essay writing.

Is Nuclear Radiation Chemistry As Easy As You Think?

Is Nuclear Radiation Chemistry As Easy As You Think?If you are researching the effects of radiation on human health and want to become a radiation chemist, you will quickly find that there is a wealth of information available online. While there are hundreds of websites devoted to this field, what you find most frequently is information. This is great news for you, but beware: some of what you read may be misleading or just downright wrong.First, you need to understand that it's quite common for individuals to think that the 'dangerous isotopes' of radon gas are the actual ones that are responsible for cancer. The problem is that people don't know anything about this. It's true that some forms of radon gas are formed from radioactive decay of other radionuclides, but the concentration is so low that even then there's no guarantee that you'll actually contract cancer.In fact, there are many types of isotopes and a lot of differences between them. As a general rule, radon isotopes are often used in decontamination activities. When the liquid mix is first poured into the treatment tanks, the liquid is dissolved in it by the process of sublimation. The liquid passes through many layers of plates and even layers of filters before it reaches the main treatment tanks.In some cases, the liquid is extracted by the decontamination process into streams or solid sludge which are placed on the ground. The liquid is then sent through a series of additional filters which reduce the concentration of the radionuclide.The problem here is that this process is too cumbersome, and there is not enough funding to carry out all the various processes. In addition, some isotopes are more effective than others at reducing the concentration of the radionuclide. So, while decontamination could be beneficial, the major benefit comes from the reduction of exposure levels.So, you need to realize that nuclear radiation chemistry isn't quite as simple as it may appear. There is a big difference between the results of isotope removal and this kind of radiation research, as you can probably tell from the variety of disinformation which you will find online.So, be sure to do your research before deciding to move forward. It's certainly possible to make a substantial income from doing nuclear radiation chemistry, but it's a very specialized field and any knowledge that you acquire won't be widely available online.

A Day in the Life at University of California, Davis

A Day in the Life at University of California, Davis The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Kandace is a San Francisco tutor specializing in ACT prep tutoring, Literature tutoring, Writing tutoring, and many other areas. She earned Bachelors degrees in both English Literature and Psychology in 2013 from University of California, Davis. See what she had to say about University of California, Davis: 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? Kandace: University of California, Davis has a student population of about 34,000, and the population of the city is roughly 65,000. Since half of the towns population is comprised of students, the town takes special care to cater to them. The campus and the town are incredibly safe. I never felt threatened, even when alone late at night. Bike theft is one of the most common crimes at the university (locks and bike chains are a must!). University of California, Davis prides itself on being a bike-friendly town. The streets are wide, the speed limits are low, the town is small, and there are no hills (just slight inclines). With that said, the campus is large. Many students ride bikes from class to class, especially if they have short breaks between classes. However, I found that once you start taking major-specific classes, the classrooms will usually be close together. The buses run on time and cover the whole city. You can ride the bus for free with a valid student ID. There is als o a taxi service that runs from 10:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. It will pick you up from a specific place and take you to a specific destination. Student safety is a high priority. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Kandace: All professors and teaching assistants hold regular office hours, usually multiple times per week. Most professors are willing to schedule appointments if a student is unable to attend their office hours. Academic advisers are slightly harder to meet with, depending on the size of the major and the time of year. I suggest making an appointment. Before meeting with your academic adviser, look at all your general education and major requirements, as well as your unofficial transcript. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Kandace: I lived in the Tercero dorms, which were newly built. They were clean and housed two students comfortably. Tip: loft your bed and use the space underneath for storage. The different dorm sections (Segundo, Tercero, and Cuarto) are in no way centrally located on the campus. If you have a bike, this is not a problem. The dining halls provide a wide variety of meal optionsincluding vegan- and vegetarian-friendly! Every dorm section has its own dining hall. My dorm had a lounge with a television, as well as a designated study area. I was shy my freshman year, but I still found it easy to meet people. It is important to remember that everyone is out of their comfort zone when they move away to college. Some people might have friends from high school, but for the most part, everyone is eager to make new friends. 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? Kandace: I studied English Literature and Psychology. I studied Psychology simply because I am fascinated by the subject matter. I studied English Literature because I could spend every day of my life reading and writing, and I would be perfectly happy. I want to take this opportunity to mention that at University of California, Davis, it is easy to double major with hard work and strong organizational skills. The university practices the quarter system, and classes are easy to get into. The general education requirements are not overbearing. The English Literature program is much smaller than the Psychology program, so it is slightly easier to get advising appointments. As I said earlier, professors and teaching assistants are easy to reach out to. I always felt supported. 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? Kandace: It is not hard to meet people at University of California, Davis. There are plenty of activities that provide a way to meet people with common interests. There are also club and intramural sports teams. I joined the rugby team freshman year (having never played it), and I met some wonderful people, including my roommate for two years. Greek life plays a moderate role in the campus social life. I had no interest in joining a sorority, but if it interests you, it is available. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Kandace: The Internship and Career Center does active on-campus recruiting. It is easy to access its services, and to my knowledge you can utilize it for a year after you graduate. Many professors do research on campus, and it is relatively easy to find an internship in an on-campus lab. I did an internship in a social psychology lab for a year. Basically, if you send enough emails, you can get an internship. There are also internship and career fairs in the fall, winter, and spring. They provide a good opportunity to talk directly to employers. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Kandace: There are plenty of places to study at University of California, Davis. Most dorms have quiet designated study rooms. The library is huge, and it has multiple study spaces on every floor. You can also snag a meeting room if you want to have a study group. The union is also a great place to study. There is a quiet room on the first floor with tables, couches, outlets, and a fireplace. Tip: there is also an art room upstairs, which not many people know about. It has tables, couches, and outlets. If you want to study outside, the wireless internet at University of California, Davisis far-reaching. You can study on the quad or in the arboretum (the arboretum is beautiful a must-see). If you would rather study off-campus, there are coffee shops and bars that offer free internet. 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? Kandace: Again, Davis is a small town. It is as fun or as boring as you make it. The downtown area of the city is right next to campus. It is comprised mostly of independent stores, restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. The Mondavi Center and Freeborn Hall host concerts, plays, and other performances. There is a farmers market on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the park downtown, which you must attend! There is amazing produce, meat, prepared food, and live music (on Saturdays). Since it is a small town, students get creative. The co-ops host parties frequently that include live music or DJ sets. With that said, my college social experience is defined by nights spent sitting around my backyard fire pit, hosting dinner parties, study sessions, poetry readings, and movie nights. Your friends will become your family. You depend on each other for all sorts of things, including entertainment. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Kandace: University of California, Davis has a relatively large student population. Class sizes greatly depend on your major, as well as the particular class within that major. For example, my Cognitive Psychology class (taken by most Psychology majors) was in a large lecture hall, but my Human Memory course was small (about 30 people). My English classes were much smaller overall than my Psychology courses. I was generally pleased with my class sizes. I never felt as though the class size negatively affected my ability to learn the material. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Kandace: In a poetry course my junior year, the professor started the class by exclaiming, POETRY! What is it? And how do we read it? Youll have to excuse mecoffee is the elixir of life, but apparently Ive had too much this morning. The class laughed hysterically. In the next ten weeks, this man completely transformed the way I read and thought about poetry. He was kind, thoughtful, and encouraged student participation. His passion for the subject matter inspired almost every student in that class. This is the type of eccentricity and enthusiasm I started to expect from my English professors at University of California, Davis. Check out Kandaces tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.