Apple Case Study free essay sample

The mobile personal computer industry and the mobile phone industry Mobile personal computers are PCs that can run on batteries and that are easy to carry on. It can be said that they are an evolution of the traditional personal computers. To describe the industry, it is important to start by defining its segments : The industry is concentrated, with few competitors dominating the market : Apple, Lenovo, Acer, Dell and Samsung. This industry has been suffering considerable changes with the emersion of the Tablets and the decline of the notebooks. However, notebooks are still the most known segment and the largest market share. So, in this analysis they are going to be considered as the main segment. Their key success factors are the following: Key Buying FactorsKey Competition FactorsKey Success Factors Intuitive Familiar technologyIntuitive Software AutonomyDistribution channelsCapacity Price Size Post sale serviceProduct developmentEconomies of scale Customer Support Brand Reliability The Mobile phone industry is one of the most attractive industries to study nowadays: it is growing rapidly and it is in permanent improvement and change . On the behalf of this matrix, we will discuss in detail, how Apple Inc. can rebuild and maintain its reputation. I will explain two ways in existing as well as new market for sale growth. Product development( sell new product in existing market) Product development is selling new products in existing market. Apple has strong reputation in the market. If Apple launch any product related to communication, this will increase market share of Apple. Apple need to target new segment. Apple need to launch new Mobil phone in low price segment. It is also very important for Apple to come up with something new idea to compete with Samsung. Product development is very important for Apple now. Apple Iphone’s series will not work for more time. Samsung is coming with new technology. It will be hard for Apple, may be in the future to compete with Samsung. Diversification:( sell new products in new market) Diversification is a corporate strategy to increase sales volume from new products and new markets. Diversification can be expanding into a new segment of an industry that the business is already in, or investing in a promising business outside of the scope of the existing business. It is very important for Apple to do diversification. Apple Inc. eed to enter into new market like Samsung. Apple’s iPhone is become older concept now. Apple need to launch something different and unique to maintain their reputation. Apple launch its iPhone 5 in August 2012. Apple’s next move is now to launch any new product in this year. It should be unique and little new in the market. Q: Provide three advantages and thr ee disadvantages of each in terms of the organisation priorities and feasibilities. Ans: Product development: It is not to easy to implement product development strategy into the market. This strategy is less risky as compared to other strategies. Following I will discuss I detail about the advantages and disadvantages of product development. Advantages: 1. New to the market/ fresh opportunities: Apple has good reputation in the market. This company is consider as the one of the best in innovation. If Apple inc. like Samsung launch new products in existing market. It will be helpful for the company to gain its market share. 2Competitors may have reached a declining phase, giving your product an advantage: It is another advantage for the company in existing market. It is very helpful to launch a new product when the competitor’s product is at declining phase. knowing the existing competitors and there over all market share and strategys : Now Apple already knows, what strategy is adopted by Samsung to compete in the market. All communication equipment market is adapted Mostly By Samsung. It is very helpful while product development. Disadvantages: 1 competitors- (dominance in the market ) This is an disadvantage of produ ct development strategy. It is sometime difficult to compete with the existing market. Samsang have very strong dominance in low price segment market. It may be difficult for the company to compete in this segment. Risks on failing to achieve sales and the product being unsuccessful: This is another disadvantage of product development strategy. Product can be fail in the market. Diversification: Following I will discuss in detail about the advantages and disadvantages of the diversification. Advantages: 1. (low risk, high returns) The unrelated diversification which is carefully developed and undertaken only after thorough analysis of the environment and the company? s own resources usually brings very good financial results. However, in all cases it should be a low risk investment with a potential for high returns. 2. Good source of funds during seasonal slowdown) In some cases of company acquisition, this diversification can secure funds on hand during a seasonal slowdown, adding to the cash flow for the main business activity. 3. Spreading the risk through different sectors of the economy. It is very important to identify industries in which the business activity slowdown does not coincide with the slowdowns in the main business of the company. Disadvantages: Achieving successful unrelated diversification requires good management skills, closely following each of the business activities and timely identifying and solving even the smallest problems. The greater the number of business activities, the more difficult is the total management task. 2. In many instances the overall performance of the unrelated business activities does not exceed the individual ones. Sometimes it is even worse, unless the managers are exceptionally talented and focused. 3. As a rule, the implementation of unrelated diversification strategy requires allocation of significant financial and human resources and there is always the risk of harming the main company business. Q: Conduct a risk assessment of above selected strategic options. Ans: It is very important to doing risk analysis before putting any strategy into effect. Following I will discuss in detail about the risk assessment of above selected strategic options. 1. estimate likelihood and impact of risk 2. quantitative vs qualitative 1. estimate likelihood and impact of risk 2. quantitative vs qualitative Identification of risk and their caues Identification of risk and their caues Risk Risk Identification Assessment Actions and mechanism to minimise risk. Actions and mechanism to minimise risk. Continues monitoring of risks and actions to control them Continues monitoring of risks and actions to control them Monitoring Risk treatment If Apple wants to put any strategy into effect , before that it is very important to careful consideration of the risk associated with the strategy. Risk identification: It is very necessary to identify the risk associated with the strategy. If Apple Inc. wants to do product development and diversification, than, there are many risks are attached to it. Following are the some ways to identify the risks associated with the strategy. Following are some examples of the risks related with the Apple Inc. strategy. 1. The first risk for the Apple Mobil phone is the risk of about the image. Is the customer will accept the Apple in low price segment? It is like a risk for the company. 2. Apple company is good in making computers and mobil phones. If Apple diversify its operations in other businesses, may be , it is not easy for the company to handle the businesses. It is the another risk for the company. Risk assessment: It is very necessary to examine the risk impacts on the company. If Apple implement these strategies in the company, what would be the effects of these strategies? It is important to know the risk results. Following some of the results we will get after these inputs. Apple Inc. might will lose its high status symbol in the market. Apple is known as the expensive segment phones. Apple may lose its more reputation. It might be the risk for the company. Risk Treatment: This sections cover all the things about the company can do to treat with the risks. It is very important for the company to do something to minimise the risks of the strategy. Following are the some example what Apple Inc. can do before putting the strategy. Innovation is the key of success of the company for Apple. Customers are always expect something new from Apple. Apple need to create good product as well as some innovative features to success of the product. What apple can do to treat with the risk is the high promotion of the product before launching the product in low price segment. Monitoring/ review: It is very important monitor the strategy after implementation for the effective results. Comparisons of the results with the standards is the good way of monitoring. Q: Justify the two selected strategic options? Ans: I selected two strategic options for the Apple Inc. is the Product development and differentiation. At this time, company needs to do something to maintain its reputation to survive in the market. They cannot cheat customer for long time. They do some little changes and sell their products. No doubt, Apple was the best phone when they launch first Iphone. Now Company needs to do something to build its reputation. Following I wioll give some points in favour of my selected strategic options to justify my points. 1. If Apple launch some Mobil phones in low price segment with innovation may will lead to market share leadership. Now Apple is at 3rd position in market share. Earlier Samsung was not doing well. They implemented these strategies and they come at second position. Apple need to follow these strategies to be a market leader. 2. Product development is very necessary for Apple because they did not make much changes in their iphone. It is very important for the company to innovate something to maintain its reputation. Samsung is not behind Apple now in terms of technology. Samsung is doing research now on technology. Samsung launched very innovative stretchable screen. These are the some thing that makes leaders in the market. If apple wants to stay in the market, they need to produce new technology to compete with others. 3. It is good for the company to sell their products to different segments. It is good to increase market share. 4. Customers are expecting new technology from Apple. If Apple launch any new technology in the market. It will be good for company reputation and for market share.

The Design Prototype of Kiosk

Having just finished sketching a new universally accessible kiosk for the London underground, I am going to build and test a prototype in 1 hour. It is really important to build and test a prototype for a particular period of time which allows to consider the typical environment conditions which are going to be present while the kiosk utilization. Here is a brief discussion of some particular issues which are to be checked while the testing period.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Design Prototype of Kiosk specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More First of all, it is important to build a prototype which corresponds to the future kiosk with all the systems appropriate for conduction. The first stage of the building a kiosk (even at within 1 hour) is the planning of maintenance. The serviceability of the kiosk should be on the highest level. The filters should be easily reached for cleaning. In case any failure, the equi pment should be easily reached as well. Various facilities which may require often changes should be put on the places for easy reach. Implementing the prototype of the design is the second stage of the kiosk building. The main idea of implementing the prototype of design into action is to check the facilities, their appropriate functioning and services. This will give an opportunity to make sure that all the systems work appropriately and the kiosk may be put into mass production. Testing the design prototype kiosk is the final stage for us as the next one is the optimizing the kiosk design with the purpose to build it. Testing the design prototype we are going to check the temperature at different points with the purpose to make sure that electronic equipment is ready to serve in the street conditions. The testing the design prototype is going to be completed by means of two various stages. The first stage is going to be completed with the help of the thermocouple which is going t o measure the air temperature. The air temperature is measured at all vents in the system. It is important to check the system at the highest level of the temperature with the purpose to understand whether the system is able to sustain. The second stage is the consideration of the system and the devices by means of the thermocouple whether with the operating specialized temperature. It does not matter that in most cases the air flow will be adequate and will not reach the maximum operating condition, it is important to make sure that it is possible to operate inside under the hottest environment conditions. Much attention should be paid to the light conditions as being located underground, all the norms are to be followed. Finally, it is necessary to check all other equipment to make sure that not only ventilation and temperature correspond to the norms, but the whole place is safe. Thus, the building and testing of the new universally accessible kiosk for the London underground is ready.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In conclusion, one of the main disadvantages of the testing prototypes is the lack of time. It is impossible to check all the systems appropriately as well as it is impossible to understand whether they will function for a long period of time. Therefore, testing the prototype differs greatly from the testing of the item as the main purpose of testing the prototype is to understand which design changes are to be completed and how the whole system is going to function better. This essay on The Design Prototype of Kiosk was written and submitted by user Blaine Clemons to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Rhetorical Analysis of Douglass free essay sample

In the excerpt â€Å"Learning to Read and Write†, Frederick Douglass talks about his experiences in slavery living in his masters house and his struggle to learn how to read and write. Frederick Douglass was an African American social reformer, orator, writer, and statesman. Some of his other writings include â€Å"The Heroic Slave†, â€Å"My Bondage and My Freedom†, and â€Å"Life and Times of Frederick Douglass†. In this excerpt, Frederick Douglass uses an empathic tone, imagery, certain verb choice, contrast, and metaphors to inform African Americans of how important it is to learn to read and write and also to inform a white American audience of the evils of slavery. I find Frederick Douglass to be relatively persuasive in his argument to his intended audiences. We know that one of his intended audiences is African Americans because he consistently states things such as â€Å"I was compelled to resort to various stratagems† and â€Å"Thus, after a long, tedious effort for years, I finally succeeded in learning how to write†. We will write a custom essay sample on Rhetorical Analysis of Douglass or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page These sentences show us how difficult it was for him and states how he had to go through many trials to finally learn to be literately correct. By not giving up, he shows us how important he thinks it is for slaves to learn how to read and write. We also know that his other audience were white Americans because of his use of contrast. He describes how his mistress changed from being a nice, helpful, and loving woman to being a mean, evil spirited brute because of the simple fact of being a slave holder and her husband’s characteristics rubbing off on her. By stating â€Å"Slavery soon proved its ability to divest her of these heavenly qualities† he shows us how much of a negative effect slavery can be not only on African Americans, but also on white Americans. Frederick Douglass most likely chose this audience because many slaves probably did not know the extent of how important it was to read and write, or just didn’t know it was important at all. Frederick Douglass wanted slaves to be able to know what was happening in society and what was going on around them that their masters were not telling them. As far as the white audience goes, he likely chose this audience to make slave owners and non-slave owners look at slavery a different way. The way he portrays slavery in my eyes is almost as a force that turned this woman (his mistress) into something that she is not. It makes slavery look like a disease spread on white Americans that makes them horrible people. Another audience that might be included are poor white children and/or teenagers. Throughout the excerpt, Douglass explains how he would use the poor white children as instructors to teach him how to read and write in exchange for food. In the excerpt he writes â€Å"Have not I as good a right to be free as you have? These words used to trouble them; they would express for me the liveliest sympathy†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He could have chosen this audience because he knows that the children hold the future. This would be his way of convincing the younger kids to look down upon slavery. That could change the lives of African Americans forever. There could be a number of different audiences that Frederick Douglass was referring to, but the least likely would be extremely racist slave owners. Racist slave owners probably wouldn’t even pick up something an African American wrote, let alone care what he had to say. The Logos in this excerpt has a structure of Frederick Douglass’s events going in chronological order. He opens this excerpt by telling how long he lived at his master’s house. He then goes on to describe how his mistress changed from a nice lady to a mean-spirited one. He explains how her doing so made it hard for him to read because she would always get angry whenever she would see him holding a book. He then describes how he would become friends with the poor white kids so that they would help him learn how to read. Once he has learned to read, he starts to understand more of what is going on around him and he doesn’t like it. He begins to envy the ignorance of his fellow slaves. He meets two white men who encourage him to run away to the north to be free. Frederick considers it, but he wants to learn how to write first. He concludes this excerpt by describing how he learned to write by being in a ship-yard and also by daring the white kids that he knew more letters than them, tricking them into teaching him more letters. There wasn’t any flashbacks or foreshadowing in this excerpt. He went from beginning to end. If Frederick Douglass did decide to use any literary time elements such as foreshadowing and flashbacks, it could have made this excerpt a bit more interesting. Although, the chronological order did just fine. Frederick Douglass’s main claim to his argument of the importance of slaves learning how to read and write is the fact that without that knowledge, slaves would just remain ignorant to the things happening around him. They would have to rely on other people’s words instead of their own. With slaves being ignorant to their surroundings, it would be impossible for them to grow or to reach freedom. Frederick Douglass has an automatic appeal of credibility since this is an excerpt from his a narrative of his own life. Frederick Douglass also establishes Ethos when he started to think logically by learning to read. The more he learned, the more he was building his character to get what he wanted. He also builds character by choosing not to run away when the white men told him too. He knew there was a chance of them tricking him to run away just so they can catch him and get an award. He decided to take the opportunity to learn to write before he would run away. His character can also be determined by the title and even the first sentence of the story. â€Å"I lived in Master Hugh’s family about seven years. † This shows that he is just like any other slave even though he found a way to educate himself. This grabs the attention of his audiences and makes him as an author credible and trustworthy. Frederick Douglass appeals to Pathos in this excerpt. Because this is a true story, all the hardships his mistress put him through and all the trouble he had to go through and endure just to learn to read and write, give off real emotions. The fact that this really happened to him has more of an effect on his audience than if this was fiction. We see Douglass saying that he regrets his own existence and he wished himself dead. This makes the audience feel extremely sad and sorry for him. One way that Frederick Douglass uses pathos to persuade his audience is by him stating how bad he felt once he did learn how to read and write and how he envied the people who couldn’t. One would think that by him saying that would push someone to not want to learn to read, but it is the reason he feels this way that would persuade them. The reason he feels this way is because now he knows things that he’s never known and he knows how bad things are for slaves. That would persuade someone to want to know as much information as he does. He also establishes Kairos in this excerpt because of the fact that with only a few modifications, this same story could have been writing in modern times. Although slavery is not legal in America, it is in some parts of the world. There’s also illegal slavery in America such as human trafficking. It could be the same story of a person being trafficked trying to learn to read and  write, another language maybe, in order to escape. It also could be told in ancient times with the slaves in Egypt. That’s just a few examples of how this excerpt could be told in multiple time periods. In this excerpt â€Å"Learning to Read and Write† we see how Frederick Douglass used rhetoric devices Logos, Pathos, Ethos, and Kairos. Also we see how he used different literary elements to establish those. Frederick Douglass effectively persuaded his audience of African Americans and white Americans to show the importance of learning to read and write and to inform how evil slavery really was.

What Does a Good Letter of Recommendation Look Like

What Does a Good Letter of Recommendation Look Like SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Recommendation letters are given serious consideration by admissions officers. Considering college admissions get more and more competitive each year, recommendations can go a long way toward helping you get accepted (or, gulp, rejected). Most admissions committees seek a holistic view of the student. They want to know who you are, beyond the grades and test scores. A great recommendation letter both raves about your awesome qualities and opens a window into your personality and character. By knowing exactly why some recommendation letters are more powerful than others, you can figure out who you need to ask and what you need to do to get one. So what exactly makes some letters of rec more impressive than others? Let's take a closer look at the features of great recommendation letters and examples of each one. Your Letter Should Speak to Personal Qualities, as well as Academic Ability Whether your recommendation letter comes from a teacher, school counselor, or peer, it should speak to your personal qualities as well as your academic achievements. Admissions committees want to know more about you. They want to get a strong sense of who you are in terms of your personal strengths, personality, and interests. What motivates you? How do you communicate with your teachers and peers? How do you respond to challenges? What goals have you set for yourself, and what are you doing to work towards them? If this information sounds pretty personal, that's because it is. That's why you need to ask someone to recommend you who knows you well and can write a warm and insightful letter. You also shouldn't be afraid to tell your recommender what would go into your ideal letter. Would you like your English teacher to talk about your skill at writing and passion for poetry? Do you want your biology teacher to focus on your curiosity about the natural world? Let your recommender know what matters most to you. It will help her write her letter, and it will help you get a great reference to send to your colleges. Let's look at a few excerpts from strong recommendation letters that speak both to their students' intellectual capacity and personal strengths. This example is from an English teacher: From the first day of class, Mary impressed me with her ability to be articulate about difficult concepts and texts, her sensitivity to the nuances within literature, and her passion for reading, writing, and creative expression- both in and out of the classroom. She co-founded our school's literary club, where she publishes her poetry, something she hopes to continue in college and beyond. Mary's open and friendly nature has shone through in class, where she supports her peers and respects opinions even when they differ from her own. This letter begins to talk about Mary's intellectual insight, creativity, leadership, and respect for others. This next one is from a school counselor. Your school counselor may be in an especially good position to comment on what you bring to the school community and how you've grown over your time in high school (definitely a transformative four years). If there was a significant turning point, revelation, or challenge that affected you in the past few years, you should share it with your school counselor. When they talk about your capacity for growth, it also helps communicate to admissions officers a vision of what you'll accomplish in college and beyond. After exploring various electives in his first year of high school, Alvan discovered his great passion for photography. His work has been featured in school and community shows, and he volunteers at a local community organization teaching the basics of photography to children. While he started out high school a bit unsure of himself, Alvan has blossomed into a confident and self-directed individual with a strong voice that he expresses most powerfully through his art. Colleges want a student who will contribute to their community and achieve great things. That's why a strong letter will speak to your past achievement and how it predicts your future success. Some skills and qualities that especially impress admissions officer include strength of character, demonstrated leadership, and creativity.Your recommenders might talk about your honesty, integrity, courage, humor, thoughtfulness, maturity, cultural awareness, insight, or compassion for others. Your teachers may especially be able to discuss your skills of problem solving, analysis, foreign language, communication, or collaboration. This example focuses on Leila's maturity and cultural awareness. It's also made stronger by the fact that her recommender knows she's applying to study international relations. Leila has a maturity beyond her years, likely a consequence of her travels around the world. Having lived in Europe and South America before attending Lincoln High School, Leila shows an ease at adapting and making new friends. Her friendly nature, cultural awareness, and openness to other people and ways of life will serve her well in this exciting next chapter of her life. I'm looking forward to seeing all that she'll learn, contribute, and accomplish in her international relations program next year. Your letter is strongest if it comes from someone who knows you well and highlights your personal strengths. A letter that only lists out out grades, activities, and other facts and figures could be written by anyone with a copy of your resume. A personal letter shows that you've established good relationships with your teachers and will do the same on a college campus. Key Point Your recommendation letter should help admissions officers get to know you as a multi-dimensional person, even though they've never met you. It should speak to your personal qualities, as well as your academic ability. To get a personal recommendation letter, you should do two things. First, ask people who know you well. Second, tell your recommender what you'd like her to include in your letter and what values, goals, and experiences are most important to you. Just as you have to support your SAT or ACT essay with examples, your recommendation letter should give specific examples. Your recommender should describe an observation or interaction she had with you that illustrates something essential about your character. Let's take a look at what I mean when I say your recommendation letter can "show" and not just "tell." Your Letter Should Use Anecdotes and Examples Another reason it's a good idea to ask a recommender who knows you well is that she'll be able to give specific anecdotes and examples. If your letter is full of abstract statements, then it doesn't do much to paint a picture of you in the reader's mind. Your recommender should illustrate your strong points with meaningful stories. Consider these two examples: 1. Jen cares a great deal about other people. She's kind and a compassionate person. She's also a talented artist. Jen's caring nature and artistic talent are what make Jen special. 2.Jen combined two of her strongest assets - her artistic talent and deep empathy for others - to organize a coffeehouse style benefit. She coordinated with students and faculty to hold a night of student work and performances and raise money for a local homeless shelter. She even reached out to businesses in the community to donate food and equipment for the event. The intimate, inspiring event was a great success, and, thanks to Jen's vision and leadership, will be held again in the spring semester. Both examples seek to communicate the same personal qualities of Jen's: her artistic inclination and caring for others. But the first one gives no examples, and the reader doesn't know how the recommender knows this about Jenny or the extent to which it's true. She may care about others, but has that motivated her to act in some way that benefits those around her? The second example is specific, tells a story, and explains how Jen's values and interests manifest themselves in concrete action. Plus, it differentiates her from other students with a memorable and impressive story of her coffeehouse benefit. Don't worry if you're reading this and thinking, "But I've never set up a charity coffeehouse at my school." This is just one example. Even a small moment can take on great significanceand communicate something essential about your values and character. As I mentioned above, if you can think of any specific experiences or challenges that were meaningful or taught you something about yourself, you should talk about them with your recommender. If your recommender knows you well, then she should also have specific examples that she can incorporate into her letter. Key Point Your letter should use meaningful, vivid stories and examples to demonstrate your outstanding qualities. If you have ideas, share them with your recommender. Your recommender can also include her own stories that reveal who you are and what kind of person admissions officers can expect to show up at their college. You can have a lot of input and control over what goes into your letter. At the same time, it's up to your recommender to make sure her letter is well written and error-free. A great recommendation letter should be clear and articulate. Your Letter Should Use Powerful Language As with any piece of writing, word choice in your rec letter for college is very important. Hopefully your recommender writes a letter that's focused, clear, and use strong and accurate adjectives. Rather than calling you smart, your recommender might talk about your innovative approach to solving problems. Rather than calling you a hard worker, it might say you're diligent and resourceful. Some other strong wordsinsightful, analytical, curious, observant, mastery of specific subject area, creative, mature, flexible, generous, empathetic, leader, versatile, ethical, motivated, ambitious, and communicative. Words that are generic or cliche would weaken your letter, like "hard worker" who "goes above and beyond" and "always shoots for the stars." Your letter also shouldn't feature over the top enthusiasm, with words and phrases like "genius" or "superstar" with achievements "too amazing to be believed." Similarly, your letter shouldn't featureambiguous wording or phrases that could be confusing or interpreted in an unflattering way. If it says you're "fiercely independent," this could sound a little harsh, like you don't always work well with others. If your recommender says you "lead by example," she could, intentionally or not, be suggesting a lack of leadership positions in the school. Finally, if your recommender focuses on your "tremendous potential" and "room to grow," an admissions officers might read between the lines that your recommender isn't too impressed with your progress so far. While these phrases aren't a red flag per se, they should be balanced out with other strengths and positive comments. Sometimes your recommenders will show you their letters before sending them, so you can look them over and politely offer any suggestions for revision. Other times, your recommender will keep the letter confidential. In this case, the best thing you can do is ask a teacher who has a reputation for writing well and putting effort into her letters. If you hear someone uses a form letter for everyone and just plugs students' names in, then avoid that person at all costs! Practically speaking, English teachers often get slammed with recommendation letter requests in the fall of senior year, because they're generally good writers. If you'd benefit from a letter from your English teacher, make sure to ask her early and talk to her about your ideas for your letter. Key Point Ask a recommender who can write well and will put in the time and effort to craft a thoughtful, error-free letter. Ask your counselor for advice, and make your request early so your teacher's quota for rec requests doesn't fill up. If you're applying to a selective school, like in the Ivy League, another feature that can make your letter stand out is a statement of high ranking. On the flip side, a statement of average ranking could be a dealbreaker and would best be left out. Your Letter Should Rank You Highly, or Not At All If you're applying to a selective or Ivy League school like Harvard, a statement of high ranking could stand out and impress admissions officers. Here are a few examples. Carla is without a doubt the most talented and driven student I've ever had the pleasure of teaching in my fifteen years at Roosevelt High School. Pablo is one of the top three students I've had in my AP Calculus class in the ten years I've been teaching it. Due to her impressive determination, effort, and intellectual curiosity, Alexis has risen to the top of her class. Statements like these are especially impressive if your teacher or counselor has been at your school for many years. Your ranking could also get more specific, like saying you have a top "aptitude for scientific inquiry," "curiosity for solving problems," or "sophisticated analysis and understanding of literature." Conversely, if your recommender says you're "above average" or "satisfactory," it sounds lukewarm and won't add much to your application. For a top school, a mediocre ranking like this could even sink your application to the bottom of the pile. Key Point A statement of high ranking from an established teacher or counselor is one feature that could help make your recommendation letter great. Finally, your recommendation letter should come from a qualified person whose opinion admissions officers will take seriously. Schools have requirements for who your recommendation letters should be from. You also should know who to ask and who not to ask. Your Letter Should Come From the Right Person I mentioned a few times that your letters of recommendation should come from teachers or counselors who know the student well. Readers can pick up on this pretty easily, from the depth of insight provided and how personalized your letter is. They should also come from the right people. For instance, more selective schools ask for two teacher recommendations and one school counselor recommendation. Other schools just want one teacher rec and one counselor rec. Dartmouth and Davidson are unique in that they want a recommendation from a peer. Does that mean you should ask any teacher you've ever had in high school? Definitely not. Usually the best rec letters come from junior year teachers, because they had you in class recently and for a whole year. Another good teacher is one that had you for more than one class or advised you in an after-school club. A freshman or sophomore year teacher would probably not be recent enough. Your recommenders will state who they are and how they know you in their introductions. That way admissions officers know to give their opinion serious consideration. These introductions might like look this: As Jim's 11th grade AP Chemistry teacher and academic advisor, I'm honored to provide him with this letter of recommendation to Dartmouth College. I had the pleasure of having Caitlin in my 11th grade English class and current Creative Writing class. From the first day of class, she impressed me with her insightful comments and advanced writing skills. I'm certain that Caitlin will continue to excel academically and creatively in her future, and I highly recommend her for admission to your undergraduate program. If you feel that you don't have any teachers who know you well enough (maybe your school has a huge student to teacher ratio), you might send in a supplemental recommendation from a supervisor, coach, community member, or other person who knows you well and who admissions officers will view as an official, trustworthy, and informed source. Key Point The strongest recommendation letters for college usually come from your junior year teachers or teachers who have had you in several classes or clubs (and thereby gotten to know you in more than one context). Freshman and sophomore year teachers probably aren't recent enough, and senior year teachers may not have had you in class long enough to know you well. Given that you'll likely ask junior year teachers for recommendations, go into junior year with a proactive mindset. Participate in class, get to know your teachers, and be open about your future goals. As we draw to a close, let's review the most important features that make for a great recommendation letter for college and what you can do to get one (or three)! What Makes a Great Recommendation Letter? Your recommendation letter should come from a recent teacher or other source who knows you well. Your letter should highlight your most important personal and academic strengths, as well as support them with examples. Rather than repeating your resume, it should focus on just a few key aspects of who you are as a student and person. To ensure that you get a great letter of rec, there are a few things you can do. First, ask a teacher who supports you and knows you well. Second, don't be afraid to give them information, both in the form of a "brag sheet" full of your self-reflections and by explicitly telling them what you'd like your letter to include. This is especially effective if you're applying to a specific major, like English, and want your English teacher to talk about your insightful analyses of literature. As long as you're thoughtful about who you ask and give some serious thought as to what you'd like your ideal letter to include, then your efforts should pay off with an impressive and memorable recommendation letter for your college application. What's Next? Now that you know what makes for a great recommendation letter, what about the flip side? What features make for a bad letter of rec? Read all about bad recommendations here. Do counselor recs differ from teacher recs at all? Read about what counselors should include in their reference letters as they support their students on the path to college. Want to improve your SAT score by 240 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

I don't have one Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

I don't have one - Essay Example In the short story, drugs led to his incarceration, thus increasing his predicament. However, his aptitude in jazz music has significantly aided him in alleviating his challenges. In James Baldwin’s short story, titled Sonny’s Blues, the narrator depicts Sonny as a teenaged character struggling with various challenges in the slums of Harlem. The story’s setting is in the middle of the 20th century, a time when racial discrimination was at all times high. Racial discrimination against the African Americans by the whites came in all forms thus posing tremendous negative or undesirable effects in the society. The narrator, an anonymous character, gives a picture of Sonny fighting drug abuse and other social dilemmas through jazz music, which he strongly disapproves. Moreover, he says "and his music seemed to be merely an excuse for the life he led† (Madden 321). The writer describes how Sonny uses his artful skills in mitigating his challenges that include drug abuse and poverty. In one instance, the narrator shows how Sonny hangs in several nightclubs, in a bid to use his talent in jazz music to avert drug (heroin) addiction. His brother, the narrator does not understand his passion in music until one day when they go together in a nightclub (Schewhn and Bass 331). In that particular occasion, the narrator realizes the power of music in keeping Sonny sound and normal, while staying away from drugs and other social tribulations that significantly affects his life. However, his jazz musical talent could have a negative effect on him since the narrator’s in-laws took him as a low-classed boy. In addition, Sonny’s involvement in jazz music led him into drug addiction, a condition he unsuccessfully tried to eliminate. His addiction has also landed him in jail and severely affected his relationship with his brother, the narrator (F einstein and Rife 506). Through his jazz music, Sonny is able to communicate the

The Means for Effective Interpersonal Communication between Couples Essay

The Means for Effective Interpersonal Communication between Couples - Essay Example Most of the time, we tend to look at the faults and weaknesses of others while making quick judgments or conclusions at the same time. This usually is the first action since it is part of our innate instinct to be on the defensive, both physically and psychologically. Knowing this, you are already aware that taking your own side first in any argument is an instinctive reaction. Of course, that kind of action does not really deal with the problem initially. The first step in having an effective and happy interpersonal communication as a couple is to first look into your own self. This requires serious introspection and a degree of private time away from each other. Introspection requires a long and deep look into one’s own personality and character. Just imagine having to sit in front of a mirror while asking yourself questions about your own self. Some of the questions that could be asked would be about good traits, inherent character strengths, character flaws, and weaknesses. The primary reason why this step is important is because it practices you to be self-aware of mistakes that might have been overlooked. More often than not, it is easy to point fingers at the mistakes of others while forgetting that you have your own shortcomings as well. To be more conscious of your own mistakes is a matter of mindfulness. After spending a great deal of time understanding your personality and behavior, the next step is to have a self-appraisal on your personal manner of communicating. You have to realize that for an effective interpersonal communication to happen between couples, it is also important to know how you would communicate with yourself and if you have communication competencies. The issue is not whether or not you are good in expressing yourself. You can express yourself clearly but still send the wrong sentiments. Most of the time, it is the manner and not the message that has the

Individual Supporting Contributions to Group Presentation on Rabobank Assignment

Individual Supporting Contributions to Group Presentation on Rabobank - Assignment Example Worldwide Rabobank is the leading supporter of agriculture and food with over five hundred and ninety three international offices in thirty countries. The bank leads with eighty-five percent shares in food and agriculture in Netherlands. In terms of liquidity and capital, the bank position has remained strong for the past five years. In 2012 financial year, Rabobank core tier 1 capital and Tier 1 capital increased slightly in comparison to financial year 2008. Notionally, the structural design in a company refers to the responsibilities, formal roles and methods of reporting. Structural design influences the sources of a firm advantage in regards to knowledge management. Failure to change the structures can lead to serious undermining of strategy implementation. Good structures are not sufficient for success. In regards to the current structure of Rabobank, it is believed to be a matrix structure. A matrix structure consists of structure that take geographical divisions and form of product or divisional and structural structures operating in cycle. The divisions of Rabobank group are different with sovereign decision being made by their own panel of directors. Branches are different in types of produce, services offered, and the market to provide these services and product. Organizational units in different branches provide services and product that deals with mortgages, asset management, equity participation, investment banking, loans and saving and leasing ( Clay 2007, pg 38). Every organizational unit has a management team that is responsible for budget in areas of their operations such as exploitative innovations and pursuing exploratory. In addition, organizational units in each branch operate in trade with different levels of competitiveness and environmental dynamism a state neces sary to observe units pursue different new activities. There are several advantages of matrix structure. They