Finding a Chemistry Tutor NJ

Finding a Chemistry Tutor NJIf you are looking for a chemistry tutor NJ, the best thing you can do is look up different tutors in the Internet. You can search for one in your area or look for one that is located across the country. You can also check the online application if it is available to you.Once you have chosen a tutor that is available online, make sure you look at their credentials and how they have used their services before. To find a tutor that is good in their field, you will need to do a little research. Make sure you ask how many students they have taken in and whether they were successful in taking their students to their jobs. Check out whether they have a good track record.You should also ask the tutor if they use the computer or not. This can give you an idea of how easy they are going to be to work with. You may even get an idea of whether they know any other teachers, colleges or institutions they will be teaching in. These things will help you choose the right tutor for you.Once you have found a tutor that you think is the right one for you, the next step is to look into whether you have the room and the time to devote to the tutoring session. Some people can take the tutor in for a lunch break, others may not be able to do this. Find out what you are comfortable with and find out how much time you can devote to them.If you choose to work with a tutor, you will be required to meet the tutor and find out where you can meet in order to conduct the tutoring sessions. Ask if you can have the tutor meet you at a location you feel comfortable with and tell them you are meeting them. Don't think they will treat you badly if you are late, since this is a short-term deal.In NJ, it is possible to find tutors that work from home. This is especially helpful when you are working with a tutor that lives outside of the state. This way you can check your emails or surf the Internet at the same time you are being tutored.After you have found a tutor that you are comfortable with, make sure you have a few meetings scheduled with them in order to get to know each other better. It can be beneficial for both of you to meet once a week in order to share your experiences and learn from each other. You can also schedule an appointment to go over a homework assignment.

How to Sequence a Yoga Class

How to Sequence a Yoga Class What is the Perfect Yoga Class Sequence? ChaptersSequencing a Power Yoga ClassHow to Sequence a Hatha Yoga ClassIdeal Sequencing for a Restorative Yoga ClassYin Yoga Sequences for Maximum BenefitsYoga is all about the mind-body connection; the asanas or poses, yoga breathing â€" breathing in tune with movement and meditation serve to foster that very connection.As yoga transcends the physical â€" indeed, it is the flow of energy that compels movement, would it matter in what order we do our salutations?Let us illustrate the point in a way that is easy to visualise.Let us suppose you want to get from Manchester to Edinburgh, maybe to attend a Yoga Alliance Professionals teacher training course. How would you get there?Would you first go across to Leeds and then up the A1 to Newcastle and then across to Edinburgh, or would you go up through Preston, follow the M5 through Carlisle until it turns into the A74, follow it into Glasgow and then cut across to Edinburgh?Would you fly or take a train there? Maybe, if you had your hea rt set on motoring, you could even hire a car to spare your own the miles.No matter what you decide, the end result is the same: you will arrive in Edinburgh. Does it matter how you get there?It does indeed! Environmentally conscious people might opt for the train while those in a hurry would probably fly. Those with a bit of time on their hands may consider a lengthy route through The Pennines a meditative opportunity.In that same vein, some people delight in the endless variety of asanas to be done in their Hatha yoga class while others love the rapid pace and endless vinyasas of power yoga.And if you need a break from all of those yang yogas, you could chill a bit with yin yoga.Virtually everything we do has a logical sequence: we walk before we can run, we are educated before we can seek out a career and we must have A before we can attain B.Why would yoga be any different?Today, your Superprof looks at four very different types of yoga, their merits and who they might be best s uited for, and how they should be sequenced.Got your yoga mat  rolled out and your yoga blocks handy?adho mukha svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog) and virabhadrasana (Warrior Pose), among others.Another trademark of a power yoga session is the fast pace. It is easy to see how this dynamic posture could easily lead into another pose Image by Wolfgang Eckert from PixabayPoses are attained but not held; generally, they flow into one another in concurrence with your breath. On that note, we should mention breathing…Certain breathing techniques are useful when practising yoga; for instance, deep breathing helps advance meditation. While doing power yoga, you will also breathe deeply.Power yoga consists of many asanas flowing into one another, separated by vinyasas.A vinyasa may consist of a Four-Limbed Staff pose (exhale), Upward Facing dog (inhale) and an exhale on the Downward Facing Dog.If you know even just rudiments of yoga poses, you’ll know that the Staff pose, also called the Low Plank fairly calls for an exhale as you tighten your core to get in position. Similarly, the up-dog opens the chest, demanding a deep inhale, which is then expelled when you move your head downward.From the moment you execute your first Sun Salutation until you fall in to savasana â€" the Corpse Pose at the end of your session, you will have cycled through close to 100 yoga poses.Granted, some of them are repetitions but still, that is a lot of asanas in one hour!To find out how they should be sequenced, enjoy our companion article.How to Sequence a Hatha Yoga ClassSome Hatha classes start with Sun Salutations; others leave that warmup off their sequence, maybe starting with a Mountain Pose and holding it for a few breaths before going into a Warrior Pose.Hatha is the Sanskrit word for 'force' but that doesn’t mean that Hatha yoga is a forceful discipline. Hatha is one of the yoga styles that permits going deep into a pose Image by StockSnap from PixabayIt flows at a slower pace than power yoga and permits plenty of time to go deeply into a pose.The philosophy behind Hatha yoga is to energise the body, opening up energy channels and focusing the mind, which ultimately permits meditation.Hatha classes generally start with standing poses, segue into hands-and-knees poses, flow into sitting poses and finally into poses in which you are laying down on your mat. It’s quite a logical flow!And, as there are, by some estimates, more than 5,000 yoga postures to choose from, you may ‘mix it up’ a bit, one day substituting a Tree pose for the Half Moon Crescent, or the Seal pose for the Cobra pose.Watch out, those two are very similar!The one pose to never do away with is the Corpse pose. Lying on your back, completely relaxed after your hourlong session is how you make the leap back into daily life.There truly is so much about Hatha yoga s essions that deserves mention, it merits its own, full-length article.Ideal Sequencing for a Restorative Yoga ClassPower yoga devotees and gym fanatics might walk past a yoga studio conducting a restorative yoga session and wonder why everyone is just lying there, by all appearances asleep. They may also wonder why that practice is called yoga.They may well be on the right track, wondering about restorative yoga, but not for those reasons.Generally speaking, yoga is meant to be invigorating yet restful; it is a way to unplug and restore yourself after constant brushes with stressors. So why are all of those people lying around, covered with blankets and barely moving?The point of restorative yoga is to cultivate stillness, a concept that is much harder than it sounds to achieve and maintain.Have you noticed how people today tend to walk around with earbuds stuck in, listening to something? Do you always have your ears plugged in?Granted, they (and you) might be listening to chanting , indulging in guided meditation while their bodies navigate the city streets or sit at their office cubicles… but what are the chances of that?The art of being still â€" the act of being completely motionless, without thoughts zinging through your head takes some cultivation.That lack of stillness that plagues so many of us can result in insomnia and stress-related diseases such as hypertension and even diabetes. Restorative yoga is a way to tune out the noise and get in touch with yourself once more.One fitness fanatic confided that he had become burnt out from his usual routine: a brisk jog in the morning followed by a day in the office, after which he repaired to the gym for a vigorous workout before heading home for a healthy dinner.He realised that his day was chock-full of movement with virtually no time to be still. And, while he lived a relatively healthy life, it nevertheless left him feeling vaguely unfulfilled.And then, he tried restorative yoga. Cultivating stillness is a way to reduce stress and centering your balance Image by engin akyurt from PixabayAll of the poses are done at floor level and your body is entirely supported for the duration of the pose, which can be up to 20 minutes. Best of all, restorative yoga incorporates what most aver is the ultimate inversion: the ‘legs up the wall’ pose!Don’t you think it is time for you to learn more about restorative yoga?Yin Yoga Sequences for Maximum BenefitsOur working life leaves us ripe for many types of injuries including repetitive motion injuries.A perfect case in point: sitting at a desk all day is not healthy; being sedentary causes all sorts of negative health consequences.If you have been stuck behind a desk for most of your working life, a yoga for beginners course might yet be too advanced for you.What you need to start with is a gentle yoga, one that will boost your flexibility without unduly taxing the joints and muscles you’ve not catered to in a while. Yin yoga fits that bill admirably.The entire sequence of poses is done at floor level and each asana (pose) is held for a couple of minutes.The idea behind yin yoga is to sit comfortably at the point of awareness; you don’t want to incur pain in your joints but you want to conscious of them â€" that they are opening up, releasing tension and gaining fluidity.While power yoga emphasises flowing from one asana to the next fairly rapidly, yin yoga gives you the chance to go deeper into each pose, to rediscover the carefree way of moving you enjoyed as a child.You won’t get to use as many pillows and blankets as you would in a restorative yoga class but you may use yoga blocks for support.Learn how, as well as the sequence of poses you might cycle through in your yin yoga class.Namaste!

How to ask for a payrise

Introvert Whisperer / How to ask for a payrise How to Ask for a Payrise Emma Otusajo June 17, 2019 Communication, Dealing with Fear No responses Go to top Do you wince at the idea of asking your manager for a payrise? Or do you think it’s not worth bothering because you know what the answer would be? Money’s not exactly a topic we’re encouraged to talk about and, with businesses making cutbacks everywhere, it’s easy to think that it’d be impossible to get an increase in your salary, especially not simply by asking! More than half of all employees don’t ask for a pay rise for all sorts of reasons, the most common ones being they don’t think they’ll get it or that the budget is set in stone. But it’s not and you don’t have to muddle along, potentially being paid less than you’re worth. So, how can you justify your worth to your manager that persuades them to put their hands in their pocket? How do you build up the boldness and the courage to ask? Here are some tips to help next time you ask for a raise: Justify your value Think about how you can show your value using facts and figures. Have you exceeded your sales targets? Have you delighted customers in some way? Use positive feedback, sales figures and the company’s key performance indicators to measure your value and what you are bringing to the company, suggests Oliver Lee, manager of Host my BnB. This way, you can start to show in black and white exactly what you’re worth. With a job that has value difficult to measure, such as a job in social care, you can put forward how many successful outcomes you’ve had with customers or specify how much you have helped customers over X period of time. Check Out Other Companies Director of workforcepositive.com, Kearin Lowry, suggests finding out what salaries other companies in your sector are paying their staff to do a similar job. Have a look at some job websites, such as GlassDoor, to find out what others in your profession are getting in their salary, says Oliver Lee. Kearin suggests saying something like: “I’ve noticed that the average salary for positions similar to mine are 5% above my current rate and I have 5+ years of experience”, then ask for a meeting with your manager to talk about this in more detail. This way, you can use it as a good benchmark when asking for boss for a payrise. You might even impress your boss that you’ve done your homework and come to the meeting with your facts and with confidence! Write it all down During conversations, it can be easy to lose your track, especially if you’re a manager is more of an extrovert or tends to speak extensively. People and change consultant, Celia Swales, suggests writing down all of the points you want to raise, how different aspects are making you feel. Write down possible responses for points you think your boss might raise, too and prepare some reasonable answers Practice in the Mirror It’s not just what you say it’s the way you say it and the body language, too! As with a job interview or any other challenging conversation, you usually practice what you’re going to say, but practice facial expressions as well. You know the way you sometimes freeze at a question in an interview? When you practice those facial expressions, focus on how your face feels when you smile or relax and practice away from the mirror, perhaps with a friend. This will help you when you’re having the actual conversation with your manager. If you feel yourself freezing up, take a breath, relax your facial muscles and smile, before answering. Be Realistic Let’s be real here. It’s unlikely you’re going to get an extra 20% increase, so consider asking for a reasonable amount of money. The average salary raise for staff that asks for it is around 2% of their salary. The other part of being realistic is that your boss may tell you the payrise you want isn’t possible, but instead offer you something you a raise slightly lower than what you asked for. Open Questions = Open Mind When going into a meeting, many people have the mindset that they want to get their points across be heard. However, it’s important to listen to what your manager has to say and, when you get an answer that you may expect, such as a no, if you ask some open questions, this can open up the conversation, Celia highlights. She suggests asking questions, such as what would you be looking to see from me that would warrant a pay rise? or what impact does me asking for a raise have on you? These sorts of questions may allow for discussion in more detail and be a doorway into more negotiation. Choose the Right Time You should never feel like your issues aren’t important enough to bother your manager with, states Sarah Aubrey, CEO of HR training provider, DPG Plc. However, choosing the right time to ask for a chat is important. If you know your manager is stressing to finish an end-of-month report and pulling their hair out, maybe just hold on until they’ve finished. Alternatively, just send them a quick email and ask if you can have a chat when they get a minute. What’s the Worst That Can Happen? Often, people are made to feel like their salary or wage is set in stone, as set by the employer. What’s more, it’s not in our nature to think of asking for more money but you know what? You should! The worst that can happen is you can face a straight ‘no’ for now, and if this is the case, you can always ask your manager what you would have to do to get one and then work towards that for the future. Try to keep the gates open for asking again in the future. By Emma Otusajo Emma is a freelance article,  content and copywriter, specialising in areas including career, events and sustainability. She loves the written word and enjoys working with businesses to write great content that interests their customers and brings results. An introvert at heart , she loves connecting with others and writing inspirational stories. You can follow here on her website at  Emma Writes. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

A few things to know about Sexual Harassment - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / A few things to know about Sexual Harassment - Introvert Whisperer A few things to know about Sexual Harassment I got into a fairly lengthy discussion with a 30+-year-old male friend yesterday.   It started because of learning that Matt Lauer (Today Show anchor) was fired for “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace”. I appreciated his candor as he acknowledged that he really didn’t know what any of this meant as he personally had never witnessed what he thought was sexual harassment.   Like many people, he was left wondering if some woman was making it up or “mis-reading” an interaction with a co-worker. This issue is very real and you don’t have to go too far to find a woman who hasn’t had to put up with it at least once in their life.  I have had numerous “events” of this nature throughout my career so I know it’s very real. Most of them were repulsive but one was bad enough I’ve barely ever told anyone. This behavior also occurs with men but less frequently. First, I would like to say that I do know that there are people who have made up false accusations and are poor at reading social interactions.   I’m sure that some of what you’ve heard includes some of those people.   But like every social problem we have, you can’t disregard the problem because a few people have made false claims. What is sexual harassment? Just so we’re all on the same page, here is what the EEOC defines: It is unlawful to harass a person (an applicant or employee) because of that person’s sex. Harassment can include “sexual harassment” or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature. Harassment does not have to be of a sexual nature, however, and can include offensive remarks about a person’s sex. For example, it is illegal to harass a woman by making offensive comments about women in general. Both victim and the harasser can be either a woman or a man, and the victim and harasser can be the same sex. Although the law doesn’t prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted). The harasser can be the victims supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer. This is also the type of thing that is hard to prove and as a result, most people don’t do or say anything.   Keep in mind that when this sort of thing happens with a boss or a person of power (think Bill Cosby or Matt Lauer) the recipient of the harassment often feels powerless to push back verbally much less ask for an intervention by a company or authorities for fear of the repercussions.   It’s the perfect crime if you think about it because the bad behavior essentially gets reinforced due to lack of punishment or accountability.   Getting by with bad behavior signals success, which for a person of power can be a heady experience. No wonder you hear of people inflicting years of abuse. Why am I discussing this?   Because my mission is to do everything I can to help you love the work you do.   This is the sort of thing that can cause you to hate your job, lose your personal power and reroute your life.   Don’t inflict this on others and don’t accept it. If you are the recipient of sexual harassment, minimally you should speak up and let the offender know that it’s not ok to do or say the things they are doing.   We teach people how to treat us and if you don’t stand up for yourself you are reinforcing bad behavior, which means it will persist.   There are full-blown classes on this so I won’t get into a full course of action but my main message is to think through what would you do if it happened to you. Respect others and respect yourself. Go to top Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!  Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

How to Improve Your Self-Confidence After a Car Accident - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How to Improve Your Self-Confidence After a Car Accident - Introvert Whisperer How to Improve Your Self-Confidence After a Car Accident I was a confident woman. You must know this type â€" the one that always grabs her chances. I successfully balanced between my personal and professional life. I held control over more or less everything that mattered to me. I worked really hard and I still do. My family is my greatest support. I love my husband and my kids. In a word, I have everything I need to be happy. And I am happy! And I am grateful too… Probably more than I ever was! Why now? Well, that’s because I recently learned one of the greatest life lessons. A few months ago, my car smashed into a big traffic sign when I was rushing to my office. Firstly, I was devastated. Then I lost my self-esteem. Then I suffered. These days, I’m dealing with my struggles and anxieties, but I know that I’m headed in the right direction. How? Here’s my story. I stopped blaming myself for the accident Like I said, I used to be a fighter who rises to the challenge. But after the accident, the situation has changed. These days, I feel that I need to endure so much. Sometimes ‘so much’ becomes ‘too much’. I am still afraid of opening up about the storm inside my head. I suspect that my family won’t really understand me. It’s tough, there’s no doubt about it. I rarely ever speak about this, but I’ve noticed a gradual improvement once I started being kind to myself. I am still working on this, but my first advice to everyone who goes through a similar situation would be to love themselves in spite of the frustration, anger, and disappointment. Saying ‘Hi, dear’ to yourself with a big smile on your face in the morning will do wonders for your self-respect.

Where to Find Your Portuguese Teacher

Where to Find Your Portuguese Teacher Where Can You Take Portuguese Lessons with a Teacher? ChaptersLearning Portuguese with a Teacher at SchoolHow to Learn Portuguese at UniversityFinding Portuguese Lessons Online with a TutorFinding a Private Portuguese Tutor on an Online PlatformLearn to Speak Portuguese Through ImmersionAlthough it doesn't immediately spring to mind,  Portuguese is one of the most spoken languages in the world.This represents just over 220 million native speakers around the world, and puts the Portuguese language ahead of French, Japanese, or German.Portuguese is the official language of 9 different independent countries, including Portugal  in Europe, and Brazil in South America.The language is also spoken in some African countries such as Angola, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, and Cape Verde. In Asia, Portuguese is spoken in the autonomous Chinese territory of Macao and East Timor.With so many native speakers geographically spread over four continents, you can imagine why there would be so many reasons to learn Portuguese. But one of the advantages can al so make it a slightly more difficult language to learn.How should go about starting to learn Portuguese?There are less English speakers who speak Portuguese as a second language than Spanish. It'll often therefore be more difficult to find a Portuguese tutor than a Spanish one, but that doesn't mean that it's an impossible task.Obviously you're chances will increase if you live in a city with large Portuguese speaking populations, but even outside of this you can often find a language school offering Portuguese, or even a Portuguese tutor in your city on the Superprof  website.How to learn Portuguese no longer needs to be a question that you struggle to answer; here at Superprof we have everything you need to know to get you started.If you can not afford to travel to Lisbon, talk to the Portuguese locals in your area!And if this is not a feasible option, the spread of the Portuguese across the world means that lots of large cities now have Portuguese communities. It is not uncommon to find Portuguese restaurants or shops selling Iberian products in large towns and cities across the globe. Spending time in these places also increases your exposure to the language in the same immersive way as living in Lisbon or Porto does.For a student, you could learn by working in one of these shops. Many customers are Portuguese-speakers and can help you learn the Portuguese language like a native.For those who do not have enough time, being a customer in these stores can help you create links and opportunities with Portuguese speakers.In short:Learning Portuguese is a real asset to have on your CV. Besides, it may be useful when you go for Portuguese London shopping.But first of all,  find a competent and trustworthy teacher to transmit his or her knowledge to you when it comes to Portuguese vocabulary, grammar, conjugation, pronunciation, and accent. A flawless method will get you a long way.This is the key so that each learner can progress properly. Learning a foreign lan guage also requires a significant personal time investment to achieve one's goals. Since Portuguese is a Latin language,  the  learning will probably be less technical than other languages such as Japanese, Chinese, Korean, or Arabic, which don't use the Latin alphabet.There are different paths into the Portuguese language. You can make your Portuguese learning very academic by studying at school or at university, or you can use  digital means such as websites or applications.  A virtual teacher can fill learning gaps and provide significant linguistic lessons to new learners. Private lessons via platforms such as Superprof can also be an essential tool for studying and improving your language level in Portuguese.Whatever method you choose, be sure to practice between Portuguese lessons in order to reinforce what you have studied and learnt.There are many choices available to you!

If you dont know where youre going; youre already there.... - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / If you don’t know where you’re going; you’re already there.... - Introvert Whisperer If you don’t know where you’re going; you’re already there. If you don’t know where you’re going; you’re already there. Having a goal helps to ensure you’re moving forward rather than backward.   If you haven’t figured out how life works yet, a universal principle is that you are always moving in a direction.   You are moving forward, backward or you’re being washed side to side as the winds of circumstances occur. You will like moving forward rather than the other two alternatives and the best way to make that happen is to know where you’re going. Granted, unexpected things pop up that will detour your plans but if you know where you’re headed, it will allow you to resume your course quickly. One of the things about goals is that we don’t always think through is the real end result we are trying to achieve.   It’s easier when there is a clear and easy result that can be measured like losing 10 pounds.   When it’s more subjective we stop short of really drilling down to what we are really expecting.   An example would be if I wanted to improve my communication. Communication is a broad topic with tons of aspects to it so if I left it there, who knows where I’d end up. That’s where most people stop; little wonder why we get so cynical about making goals.   We don’t hit them and it becomes demoralizing because it seems like a failure. So, what should you do if you’ve got some subjective goals? A healthy approach is to ask a ton of questions of you.   Let me use the communication improvement to show you what I mean. Feel free to use these questions. Where do I feel I’m struggling with my communication now? Or if I’m not struggling, where do I want to see improvement? It could be the form of communication like emails, phone or speaking in a group.   It could be with certain people or specific situations. What 2-3 things can I do to address the specific communication issue? Maybe a class would help or ask a mentor to give you feedback and suggestions on the aspect of communication you want to change. What would be different if I improved my communication? Keep in mind this is YOUR goal and since its subjective, you can at least observe what would be different.   Perhaps you would notice less confusion and a reduction of repeated explanations.   It could be less conflict between you and another person.   This is really defining your goals. How will I know I’ve hit this goal? I’d suggest setting up checkpoints throughout the year not only to remind you to put some conscious thought into this goal but to see if you have a new perspective.   Often times we gain a new and better insight as we pursue a goal and would answer these questions differently.   Its ok if you tweak your goal now that you’re a bit smarter. Yep, it hurts the brain to think this much but you’ll be happy you did. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

8 Things to Consider When Creating a Study Schedule for the MCAT

8 Things to Consider When Creating a Study Schedule for the MCAT MCAT Medical School Admissions The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is one of the most challenging graduate school entry exams. While the content and strategy is difficult, it is essential for students to focus on planning when preparing for this lengthy exam. A successful MCAT preparation begins with creating a study schedule that manages to accommodate your other commitments while meeting your preparation needs. Here are eight tips to assist you in preparing your own study schedule for the exam: 1. Consider when you want toapply and begin medical school With 50+ hours of prerequisite courses and a year-long process for applying to medical school, planning for the MCAT can be daunting. There are two ways of approaching this based on what type of student you are: Traditional Students: Traditional students are those who plan to finish college in four years and start medical school the fall after graduation. Typically, traditional students finish their prerequisite courses by spring of their Sophomore year and schedule their test during their junior year. This allows them enough time to take the MCAT twice (if needed) prior to May, when applications open. Nontraditional students: A nontraditional student is anyone who does not fall under the category above. These students tend to struggle scheduling their MCAT because their timeline is not as strictly defined. In order to apply, you will need a score report for your MCAT prior to May of the year of application (e.g. If you want to matriculate in Fall 2018, you will need to take your tes t no later than April 2017 so that you receive a score report by May of 2017, when applications open). Also, keep in mind that you may want to retake the exam and should plan for a retake just in case your score does not match your goal. 2. Evaluate if you are prepared to begin studying for the MCAT Before deciding to take the MCAT you should have completed ALL your prerequisite courses. While some may advise that you can ‘self-teach’, most students struggle with this and see severe deficiencies on their score reports.Evaluate what events are coming up in your life in the next six months. Work, personal, or school events can drastically affect your study schedule. When setting up your study schedule, factor in birthdays, weddings, exams and other major events so that you do not overbook your study schedule. Make sure to leave yourself some wiggle room when planning your study schedule. Most students have some bumps along the way studying. Whether it’s the flu or car trouble, make sure you leave yourself some buffer time to deal with regular life. 3. Register for your test as early as possible and set a score goal Test registration fees increase closer to your testing date, while site availability decreases. Be sure to register early so that you can plan for your test date. In addition, use this as a motivator throughout your study plan by counting down the days. Research medical schools and note their median scores for matriculants. Set your target score slightly above the median score of schools that you would like to attend. 4. Your study schedule should be about 100 days Each student will vary in how much time they need to prepare for the MCAT. In general, a minimum of 100 days is sufficient to review the material and take a variety of practice passages and exams. Your preparation should consist of about 60% content review and 40% strategy and testing. 5. Invest in a variety of practice materials A common mistake students make when preparing for the exam is using one brand of test preparation materials. While this seems ideal since the materials usually integrate well, it also leaves the student vulnerable to a few common problems.1) Students often develop a bias towards how they approach test questions and become used to that style of writing and questioning. When the structure of questions or passages varies, they tend to not score as well. 2) While every test preparation company does their best to review all the content, they may miss some topics or not explain them in a way that resounds with the student. This is where students benefit from a variety of content review books, practice passages, and exams. In addition, reading multiple test preparation sources with the same content will reinforce the content through repetition. 6. Invest in a planner that breaks down your day into hours, days, weeks, and months Most pre-medical students are overachievers and lead extremely busy lives. Given this type of lifestyle, it is easy to lose track of how a day, week, or even a month is spent. Studying for the MCAT is like training for a marathon, every session counts towards your long-term goal. Using a planner that breaks down your time allows you to track your short-term study habits, while also keeping track of your long-term goal for your exam. Ideally, you should be tracking how many hours you study per day while noting how much you can accomplish during that time frame. 7. Evaluate and adjust your study schedule. Track your progress Use your planner to evaluate whether you are sticking to your study schedule and meeting your goals. This will allow you to assess whether you need to change study habits, environment, or lessen commitments. In addition to a planner, an excel sheet or notebook tracking passage and exam results is a useful tool to measure progress. This will allow you to assess whether you are on track to meet your target score and what areas of content are weak. 8. Beware of burnout and don’t be afraid to alter your plans or test date While studying for the MCAT can be all consuming, it is important to balance the exam. With a 100-day study schedule, you should be able to take at least one day a week off from studying and testing. Breaks allow you to refresh and remember why you are studying for such an arduous exam.As you approach your test date, it is normal to consider rescheduling your exam if you are not meeting your score goals or are behind on your study schedule. You can reschedule your exam up until 1 month prior to your test. Relax and take the time you need to do well; you will be glad you did!