CFE Certified Fraud Examiner

CFE Certified Fraud Examiner Why Should I Take CFE Qualifications? ChaptersWhat Are The CFE Exams?How Do I Know If I Should Become a CFE?There are many reasons you may like to become a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).A Certified Fraud Examiner, as the name suggests, is there to try and detect and ideally prevent fraud from taking place. CFEs understand how fraud can be committed and can examine a company or business’s financial records and statements to detect the presence of fraud.A CFE may also be able to assist in cases where there is suspected employee theft, or where other types of fraud, such as insurance fraud, are suspected to be occurring.A CFE can work in a variety of industries, although they can commonly be seen within the:Accounting;Financial services; andGovernment sectors.What’s more, the kind of roles that a CFE may occupy varies. For instance, a CFE could be:A fraud investigator or analyst;A management consultant;A forensic accountant; orAn internal or external auditor, although there are many other positions available to CFEs.To become a CFE, you first have to join the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). Thereafter, you will have to pass the CFE exam, which is described in further detail below.The ACFE describes itself as “the world’s largest anti-fraud organisation” and anyone looking to further their career within the world of fraud examination should consider whether they should become CFE certified.Although the ACFE is based in the United States, the organisation has chapters all across the globe, including a chapter in the UK, which is known as the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners UK Chapter.If you live in the UK, then you still have to initially join the US association of the ACFE. Once you have completed all the necessary requirements to become a CFE and are awarded the qualification and membership, then you also become part of the UK chapter of the ACFE. There are over 1,000 members of the UK chapter.Some of them moonlight as accounting tutors near me!A CFA is trained in the art of fraud detection and examination. (Image Source: CC BY-SA 3.0, Nick Youngson, Alpha Stock Images)Financial transactions and fraud schemes;Investigation; andLaw.Across the four areas, a variety of topics are covered, ranging from professional ethics to why people commit fraud, the types of fraudulent transactions you might find in accounting records, the rights of the accused, and how to take statements from people.When it comes to preparing for the exam, there are a number of ways you can do so. For example, you could choose to take the CFE Exam Prep course, which is a computer-based way to study for the exam that comes with a variety of practice questions and exams to help get you ready for exam day.Join the discussion: is the CPA exam easier than the CFE?Alternatively, if you prefer to attend a course in-person, there is the CFE Exam Review course, which runs over a four day period. In the UK, you can usually find an authorised third-party who is licenced to run the cour se, so you don’t have to travel to the United States to take part in one.Finally, there is the option to self-study for the CFE through the Fraud Examiners Manual. You’ll need to be able to find the time to commit to going through the manual, which is around 2,000 pages long. However, if you prefer learning at your own pace with an accounting tutor, and feel dedicated enough to pursuing the CFE on your own, then you may prefer this learning option.It may be difficult to decide which route of study and revision is the best for you, but hopefully, you should have gained an idea of how you like to study and revise based on your experiences at school or university. Even if you're still unsure, there's no harm in asking someone who recently studied for the CFE what their learning experience was like, and asking whether they would recommend a particular way for you to study.Once you’ve decided how you would like to prepare for the CFE exam and you feel sufficiently prepped, the next step is to actually sit the exam! The CFE exam can either be downloaded or accessed online through a web browser. It’s worth noting that the exam is closed-book, so you need to ensure that you have memorised all the key knowledge you’ll need to pass the exam before you attempt it.Once you’ve completed the exam, you should be emailed the results within three to five business days, which makes the whole process very quick, especially compared to some other qualifications, where it can take five weeks or more to find out your exam results!How about becoming a member of the ICAEW?There are a number of different ways you can study for the CFE exams. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, mohamed_hassan, Pixabay)What Happens If I Fail?Unfortunately, while we would all like to pass exams the first time, it doesn’t always happen.In order to pass the CFE exam, you have to pass all four areas within the exam. Therefore, if you fail one area, you will have to retake the exam. Thankfully, if you do h ave to re-sit the exam, you only have to retake the areas that you originally failed.What’s more, the ACFE gives you “three attempts to pass all four sections of the CFE Exam” so you should have plenty of opportunities to successfully pass the exam!Must you also pass an exam to earn your CMA qualification?Are There Any Other Requirements To Become a CFE?Aside from the examination requirements, there are also professional and educational requirements that would need to be met before you could become a CFE.Further details are available on the ACFE website.Certified Fraud Examiners can work in a wide range of roles across a number of industries. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Pixabay)How Do I Know If I Should Become a CFE?Ultimately, only you can make the decision of whether becoming a CFE is the right choice. If you have any doubts at all, it’s always in your best interest to speak to a careers adviser for their input, and you can often find careers advisers at your local school, university, or perhaps within the wider community.Equally, to get a feel for whether a role as a CFE would be right for you, it’s always helpful to speak to someone that already works as a CFE. This way, you can ask questions such as whether they enjoy the job they currently have, what their day to day work entails, how they found the examinations, and where they see their career in the future.Hearing someone else’s first-hand experience can then help you see whether a career as a CFE would align with your own career ambitions and long-term goals.Your online accounting tutor most likely has that type of wisdom to share!While getting the right advice is crucial for any would-be CFE, it’s also important to bear in mind that, until you work as a CFE, you won’t know how you personally will react to being in the job. You may find that the type of work you perform is different from what you expected, or equally, you could find your role even more interesting than you previously thought.Learn also how the Certified Financial Analyst Institute could shape your career plans...There are some traits that successful CFEs usually have. Whether you have some of the below qualities may give an indication of whether a career as a CFE is suitable for you:Strong analytical skills;Good communication skills, including good listening skills;An understanding of technology; andAn ability to understand how a business operates, and where crucial information can be found.Of course, this list is not exhaustive, and the actual skills that you need to succeed as a CFE should very much depend on the role you actually have and the industry that you work in.However, if you’d like to improve some of the above skills, or would like to bolster other related skills, such as your numerical ability, then you may also consider hiring a Superprof tutor to help get your numeracy up to speed.You may also consider continuing education the Association of Chartered Accoun tants...Superprof has a range of tutors with experience in teaching subjects as diverse as accounting, mathematics, business, and economics, to art and history. So it's never been easier to leverage from Superprof's wide network of experienced tutors.It’s just a case of entering your postcode to find local tutors  who would be happy to help you improve your numerical skills or understanding of wider economic or business matters. Tutors within your local area can either visit you in person for a one on one lesson, or equally some tutors are happy to offer group tuition services.Equally, if you'd rather have lessons conducted remotely, for example over Skype, many Superprof tutors are also happy to offer this service, making lessons more convenient for you.Now discover the different accounting exams on offer in the UK!

What is it Like to Attend the University of Tulsa

What is it Like to Attend the University of Tulsa Catherine earned her bachelors degree in economics and English from the University of Tulsa. She specializes inalgebra tutoring, GRE tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at the University of Tulsa: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Catherine: The University of Tulsa is a lovely campus in an area of town thats rapidly revitalizing (the university is a big force for that). I never felt unsafe on campus, even late at night. Unfortunately, Tulsa is a car town; there arent a lot of public transit options. Its a quick bike ride or drive from campus to many of the fun neighborhoods and areas of town. If you do use your bike, be sure to be carefulits best to use the neighborhood streets, as many drivers arent used to seeing bikes. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Catherine: I never had a problem meeting with a professor or an adviser; its a small school, and people are generally available and happy to talk with you. Also, its a small enough campus that you can find people easily. For instance, if you needed to talk to a certain professor, everyone knew you could always find him outside at a certain time taking his break. How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Catherine: The freshman and sophomore dorms and cafeteria are fairly standard. In your junior and senior years, its likely youll be able to get into one of the on-campus apartments, which are spacious and convenient (living room, dining room, full kitchen, etc.). The dorms and apartment communities do host events, but there are plenty of other opportunities to socializeespecially if youre involved in one of the many clubs. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Catherine: I studied English and economics. I found the faculties of both programs to be extremely knowledgeable and passionate about what they did. The English department is larger, and probably has more opportunities for working in the field as a student (literary journals both student and professional, a few enviable special collections of original material from authors like James Joyce), but the economics department also supports students original research and opportunities for sharing or publishing. The bigger majors include various engineering persuasions, especially petroleum, and some business majors, like energy management. (Tulsa is an oil town.) 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? Catherine: Greek life is fairly significant, though I never participated. Faith groups also make up a big component of social life on campus. Personally, I made most of my friends via the student newspaper which I worked for as a reporter and eventually as editor-in-chief. As long as you take a chance on a groupwhether its a sorority or a club like the newspaperyou shouldnt have too much trouble. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Catherine: Student and career services staff are friendly and helpful. Energy companies, large corporations, and engineering firms have an especially large presence among recruiters. Its more difficult for liberal arts majors; however, I believe that is symptomatic of the larger job market, and not a fault of the school. Plenty of my peers were able to make great connections in the worlds of graphic design or the nonprofit sector. I went into public radio by way of an internship I did at the on-campus NPR affiliate. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Catherine: The library is probably the top choice for a study area, especially when the weather is nice and its possible to use the tables on the terrace outside of the library. It also has several great reading rooms, as well as rooms and various nooks down in the stacks. Generally, its not too hard to find a good place to camp out and studyexcept for during finals! Describe the surrounding town. Catherine: Downtown Tulsa, just a couple miles away from campus, has boomed in recent years. Theres a lot of fun to be had there at art galleries, restaurants, shops, and parks. A fair number of TU students hang out there, though that tends to be more popular with the people whove grown up in Tulsa. And if you want to learn to two-step, Tulsa is the place for you. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Catherine: The undergraduate student body is about 3,000 students. I found the class size to be small and comfortable, especially in the liberal arts classes. Class size tends to run larger in the sciences, for classes like statistics and calculus. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Catherine: One of the best things I did while at TU was participate in the Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge. The program supports undergraduate research, both traditional and unconventional. I opted for the unconventional side, and used the program for support in helping my old high school create a student literary journal. I got to work with a group of students at the high school to help them shape their vision for the journal, solicit and select work, and publish a final product, which continues to this day. Check out Catherines tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Tips for Singing Why Practicing Scales Matters

Tips for Singing Why Practicing Scales Matters Megan L. Its a common misconception that singers and instrumentalists are two completely different types of musicians. Theyre actually much more alike than you might think! The difference is that, as singers, your instrument is your body! Because of this, as you learn how to sing, youll likely come across some specific issues of technique. One of the most important things for singers to work on is singing notes that are perfectly in tune. Generally, producing the correct notes for an instrumentalist is almost automatic: once you know the correct fingering or position for a note on your respective instrument, its relatively easy to play. More so, the note will likely be close to being in tune already, just by virtue of the consistent physical dimensions and regulations in instrument building. For singers, however, singing the right pitches is not achieved by pressing down the right fingers. This is where singing scales can help Why are Singing Scales Important? Scales are the foundation of all music. This is why mastering your particular instrument your voice should begin with mastering all the different scales! This is true for virtually every genre of music, from classical to jazz to pop and so on. Just think: if most music is built on scales and you can already sing them all proficiently and confidently, then you have a head start on learning almost any piece or song that you want to sing. Besides being a fundamental baseline for learning vocal literature with ease, singing scales as part of your daily practice routine is also necessary for building advanced technique. Much like an athlete that starts and ends their daily training with specific fundamental exercises, stretches, and calisthenics, singing scales allows you to keep your singing body in excellent shape. Because there are no words to be memorized, melodies to remember, nor any complicated rhythms to maneuver, you can better address things like breath control, extending your vocal range, developing a variety of vocal timbres and colors, perfecting pitch and intonation, and controlling your mental and emotional focus. The Best Ways to Practice Singing Scales There is no right or wrong way to practice scales, but there are several good tips for singing scales you should keep in mind. Most singers prefer to focus on scales at the beginning of a practice session. This is because scales serve as an excellent vehicle for warming up the voice. Be sure to focus on a variety of scales. Major and minor scales are the most important to learn and implement in your routine. There are 12 musical keys, and for each of those keys, there is one major scale and three different types of minor scales: natural, harmonic, and melodic. Start with one octave of each scale. As you become increasingly proficient and confident, you can develop your range by doing two octaves. You can also learn and incorporate other types of scales: jazz, blues, whole tone, octatonic, chromatic, and so on. Making Scales Fun As with anything else, repetition can get boring. Fortunately, there are a number of different things you can do to make scale-singing fun and fresh: Start with just a few scales and add one or two new ones every week. This will make every week feel new and give you a constant feeling of achievement. Incorporate different rhythms. Add words to the scales. This will help you practice your diction along with the scales, as well as make it fun. You can even try a tongue twister! Sing the scales in different interval patterns, such as thirds. This is great if you are more advanced and have already become proficient at singing scales straight. Use a tuner to make sure your intonation is accurate. You can also work with your teacher  or fellow singing students to get more ideas and tips for singing scales. Although scales have the reputation of being boring or pedantic, they are an invaluable part of any musicians technical and artistic development. Just as important, they can also be fun! By acknowledging their usefulness and incorporating different routines and exercises through various tips for singing, you might even start looking forward to daily scale singing! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by bobnjeff

Can Life Coaching Help Build Confidence

Can Life Coaching Help Build Confidence Need to Boost Your Self-Confidence? Maybe a Life Coach Could Help ChaptersWhat Services do Life Coaches Offer?Methods Used by Life Coaches to Help Build ConfidenceAs the professional world seems to be moving faster each day, and the practice of networking makes every social interaction all-the-more valuable, having confidence in yourself and your skills is more important than ever before.But what if you find it difficult to throw yourself into a conversation with someone else? Or you fear being judged by others in public?If you’re often struggling to get your voice heard more generally, whether it be in a professional setting, among friends, or even trying to talk to make conversation with the people you come across in your everyday life, you might have been wondering about what you can do to help this.Some people put their low amount of social interaction down to having an introverted personality, but introversion, while it is often associated with shyness, is not down to a lack of confidence. In fact, you can be an introvert who is perfectly co mfortable going about their personal and working lives, but a lack of confidence can make this significantly more difficult.So, how might improving your levels of self-confidence change the way you experience life?There are many reasons people want to increase their confidence. From climbing the career ladder to simply having the courage to take up a new hobby, being more confident in yourself will not only open up multiple opportunities, but it will also help you get more out of life.Whether you're looking for success or you want to feel confident in your own skin, life coaches can help you ¦ source: Pixabay - ernestoeslavaActing more confident is not the same thing as feeling confident, however, so if you’re hoping to become more confident, rather than learning how to act like a confident person, think about hiring a life coach to help you reach your goal.Life coaching is a method of talk therapy used by people who want guidance on altering their lifestyles. There are many type s of life coaching available for various purposes, including services to help with professional goals such as career coaching programs, business coaching, leadership coaching, corporate coaching services, executive coaching, business coaches for entrepreneurs and coaching sessions for those looking for guidance with a career change or improving their work-life balance.In addition to these, there are coaches and trainers who help people with personal coaching services such as wellness coaching.Personal coaching focusses on personal development in a way that relates to someone’s personal life, rather than their professional success.People seek the services of a personal coach for many reasons. For instance, they may be working towards transformational change to their lifestyles and need someone to motivate them and keep them moving forward towards their goal. In other situations, clients may have a goal in mind yet they may be unsure as to how to reach it â€" in this case, a wellnes s coach could put them on the right path before helping them to succeed with their dreams.Building confidence can be done with personal coaching services. To learn more about life coaching to improve your confidence as well as finding a life coach to suit our needs, read on!Methods Used by Life Coaches to Help Build ConfidenceHiring a life coach isn’t like buying a product from the supermarket â€" in order to see tangible results, you’ll have to put in the hard work that your coach is asking of you. This means heeding their advice and practising the methods and plans assigned to you.Whether they specialise in a certain area or usually take a holistic approach with their treatment, life coaches use a variety of methods to help people overcome certain feelings which contribute to low self-worth. While some involve learning and practising new skills, others centre around reflection on your place in society.Here are just some methods used by life coaches in cases of low self-confide nce, self-esteem or self-image which you may see in your life coaching sessions:ReflectionOne of the most common ways in which coaches help people to realise their self-worth is to have them take stock of their positive attributes as a means of empowering them. For instance, if someone feels like a fraud in their career (a common issue for those with low self-esteem), they may be asked to list the achievements and positive attributes that led to their position.Life coaches often suggest writing lists of the things their clients like about themselves source: Pixabay - StockSnapReflecting on your personal qualities, achievements and your positive attributes, achievements, and the areas in which you are already confident can lift your spirits and give you a good foundation to build on.Reject negative thoughtsThe root of low levels of confidence is often to do with having a negative mindset when it comes to the opinion which is held of oneself. Life coaches prescribe several exercises t o help their clients change their self-perception. These may involve accepting compliments from other people without self-deprecating or making positive affirmations in front of a mirror as part of a client’s morning routine.Identify and remove sources of negativity from your lifeWhen discussing your personal experiences, your coach may identify some possessions, situations or people who are having a negative impact on your confidence.In order to help resolve your problems, your life coach may ask you about the prospect of removing some of these things from your life. This can be a difficult and sometimes impossible task, and it is up to each individual to make their own decision when it comes to dealing with muting these negative sources.Challenge yourselfConfidence is to do with your level of self-belief, and whether you have faith in your own abilities. This is why coaches are keen to learn about their clients’ personal goals when helping them to boost their confidence.By fin ding out what clients what to achieve or learn to do better, coaches often make plans for them to challenge themselves outside of their sessions. The idea behind this is that confidence when people prove their own abilities to themselves.Practice confidence-building skillsMany people with low self-esteem and self-image believe that they are viewed in a negative way by others. Due to the fact that these feelings can also make people feel like an imposter in their profession or peer group, life coaches often recommend practices which contribute to a good self-image. Examples of these practices include expanding one’s knowledge in certain areas as well as starting a self-care routine.Reading up on various subjects and learning about new ones can help with confidence by giving shy people something new to share with others, while practising self-care can help them enjoy spending time with themselves, thus improving their self-worth.See how a life coach can help with depression.Or, how life coaching can help you to lose weight.

LSAT Tip of the Week Three Types of Analytical Reasoning Questions

LSAT Tip of the Week Three Types of Analytical Reasoning Questions LSAT Law School Blog There are three major types of Analytical Reasoning, or Logic Game, questions. These include sequencing, grouping, and matching games. This week we will talk about how to spot each type of question. Sequencing games are generally the most common, and you can spot these by generally looking for one set of variables. For example, there will be 7 runners and 7 places they could finish in. Note that there could be more variables, but this still constitutes as a sequencing question. Next, we have grouping games. Grouping games will also only have one set of variables, but here there are usually multiple places each variable can go. For example, there could be 10 people that need to be placed on 2 teams. Finally, we have matching games. Matching games differ as they usually have two sets of variables but there is no order to put them into. For example, you could have 6 people and 3 types of pets. Now that you know the major types of logic games, head to TestSherpa to see example problems a nd test your understanding!

Characteristics of the Learner - Private Tutoring

Characteristics of the Learner BobbiM Mar 25, 2014 Characteristics of the learner: 1 factor that influences active learning. As a student, you bring a variety of unique characteristics to each learning situation. These characteristics play a key role in how well you will perform, your interest in the material, and the strategies you will select to learn the course content. -motivation is one of the most important characteristics you can bring to a learning situation. Without motivation, you would find it hard to get out of bed each morning. And you will probably experience frustration and failure as a student. General interest in the topic being studied helps, but if you are open to learning new things and expanding your interests, you will be more successful. -background knowledge plays a role because the more you already know about a topic, the easier it is to learn. This means that it might be a good idea to select at least some courses during your first semester or two that you know a lot about. -your ability to concentrate on what you are reading or studying also affects your learning. Everyone has times when his mind wanders and concentration is difficult. But if you frequently leave class or finish reading a chapter feeling that you got little or nothing out of it, learning may be difficult. There are things you can do to improve your concentration, however. -your beliefs about knowledge and learning is a characteristic that is rarely discussed, but is very important. What do you believe knowledge is? Do you believe that knowledge consists of information that is transmitted from your professor to you? Or do you believe that you can be a part of creating knowledge? How you answer questions such as these influences the way you learn. Excerpt from College Success Strategies by Sherrie L. Nist and Jodi Patrick Holschuh.

3 Healthy One-Bowl Meal Recipes

3 Healthy One-Bowl Meal Recipes Image via http://myrecipes.com We all reach that point of the week when you need something exciting to lift you out of the workday slump and motivate you to make it to the weekend. This is why I love to treat myself to exciting meals that not only require minimal effort but can also help to keep me on track of my healthy diet. Whether it is lunch or dinner, I suggest that you try out a dynamic one-bowl meal that mixes up a variety of delicious ingredients to create an epic combination of flavors! Whether youre into seafood, rice, burritos, or noodles (to name a few) you can find a tantalizing bowl that suits your preferred tastes while indulging your appetite without any guilt. If all youve ever used those bowls for are soup, salad,  or cereal, get ready  to widen your dish horizons! Shrimp and Bean Burrito Bowl   Image via http://myrecipes.com The main power player in this dish is the tangy sweet chili sauce, which kicks up the flavor of the shrimp. This sauce is the perfect balance of spicy and sweet and serves for a tasty glaze on the shrimp. For a vegetarian protein, you can opt for cubed tofu instead of shrimp, and use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock in the bean mixture. Ingredients: •3/4 cup unsalted chicken stock (such as Swanson) •2 (15-oz.) cans unsalted kidney beans, rinsed and drained •1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter •5/8 teaspoon kosher salt, divided •5/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided •2 teaspoons olive oil •1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (about 24) •1 1/2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce (such as Mae Ploy) •1 (8.5-oz.) pkg. precooked brown rice (such as Uncle Bens) •1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro •1 ripe avocado, sliced •2 tablespoons crumbled Cotija cheese •4 lime wedges Instructions: 1. Bring stock and beans to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove pan from heat. Place bean mixture, butter, 3/8 teaspoon salt, and 3/8 teaspoon black pepper in the bowl of a food processor; process until smooth. 2. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Sprinkle shrimp with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Add shrimp to pan; cook 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove pan from heat. Stir in chili sauce. 3. Heat rice according to package directions. 4. Divide bean mixture and rice among four shallow bowls; top evenly with shrimp, cilantro and avocado. Sprinkle with cheese. Serve with lime wedges. Tuna Poke Bowl With Brown Rice Image via http://myrecipes.com Poke (pronounced POH-keh) is a popular Hawaiian salad featuring raw tuna. It is a refreshing and flavorful dish that feels light yet is filling and satisfying until the last bite. If attempting to recreate this dish at home, be sure to purchase your seafood from a reputable retailer. Don’t be afraid to inquire about the source of your fish, as the quality of the tuna can either make or break this bowl. Ingredients: •2 cups hot cooked short-grain brown rice •1 cup very thinly sliced lacinato kale (stems removed) •2 tablespoons rice vinegar, divided •1/4 teaspoon kosher salt •2 1/2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce •1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil •1/2 teaspoon Sriracha chili sauce •1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger •1 pound raw sushi-grade ahi tuna, cut into 3/4-in. cubes •3/4 cup cubed seeded peeled cucumber •1 small avocado, peeled and diced •1 green onion, thinly sliced •1 1/2 tablespoons white sesame seeds, lightly toasted Instructions: 1. Combine rice, kale, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and salt in a bowl; toss to coat. 2. Combine soy sauce, sesame oil, Sriracha, ginger, and remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add tuna, cucumber, avocado, and green onion; toss gently to coat. 3. Divide rice mixture evenly among four bowls; top with tuna mixture. Sprinkle evenly with sesame seeds. Serve immediately. Mushroom and Chicken Marsala Bowls Image via http://myrecipes.com Chicken Marsala is an American variation of the traditional Italian scaloppina dishes, of which there are many varieties throughout Italy. This dynamic chicken marsala bowl garners its flavors from the crisp sweetness of the marsala wine, the rich texture of the chicken thighs, and the buttery flavor from the brown mushrooms. Serve over quinoa or brown rice for a fiber packed, hearty, and satisfying fall dish! Ingredients: •2 1/2 tablespoons butter, divided •1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed and drained •1 1/2 cups unsalted chicken stock, divided •3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided •1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil, divided •1 (6-ounce) package fresh baby spinach •1 pound mushrooms, quartered •8 ounces skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces •1/4 cup minced shallots •1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme •4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced •1/2 cup dry Marsala wine •1 teaspoon Dijon mustard •1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Instructions: 1. Melt 1 1/2 teaspoons butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add quinoa to pan; sauté three minutes or until toasted and fragrant. Add 1 1/4 cups stock; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 12 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt. 2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add spinach; cook 1 1/2 minutes or until beginning to wilt. Remove spinach from pan. 3. Melt 1 1/2 teaspoons butter in pan. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons oil; swirl to coat. Add mushrooms; cook eight minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Remove mushroom mixture from pan. 4. Add remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add chicken to pan; sauté four minutes, browning on all sides. Add shallots, thyme, and garlic; sauté 1 1/2 minutes. 5. Add wine and remaining 1/4 cup stock, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Cook two minutes or until liquid is reduced by two-thirds and becomes slightly syrupy. Remove from heat. 6. Add remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, mustard, pepper, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, stirring constantly until butter melts. Stir in mushrooms and spinach.

I Can Afford College, Should I Still Apply for a Scholarship

I Can Afford College, Should I Still Apply for a Scholarship Ask a Private Irvine College Admissions Consultant: I Can Afford College, Should I still Apply for a Scholarship? Ask a Private Irvine College Admissions Consultant: I Can Afford College, Should I still Apply for a Scholarship? Yes! Many students think of scholarships as a way to pay for a college education. Of course, this is true but they are worth so much more. Often, students who can afford to go to college dont even think about applying for scholarships, but they’re missing out on a huge opportunity. In addition to financial aid and need-based scholarships, students can apply for prestigious merit scholarships that will keep their resume competitive for grad school or the workforce. Additionally, even students who can pay for college without any trouble can benefit from having a little bit of extra money to make their lifestyle easier. 1. Prestige Merit-based scholarships can be extremely impressive on a students resume. Depending on what field students are planning on going into it might help them get a foot in the door in the job market. These types of scholarships will most certainly help out with a grad school resume and communicates to schools and employers that a student is really serious about their education (READ: 5 things you might not expect from college finals). 2. Standing out from the crowd These days its so important to appear unique to universities and celebrate academic diversity. There are so many small but valuable scholarships that focus on a particular field or topic. Winning these types of scholarships help a student stand out from the crowd and demonstrate how they’ll be able to contribute to a diverse university campus. Although merit scholarships are highly competitive, students can apply for as many of them as they would like. For the most part, students will fill out a basic application form about their personal information and write a short essay. In many cases, students can write just two or three essays and then mold them to fit the specific requirements of the application. 3. Networking Applying for scholarships is also a great opportunity to practice networking. Students will need to ask teachers for recommendations and, in some cases, get to know the scholarship committee. These are all great resources for future academic endeavors. In some cases, students will even get to know their competition. Whether or not they ultimately win the scholarship, students will still have a chance to get to know some very bright peers and make connections for the future. The more intelligent and successful people a student knows, the more likely they will be to prosper in their career later on. 4. Extra money Even if a student can pay their college tuition without any trouble, having extra money never hurts. Some merit-based scholarships are extremely generous, but most offer between $250 and $1,000. This is a pretty good deal for spending an hour or two working on an essay. $1,000 could easily pay for a students textbooks for a year or allow them the opportunity to accept a study abroad opportunity. Any extra money is extremely helpful once a student begins their college career (READ: 5 Things to do Before You Go Away to College). 5. Experience Filling out scholarship applications also provides students with valuable experience. The more essays a student writes, the more their writing and editing skills will develop. Additionally, students will get used to researching various opportunities and networking with like-minded individuals. Filling out scholarship applications is a lot like filling out job applications, which is a skill everybody can improve upon. The more positive experiences a student has overall, the better their overall education will become. In short Students who can pay for college dont think about spending the time to apply for merit-based scholarships. Unfortunately, they’re missing out because they can benefit from more than just the cash they’ll receive. Students will also have the opportunity to improve their resume and stand out as a unique individual among their peers. Of course, a little extra money never hurts. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.