University of Rochester Chemistry

University of Rochester ChemistryThe Department of Chemistry at the University of Rochester is one of the top rated schools for all students that are interested in pursuing a career in this field. The Department of Chemistry offers several options for students to make an impact on their future and choose from a variety of career paths. Students that have a penchant for science can choose the bachelor's degree in chemistry and work towards a doctorate degree in chemistry.At the University of Rochester, students can choose from a variety of student activities. Students can take up a variety of undergraduate courses that would suit their interests. Students should check with the Department of Chemistry to find out which specific courses they may need to take up before entering into a college. Students that wish to pursue further study can choose from graduate or doctoral level programs.As far as undergraduate courses are concerned, there are some that students can find on campus. Many s tudents in the university are interested in specialised courses in chemistry, as these offer them a variety of career opportunities. Students can choose from a variety of courses that would help them decide whether a career in chemistry is right for them. Students who wish to pursue a career in chemistry will find the Bachelor of Science in chemistry to be an ideal program. With this degree, students can do research in a lab and get paid to do it.At the University of Rochester, students will also find the Master of Science in Chemistry or a PhD in chemistry as a rewarding program. Students can choose to pursue one of these courses as they would suit their career needs. Students should remember that PhD in chemistry is a very demanding program, and requires students to write a dissertation based on their thesis research.Students that wish to pursue a PhD in chemistry at the University of Rochester will find that this is a lengthy process. Students should remember that only a few univ ersities in the United States accept a PhD in chemistry programs. Many of these programs are available to American students only. This is why students must look at other countries as well for the best options available to them.Students that wish to pursue a career in chemistry should find a career as a post-doctoral researcher. At the University of Rochester, this is an option available to students that wish to pursue a PhD in chemistry. Students can apply for a research assistant position and if selected, will receive funding to help them work on their research.In order to get a PhD in chemistry at the University of Rochester, students must complete their Bachelor of Science in chemistry before enrolling in a PhD program. Many students that have pursued their Bachelor of Science in chemistry as a Masters in chemistry must be selective with their choices when choosing their doctoral program. Students can also choose to attend graduate school instead of a PhD in chemistry. Students c an take up courses that lead to a master's degree in chemistry instead of the PhD.

Spanish for Beginners Where and How to Start

Spanish for Beginners Where and How to Start How to Go about Learning Spanish for Beginners ChaptersAttitude is Essential for Beginners SpanishLearn Spanish for Beginners: Set Realistic TargetsFrom Spanish Books for Beginners to Learning Online: Find a Method that Works for youStart with the Spanish BasicsFrom Spanish Vocabulary to Grammar: Practice Makes PerfectImmersion is the KeyLearning Spanish is a skill that will open up a variety of doors for you in life. Spanish is the second most spoken  language in the world by number of people who use it as their mother tongue, with only Mandarin Chinese boasting a higher number of native speakers.In occupying second place, the Spanish language is spoken by a staggering 440 million native speakers, with 20 different countries having Spanish as an official language. Outside of Spain, these countries are primarily in Latin America.They include countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica in Central America; Argentina, Colombia, and Peru in South America; and Cuba and the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean.Latin American Spa nish and European Spanish do differ slightly, but this is more in terms of the accent and a few different grammar points, so having communicative issues between the two should be kept to a minimum.Language learning has long been seen as an important skill to have, and the widespread nature of Spanish means that it is often at the forefront of choices for a beginner looking for a new language.You might be thinking that this is all well and good, but how can you start to learn Spanish?You can learn Spanish in a number of ways, but not all of them are suitable for beginners. Having a step-by-step plan for learning Spanish  is a good idea in the long run, but you will need to get started in order to start following such a route of progression.So here at Superprof, we have decided to put together some ideas and tips to get you started as a new learner of the language of Miguel de Cervantes, Pablo Picasso, Penelope Cruz, and many others. TadeoSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson fre e!Discover all our tutors AnnickSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterSpanish Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MartaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SharonSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TanyaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Jose manuelSpanish Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsAttitude is Essential for Beginners SpanishWhen it comes to learning a second language such as Spanish, having a positive attitude is absolutely non-negotiable.You can sign up for a Spanish course, take as many Spanish classes as you like, or even by as many Spanish grammar books as your heart desires, but if you are not committed and motivated, you won't make the most of them. Any guide to learning Spanish for beginners  should start by mak ing this clear.If you want to study Spanish, you should start by having an end goal. This could be something such as having a conversational level in order to go on holiday to a Spanish speaking country. Or aiming to reach fluency in order to move abroad and live somewhere where your Spanish skills will be important in your day-to-day life.Why do you want to learn Spanish?Defining your goals in Spanish will give you a constant aim to strive towards. It will also help to keep you motivated when the going gets tough. And it will get tough.You might struggle with a specific part of the grammar, or you might just have a bad class where it doesn't seem to be clicking. This is all completely normal, and it actually happens to everyone multiple times during their language learning process.The key here is to not get to despondent. If you want to learn to speak Spanish, you will have to learn to manage the difficult moments in order to overcome them. If you take Spanish lessons with a Spanis h teacher, then they will help to motivate you, but you will still need to motivate yourself too. After all, some people actually consider motivation as the key to language learning.Learn Spanish for Beginners: Set Realistic TargetsFurther to keeping yourself motivated, don't expect everything to fall into place overnight. This is applicable to both students and teachers, and it therefore doesn't matter if you are learning Spanish on your own, or if you are teaching Spanish to kids.The targets set should reflect the student and their level, and their overall aim for the Spanish language.Examples might include committing to learning the conjugation of a certain number of verbs each week, or focusing on learning so many words from the Spanish vocabulary. Whatever the targets are, they should be achievable and not far too difficult to reach.Setting such targets will help to keep the student on track, and help them to feel like they are making real tangible progress. The sense of making progress is invaluable when it comes to being motivated to keep learning Spanish. TadeoSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterSpanish Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MartaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SharonSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TanyaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Jose manuelSpanish Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsFrom Spanish Books for Beginners to Learning Online: Find a Method that Works for youThere are a whole host of different ways to study Spanish. You could opt for the traditional Spanish courses option whereby you go to a local language school and have a classroom styled education with a Spanish teacher.Or a sl ight twist on this is to have a tutor come to your home, say in London, to give you personalised Spanish courses London, tailored specifically to you. Websites, such as Superprof, offer platforms for you to find a tutor in your local area who can teach you Spanish at an often very reasonable price.If neither of these options appeal to you, then you could use a wide range of different technological advances to learn Spanish online, through websites, apps, and even podcasts. The internet is a great source of information, and you can even find free Spanish lessons online.Whether you want to learn Spanish online, or with a book, find the method that works best for youFinding a way of starting with beginner Spanish won't be the problem, the problem will be finding a way that perfectly suits you, your learning style, your goals, and your budget.These are all different criteria to think about because you will need something affordable, that suits how you learn at the same time. At the end of the day, we don't all learn in the same way or at the same level. Therefore you should be aware that just because one method worked for your friend, it might not necessarily work for you as you set out to learn Spanish.Having you end goals in mind is also important. This is because if you just want to learn conversational Spanish in order to have some basic Spanish to help you communicate with Spanish speakers during a two week holiday to Spain, then an expensive language course probably isn't for you. Likewise, if you want to become fluent in Spanish, online Spanish probably isn't going to give you enough depth and support to achieve this.Whatever method you choose, buying a Spanish book to accompany you, and using other resources available to you (such as YouTube videos) will help you advance at a quicker pace. Who knows, before you know it you might find yourself having dreams in Spanish.Start with the Spanish BasicsWhatever you do, don't jump in at the deep end when learning Spanish. Things like the subjunctive, the conditional tense and indirect object pronouns will all come later, but to start try focusing on:the alphabetintroducing yourselfcountingshort vocabulary lists (such as colours, rooms of the house, adjectives to describe people etc)Once you have these basics, you can move on to using these foundations in more complicated scenarios.It doesn't matter if it's Spanish for kids, or Spanish for adults, both groups will start by introducing themselves and saying their name and age. So you will learn some grammatical structures without even knowing it. That's the basis of starting to learn any language. Knowing the verbs that you are using, and the tense that they are being used in will follow soon after so don't get carried away too soon.What's more, this is the same way that native speakers learn as children. So if it's good enough for them, then why not for you?Do you think Penelope Cruz started speaking Spanish with complex grammatical structure s or Spanish basic vocab?From Spanish Vocabulary to Grammar: Practice Makes PerfectThe key to improving at anything you do in life is to practise. By practising, you can develop any given skill, and reinforce your knowledge of it. It doesn't matter if it is a musical instrument, playing a sport, or learning a language. If you don't practise, you won't improve. It is as simple as that.When it comes to learning Spanish, practising acts as a way of keeping the language fresh in your mind. If you don't practise, you risk losing whatever progress you have made. This would be the same as playing the piano, for example. You could reach a high level, but if you don't play for a period of time, you'll be rusty at best when you come back to play again.In terms of how to practise, this will depend a lot on the level that you are at. To start with, you will need to work on your vocabulary. This can be done through repetition, or even by using a number of different websites which offer different ways to practise the Spanish words that you have learnt.As your language level develops, you should try to practise is as many practical ways as possible. This could be something as simple as explaining to yourself about an activity that you are doing, or by having a conversation with a native speaker. Any practise you do will benefit you, but try to develop you four main components (speaking, listening, reading and writing) equally).Speaking can be practised through speaking to a native speaker, listening by listening to Spanish music and radio, reading by reading short stories in Spanish, and writing by trying to write down your thoughts or opinions about a specific topic, or even your day.Language is a creative endeavour in the sense that it is one primary way of communicating how we feel and think. Learning Spanish should reflect this, and in doing so your skills will improve in a way that makes them much more useful to you personally.Where could learning Spanish take you?Immer sion is the KeyA lot of people immediately want to know how long it takes to learn Spanish, as soon as they begin studying. After all, we want to know roughly where the end is going to be! However, this is a difficult question to answer because it depends on an incredibly diverse range of factors, including your own motivation, how long you spend studying each week, and your natural ability to pick up words and phrases, as well as how good you are at conjugating verbs.One thing is for certain, the quickest and most efficient way to learn Spanish is through immersion. The best version of this is moving to a Spanish speaking country for a period of time.Whilst you are there, you will be constantly picking things up, even when you are not conscious of the fact. What's more, what better place to improve your Spanish pronunciation than being surrounded by native speakers.Your trip to the supermarket could turn into a Spanish lesson, and coffee with friends could teach you about Spanish v erbs.However, we understand that this is not a feasible option for many people who want to know how to speak Spanish. The good news is that immersion isn't limited to moving abroad. You can immerse yourself in Spanish in a number of other ways too, such as by listening to Spanish radio, watching Spanish movies, and even by changing the language on your smartphone to Spanish.So know you have all of the information you'll need to get started, what are you waiting for? Remember, there is no age limit for learning Spanish, so why not start your Spanish adventure today. You never know where it will take you...

Different Types of Lipids Online Biology Tutors Tutorpace

Different Types of Lipids Online Biology Tutors Tutorpace Lipids are organic compounds which are insoluble in water, but soluble in organic solvents. They include substances like butter, ghee, vegetable oils, some plant pigments such as carotene and lycopene etc. They can dissolve in chloroform, benzene and ether. Lipids: three categories-simple, compounds and derived. Simple lipids are lipids formed of fatty acids and alcohol without any additional group. Example: fats or true fats, wax, cutin, suberin etc. Compound lipids contains group in addition to fatty acid and alcohol. Example: phospholipids, sphingomyelins, glycolipids, sulpho lipids, lipoprotein etc. Derived lipids are derivatives of lipids Example: Steroids and sterol like cholesterol, lipid soluble vitamins, lipid soluble hormones, terpenes, prostaglandin etc. Different types of lipids: Triglycerides: They are esters of fatty acids and 3 carbon trihydric alcohol glycerol. Being trihydric, glycerol forms ester linkages with three fatty acid molecules. True fat is also called triglycerides. Waxes are chemically inert esters of long chain fatty acids with monohydric higher alcohol. Cutin: It is a lipid formed by polymerization and cross esterification of hydroxyl fatty acids. Suberin: It is a lipid formed by esterification of phellonic acid or its derivatives with glycerol. Phospholipid: They are compound lipids or phosphoglycerides where the third hydroxyl group of glycerol is esterified to phosphoric acid making it strong polar head. Sphinogomyelins: The lipids do not contain glycerol. Instead a complex amino alcohol sphingosine is found. Glycolipids: They are lipids having sugar residues. Terpenoids or Terpenes: They are a large group of lipids that are formed by repeating units called isoprene. Prostaglandins: It is a group of hormone like derivatives of unsaturated fatty acids. They are derived from arachidonic and related C20 fatty acids.

Is It Possible To Repair Your Reputation at Work - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Is It Possible To Repair Your Reputation at Work - Introvert Whisperer Is It Possible To Repair Your Reputation at Work? Personal Branding starts with how well you speak about YOU.  I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook â€" The Definitive Guide to Creating and Using an Elevator Speech.  In this guide, I give you simple to follow instructions for creating a “wardrobe” of ways to talk about you â€" to leave a lasting impression. Get your copy now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Which Equipment Do I Need To Start Baking At Home

Which Equipment Do I Need To Start Baking At Home Baking For Beginners: Essential Tools How To Use Them ChaptersThe Importance Of Kitchen ToolsDo I Need A Recipe Book?15 Common Baking Terms Found In RecipesEssential Tools For BeginnersBaking for beginners is made easier when you have the right tools of the trade. Spatulas, whisks, electric mixers, cooling racks, baking tins and many other tools serve to help the baker to get the best results. A meringue wouldn't be possible without the simple whisk, crunchy chocolate chips biscuits wouldn't be crispy without the baking sheet, and cooling rack, A cake or clafoutis would have nowhere to rise without an appropriate baking tin.While it may seem that all you need is a couple of eggs, a pack of flour, some sugar and butter to make the perfect Victoria sponge. Great baking is about bringing together many different aspects; Ingredients, tools, knowledge and creativity. All of these parts function to support each other and lead to delicious baked treats.With this knowledge, you can make Almond cake, apple dessert, hot cross buns, peanut butter cups, rich chocolate upside down cake, or lemon bars. As well as savoury pie recipes, Irish soda bread, artisan breads and even international foods.So before you discount investing in a measuring cup and parchment paper, or overindulging in silicone bottle holders. Let's take a look at the essential equipment that you need to start baking at home as a beginner.Recipe books are great at laying out step by step what you need to do. Photo Source: Unsplash

How to Be a Singer Finding Gigs as a Backup Vocalist

How to Be a Singer Finding Gigs as a Backup Vocalist Sign up successful You can also try to get involved with local bands. See if you can do some work in the studio as a session singer or studio musician. Once you have gained more experience, start auditioning for the big names. What Does a Backup Vocalist Audition Look Like? Before you hit the auditions, make sure you are in top vocal shape. Brush up if you need to with lessons.  You’ll most likely need to know how to read sheet music on the spot. Familiarize yourself with the music or artist you’ll be auditioning for. Know exactly what’s expected of you for each specific audition: How long should your audition piece be? What type of music do they want to hear? Preparation is essential, and it’s also helpful to have a variety of material on hand, not just one piece. Know what key you are going to sing in. Have your sheet music ready, with notes for the accompanist if needed. Have a demo and press kit on hand to leave with the director. Finally, make sure you are ready for anything! A vocal audition is usually just that, singing. There are, however, a couple of extra things to remember. Unless you are asked to sing a song by the artist you’re auditioning for, try to avoid it.  Show off your voice without showing off (remember, you are not lead singer). Be friendly and courteous, and dress subtly and classy, like you would for a job interview. Listen and stay composed; backup singing is all about being part of a team and being an easy person to work with. Become a Backup Vocalist The Oscar-winning documentary movie 20 Feet from Stardom is an awesome introduction into the lives of some elite backing vocalists. If it inspires you, subscribe to Backstage, take your lessons, practice, gain experience, and train some moreâ€"and before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to a successful music career as a backing vocalist. Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by U.S. Army

How is the PLAN Scored

How is the PLAN Scored Consider the PLAN the PSAT for the ACT. Completed in 10th grade, the PLAN enables students to gain firsthand experience with the ACT. Test results range from 1 (lowest) to 32 (highest), with subsections in English and Mathematics marked from 1 to 16. Score reports include an estimated ACT result, as well as information about which skills are strengths and which are weaknesses. What is on the test? The test includes English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science portions. The English section addresses both Usage/Mechanics and Rhetorical Skills, while the Mathematics section focuses on Pre-Algebra through Geometry. The exam allows for 115 minutes for all four portions, and it involves only multiple-choice questions. How is it scored? Like the ACT, there is no penalty for guessing on the PLAN. The number of questions you answer correctly informs your final score. Keep in mind, however, that combined subscores (in English and Mathematics) do not necessarily equal section scores. Here is some great information on how the ACT is scored. What is on the score report? You will receive a score for each section, as well as an overall composite score that is an average of these four portions. Your results will also reflect all subsections. Beside each score is a chart that compares your results to other students who sat for the test at the same time. This chart represents the percentage of students who scored at or below your mark. As previously mentioned, the PLAN prepares you for future ACT testing. Based on your results, the PLAN predicts your likely score on the ACT if you complete the relevant high school courses and continue to achieve at the same level. These scores are sorely estimates, as you have not yet taken the ACT! If you are unhappy with the result the PLAN predicts, this is an excellent opportunity to begin improving your study habits, changing your focus in school, and perhaps seeking additional assistance through tutoring or in-school services. These are some great tips on how to improve your ACT scorethat you may find useful as well. On the reverse of your score report is a detailed list of the skills that were tested on the PLAN. You will also note suggestions to deepen content or skills based on questions you answered incorrectly. Utilize this page to understand where your strengths and weaknesses lie academically. For example, if you erred on all of the possessive pronoun questions, the score report will suggest that you review them. If you do not understand what something means, strike up a conversation with a tutor or teacher about the items you are struggling with in school.

Professores da LOI English Dianna Henshaw

Professores da LOI English Dianna Henshaw Quando o objetivo é aprender Inglês, ter contato com pessoas de diversos países anglófonos é uma das formas de aprimorar a capacidade de compreender uma grande variedade de sotaques. Por esse motivo, os professores da LOI English não são apenas dos Estados Unidos.Dianna Henshaw é um exemplo disso, a professora é da Nova Zelândia, país que tem uma diferença horária enorme em relação ao Brasil quando em Brasília são 8h, lá são 23h. Ela comentou que, por causa disso, muitos dos seus alunos brasileiros acham que as horas que tem disponíveis, por vezes, são um pouco malucas.Segundo Dianna, a maior parte dos seus alunos são da Rússia e do Brasil, sendo que os brasileiros costumam ser dos estados de São Paulo e Rio de Janeiro. Ela ainda fez questão de frisar que se sente verdadeiramente confortável falando com brasileiros, que, na sua opinião, possuem um sentido de humor singular.Falando nisso, Dianna contou que o seu método preferido de ensinar é através do h umor, usando situações cômicas e formas caricatas de ver os erros, de maneira a que o aluno entenda onde está errando, mas que não se sinta constrangido por isso. A professora acredita que dar aulas através do Skype é uma forma de partilhar experiências e construir uma relação de confiança com o aluno, que permita que ele fale abertamente dos seus medos, objetivos e frustrações em relação à língua. Já que, somente conhecendo esses detalhes, bem como a personalidade de cada pessoa com quem trabalha, é possível criar uma experiência de aprendizado plena e verdadeiramente interessante.Tal como os outros professores da LOI English com os quais conversei, Dianna apontou a pronúncia seja do -ed no final das palavras ou das vogais que muitos tendem a esticar de demais como  sendo uma questão transversal a todos os estudantes brasileiros.  Embora consiga apontar problemas comuns entre alunos de determinada nacionalidade, de acordo com Dianna, ela encara cada aluno c om único e usa a caixa de ferramentas que tem na cabeça para saber qual ferramenta (ou conjunto de ferramentas) usar com cada indivíduo. Na opinião dela, essa é a chave para atingir o seu objetivo principal enquanto professora de Inglês, que é preparar os seus alunos para serem capazes de comunicar em situações reais.Para a professora, que tem 15 anos de experiência ensinando Inglês para estrangeiros, dar aulas a alunos de diferentes países é uma oportunidade de partilhar experiências e conhecimento, com a vantagem de se sentir transportada para outro país cada vez que abre o Skype para falar com um aluno. Isto acontece, segundo ela, por causa da influência que a cultura de cada estudante tem no seu aprendizado do Inglês, fazendo com que a sua fluência, ritmo e escolha de palavras muitas vezes tenha mais a ver com a cultura na qual se desenvolveu do que propriamente com o seu nível de conhecimento da língua.Dianna referiu ainda que alguns professores têm tendên cia para ver os alunos como cabeças vazias que precisam ser preenchidas. No entanto, ela acredita que seus alunos não são cabeças vazias, mas sim seres com conhecimento e experiência. Por isso, tenta sempre adequar o método de aprendizagem e os assuntos a serem ensinados de modo a que se enquadrem aos conhecimentos que cada pessoa tem, pois só assim o que ela está ensinando será útil para os seus alunos.

Should I Retake the MCAT

Should I Retake the MCAT MCAT Medical School Admissions Application season is quickly approaching, which means that Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) score reports from last year and this winter break are beginning to be released. While some students will achieve their target scores, others may fall just short of their goals. Many students are then faced with the question of, “Should I retake my MCAT?” This prompts a myriad of other questions along with it. Below we’ll discuss when you should consider signing up for a retake and what to consider if you decide to take the test again. First, it is important to consider what your ambitions are in terms of medical school. Some questions to consider: Are you particularly set on certain schools or location? How competitive are those programs? What are the average MCAT scores of matriculated students? How strong is the rest of your application in comparison to your MCAT score? These questions should help guide your decision process. Since the introduction of the new MCAT 2015, the scoring has been solidified into percentiles and most schools have collected enough data to report average accepted and matriculant scores. To put things into a numerical perspective, if you’re familiar with the MCAT prior to 2015 the new ‘30’ is approximately a 508. This score along with an A/B grade point average and significant extracurricular activities should give you some opportunities to interview at a few programs. Obviously, these factors are on a spectrum, and a higher GPA or more extracurriculars may be able to make up for a slightly lower score, while a higher MCAT score may make up for lacking grades or extracurriculars. However, this is roughly thebaseline range you should be working towards for entry into a United States medical school. So suppose you met the qualifications listed above, what are some reasons you might still consider a retake? One reason many students give is that their practice test scores were significantly higher and their qualifications are otherwise excellent. This makes their MCAT score the limiting factor in their application. In this situation, there are a few considerations to make when deciding whether to retake, the first of these being the conditions your practice tests were taken under as compared to those on test day. It is essential when taking practice exams to mimic the environment your test will occur under. This means no extra resources, no cell phones, Facebook, similar time for starting the exam and for breaks, and practicing with exams that are similar in terms of content and difficulty to the actual MCAT. These factors are not easy to mimic, however; I find that students often give themselves small advantages such as starting off with a formula sheet that boosts their score on practice exams, resulting in a drop in the true MCAT score. If this is the case, you may want to consider retaking the test. Another factor that students often shy away from talking about is test anxiety. Even medical students suffer from severe test anxiety! Anecdotally, many of my friends in school have shared how mentally and physically challenging taking the MCAT was for them. Unfortunately, anxiety can affect exam scores. Taking a practice exam compared to the actual MCAT is a very different experience. I encourage you to ask yourself if you believe this may have impacted your performance and how you might be able to address this if you should decide to retake. Taking exams is one of the tougher hurdles in medicine and it is advantageous to develop strategies to cope with anxiety and improve performance. Students should also consider their performance in the subsections of the MCAT. For example, if the student did very well in three out of four sections but poorly in one section that resulted in a low composite score, a retake is strongly recommended. Admissions committees tend to favor balanced test scores and improving a single section is often an easier task than improving a composite score. If you fall under this category, try to reflect on why that section was particularly weak and how you plan to improve in the retake. While these factors are all very important considerations, by far the most important factor to contemplate before retaking the test is your future performance on a second MCAT. Since schools receive a report of all scores you receive on the MCAT, it is essential that your performance improves. A second score that is lower than the first outside of the typical margin of error is considered very poorly by most schools and can negatively impact how your application is viewed during the application cycle. Because of this, you really want to make sure that you will perform significantly better than your first exam. Should you decide to retake your MCAT, I encourage you to seek out new resources for your exam preparation and keep track of your performance on practice exams. The key to increasing your MCAT score is really planning and diligently following a study schedule (a private tutor can also help you with this, if that's something you're considering and are having trouble staying organized and focused on your study plan). There is so much benefit in getting a second pass at the material on your MCAT and looking at it with the experience of having already tak en the exam before. An improved exam score can be a huge benefit to your application and show many admissions committees that you are able to reflect and improve your performance on a difficult exam. Visit Accepted.com's Selectivity Index based on average MCAT scores GPAs to get an idea of where you stand. About the Author Jordan Salley is one of MyGuru's most accomplished MCAT tutors. Clickhereto learn more!