What is it Like to Attend Haverford College

What is it Like to Attend Haverford College The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Celine graduated from Haverford College in 2006 with a Bachelors degree in History. She is currently a tutor in Washington D.C. specializing in SAT prep tutoring, Reading tutoring, French tutoring, and more. See what she had to say about her alma mater: 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? Celine: Haverford College is located about 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia in the residential area of the Main Line. It is surrounded by several colleges, including Villanova University, Rosemont College, and Bryn Mawr College. While the area is residential, there are coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores and a shopping mall within walking distance. One can also walk to the regional train station or to the trolley to go into Philadelphia. The various options of public transportation allow those students who do not have a car or bike to be able to leave campus and get what and where they need. Car sharing programs are also available on campus. Safety at Haverford and outside the campus is not a concern. As a student at Haverford, I always felt very safe and felt comfortable walking around campus at night alone. Nevertheless, Haverford has a strong campus security system and students can call for an escort to be accompanied when going to another location on campus at night. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Celine: Professors, academic advisers and teaching assistants are all extremely available. In addition to having office hours, they will work with students to meet at a mutually convenient time. A large portion of the faculty and administration lives on or near campus, which facilitates their availability to meet with students. Some professors will even make their home phone numbers available to students. If the class is small enough, professors may even elect to have the class in their house. At Haverford, teaching assistants are only assistants. They neither teach courses nor grade exams. They serve as tutors and sometimes will help professors grade homework. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Celine: One of the great things about Haverford is that 98% of students live on campus all four years. This fact makes socialization very easy as you can meet with friends on campus right before class or on the weekend to watch a movie or to go into Philadelphia. However, you dont have to go off campus to have fun on the weekends. Since the school has over 145 clubs, there is always something to do on campus. Students have the option of living in a dorm or in an on-campus apartment. Freshmen live with their Customs group and Customs people, upperclassmen who serve as mentors to the freshmen and support them as they transition into college life. Freshmen and all students who live on campus (except those who live in the apartments) must be on the meal plan, which provides access to dining services at both Haverford College and Bryn Mawr College. Unlike most universities, neither Haverford nor Bryn Mawr outsources its dining services to outside organizations. All meals are prepared at the respective college. The Bi-College Dining Services goes to great lengths to accommodate students with special dietary needs or allergies. Other food options at Haverford include: Lunt Caf (open in the evening), the Coop Baristas Nook (open all day) and the Center for Peace and Global Citizenship (CPCG) Caf (open in the afternoon). 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? Celine: As a small liberal arts college, Haverford is very unique in that its students do not have to major at Haverford. They can also major in any program offered by Bryn Mawr or Swarthmore College and take courses at the University of Pennsylvania. This arrangement allows Haverford to offer a wide selection of majors and programs of study while maintaining its small size. At Haverford, students can major in various subjects in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. Some students also decide to design their own major if their area of study is not available at Haverford, Bryn Mawr or Swarthmore. During their senior year, all Haverford students, including those who major in the sciences and mathematics, write a thesis. After considering various majors, I ultimately decided to study History at Haverford because I am interested in public policy and the study of the past is necessary for evaluating current situations and how to best improve them. With support from both the Political Science and History departments, I then wrote my thesis on how former President Bachelets election had the possibility of closing historical divides in Chile. 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? Celine: While Haverford is a very friendly campus, it is easier to meet people and make friends when one joins a club. While I had made acquaintances in my classes, I ultimately joined the Crew team to explore a sport I had always wanted to try and to meet more people. Through the crew team, I not only achieved my goal, but I also was able to meet other people, some of whom I am still friends with today. There is no Greek life at Haverford. Haverford is also unique in that it has one of the oldest honor codes in the country. The Honor Code, which guides academic and social life, is based on the principles of trust, respect and concern for each other. These principles are illustrated in several ways. For example, at an academic level, professors expect that students will not cheat and will respect themselves to provide an honest portrayal of what they learned in class. As a result, students take un-proctored exams, have closed book exams, and self-schedule their end-of-course exams. Furthermore, the Code encourages an environment were cutthroat competition is not the norm. At a social level, the Honor Code supports an environment where all students feel comfortable to express their opinions in a respectful manner and will not be judged for having a particular opinion. If a student observes an incident (either social or academic) where the Code is not being followed, that student is expected to confront their peers. Anoth er unique piece of the Code is that students write it. Each year, during Plenary, students discuss and revise the Code and vote on it. Based on the Quaker tradition of consensus, this vote is not a simple majority 2/3 of the student body must vote to ratify the Code. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Celine: Haverford has several student support services that are very supportive and work with students to meet their needs. In addition to the Career Center, students can receive support from the Deans Office, the Womens Center, and Counselling and Psychological Services, amongst other offices. The Career Center makes an effort to connect students with alumni who have a career that students are interested in. In addition to having opportunities for on and off campus recruiting, the Career Center hosts an externship program twice a year. In this program, alumni host students for a period of one or two weeks in their current position. The externship gives students an opportunity to see what the real world looks like in their area of interest. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Celine: Students tend to study in one of two libraries: Magill library and the White Science library. While both libraries are open to all students, easily available, and spacious, they provide opposing studying environments. Magill is very quiet while the Science Library is more social. Magills architecture is gothic while the Science Librarys is modern. If a student wants a guaranteed sport for quiet study, he/she can reserve a carrel at Magill. Students also study in the Whitehead Campus Center, Lunt Caf, and dorm lounges. In addition to Magill and the Science Library, Haverford has the Astronomy Library, the Union Music Library, the C.C. Morris Cricket Library, and the word-renowned Quaker and Special Collections, which is open to students and researchers alike. All of Haverfords libraries are part of a larger Tri-College library system shared with Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore Colleges, and Haverford students have full borrowing privileges in all three campuses. 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? Celine: Haverford College is surrounded by the towns of Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Ardmore. Suburban Square, the United States first shopping mall, is located a short walk from campus in Ardmore, and offers various dining options, a Trader Joes, an Apple Store and other retail stores. Additional restaurants, coffee shops, grocery and retail stores, and a movie theater are a short distance from campus. King of Prussia, one of the largest malls on the East Coast, is also 20 minutes away. Students can also take the trolley and regional rail, both run by SEPTA, to go into Philadelphia. In addition, students can use their own mode of transportation or use PhillyCarShare to get off campus. Students tend to try to get off campus at least once a week. However, where they go and what they do usually depends on the amount of work the student has! VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Celine: Haverford has about 1,200 students on campus. The largest classes tend to be the introductory classes and have a maximum of 80 students. As a freshman, my largest class, Calculus I, was about 75 people. Despite the large class size, I had an opportunity to develop a relationship with the professor by attending his office hours and group study sessions. Not all my freshman classes were so big. I also took courses my first year that had about 10-15 students. My smallest class at Haverford was made up of five students. I was generally pleased with the typical class sizes since professors of even the larger classes made an effort to get to know their students personally. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Celine: As a sophomore, I took an introductory history class of about 65 people. I met with the professor to discuss his comments from the essay he had just returned. In grading the next essay assignment, the professor commented on how I improved in the areas we discussed and referenced my last essay. I was both touched and taken aback by the fact that after grading 130 essays, the professor could remember my weaknesses on the first essay and how I had improved on them in the second one. Check out Celines tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Russian Vocabulary You Need to Know Before Traveling to Russia

Russian Vocabulary You Need to Know Before Traveling to Russia Basic vocabulary to know before going to Russia ChaptersHow to learn Russian vocabularyWhat vocabulary do you definitely need to learn before you leave?Thanks to its unique landscapes and its unmissable monuments, Russia is currently experiencing a real tourist boom!In 2013, more than 27 million foreign tourists went to admire the Motherland. Unfortunately, many of them had to call in a translator or could only speak with the natives who knew English, whether they were in Russia as tourists or even those who went to work.However, learning the language of Tolstoy before you travel will allow you to establish a real rapport with the natives and help improve American-Russian relations.Here's some basic Russian vocabulary so you can hit the ground running on your trip!Dictionary of Russian Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Vladimir Shlyakhov and Eve AdlerIt should be borne in mind, however, that most vocabulary textbooks are intended for beginners and will not help you become bilingual in Russian.To get a good level of Russian, it i s best to sign up for lessons in a language school with a Russian teacher. Find Russian classes London wide or in Glasgow with Superprof, where you can  begin studying Russian literature in the original language!Learn Russian vocabulary via appsBecoming an expert in Slavic languages and learning a foreign language at home is totally possible thanks to all the Russian courses available online!These free Russian courses are available on smartphone, tablet or computer and are aimed at a younger audience, who is happy to use new technologies. Russian-speaking families wishing to instill Dostoevsky's language in their children can install fun and entertaining applications on their tablets in just a few clicks.What’s the advantage?You’ll be able to study your vocabulary from anywhere, even during a flight on the way to Russia!Indeed, most applications are available offline, which lets you study your Russian vocabulary while on public transport, traveling or at work.Here are some of ou r top picks of applications to help you expand your Russian vocabulary:FluentURussian by Living LanguageLearn Russian Words for FreeLearn Russian. Speak RussianLearn Russian by Greg VickBabbel’s Learn RussianDuolingoLearn Russian in 6,000 wordsU-Learn Advanced RussianThe applications use mnemonic means to engage all three types of memory (visual, auditory and motor memory). The beginner Russian student can follow their progress and boost their level of Russian by adjusting the difficulty of the exercises as their knowledge grows.To learn new Russian vocabulary without your head exploding, the apps are a great learning tool!Learn Russian vocabulary onlineWhether it’s in order to prepare to study abroad, go and work in Russia, or even to just take a trip, students of the language can easily create their own study guides with the vocabulary they can find online.Why not learn how to speak Russian colloquially with a native language speaker?The top sites for learning Russian offer a complete vocabulary, grouped into several categories (personal pronouns, travel, Russian numbers, etc.). You can find online courses suitable for all ages: with exercises that range from the beginner to expert level, which is ideal for self-study as a beginner.Learning to read Russian can be done in many various ways, be inventive!Here’s a list of some of our top picks for sites to improve your Russian vocabulary:russ,Lingohut,Wikiversity,Master Russian,Evaneos,Study languages online,Everyday Russian language.Worried that you’ll struggle to learn to write Russian well through websites?Do not panic: most sites offer a Cyrillic keyboard. Learners can still practice writing a word and reproduce it on a sheet of paper in order to perfectly master the letters and symbols of the Russian alphabet.A perfect way to perfect your Russian language skills and be prepared to fend for yourself once in Russia!What vocabulary do you definitely need to learn before you leave?Introducing yourself in RussianWhen traveling abroad, it is essential to know how to present oneself correctly when speaking to natives.In Russia, unlike in English-speaking countries, it is not normal to use too many niceties or to smile at strangers: as a general rule, especially in the north of the country, a smile is reserved only for close friends or the family.However, it is necessary to master basic conversational phrases, especially if you want to be able to speak with Russian colleagues or other native students of the largest country in the world!Here are the Russian terms you must learn in order to blend into the Russian landscape:Yes: ??,No: ???,Hello: ??????,Good day: ??????????,Good morning: ?????? ????,Good afternoon: ?????? ????,Good evening: ?????? ?????,Good bye: ?? ????????,How are yoy: ??? ???? ?,What’s your name (informal): ??? ??? ????? ?,My name is: ???? ?????,Where are you from: ?????? ?? ????? ?,How old are you: ??????? ???? ??? ?,Please: ??????????,Thank you: ???????,It was ni ce to meet you: ??????? ???? ?????????????.It’s also well worth taking the time to study the etymology of Russian words, which will help give you an insight into Russian culture and history. In order to become a true polyglot, we’d recommend not just focussing on Russian vocabulary, but also learning all the fine points of Slavic grammar!Finding a job in RussiaWhether they’re in Moscow, St Petersburg, or in Novossibirsk…altogether, there are about 30,000 Americans who have chosen to call Russia home!Since you’ll be expert in the Russian language yourself, you can visit all the top tourist attractions in Russia without needing to hire an interpreter!Generally, Americans living in Russia can be divided into two categories: those who have been expatriated with their companies (these often make up the bulk of the expat population), and those who have made the choice to find work in the country for personal or professional reasons.Whether their goal is to find a job in the Russ ian Federation or to study abroad, Americans will need to master Russian grammar and Russian writing (and forget about the Latin alphabet and their mother tongue) in order to succeed!Here is the essential vocabulary for a job interview in Russia:I’m looking for a job: ? ??? ??????,I’m looking for a part-time job: ? ??? ?????? ?? ???????? ??????? ????,I’d like to work full time: ? ????? ?? ???????? ?????? ??????? ????,Here’s my resume: ??? ??? ??????,I have a college degree: ? ????????? ????????,Here’s a list of references: ??? ?????? ???? ????????????,I have a work permit: ? ???? ???? ?????????? ?? ??????,Professional experience: ???? ??????,Pre-tax salary: ??????-????????,Net salary: ?????????? ????? ?????,I’ve specialised in: ???????????????? ?? …,Work extra hours: ????????????.You should know that the average salary in Russia is $1058 per month. In order to support themselves more easily, Russian workers are more likely to work overtime than Americans.With a good do se of motivation, you will easily find employment and become bilingual in Russian!Knowing how to write Russian is an additional factor that can help you find work easier.Visiting Russia as a touristWith 23 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Russia is experiencing strong growth in international tourism, and with good reason!Whether you’re going to visit the Bolshoi, the Red Square or the Kremlin, our compatriots will need to learn to speak at least basic Russian and pronounce Russian correctly, often by signing up for a few Russian classes.Being able to speak Russian makes it possible to speak directly to the natives and gives you the chance to discover places that might be inaccessible to non-Russian speakers!Here is the vocabulary to use during your stay in Russia:I’m lost: ? ??????????,How do I get to…?  : ??? ??? ????????? ?? … ?,Downtown: ?????? ??????,The train station: ???????,The airport: ?????????,The embassy: ??????????,Where can I find…?: ??? ? ???? ????? … ?,A hotel : ?????,A supermarket: ???????????,A metro station: ??????? ?????,an atm: ????????,Where can I buy a bus ticket?: ??? ? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ???????  ?,Where is the car rental agency?: ??? ??? ?????? ???????????  ?,Turn left: ????????? ??????,Turn right: ????????? ???????,Go straight: ????? ?????.By mastering greeting and directions, an English speaker will be able to avoid hiring a translator when in Russia, and will even learn new words in Russian to enrich their Slavic vocabulary.Travelling is also a great opportunity to get a few free language lessons from native language speakers!Idiomatic expressions in RussianThe holy grail of every language student, mastering idiomatic expressions demonstrates a true understanding of a country’s language and culture!Are you prepared for the harsh Russian winters?The reasons for learning Russian expressions is twofold: the student will not only be able to understand colloquial Russian usage but will also discover the origins of idioms, whic h can help give you a better understanding into the national psyche.Here are some idiomatic expressions to remember:Leave without saying anything: ???? ??-?????????,By heart: ????????,Throw oil on the fire: ????????? ????? ? ?????,Lie through your teeth: ????? ??? ????? ?????,Have the head in the clouds: ?????? ? ???????,To have a chat ?????? ????,To sleep like the dead: ???? ? ???????? ??????,It’s in the bag: ???? ? ????? _delo v chl’ape_,All roads lead to Rome: ??? ?????? ????? ? ???,Gilding the lily: ??????????? ??????,Put the cart before the horse: Brositsia v past livu.Learning Russian online or through private lessons with a native speaker can help you learn about another culture and discover the official language of the largest country in the world.So, why not start with the basic vocabulary?