5 Common Reasons to Quit Playing Guitar... And What You Can Do to Stick With It

5 Common Reasons to Quit Playing Guitar... And What You Can Do to Stick With It Maile Proctor Dont let the title fool you, were not encouraging you to quit guitar. In fact, we want to help you stick with it. Oftentimes when people decide to learn an instrument, they  end up quitting before they realize their full potential. Here, Irvine, CA guitar instructor Douglas F.  breaks down five of the most common reasons people quit playing guitar, and what you can do  to overcome your excuses. In everyday encounters, it’s surprisingly common to hear I used to play guitar, but after someone finds out that I play or teach guitar. What follows is a slew of excuses that I’ve compiled and compressed into the top five reasons for quitting guitar. You may have heard these excuses, and maybe even used a few yourself. When youre feeling discouraged, heres what you can do to push past your rut and stick with it! Self Doubt Lack of skill as a beginner is one of the most common reasons that people drop the guitar for good. In my opinion, this  excuse makes the least amount of sense. With any new skill, why would anyone expect to be great without preparation and practice? This is nothing but a combination of self-doubt and classic learning frustration. In conversations like this, I like to share my personal experience: When I first started, I was not very good (AT ALL) at guitar, drums, or bass. The  truth is, no one is born a musician; all it takes is the genuine desire to learn. This should not be confused with natural ability and the amount of time you have played guitar. Lack of Time / Time Management If you can devote 20 focused minutes to playing guitar every day, you’re on your way to greatness. Comparing the amount of time you’ve played guitar to others is useless. People watch me play guitar and think that since I have played for about 10 years, it must take that long to play comfortably. Wrong; in fact, the amount of time you have played is pretty much irrelevant. Before starting with a new student, I often ask how long they’ve played guitar. I’ve learned over the years that the answer to this questions has very little correlation to the student’s ability level. I’ve had students bumping out John Mayer songs after only a few months, and people who have tinkered around with guitar for 55 years and never decided to learn more than three songs. Here’s a tip:  Try recording yourself  so you can hear how much you’ve improved. You’ll be surprised, if you’re learning the right way, you’ll notice that you sound and feel better every single time you pick up your guitar. Learning Guitar is Challenging If you have this excuse, youre not learning the right way. Learning and practicing should be fun the whole time I promise this is actually possible. Stop memorizing make habits instead. Don’t let memorization stress you out! Don’t bother memorizing chord structures, song structures, scales, when you can pull them up on devices, print them out, or get that chord poster they have in every music store. You don’t need to know scales to learn songs, and if you’re learning scales before songs- please fire your instructor today. Dont waste your time and brain power. The habits will slide themselves into your playing- just like they do best. You will easily memorize things like chord shapes quicker than you may expect, because guitar playing is all about muscle memory! Boredom / Loss of Interest To me, this just screams that you arent having fun; probably for very justifiable reasons. Here are some of the reasons this may be.. Once you consider playing guitar as homework or feel dreadful about practicing, you know something is wrong! In a lot of cases, music instructors will choose the  music for their students, when it should be the complete opposite. A good instructor will know how to take your favorites song, and create a way for you to play it at your skill level. Music is about the feeling you get when you play, there will never be a good reason to play music you don’t enjoy: so stop playing the songs that bore you and find something you want to dance around to! If you dread playing a certain song because its too difficult, then that’s another story. Play something that gets you grooving and hungry for more, and then go back to learning the difficult song. Unrealistic Expectations You have to remember that the musicians you look up to were also in your shoes at one point. In fact, they are still learning more, all the time! Change your mentality: Whats your goal, anyway? Is it to be able to play comfortably within a couple months? Could being a guitar player” simply mean playing a song you really like? Learning just one song is a much more realistic goal than setting out to become a rock god who can awe a crowd with a high-speed guitar solo. Set mini goals for yourself! Every day is a new chance to play guitar in a totally new mentality. Rock out and have fun! Remember, It’s never too late to learn to play guitar, so if youve put it down, dont be afraid to pick it back up and give it another go! Post Author: Douglas F. Douglas teaches guitar, drums, and music theory in Irvine, CA. He studied music theory at North Carolina State University, and has been playing guitar and drums for over 10 years. Learn more about Douglas  here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Establishing Yourself as a Boxing Coach

Establishing Yourself as a Boxing Coach How Can You Make a Name for Yourself as a Boxing Coach? ChaptersFinding Aspiring Boxers in your NetworkBoxing Coaching: Visiting Local BusinessesLooking for Potential Clients in Gyms and Sports ClubsUsing Online Platforms to Find Boxing Coaching Customers“Never give up, which is the lesson I learned from boxing. As soon as you learn to never give up, you have to learn the power and wisdom of unconditional surrender, and that one doesn't cancel out the other; they just exist as contradictions. The wisdom of it comes as you get older.” - Kris KristoffersonAfter several years in the ring, are you still not ready to hang up your gloves?The Noble Art of boxing is a combat sport that’s increasing in popularity. The popularity of boxing and wrestling has driven growth in the sports club sector.To learn to box, you don’t need to get a licence. You can teach private boxing, Muay Thai, savate, or kick-boxing tutorials to anyone wanting to get better.So how can you find students or clients for your coaching sessions? Are you wondering how to promote your boxing coaching business?In this article, we're offering some business tips for those new to boxing coaching, business promotion, and online marketing. AndreyBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KostiaBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LeeBoxing Teacher £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SajBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KaranBoxing Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ThomasBoxing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HaileyBoxing Teacher 4.50 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidBoxing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsFinding Aspiring Boxers in your NetworkJust like when looking for any other job, ask your network where to look. Make sure that you tell everyone about your boxing coaching. (Source: Maza_Fight_Gallery)Do you not have a network?Your network isn’t just those you know who are interested in working with you. Your network is everyone you know: friends, family, colleagues, etc.Ask Your Close Friends and FamilyWhen looking for work, your friends and family are the first people you’ll want to ask.  You’ll probably know somebody who wants to improve their physical fitness, strengthen muscles, or take up boxing with you.If nobody in your family and none of your friends want to box, perhaps they’ll know somebody who does. Don’t underestimate the power of word of mouth; your friends and family can be more effective than any business card. You don’t need to employ them as your marketing team, you can just let them know that you’re coaching. They’ll think of you the next time they hear anyone mention that they want to learn how to box.Using Social Media to Find ClientsAgain, you don’t need to flood your feeds with statuses about how you’re a boxing coach but you can mention that you are one and even make a Facebook page for your coaching business.The advantage?More of your contacts will be aware of your coaching business and you can start building a reputation through social media marketing. Think about your target audience. A lot of small businesses use promotional tools like Facebook ads as they're one of the best ways to promote your business online.Find out more about online platforms for boxing coaching.Using Your First Clients to Promote Your CoachingOnce you get your first customers, you’ll need to find a few more. Take good care of your first customers as they’ll be the first to talk about you to their friends and family.The goal is to improve their agility, their attacks, and how good they feel when training with you. If you provide a good service and are a good teacher, you’ll soon have plenty of customers.  You want to make sure that your first eve r customers are promoting your business. After all, they'll be creating brand awareness for you as a boxing coach when you first start on your endeavour.Ask Your NeighboursWhether you’re in the country or the city, nobody lives in a bubble. Use your geographical location to your advantage.You could try knocking on doors but this is quite ineffective and runs the risk of annoying your neighbours. That said, if you’re a good salesperson, this technique will be more effective than putting flyers in their letterbox.Don’t hesitate to mention your new coaching business to your neighbours and grow your network of potential customers.You can always leave a friendly note or flyer or put up classified ads detailing:What type of classes you’re offering: kick-boxing, self-defence, Muay Thai, fitness boxing, traditional boxing, etc.Whether you train in a gym or offer sessions at home.Whether or not you provide equipment (protection, gloves, punching bags, etc.).The level you teach.Your e xperience as a boxer, how many years you’ve coached, and any other accolades you might have.Your pedagogy: How do you teach boxing?The advantages of getting training from you.Your hourly rates.Make sure you’re concise and provide all the useful information including how to get in touch with you. Don’t forget to put your telephone number or your flat number if you’re posting ads in your building.Find out more about becoming a boxing coach.Boxing Coaching: Visiting Local BusinessesHave you ever seen adverts for babysitting or maths tutors on a local business’ noticeboard? Why not try this technique yourself?You can always put up a poster, flyer, or notice in the local butcher, baker, chemist, or supermarket. This can give you a good amount of exposure in the local neighbourhood and also grow your network.As customers wait in a queue to pay for their shopping, their eyes may be drawn towards your poster (if they aren’t glued to their smartphone!).You want to make sure that your ad grabs their attention and fully explains who you are, what you do, and how they can get in touch. Make sure you also include your rates and your telephone number. You may even want to make sure that there are slips of paper they can tear off the poster with your number on it or business cards they can take.A small box with business cards can also be left on the counters of local businesses for potential clients to pick up. Make sure you do this on a day where it’s not forecast to rain!Looking for Potential Clients in Gyms and Sports ClubsSporty people often look for new and interesting ways to train or be active. Offering boxing coaching to those who are already in decent shape is a great way to find new customers. There are a lot of potential clients in gyms. (Source: SFReader)Pick important times of the year to push your business, too; just before the kids go back to school or in the new year when many people are looking for ways to be healthy.It’s probably not a great idea to advertise in boxing clubs as you may anger the owners, especially if you’re in direct competition with them. That said, you can increase your target area to include dance schools and martial arts clubs. In any case, always ask for permission before putting up posters or ads. When you ask, it’s also a good idea to introduce yourself to the owners of the business, receptionist, or anyone who’s customer-facing as they may bring you up in conversation.Potential customers are hiding everywhere so don’t hesitate to speak to the people you know about your boxing coaching. Leave an impression and people will talk about you to other people they know.Find out more about planning boxing sessions.Using Online Platforms to Find Boxing Coaching CustomersIn addition to the physical methods, don’t forget to improve your visibility online. Even for local services, many people use a search engine to find businesses, tutors, and coaches and having an online presence is one of the most important marketing strategies nowadays. Consider whether or not to offer equipment to your clients. (Source: eloneo)In addition to putting ads on sites like Craigslist and Gumtree, the most effective method is to go to sites for coaches and tutors.On Superprof, for example, you can join the talented and experienced tutors and coaches. You’ll be creating an online profile and CV rather than just a quick ad and you can include your methodology, training, rates, and your actual CV.You can also add a photo and a video to promote your services and draw in potential customers. Potential clients can find you according to what you coach, where you are, and the feedback and ratings provided by former students. These comments and recommendations are some of the best ways to attract new customers to your coaching business.On Superprof, you can set your rates and discounts. You don’t have to spend a single penny unless you want to promote your profile. Payments are between you and your customers. Potential students and customers p ay to get in touch with coaches and tutors.Most tutors will offer the first hour for free, allowing them to get to know one another and put together a bespoke programme.Finally, you can also put together your website showing off everything you can do and the services you offer. To keep things easy, there are simple site creation tools like WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix.If you regularly offer group sessions, you may want to consider email marketing. Emails are great for promoting special offers and quickly communicating with your target market. If you have the email addresses of customers past and present, whenever you're putting together a group session or offering a discount, for example, you can quickly contact them with an emailer.Similarly, you may want to put some blog content for promoting your services on your website, for example. This is a great way to grow your business and an effective marketing tool as people will regularly be returning to your website.We recommend tha t you use a few of the methods we’ve mentioned to find customers more easily and quickly.So are you ready to find your customers?

Chain Rule

Chain Rule Chain Rule is the rule related to find out the derivatives. In this generally there are two functions. So this rule determines the derivative where two functions are involved. This rule is very important part of differentiation. Without chain rule the problem would be really complicated. This tool helps in easy calculation of differentiation of two different functions. Its scope is not limited to this but it is so wide. It has so many other applications as well. The two examples will give clear indication about its worth.The examples are shown below. Example 1:- Find the differentiation of 2 (2x+1) ^2 Solution:- Given function is 2 (2x+1) ^2 and this is a composite function. To find: - d/dx 2 (2x+1) ^2. Now d/dx 2 (2x+1) ^2 = 2 d/dx (2x+1) ^2 (because 2 is constant so comes out) So d/dx 2 (2x+1) ^2 = 2 x 2 (2x+1)^(2-1) d/dx (2x+1) 4 (2x+1) x 2 = 8 (2x+1) = 16x +8 So the differentiation of 2 (2x+1) ^2 is 16x +8. Example 2:- Find the differentiation of 3 (3x+1) ^2. Solution:- Given function is 3 (3x+1) ^2 and this is a composite function. To find: - d/dx 3 (3x+1) ^2. Now d/dx 3 (3x+1) ^2 = 3 d/dx (3x+1) ^2 (because 2 is constant so comes out) So d/dx 2 (2x+1) ^2 = 3 x 2 (3x+1)^2-1d/dx (3x+1) 6 (3x+1) x 3 = 18 (3x+1) = 54x + 18 So the differentiation of 3 (3x+1) ^2 is 54x +18.

Should I Go To Johns Hopkins University

Should I Go To Johns Hopkins University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Abir is a New York City tutor specializing in Chemistry tutoring, ISEE prep tutoring, SSAT prep tutoring, Writing tutoring, and more. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2011 with a Bachelors degree in Behavioral Biology. Check out his review of his 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? Abir: Johns Hopkins is situated perfectly in the northern part of Baltimore right at the border between urban downtown Baltimore and suburban neighborhoods. As such, I felt very safe on campus because of the numerous attentive security personnel. There are multiple public transportation options, such as the Baltimore MTA and Circulator to travel to the Inner Harbor or the College Town Shuttle to visit the incredible indoor mall in Towson. However, the buses are not always punctual and I didnt truly appreciate Baltimore for the charming city it is until I had my own car. However, having a car is not a necessity; all of Johns Hopkins campuses, including the Medical Institute, School of Public Health, and Peabody are available via the free JHMI shuttle. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Abir: In my experience, the faculty at Johns Hopkins is easily approachable and available for study questions as well as informal career advising. If a student shows preparation and thought with regard to their academic and career work, the faculty will show a vested interest in your success. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Abir: Dorm life at Hopkins can be an amazing experience. There are numerous new housing options such as the recently erected Charles Common. The dining options during freshman and sophomore years are not numerous, but all the venues make a concerted effort to provide the most diverse options possible. Options include the Fresh Food Caf, a cafeteria style option primarily for freshmen and sophomores; Levering Hall, a great lunch spot that offers hand-made sandwiches, Mexican food, a salad bar, and a grill; and the Charles Street Market, which serves as a small grocery store with options for hand-made Boars Head sandwiches and its own Einstein Brothers Bagels. There are numerous opportunities for socialization, which typically begin and end with Greek-sponsored events. However, the city of Baltimore itself provides excellent opportunities for off-campus fun as well. 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? Abir: Johns Hopkins prides itself in its focus on the sciences, particularly health and engineering, as well as creative writing. Approximately 90% of the student body focuses on a health or biology-related major or an engineering major. I studied Behavioral Biology, a relatively new and small major. I focused on Behavioral Biology because I was able to tailor it to my personal interests in behavior and neuroscience well because of it was a nascent major. The university did a great job supporting my interests; this is not surprising, considering the number of premedical students at Johns Hopkins. If you are planning to be a doctor, an engineer, a researcher, or a writer, I would highly recommend Johns Hopkins to all. 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? Abir: It was not difficult at all to meet people and make friends. Freshman year is chock-full of events that foster meaningful socialization, and most people find a solid friend group by the end of the year. Having said that, many students are very academic and career-oriented and as a result, it can be difficult to find a diverse array of friends in terms of academic and career goals. Greek life plays a significant role in campus social life, but it can be easily avoided, if you choose. It is all a matter of preference and differs from student-to-student. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Abir: The Career Center at Hopkins is unparalleled. There are numerous job fairs and any motivated student will find exactly what they seek. The close proximity of Washington, D.C. provides numerous career opportunities ranging from research to corporate positions. Other student support services, such as pre-health advising, are exceedingly helpful, though often very intense. It will harden you as a student and potential applicant for any and all graduate programs, ultimately grooming you to be the best you can be. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Abir: In my experience, the library at Johns Hopkins is the best in the world. They have a serious commitment to consistently improve it year after year. With the addition of the new Brody Learning Commons and the recent renovation of Gilman Hall, there is no shortage of places to study, all found in a wide range of environments. This is absolutely one of the best advantages of attending Johns Hopkins. The student union is lacking, mostly because there is none that exists; however, the student body does an excellent job of providing events and various places to meet and socialize. All study and dorm areas are almost always easily available and spacious, though some of the hot spots can get overrun during exam season. 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? Abir: I cannot stress enough how much I love Baltimore. There are several amazing places to eat and visit from the Inner Harbor to the surrounding neighborhoods. Baltimore truly lives up to its name as the Charm City with its own unique charm and attraction you just have to know where to go. Additionally, Washington, D.C. is a short car trip or train ride away and you can travel virtually anywhere via the DC Metro. Most students live on or near campus, but whether or not a student goes to the downtown area or stays around campus varies on an individual basis. Most students, however, do visit the downtown area regularly. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Abir: The student body consists of approximately 5,000 undergraduates. This is a great number because you still get the small class sizes in certain classes, but there are great enough numbers of students to allow for a great amount of diversity within each class. I was generally pleased with the class size, though I would have preferred if some of the basic classes had less students. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Abir: Nearly all of my most memorable experiences at Hopkins have been with the Johns Hopkins Tutorial Project, a volunteer organization which pairs Hopkins students as tutors with elementary and middle school students from the local community. Working every day to make a difference in another students life while utilizing my academic skills was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. This is a great representation of the incredible array of volunteer opportunities available at Johns Hopkins. Check out Abirs tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Learn English As You Travel ESOL In The USA

Learn English As You Travel ESOL In The USA Learning English On A Trip to The United States of America ChaptersThe Different Types Of EnglishAbout The Largest English-Speaking Country - AmericaBenefits Of Learning English While Travelling In The United States of AmericaTop Benefits And Tips For Learning English In The USAShort Courses To Enrol On Whilst In The USAAttractions For US Sitcom Lovers To VisitOther Options For ESL English Learners To Visit The United States of AmericaUS Entry Essentials To For The English Language LearnerIf you are an ESL learner and you are serious about developing your English language skills and developing fluency to feed into your English as a second language (ESOL) course, then you should definitely consider travelling out of the ordinary ESL classroom and into an extraordinary English speaking country as part of your English language development.What better way to grasp a language than to immerse yourself in the country's culture, hearing the language being spoken by natives?No one can dispute the effectiveness of enrolling in ESL programs, don't get us wrong. ESOL teaching techniques and ESOL English certification programs for ESL students are top quality and have proven to be highly effective. The learning environment and teaching strategies certainly are the leading factor in motivation and language development for students. This method of teaching and learning gives English language learners a solid foundation in the language, giving students the speaking, listening, reading and writing skills to communicate in English competently.But despite the strengths of ESL English language instruction in the traditional way, speaking English requires more than just language training. For non native students to learn English effectively and fluently they must spend some time in English speaking countries. This will allow them to transform limited English language skills into high-level language proficiency.When you study in the classroom, your English speaking tends to stop once you leave the physical class. But when you live abroad in an English speaking country, English language teaching opportunities are all around you and you learn fast. This strategy has real value for international students who are serious about their second language acquisition and want to speed up the process.The Northeast is where you will find New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island.The Midwest is where you will find Ohio, Michigan and Kansas.The South is where you will find Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and TexasThe West is where you find California, Arizona, Alaska and New Mexico.Like the UK, People in the USA live all over the country, you can find huge cities or tiny towns and everything in between. The transport system is fantastic with trains and long distance buses that can take you anywhere you need to go. However, English learner who hopes to travel across the country should be aware of how large the United States is depending on your connection it could take days to travel from the east to west coast.It is important while planni ng your trip in the USA that you maximise your time to learn the most possible about the language and culture. If you want to experience the immersion and enrichment from travelling abroad, you have to be very intentional in your learning. Because you will not have an English tutor or language program to guide your learning.You will be fully responsible for your speaking skills, your listening skills and your comprehension. This will be your most honest language assessment, and you will have to become a teacher to yourself. Spotting opportunities to learn, by paying attention to the native grammatical language that English speakers use.Imagine if you improved your English speaking by sightseeing in the USA. Photo Source: UnsplashBenefits Of Learning English While Travelling In The United States of AmericaAdvancing with your English proficiency is the goal of any trip abroad to an English speaking country.  If you are willing to be fully engaged in your own development and learning of English, then this will be a successful experience.Be aware of no smoking signs even when you outsideThe international country code is 1, and each state has its own 3 digit area codeSaying hello or shaking hands is the usual greeting upon meeting someone. Depending on where you are you may be hugged or kissed on the cheek.As an ESOL student travelling in the USA, you are going to have the time of your life, and it will undoubtedly be a highlight of your English language learning journey. When you go back to your ESOL lessons so much more is going to make sense to you. This is an experience that brings your imagination to life and also brings the language to life too. So if you have the chance make sure to book your trip ASAP and start the language learning journey of a lifetime.Imagine being able to say that you improved your English speaking confidence by sightseeing in New York, USA or Melbourne Australia.If you found this useful, why not check out our blog on Student Travel in Canada!

Heart Math Tutoring Fills Critical Gaps in Math for Hundreds of CMS Students - Heart Math Tutoring

Heart Math Tutoring Fills Critical Gaps in Math for Hundreds of CMS Students - Heart Math Tutoring Heart Math Tutoring Fills Critical Gaps in Math for Hundreds of CMS Students Heart Math Tutoring Fills Critical Gaps in Math for Hundreds of CMS Students June 17, 2016 Heart is proud to announce that in the 2015/16 school year, 99 percent of Heart students met program growth goals in math, growing in two or more building block concept areas. On average, students doubled the goal â€" growing in 4.6 concept areas. The goals were set with guidance from math specialists at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and UNC Charlotte. “We are proud of our students and know that their tutors left them in a better place than they began, ultimately bringing long-term benefits,” says Emily Elliott, executive director of Heart. “The skills Heart measures are proven to be critical building blocks for success in math, supporting students as they enter higher levels of math, meet graduation requirements, and access career and post-secondary options.” In addition, more than 90 percent of teachers observed conceptual growth in math and believe Heart had an impact on class work and tests; 96 percent of teachers believe that students showed an increase in confidence and enthusiasm for math as a result of the program; and 74 percent said students became more confident and enthusiastic in subjects other than math as a result of the program. See the full press release here.

I Didnt Get the GCSE Results Needed for Sixth Form College

I Didn't Get the GCSE Results Needed for Sixth Form College So, you didn't get the GCSE results needed for your chosen Sixth Form College. Before you try any one of our options below,  first  contact your chosen college as soon as possible! They might let you in, anyway. If not, don’t worry! There are still options. Exam resits Speak to your chosen college before deciding to re-sit; some colleges may allow you to re-sit GCSEs alongside your AS Levels. It is true that many students do far better in re-sits, but your teacher will know your capabilities well. If your teacher believes you won’t improve, it might not be worth the effort. Remember that resitting exams can be lonely and will increase your workload. A-Levels are a big step up from GCSEs so bear that in mind when deciding. If you decide to take another year to prepare for Sixth  Form and get better GCSE results that’s perfectly okay â€" you really don’t have to go through AS and A2 exactly when everyone else does. You don’t have to re-sit at the same school either.  There are 5th   and 6th form colleges that specialize in putting students through GCSE resits â€" or you can always study at home, with a private tutor if necessary, and sit your exams as an External Candidate. An experienced tutor should be able to help you with this. Ask for a remark If you feel your mark does not reflect how well you performed, you can request a remark. The more subjective the subject is, the more chance the score could change. In other words, you’re more likely to get a remark in English or Humanities subjects than in Maths and Science. For the less subjective subjects it might be worth just asking for the ‘clerical’ remark service (i.e. did the examiner miss out any questions when marking, or add your marks up wrong?) which is often cheaper. Ask your subject teacher for advice on this and  bear in mind your mark could go down as well as up, so if you’re just a few marks above a grade boundary this could be a risky strategy! Search for another college Search for another college with lower entry requirements. You’ll need to contact the college admissions to check if there are still free places. As always, ask your school careers adviser for help and advice on this. Don’t make a rushed decision; it takes time to  discuss the pros and cons for each college choice. Retake the year You could retake the year to achieve the grades required to attend your chosen College. Before going ahead with this option, contact your chosen college and check that they will accept you if you were to retake the year. Remember that retaking the year might be difficult and could be lonely, but many students find A Levels a big step up from GCSEs, so there could well be advantages in taking one more year to prepare yourself for 6th form. Other Options You could consider other options such as vocational courses or apprenticeships. Again, speak to your careers adviser for help and guidance.

The Time is Now Mike Matousek On Founding Flashnotes In College

The Time is Now Mike Matousek On Founding Flashnotes In College Photo via http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikematousek Matousek  eventually graduated from Kent State University in 2010 with a degree in finance and entrepreneurship, but not before he founded Flashnotes, a Boston-based online marketplace where students can buy and sell their notes and other class materials. To date, the company has acquired NoteUtopia and Moolaguides, and has raised  Series A funding amounting to 3.6 million. Matousek retold the birth of the idea for Flashnotes, reminiscing on a statistics class he really didnt understand, and consequently took copious detailed notes. The idea took hold when he sold his first batch of those notes with the notion that, maybe, other students didnt or couldnt take such detailed notes and would benefit from the sharing of his. And so the mission of Flashnotes, powering the student-to-student exchange of high quality academic materials to help supplement and complement the learning experience by harnessing commerce and the latest technologies, was conceived. Matousek  admitted that in the early stages of Flashnotes (while he was a senior at Kent State) he knew little of how to turn his idea into an actual business, and that the unknown and unexpected were some of the mental obstacles he and many entrepreneurs have tackled when first starting out. You know, I think problem solving is one of the best qualities because there will always be unexpected situations, he said. You just have to keep pushing. Indeed, the ability to accept that there is a distinct learning curve when it comes to building and launching a new business is well founded. “Founders need to be adaptable   not only because it takes a certain level of mental flexibility to understand what users want, but because the plan will probably change,  said Jessica Livingston, author of the book  Founders at Work, in an article via the 16th letter. Speaking of change, Flashnotes now not only facilitates hand-written notes (although Matousek  said this is still the most-used format), but has also expanded to include multimedia and video tutorials. Students set their own prices and earn up to 70 percent on their sales, and since the content is crowd sourced, poor notes subsequently do not get purchased and are filtered out. The site also highlights competitive earners, showing the top five student earning amounts (note the top seller has sold over $11,000 worth of study material). This expansion, after an initial startup of eight months, shows that it is indeed possible to take a simple concept the concept of sharing and turn it into a profitable business. After a few short years, Flashnotes is now using investor funds to expand services to around 300 institutions. Photo via http://dfk0oft9nprzr.cloudfront.net I learned more about life in six months than ten years of school, Matousek  said as he touched on the founding stages of Flashnotes. His story reiterates the idea that waiting until you graduate college isnt a necessity, and that if you stay committed to an idea, you can bring it to fruition. In fact, getting started in entrepreneurship early is going to leave you, at the very least, with more business knowledge than a large percentage of college students, and at most, a profitable business upon graduation. If youre grasping at ideas for a business venture and coming up blank, try to stay close to home. That is, remember how Matousek  developed the idea for Flashnotes; he was struggling in a class along with many others, and so decided to sell his notes to students with the same problem. He was directly involved in the process leading to the idea; after all, who better to create a marketplace for student study materials than a student? Some of the best ideas and startups come from the notion that if youre struggling with something, or that if you wish you had something, chances are someone else is and does too, so keep your eyes and ears open. The same idea goes for any aspect of life, not just the student side. If youre a fitness buff, for example, what can you bring to the fitness community? Think niche and look for opportunities others havent seen. Jon Taffer, host of the TV show Bar Rescue, said in an interview with Entrepreneuer.com, Years ago when I was very young, a VP of Hyatt looked at me and said, You look, but you don’t see. Taffer learned to look not just at the big picture, but also at every place setting, light fixture, and customer exchange, Entrepreneur.com emphasized. See every crack, every detail, Taffer said. I learned to really see and not just look at my business. Matousek  mentioned that the right time to make strides toward your goals and start a business is in the present, today. When I asked if he had any advice to other college students wanting to start a business, he reminds all of us that, The right time to risk is now. Post your notes and study guides for sale today on Flashnotes. To learn more about Flashnotes, click here.