Laboratory Techniques in Organic Chemistry

Laboratory Techniques in Organic ChemistryIf you are looking for a way to go back to college, whether it is because you lost interest in it or because you want to gain an advanced degree in a particular area, then laboratory techniques in organic chemistry are essential. Organic chemistry is one of the most important branches of chemistry because this field involves a lot of math and a lot of formulas and equations, which require advanced analytical skills that are easy to learn. If you are interested in this type of study, there are many topics that you can choose from, as well as topics that you will have to master to be successful in your graduate program.One of the first things that you will learn in any laboratory techniques in organic chemistry course is how to perform basic chemistry. A good laboratory technique in organic chemistry course will give you all the tools you need to perform basic chemical reactions to isolate and analyze the components of a mixture. This is done b y doing a simple reaction between the constituents of the mixture to create a product, a compound, such as glycerin.What you will learn in this type of lab will be a little complex. You will learn all the scientific details and what are usually called the 'discovery steps' as well as how to do the reverse reaction. This is how the molecule from the original mixture reacts with the product to create a compound.If you want to study how compounds are formed and how molecules react, then you will have to read up on the basic chemical reactions. When you do this, you will understand some of the concepts that are involved. In organic chemistry, the reaction always starts from a simpler compound that will turn into a compound that can be further broken down into simpler compounds.There are many different compounds that you will study, and you will learn about how these compounds can be used in various industries. There are acids, bases, and sugars that you will study, as well as many other processes that involve complexes that are used in various industries. If you are interested in exploring what it takes to create compounds, then you should learn the basics.If you are thinking of going back to school for a Master's degree in chemistry, then you may want to learn the basics of laboratory techniques in organic chemistry. This is a very important class because it will help you understand all the different chemical processes that are used in laboratories. It will also help you to gain the skills that you need to work in a lab setting and help you get started in your career as a chemist.Of course, not every graduate program will teach you this type of course work. If you want to study organic chemistry, you will need to get additional advanced course work that will allow you to grasp the concepts. The lab techniques in organic chemistry course should always be the first thing that you consider getting if you are interested in going back to school for a Masters degree in chemistry.

Ask a Medical School Admissions Expert Dr. Sahil Mehta

Ask a Medical School Admissions Expert Dr. Sahil Mehta Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Having been accepted to three of the top ten medical schools in the country as well as being the founder of a prominent Medical School application consulting service, Dr. Sahil Mehta truly knows all the ins and outs of the Medical School Admissions world. Previously, he has served as an interviewer on admissions committees for both Columbia University and the University of Chicago. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Columbia University and then went on to attend the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Mehta has helped hundreds of students get into top medical school programs with his expert advice and had plenty to share with us as well. VT: How much time should be set aside to adequately prepare for and complete a Med School application? Sahil: The application itself has many parts. You'll need to write a personal statement, perfect your CV, gather letters of recommendation and your transcripts. While each of these individual steps may not seem to take very long, in total, they can take up a great deal of time. You should plan at least three months ahead of time to start to do all these things. In particular the personal statement can take awhile as can gathering the appropriate letters recommendation. As with everything else you do, putting aside more time and planning ahead will only help you succeed. VT: What is the single most important thing applicants should focus on with this application? Sahil: Without a doubt the two most important things are your MCAT and GPA. As far as the application itself one should really focus on writing a great personal statement that will separate you from the pack. Remember, medical schools are reading thousands of applications, many of which have the similar stats and even similar activities. Its how you present these that will separate you. VT: What are the biggest mistakes one can make on a Med School application? Sahil: Submitting late. Submitting late will be detrimental to your chances at most medical schools. While schools have admissions deadlines that sometimes say December, many will have filled a significant portion of their class by then, if not all of it! You need to get your application in as early as possible and that usually means June. The second mistake that people make more often than they should is coming across as cocky in their personal statement or their application. VT: What do Med School admissions officers look for most in an applicants essays/personal statements? Sahil: They want unique and interesting personal statements. Remember many individual members of an admissions committee are reading hundreds of these a day. If your personal statement is like everybody else's it's going to get the same treatment as everybody else. In order to stand out you should have a unique story. Build your personal statement from the experiences you've had and spin them in a way that is fun and interesting to read. The first few sentences of your essay really can make or break your personal statement and subsequently your entire application. VT: Is there anything on a students application that would automatically disqualify them from being considered for the program? Sahil: Academic dishonesty can easily lead to being disqualified. Additionally things that are huge red flags are multiple withdrawals from classes and a poor letter recommendation. In todays world of admission consultants, a personal statement that appears to be written by somebody else besides you will automatically get you rejected. If you do not have any of these other things but for some reason come across as a cocky and arrogant individual that can automatically disqualify you as well. VT: What about the Med School admissions process differs the most from undergraduate admissions? Sahil: In the medical school admissions process you are competing for one of about 150 spots. In college you're competing for one of 1000 or even more spots. Almost everybody who's qualified will get into college somewhere. That's not the case with medical school. There simply a limited number of seats and many well-qualified people will not get in. Schools want to diversify their class and are not just looking for people with great MCAT and great GPAs but for people with life experience, diversity and who make good team members. All in all you should not be discouraged if you don't get into medical school the first time around. VT: What undergrad majors best prepare one for med school applications? Sahil: There's not one undergraduate major that will prepare you better than another. Certainly a science major can help you through your first two years of medical school, but being a physician is more about communicating with your patients than anything else. Developing those skills can come from any number of majors, not just biology or chemistry. Medical schools will not look down upon particular majors provided that you've done well in the prerequisite classes. VT:Is there anything you might see on a students application that would quickly put them ahead in the running? Sahil: In this day and age where everybody comes in with shadowing, volunteering, and a bit of research work, it is definitely hard to separate yourself. However if you can show that you're passionate about something and have given it your all, that will certainly look better than spreading yourself thin across multiple activities none of which you are actually care about. VT: What advice do you have regarding MCAT test prep? Sahil: The MCAT is a test of subject knowledge but also of endurance and reasoning. The best preparation is to do well in your prerequisite classes. I recommend to students that they buy a few MCAT review books and just sample them as they're going to the classes. That way when they put aside dedicated time to study (2 to 3 months is recommended) they will be reviewing the material for that third and fourth times rather than the first. VT: What do Med School admissions officers look for in recommendation letters? Sahil: Letters of recommendation are always better from people who know you best. Not only are we looking to judge people based on their grades and how they performed in class but deeper than that we want to see that the student is able to develop relationships with their professors. A professor who can talk about activities and perhaps their relationship with the student outside of the classroom as well as how well they performed in the classroom goes along way. It's always best to get these from people who know you best rather than just big names. Check out Dr. Mehtas website, MedSchoolCoach.com, for more information.The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

How Often Should You Dance to Lose Weight

How Often Should You Dance to Lose Weight Do You Need to Dance Regularly to Lose Weight? ChaptersLosing Weight through Dancing: Work Out Your GoalsLosing Weight Through Dancing: Balancing Your Lifestyle and Your DancingLosing Weight While Dancing: Balancing Motivation and GoalsLosing Weight by Choosing the Right Type of Dancing“I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself.” - Mikhail BaryshnikovA lot of people seem to prefer to change their diet rather than take up a sport. This is usually due to the fact that a lot of exercises, especially cardio, is pretty boring. However, while nutrition is important and healthier eating habits will help, if you want to keep your weight loss on track, you'll need to change your workout routines.However, some disciplines, like dancing, are a way to exercise, tone muscle, lose weight, and also express yourself. After just a few sessions, you can start losing weight.A lot of adults who practised dancing as children regret having given it up. Though that doesn’t necessarily need to be the cas e.So how often do you need to dance in order to lose weight? Whatever your fitness goals, dancing is one of the best workouts you can do.In this article, we’re going to have a look at how changing your routine can help you with weight loss whether it's just a pound or two or something bigger. SeamDance Teacher 4.96 (24) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamieDance Teacher 5.00 (6) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErickaDance Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlavioDance Teacher 5.00 (7) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimDance Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HannaDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClareDance Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsLosing Weight through Dancing: Work Out Your Goals“Dance is the hidden language of the soul.” - Martha G rahamWhen it comes to losing weight, there seem to be millions of different ways to do it. Depending on how you want to lose weight will affect which type of dancing will be best for you. For example, you may want to:Flatten your stomach and toning absGet rid of saddlebagsTone your bumLose a few poundsBuild muscleBurn fatImprove cardio and aerobic performanceEtc.To become a good dancer, you'll probably need several sessions. (Source: luxstorm)These objectives are more than achievable with the right levels of motivation. As an amateur dancer, it’s basically you versus your body. No matter how achievable your goal is, there are still sacrifices that will need to be made.You’ll probably need at least 3 sessions per week if your plan is to lose a decent amount of weight. This will probably need to be paired with sessions in the gym as well.Losing Weight Through Dancing: Balancing Your Lifestyle and Your DancingIt goes without saying that dancing is an activity that you can do almost anywhere and at any time. Of course, you’ll need a certain level of organisation. Depending on your goals, you could dance anywhere between once and four times a week.Dancing is also a great way to learn about discipline. (Source: Free-Photos)As we said, it’s not all fun and games! This is why dancing could be the solution if you want to lose weight or tone up. Get some comfortable clothes, decent trainers, and get ready to lose some weight.Dancing, whatever the style, is a sport, a hobby, and an art form. You have to take into account, however, that this is a long journey and requires a lot of discipline.You could actually tone up doing some chin ups but it’s much more fun to dance along to the music. There’s something primordial about dancing and it’s great for keeping your weight in check.Losing Weight While Dancing: Balancing Motivation and GoalsZumba is more than just a hobby, it’s a fitness regime that you can benefit from for losing weight. You just have to be su re that you really want to do it. This is what we call motivation, after all.It's easier to remain motivated when you can see the results. (Source: werner22brigitte)In just a few sessions, you can start to lose weight. However, it really depends on how often you do it.You need realistic and achievable goals that line up with how much weight you want to lose. Our bodies aren’t machines, after all. There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding how often to dance, but without motivation, it’ll be impossible.If you want your new hobby to last, you’ll need to know how to stay motivated. For example, you could make a list and a schedule or when you’re going to dance. This is useful for planning your day, achieving goals, and it feels great to cross something off a list.You need to be passionate about dancing but also learn the techniques. Ballet requires more technique than Zumba, but the latter tends to be more fun and focused on cardio training. Your motivation will depen d on the type of dancing you’ve chosen to do.Losing Weight by Choosing the Right Type of DancingChoosing the right type of dancing is essential for losing weight. While the number of calories burnt will depend on how often you dance, the type of dancing will dictate how often you do it.Be it break-dancing, salsa, or the cha-cha, there are styles for all tastes. (Source: Picography)Motivation is the key, but you’ll also need to make sure that you’ve chosen the right style for losing weight. For example, ballet is very demanding. You’ll need to work on it almost every day.On the other hand, Zumba focuses on cardio and is designed to be fun. Why not mix styles?If you want to achieve your goals, you need to make sure that your fitness routine includes smart goals. Think about where you want to lose body fat. When it comes to getting rid of body fat, with exercises like squats, pull-ups, and push-ups, it's obvious where you're building muscle and where the fat burning is taking p lace.Some gyms offer different dance classes throughout the week!What better way to do jive, modern jazz, and breakdancing each week?It’d be a great way to lose weight, wouldn’t it?Whatever your goals are, be it losing weight, working on your cardio, or toning muscle, dancing is good for you.  Generally, 3 sessions per week is a good place to start losing weight.You should also choose a style that matches your weight, general fitness, and metabolic equivalent.What’s that?This is the ratio at which you expend energy relative to your mass.  It’s also known as MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) and a typical dance session done twice a week has a value of 4. This means you burn 4 times as many calories as you would at rest. That should be enough to motivate you a little.Of course, this is just the average and not every style of dance has the same physical intensity. Here are some styles that you could try out:African danceBalletOriental danceSalsaEach type of dance has its own p ros and cons. You need to think about what you’re trying to work on.  In short, how often you dance and the type of dancing you do depends on exactly what you’re trying to get out of dancing and how motivated you are.This is what makes dancing such a rich and rewarding discipline. Everyone can get something out of it, they can lose weight, have fun, tone muscle, etc. Every calorie counts when it comes to your workouts so you should make sure that you're setting goals and that you track your results.If you're struggling to lose fat or get fit, you should consider getting a personal trainer to help you. On Superprof, you can get someone to set goals that are attainable and guide you through the process. They can put together a total body workout routine for you that's more than just dancing, too.If you need strength training with weights, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), help maintaining or managing your body weight, they'll be able to devise the best workout for you. You can do this with them at the gym or from the comfort of your own home.Of course, your home mightn't have a treadmill or what you need to get in shape, but you can discuss this during the first hour with your trainer as many of them offer this session for free.There are three types of tutorials offered on Superprof: Private tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials.The first is the most expensive but you'll be in a one on one session with your tutor, meaning that you can enjoy tailored lessons.Online tutorials are provided over webcam using programmes such as Skype and tend to be cheaper as the tutor doesn't have to factor in travel costs. While these are usually better for academic subjects, there are more and more tutors offering online tutorials for physical activities like dance.Group tutorials are the cheapest per person as the cost is shared amongst all the attendees. However, this means that you won't get the tailored tuition that you would in private tutorials or onlin e tutorials.

How To Overcome Your Weaknesses Through Online Algebra Classes

How To Overcome Your Weaknesses Through Online Algebra Classes Their child should be fine as well and will make it through, as they have made it themselves. They have figured out most of the parents, after contemplating briefly. They need not worry if their child doesnt like to go to algebra class. It is believed that other things like drugs they should worry. Your childs struggle with algebra should be not be taken for granted and be given due importance. Algebra tutoring will help him figure out his problem and will be able to put him back on track to move forward. Due consideration should really be given to algebra tutoring. Why you should consider algebra tutor? As algebra assignment helps your child to do better. Here are few reasons. Algebra, like all maths is a cumulative subject, initially. Top Tips For Working On #Algebra Word Problems https://t.co/kLvhE73ReX pic.twitter.com/67LgHfgDg9 â€" Tutor Pace (@TutorPace) November 30, 2015 Benefits of online algebra tutor If he struggles in algebra classes he will continue to struggle through all his maths classes. It is in account of his weak fundamental concepts built earlier. Initially if he is lost, he may never understand maths at all. Secondly he will find more comfort in one to one setting. This is setting with his tutor then with classroom full of his friends. He feels a sort of reservation in asking any question to his tutor. It is in watchful presence of his friends and without them he feels at ease to ask any question and learns. Thirdly one on one situation make some student feels simply better. Third, some students simply respond better in a one on one situation. Algebra homework help to work with your child in whatever way helps them to learn the best as every person learns in different way. Fourthly, online algebra tutors takes a lot of concentration for learning math disciplines like algebra. A tutor knows better at what point your childs attention is wavered and he is able to draw that attention back to work at hand. Algebra tutor will improve grades and classroom performance, benefits child in his other classes and also later in his life. College admission greatly depends on maths grade and it also helps your childs prospect of getting into school of his choice. Make sure to take all those reasons seriously to evaluate your childs specific situation. You need to examine them closely, especially if you already suspect that your child is having difficulties. All of them are strong compasses pointing directly to your need to consider algebra tutoring for your child. How Far Is Virtual #Assignment Help Essential For Top Notch #Exam Scores? https://t.co/a2KZagwxY3 pic.twitter.com/rlX8vYjAVx â€" Tutor Pace (@TutorPace) December 1, 2015 Get the benefits of private tutoring If you want your child to take the advantage of getting into his dream school then it is a better idea to get him private tutor. If you want your child to move ahead at his own pace, then get the benefits of private tutoring such as providing immediate answers to questions, training him to properly prioritize study time, presenting the subject matter in multiple ways, and preparing him for higher education. Give your child the advantages that private tutoring can provide that facility which will help your child to show his or her finest capability in the coming future.

How To Gain Clinical Experience Before Med School

How To Gain Clinical Experience Before Med School What are you doing to become a better doctor? Today? Right now? Med schools want the great, future doctors and physicians. They want undergrad students who are passionate about the medical field, those who are poised to succeed. The more you can convince med school admissions counselors that you will be a successful doctor, the better your chances are of getting in. Clinical experience is the best way to prove just that. An internship/co-op is the traditional way to gain clinical experience. However, most internships are reserved for undergrad upperclassmen. If youre a freshman or sophomore or student who did not get a chance to intern/COOP you can also gain clinical experience from job shadowing, summer lab classes, volunteer work, a part time job, etc. Stanford University, for example, has a summer programdesigned to give undergrad students clinical exposure. Research schools in your area to see if they have similar programs. Pick programs that help you develop specific skillsets. You already have had exposure to chemistryand biology, but clinical experience is completely different. Use your connections to land these positions. Sometimes, if you just know someone who is a practicing doctor, he/she will let you shadow them for summer or they may even find an internship for you. Also, your academic advisor or department chair should have contacts in the field, which could help you. You can do a Google search to find open internships or COOPs but remember, with the advertised positions, there are going to be a lot more applicants and competition. If that doesnt work, just pick up the phone. Call around at local hospitals, nursing homes, labs, clinics etc. Its best if you know someone there who can help introduce you to the right people. But, you might be surprised with what you can find. Every position/job you will ever have builds off your last one. So, the sooner you can land any type of clinical position, the better. If youre a freshman in college, try to shadow or land a part time job in a clinic. If you can show the top doctors there that you are motivated and willing to work hard, theyll remember you. And maybe the next year they will offer you a great internship. Even if you cant get that, start a research project with one of your professors. This could be the easiest and best way to start showing people youre serious about a medical career. Also, most professors would love to work with a passionate student. Ask around about outside-of-class research projects your freshman year of college. Learn howMCAT tutoringcan help you improve your chances of acceptance into a top med school. Earning that prestigious internship the summer before your junior year of undergrad should be your target; so you can add it to your med school application assuming you are planning to attend med school the fall after your graduate. Taking small, odd jobs early or doing research can help you gain enough experience to land that prestigious internship, which very well could be the deciding factor in your med school application. Some med schools even require practical experience as part of their application. To be accepted, you must convince the person reading your med school application that you will go on to have a great medical career thats all you have to doseems pretty simple, right? But not exactly only half of the students who apply to med school are accepted, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Your academics (GPA, MCATscore, undergrad college attended, degree earned, etc) can indicate what type of career youre heading toward. But, you have to be more than a great student. You have to be a great doctor in the making. Everyone youre competing with is going to have great MCATscores, GPAs and recommendation letters from their professors. But, just imagine interning with a recognized doctor and making an impact on his/her practice. Imagine being able to talk about that in an interview or on your application. Imagine that doctor writing a letter of recommendation to your prospective college, saying one day, this person will make a difference to world through medicine.

3 Ways to Excel During Your Medical School Interview

3 Ways to Excel During Your Medical School Interview The following piece was written by Dr. Sahil Mehta and Brian Wu. Sahil and Brian are advisors for MedSchoolCoach, a medical school admissions consulting company. Sahil has been featured in our Admissions Expert series and is a former admissions interviewer for Columbia University. The medical school interview is an essential step toward gaining a medical school acceptance. We wanted to share with you some of the things that make a great medical school interview! A Great Personality Combined with Great Stories You want your personality to shine during the interview. It is best to show off your best traits during your answers by showing enthusiasm, sincerity, and well-thought out answers. When you are describing stories that relate to the questions, you want to show that you really were passionate about those events. Furthermore, you should be able to answer any follow-up questions because you were being sincere about the story to begin with. Lastly, the answers that are well prepared and thought out are often the ones that can demonstrate this style the best. Of course any of your stories will need to have been a personal experience that you could provide all the details for. Furthermore, you want your answer to be directly related to the question and to be a powerful and convincing answer. Again, the interview should be focused on you and why you are a great candidate for their school. A Great Introduction One of the major differences between interviews and the personal statement is how much your first impression will count toward the interview. In this regard, you want to be professional both in dress and demeanor. Furthermore, you want to make sure that you have a firm handshake and to smile when meeting the interviewer. A Great Finale At the end of the interview, you will often get asked Do you have any other questions? This is your chance to have the school sell themselves to you. If you have done your job and sold yourself, it will only be even more convincing for the school to feel like they have to have you select their school over all the others you applied to. Your question should be designed to address a specific aspect about the school that you like and would want more information on. It could range from how students interact together, how small groups function in the setting of learning, what students feel could be improved about the school, etc. You want to show you are well researched in the school and that they need to prove to you that they are the school for you (even if you knew that already). Furthermore, at the end of the interview, you want your interviewer to be an advocate for you. They will be playing an important role in your admission and you want them to have a favorable impression of you. If you feel comfortable, ask for a business card or contact information so you can send a hand-written thank you card. If that is not feasible, an email works also. Do your best to keep in touch with them because they can help notify you of where you may be on the wait list or what you can do to improve your chances of getting in the school. Check out MedSchoolCoach for more information. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

The Under-appreciated Power of Paying Attention Part 1

The Under-appreciated Power of Paying Attention Part 1 Improving Academic Performance When a student is really struggling in school or on standardized tests, reversing the trend can seem like a truly daunting task. One of the first things a parent might say to student who comes home with a “C” or “D” on a report card might be, “are you paying attention in class?” This is indeed a very important question, because paying attention in class is critical to performing well in school. Paying attention while taking a standardized test is also critical, yet oddly it probably seems so obvious that you may have never actually thought about the fact that it’s important. In this article, we’ll discuss a seemingly obvious concept in a new light: paying attention. The idea that “paying attention” is important seems simple, but it actually operates on a variety of different levels. In this article, we’ll address the following three questions: What does it really mean to focus on paying attention? What are the different dimensions of “paying attention” that a student or parent should be thinking about? Why is paying attention so important? What are some strategies for improving your ability to pay attention (follow up post) 1. What does it mean to pay attention? Let’s start by thinking about your typical high school or college student sitting in class. I’d submit that there are three level of paying attention to consider: Just listening to the teacher vs. staring out the window or day dreaming about something else Actively listening to the teacher, and focusing on when she explicitly calls things important, not important, assigns things, asks questions, and perhaps most important, when you do vs. don’t understand what is being said Fully engaged listening to the teacher, in which you are really trying to understand and digest what she’s saying (which I recognize is not easy if you aren’t also very interested in what is being discussed) to challenge and enhance your understanding of it You might call (A) the bare minimum and (C) the gold standard of paying attention. (A) is fundamentally about being committed to being a part of the situation at a high level. The first step in this direction is, of course, attending vs. skipping class altogether. But, once you’re there, you really have to focus on listening to what’s going on. If you are day dreaming, it’s almost as if you aren’t there at all. The next step is actively listening, where you focus on identifying when something important has been said. Finally, in C), when you are fully engaged in the lecture, you will naturally ask a question when you don’t understand or want to make a point. As you move from A through B and toward C, you are essentially realizing that listening to words being said out loud is only the first step in understanding an idea. When you are really paying attention, you are constantly breaking down explanations and ideas, re-phrasing them, creating linkages to other ideas you understand to be true, and making sure you understand. 2. Why is paying attention so important? Many students think that reading and homework assignments are substitutes for attending or really paying attention in class. But, they are wrong. When it comes to a typical academic subject, the more obvious reason that paying attention is so important is that classes are typically structured such that you learn things in class, they are reinforced in assigned readings, applied through homework and projects, and your knowledge is then evaluated through quizzes and tests. However, it’s a little messier than that. Many of us have probably found that, when explained in layman’s terms by a teacher, a given concept or idea is much more digestible than when described in a text book. In other cases, something might be covered in class that actually isn’t covered in a text book at all. So, you can’t skip class, or sleep through it, and think that you’re going to be well positioned to do well in the class. You will literally be missing information that you need to have. The more subtle reason that paying attention is so important is that our brains and minds don’t just learn things upon hearing or reading them. They learn through the struggle of trying to understand what is being said. The process of trying to digest what is being said in real time, ask questions if necessary, and synthesize information together to form our own opinions and perspective. If you aren’t really paying attention, you won’t be able to identify what it is about a concept or idea that you don’t understand, and therefore won’t be able to struggle to understand it. You might, in fact, not realize that you don’t understand something. Finally, many people don’t realize that standardized tests explicitly measure your ability to pay attention. When you read a question that says “which of the below answers is not correct?” You may need to know algebra to correctly answer the question, but if you aren’t paying close attention, you might pick A), because it is the answer to the equation. Unfortunately, you would be answering incorrectly, because the question is asking for what is NOT correct. At the end of the day, if you compare the straight A student with a 4.0 GPA to the straight B student with a 3.0 GPA, or the high school student that scored a 31 on the ACT to his friend that scored a 27, you might just find that the ability and commitment to pay attention is the only real differentiator. In our next post, we'll explore some strategies for improving your ability to pay attention. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, 'f08a3c58-464f-4164-a82e-313b7951bbb2', {});