Using ESL 6th Grade Worksheets For Student Success

Using ESL 6th Grade Worksheets For Student SuccessWhen it comes to using ESL 6th grade worksheets as part of your English language learning program, you may be surprised by how easy they are to use. I know that I was surprised at how easy they were to use. They help your students learn the basic English skills that are required for them to be successful in their classroom.The great thing about these types of worksheets is that they are very simple to use and do not require much in the way of thinking. You can work through the worksheet for the whole class at one time or for the entire class and give each student one sheet at a time. This allows students to read and understand the information without having to fully absorb it or interpret it to gain understanding.It also helps students with the things that need to be understood more easily such as in English language learning worksheets. Students have a harder time when they have to read, write, and interpret information at the same t ime. When you use easy to use 6th grade worksheets, this will allow students to focus on one of those areas and still practice the other areas.You can also use these types of ESL worksheets for more advanced concepts and grammatical structure as well. I have been teaching ESL for years and I have seen students struggling at times because they are struggling to understand something in the middle of a lesson. When you use easy to use English language learning worksheets, they make it easier for students to progress.These types of workbooks are also much more affordable than many of the other books that you can buy for ESL teaching. There are a lot of other worksheets out there that are more expensive and do not have the same advantages. Using worksheets that are fairly inexpensive and can be used for many different concepts makes them more valuable than some of the others that you can buy.You can also get books that contain many different variations of the same lesson. For example, if you are teaching a first and second grade class, you could find a book that has a lesson on second language grammar and then another one that focuses on third language grammar. Then you could also find a book that has a lesson on sentence structure and another one that talk about sound.By doing this, you can create much more than just sets of worksheets. You will also be able to use both topics and materials in conjunction with each other to create a unique learning experience for each student. In order to teach effectively, you must be able to give your students many different types of opportunities to learn.Using English language learning worksheets will help you do that. It gives your students an easy and fast way to understand information. You will be able to give them many different types of materials that they can use to learn other skills.

15 Top Female Scientists Who Have Changed the World

15 Top Female Scientists Who Have Changed the World Today I want to talk about female scientists (in no particular order) who have changed the world with their research. These fabulous female scientists made a mark on the world of science and forever changed the way we look at the world. Katherine Freese is a trailblazing modern scientist who studies dark matter, including studying “dark stars” in the universe, something that has never been observed directly by a human. She’s the Director of Nordita, an institute for theoretical physics in Stockholm. Barbara McClintock won the Nobel Prize in 1983 for her studies of the genetic makeup of corn, and specifically, her discovery of jumping genes, or the ability of genes to change position on the chromosome. Gertrude Elion, another Nobel winner, was a biochemist and pharmacologist who developed drugs to treat leukemia and prevent kidney transplant rejection. Rosalind Franklin was a British biophysicist known for revolutionary work discovering DNA, as well as understanding X-rays and molecular structure. Henrietta Swan Leavitt was an American astronomer who discovered the relation between the luminosity and the period of Cepheid variable stars. The Milky Way is about 100,000 light-years in size, a key figure that would have never been discovered without her findings. Ada Lovelace was the first computer programmer in the world. Ada penned her research on the analytical engine, the mechanical general purpose computer of Charles Babbage. Her observations on this engine was acknowledged as the first algorithm. The programming language developed by US Department of Defence is named after her. Sau Lan Wu, a Chinese particle physicist, who warmed up her theatrical career by discovering charm quarks and gluons, and then really changed the entire course of scientific history by helping to discover the Higgs boson, the so-called God Particle. Jane Goodall is the most famous primate scientist in history. Jane Goodall was renowned for her work with chimpanzees and as a champion of animal rights. And Goodall wasn’t just working in a lab; she climbed trees and mimicked the behavior of chimps in Tanzania to gain their trust and study them in their natural habitat. Vera Rubin, an American astronomer, proved that dark matter existed in the universe by concluding that invisible gravity sources were pulling planets and stars in certain directions. Jennifer Doudna is a professor of chemistry and molecular cell biology at the University of California, Berkeley. She is a creator of the gene editing technology, CRISPR. CRISPR could allow us to cure diseases and take control of evolution. Maria Goeppert Mayer, a German immigrant to the US who studied at Johns Hopkins during the Great Depression. Her most famous contribution to modern physics is discovering the nuclear shell of the atomic nucleus, for which she won the Nobel Prize in 1963. Marie Stopes, the British scientist, is best known for her achievements in the fields of birth control and sex education in the 20th century. Her book Married Love broke many barriers in the society. Marie Curie, Polish/French scientist. Madame Curie was the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize and the first person to win the Nobel Prize for two separate categories. Her first award was for research into radioactivity (Physics, 1903). Her second Nobel prize was for Chemistry in 1911. A few years later she also helped develop the first X-ray machines. Sara Seager has discovered 715 planets with the Kepler Space Telescope, a remarkable contributor to the modern understanding of space. Ruby Sakae was an American biochemist and bacteriologist. She made major contributions to the development of vaccines to fight polio. Do you want to become a scientist? Tutors on TutorZ want to make science more accessible to students, inspire them. So, dont hesitate to contact us if you want to make difference in the world. 15 Top Female Scientists Who Have Changed the World Today I want to talk about female scientists (in no particular order) who have changed the world with their research. These fabulous female scientists made a mark on the world of science and forever changed the way we look at the world. Katherine Freese is a trailblazing modern scientist who studies dark matter, including studying “dark stars” in the universe, something that has never been observed directly by a human. She’s the Director of Nordita, an institute for theoretical physics in Stockholm. Barbara McClintock won the Nobel Prize in 1983 for her studies of the genetic makeup of corn, and specifically, her discovery of jumping genes, or the ability of genes to change position on the chromosome. Gertrude Elion, another Nobel winner, was a biochemist and pharmacologist who developed drugs to treat leukemia and prevent kidney transplant rejection. Rosalind Franklin was a British biophysicist known for revolutionary work discovering DNA, as well as understanding X-rays and molecular structure. Henrietta Swan Leavitt was an American astronomer who discovered the relation between the luminosity and the period of Cepheid variable stars. The Milky Way is about 100,000 light-years in size, a key figure that would have never been discovered without her findings. Ada Lovelace was the first computer programmer in the world. Ada penned her research on the analytical engine, the mechanical general purpose computer of Charles Babbage. Her observations on this engine was acknowledged as the first algorithm. The programming language developed by US Department of Defence is named after her. Sau Lan Wu, a Chinese particle physicist, who warmed up her theatrical career by discovering charm quarks and gluons, and then really changed the entire course of scientific history by helping to discover the Higgs boson, the so-called God Particle. Jane Goodall is the most famous primate scientist in history. Jane Goodall was renowned for her work with chimpanzees and as a champion of animal rights. And Goodall wasn’t just working in a lab; she climbed trees and mimicked the behavior of chimps in Tanzania to gain their trust and study them in their natural habitat. Vera Rubin, an American astronomer, proved that dark matter existed in the universe by concluding that invisible gravity sources were pulling planets and stars in certain directions. Jennifer Doudna is a professor of chemistry and molecular cell biology at the University of California, Berkeley. She is a creator of the gene editing technology, CRISPR. CRISPR could allow us to cure diseases and take control of evolution. Maria Goeppert Mayer, a German immigrant to the US who studied at Johns Hopkins during the Great Depression. Her most famous contribution to modern physics is discovering the nuclear shell of the atomic nucleus, for which she won the Nobel Prize in 1963. Marie Stopes, the British scientist, is best known for her achievements in the fields of birth control and sex education in the 20th century. Her book Married Love broke many barriers in the society. Marie Curie, Polish/French scientist. Madame Curie was the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize and the first person to win the Nobel Prize for two separate categories. Her first award was for research into radioactivity (Physics, 1903). Her second Nobel prize was for Chemistry in 1911. A few years later she also helped develop the first X-ray machines. Sara Seager has discovered 715 planets with the Kepler Space Telescope, a remarkable contributor to the modern understanding of space. Ruby Sakae was an American biochemist and bacteriologist. She made major contributions to the development of vaccines to fight polio. Do you want to become a scientist? Tutors on TutorZ want to make science more accessible to students, inspire them. So, dont hesitate to contact us if you want to make difference in the world.

Affordable Forest Hills Tutoring

Affordable Forest Hills TutoringFor a place as busy and wide spread as New York City, finding an affordable choice for a tutor can be difficult. Fortunately, Forest Hills T-Tutor is one of the few people willing to fill in this gap and help to make it possible for students to afford tutoring.Because of the presence of so many students in New York City, teachers are increasingly reliant on online resources, which provide a more human interaction with their students. And this includes teaching methods, which can greatly reduce stress. Also, in the increasingly computerized world of education, tutors no longer need to travel, which means a far greater expense factor.Tutoring can offer many benefits and some of the more popular ones include expanding communication between students and reducing the cost of a college education. In addition, online tutoring enables more flexibility and the ability to work at a pace that is comfortable for both student and teacher. Other advantages include i mproved learning style and affordability. On top of this, there are even courses that teach effective communication skills, which can help people become more successful with computers.When a student is looking for tutoring in the form of a teacher, he can often find a variety of choices. One of the most common is to take classes through the normal school system, but teachers often feel that they are 'wasting' their time because there is no real chance of making a career out of the course. However, online tutoring often allows teachers to save more money. Additionally, this also allows more flexibility in terms of scheduling, which is a key concern in a school setting.It's important to keep in mind that when looking for a teacher online, that the teacher will usually be paid in tuition rather than monetary compensation. Additionally, the fee structure can often vary depending on the school, the curriculum and the instructor.When researching a class, it is important to research the ov erall cost of the classes before settling on Forest Hills Tutoring. The website itself has different fees, which may include tuition, board, and all other types of costs.It is best to search for a tutor without the need to worry about whether or not you need a specific class. For instance, if you already have a laptop or any type of online software that you can use, it can be helpful to find a tutor that provides services that relate to the capabilities you already have. If you do need a specific course, however, you should use this information to find a good and affordable tutor for your needs.

How to Find the Best Score Tutoring Center

How to Find the Best Score Tutoring CenterWhether you are struggling to understand a tricky test or wondering if your child's teacher is in the correct class, there is a specialist who can give you the answers. If you have ever asked yourself questions about an exam or want to know whether a particular person is right for you, chances are that you need the help of a tutor. In this article we'll take a look at how you can get the best score tutoring center.First and foremost, choose a tutor based on their knowledge and experience. If you are currently using tutors, ask them for recommendations. This will go a long way in helping you decide which is the best. Also, they will be able to give you information about which ones are the most successful and which ones work best for different needs.When it comes to finding a tutor, there are a number of things you should do before you even step foot into the tutoring center. Here are some tips to help you find the best score tutoring center.Fi rstly, find out what kind of fee the tutor charges. This will give you an idea of how much time you will be spending with the tutor, as well as the cost to pay over the course of the session.Secondly, you need to know about the experience level of the tutor. Ask what kind of results the tutor has achieved, whether they have been asked to teach a lot of children or not, and whether they have any previous experience in tutoring. Also, you need to check out how long the tutor has been tutoring for and whether they have helped kids from other schools.Thirdly, you need to ask how many students they have helped. You may think that you can manage but the more students you have help, the better chance you have of seeing better results.Last but not least, you need to check out how much money you can actually afford to spend on the tutoring and the test centre. If you really cannot afford, don't waste your time looking for the best score tutoring center, instead look for the ones that offer t he lowest cost.

Wet Chemistry Techniques - Learn How to Find Anything in a Quick Manner

Wet Chemistry Techniques - Learn How to Find Anything in a Quick MannerWet Chemistry techniques is a complete program. For example, if you take your junior chemistry class and want to find out how to find something, you can use the Wet Chemistry techniques. It is a way to find anything, including one's first emotion, among thousands of other different emotions.This is an eBook that you can download. You will find the information for almost anything that you want to learn about, and this is one of the best free resources out there. There are many other kinds of programs, but this one is the easiest to read and learn about. You can download it and study in your spare time, and you don't have to worry about remembering what you were studying.The guide is written in a manner that is easy to understand for any computer user, which is why it is often referred to as Cmd+F on your keyboard. This means you will enter the command 'CMD+F' (short for 'command + find'). You will then be able to s ee how to find anything in the book. The book is completely transparent, so you won't have to worry about anything accidentally being left out.The book has been formatted in such a way that makes it easy to read and also makes it look like a textbook look. For example, when you find something, it will appear as a textbook, and you won't need to worry about the words appearing strange. The book is quite large, so even a large screen will not keep you from reading it.In this book, you will learn physics, chemistry, biology, cell biology, anatomy, immunology, pathology, geology, and all sorts of other topics. They are all listed alphabetically, so that you don't have to worry about having to know how to look up the topics. Every topic has all the terms and definitions listed for each topic, so you will have no trouble learning the subject.This eBook is very easy to use, and will give you everything you need to know to be successful in your life. There are other programs out there, but none of them are as simple to read and learn. This book has been used by thousands of people, and there is no reason you can't learn chemistry in a short amount of time.If you aren't satisfied with your current education, this eBook will help you take a look at the various branches of chemical literature. This is the way to learn.

Why Learn to Speak English as a Second Language

Why Learn to Speak English as a Second Language Learning ESOL: Why Learn English ChaptersAdvances in TechnologyFilms, Music and PodcastsEnglish, The Language of ScienceIt Makes Sense to Learn in EnglishFind Your English PlaceEnglish is Spoken WorldwideYou have been practicing your English speaking skills ever since you learned your first phrases. You have been hammering away at grammar rules and soaking up English vocabulary like a sponge.Idioms and similes are your forte!You love putting English words together to express your ideas.Is all that of work in vain?The rise of nationalism threatens global growth. In these unquiet times, people everywhere are scrambling to gain an advantage â€" in the workplace, in academics and in financial markets, even as borders threaten closure and citizens of various countries revert to an 'us first!' mentality.Considering all that, should learning English be at the top of anyone's list?Today's technology permits reaching out across the world (Source: Pixabay Credit: Geralt)features. Something the well-to-do or those at the cutti ng edge of society couldn't live without. They were more of a status symbol than a functional part of our existence.Did anyone foresee the dominance smartphones would have over our lives? Everywhere in the world, people are looking for WIFI connections and poring over their small screens. On the bus or the tube, you may have seen people watching movies they'd downloaded. Apps are springing up seemingly overnight.The language pertaining to electronics is overwhelmingly English.Few languages around the globe have created their own words for the phenomenon of digital technology.Iceland has its own technical language but still borrows from EnglishIn Poland, words such as joystick, cartridge and interface have made their way into the language, albeit spelled phonetically in that country's languageGermany borrows from English wholesale: words such as computer, website, software and others remain the same; verbs such as downloading, crashing and booting retain their English root but are co njugated as German verbsDenglish incorporates everyday English vocabulary into the German languageThe Chinese practice a combination of English word adoption and literal word translation to expand their lexicon of technical and common conversation words.France generally resists importing English words; still some terms manage to enter their vocabulary, such as: webcam, boot, reboot and bootable, and email.Because English words are so often borrowed  by other languages, it makes sense to continue to improve your English. Doing so will help you stay competitive in society.Films, Music and PodcastsWhen you think of movies, does Bollywood or Hong Kong cinema come to mind? Or are you picturing Hollywood blockbusters?In fact, the UK is the second-largest film exporter, after America.While it seems that every country except Japan, Mexico and Brazil enjoy British comedy and biopics, American movies rate higher on the international stage.Naturally, these films are all in English.If you need to sharpen your listening skills and improve your reading skills, watching movies with English subtitles is a great way to do it.Do You Enjoy Listening to Music?This branch of the entertainment industry also ranks British and American artists as those who have had the most global sales and downloads in 2016.That is not to say that J-pop and K-pop (from Japan and Korea, respectively) are not worth listening to; in fact, Gangnam Style, by Korean artist Psy topped the music charts in a number of countries, including the UK.China's Little Apple had the same effect, a few years later. It even won the American music award for best international song.In spite of these successes, songs in English consistently top the charts and outsell music from any other country, all over the world.Music is a great way to get familiar with rhyming words and phrases. Singing along can help you with your English pronunciation.Specific Information in Digestible BitesPodcasts fit that description perfectly. T hey are topic-specific  mono- or dialogues, either video or audio-only, that you can download from the Internet and play whenever you like, as often as you like.You can subscribe to a podcast, if its topic interests to you. New installments will be automatically downloaded to your preferred device - phone, tablet or computer as soon as they are available.The British Council hosts a podcast directed at people who are studying English as a second language, as well as those preparing for Ielts.You can subscribe to podcasts that address only business English: how to develop business English vocabulary, proper syntax of business language and how to project competence and enthusiasm while speaking English.You can listen to podcasts that discuss music, movies, sports or politics, presented by a native English speaker, as a way to improve English comprehension.The language of science is English (Source: Pixabay Credit: MasterTux) JulianESOL (English) Teacher 4.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free! Discover all our tutors EugeneESOL (English) Teacher 4.90 (58) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HelenESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (20) £32/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SuzanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (2) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (8) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelESOL (English) Teacher 4.83 (41) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanneESOL (English) Teacher 5.00 (43) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsEnglish, The Language of ScienceUntil the early 20th Century, scientists held conferences and published new findings in German.Due to great advancements in the world of medicine and physics, as well as the political climate at the time, English became the preferred speech of the scientific community â€" initially in Europe, and soon throughout the world.Today, an estimated 98% of all scientific papers are published in English.Science is no longer the purview of those trained in the discipline. Environmental and health concerns impact everyone and we all bear the responsibility of protecting the future.The more you learn of scientific terms, the more you can participate.It Makes Sense to Learn in EnglishWhether you intend to use the language in your daily life or you are simply interested in studying the speech that more than 1.5 billion people across the globe can converse in, learning English makes sense.Global Trade Will Not Stop OvernightIn spite of news reports hinting at tighter borders and more stringent import laws, international trade companies will continue to ship goods around the globe.The language of business is English, and will remain so for the foreseeable future.If you are studying English as a second language, you might consider developing a business English vocabulary as well, so that you might participate in, and benefit from this lucrative employment sector.Tourism and Hospitality IndustryAccording to the latest reports, people from all over the world are traveling to discover new cultures and lands.The premier language of the tourism industry is English.People of all ages, all over the world are taking English lessons online, if only to be understood when they leave their native land.Employers Like Bilingual EmployeesGlobal industries such as technology, science and fashion are not restricted to any one country, or its native language.Academics are not limited to a single nation's history, culture and politics, either.Teachers, tutors and technicians, even sales professionals who are proficient at more than one language â€" one of them being English, tend to earn more, and enjoy greater competitiveness in the workplace.Learning English will help you find your place on the global stage. (Source: Pixabay Credit: Geralt)Learn how to make English learning easy with our guide to simplifying ESOL courses.Find You r English PlaceIf you are learning English as a second language, let us give you some tips to claim your place on this global, English speaking stage.Learn a few new words and phrases each week and use them often, until they naturally fall into your vernacular.Incorporate some slang and idioms, just to make learning English more funPlay word games and take quizzes onlineLearn how to use verb tenses effectivelyKeeping a diary in English will help you develop your writing skillsTo improve your listening skills, watch movies and listen to musicPractice your spoken English with native speakersSpeak English every day, no matter how poor you think your language skills are.Chances are, you are better than you think!The more you practise, the more fluent you will become which, in turn, will boost your confidence and desire to learn more English.English is Spoken WorldwideAs an English learner, you are among the global ranks of those who study English as a foreign language.Your fluency in En glish can help you secure employment in the most competitive markets.Learning business English could increase your chances of being hired by a multinational corporation.If you prefer, you can put your skills to use as an English teacher in your native country, either through online tutoring or by making podcasts.You can build a tutoring profile at Superprof, offering not only English classes to non native speakers, but also promoting your native language and culture by teaching native English speakers.You can teach English to ESL students in your corner of Britain, helping them gain literacy in their adopted country.Or you could help non native speakers acclimate to their new environment by teaching them a few common phrases, just to get them started on the path to learning British English properly.Volunteer organizations and community centres can always use a hand helping others learn basic English.Whether you choose to demonstrate your proficiency with the English language through employment with a Fortune 500 company, compose theses for a scientific journal or quietly help those around you to learn English, rest assured that you are a member of a large, global, English speaking community.Discover how learning English can give you greater access to higher education and online materials.

Ask an MBA Admissions Expert Graham Richmond

Ask an MBA Admissions Expert Graham Richmond Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. As he pursued his MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Graham Richmond participated as a student admissions officer where he read hundreds of applications. After graduating from the program, Graham returned to the Wharton Admissions Committee and contributed to the redesigning of the schools admissions process while representing the program at conferences internationally as well. Graham eventually left and co-founded Clear Admit, an MBA Admissions Consulting service, where he has assisted thousands of students with their application processes and has earned an impressive reputation as a leading expert in the field. VT: How much time should be set aside to adequately prepare for and complete the application for an MBA program? Graham: Preparation time in terms of hours or months definitely varies per applicant and based on the application season as a whole, e.g., someone applying to one school in Round 2 (January deadlines) would have a very different application timeline than someone applying to six programs across the first two rounds (October and January deadlines). Applicants also need to account for factors outside the process of drafting the application materials themselvesGMAT or GRE preparation, for instance, varies broadly by applicant and could tack on months of intensive study before an online application form is even made. It would also be worthwhile to account for the time needed to, say, visit a class or tour a schools campus depending on applicants schedules and transportation options. Generally though, since most schools release their application deadlines and essay topics in the spring or summer before the admissions season begins, Id advise applicants to start organizing their application calendars then. Knowing when each application will be due and what it entails is first way to see how much time youll need to prepare. We estimate that our hourly clients work with their Clear Admit counselors for an average of 12 to 15 hours per school, and prospective MBA students should also tack on the time it will take them to initially draft their essays and other materials and complete other requirements, like standardized test scores as noted above. VT: What would you say is the single most important thing to focus on for this kind of application? Graham: Theres no right answer to how to ace an application, and Id say the most important thing for an applicant is to create an honest application that is both error-free, attentive to detail and that really lets the admissions committee get to know who you are (while ideally conveying your excitement for the MBA program in question). Admissions committees are looking to find out a lot about who applicants really are so as to determine how they might fit into a carefully balanced MBA class, and submitting applications that are vague or sloppy wont give the admissions committee much to work with or convince them that youre worth admitting. VT: What do MBA admissions officers look for most in the essay questions? Graham: Admissions officers are definitely looking to get you know you from the essays but also for a few other things. They are looking to see if youve done research on the program and can envision yourself on their campus, and they want to see that you have a good sense of your strengths, weaknesses, and preparedness for an MBA. More basically, they are looking to confirm that applicants can follow directions in the essays and write clear and compelling answers to the essay prompts within the guidelines specified. VT: What are the biggest mistakes one can make on this application? Graham: There are quite a few ways that applicants can send up red flags on their application, and I would say that reusing application materials across multiple applications is the main way candidates get themselves in trouble. Most notorious of course is the mistake of actually leaving in the name of School X when writing an application for School Y, which from my own admissions experience signals a definitely lack of respect for the school that receives the wrong name. In relation to my answer to the question above, not answering the question asked in your essay is another big mistake, and this might indicate to the admissions officer that you were either reusing an essay from another school or just not paying attention when you were drafting quickly. Another common mistake, and one that an admissions consultant could certainly help applicants avoid, would be simple grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors that also convey that applicants have put relatively little effort into their files or do not have the communication skills needed for an MBA. Finally, the use of excessive industry jargon can signal to the admissions committee that the applicant is unable to communicate their experiences in terms that are going to be easily understood by their future classmates. VT: What aspects of the MBA admissions process makes it most different from undergraduate admissions process? Graham: I like to describe MBA admissions as a mix of art and science given the fluid nature of schools selection criteria, and this quality actually makes the process more similar to undergraduate admissions than to say law or medical school applications. One important difference between undergraduate and business school admissions is that most applicants will be drawing heavily from their professional experiences when creating their MBA applications, which obviously doesnt come into play in such a way in undergraduate admissions. VT: Is there anything that automatically disqualifies an applicant from being considered for an MBA program (i.e. low GPA, lack of particular work experience, etc.)? Graham: I would say no, unless for instance an applicant is applying to a program whose stated requirements he or she doesnt meet, e.g., a dual degree program that specifies an undergraduate focus an applicant does not have. Some challenging factors of an applicants profile, however, are easier to resolve than others either before or during the application process, but only direct violations of admission policies are automatic disqualifiers. VT: What kind of work experiences should be highlighted in the MBA application? Graham: This is also something that varies really applicant by applicant. Some schools will state what kind of experience they want to see from prospective students, which is wise to take into account before preparing your application, but there is no single right answer. Generally, for example, leadership experiences are great to highlight, but an applicant who doesnt have an obvious record of quantitative achievements might need to focus more on those experiences instead. The balance of different kinds of experience really varies on an individual basis. VT: What advice do you have regarding GMAT test prep? Graham: There are a lot of different test prep services out there that tailor to a range of learning styles, and applicants test prep range from books to free GMAT tips from various online sources to paid one-on-one tutoring. While certainly not all applicants need to use a GMAT prep service, any applicant who wants to raise his or her score should look into the many different services out there to find one that matches their needs in terms of time commitments, teaching approach, etc. VT: Is it absolutely necessary to have work experience prior to starting an MBA degree? Graham: In a word, no, though this kind of requirement varies across different programs and the vast majority of candidates would definitely be well served to have at least two years of experience at the time they apply. Ive also known some programs to conditionally accept applicants provided they gained a certain amount of professional experience before matriculating, and of course Harvard has formalized this through the HBS 2+2 Program. Business schools really range on this issue, though, and applicants who find they are qualified to apply to their target programs without work experience still face somewhat higher stakes than others in the poolits very important that these applicants can clearly explain how an MBA is the only viable next step in their career despite their lack of work experience. VT: What are the characteristics of a great MBA program? Graham: I encourage applicants looking for a great business school experience to start by examining their own professional and academic needs, as well as their preferred lifestyle and location, to find out what program will be great for them. An MBA program isnt great because of ranking alone, and different applicants will have great fits with different programs. An applicant who wants to design his or her first-year curriculum, for instance, wont fit with the Harvard MBA while an applicant who doesnt like an urban environment isnt going to be happy at Columbia. In the end, a great MBA program has the right combination of curriculum offerings, extracurricular and leadership opportunities, campus experiences and career resources to suit its students, be it an aspiring leader in investment banking or a budding global entrepreneur. Go to ClearAdmit.com for more information and insights from Graham and his team.The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.