5 Steps to Improve Your MBA Candidacy for 2015

5 Steps to Improve Your MBA Candidacy for 2015 The following piece was written by Linda Abraham. Linda has been featured in ourAdmissions Expert seriesand is the President and Founder of Accepted.com. Think 2015 is a distant reality? Think again! Next years MBA application season starts sooner than you realize like right now. So lets jump right to it what should you be doing now to prepare for the upcoming application season? 1. Assess Your Qualifications You need to examine your grades and your GMAT score to establish where you stand amongst your competition academically. A low GMAT score or a low GPAis not necessarily an MBA deal breaker. No adcom is going to admit or dismiss a candidate solely based on one semesters poor grades or a slightly below average verbal GMAT score without also reflecting on other numbers, as well as the rest of the non-quantitative parts of the applicants profile. Average numbers vary according to school, as well as within your demographic group. You should examine each of these aspects and weigh the strengths and weaknesses in your application as you assess your competitiveness. That being said, a GPA or GMAT score well below your target schools average will be an admissions obstacle that is difficult to overcome, so proceed with caution by making sure that the rest of your application is pristine and that you address the low numbers somewhere in your application. TO DO NOW: At this point in the game, its not too late to retake the GMAT or to enroll in a college statistics course if you feel like these could help boost your profile. 2.Evaluate Your Work Experience You need to examine your work experience quantitatively (the work experience sweet spot for most business schools is between three and six years though there are exceptions) and qualitatively (your experiences should significantly contribute to your development as a person and as a burgeoning business mind, as well as impact your company/industry). These points should be emphasized when constructing your MBA resume and writing your MBA application essays. TO DO NOW: Its early enough in the application process that you can still work on bulking up your work GIM: Growth, Impact, and Management Potential. If, however, you feel these key elements are still a far cry from where they should be, then you may want to push off applying until youve acquired more qualitative work experience. 3. Examine Your Leadership Skills and Personal Traits Perhaps more than any other personal trait, the adcoms will be mining your application for leadership. If you want your leadership skills to stand out, youll need toshowthrough clear examples and anecdotes that youre a leader not justclaimthat you are. If you cant think of specific ways in which youve exhibited strong leadership skills, then now would be an excellent time to start putting yourself in situations where you can show them, either through increased professional responsibility, greatercommunity servicecommitments, or by expanding your role in a hobby, sports team, music or arts group, etc. Other important character traits youll want to highlight in your application includepassion, communication/teamwork skills, and initiative. TO DO NOW: Bulk up your community service profile and/or your job responsibilities if you feel like they are lacking. Keep an ongoing list of traits and examples now that you can use later on when drafting essays. 4. Determine Your MBA Goals Define your goal in terms of industry and job function. Include location if that is important to you. Deciding that post-MBA youd like to go into marketing is really only the first step. Why are you interested in marketing? What sort of marketing are you considering? What skills and tools do you need to achieve those goals? Which firms would you ideally work for? Remember,nothing here is set in stone, but you should have goals that excite you and that motivate you to push forward in a given direction. TO DO NOW: Start speaking to industry experts in fields youre considering so you can think concretely about where you see yourself five to ten years down the line. 5.School Research Where should you apply to b-school? To start, look at specialtyrankings(U.S. News,Businessweek), go thoroughly through school websites, read student blogs, and talk to current students and recent alumni. Then, generate a list of schools that fall into one of the following three categoriesreasonable reaches (your acceptance is a bit of a stretch, but possible), on-pars (youre a competitive candidate and have a solid chance of getting in), or safeties (youll most likely get accepted). Its best to choose at least one school from each category, though some individuals may want to apply to more (applying to four to seven total is about average, especially when applying to top programs.). How important are school visits? While some adcoms admit to awarding brownie points and some swear that whether or not you visit has no impact on your acceptance or rejection, I believe that if you have the opportunity to visit the b-schools on your list, you should absolutely do so. And its not because of imaginary brownie points, but because you will be a much better informed applicant after you visit a school than before. Youll know more about each school, its culture, and why that particular school appeals to you. Youll learn more about its teaching style, whether it supports your goals, and how well you and yourMBA goalsmatch the program, students, and faculty. That being said, if you are unable to visit the campus, be sure to attend info sessions held in your city and learn as much as you can off-campus. TO DO NOW: Visit schools, talk to people, attend info sessions, and scour the web for details. VisitAccepted.comor find them onFacebookandTwitter. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

The Insider Secrets for Online Math Tutoring Exposed

The Insider Secrets for Online Math Tutoring Exposed Today, you find every single student taking the support of a virtual Math tutor for one task or the other. This has become a very common sight in the educational scenario. What makes Online Math Tutoring so powerful and what are the insider secrets of a virtual Math tutor? Online math tutoring takes a student into his personal custody Many of the students who are poor in Math are those who have faced bad experiences in Math classes and are afflicted by Math phobia. Online Math tutors takes them into his personal custody and learns the reason for their grievances. Why To Pick Online Instructor For #College #Algebra #Homework Help https://t.co/xHof12xR6r #onlinetutoring â€" Tutor Pace (@TutorPace) December 17, 2015 Patient approach A little patience towards students will drive away the panic of students and they will open up their mind to the teacher. Regular classroom atmosphere does not lend room for such a thing and virtual tutors exploit this situation to their advantage. They talk to kids in an empathic manner and extract the cause of their Math struggles. Personalized Online Math Tutoring Every student has his individual learning pace. This is especially true in Math where each student showcases different Mathematical abilities. Further, his background knowledge in Math topics differs from others and he needs personal training in his learning activities. Some may be good at visual learning, some may have easy mental calculations and some may solve word problems with diagrams better than others. Read Also:  Top 10 Mobile Apps For College Students In 2015 E-tutors chart out courses and programs that are extremely customized to suit the needs of the students. Quick in response Today’s education is highly complicated with hectic study schedules. Assignments are voluminous and homework and tests are ever impending before a student. Students need quick responses for their queries as they cannot afford to waste time on one assignment for a long time. A single Math task can devour much of their time. Math tutors online are available every minute to respond to the queries and doubts of students and get back to them with appropriate explanations at the earliest. Find Unique Solutions for Tough #Math via Math Homework Help https://t.co/V1eukxl9Rx â€" Tutor Pace (@TutorPace) January 6, 2016 Math assignment help is very successful for the originality it showcases with timely deliveries. Appealing to student minds through empowered technology Every student is familiar with latest tech tools and wants to utilize them for their educational purpose. Virtual Math tutors know how to apply latest devices for introducing tough Math topics. They gamify learning and make Math interesting with different interactive methods. They are accessible through mobiles also. What else a student needs in this technologically empowered world? So, you understand that these insider secrets are the backbone of the success of Online Math Tutoring.

Adrenal Cortex Secretes Online Biology Tutors Tutorpace

Adrenal Cortex Secretes Online Biology Tutors Tutorpace Adrenal glands are present on the upper border of kidneys. The glands are embedded in adipose tissue. Each gland is covered by a capsule of connective tissue. The hormones produced by them are required for maintaining carbohydrate metabolism, mineral balance and external sexual characters. Each adrenal gland is composed of two regions, an outer adrenal cortex and an inner adrenal medulla. These two differ in their development and function. The hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex are called corticoids (corticoid hormones).Based on their function corticoid hormones are classified as- Glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. Glucocorticoids:- The corticoids involved in carbohydrate metabolism are called glucocorticoids. They stimulate gluconeogenesis, lipolysis and proteolysis and also inhibit cellular uptake and utilization of amino acids. The important glucocorticoids in our body are Cortisol, cortisone, and corticosterone .Cortisol prepares our body for after effects of danger situation. It controls the pumping action of the heart and reduces the pain. Cortisone is concerned with preparing the body against any sudden stress. Corticosterone helps the bodys metabolic system to turn amino acids into carbohydrates to use as fuel for many bodily functions Mineralocorticoids: They are the Corticoids which regulate the balance of water and electrolytes in the body. They are secreted by the outermost layer of the adrenal cortex. Aldosterone is the most important mineralocorticoid in our body. It acts on the renal tubules and stimulates the reabsorption of Na+ and water. It stimulates excretion of K+ and phosphate ions

An Introduction to Cooking

An Introduction to Cooking The Beginner’s Guide to Cooking ChaptersThe Greatest Chefs in the History of CookingThe Best Chefs in the World Right NowThe Best TV Cooking ShowsThe Most Popular British Dishes“We all eat, and it would be a sad waste of an opportunity to eat badly.” - Anna ThomasI don’t care if people call me a pig if I get to eat great food! Even though the amount we spend on food has decreased since the 1960s, it’s still a significant part of household budgets.Supermarkets have helped drive down prices. With budgets remaining the same, our purchasing habits are trending towards organic products.  There’s less of a focus on good food, especially if we’re to believe the dip in popularity of cooking shows since the 2000s.That said, with fewer people able to eat in restaurants as frequently as they'd like, there's been a resurgence in the world of cooking.In this article, we’re going to look at how you can perfect your cooking with the greatest chefs of all time, the best chefs alive today, the best TV cooking shows, a nd the most popular dishes in the UK. GiovanniCooking Teacher 4.83 (12) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HalimaCooking Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VincenzoCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GinellaCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArronCooking Teacher 5.00 (2) £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoshuaCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlickCooking Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Greatest Chefs in the History of CookingEven though France was behind the Michelin Stars, Japan has actually more Michelin-starred restaurants.A lot of famous chefs learnt to cook in family businesses like bakeries. (Source: Skitterphoto)While we're probably quite familiar with the celebrity chefs of today, here are some of the greatest chefs of all time who are no longer living. The chefs who inspired the chefs of today:Joël Robuchon, 1945-2018. He had 32 Michelin stars at the time of his death. His signature dish: Pommes Robuchon, the perfect mashed potatoes.James Beard, 1903-1985. He was a cookbook author, teacher, and all-around top chef. In fact, he was a huge proponent of American cuisine at a time when the culinary arts seemed to be only interested in French cuisine. The James Beard Foundation was created after his death by Julia Child who bought his home, making it North America's only historical culinary centre.Anthony Bourdain, 1956-2018. Don't let the name fool you, Anthony Bourdain is not a French chef. He actually grew up in New York City and gained his education at the Culinary Institute of America. He had a prolific television career and it'd be harder to find a cooking show that he wasn't on. He appeared on the Food Network's A Cook's Tour.Roger Vergé was a friend of Paul Bocuse and trained Alain Ducasse. His signatur e dish is the “poupeton”, courgette flower with truffled mushrooms.Paul Bocuse, 1926-2018. He was born into a family of cooks and created the Bocuse d’Or, a biennial world chef championship. His signature dish was the truffle soup vge 1975.With traditional dishes to culinary masterpieces, the great chefs have always known how to impress those eating their food.The Best Chefs in the World Right NowWhile some of the best chefs have left us, there are plenty of great chefs currently still with us. There are plenty of chefs specialising in different cuisines. Indian food, Italian food, and Mexican food all have representatives in the world of haute-cuisine.Be inspired by some of the world's greatest chefs. (Source: babawawa)While a lot of great chefs have left us, there are still plenty of great chefs still alive. They inlude:Alain Ducasse, a student of Roger Vergé, who creates dishes inspired by his origins. He’s also the head of a vast gastronomical empire.Jamie Oliver. While this celebrity chef doesn't have a single Michelin Star to his name, he's famous for award-winning television shows and his efforts to make gourmet food accessible to everyone through easy-to-make meals.Emeril Lagasse is an American chef, James Beard Award winner, and restaurateur famous for New New Orleans cooking style. He's also the executive chef of thirteen restaurants in New Orleans, Las Vegas, Orlando, and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.Bobby Flay is another celebrated American Chef famous for his TV shows. He is famous for his Mexican and Southwest cooking style and is the executive chef of restaurants in Vegas, New York, and Atlantic City.Gordon Ramsay, who was trained by Guy Savoy and Joël Robuchon in Paris.Rachel Ray, like Jamie Oliver, favours “quick and easy” cooking and has hosted both cooking and talk shows in the US.Pierre Gagnaire, a student of Paul Bocuse, a great chef who’s always trying new things. As a result, he doesn’t have a single signature dish.Mario Bat ali is famous for his Italian cuisine and hosted Molto Mario on the Food Network for 8 years. He was educated at the Cordon Bleu.While male chefs dominated once dominated the world of cooking, as you can see, more and more women are becoming popular in the world of cooking.Get started with the best cookery courses London on Superprof.The Best TV Cooking ShowsWatching TV won’t make you a great chef, but there are plenty of entertaining cooking shows you can watch for fun.You can learn more than you think from the TV. (Source: Robert-Owen-Wahl)Cooking shows started popping up in the 1950s with a chef onscreen telling you how to make certain dishes. This continued for many years until the 2000s when cooking shows and reality TV started to mix.MasterChef is one of the most famous cooking shows and a competition to find the best chef. They go through different challenges and are judged on their cooking. The finalists chosen by the judges.There are also other cooking shows that are popu lar:Kitchen Nightmares with Gordon Ramsay.Food UnwrappedThe Great British BakeoffCome Dine With MeSaturday KitchenDinner DateGreat British MenuHairy BikersWe don’t know about you but these types of shows always make us hungry. They always make us wonder why what we’re eating isn’t as good as what they are.The Most Popular British DishesKnowing the best chefs to have ever lived, the best working today, and the best cooking shows, have you really learnt how to cook?You don't need to be a professional chef to cook the country's favourite dishes. (Source: JESHOOTS-com)Learning to cook can seem like climbing a mountain. Maybe you just know how to cook pasta.However, there are plenty of great recipes that are easy to make, delicious, and can work wonders on staples like pasta or potatoes. The most important thing about cooking is how you cook and season them. Once you’ve mastered these two skills, nothing can stop you.The most popular dishes are often the most simple ones to make, the tastiest ones, or the best for you.Here are some of the most popular dishes in the UK:Fish and chipsPizzaChinese stir-fryChicken tikka masalaSpaghetti bologneseThai green curryRoast dinnerBangers and mashSweet and sour chickenShepherd’s pieAs you can see, vegetarians aren’t very well represented in the UK. The UK really likes comfort foods. Of course, this includes some of the most traditional British dishes as well as international dishes.It’s hardly surprising that there are a few Italian dishes on the list! You can find Italian food wherever you go in the world, even in China. Of course, the quality varies hugely from country to country.Spaghetti bolognese, carbonara, stews, roast chicken, could have all been included in the list. All of these dishes are quite easy to make, too.If you need a little extra help in the kitchen, you should consider getting help from a tutor on Superprof. You can get tutorials in a number of different skills including cooking and baking. Ad ditionally, there are three different types of tutorial available in each subject: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials.Face-to-face tutorials include one tutor and one student. These are usually the most costly per hour but they're also the most cost-effective since your tutor can focus on you every single minute of your tutorial. With hands-on subjects like cooking, face-to-face tutorials are great.Online tutorials are usually cheaper than face-to-face tutorials since the tutor doesn't have as many travel costs and this saving is usually passed onto their students. As long as both of you have a decent internet connection and webcams, you can use programmes like Skype to communicate with your tutors.Group tutorials are the most like your traditional art classes at school. However, if you get enough of you and your friends together, you could always hire a tutor together. With each student sharing the cost of the hour, you can get quite a discount for each s tudent in attendance. Of course, you won't get as much one-on-one time with your tutor, though.While each type of tutorial has its advantages and disadvantages, you need to choose the one that matches your learning objectives and your budget. Everyone can learn to cook, after all, if they have the right tools, resources, and encouragement.

The Ultimate Guide to Backpack Essentials

The Ultimate Guide to Backpack Essentials The below post is the first in our 2017 Back-to-School Series. Throughout the month of August, visit the Varsity Tutors blog for back-to-school advice, tips, and tricks for all ages. Buying backpack essentials is a classic back-to-school activity for every grade level. The basic shopping list for all age groups includes items like pencils, pens, erasers, and paper, but students of different ages will also need to fill their backpacks with different items. So what are the backpack essentials that youll need to prepare for this school year? Here is our ultimate guide to backpack must-haves, broken down by elementary school, middle school, and high school. Elementary school backpack essentials TissuesIllness tends to spread quickly throughout schools. Prevent dripping noses by keeping a pack of tissues handy for your student to grab from his or her backpack. WipesElementary school is full of messy pastimes like arts and crafts, recess, and, of course, lunchtime. Wipes make it easy for students to get into the habit of cleaning their hands after they get them dirty or before they eat. Layers of clothingYounger students typically switch between inside and outside time each day. Teach them what clothes they should wear when they go out for recess, field trips, and when they leave at the end of the day so that they stay warm (or cool). SunscreenThis is something else that students should wear when they go outside. Teach your student how to apply sunscreen, and remind them to reapply it throughout the day if they are going outside more than once. Your contact informationElementary school students may still be in the process of memorizing your contact information. While your students teacher has this information, keeping it on an index card in your childs backpack can make him or her feel a little more secure. It is also extremely useful in emergency situations. [RELATED: How Parents Can Help with Elementary Homework Challenges] Middle school backpack essentials USB driveIn middle school, students will start using computers more and more frequently. They may also be required to do homework on their computer at home. Its easy for students to carry around their work on a USB drive. Make sure your student has one in his or her backpack. CalculatorMiddle school students will be doing more complex math and will thus need a good calculator. Check with your students teacher to see what kind he or she recommends. it could be a scientific calculator, graphing calculator, or both. Day plannerA day planner is a helpful tool for middle school students. Buy a planner with large spaces for each day so he or she has enough space to record the days homework with any notes. [RELATED: 4 Ways Parents Can Help Middle School Students Succeed] High school backpack essentials HighlightersHighlighters are often helpful to high school students, who do more reading than younger students. Learning how to highlight and read for important information is an essential skill high school students need for college. USB driveLike middle school students, high school students also need a USB drive to transfer their homework and assignments between multiple computers. Day plannerAlso like middle school students, high schoolers benefit from having a day planner. It can be used to record assignments, test dates, project deadlines, practices, meetings, events, etc. BindersBinders can help keep high school students organized for each class. Help your student label his or her binders, which they can take out of their locker as needed before each class. Be sure your student also has plenty of loose-leaf paper and binder dividers to stay even more organized. [RELATED: 5 Questions to Ask Your Student's New Teacher] Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

English, Creative writing and SAT tutor in London

English, Creative writing and SAT tutor in London This week we would like to introduce Erica G, an English, Creative Writing and American SAT private tutor. She is originally from California, but is now a tutor living in London.  Erica is passionate about teaching writing and critical thinking skills through literature, and believes learning these skills can see individuals through much of their academic and practical challenges.   So let’s find out a little more about her… Erica, why do you love tutoring? I enjoy passing on knowledge in a subject that I love as well as building a child’s confidence in their own abilities. Often struggling children have the ability, they just need to believe in themselves. I love being able to instil that belief in a child by maximising their skills so they can reach their full potential. Who inspired you in education? My 8th grade English teacher and two of my lecturers at university where I studied writing and literature. They inspired me because they stood up for the right to education. They were strong teachers and taught me to think for myself in an original way and to believe that I could achieve great things. What else do you get up to besides tutoring? Well, I’m currently a PhD student so I spend a lot of my time doing my research for that. My research is in love and romance in LGBT young adult novels. I’m also an avid textile crafter so I enjoy quilting, knitting and doing some cross-stitch. I just love anything where I can express myself creatively. If you had a super power what would it be? If I could read while I sleep and remember everything in the morning that would be amazing. Then I would have a whole library of books stored in my head. What advice would you give to a parent on how to find a tutor? I would recommend first to find someone who is a specialist in the subject the child needs support with and then to find a tutor who can really help children believe in themselves. A personal tutor needs to be able to work alongside a student and act as coach as well as a tutor. Want to meet Erica?  See below to view her short video: Subjects taught by Erica English- Degree, IB, A-Level, GCSE, 11+, Primary, AS Basic IT Skills Blogging Creative Writing Internet Keyboard Microsoft Office Microsoft Powerpoint Microsoft Word SAT Twitter If you or your child needs help with any of the above then please click here to visit Erica’s profile page and book a lesson. Illustration from  www.flickr.com     CC-by

Medical School 5 Moves that Will Get You On the Right Track

Medical School 5 Moves that Will Get You On the Right Track MCAT Medical School Admissions If you are thinking about going to med school, congratulations. You are to be admired for aiming so high and taking on a challenging field with many rewards. You'll need to be completely committed and driven to achieve your goals. Certainly, scoring in the75thpercentile or higher on theMCATwill be critical. However, there are a variety of others things you can and should start doing today to prepare. Start out by taking 5 moves that will get you on the right track today. 1. Hit the Books You need to be serious when it comes to making the grade. Your high school and undergraduate performance need to be beyond the normal level of expectations. You must excel in all of your courses. Beef up on math and science courses, proving that you can handle the intense load that lies ahead. When it comes to medical school, you can't just decide one day that you want to go and expect to get in. Whether you realize it or not, your past grades and performance with have a huge effect on your ability to get into the medical school you are hoping to attend. However, if your past performance in school hasn't been the best and you are still determined to go to medical school, you can start to work to bring your GPA up and get serious about school. 2. Get Some Experiences in the Medical Field To have an edge over other prospective students, demonstrate your devotion by gaining some experience in the field. Go above and beyond by volunteering to job shadow at the hospital or local clinic. Assist in efforts with the Red Cross. Apply to be an office assistant during the summer in a busy medical office or for amedical supplycompany. Look for opportunities and make yourself available. Whatever experience or practice you can get before applying to medical school will really give you a leg up on the other students you are competing against. You need to be willing to do internships and other jobs that might not pay a lot (or might not pay at all) in order to gain this experience. In many cases, the experience you gain before medical school can be priceless, so be willing to put in the time and work necessary to gain it. 3. Do Your Homework (Research) Become a part of research. Contact universities and hospitals that are performing clinical trials and ask to be a part of a research team. You might be the gopher, but you'll acquire valuable information and show initiative. This is another activity that looks great on your application. You can learn a lot from being a part of a research team, and it is a great way to gain experience. Oftentimes, you can get class credit for participating in research either as a patient or as a part of the research team, so make sure to look into options like that so your time will be well spent. 4. Give to Your Community If you are going to be a doctor, you need to demonstrate that you have compassion and a willingness to help others. Find opportunities to give the gift of your time in your community. Contrary to popular belief, your volunteer work doesn't necessarily have to be directly related to the medical field. Volunteering proves that you have the capacity for generosity, and it always looks good on your application. If you can find a volunteer opportunity that relates to the medical field, that could earn you bonus points, but it will be hard to find a volunteer position where you are actually doing medical work since most of those jobs need to be done by a professional. 5. Don't Put All of Your Eggs in One Basket Even though you may have a medical school of choice, keep your options open. Apply to a host of schools and treat each one as an opportunity to open the door to your future. As you are invited for interviews, make sure that you can clearly express your expectations and why you have chosen to enter this admirable field. While you are in the preparation stages, keep an open mind about other schools, and do research or make visits to the school. Focusing on one school could lead you to be devastated if you don't get in, and only applying to one school is foolish. Yes, applying to medical school can be expensive, but find a couple of other schools you would consider going to in case your first choice is not an option. Competition is fierce for med school and getting in won't be easy. Each school is looking for the cream of the crop. Do everything possible to make yourself stand out when you walk in the door. Keep your eye on the prize and continue to work diligently toward your goal., but if you haven't started yetâ€"get going today! hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, '6baac2ae-05a3-4610-9d1f-265c8cbd809f', {});

How to get a TEFL certification while still in school

How to get a TEFL certification while still in school A TEFL certificate is increasingly becoming a must-have for anyone who wants to teach abroad. Country regulations are changing and schools are upping their requirements as the applications continue to flood in. But here’s the good news: earning a TEFL certificate can be completed over your summer break! You may not have realized but you don’t need a Bachelor’s degree of any kind to enroll in a TEFL course and complete your certification. (This fact helps to set the TEFL apart from TESOL and TESL certificates. Neither of those certifications can be obtained without a post-secondary degree.) So, if you’re still a student but you know you want to jump into teaching abroad as soon as you graduate, this is your big chance to become fully qualified to work internationally as an ESL teacher. Benefit from no (or few!) prerequisites Believe it or not, you can earn a TEFL certificate from a reputable provider without having a university degree. In fact, signing up to take an internationally recognized TEFL course is often as simple as enrolling online! In place of post-secondary requirements, enrolling in some TEFL courses may require the following prerequisites: Have a completed high school degree or General Education Development (GED) certificate. Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in the English language. Before registering in any TEFL course, we recommend researching the provider. As a general rule of thumb, if a university is affiliated with the certification program, then that TEFL course is reputable and a good choice to make. It’s also a good idea to look at online reviews from past participants. In instances where a TEFL course isn’t associated with a university, we recommend contacting a reputable independent accrediting bodyâ€"like WTEFLAC, IATEFL, or the British Councilâ€"to confirm the course’s legitimacy. There are fraudulent TEFL programs floating around on the internet, so you can never be too careful! Don’t try to skimp and save when it comes to TEFL, because the courses can vary drastically in terms of quality. If you see a course listed for $150 USD, your inner alarm bells should be ringing. That old saying “You get what you pay for” really holds true in this instance. Even on the off-chance that $150 USD course is legitimate, the program standards might be quite low, and you could end up in an ESL classroom feeling completely unprepared to teach your new students. Most reputable, accredited certification programs cost around $1,000. Just some numbers to keep in mind during your search! Get TEFL certified fast online While some ESL teachers-in-training prefer learning in a classroom setting, an online TEFL course is the ideal option for students or full-time employees who have tight schedules. Indeed, most in-person TEFL programs require your presence during regular daytime hours, much like an office job would. These constraints on your time can be difficult to juggle with the obligations of school, work, and home life. Luckily for you, online programs provide a viable alternative. Many online programs can be completed from the comfort of your home. Certain courses may require you to meet in-person on predetermined dates for tests or assignments, but otherwise, you’re in control of your learning schedule. This flexibility allows you to learn to teach English when and where you want. During your TEFL course, if you’re able to devote full-time hours to your studies, you can earn your certification in as little as four weeks! In general, international employers look for someone with 120-hours of TEFL training as this is the industry standard. That being said, you can still snag a job at an exceptional school. But steer clear of TEFL course providers that claim they can certify you in less than 100 hours! 100 hours is the minimum benchmark for full TEFL certification. Anything less means the program can’t provide a certification that all international schools would recognize as valid. If you’re a student who can’t treat their TEFL course like a 9-to-5 job, don’t get stressed out. Like we’ve said, with so many self-paced online programs, your schedule is 100% up to you. So, if you need a few months to finish your TEFL program, that’s totally cool. Keep a pace that’s realistic for you and your lifestyle. Complete your TEFL over the summer break With summer break fast approaching, now is the perfect time to enroll in a TEFL certification course. After all, balancing your university schoolwork and a TEFL course? Probably not going to happen! However, as university winds down for the year, we also understand that many students are scrambling to find steady summer employment to fund their next year of studies. Keep in mind that online TEFL courses are completed at your convenience! If you’re committed to the certification process, we’re confident that you can find 100 or so hours in your summer to complete it. As a closing note, earning your TEFL certificate before you finish your university degree is an excellent idea, especially if you’re hoping to have a job lined up at graduation time. Students in the last year of their Bachelor’s program, who are set to graduate that semester, can begin applying to teach English abroad. Potential employers are often happy to gauge your academic merit from your most recent transcripts. If you apply early to teach English abroad, you could be flying off to an exciting countryâ€"such as South Korea, China, or Mexicoâ€"before the ink even dries on your diploma! When you have a TEFL certificate in hand, suddenly the world becomes yours to discover. Just think of the adventures that await you if you register in a TEFL course today.