A Student Review of Rice University

A Student Review of Rice University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Olivia is a senior at Rice University studying Materials Science. She currently tutors several subjects in Houston including SAT prep tutoring, Chemistry tutoring, and German tutoring. Check out her review of her school: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Olivia: Campus is very safe; its a little bubble within Houston. The running joke is that we live in the 4th biggest city in the country but go weeks without leaving campus. Its definitely true, but there are also lots of opportunities to get off campus if you are interested. For example, the student association arranges student nights at the Rodeo every year and the Alley Theater every semester. There are buses on campus, and Houston has some public transportation for which we have unlimited passes. Most students only have cars if theyve moved off campus as upperclassmen. By far the most popular method of transportation on campus and within the university area is biking. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Olivia: The professors here are typically pretty available, both in terms of time and personality. TAs are typically grad students and also are good about being available for class and academic advice. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Olivia: Theres a reason why Rice is consistently ranked #1 for quality of dorm life. All the dorms here are different and youre assigned to one dorm for all 4 years. You really get close to a small section of campus and have a family to support you through everything. Campus life is very vibrant because so many students live on campus, there is always something different going on. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Olivia: The Architecture, Music, and Engineering schools are among the smallest at Rice, but are also 3 of the top ranked programs in their fields. The Materials Science program in particular is currently ranked #1 in the world, I believe. I chose to study Materials Science because of a graduation project required by my high school, where I shadowed research scientists at Air Products and Chemicals in Allentown, PA. Ive toyed with minoring or double majoring in just about everything under the sun while here, but Ive never wavered in my choice of Materials Science as my primary area of study. The Materials Science department at Rice is very small in terms of undergraduate students. Were actually part of the Mechanical Engineering department, which presents us with a lot of unique cross-disciplinary opportunities. Strictly Materials-focused faculty easily outnumber the undergraduate students, so I can actually walk into a professors office on any given afternoon and there will be a goo d chance that they will have a minute to talk. We also have a lot of grad students in Materials Science, who are great resources for info on classes, internships, and school life in general. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Olivia: Theres actually no Greek life at Rice. Dorms are instead assigned randomly in a Harry Potter style. Youre assigned to one dorm for all 4 years, and even if you choose to live off campus, you still get to participate in that dorms special events and family activities. When you move in freshman year, youre assigned 3 upperclassmen advisors with ~8-10 fellow freshmen/new students and you have a whole week to pick classes, get to know the freshmen class, and get familiar with campus. Your matriculating class at your dorm really becomes family. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Olivia: There are several large recruiting/career fairs on campus every semester. Some are specific (ie. Engineering, Consulting, etc.) and some have a wide range of firms. As an engineer going into industry rather than grad school or consulting, I prefer to use my professors industry connections in terms of job opportunities and recruiting. I have used the Career Development Centers resume and interview workshops, however, and they are great tools to help prep for the internship and job hunt. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Olivia: There are study rooms and/or lounge areas in almost every building on campus. The librarys individual study rooms are popular, especially around exams, so they can be hard to get a hold of. Theres always room available somewhere though. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Olivia: Houston is such a great city. It gets a bad rap sometimes because its in Texas and because Austin likes to be the cool Texas city, but theres a lot of up and coming activities in the city. Theres a strong local business movement, a growing job market, a huge arts and entertainment sector with things from public art festivals to fine arts museums and various theater companies, and a huge diversity of restaurants from fancy places to food trucks. Our student IDs get us free/discounted access to a lot of arts and entertainment around the city, from museums and theaters to the zoo. How much you take advantage of it really depends on where exactly your interests lie and your schedule. Its definitely easier to get off campus as a senior and/or if you have a bike or car. In terms of night life, there are a lot of bars next to campus which have stand-up comedy or live music and you only have to be 18 to get in. Two of the local breweries were also founded by Rice grads, so a big rite of passage senior year is to go with the senior members of your dorm for a tour. Theres also a pretty significant social dance scene in Houston. The Americas Classic Championship (Pro West Coast Swing championship) was in town recently. SSQQ, the place where Texas two-step was standardized in the early 1900s, is only about 7 miles from campus. One of my personal favorites is a country-western dance hall called Wild West. Its a great way to get off campus and meet people and experience the Texas culture. Many student groups carpool there weekly or monthly for social events. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Olivia: The undergraduate population is about 3,000 students. Some of the intro level classes as well as physical fitness classes are fairly large, but those are typically classes that are good to have more students. When you get to more specialized classes, the class size drops dramatically. Most classes Ive taken here have been between 5 and 25 students. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Olivia: I think this honor has to go to a class Im currently taking. Ive had a lot of great experiences with Materials Science professors and related technical classes, but one class Im currently auditing stands out the most. The class Im auditing this semester is an architecture seminar called the Joy of Materials. The professor was hesitant to let me into the class because I am not an architecture student and he was concerned I was looking for a technical class. Two weeks into the class, he has personally thanked me for taking the course and bringing unique discussion to the class. On the other hand, it has brought another perspective of materials to my thought process. So much of the BSMS program at Rice is focused on nanoscale properties of materials, which is very important for engineering. But bringing bulk and aesthetic properties of materials into consideration brings a new dimension to materials selection. This dimension is particularly important for those planning to go into product design/bulk materials type positions, rather than nanoscale research or grad school. Check out Olivias tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Learning to Crochet

Learning to Crochet The Beginner’s Guide to Crochet ChaptersWhy Crochet?What Do You Need to Start Crocheting?Which Are the Best Crochet Tutorials?Where Can You Find Crochet Patterns?“Creativity is piercing the mundane to find the marvellous.” - Bill MoyersStudies have shown that knitting and crochet reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in later life. Knitters have healthier brains and better memories than those who don’t knit or crochet.But you don’t need to be 75 to start knitting or crocheting. Making your own clothes and accessories is back in fashion and furthermore, you can help reduce the waste made by the textile industry, the world’s second largest polluter.If you’re getting started with knitting and crochet, you might need some help. Fortunately for you, this article will tell you what you need to get and how to get started. RaySewing Teacher 5.00 (6) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PrincessSewing Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnaSewing Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1s t lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArianwenSewing Teacher 5.00 (2) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ShaziaSewing Teacher 5.00 (2) £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZanetaSewing Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GianmariaSewing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JacquelineSewing Teacher £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Crochet?Are you not sure about crocheting?There are plenty of great things to make with crochet. (Source: PublicDomainPictures)Here are some great reasons to crochet:It’s easy. Even easier than knitting! There’s just one hook to worry about and fewer basics to worry about.It’s popular right now. Crochet has seen a resurgence in recent years.It’s fun. You can create clothes and soft toys for your children.It’s practical. You only need one hook or needle, meaning that you can easily take your gear with you.It’s relaxing. Studies have shown that knitting and crochet reduce stress and slow your heart rate.It’s good for your brain. Following a tutorial or a free pattern and counting your stitches and lines can be therapeutic and good for your brain by creating new neural connections and strengthening old ones.It’s good for your hands. Crochet can improve your motor skills and your dexterity and can help reduce the risk of arthritis.It’s rewarding. Being able to say “I made that” can give you a huge sense of pride. Crochet allows you to build your confidence, too.It’s social. You can easily create a social bond by sharing your passion for crochet with others in a café or a Facebook group. You’ll be surprised at how many people you’ll meet through crochet.Convinced? When are you going to start?What Do You Need to Start Crocheting?To learn to knit, you’ll need knitting needles. To learn how to crochet, you’ll need just one crochet hook.Choosing the right crochet hooks can be a nightmare for beginners. (Source: FeeLoona)Choosing a Crochet HookJust because you only need one hook, that doesn’t mean you should get the first one you see. There is a multitude of plastic, wooden, bamboo, metal, thick, and thin crochet hooks you can get.A crochet hook has three main parts: the head, the shaft, and the handle. Each part is important and you’ll need to consider the material, length, diameter, and weight before choosing one.Plastic crochet hooks are very light and are recommended for thick threads like when making a rug, scarf, or snood. On the other hand, metal crochet hooks are recommended for fine materials like lace.Beginners should opt for a 15cm wooden or plastic crochet hook with a diameter of between 0.4 and 0.5cm. These are quite large crochet hooks and they’re good for making things with large stitches. They’re great for getting started.A crochet hook can cost between a couple of quid and go up to £20 in a haberdashery. You can also find them online.There are also packs of crochet hooks available s o you can get various diameters and lengths and choose the right one for each project.Choosing Your MaterialJust like the hook, you need to choose the right material for your project. I recommend you decide what you’re going to make and then buy the crochet hook and the right yarn or thread.Start with soft cotton thread in a single colour to better understand the process. You can get started with a hat, poncho, or some mittens.Check out amazing  sewing classes London on Superprof.Which Are the Best Crochet Tutorials?Once you’ve got your materials, it’s time to really start learning about crochet. Before you start your project, you should practise some of the basic crochet techniques. Even if it seems quite simple, you should start off simple and master the basics before you get started.By following a tutorial, you could make a lovely bag for the beach. (Source: xxolgaxx)Here are some of the most common techniques:Chain stitchHalf double crochet stitchSingle crochetChanging the lineIncreasing or decreasing stitchesChanging the yarn or threadTreble crochet or quadruple crochetTunisian crochetSlip knotJust by learning these techniques, you can have quite a bit of fun. You can then learn to do a magic circle, crochet in the round, or do a V stitch.To learn the basics of crochet, there are plenty of tutorials and patterns available for free online. There are plenty of YouTube channels and websites that can show you how to do it. Keep in mind that the British and American terminology for crochet is different so check where each resource you use is from.The best thing of all is that there are a lot of free resources to get you started with crochet and simple patterns. Similarly, you can use the internet and social media to get in touch with other crocheters. You can talk to them, show off your projects, and get advice. There are beginner crochet kits and equipment available for around £30 to £40, too.Where Can You Find Crochet Patterns?So you’ve already mas tered the basic crochet techniques and you’d like to start making clothes or accessories. But you don’t know where to begin...Once you've understood the basics, you can start making more things. (Source: HOerwin56)Crochet isn’t as widespread as knitting but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a free crochet pattern onling. A quick search for “crochet patterns” on Google will reveal plenty of results.The website LoveCrochet has plenty of free crochet patterns for you to work from. Handy, isn’t it?AllFreeCrochet.com also has free patterns. There’s also information on the various techniques.Yanspirations has a lot of crochet patterns and knitting for you to work from.The social network Pinterest is also a great site to visit for arts and crafts. Searching for “crochet patterns” there will provide you with a lot of inspiration.Ravelry, the social network for knitting, crocheting, weaving, and spinning.If you’re looking for ideas, here are some things you can make qu ite simply:Amigurumi soft toysCrochet basketA pouch or purseA teapot cosyAfghansA crochet baby blanketA ponchoGranny squaresDishclothsA crochet scarfCrochet hatsA placematShawlsA cushion coverA rugAn infinity scarfAs you’ll have understood, it’s not difficult finding information about crochet online. You just need to work out what you want to make!Crochet is a great way to express your creativity and let your imagination run wild.So are you ready to give it a go?Before you start with a granny square, a baby blanket or baby booties, scarves, or your first slip stitch, consider getting a private tutor to help you. They'll be able to help you find suitable crochet projects, an easy crochet pattern, and the right yarns to get you started!If you still need more help, search for crochet tutors on Superprof. There are plenty of tutors across the country with the skills to help you with your new hobby.Check out the best sewing classes in the UK on Superprof.There are three main types of tutorial available on the site: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and the best one for you really depends on your situation.Face-to-face tutorials are the most personal and have you and your tutor working together for the whole session. Of course, this bespoke service comes at a cost, making it the most costly type of tutorial available. However, it's also the most cost-effective as every minute of the tutor's time is spent helping you.Online tutorials are similar to face-to-face tutorials with the main difference being that the tutor isn't physically in the room with you. Thanks to services like Skype, a tutor can teach you remotely using a webcam and an internet connection. Since the tutor isn't in the room with you, this can make hands-on skills like crochet a little trickier. However, without travel costs, the tutor can charge their student less per hour.Finally, there are group tutorials. In these types of tutorials, there are several students and just one tutor. With all the students sharing the cost of the tutor's time, these tutorials are usually the cheapest per person per hour but each student won't get the bespoke tutoring or one-on-one time that they would in the other types of tutorials.So are you ready to start learning how to crochet?You'll soon be hooked!