The Best Synthesis Chemistry Schools

The Best Synthesis Chemistry SchoolsIt is very important for students of chemical synthesis to learn a vast range of skills. This is because the elements of the process can be complex and may be difficult to learn at first. This will also help to determine the level of expertise that you will need in order to excel at this field.A good chemist will make their job even easier by being proficient in several different processes. Most often, the levels of skill you have will depend on how much experience you have in chemical synthesis. The simple reason why most schools will not teach students synthesis chemistry is that the program is quite complex and involves knowledge about the different chemical reactions that can occur in a substance.Exposure Times: In order to practice synthesis, it is important to learn about all of the different elements involved in this process. However, some schools will require that you do this by making contact with one substance at a time in order to get an idea about the various effects that can occur. Make sure that you choose a school that allows you to complete one or two experiments during your studies. This will allow you to get an idea of the difficulty level associated with the task.Program Length: All chemistry programs come in varying lengths. Make sure that the one you select offers the length of time that you need. The length of time for a chemical synthesis program will vary depending on how much time the student needs to devote to their studies.Coursework: As a student you should know that the materials that you will use for your studies are subject to the availability of these materials. This is why it is important to choose a school that will be able to offer a large variety of courses. Make sure that you ask your school about any special materials that they provide as part of their programs. For example, many schools will provide the laboratory supplies that will assist you with the assignment of the chemicals that yo u will need for your synthesis work. courses Courses: Make sure that you choose a school that will offer a wide variety of courses to select from. There are some schools that focus more on the theoretical aspects of the sciences while others provide a great deal of practical exposure to all of the subjects that are involved in this type of science. In order to be sure that you are getting an in depth study, make sure that you choose a school that will have courses available from different schools of thought.Synthesis Chemistry can be a very interesting area for students to pursue. With a good chemistry program, you can see some amazing results after several months of concentrated study.

Top 5 Colleges Who Provide Online Math Tutoring

Top 5 Colleges Who Provide Online Math Tutoring Many colleges offer online math tutoring for helping students in their learning process. It has become mandatory nowadays and has been part of any college curriculum. Since an online tutor helps students at any critical moment with personalized solutions. How To Study For A #Math Test Without Losing Your Mind http://t.co/eZ7iCRSVvX pic.twitter.com/gtYneR2Bc2 â€" Tutor Pace (@TutorPace) September 16, 2015 Here are top 5 colleges that offer Math tutoring. Lone Star College get best online math tutoring Lone Star College offers Math tutors for Transitional Math and College Algebra during the tutoring program operating hours. By visiting the tutoring area, students can find the correct schedule for Math tutoring. Students are advised to try solving problems and ask for assistance. They need assistance when they get stuck in the problems. The tutoring programs are free and are designed with a motto to inculcate lifelong learning. That too in a caring and positive atmosphere. It is framed in support of classroom instruction and for overall student success. The tutors are retired professors and certified professionals. Professionals who are particular about encouraging individuals towards academic growth. Lane Community College online math tutoring Lane Community College offers online Math tutoring through Moodle course. Students of this college can apply for Math tutoring free of cost, and for no credit and no grade. Tutoring is available for Math 20 through Math 111. The College offers various courses in Math for which tutoring comes as a great supplement. De Anza College De Anza College offers types of tutoring services in Math. It offers drop in tutoring, weekly individual tutoring, group tutoring, in-class tutoring and peer tutoring. In- class tutoring is a classroom support program wherein in-class tutors provide exercises, worksheets, computer applications, graphing calculators etc. Its for helping teachers in their classroom activities. Drop in tutoring is available every hour when the Resource center is open. In weekly individual tutoring, personalized tutoring sessions by peer tutors are available for clarifying doubts in Math topics. It helps students develop effective study skills and techniques. A group trained tutor conducts group tutoring for two hours in a week to review material, solve problems and prepare for tests. Department of Mathematics, University of California Department of Mathematics, University of California. Irvine has a list of students as Math tutors. It offers a free drop in tutoring center for Mathematics courses. The online math tutoring center offers tutoring for various Math courses. It will be open for Fall from October 5 to December 11. Lansing Community College Lansing Community College provides free tutoring from Faculty members for Math on a drop in basis. There is also supplemental instruction for many of the courses. The College offers pre core courses and core courses, stem transfer courses and non-stem transfer courses for the benefit of students in Math. Read To Know Top 13 #iPad #Educational #Apps For Kids http://t.co/c6NhHOQilv pic.twitter.com/OW3DcOg9Kq â€" Tutor Pace (@TutorPace) October 7, 2015 Learning Math through tutoring services offered by such colleges is a great supplement. This is for widening students’ Math knowledge and getting good study skills in Math areas. Online tutoring centers also help students garner good Math skills via online Math tutors. They guide students in various aspects of Math learning with their experience in handling students. Tutor Pace stands apart from others in online Math tutoring with its expert tutors. They know how to redeem the faults of students in a short span of time with their smart strategies for introducing tough Math concepts. [starbox id=admin

Where to Find a Yoga Class in Manchester

Where to Find a Yoga Class in Manchester Yoga Classes Near Me in Manchester ChaptersA Brief History of YogaReasons Why You Should Practice YogaYoga Workshops and RetreatsFinding Private Yoga Lessons in ManchesterWith exotic names like Iyengar, Kundalini and Ashtanga, it is no wonder that yoga holds a certain mystique.Furthermore, those toned bodies carrying yoga mats could make one a little green with envy.Think Colin Ferrell and David Beckham who, along with his lovely Victoria, practice power yoga together for a strong body mind and soul connection.Of all the fitness disciplines to embrace, yoga alone proposes an entire lifestyle change, not through rigorous hard work and supplemental nutrition, but by promoting wellness and relaxation.Put another way: a bodybuilder is driven by a particular goal, be it the desire for bulging muscles and lower body fat ratios, or by the intent to compete.His/her regimen is powered by external variables and tangible goals. Whether s/he maintains that level of training and fitness for life is debatable.Conversely, a yogi und ergoes a complete revolution: psychological, emotional, mental, physical and, sometimes, even spiritual.The whole point of yoga is not to prepare for competition of any sort, but rather to manage one's life as peaceably and harmoniously as possible.Becoming toned and fit is mere by-products of the overall process of practising yoga near me.Nobody said bodybuilder and pensioner are mutually exclusive concepts!However, we advance the postulate that you would likely find more golden agers practising senior yoga than you would lifting weights and drinking protein shakes.What is the basis of yoga's enduring appeal? How is it that so many, of all ages and body types, can practice yoga with no downsides?Let us explore together this ancient art of forging a mind-body connection, on our way to discovering where the best yoga sessions in Manchester are held.Discover also where the best yoga classes in Leeds are held!Yoga means Union in Sanskrit.Happiness, the liberation of the soul and enligh tenment were a direct result of the union of the self with the divine consciousness.The practice of yoga, in its various forms, is a means of attaining purity of consciousness; the bridge to communion with the Brahman, or supreme being.Both the poses â€" called asanas, and breathing, or pranayama are essential to clearing the mind, body and spirit so that the desired union can be forged.For centuries, the practice of yoga remained exclusively Indian, but over the last 100 years or so, the benefits of yoga became known throughout the wider world.These days, one can practice yoga in many forms, anywhere on the globe.You might choose the basic Hatha yoga with its range of up to 30 poses per session or Hot yoga, a vigorous workout is done in a heated, low humidity environment, designed to evict impurities from the body.Whether you take a spiritual approach to yoga or are simply interested in de-stressing your life, surely there is a type of yoga for you.You could find yoga classes anywh ere in the UK!Reasons Why You Should Practice YogaNow you're sold on the whole idea of getting in touch with your essential self, and perhaps even communing with a higher power.If so, you can forgo searching the Internet for yoga classes near me and just head to Superprof!Or, maybe you're not mad for the idea of a higher power, and you just want to find a way to get and stay fit, and maybe lower your blood pressure and stress levels.Yoga can help you do that, and so much more. After a few sessions at the yoga studio, you might find that:You sleep better: turning off the noise in your head gives you a much more restful sleep.You eat better: even if you live on the run, dashing from one appointment to the next, you might find an unconscious change for the better in your food choices.You feel better: yoga has been known to help combat anxiety and depression, as well as helping manage stress and reducing tension.You focus better: you might find, after embracing yoga, that you've unleash ed a deeper well of creativity and found higher levels of concentrationYou move better: yoga is well-known for improving muscle tone, flexibility and staminaThe list goes on!Your immune system may receive a boost once you free up your chakras, or energy channels.In fact, you may marvel at the energy you have, to do everything you've wanted but had no time for!Your newfound calm will aid in negotiations of all types, be it with your boss and colleagues, or with your teenagers â€" notorious for their stress-inducing antics.Right about now, we imagine you are urging us to disclose where you could partake of all of these wondrous benefits!Or are you wondering if you would have to parade around in yoga pants and pose in front of a bunch of strangers?No worries! Next, we'll remove that stumbling block!Discover where Londoners take yoga classes!Many yoga retreats take advantage of the benefits of water Source: Pixabay Credit: Photo-grapheYoga Workshops and RetreatsA Yoga retreat is an idea l way to begin your relationship with yoga.Generally, such occasions last an entire weekend and are usually held in small groups at a tranquil location, most often by some body of water.Water features prominently in yoga philosophy and is linked to the second chakra. Staging yoga retreats near water thus only makes sense!Arranging a weekend at a retreat will educate you on the basics of yoga, including the purpose of each yoga pose â€" what is happening in your body as you position yourself.You may also learn about healthy eating and enjoy other restorative activities such as massage and meditation.Unlike any other holiday, your return home after such a weekend is sure to find you supercharged and ready for the week ahead!However, if you don't currently have a whole weekend to devote to restorative yoga, you may sign up for a workshop.Also discover retreats and yoga classes in Glasgow!These are generally held in a yoga studio, lasting anywhere from 2 ½ hours to double that time.Yog a workshop topics tend to be more specific; perhaps a Spring detox â€" get rid of the winter blahs, or prenatal yoga.You might also enjoy an introduction to couples' yoga, mindfulness; an anatomical workshop, wherein the yoga teacher enlightens on the specific asana that opens up each part of your body.A yoga workshop is also a great way to get acquainted with the various types of yoga, including:Hatha yoga considered the essential form of yogaIyengar consists of longer poses held with the aid of yoga blocksYin yoga is meant for balance and calmRestorative yoga is for those hyper personalities who simply cannot slow down!As you hold each pose, your instructor will share a wealth of information about anatomy and energyAshtanga provides an orderly approach to yoga practice.Kundalini yoga is a more spiritual practiceBikram yoga is a 20- to 30-pose, hardcore workout done in a very warm room... sweat much?Hot yoga is similar to Bikram, but not constrained to 26 asanas. Look for hot yoga near me.Vinyasa yoga is another faster-paced, vigorous workout; its trademark is continuous movementThese are just a few, more basic types of yoga you could consider.If you are new to yoga, you might find a studio that offers a beginner's class, which incorporates asanas from various types of yoga.In our table below, you will find a guide to Manchester yoga studios: what style of yoga they teach, whether they host workshops and retreats, and whether you could take private lessons.Discover where you might find a yoga studio in Cardiff!Your private yoga teacher would work with you one on one, correcting your form as needed Source: Pixabay Credit: SasintFinding Private Yoga Lessons in ManchesterLet us say you are of the super-busy persuasion, and you really, REALLY need to relax... but you have no time for workshops and retreats; nor can you find a way incorporate yoga into your schedule.You might be a shift worker who has trouble sleeping during odd hours, and all of that stress is ju st building up...Or, you may be incapacitated, recovering from surgery or illness, and cannot get to a yoga studio.Good news: plenty of Manchester yoga studios offer private lessons, either in-studio or at home!You will find them â€" and their prices listed in the table below.One bonus you will likely not find in any studio is what many Superprof yoga teachers offer: their first hour of lessons free!If you have a reliable Internet connection and wish to take yoga lessons in the privacy of your own home, Superprof has made it possible to receive yoga instruction via webcam.yoga studios in Belfastyoga studios in NewcastleIf you are only just beginning your journey to wellness through yoga but are reluctant to arrange yourself into a well-populated studio, at least until you learn a few asanas...Superprof tutors are standing by, ready to ease you into your first yoga postures, for a surprisingly low price!Discover also where to take yoga classes in Birmingham!Studio Name AddressTypes o f Yoga TaughtWorkshops Retreats Drop-insPricingYoga Manchester Various LocationsVinyasa flow, Ashtanga, MysoreYes No Yes10-class pass: £60 20-class pass: £120Bodywise YogaYoga, Pilates, Baby yoga and prenatal yogaYes No Yes £21 deposit per class; the rest to be paid at the time of lessonsOneYogaHatha, Vinyasa, Mysore, Rocket, JivamuktiYes Yes YesUnlimited classes £75/month £8-9 for drop-insYoga-TaraHatha, VinyasaNo No Yes10-class pass £60 Drop-ins: £6.50Namaste!

How to Learn Arabic Fast

How to Learn Arabic Fast Master Arabic in 30 Days ChaptersIntensive Arabic Language Classes at a Language SchoolLearning Arabic in One Month With a Private TeacherHow to Learn Arabic Quickly for Free: Arabic Courses OnlineStudy Abroad in an Arabic CountryWhen you sign up for a class in literary Arabic, you’ll often start to have quite a few questions about the best ways to learn the language.How much time will it take to learn to speak Arabic?Can I learn Arabic in one month?You’ll need at least the next 30 days just to learn the basics of Arabic.The only thing is, you don’t know anything about this language, the script looks nothing like anything you’ve ever seen before, and what the heck are these sounds which are words in Arabic?So how are you supposed to learn Arabic in 30 days?Superprof walks you through a few tips in this article to help you succeed in your efforts during your intensive Arabic class, and learn the language quickly. HalimaArabic Teacher £13/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KotaibaArabic Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SoledadArabic Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NancyArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TaouesArabic Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DinaArabic Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AbrarArabic Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UsamaArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsIntensive Arabic Language Classes at a Language SchoolThe Arabic language is regularly included on lists of the 10 hardest languages to learn.It’ll take an estimated 2200 hours of classes to speak Arabic properly…that works out at 3 years of studying for two hours every day.Quickly increase your Arabic skills with an intensive class.It’ll be pretty difficult to learn to speak Arabic in one month, even for the most dedicated students.However, all is not lost. With a good teacher or a good language school, you’ll be able to walk through some of the basics, including learning to write the Arabic script and reading the letters of the Arabic alphabet.In order to achieve this though, you’ll have to head to the classroom to study Arabic every day.This intensive period of study will help you learn the basics of the Arabic language.Here are some of the top Arabic language schools in the US:Middlebury College’s Intensive Arabic Summer program: located on Middlebury’s leafy Vermont campus, this summer intensive course will have you in the classroom for five hours each day, and the school promises to teach you vocabulary, syntax, and “how to use the language to engage effectively with Arabic culture.” The intensive offers lots of optional extras too, including tutoring in different spoken dialects, and lessons in Arabic calligraphy.Georgetown’s Summer Language Institute on the university's campus in DC’s trendy neighborhood. Classes are three hours each day and “offers students the opp ortunity to acquire skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in Arabic.” Georgetown’s program promises small class sizes and incorporates technology into learning.University of Michigan’s Arabic Summer Language program - is a 10 week summer intensive course that requires students to have already completed at least one semester of Arabic. The summer intensive intends to bring them up to the same level as if they’d completed a year of intermediate study and is a good option for students who’ve mastered the basics and feel like they’ve lost momentum.The popularity of these immersion courses shows there’s something to it - by showing up and studying Arabic every day for one or two months, you will be immersed in the language and progress quickly.Here’s a list of some of the things you’ll cover in an intensive Arabic language course:Learn the Arabic alphabet, with its 28 letters and all of their different forms, depending on if they fall at the beginning, mid dle, or end of a sentence, or if they stand alone.Gain a basic understanding of how to pronounce all of the Arabic letters - vowels, consonants, hamza, and guttural consonantsLearn to write short words in Arabic scriptLearn to read Arabic lettersBegin to learn some Arabic vocabularyConduct basic conversationsIf you work hard and study regularly, you can easily get through the beginners level and begin to read and write in Arabic.Learning Arabic in One Month With a Private TeacherPrivate Arabic classes are a good alternative to a language school, as they’ll give you direct access to a teacher who can come up with a personalized curriculum for you to learn Arabic at home.Ask your Arabic teacher how to say a few expressions in one month - time is running out!A private teacher will be able to adapt to your needs and adjust to your level. Also, you can decide how many hours a day you want to study Arabic (within reason, of course!)Browse Superprof for Arabic classes London.Your teacher will work with you on the letters of the alphabet, and help you master Arabic pronunciation and script.Above all, they’ll be there to gently correct your errors and stop you from picking up bad habits.The advantage of taking private courses is that it’s easy to find a good teacher - and you’ll have your choice of native speakers for whichever spoken dialect (Egyptian Arabic, Syrian Arabic, Moroccan Arabic etc) you decide to learn.By imitating your teacher and the sounds they make, you can work on the form of your mouth, (and the vibrations in your throat for all the guttural sounds), and memorize different Arabic words by ear.Private lessons will give you a personalized and intensive introduction to the Arabic language, and there are also many other learning tools that you can also pick up - newspaper articles, online videos and cartoons, children's books in Arabic, easy dialogues…Check out our database on Superprof  where you can find an arabic teacher or private teacher a nd follow an accelerated course of study of Arabic, whether you decide to study a spoken dialect or Classical Arabic.The one thing is that taking intensive private Arabic lessons could be costly.Speak to your teacher and see if they could work with you for a discount. Depending on where you live and your level of Arabic, classes will be at least $20-40 per hour.Let’s suppose the normal hourly rate for private Arabic classes in $30. If you’re doing four hours every day for a month, even if you skip weekends, the bill will mount quickly - $600 per week, or $2400 for a month of intensive Arabic study. It’s expensive to take the time to learn Arabic!If you don’t have the time or the money to invest in learning Arabic this way, check out some of the options - Arabic courses online.How to Learn Arabic Quickly for Free: Arabic Courses OnlineThere are many different websites where you can go to learn Arabic online. Some of them are free and others cost money, but they’ll all offer complete courses for beginners, and intensive Arabic classes that cover the alphabet, reading the script, writing in Arabic, and basic conversations.What about if, instead of playing Pokémon Go, you decided to learn Arabic online?If you type ‘online Arabic classes,’ you’ll get plenty of different websites on the first page of the Google search results:busuu.comarabiconline.eumadinaharabic.comalison.com/arabicarabacademy,comverbalplanet.comlearnarabiconline.commadinaharabic.netOnline Arabic classes are often a good way to test your level of Arabic.It’s a window into the lives of experienced native speakers who grew up speaking Egyptian, Tunisian, or Moroccan Arabic, and all without needing to leave your home or worry about the time.Courses on literary Arabic are often individual or collective, fun and simple, and you can find different Arabic classes online for all levels.The internet is also a great resource if you want to learn more about religion, Islam, Arabic culture, Muslim culture, or the Quran. There are plenty of websites to introduce you to the Muslim religion at the same time as you learn Arabic, if you’re interested.There are complete curriculums to learn Classical Arabic quickly and for free. Interactive listening exercises will help you master the different sounds of the Arabic language. Other segments will teach you to recognize the letters of the alphabet, learn how to write the Arabic script, and how to say it all.Online resources are also great for improving your grammar and working out just how possessive pronouns, personal pronouns, verbs, conjugations, and diphthongs work in the Arabic language.Even if you only have 30 days, working on your Arabic every day will help you improve.And finally, here’s my favorite learning tool, which I used to learn a few phrases in a Slavic dialect before a trip to the Balkans. It’s called Teach Yourself.By regularly listening to different phrases that build on one another, and one lesson a da y, you learn the different elements easily without really having a sense of studying a new language.Teach Yourself costs between $20-50 on Amazon and will bring you right through the intermediate level of Arabic in order to learn the script, grammar, how to read the language, as well as some easy every day phrases.It’s a great way to learn Arabic in one month without any stress and at a very low price!Study Abroad in an Arabic CountryWe’ve saved the best for last - there’s no better way to learn a language than to go and spend some time abroad living in it.Head off on an Arabic immersion course to learn the language quicklyIn order to learn Arabic in just one month, take a vacation to an Arabic speaking country. While the Middle East might seem far away, you can get to Morocco from the East Coast in just 8 hours.As soon as possible upon your arrival in Marrakech or Cairo, try to detach yourself from the Latin alphabet. It’s a bit radical, but if you want to learn the Arabic language in just a short time, hard challenges are necessary.If you can’t manage to immerse yourself in the script, at least immerse yourself in conversations with locals.This will require that you have at least some basic skills in Modern Standard Arabic, but you can also use English, or French if you know any. In most of the large North African cities, many young people use English as a professional and commercial language.Therefore you can always make sure you’ve been understood in English after you’ve at least first tried to express yourself, in written or oral form, in Arabic.Going abroad to study a language requires a mix of different techniques to make you as successful possible. In order to improve your skills in reading and writing Arabic, express yourself verbally in Arabic, you’ll need a host of resources , like intensive classes, private Arabic lessons at home, free online Arabic classes, or studying abroad…And one last thing if you can stand any more - read th e papers and listen to the Arabic media. Remember, learning Arabic can be difficult, but if you do everything we’ve suggested, you’ll be bilingual in no time at all!

Algebra 2 Help

Algebra 2 Help Algebra II involves solving linear equations. Linear equation with one variable is the simplest form of equation. The equations involving only linear polynomials we call as linear equations. The highest power of the variable appearing in linear equation is 1. Any value of the variable which when substituted in an equation makes its both sides equal is called a solution of the equation. To solve an equation we need to follow two permissible rules. They are:- Addition Subtraction Rule If any number is added or subtracted from both sides of an equation, the resulting equation has the same solution as the original. Multiplication Division Rule If each side of equation is multiplied or divided by non-zero number, the resulting equation has the same solution as the original. This can be easily understood by taking the separate examples for using the rules Example 1:- Find the solution of x 15 + 7 = 25 Solution 1:- Use Addition Subtraction Rule To eliminate 15, add 15 on both sides x 15 + 15 + 7= 25 + 15 x + 7= 40 To eliminate + 7, subtract 7 on both sides x + 7 7 = 40 7 x = 33 Hence the required solution This problem helps to understand the Addition Subtraction rule Example 2:- Find the solution of 2 x / 3 = 8 Solution 2:- Use Multiplication and Division rule. Multiply by 3 on both sides, 3 in the denominator gets cancelled 3 X 2x/3 = 8 X 3 2x = 24 Divide by 2 on both sides X= 12; Solution obtained These examples we applied basic rules for solving linear equation with one variable.

If You Won the Lottery - English Listening Exercise

If You Won the Lottery - English Listening Exercise What would you say to your boss if you won the lottery? Its a question made to produce funny answers, which is why American talk show host Jimmy Kimmel had someone go to Hollywood Boulevard and ask pedestrians what they would do.This makes a great listening exercise because there is a lot of slang, everyday English, its funny, and it uses interesting and complicated grammar structures. Watch the short video below, then see if you can answer the questions.Note: In the video, the lottery is referred to as Powerball.Answer the questions below in comments, and well respond.1. How much was the Powerball  worth? What was the record?2. How does he recommend recreating the experience of playing  Powerball?3. If you ___ $600 million dollars, ___ ___ quit the show?4. It seems to be everyones fantasy when they think about winning  the lottery, being able to quit their job  and ___ ____ boss ___.5. What does the phrasal verb in the sentence above mean?6. If you ___ the $600 million Powerball, wh at ____  you say to your boss?7.  Snap! This guys gonna ___ you ___ to ___ and leave you there.8. I am ___ __ ___ I never have to do _______ lunch duty again!9. Id definitely tell him about the time his wife ___ __ ___ __ at the Christmas party.10. What would you tell your boss?

Being Strategic Set Goals, Gather Facts, Consider Alternatives, Make Plans

Being Strategic Set Goals, Gather Facts, Consider Alternatives, Make Plans Improving Academic Performance “Strategy is about making choices, trade-offs; it's about deliberately choosing to be different.” -Michael Porter, famous Harvard Business School professor I think training in strategic thinking could be the glue that is missing for many students trying to improve performance at school. By thinking strategically and following a structured process for reaching specific goals, you are far more likely to actually succeed. This article is all about bringing powerful principles of strategy development â€" principles the world’s most successful companies and best MBA programs have been discussing and refining for decades and which I learned both on the job as a strategy consultant for 6 years and in one of those top MBA programs â€" to the process of improving an individual student’s academic performance. As I researched and read about what truly drives academic performance, I realized this notion of employing strategies was extremely underrepresented, although Heidi Grant Halvorson, who is the Associate Director of the Motivation Science Center at the Columbia Business School, in her book Nine Things Successful People do differently. does address head on the topic of employing strategies to reach goals. Any successful business develops a unique system for serving its customers and making a profit for its owners. The create processes for developing and producing products, recruiting employees, marketing and selling to customers, setting goals and plans, etc. The CEO of a large corporation or the owner of a small business generally tend to understand that market trends or customer preferences impact their success, but they intuitively know that they are, to a very large extent, in complete control of the success of their business. If the choices they make are right and they put in the required effort, they business will thrive. Sometimes the right choices aren’t clear, but they are in control of making them. So, it’s natural for a business to be very deliberate about setting strategies and making plans. Students need to do the same. How are good strategies developed? Basic strategy development involves four steps: 1) set a goal, 2) gather facts about how to reach that goal 3) consider alternatives (i.e., different sets of choices) for getting to that goal and 4) make specific plans and assign accountabilities and rewards. Without using too much unnecessary business jargon, let’s walk briefly through the process and point out what’s critical to get right when you’re developing a strategy. We’ll start by discussing these principles in the context of business strategy, and then I’ll use some personal examples to explain how these ideas can be applied in the context of academics. 1. Setting goals First, business must have specific goals, and fewer is better than more. For example, if you are the CEO and you have one goal â€" double profits in three years â€" every decision you make can be linked back to that goal. I’m not saying having this one particular goal is appropriate, but surely it would make decision-making throughout the company clear. Should you close this plant? We’ll, if you’ll save a million dollars without losing any revenue and your only goal is to double profits in three years, you certainly should close the plant, even though that’s a very tough decision to make. Another aspect of this goal is that it’s specific. After three years, the CEO of this business will either have doubled profits, or not. He or she will know if the goal was met without a doubt. But, if your goals as the CEO are to “improve profits for the owners, treat employees well, serve your community, and delight customers,” as you might imagine, you really have no idea whether to close that plant. Closing the plant might improve profits, but it won’t make the employees that get laid off very happy, and it hurts the local community. And, if your goal is to “improve profits,” you can never really know if closing the plant was worth it, because the goal itself isn’t specific enough. Here is an excellent, short blog article about goal setting as applied to individuals’ personal and career decisions. 2. Gathering Facts Businesses pride themselves on being “fact-based,” which is definitely a good thing. They track the moves of competitors, conduct research on their customers’ preferences, and analyze their internal financial data for interesting trends in sales, etc. They then use all of this information to make decisions. Basically any reasonably run business does these things. The practice of fact gathering is something students need to be doing more often and better. Ask a high school student what it takes to get into a Ivy League school, and they’ll probably say a perfect SAT score, perfect grades, a resume chock full of activities, and the probability is extremely low. It is just so competitive. But is this general sentiment true? Here are the facts. Per the above table, the average admission rate, under regular admission timing, is 9%. If you can develop an “average” Ivy League quality application only (i.e., test score, GPA, activities, etc.), and you apply to all 8 Ivy League schools, your chances of getting denied are 91% * 91% * 91% * 91% * 91% * 91% * 91% * 91% = 47%. In other words, the facts actually suggest you have a greater than 50% probability of getting admitted if you can pull together an average Ivy League quality application. Now, of course, the average Ivy League application is strong, but it’s within reach for many high school students to work towards an average Ivy League quality application and resume. Once that happens, the probabilities suggest you can get admitted, not that your chances are incredibly slim. What other facts would you then want to gather in this case? You’d want to know about average test scores, GPA, activities, etc. for those that applied, and of course for those that were admitted, to these schools. 3. Consider Alternatives I’ve consistently been surprised about the extent to which large business don’t effectively use alternatives when developing strategies. All too often, an opportunity arises (i.e., to develop a new product, enter a new country, or buy another company), and facts are gathered to determine whether to do it, or not. That’s it. Using alternatives releases the pressure of this binary decision, and tends to lead to even better options. The way new options are created is sometimes incredibly simple. For example, say a business is considering acquiring a competitor. Everyone knows the competitor is for sale, and the CEO starts asking for as much information (i.e., facts) as possible about whether it’s a good deal or not. Soon, dozens of people are focused on analyzing this opportunity, and forming opinions about whether it’s a good one or not. Let’s assume it’s a really expensive company to buy. All too often, the CEO forgets to step back and consider what other alternatives exists that might also accomplish many of the same objectives that an acquisition would accomplish. What about buying other, smaller, less expensive companies? What about a joint venture, instead of an acquisition? The best alternative should then be chosen after being evaluated against criteria that everyone agrees on. 4. Make plans Business tend to also do a very good job of making plans and assigning accountabilities. If the agreed alternatives is in fact to buy a company, there are many, many things that need to happen. Who is going to build a financial model to determine how much to pay? Who is going to organize the integration of the two facilities, etc.? The specific steps are typically written down, with accountabilities assigned to specific people. Students, and people in general, tend not to make specific plans in this way. We tend to be along for the educational or corporate ride, following the instructions given to use by teachers, guidance counselors, bosses, etc. But, if we have a goals, and we’ve gathered information about how to reach them, and considered some different ways to get there, we can and should write out the specific lists of activities and steps we need to take, hold ourselves accountable for meeting specific deadlines. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, 'f08a3c58-464f-4164-a82e-313b7951bbb2', {});