4 Tips for Writing a Stellar Boston College Essay

4 Tips for Writing a Stellar Boston College Essay SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Ranked among the top 50 colleges nationwide, Boston College is an excellent choice for college, especially if you're hoping to attend a Jesuit institution.As part of the application process, you'll need to submit a Boston College essay. So what should you write about in your essay to raise your chances of getting admitted here? In this guide, we closely analyze all Boston College essay prompts, providing you with our best tips and advice.We then take a look at real Boston College essay examples to give you an idea of what a successful Boston College essay can look like. What Is the Boston College Essay? In addition to the statement you must write for the Common Application, Boston College requires all first-yearapplicants to submit a separate essay as part of the Boston College Supplement (on the Common App under the heading "Writing Supplement"). With this writing supplement, you have four possible essay prompts to choose from: 1. Great art evokes a sense of wonder. It nourishes the mind and spirit. Is there a particular song, poem, speech, or novel from which you have drawn insight or inspiration? 2. When you choose a college, you will join a new community of people who have different backgrounds, experiences, and stories. What is it about your background, your experiences, or your story, that will enrich Boston College’s community? 3. Boston College strives to provide an undergraduate learning experience emphasizing the liberal arts, quality teaching, personal formation, and engagement of critical issues. If you had the opportunity to create your own college course, what enduring question or contemporary problem would you address and why? 4. Jesuit education considers the liberal arts a pathway to intellectual growth and character formation. What beliefs and values inform your decisions and actions today, and how will Boston College assist you in becoming a person who thinks and acts for the common good? Each essay prompt expects you to give specific details and a unique, compelling story of who you are, how you came to be this way, and what you hope to do with your education at BC. Regardless of the essay prompt you choose, your Boston College essay must be no longer than 400 words, making it a little shorter than a typical college essay, which is 500-600 words long. But how can you choose the best essay prompt for you? Read on as we examine all the Boston College essay prompts, one by one. All Boston College Essay Prompts, Analyzed In order to submit a great Boston College essay, you’ll need to know what each prompt is asking you to do and which one will work best based on your personality, experiences, and/or interests. Below, we offer a close analysis of all four Boston College essay prompts. Boston College Essay Prompt 1 Great art evokes a sense of wonder. It nourishes the mind and spirit. Is there a particular song, poem, speech, or novel from which you have drawn insight or inspiration? This first Boston College essay prompt is all about art, specifically a piece of art that's had a major impact on you. Although this essay prompt lists just four types of art- songs, poems, speeches, and novels- you may write about, if you were inspired by a different form of art, such as a painting, sculpture, dance, or piece of architecture, you will most likely be fine writing about that instead. If possible, though, it's best to try to stick with the four options in the prompt; this way you can rest assured you’re correctly answering it. You also want to avoid rattling on and on about the art piece and why it’s so great. Instead,focus on why this piece of art has affected you to such a degree and how this impact has manifested in your life. Should You Choose This Prompt? This essay prompt is ideal for applicants who intend to major in a creative field, such as music or creative writing, due to its emphasis on inspiration and what kind of art has impacted your own approach to creativity. Even if you don’t plan to major in a creative field or have no idea what you want to major in, this is a good prompt to respond to if you can easily think of a piece of art that has changed you in some critical way.If you can’t, another prompt would probably be better suited for you. Tips for Answering This Prompt Avoid writing about a super famous piece of art. While it's OK to focus on something you read for school, don't go with extremely famous and cliched works, such as The Great Gatsby or Harry Potter. Focus on you more than the piece of art. The point of this essay is to explain what creative work has greatly inspired or impacted you, not why this work is so great, famous, or valuable in general. Think about the qualities or goals you now have because of your exposure to this piece, and concentrate on those and how you developed them in your essay. Be clear about how this artwork has affected you. For example, perhaps the first time you listened to the English medieval song "Bryd One Brere," which is thought to be the oldest love song on record, you felt so moved by its lyrics that you decided to learn more about medieval England; now, you’re thinking of majoring in history. Boston College Essay Prompt 2 When you choose a college, you will join a new community of people who have different backgrounds, experiences, and stories. What is it about your background, your experiences, or your story, that will enrich Boston College’s community? This second Boston College essay prompt is a diversity essay prompt: it wants to know what kinds of qualities, experiences, and/or perspectives you personally will bring to the Boston College community.In short, what makes you special? For this essay, you’ll want to focus on one specific trait, experience, or quality you have, ideally one that's an integral part of your identity. For example, if you come from an ethnic group that historically was forced to conceal its traditions and customs, you could discuss in your Boston College essay how being able to freely express and embrace your cultural roots has made you want to encourage others to do the same. Should You Choose This Prompt? There are many categories of diversity that, if you fall under, you may choose to write about for this prompt. Here are just some examples: Your cultural group, race, or ethnicity Your religion Your socioeconomic background Your sex or gender/gender identity Your sexual orientation Your values or opinions A club, group, or organization you're part of Your local community Your hometown or home country A unique experience, struggle, or moment from your life You don’t need to fall under a strictly defined category of people. For example, you could write about a unique circumstance in your life or a specific event that was particularly meaningful to you and significantly affected your perspective on something. Tips for Answering This Prompt Try to avoid trite topics that can apply to many applicants. If you come from a family of immigrants, for instance, you could certainly write about this; however, this topic isn’t super unique, so be sure you’re focusing on something specific and impactful from your life, such as the time someone accused you of being an illegal immigrant. Focus on one defining quality. Even if you fit into multiple categories above, it’s best to stick with just one unique quality, as this will help keep your essay tight and focused. Be clear about how your experience will enrich Boston College’s community. It should be obvious how your perspective will positively affect those around you. Maybe you plan to start a club or promote a volunteering effort, for example. Don’t write about something that isn’t meaningful to you. If your experience didn’t have much of an effect on you when it happened and doesn’t matter much to you now, definitely choose something else to write about. Don’t exaggerate the significance of anything, or else you’ll risk coming across insincere and inauthentic. Boston College Essay Prompt 3 Boston College strives to provide an undergraduate learning experience emphasizing the liberal arts, quality teaching, personal formation, and engagement of critical issues. If you had the opportunity to create your own college course, what enduring question or contemporary problem would you address and why? With this prompt, you’re essentially being asked what kinds of academic fields or social issues you’re interested in and why you’d like to study them. This essay is a great opportunity for you to delve into a specific idea or problem you want to learn more about in college.The topic you choose for your essay can be pretty much anything, from an ancient philosophical theory to the modern-day phenomenon of cell phones. In short, what excites, interests, or captivates you intellectually? And why? Take time to considerwhat you’re passionate about, whether this is a question in an academic field you want to study or a contemporary social issue. Should You Choose This Prompt? Most applicants have an idea of what they want to study in college.Therefore, if there’s a particular field you’re interested in, you can use this as a jumping-off point to narrow your topic so you’ll be discussing a specific interest, question, or idea. For example, ifyou plan to major in psychology, you could think of questions you have regarding a specific idea or theory in the field. You can also approach this prompt from a more social perspective.Are there any problems in contemporary society that you believe need to be addressed more or in a new way? For example, perhaps you’re not a fan of the way women of color are represented in schools' history textbooks and you'd like to look for fair and effective ways to remedy this problem. Other possible issues you could talk about include the following: Environmental issues or climate change Political/economic instability or other problems in a country/area Discrimination, stigmas, or other issues relating to inequality Potential challenges facing technology, science, the arts, specific industries, etc. Tips for Answering This Prompt Explain why you are so invested in this problem. Have you had any direct experience with the issue you’re focusing on? How did (or does) it make you feel? Maybe you’re curious about how we could improve public access for people with physical disabilities, and the reason you developed an interest in solving this problem is that, as a kid, you often watched your friend struggle to find alternative entryways besides stairs. Include a (creative) title for your course. While there’s no need to get overly creative, make sure your class's name is concise and accurately reflects the proposed content. If you were writing about the topic described above, you could title your course something like "Public Access for People with Disabilities: Barriers and Solutions." Boston College Essay Prompt 4 Jesuit education considers the liberal arts a pathway to intellectual growth and character formation. What beliefs and values inform your decisions and actions today, and how will Boston College assist you in becoming a person who thinks and acts for the common good? Boston College is a highly ranked Jesuit institution, so it’s not surprising that the school is curious about applicants' values.The purpose of this prompt is for Boston College to see how your own values will fit with and further promote the key Jesuit principles of ethics and community service. This essay prompt can be broken down into two basic questions: What are your beliefs and values regarding your role in your community? How will Boston College fit with these values and allow you to grow as a person? Should You Choose This Prompt? If you’re applying to Boston College, you likely already know that it’s a Jesuit institution, meaning it strongly values qualities such as morality, service, and interdisciplinary learning. If you have strong values that align with these Jesuit principles, have a clear reason for wanting to attend a Jesuit institution, and can readily envision how you plan to use your BC education for the "common good," this would be a great prompt for you to choose. Some values you could write about in your essay include the following: Honesty Morality/ethics Empathy/compassion for others Selflessness Tips for Answering This Prompt Focus on one specific value/quality you have. For instance, if honesty is important to you, you could discuss a time you had to decide between telling the truth or telling a lie, and how this choice impacted how you perceive honesty and its significance in everyday life. Explain how Boston College will help you develop this value you have. You could talk about specific classes, extracurricular activities, clubs, volunteering opportunities, etc. For example, maybe you’re thinking of making a club to help local disadvantaged families. Boston College Essay Examples Now, let's take a look at two real Boston College essay examples, written by admitted applicants. Note that since the Boston College essay prompts change every year or so, these essays might not correspond directly to one of the four prompts listed above. Boston College Essay Example 1 This first Boston College essay we’ll look at could have easily been written for the second prompt described above (the diversity essay prompt) as it focuses on the applicant’s unique multicultural background. Note that this sample essay is more than 550 words, whereas the current Boston College essay requirements state that essays may not exceed 400 words. Here is the essay: "Happy birthday!" "Feliz cumpleanos!" "Kol sana wa enta tayyab!" After my family sings me happy birthday in English, Spanish, and Arabic, I blow out the candles on my cake amidst thunderous cheers that reverberate throughout the five boroughs of New York City. My birthday celebrations, likened by my friends to United Nations assemblies, feature my one, cohesive, yet ever so dissimilar, family, stepping out of their respective Ecuadorian and Egyptian roles to further thrust upon me their expectations. Some would fold under this pressure, but I embrace this trust. While they have not always been able to put me in optimal positions, it has all congregated to a driving force in my cultured and diverse mind. My never ending quest to achieve success for my family began at a young age, through my trips to Ecuador and Egypt. I not only grew fond of their eloquent languages, but of their modest values. On my first trip to Ecuador as a toddler, my Uncle Guillermo was found dead in an alley one morning, no cause, no explanation. Instead of shielding me from the forlorn passing of one of my heroes, my relatives used this as an opportunity to develop my value for awareness. They told me that Guillermo's death was linked to his severe alcoholism. He had been afflicted for decades, all while selling away the family's possessions to fuel his addiction. He, like many from the impoverished, drug ridden country, knew no better. Some would view a traumatizing event like this as an excuse to end up along a similar path, but it immediately ingrained in me the farsighted principles that I maintain to this day. There are no excuses for me to approach education halfheartedly, for I have witnessed the malevo lent effects of ignorance. When my grandma, Anisa Saad, told me that she views my future with the same reverence that she views the Egyptian Revolution of 20, I finally realized how delicate my actions are. I knew that making something out of myself meant just as much to my family as it did to me. The Egyptian Revolution was the first time since 1981 that Egyptians had a voice. As they overthrew President Hosni Mubarak, they created an irrevocable identity. They proved that regardless what comprises your past or your background, your impact on the world is only what you make of it. My grandma told me that all she could think about as she cast her vote in the first ever democratic election was that she was changing the world. She said that if a 78-year-old widow living with three of her children and a bad back could change the world, a prioritized pupil with a keen understanding of different societies has boundless potential. In New York City, the quintessential hub of culture, I found it easier to expand on my expectations and values. I am most people's culturally passionate friend rather than the kid whose ethnicity is indeterminable. I am a New Yorker's idea of a New Yorker; an assiduous product of the "melting pot." No idea is too farfetched to believe, no goal too unattainable. With my grandma's words in mind, I face any problem that the Concrete Jungle throws at me. I seek to make sure the Salazar's of Ecuador and the Badran's of Egypt finally have significant names in the world. I want to blow out my birthday candles with a family proud that I made it, not hoping that I do. Source Here's what makes this Boston College essay work: It has a compelling hook. The first few sentences about the applicant's multicultural and multilingual family immediately draw us in. It makes you want to learn more about why this applicant gets told happy birthday in three languages, and what this means for their values. It’s highly specific and detailed.We're given people's actual names, from Uncle Guillermo to Anisa Saad. These concrete details ground us readers in the story while highlighting clear connections between the applicant's life experiences and values. Zoom in on the details for your Boston College essay. Boston College Essay Example 2 This next real Boston College essay example is less focused on diversity and more on community service, a major Jesuit value that Boston College would be more than happy to read about in your essay! Atjust under 400 words,this essay should help give you an idea of about how long your Boston College essay can be. "Can you teach me how to tie my shoes?" I looked down. There was Miguel. He pointed at his untied shoelaces. "Come sit down over here," I said as I pulled over a chair. "Just remember this: Loop, Swoop, and Pull." I tied his shoelace. "Now you try on the other." He bent down. "Loop ... Swoop, and ... Pull." He completed a perfect bow. Later on in that day, Thomas came over to me. "Can you help me tie my sneaker?" Miguel was next to me. I was helping him learn the letters of the alphabet. "I think Miguel can help you." I looked down at him and he nodded. He brought Thomas to the side. "Just remember, Loop, Swoop, and Pull." In-between studying for the SATs and preparing for my varsity basketball season, I volunteered in a local preschool for Head Start and Special Needs Children in the summer before my junior year. I worked with students who were attending their first year of the school during that year. I was invited back to volunteer again the next summer. I was with the second-year students and Miguel and Thomas were again in my class. "Do you want to see me write my name?" Miguel asked the first day of my second summer at the school. He used a purple marker and a blank piece of white paper and clearly wrote "Miguel." Thomas approached me. "Look, I can tie my shoes now." He bent down. "Loop, Swoop, and Pull," he whispered as he completed a perfect bow. "It’s great to see you guys again. I’ll be here the whole summer." The goal of the program is to prepare the students for success in kindergarten. The best thing about going to the school for two years was to see the progress Miguel, Thomas, and the other kids made. I saw the children walk on the stage at the graduation ceremony at the end of the summer term. I know they will be able to excel in kindergarten. I began to visualize Thomas and Miguel being at the top of their class in kindergarten next year. I am proud of the work the school does for the children and the progress the children make in the school. I look forward to returning to volunteer next summer. Source Here’s what makes this Boston College essay work: It tells a detailed, interesting story. Many students have volunteered at schools or helped out younger children, but this Boston College essay lets readers really see the uniqueness of the applicant's experience. We learn about two children, Thomas and Miguel, and how the experience of helping them positively impacted the applicant. It’s highly focused. No part of this essay feels extraneous or as if it doesn't belong. It uses a well-organized structure that’s easy to follow. We also learn through small details that the applicant successfully maintains other commitments, too, such as varsity basketball. It focuses on a key Jesuit value: giving back to others. If you plan to respond to Prompt 4, this is a great essay to look to for tips. It’s all about helping the common good and highlights, especially with its last line, the applicant’s desire to continue helping the community. How to Write a Great Boston College Essay: 4 Tips Before we wrap up, here are four general tips to help you write a great Boston College essay. #1: Be Clear and Specific Your Boston College essay should be clear, with specific, concrete details that tell a compelling narrative about you and what you value.Your essay will have more personal impact if you can incorporate critical details, such as the names of people, your reactions/emotions to events or actions, etc. In addition, make sure your story is focused and doesn't meander onto less relevant, less interesting, or less significant topics. For instance, if you’re writing about how you enjoy volunteering at retirement homes, there's no point in elaborating on other values you have or other service projects you’re involved in since doing so will take away from the main focus of your essay. #2: Use an Honest Voice While Embracing Jesuit Values As with any college essay, try to channel an authentic voice.Exaggerations in your emotions or reactions are generally pretty easy for admissions committees to detect, so don't bother trying to make a particular experience in your life seem more significant than it really was. Be honest with yourself: what is important to you?What do you believe Boston College must know about you?And what do you feel defines who you are and what you want to do? Remember that Boston College is a Jesuit school that strongly values specific qualities, including morality, honesty, and community service. If you have a strong passion for any Jesuit values and often exercise them in your life, make sure you’re clearly touching on these in your essay so you can further emphasize how Boston College is an ideal fit for you. #3: Don’t Repeat What You Wrote for the Common App Essay All Boston College applicants must write, in addition to the essay we’ve talked about in this article, a separate personal statement that responds to one of the Common App prompts. Since many of these prompts are similar to the Boston College essay prompts listed above, it’s critical that you do not repeat any major themes or topics in your two essays. Each essay is meant to showcase a different side of you, and if you’re simply repeating yourself in both essays, you won’t be revealing anything unique or interesting about yourself- which will not impress the Boston College admissions committee at all! #4: Edit and Proofread a Lot You’ll want to spend a good amount of time editing and proofreading your Boston College essay. The best way to do this is to write a rough draft and then put it away for a few days.After some time has passed, take out your essay so you can look it over with a fresh perspective.Note any areas that are irrelevant, awkward, or grammatically incorrect. Once you’ve done this a few times, give your essay to someone else to read, such as a teacher, parent, or older sibling.Ask for feedback on what you can improve in terms of flow, organization, and overall story. You should now have an excellent Boston College essay ready to submit! What’s Next? If you're applying to Boston College, you're likely applying to other colleges on the East Coast, too. Check out our expert guides to the Duke essay, the Tufts essays, and the Harvard essay. Need help writing your Common App essay? Our tips will show you how to write a Common App essay guaranteed to make you stand out from other applicants! To learn more about Boston College, including what GPA and SAT/ACT scores you'll need to get in, check out our Boston College admission requirements page. Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. 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Death in Vienna essays

Death in Vienna essays The holocaust, which took place between 1941 and 1945, refers to the organized genocide of millions of jews in Nazi controlled Europe. An efficient system was established to see through what is known as the final solution. Prior to the end of the war, many Nazis knew of the impending punishment for their crimes angainst humanity and fled. Others were able to effectively cover their tracks and continue to live normal lives indifferent of the atrocities in which they were active participants. A Death in Vienna is a novel about how the crimes of the holocaust reverberate in the modern day. While the holocaust kills approximately 6 million european jews, it did not successfully kill them all. When the war comes to an end many of the survivors are left with no family, in the middle of remote places. Instictively, many of these people decide to return home only to find that other people have come to inhabit their home. Among these people is Max Klein. A talanted violinist, Max manages to survive the holocaust and move back to his home in Vienna. Max lives there for the rest of his life and in his elderly years frequents a coffee shop where he discusses politics with another patron, Henirich Vogel. Klein, however, recognizes Vogel as a commander at a concentration camp who mercilessly killed innocent people. Klein is hurt that vogel is not forced to face repurcussions for his actions. Although Vogel may have commited the crime many years ago, and although vogel is now a changed man, klein is disturbed that such heinous crimes would go unpunished. The effects of the holocaust are not limited to victims themselves but also the desendants of victims. The main character, Gabriel Allon, decides at first to find out who Vogel really is (as his identity has been changed) for max klein. Later, Allon recognizes Vogel from his mothers artwork as the man who had threatened her life and killed her best friends. Allon blam ...

Piet Mondrians Work and His Insistence on Primary Colors Essay

Piet Mondrians Work and His Insistence on Primary Colors - Essay Example While Composition clearly exhibits a strong amount of originality, (Form and Organization) Mondrian is guided by a set of principles that he and fellow De Stijl founders outlined. One can see how all these tenants are evident in Composition. All colours are, â€Å"primary colours as this gives the painting a more stripped-down and pure feel† (Art Book, p. 120). The rectangular planes and prisms are evident in the picture as seems to avoid characteristic types of symmetry, instead opting for abstract positioning of figures that still retain a functional appeal to the human senses. The aesthetic balance in the picture is achieved through opposition; nowhere do we see two of the same colours connected. (Artist Intent) While Mondrian has been derided as an intellectual artist, too concerned with formalist principals, his actual intentions were much more organic. In Neo-Plasticism in Pictorial Art Mondrian wrote, â€Å"... this new plastic idea will ignore the particulars of appearance, that is to say, natural form and colour. On the contrary, it should find its expression in the abstraction of form and colour, that is to say, in the straight line and the clearly defined primary colour† (De Stijl). (Expert) Since Mondrian’s style is â€Å"non-representational and linked to a spiritual element in his life†, it seems the theoretical underpinnings of neo-plasticism and Mondrian’s own theosophical beliefs are evident in Composition (Deicher, p. ix). (Personal Reaction) Upon viewing Mondrian’s earlier experimental work where colours do, in fact, stand next to each other, it’s clear why he later chose to disregard such placements, as they take away from the beauty of the work. The viewer is immediately struck by the sparseness of designs and the purity of forms. It’s easy to imagine how Mondrian’s pure geometric shapes share much with the idealized Platonic forms, where the pure essential nature of the object exists in direct relation to the soul and the universe.  Ã‚  

Business and Informtion Systems Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Business and Informtion Systems - Case Study Example Thus new sources of competitive dvntge--coordinting nd integrtion skills--become strtegic wepon tht is not rooted in trditionl fctors. The requirements of globl sourcing, rel-time informtion shring, mss customiztion nd virtul clustering of ctivities redefine ntionl competitiveness--nd the links between firms nd their home territories--in wys significntly different from those envisioned erlier. Current pper presents n overview of orgniztionl business strtegy in terms of ITC inititive to support business nd build competitive dvntge. Prticulrly, the cse of Tesco grocery is provided to cover the issues of corporte informtion nd communiction strtegy. s well s operting in the UK, it hs stores in the rest of Europe nd si. It lso provides online services through its subsidiry, Tesco.com. The UK is the compny's lrgest mrket operting under four bnners: Extr, Superstore, Metro nd Express. Tesco sells pproximtely 40,000 food products in its superstores, s well s clothing nd other non-food lines. The compny's own-lbel products re t three levels, vlue, norml nd finest. Own brnd ccounts for pproximtely 50% of sles. s well s convenience produce, mny stores hve gs sttions. The compny hs become one of Britin's lrgest petrol independent retilers. Other retiling services offered in the UK include Tesco Personl Finnce nd Tesco.com. Tesco Personl Finnce is joint venture with the Royl Bnk of Scotlnd. It hs over 3.4 million customers, nd provides vrious finncil products nd services. The compny hs opertions in the rest of Europe, including the Republic of Irelnd, Hungry, Polnd, Czech Republic nd Slovki. (Finch 2005) Tesco's Republic of Irelnd business opertes in the region of 82 stores, nd round 60 stores in the Hungrin mrket. Tesco's Polish opertions include former HIT operted stores. It opertes round 66 hypermrkets nd supermrkets in this country. In the Czech Republic nd Slovkin mrkets, Tesco opertes 22 nd 23 hypermrkets respectively. (Flvin, 2005) Tesco lso opertes stores in si, including Thilnd, South Kore, Mlysi nd Tiwn. The compny opertes 64 stores in Thilnd nd 28 stores in the South Koren Mrket, while in the Tiwnese nd Mlysin mrkets it hs three stores in ech ntion. Business Strtegies of Tesco Tesco core competencies When speking of compny's core competencies it is mter of discussing compny's competitive dvntge tht differentite it from the list of competitors. The most importnt trget for Tesco is to set the competent position between businesses on the mrket nd sustin its mrket power through long period of opertions nd ctivities. There theory sttement s for the mtter of sustinble development nd core cmpetences of the business where Tesco opertes is the on tht dvises the compny to dpt in ccordnce to chnges in compny's enverinment; it should be flexible nd evolve over time. Therefore, Tesco needs to dpt to new rpidly chnging circumstnces nd opportunities, so its core competencies will hve to dpt nd chnge. The exmple of this ws when the compny hs lunched its loylty crd nd went into bnking. Core competences cn be shped within the frmework of following three fctors: Provision of potentil ccess to wide vriety of

Organizational development Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Organizational development - Assignment Example The firm that is analyzed in the paper is XYZ Company that deals with textile design. It has 2,000 employees. The company designs and makes clothes for various customers in Europe, Asia and North America. The company supply its products to different countries specifically designed according to preferences and demand of the market. Last year, XYZ ventured into African market with various customers demanding various designs that fits African cultures. In light with this, the company saw the need for the establishment of new outlets in three African countries which have an interest in using XYZ products. The human resource department resolved that the company has to transfer some employees from the U.S offices to the newly established offices in Africa. However, the move to diversify market to the African market was as a result of the downward trend in sales from the already existing markets. When employees were notified about the intentions to be transferred to the new market, over 100 employees resigned their positions as employees of EYZ Company. However, the situation deteriorated with more resignation letters flowing into the human resource office daily. At first, the human resource manager thought that the employees were afraid of being transferred to work in the new market. As some investigations were conducted, it was noticed that the employees left the company because of bad working conditions. Amazingly, those that had left were hired by XYZ’s main competitor whose working conditions were more enticing than those of XYZ. Intentions to open new offices in the new market were temporarily suspended until some organizational development was realized in the existing market. Statement of the problem Since its establishment in 2000, XYZ has been leading in textile design. At first, XYZ operated in the U.S market only. Its marketing strategies and employee relations were perfect, something that led to the establishment of new outlets in the European marke t. However, since the retirement of its human resource manager in 2008, the company performance has been deteriorating year after year. It has been argued that employee wellness and reward system has been ignored by the new management since 2008. Employees have not been proactive as there before, thus poor performance of the company. It is argued that employees are one of the best capitals an organization can ever have (Jex 245). Therefore, their wellness is vital as it help retain and motivate them. Once employees are motivated, they tend to perform their duties effectively. Due to this fact, XYZ’s profit margins have gone down to the extent of failing to take care of its liabilities including payment of its employees. This is what prompted the management to think of opening up new markets in the African market. The presumption was that there was a decrease in demand and stiff competition of their products in the existing markets. However, it is believed that a company is ab le to have a competitive advantage in markets with stiff competition only after employing all necessary measures including employee wellness. It is apparent that if XYZ fails to intervene on the matter, it is highly unlikely to remain in the market. In the short term intervention, it would be essential for XYZ to find ways of retaining the current employees by addressing their grievances at hand. This way, it is highly likely that the company will be able to uphold its present performance without going on a downward trend. Nevertheless, it is equally important to employ long-term measures, which would enable the company improve and survive the highly completive market. Objectives of intervention The main objective of this intervention is to use a reward systems intervention to help XYZ improve its performance Specific objectives To propose appropriate re-structuring of the XYZ organization To propose reward systems to XYZ that would help retain and motivate its employees Scope of in tervention Since XYZ company

Case study Mental Illness and Addiction

Case study Mental Illness and Addiction Describe substance abuse and how it differs from substance dependence. Substance abuse is when an individual Overindulgences in an addictive substance (New Oxford American Dictionary. According to the Neurobiological Causes of Addiction, substance abuse is a Maladaptive pattern of drug use leading to impairment or distress presenting as one or more of the following in a 12 month period of time (Erickson Wilcox 2001): Recurrent use leading to failure to fulfill major obligations Recurrent use which is physically hazardous Recurrent drug-related legal problems Continued use despite social or interpersonal problems and the person has never met the criteria for substance dependence (Erickson Wilcox 2001). A person that has a substance dependence is when an individual uses a substance despite the negative affects that may occur, such as: withdrawal, and compulsive behavior. According to Erickson, Drug dependence is a maladaptive pattern of drug use, leading to impairment or distress, presenting as three or more of the following in a 12 month period (Erickson Wilcox 2001): Tolerance to the drugs actions Withdrawal Drug is used more then intended Inability to control drug use Effort is expended to obtain the drug Important activities are replaced by drug use Drug use continues in spite of negative consequences When an individual has a dependence to a substance the individual has a psychological and physical attachment with the substance. It is this link between the drug and the body / mind that can have devastating and lasting effects on the individual who has the dependence. 5 pts Some recovery/treatment programs stress total abstinence as a goal, while other advocate harm reduction. What are the advantages/disadvantages of each approach? Abstinence is like to what it sounds the individual is not allowed to partake in the substance that they are addicted to, and these types of programs are effective, but the individual has to be willing to devote themselves to the program. Some of the advantages of abstinence can include getting the individual healthy physically and mentally. The positive side of abstinence is that the individual is no longer destroying personal property and committing crimes to finance their addiction. Therefore, abstinence keeps people out of the legal system including serving time for criminal crimes and dealing with the court system for loosing custody of their children. 12 step recovery groups such as AA and NA advocate for abstinence to give people what they call, Recovery and a change for a better life that is free from active addiction (Personal communication, Wright. J, 2010) Abstinence provides a support group that allows the addiction to be normalized, and allow the individual to link up with other people who are slaves to a dependency. The individual is able to have an since of empowerment by being surrounded by others, who are able to keep the individual in check on their addiction and personal goals. The disadvantages of abstinences, Are most disturbing is the way abstinence can segregate mentally ill persons from being able to engage in treatment. This is because many people have diagnoses that require Benzodiazepines, Amphetamines and even Methadone which treatment providers believe to be highly addictive. There is a theory that a person in treatment can engage in services if they are high on prescriptions (Personal communication Wright. J. 2010) The main program for abstinence is AA or NA and they are based on spirituality, this could be a conflict for some of the individuals who are in treatment, because there religion may contradict that of the programs. It is also important to remember that the individual has to want to change their life for this program to work. AA and NA also tell the individual that they have no power over their addiction, it does not allow the individual to have a feeling and since of empowerment. It seems to take the power away for the individual and p uts all the focus on the addiction. Also AA and NA preaches the idea that you have to go to the meetings every day and that you will always be an addict and that you can never be without the addiction and that you can never over come the addiction. Also they have to be willing to alter their lives and commit themselves to the program: fully. Harm reduction is a good alturnative to abstinence for individuals who cannot stop their use because they are psychologically dependance to the substance. Harm reductions can include such ideas and concepts like, using the substance less, using the drug every Wednesday or even changing out their needles for clean ones. Some of the following are advantages and disadvantages according to the 2007 Journal of Drug Issues in English and American Drug Clients (K. Phillips, h. Rosenburg A. Sanikop). Harm Reduction Advantages and Disadvantages Interventions Advantages Disadvantages Methadone Reduces/eliminates/stabilizes illicit drug use facilities detox/relives withdrawal More addictive and worse withdrawal then heroin, Substituting one addiction for another. Substitute Amphetamines Known potency, Content.Decrease need for street drugs. Crime reduction Could encourage to use more on top and OD Diversion to black markets. Needle Exchange Disease Prevention, Removes temptation to share or reuse (needles) Disease Prevention Lower rates of AIDS and STI Community harm/inappropriate disposal, Makes it easier to inject. Encourages use Drop in Centers Safer environment NOS, OD prevention/ Prevents harm treatment facilitation Encourages drug use/Risk compensation. Place where drugs can be sold. Lofexidine Eases pain of withdrawal non-opiate alternative Encourages detox/eases withdrawal Doesnt help enough with the withdrawal symptoms Drug has specific side effects Naltrexone Temptation resistance Relapse prevention because use is waste of money Relapse Prevention/ helps user quit, blocks the effects of Heroin Can be used as a weapon, Clients wont take it In the states, Harm Reduction therapy has a stigma attached to it that some clinical practices and professionals have attached to it, detouring individuals with substance abuse issues to use Harm Reduction. This type of therapy also does not assist with co-occurring dependancies that the individual may have. It tends to focus on the chemical that the individual is addicted to and not the cause of the dependancy. It does not allow for the individual to isolate and get to the root of the problem, however, it does save money in the medical and prison systems. The needle exchange, was started after the out break of HIV and AIDS and the number of individuals who were diagnosed with HIV and AIDS has gone down since the needle exchange was influenced. As well as the number of individuals who are in prison for substance abuse has gone down because there are treatment programs that include methadone that can help the individual come off their addiction to an opiate. 5 pts Alcoholism has been described as a bio-psycho-social disorder. If you were performing an assessment of a defendant what factors would you look for in the client history? Bio-psycho-social is broken down into the following: Biological Addiction: is addiction that runs in the families and there maybe genetic involved in the process of addictions, but some of the individuals have a biological predisposition to addiction Psychological Addiction: That addiction is a learned behavior. This can include, domestic violence and learning how to use a drug. One becomes obsessed by the PLEASURE that the substance can provide. Social Aspect: Environments that individuals grow up in and that environment may reinforce addictive behaviors. It is these concepts that create the bio-psycho-social theory, it is an idea that is steeped in the theory of person in environment. It takes in account the individuals biology, psychological health and social wellbeing and support to fully understand the root of the persons addiction. According to the Handbook of Forensic Mental Health ( D. Springer A. Roberts 2007 p. 350-352) the following are questions and information that you have to gather in order to be able to fully complete an assessment: Presenting Problems: Record current problems as reported by the youth, family, referral source and any pertinent others, Include the history and development of the problem, circumstances surrounding the problem and the previous attempts to solve the problem. Development (birth to current age): describe prenatal care, birth, achievements of developmental milestones, delays and birth defects. Family Background: describe the family constellation, family functioning and communication. Include socioeconomic, educational and occupational information. Describe family childrearing and parenting tactics. Academic History: Describe previous diagnoses and the history of psychological problems and services. Include medication history and any history of self-injurious behaviors and or suicide attempts. Psychological History: Describe previous diagnoses and the history of psychological problems and services include medication history and any history of self-injurious behaviors and or suicide attempts. Substance Abuse History: Describe the youths use and abuse of all substances; include the length, method, and location of use and the families history of substance use. Juvenile Justice or Legal History: Describe previous encounters with the juvenile justice system and the history of illegal behaviors and status offense. include timeline, type, and circumstances of offense as well as the family history of legal problems. Violence and Abuse History: Detail psychological, verbal, physical, and sexual abuse of the youth and include a timeline. Identify perpetrators and describe whether the abuse occurred in or outside of the family. Describe any family or dating violence that the youth perpetrated. include any other traumas that the youth was exposed to. Medical History: Describe the history of medical conditions diseases and medication of youth Include the family history. Cultural History: Identify the ethnicity and rase of the youth and family include any issues noted regarding bicultural identity, immigration status, language barriers, acculturation and discrimination. Lethality: Clearly identify any concerns with lethality of the youth either towards him or herself or others and describe the plan for addressing this lethality. Bio-psycho-social is a holistic approach when dealing with an individuals addictive behavior. It is based on a continuum approach, that is supported by a since of empowerment. It allows the individual to understand why they many have started to be addicted to a substance that is plaguing them, and gives them the tools that is needed to understand their addiction and how to prevent themselves from relapsing. 5 pts Historically, a number of theories or models of alcoholism have evolved. What are these models and what is their relevance for today? These models give a guideline and help create an understanding in why people become addicted to specific substances. These models range from biological reasoning to environmental, but they are all linked in trying to discover why people become addicted to substances: they all strive to create a public understanding of addiction. They do not try to make excuses for those who are addicted, but they try to understand why addiction occurs. Theoretical Models of Alcohol/Drug Abuse From the Concepts of Chemical Dependency by: H. Doweiko Moral Model Temperance Model Spiritual Model Dispositional Disease Model Core Element The individual is viewed as choosing to use alcohol in problematic manner This model advocates the use of alcohol in moderate manner Drunkenness is a sight that the individual has slipped from his or her intended path in life. The person who becomes addicted to alcohol is somehow different from the nonalcoholic. The alcoholic might be said to allergic to alcohol Educational Model Characterological Model General Systems Model Medical Model Core Element Alcohol problems are caused by a lack of adequate knowledge about harmful effects of this chemical Problems with alcohol use are based on abnormalities in the personality structure of the individual Personal behavior must be viewed within context of social system in which they live The individual use of alcohol is based on biological predispositions such as his or her genetic heritage brain physiology and so on. (Harold Doweiko. 2009. pp. 30) The models that have the most relevance for today has to be the medical model and the general systems model. Because by looking at the person in a holistic way we can understand that the individual is affect by addiction in three ways: biologically, psychologically, and socially and those two theories envelop those ideals. I think that when you understand the individuals biological and social characteristics, you will understand there addiction. 5 pts In describing the neurobiology of addiction, the term neuroplasticity is used to describe what brain process? Neuroplasticity is when the brain is altered due to chemicals, and it is forced to change in order to adapt to the chemical. When the chemical has been removed from the individual withdrawal starts to occur, because the brain has a difficult time functioning without the substance it has been forced to adapt to. Because the brain is good at making adjustments the body is capable of adapting to the toxic chemical, and the body learns how to function with the additive. Without the chemical the body has to alter itself to relearn how to function without the chemical. 5 pts Dr. Eugene Prochaska has developed a treatment approach based on Stages of Change. What is the thinking behind this model and how it is used in treating substance abusers? The purpose of this model is to understand how the cognitive and behavioral approaches affect the individual who is addicted to chemicals. According to Porchaska the, Purpose (of) the transtheoretical model (TTM) of health behavior seeks to bridge the cognitive and the behaviorist approaches by positing a series of stages in modifying behavior; in only some of these are cognitive processes pertinent and The model includes four main constructs: the sequential stages of change; processes which people typically use to facilitate change; decisional balance, which predicts whether change will occur; and self- efficacy, the persons confidence they can make changes (Prochaska. 1985. pp. 1). Stages of Change Stages of Change and the Transtheoretical Model By: E. Prochaska Stages Description Pre-contemplation The person has no intent in changing the behavior, usually within the next six months. This maybe due to lack of information or confidence. The person is unmotivated and will resist discussing or thinking about making the change. They are not ready for interventions. Contemplation The person expresses and intention to take action within six months. They are aware of the benefits and cost of making the change and this balance may keep them in the phase for a long time. They are not ready for an intervention that expects immediate action. Preparation The person intends to take action in the immediate future. They typically have a plan of action and they have taken some preparatory action. They are ready for traditional action interventions Action The person has specific changes to their lifestyle Maintenance The person works to prevent relapse; during this phase their confidence increases as they continue with their new lifestyle. Termination In principle the maintenance stage will lead to a phase in which the person is no longer tempted to revert to their former behavior and the change is complete. This model suggest that in order to over come an addiction you have to go though a linear model. I do not think that the individual with the substance abuse has to go though all these steps in order to kick the habit. I also believe that this model places all the blame on the individual because it does not take into account the individual biology and or the environment that the individual is surrounded by. The thinking behind this model is that these are the stages that an individual who has a substance abuse dependency must go though in order to become clean and if they are able to follow this model they will finally be able to kick the habit. 5 pts How is crystal meth different from other stimulants such as cocaine? What are some of the long-term effects associated with meth use? According to the Powerpoint provided by the Department of Health and Human Services (SHMHSA) the differences between methamphetamine and cocaine are: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Cocaine effects: 1 to 2 hours. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Methamphetamine effects: 8 to 12 hours. More intense rush or initial pleasure (I would add.) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Withdrawal from methamphetamine can cause more intense symptoms and last longer. The Long term psychological effects of using meth are: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Confusion à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Loss of ability to concentrate and organize information à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Loss of ability to feel pleasure without the drug à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Paranoia à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Insomnia and fatigue à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Mood swings à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Irritability and anger à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Depression à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Anxiety and panic disorder à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Reckless, unprotected sexual behavior The more sever psychological effects can include: Hallucinations Severe depression that can lead to suicidal thoughts or attempts Episodes of sudden, violent behavior Severe memory loss that may be permanent The chronic physical effects are: Tremor Weakness Dry mouth Weight loss/malnutrition Increased sweating Oily skin Sores Headaches Severe problems with teeth and gums Sever Physical: Seizures Damaged blood vessels in the brain/stroke Damaged brain cells Irregular heartbeat/sudden death Heart attack or chronic heart problems Kidney failure Liver failure Tweaking Infected skin sores 5 pts â‚ ¬Ã‚ ³Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ µÃ¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ³Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ µ Citations Department of Health and Human Services. SHMHSA.(Year unknown) Session 4: methamphetamine and cocaine, TCRIM 361 Summer 2010. University of Washington Tacoma. Doweiko, H. (2009). Concepts of chemical dependency: psychological models of substance use disorders. Brooks/cole cengage learning. Belmont CA. ISB: 13-978-049550580-8 Erickson, Carlton K. and Wilcox, Richard E.(2001) Neurobiological causes of addiction, journal of social work practice in the addictions, 1: 3, 7 22 DOI: 10.1300/J160v01n03_02 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/ J160v01n03_02 Phillips, K., Rosenberg, H., Sanikop, A. (2007). English and american drug clients view of the acceptably, advantages and disadvantages of treatment and harm reduction interventions. Journal of Drug issues, 37(2), 377-402. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database. Prochaska, J. (1985). Stages of change and the transtheoretical model. Springer W., Roberts A., (2007) Handbook of forensic mental health with victims and offenders: assessment, treatment, and research. Springer Series on Social Work. New York. ISBN: 0826115144 Wright. J. (2010, Aug. 8). Personal communication. University of Washington.

Dead Poets Society :: essays research papers

"It was Mr Keating's blatant abuse of position as teacher that led directly to Neil's death."We are asked to discuss the above statement after watching the movie: "Dead Poets Society". This statement I feel is ridiculous and when I have finished this essay you will agree.The school was a dull, meaningless place where tradition and reputation was put before creativity and education. That was until Mr Keating, came to the school as an English teacher. He focused around Poetry. He taught the boys to express themselves and do what they in their hearts wanted to do, not what their parents wanted them to do.The boys found a photo of Mr Keating in an old yearbook with the caption under reading- "Alan Keating, Leader of the Dead Poets Society." The boys approached Mr Keating about what the DPS was. He told them they would sneak out at night and sit the old Indian cave and read brilliant poetry. Neil, one of the more energetic boys, suggested that their group co ntinue this tradition, and they, in turn agreed.Mr Keating taught the boys to enjoy the poetry and let them speak out about what they wanted to be. He taught them to be individuals. But eventually allegations that he was responsible for Neil's death came flying back at him.Neil wanted to be an actor. He was very good at it and performed in the local production of: "A Midsummer Night's Dream". His father, however wanted him to be a doctor. After Neil's superb performance his father rushed him home and told him that he was sending him to Military school for another ten years to stamp out any further ideas of his acting.Neil shot himself that night.Students, parents and teacher immediately looked for someone to blame and the headmaster, Mr Norton picked out Mr Keating as the unlucky scapegoat.

A report on the Cultural Afternoon held at the IPBA’s auditorium

Last Thursday on the July 24th, 2003, a Cultural Afternoon was being held at the IPBA's auditorium. It was organised by the MTCP participants and the B. Ed. TESL cohort 1 students. The theme for the Cultural Afternoon is Unity In Diversity. Unity In Diversity is a poem written by the MLCP participant from Papua New Guinea. The afternoon was conducted by two of the B. Ed. TESL students. They conducted the event very well. After that, Mr. Mahmud from Turkey was called upon to recite a prayer. After he had finished reciting the prayer, the event continued with the first performance by the B. Ed. TESL students. They presented a compilation of the Malay Traditional Dance. The dance was choreographed beautifully and the dancers danced gracefully. The special thing about this cultural afternoon was the way the organiser changed the conductors. The next conductors were the participants from Tunisia and Gambia. The way they conducted the afternoon was very interesting. After they had introduced themselves, they called upon participants from Krygystan, Miss Ainur. She sang a song called Mahabbad, which means love. Even though the audience could not understand her, but the message of the song were well interpreted. Then, all the MTCP participants were welcomed to join the conductors on the stage to introduced themselves. All the participants were introducing themselves with different ways. Some of them made some jokes, holding their traditional flag and so on. There were 26 participants that day who has came from different countries such as Zimbabwe, Croatia, Tunisia, Gambia, Bosnia, Thailand and other countries. After that, Mr. Bernard from Bosnia presented his performance by singing a song using his own language. Followed by named and Ameir from Bosnia. They showed and explained about a poster of the Bosnian Movie, which had won oscars award 2000/2. The movie title is ‘No Man's Land' has won the award for Best Foreign Language. After that, they sang a Bosnian folk song. After changing conductors once again, B. Ed. TESL students performed their Kung Fu performances. After the Kung Fu show, a participant from Turkey sang a wonderful song. The audiences gave her big claps because she had sang the song well even without the background music. All the audiences had paid full attention on the stage to see the traditional costumes show from the other countries. All the participants wore their own traditional costumes and did some explanations on the costumes. After watching the colourful fashion show, the audiences were very surprised to watch the Indian dance that was led by our B. Ed. TESL student, Danielli Devi. The dance was noisily merry with energetic dancers and famous Bollywood song played. After that, the Cultural Afternoon continued with the performances by the MTCP participants. The participants from Sri Lanka sang a song. The song also a love song. After that, the East Timur participant did a traditional dance. She wore her traditional costumes and a gong. She knocked the gong using some rhymes and then danced followed the rhyme. It was far different from other MTCP participant's performances. After that, a participant from Turkey also sang a love song. Another interesting performance was from the Thailand participants. They showed and taught us the right way in greeting. Their performance is quite useful for us. After that, the Cambodian participants danced as soon as their song was played. Next performance was from Gambia. He sang his national anthem. The audiences rose up to show respect. The most waiting performance was Para-para Sakura Dance. The B. ED. TESL students performed this dance. They danced gracefully with many astonishing steps. The dancers were very energetic and noisily merry with their red and pink costumes. All the audiences felt refresh after watching this energetic dance. Lastly, before the Cultural Afternoon ended, the participant from Papua New Guinea recited her poem entitled ‘Unity In Diversity'. She very well wrote the poem. The event ended as soon as the conductors declared it was closed.

Multicultural Cohort Program Essays

Multicultural Cohort Program Essays Multicultural Cohort Program Essay Multicultural Cohort Program Essay Name: Course: Lecturer: Date: Multicultural Cohort Program Introduction A Multi cultural cohort program offers students a comprehensive system that supports them in academic goals through connecting them with other people in the same curriculum. It focuses on developing the students professionally, academically and personally as well. Most importantly, it provides students with a chance to learn from a multicultural environment, which is its main purpose as its name suggests. Multicultural cohort programs have several benefits to the students that include scholarship, studying abroad, meeting people from different cultural backgrounds and $250 for the bookstore. It is quite important for students to joins multicultural cohort programs since there is an opportunity to diverse learning and interaction from different people with the same academic goals, leadership roles as well as other benefits. Scholarships Multicultural cohort programs offer students support and resources where needed in order to facilitate improved learning from a wider group. Scholarships are one of the benefits provided to students. This is quite a major benefit considering the high cost of college education. The scholarships are issued by the office of multicultural affairs where one is required to complete application forms necessary for the scholarship. The scholarships provide students with difficulties in meeting fees for their education. Studying abroad Offering abroad studies is another benefit that aims at providing students with a chance to study in multicultural and diversified environments. This is quite important in helping the students in their professional and personal development especially when it comes to interacting with people. This is quite essential for the globalizing world where cultural interaction is everywhere. Learning to interact with people from different cultures helps in breaking stereotypes. This is quite an advantage for students looking forward to take up leadership roles since it allows them to interact with many cultures and learn how to lead different people. Additionally, studying abroad provides the students with more diversity in education and experiencing different environments. Meeting people from different cultures Cultural interaction is one of the focuses of multicultural cohort programs as the name suggests. These programs allow students to meet people from different areas and cultures within the same career path or with similar goals. Each of them will provide different experiences and support each other allowing members to learn from a wider range of diversity. This is quite helpful for students who are minority or international and find themselves in new environment. The groups offer a better chance for them to adjust to the different environment and make closer friends away from their classmates. Additionally, they are likely to meet others like them within the group since it is culturally diversified. This is quite beneficial as well for helping students relate to all people and fit within different environments and communities. It offers personal development for the students in terms of relating with others. 250 Dollar for Bookstore This is one of the several financial benefits from cultural cohort programs. The programs aim at providing students with resources necessary for their learning. From this bookstore fund, students are able to have access to premium books that they would otherwise have not accessed had they no money. This offers them an opportunity to access the most current books concerning new ideas that are very essential for the current times where innovations are among the major determinants of success. Conclusion Multicultural cohort programs are quite helpful to students from all backgrounds since it provides a chance for all of them to interact and learn from each other. It would be quite important to join such a group for not only the financial benefits, but also inherent personal benefits it provides such as friendship and learning from a diversified group. Students meet important and inspiring people within the groups that offer guidance and share their experiences in the education fields the students are pursuing.

5 Tips for Writing the Perfect Rice Essay Supplement

5 Tips for Writing the Perfect Rice Essay Supplement SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Rice is one of the top 20 universities in the nation, and to get in, you need more than just awesome grades and test scores- you need a compelling Rice essay.The Rice application requires several essays depending on the school you’re applying to at the university. So what should you write about for each Rice essay to make your application as strong as it can be? We'll explain what the Rice supplement is and go over the Rice University essay prompts you’ll see on your application. After, we'll give you expert tips on how to answer each essay prompt so you’ll have an even better shot at getting accepted to this prestigious university! Feature Image: faungg's photos/Flickr What Is the Rice Supplement? Like many colleges, Rice has a supplement that requires applicants to submit additional info to the school- that is, info not included in the Common Application or Coalition Application. The Rice writing supplementconsists of several essay and short answer prompts, which most undergraduate applicants (though not all- we’ll explain this in more detail shortly) must answer for their applications.These supplementary questions ask about applicants' choice of academic field, reasons for applying to Rice, and so on. In addition, as part of the Rice supplement, all applicants must upload an image that depicts something that appeals to them or is important to them. This requirement, called "The Box," isn’t an essay, but it plays just as important a role in the application process. So choose a picture wisely! Once you’ve answered all these questions and uploaded an image, you can submit your Rice supplement along with the rest of your application. What exactly are the Rice University essay prompts you need to answer? Let’s take a look. What Are the Rice University Essay Prompts? There are six Rice University essay prompts in total; however, feel free to relax a little since you won’t need to respond to all these prompts on your application. This is because the Rice University essay prompts you must answer will vary depending on the school you’re applying to at Rice. Below are all the current Rice University essay prompts, organized by what types of applicants are required to answer which ones. All Applicants There are three essays that all applicants must submit to Rice. The first of these is a personal essay that responds to one of the essay prompts provided by either the Common App or Coalition App (depending on which system you're using).This essay should be about500-550 words longand must be no longer than 650 words. Both the Common App and Coalition App offer several essay prompts from which you can choose. We won’t be listing those prompts here, but you can find them in our guides to theCommon App and Coalition App essay prompts. In addition to the Common App/Coalition App personal essay,all applicants must submit two short answers as part of the Rice supplement.Your answers to these questions will be much shorter than your personal essay, at just 150 words max per response. Here are the two short-answer prompts: There is a breadth of intellectual opportunities here at Rice. Further explain your intended major and other areas of academic focus you may explore. What aspects of the Rice undergraduate experience excite you and led you to apply? If you're into architecture, you'll need to answer these next two Rice University essay prompts. School of Architecture Applicants ONLY Applicants to the Rice School of Architecture must submit all of the above PLUS two more short answers (again, these are part of the Rice supplement).Your answer to each question must be no longer than 250 words, givingyoua little more space to work with compared with the two short-answer questions above. Here are the current Rice University essay prompts for School of Architecture applicants: What aspirations, experiences, or relationships have motivated you to pursue the study of architecture? Outside of academics, what do you enjoy most or find especially challenging? Applicants to All Other Schools (Besides Architecture) Applicants to all other schools (besides the School of Architecture) must submit a personal essay instead of the two architecture short answers.Like all the prompts listed above, this prompt is part of the Rice supplement. For this essay, you can write up to 500 words. Compared with the other Rice University essay prompts, this one clearly gives you waymore space to write. Here is the prompt for this longer Rice essay: Rice is lauded for creating a collaborative atmosphere that enhances the quality of life for all members of our campus community. The Residential College System is heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural traditions each student brings. What personal perspectives would you contribute to life at Rice? All Rice University Essay Prompts, Analyzed Now that we’ve seen all the Rice University essay prompts, let’s analyze them one at a time to see how you can answer them effectively. Rice Short Answer 1 (All Applicants) There is a breadth of intellectual opportunities here at Rice. Further explain your intended major and other areas of academic focus you may explore. This first short answer wants you to summarize your (main) intended field of study as well as any other fields you’re interested in studying at Rice.It’s a deceptively simple prompt that’s about a lot more than just what you plan to study at Rice. The crux of this essay isn’t just summarizing your major- it’sexplaining why you’ve chosen this field and why Rice specifically will be a good fit for your goals and interests. Here are the questions this prompt is really asking you to answer: Why do you want to study this particular field? Why do you think Rice is a good fit for you and your academic interests? As you write your response, try to focus on specifics.Don’t just say you’ve always had an interest in writing stories. What specifically drove you to declare a major in English?For instance, you could discuss your deep fascination with Shakespeare, specifically withMacbeth, and how you're excited about Rice's array of Shakespeare-centered classes. If you have enough space (remember that your answer can only be 150 words max), you could also (or instead) elaborate onwhat you plan to do with your intended major after college and how Rice will help you achieve this goal. If you're hoping to study music, for example, you could write about how you believeRice's Navigating Music Careers portal and accomplished music faculty will help prepare you for establishing a successful career in music. If you're still undecided about what you want to major in, this is a great time to explain what kinds of fields you’re considering studying and why they intrigue you. Maybe you recently developed an interest in architecture after seeing the famous Gateway Arch in St. Louis, and are now thinking of taking some architecture classes at Rice. Whatever the case, be clear about what you (might) want to study and why. What do you want to study at Rice? Rice Short Answer 2 (All Applicants) What aspects of the Rice undergraduate experience excite you and led you to apply? Unlike the prompt above, this prompt is not limited to academics (though you are welcome to talk about those here as well, as long as you don’t repeat anything you wrote for your other short answer).Basically, Rice just wants to know this: why Rice? This prompt is actually a variation of the "why this college" essay,which many colleges ask for in their applications.Specifically, this prompt is asking you to focus on why Rice is an ideal fit for you. Here are some examples of topics you could write about: A particular academic program or major you’re interested in doing, possibly one that’s not offered elsewhere or is somewhat rare The small community atmosphere at Rice and the fun activities and traditions it offers students, such as O-Week and Beer Bike The diversity of the Rice student body and why this positive, blended environment would be ideal for you as a student Its urban location in Houston and how you intend to use the resources of the big city to further your academic and/or professional interests A certain professor or faculty memberwhom you wish to work with Remember to be specific- don’t just say you’re interested in Rice because it's known for quality research or because it's ranked highly on many "best colleges" lists.What specific features does Rice have that made you apply? If you’re not sure what to write about for this Rice essay, I recommend doing some research on Rice.Start by visiting the official Rice website to see what the school offers in terms of academics, extracurricular activities, professional opportunities, internships, study abroad programs, etc. You can read more about anything that sticks out to you or resonates with your interests. You can also refer to community-based websites, such as College Confidential and Reddit, to see what current students have to say about life at Rice. Rice Short Answer 3 (Architecture Applicants ONLY) What aspirations, experiences, or relationships have motivated you to pursue the study of architecture? This prompt is similar to Short Answer 1 in that it’s asking you to elaborate on your chosen major (in this case, architecture) and why you’re interested in it.For this essay, however, you don’t need to focus on architecture as a major as much as you do on architecture as a passion. In other words, this is your chance to tell the story of how you developed a deep interest in architecture and what architecture means to you. For this Rice essay, and as the prompt says, you can focus onaspirations (what goals do you have and how does architecture fulfill these?), experiences (did a particular incident make you develop an interest in architecture?), andrelationships (who, if anyone, inspired you to study the field?). Here are some potential topics you could write about: A particular person, such as a parent or teacher, who introduced you to architecture, and how this person influences you today (if applicable) A design or architecture class you took, either at school or as an extracurricular, and how this class made you become interested in architecture A certain piece of architecture, such as the Eiffel Tower or Empire State Building, you either saw in person or learned about and that made you want to study the field further Your love of design, and how toys you used to play with as a child, such as LEGO bricks, led to your gradually developing a desire to learn more about architecture as a field Any personal experience that relates to how you became interested in architecture- maybe you grew up in a shoddy apartment complex, an experience which showed you how better and safer architecture could improve people’s day-to-day lives In your essay, use specific detailsandavoidclichà ©dopenings, such as "I knew I wanted to study architecture when †¦" The admissions committee at Rice has more than likely heard these types of overly broad statements hundreds, if not thousands, of times, so avoid them! This is one clichà © you'll definitely want to avoid in your Rice essay. Rice Short Answer 4 (Architecture Applicants ONLY) Outside of academics, what do you enjoy most or find especially challenging? This is an interesting essay prompt since it’s so much broader than the other one you have to do as an architecture applicant to Rice.The purpose of this prompt is to reveal to Ricewhat types of activities you’re interested or engaged in (outside of architecture), and what role they play in your life. Think about what you do in your spare time, what you’re passionate about, and possibly what you are obligated to do (such as chores or duties at work).Are there any activities you do that you find fun but also intellectually or physically challenging? Are you particularlyinvested in an activity? Don’t be afraid to get really creative and honest here- you’re allowed to write about an activity that’s unconventional, eccentric, "boring," or even plain goofy.Just make sure you’re also giving the admissions committee deeper insight into something about you, such ashow you flourish when competing against your own times in cross country races or how you calm yourself down with a big bowl of Froot Loops every evening.Ultimately, you want to highlight a personal strength. Here are some examples of topics you could write about: An instrument you play every day or nearly every day, why this activity is so significant to you, and how it has helped shape your personality or goals A sport you play, why it’s important to you, and how it's contributed to a certain personality trait you have, such as determination or optimism A video game or other game you love to play, such as Dungeons and Dragons or Mario Kart, and what this game means to you on a personal, intellectual, or emotional level Any other hobby you have and why it’s important to you, as well as how it has helped you cultivate or reach a goal you had A task, chore, or duty you have to do often, either at home or at a part-time job, and what this activity has revealed to you, such as the necessity of doing something you're not a fan of in order to be able to do or get something you really want Volunteering with an organization or at a specific place, and what this activity means to you (NOTE:I recommend only picking this topic if you're continually involved with a specific volunteer effort and if it’s something you’re very invested in- if you helped out at an animal shelter just once, for instance, don’t write about that here!) A food, TV show, movie, guilty pleasure, etc., that you love and indulge in on a regular basis, and why you believe this routine is helpful or even necessary for you As a final tip for this Rice essay, don't feel obligated to choose an "impressive" topic. Instead, use this fun and open-ended essay prompt as a chance to demonstrate your personal strengths and passions in a highly personal, creative way. Rice Essay (All Applicants EXCEPT Architecture) Rice is lauded for creating a collaborative atmosphere that enhances the quality of life for all members of our campus community. The Residential College System is heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural traditions each student brings. What personal perspectives would you contribute to life at Rice? Aside from the Common App/Coalition App personal essay, this is the longest Rice essay you’ll write for your application (unless you’re an architecture applicant- in that case, you don’t have to write this essay!). Once again, you have a limit of 500 words, which should give you plenty of space to delve into the details of yourself and what you'll contribute to the community at Rice. So what is this prompt asking you to do exactly? This prompt is essentially a diversity essay prompt in that it's asking what makes you different from other applicants and what qualities you can bring to Rice. Note the significance of the word "unique" in the prompt here- this is the crux of what you should write about in your essay.What specific, unique qualities do you have that you think will make a positive contribution to the Rice community? Here are some sample topics you could write about for this Rice essay: A particular skill you have- for example, maybe you often play classical guitar music to calm down your younger sibling at home, and you think this skill could help students (and yourself) feel better during finals week at Rice A positive personality trait you have, such as optimism or dedication, and how this trait has helped you in life and could help you and others at Rice as well A cultural, religious, or ethnic background you have that is important to you in your daily life and that you feel will help increase the diversity at Rice Any unique experiences that are significant to you or have had a major impact on how you define yourself- perhaps you’ve lived in many countries and believe these experiences of constantly having to adapt to new cultures and lifestyles might help you (and others!) with transitioning to life at Rice Make sure to show, not tell.You’ve got plenty of room to be able to tell a compelling story, so try not to rely on dull descriptions, clichà ©s, and general, all-encompassing statements. Rather,fill your story with personality, voice, images, and realism.Using a variety ofliterary devices can add lots of color to your writing and will help your essay stand out. In addition, don’t repeat anything you’ve already written in your Common App/Coalition App essay. The essays required for both application systemsare similar to the Rice essay above in that they’re all longer and more personal. Write about something different for each so you don’t sound as though there’s just one single thing that defines you. The essay example we're about to show you got the Rice mark of approval! Real Rice Essay Example + Analysis Though knowing what kinds of topics you can write about for each Rice essay is definitely helpful, it’s even better to be able to see what an actual successful Rice essay looks like. Below,we show you a real Rice essay example that was written by an admitted student. The following essay was written in response to a prompt similar to the current Rice essay prompt for Short Answer 2 above. (In other words, it’s essentially a "Why Rice?" prompt.) Note: Since this essay is a little older and the Rice essay topics change every few years, the prompt and word length for this essay differ slightly from the current guidelines. For this essay, the word limit was 250 words, whereas the current limit is 150 words. Here is the essay: "We are going to visit Rice today," my mom leaned back in her front row seat and said to me. Wait, is that a restaurant specializing in all kinds of rice dishes? Like fried rice, rice soup, and rice balls? My brain went into a frenzy. All other questions flooding my thoughts dissipated, however, when my eyes lay on Rice’s beautiful Byzantine-style buildings with its magnificent archways and its soft sand-pink brick walls. While just outside its surroundings the thriving city life of Houston continues, Rice kept its sacred ground intimate with its relatively small campus and peaceful with its large spreads of greenery and shades. It’s perfect! said my right brain, falling in love at first sight with the campus. My left brain, however, chastised the emotional side of me with Don’t judge a book by its cover. You can’t just choose your true love like that! Exasperated by my left brain, I attended an information seminar. Phrases like "Passport to Houston," "Best Quality of Student Life," "Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen," and "more than 40 interdisciplinary centers" flashed by my eyes. Almost unlimited access to Houston’s transportation and hangout spots? A research facility where I can group with students of all fields and work on solving real-world problems? Friendly research faculty who might allow me to continue my interdisciplinary research in psychology and computer science? My left brain finally gave in. Alright, alright. Let’s go make Rice into not just a staple for food, but also education, then. Source What Makes This Rice Essay Work? It’s got a lot of personality. The italicized parts, which symbolize the applicant’s thoughts, give us a highly personal and intriguing look into their reactions to their first visit to Rice. In addition, the humorous bits (such as when the university’s name is compared to the actual rice food) add a fun and creative touch. It oozes passion.While this applicant might occasionally go a little overboard in how they describe how amazing Rice is, one thing is clear: they’re extremely interested in attending Rice and making the most of their interdisciplinary interests here. How Could This Rice Essay Be Even Better? It could cut out the clichà ©s. The saying "Don’t judge a book by its cover" has been done to death and doesn’t add any memorable insight into the applicant. This essay would be better if the applicant had changed this phrase or simply cut it out completely. Moreover, although the concept of Rice as a food is funny, this applicant likely isn’t the first person to have made a joke about this. It could be more specific.Although there’s clearly a lot of passion in this Rice essay, it lacks detail in areas where we could've learned a lot more about the applicant. For example, what kinds of research does this person want to conduct at Rice? And what "real-world problems" do they want to solve? How to Write a Great Rice Essay: 5 Key Tips Before you go off writing your Rice essay, here are some final tips to keep in mind. #1: Use Specific Details I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: be specific in your essays.Rice doesn’t just want to know that you’re good at softball- it wants to know why this sport is important to you, what kind of role it plays in your life, and how it makes you feel. If you’re describing a specific person in one of your essays, use concrete details to show the admissions committee who this person really is.Does she have an endearing gap in her teeth when she smiles?What does his voice sound like? Details like these will allow your readers to more readily feel the personality and passion in your writing, making it easier to relate to you on a deeper level.They’ll also help you and your essays stand out from the sea of applicants, which is always a plus! #2: Channel Your Inner Voice Personal essays are all about showcasing your personality and a side of yourself that’s not made clear in the more quantitative (i.e., grades and test scores) parts of your application. Therefore, with each Rice essay, make sure you’re channeling your inner voice.Does the essay sound as though you wrote it and not someone else did?Are you writing about what you really want to andnot what you think the Rice admissions committee wants to read? For example, if you’re naturally a humorous person, feel free to throw in a joke or two.If you’re the poetic type, you could add in some lines of poetry you’ve written (if relevant to your essay topic) or sprinkle in some flowery metaphors. The basic tip here is to write in whatever way comes most natural to you. That being said, there are a few things you should always avoid in your college essays: Typos, poor grammar, incorrect spelling, and other technical errors (the only exception to this would be if you’re quoting someone who used incorrect grammar or colloquial words such as "ain't" or "gonna") Inappropriate stories- don’t write about the time you got arrested or made an obviously wrong or immoral choice, for example Rude or impolite words and phrases #3: Give Yourself Plenty of Time Even though most of the essays on the Rice supplement aren’t that long, you still have a lot to write for just one school, so these essays will likely take up a lot of your free time. Be sureto start your essays (for all the colleges you're applying to- not just Rice) ahead of time, ideally at least a few months before your college application deadlines. #4: Avoid Repeating Yourself Many of the Rice University essay prompts touch on similar topics, such as why you want to attend Rice, why you want to study a certain field, and what makes you unique. As you answer the prompts, try to ensure there isn't too much overlap between the content of your essays. It’s OK if there’s a little bit of repetition. For example, it'd be hard not to talk about your interest in architecture as you answer Short Answer 1 (What do you want to major in?) and Short Answer 3 (Why architecture?). That said, your primary goal should be to try to focus on different main points for each of your essays.This way, Rice will get a more well-rounded (versus one-sided) picture of who you are. Repeat the same things in your essays and you'll look just like a regular ol' lemon. #5: Don’t Forget to Proofread! For each Rice essay, take a lot of time to edit and proofread it. After you write a rough draft, put the essay away for a few days.Once some time has passed, take your essay out again and reread it. Fix any obvious errors, such as typos and misspellings, and mark any areas that are awkward, unclear, or irrelevant. Do this process a few times until you have a fairly clean draft.Then, give your essay to someone else to read; this could be a parent, teacher, older sibling, tutor, etc.Ask this person for feedback and use their advice to further tweak your essay until you eventually have a quality final draft. As with any essay, be sure to do one final proofread (and get someone else to look it over, too!) right before you submit it to a college. What’s Next? Interested in applying to other highly prestigious schools besides Rice? Then take a look at our guides to how to write essays for Northwestern, Harvard, and Stanford. Writing college admissions essays can be tricky. Check out our expert guides to learn how you can write a great Common Application essay and Coalition Application essay. For more tips on how to get into Rice,including what SAT/ACT score you'll need, check out our Rice University admissions page. Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now:

Parent Involvement in schools Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Parent Involvement in schools - Research Paper Example It is because of this that children whose parent participates actively in their children’s education have a high level of academic achievement due to this motivation (Hornby and Lafaele, 2011). In addition, parental involvement should be encouraged due to its impact on the working relationships found in schools, especially between and amongst different school parties. With this in mind, parents get an opportunity to improve the socialization skills of their children with their teachers and other members of staff, as well as amongst themselves, which is crucial for academic networking. Parental involvement therefore should be active as it also boosts the morale of teachers in imparting education on children, as teachers perceive the interest of parents as motivation to have their children moulded into responsible citizens and members of society, where the teacher is the key. School responsibilities in ensuring parental participation lies in different factors that entail both the school’s interests and those of the parent, as well as those of the child (Sitton, n.d). It is because of this that the school has the largest responsibility in ensuring that parental cooperation and involvement in a child’s education in that schools spend large amounts of time with children. Putting this into perspective means that schools should put in more effort in drawing the parents to the school to understand that which their children go through in learning. In addition to this, teachers in in spending more time with children should know the interest of the children, which is information to be shared with parents for the best interests of children. This makes the school the guardian of the children, where it is up to the school to come with strategies to meet the parent and create forums in which to foster a healthy relationship between

BA_Assignment_1_Marketing_Essentials_2012_2013 Essay

BA_Assignment_1_Marketing_Essentials_2012_2013 - Essay Example the various definitions of marketing that are there, the most prominent as well as well accepted ones are given by Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and American Marketing Association (AMA). On the other hand, the American Marketing Association (AMA) has defined marketing as ‘activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating communication, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large’ (AMA, 2007). Again, eminent marketing gurus such as Kotler and Armstrong has been of the opinion that marketing is ‘the process by which companies create value for customers and build strong customer relationships in order to capture value from customers in return’ (2008). Thus in the light of what the most eminent associations as well as personalities in marketing have opined, it becomes clear that marketing is basically a holistic process that includes a lot of processes as well as functions. However, whatever the number or for that matter purview of the functions be, the ultimate end that marketing serves is basically value for customers, clients, partners, and society alike. Thus, apart from the varied functions marketing serves, generation of value through the process of marketing is the ultimate end it serves. Among the basic concepts that marketing takes into consideration, needs, wants and demand are of paramount importance (Abu & Kamarulzaman, 2009). The basic premise of marketing is verily dependent on these three terms since it is the proper understanding of needs, wants and demand of the marketer’s target customers that leads to successful marketing efforts on the part of the marketer. Also, the product or service on offer by the marketer is of immense importance. Given that the concept of modern marketing revolves not around the product but around the customer, marketing efforts should focus on the needs, wants as well as demand of customers and use these pieces of information to