What You Should Know About Joining A Fraternity
Before standing up and pledging yourself as a fraternity brother, there are a few things you should know about the Greek life ahead of time. Sure, college is a great time to get away from home, meet new people and party, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that joining a fraternity is the best option for you.
First of all, never join a fraternity just because your friends are joining. Each frat has a different area of focus and a different way of operating, and you might find that the group your friends are drawn to doesn’t necessarily reflect all your personal values. Also, you want to make sure you actually get along with the other fraternity members, since you’ll be spending a lot of time together.
Another thing to think about is whether the fraternity is a member of the Interfraternity council. This is a national board of fraternities that determines guidelines, appropriate events and behaviors, and disciplinary procedures for leadership within the member fraternities. While this may sound like ‘style-cramping’, the truth is that no successful organization can run without leadership. All campus clubs need guidelines, no matter what college or university you’re attending, so the same has to be true for fraternities. Also, if the frat is part of this national program, it’ll be more likely to get funding for various events ‘ leaving your group more time to enjoy events together and spending less time raising the money for it.
Before you join any fraternity, you’ll go through a rigid interview process, and will probably be quizzed on your goals for life, the universe and everything. You’ll also need to be aware of your finances, because most frats and sororities demand steep fees each semester to help run the self-supported organization.
So, what’s the point? Not only will joining a fraternity help you out in making friendships and connections in school, but you’ll also have a better shot at making connections after graduation, through fraternity alumni programs. Most fraternities also run their own school sports teams, which gives each member an opportunity to participate in school-run activities, where they might otherwise miss out by not being able to recruit enough team members.
Fraternities also engage in a lot of charity work, giving back to the community and helping others. This is a great way for students to gain a wider perspective on the world around them, and to learn how to work with a team to really make a difference in others’ lives.
If you’re still unsure about joining a fraternity, attend your school’s Rush Week, where fraternities and sororities open their doors and throw social events to meet students that may become potential pledges. You’ll be able to get a sense of each group and how they operate, and choose a fraternity that best fits with you and your priorities.
Find Fraternity and Sorority Rankings at http://www.greekrank.com/
Study Spanish in Argentina – 7 Reasons You Should Make the Trip Today
Have you ever wanted to learn Spanish? Have you ever thought about visiting Argentina? You can do both by taking Spanish classes offered by schools in Argentina. Spanish classes are offered by different schools in the cities of Buenos Aires, Mendoza, and Patagonia. Choose which city you would like to visit and which school best fits your needs for a Spanish educational experience and get started.
Below are seven reasons why you should make the trip today and why Argentina may be the most perfect destination in the world to fine-tune your grasp of the Spanish language.
1. IMMERSION – Immersion into a foreign language is a quick and beneficial way to learn any new language, and there are a number of schools in Argentina that teach students Spanish (or Castellano) through summer classes, semester classes, internships, and volunteer projects. The Spanish language is now the fourth most spoken language in the world, the second language in the international community, and the official language of twenty-one nations. Argentina is one of the largest countries in South America and the eighth largest in the world, home to the Andes mountains, the Patagonia pampa or desert, emerald rivers and a vast array of wildlife.
2. INTERNSHIPS – Internships are available in Buenos Aries thru http://www.gicarg.org. GIC Argentina, one of the largest providers of such services in the region, will place you with a company in your field of interest that will work with you to have real life work experience combined with the business vocabulary necessary to further your career. Your internship placement will be based on your knowledge of the language before you arrive. You will generally work normal business hours, generally 30 to 40 hours a week. Your work program can be combined with tango lessons, cooking lessons, or weekend excursions. At the end of your internship, GIC Argentina and your employer, will give you a certificate of participation in the internship program.
3. CLASSES – Classes are offered from a variety of schools in Argentina for learning Spanish thru the immersion method. http://www.iberospanish.com offers Beginner I thru Superior classes with both group and individual instruction with 20 to 40 hours per week of learning. http://www.abcspanish.com.ar offers a wide variety of classes from individual to group, to combined classes to fit your needs. GIC Argentina gives you three locations to learn from: Buenos Aries, Mendoza, and Patagonia. The Buenos Aries location offers the best of city life in downtown along with historical and cultural locations near by for excursions. The Mendoza campus, located in the wine country of Argentina, has a strong liberal arts curriculum that includes degrees in Business, Journalism, and International Relations. The campus in Patagonia is located at the Universidad F. A. Santo Tomas de Aquino. It is a private university located in the heart of the Nahuel Huapi National Park, combining your Spanish education with outdoor sports such as rafting, snowboarding, hiking, and rock climbing.
4. COST – The cost for classes range from as little as $18.00US for individual intensive classes that helps you design a course suited to your needs at ABC Spanish, to intensive Spanish classes for $380US a week for combined group and individual lessons. The Ibero Spanish School offers all books and necessary materials, maps, cinema lessons and a city tour for 4 weeks starting at $460.00US. Classes from GIC Argentina range from $1,190.00US for a 1 month student resident to $8835.00US for 6 months in a private apartment. The current exchange rate for the US dollar to the Argentine Peso (ARP) is 3 to 1, making excursions, cooking lessons, or tango lessons available even to those on a budget.
5. ACCOMMODATIONS – While learning Spanish in Argentina you can choose the type of accommodations that fit both your budget and your travel plans. Each Spanish School can help you with a variety of stay types to fit your needs. You can expect each type of Spanish school in Argentina to offer homestays with local families in a single furnished room or residence halls where you can have your choice of stay in either single, double, triple or quad rooms with maid service. Some schools also have two or three bedroom apartments available with single occupancy rooms. If more privacy is required, they also offer single occupancy apartments with your choice of studio or one bedroom.
6. EXCURSIONS – There are many excursions available to explore while in Argentina. In the Mesopotamia region the Iguaza Falls is an amazing range of approximately 270 falls that spans 2.7 kilometers (1.67 miles) rising up to 269 feet in height, providing a beautiful natural landscape and abundant outdoor activities. The Mendoza province boasts most of the wine vineyards in Argentina with an annual festival called Vendimia every March that includes wine tasting, folkloric festivals, the religious grape blessing ceremony and the crowing of the Reina Nacional de la Vendimia. Patagonia features the largest lake in Argentina, Lake Argentino, which lies within the Los Glaciares National Park.
7. RESUME – The benefits of adding the Spanish language to your resume or college transcript is endless. With the amount of business that is part of the international community today, the ability to put Spanish as a second language on your resume will make your more appealing to many companies worldwide. More and more companies today are hiring Spanish-speaking employees or setting up call centers with Spanish as an alternative option to English when asking for information. The US Census Bureau estimates that by July 1, 2007, there will be over 43 million people of Hispanic or Latino origin in the United States. With the growing population of Spanish speaking individuals in the US, the ability to be bilingual will put you ahead of monolingual career candidates.
With so many reasons to learn Spanish in Argentina why wait? Classes start each week with each school, check websites for specific information. The number of people learning Spanish is increasing every day, and you could be one of them.
What are you waiting for?
Casey Markee is a consultant with GIC Argentina (http://www.gicarg.org), a study Spanish in Argentina program provider. Visit them online for detailed information on Argentine Spanish program opportunities in Buenos Aires, Patagonia and Mendoza.
Deciding Whether To Opt For a Culinary Institute Or a Cooking Class
A culinary institute, or cooking school, is an excellent option for gourmands, chefs, or even would-be chefs. However, this program of study is also intensive, expensive, and time-consuming. If you love food and have been wondering whether to enroll in classes, it is important that you consider your choices carefully.
A culinary institute offers degrees ranging from Bachelor’s and Associate Degrees in Culinary Arts Management to Baking and Pastry Arts Management. Cooking schools also offer practical hands-on training, career counseling and other career services. For culinary professionals, culinary schools offer professional development classes. For those who are not interested in professional courses, many schools offer non-degree programs or cooking courses.
If you want to work at your local small restaurant or fast food chain, you will not require cooking classes for your employment. On the other hand, if you want to become a professional chef, pastry cook, or want to work on cruise ships and other top flight environments, a degree from a good cooking school can help. The first step towards deciding whether you want to take part in cooking school has to do with your personal goals. You should also consider the cost and time commitment needed. If you want to become a professional chef but are now working full time, you may need to scale back your work hours in order to accommodate the rigorous school schedule. Although many cooking schools offer some scholarships, you will also want to consider savings or loans to cover the cost of your education as well.
If you decide that a culinary institute will help you turn your love of cooking into a career, you will still need to select the right type of cooking school for you. If your degree is an investment in a future career, you need to make sure that the time and money invested will give you the best chance at a good job after graduation.
To begin, look for a culinary institute that has a good reputation. Read about or speak with chefs who are already working in jobs that you would enjoy. Which schools did they attend and which chefs did they work with. Secondly, look for schools that offer hands-on culinary training in kitchens and bakeshops. Ideally, look for a culinary institute that allows you as much training as possible both in on-campus kitchens and in actual restaurants. This will give you the best experience base possible. Consider the classes you will be able to take. In general, good cooking schools offer a host of classes that allow you to gain experience in pastry cooking, food preparation, the hospitality industry, the food service industry, and much more. A wide range of classes gives you more options and gives you a broader-base education, which may make you more attractive to prospective employers.
Finally, take a look at who will be teaching classes and whom you will have a chance to work with. Good cooking schools should have a host of educators, most of who should be actual chefs with hands-on experience. Look for a culinary institute that has American Culinary Federation-Certified Master Chefs as instructors and, if you can, try to get your degree from a school that allows you to work with well-known chefs. These can be great references later on when you are applying for a job.
A culinary institute is best for those with some experience and with a true passion for food. A gourmand with limited cooking skills and little interest in a cooking career may not be the best candidate. On the other hand, if you are ready to take your cooking career to the next level, a good cooking school can be a great option.
Andy West is a freelance writer for The Culinary Institute of Virginia College. Culinard offers two outstanding culinary programs. For more information on one of the most prestigious culinary arts institutes in the U.S., please visit http://www.culinard.com .
What Jobs are Available to Culinary Institute Graduates
Most students judge the value of an education by the impact it will have on their future. In other words, before committing to a degree program, real people first want to know what kind of jobs this degree will help them obtain. Getting your education from a culinary institute opens the doors to a wide variety of jobs, several of which are listed below.
Fast food, short order, and other basic cook positions
There are an amazing number of cook positions available in the food service industry. These jobs range from, on the low end, cooks at fast food and low cost restaurants, to the high end, which includes the chefs at more prestigious establishments. Although many of the low end chef positions are available to unskilled laborers, the higher the quality of the food prepared, and the higher the chef’s income, the greater the demand for educated cooks. A degree from a culinary institute can help you meet that demand, and help you land a higher end job.
Head chef
The position of head chef is a perfect place for someone with leadership skills, who enjoys having a little more responsibility in the workplace. As head chef, you will have more control over menu selections, preparation styles and ingredients, and other aspects of the culinary arts.
Private chef
Many people find working as a private chef to an individual family or a small institution is preferable in several different ways. First, the atmosphere a private chef encounters is typically very different than an employee in a bustling commercial kitchen. Also, private chefs tend to have an easier time selecting food choices, as they have the needs and preferences of only a few people to consider.
Menu planners and test kitchen chefs
Menus don’t make themselves up. A lot of preparation goes into planning even the simplest of menus, and many culinary businesses hire specialists to handle the job. Menu planners do exactly what you might think, which is to plan out a menu. Test kitchen chefs come up with the recipes for dishes the restaurant will offer.
Food marketing
Advertising requires yet another food specialist, in this case, a person known as a food stylist. A food stylist is responsible for preparing photogenic food, meals and desserts that will photograph well and entice customers to buy them. Other positions in food advertising may require the food marketer to design visual advertising layouts, prepare slogans and jingles, and handle other steps of the marketing process.
Management of the culinary arts
If you consider yourself to be extremely ambitious, this might be just the job for you. Look for a culinary institute that offers a bachelor’s program in management of a culinary business; such a program will combine the typical associate’s degree in the culinary arts with a curriculum that teaches upper level management skills.
Food writer
Not all jobs in the culinary arts have to do with the preparation of the food. Some culinary careers deal with other aspects of the field. A good example is a food writer. Food writers come in many varieties: some review restaurants or write about different cuisines, while others write recipe or how to books. Regardless of what facet of food a writer specializes in, an education from a culinary institute helps by verifying that the writer really knows what he or she is talking about.
These are only a few of the most common positions available to graduates of a culinary institute. A culinary degree allows career goers plenty of flexibility when entering the work force or changing careers, making a cooking school an ideal place to start from when seeking a new or improved career.
Andy West is a freelance writer for The Culinary Institute of Virginia College. Culinard offers two outstanding culinary arts programs. For more information on one of the most prestigious culinary schools in the U.S., please visit http://www.culinard.com .
What Necessary Supplies And Motivation You Need To Start Your Study
To start your study, you need to first decide what degree you are interested in pursuing and what institutions offer what you are looking for.
Once you decide on the institution you are going to attend, you need to decide whether you will attend online courses, traditional classrooms, or a combination of both.
While those who attend traditional classrooms will need many of these supplies as well, this article will focus mostly on what the student who takes online courses needs.
You’re going to need money for all of the following in order to be able to take online courses. Some of these you may already have, but for the rest that you don’t have, you’ll need to invest in them.
1. The online course and the materials you will need in them.
2. A computer. A laptop may be advantageous for you if you need to access your courses on the go, such as at work or in a study group.
Specification-wise, your computer should have
- a Pentium processor that runs at 300 MHz or higher; – at least 128 MB of RAM; the more you have, the more resource-intensive applications you can run at one time; – an Operating System of Windows 95 or higher or Macintosh 8.1 or higher; – a disk drive ( CD or DVD that can burn as well) to download course materials and save information; – a modem to connect to the Internet; – some kind of word processing software on your computer to complete assignments – MS Word is the most popular, though there is also WordPerfect and AppleWorks; – a sound card and speakers; you won’t be able to hear your professor’s lectures without them.
3. An Internet connection. Preferably, you should really consider high-speed Internet connections like cable or DSL because the video feeds professors will use to show their lectures online will come across better with fewer interruptions than if you are on dial-up. Having a smoother video feed will likely aid you in learning the material better, rather than only having the video play for 5 seconds or so, then pausing for 5 seconds or so, then resuming, etc.
In addition, cable and DSL will allow you to upload and download your work assignments that much quicker; a 1 MB assignment would take at least 20-30 seconds to download via dial-up, whereas it would only take about 2-3 seconds at most to download via cable or DSL. The time saved can allow you to get to work quicker.
4. Investing in a high-quality printer. While you may not need a printer to print out your assignments and turn them in like you would in a traditional classroom setting, you likely will want to take some of the course material with you to read and review when you are on the go, rather than taking your laptop and powering it on all the time.
An inkjet printer or laser printer would be your best bets; a laser printer especially if you are just printing out text, while an inkjet printer might be a better choice if your course materials include a lot of graphics, as inkjet printers normally handle graphics better than laser printers.
5. A good quality, comfortable chair that supports your back; after all, you are going to be spending considerable amounts of time in this chair logging into your online courses, reading the material, downloading your assignments, preparing your assignments and uploading them, conversing with your online classmates, etc. If you are uncomfortable in your chair, it’s likely your performance will suffer, so invest in a comfortable high-quality chair that fits your height, allows your feet to rest squarely on the floor, and allows you to perform at your best.
6. The desk you have your computer on; make sure there is enough room for you to have all of your necessary supplies, such as paper, pencil, mouse, printer (unless you have it on the floor,) etc. It’s better to have enough room for all of those necessities rather than trying to shift everything around when you need a specific item, as this will save on time and frustration.
After acquiring everything you need to succeed in your online courses, you then need to put forth the time and effort to succeed at those courses. Only your determination and persistence will allow you to do that.
It may take some getting used to participating in an online course because of the lack of verbal communication, plus you need to stay focused and determined to complete the course, even when your career or family life provides outside distractions.
Some tips to stay motivated include
- setting goals and charting your progress so you don’t lose your motivation and fall behind in your class.
- talking about what you are learning with a family member or friend, as this will aid your learning of the material.
- “talking” about the material with your online classmates via chat rooms, message boards, email, and instant messaging. If you can meet with any of them in a study group, that would also be beneficial.
- keeping in contact with your professor and your online classmates to help you stay positive in times when you have doubts or experience frustration over the online course.
- rewarding yourself from time to time with activities with loved ones and just taking time out for yourself. This will help to recharge you and and your motivation to complete the online course.
Successfully completing your online courses involves having the necessary supplies and motivation, so make sure you are prepared before enrolling in your online courses.
Bryan Wong is the owner of http://www.OneStopEducationSearch.com, a website that provides you a unique one-stop-search-service and high quality articles. Visit www.OneStopEducationSearch.com for great tips. Visit our Giftshop and get an ebook on Time Management just for stopping by.