Area of A Cube

Area of A Cube Cube is a 3-dimensional geometric figure with six congruent sides. A cube is considered as a 3-dimensional geometric shape because it consists of length, width and height. However in a cube, the length, the width and the height are all equal to each other and hence it has 6 congruent sides. Area of a cube is the sum of areas of all the 6 surfaces of the cube. Example 1: Find the total surface area of the cube if a side of the cube is 7m. Given the side length of the cube, s = 7m Every side in a cube is of equal length. Since its a 3-dimensional geometric shape, it has 6 surfaces where every surface is a square of equal sides. Hence area of each surface = (side length) 2 Area of each surface = (7m) 2 = 49m2 There are 6 surfaces in a cube, hence = 6 * s2 = 6 * 49m2 = 294m2 Hence the total surface area of the cube = 294m2 Example 2: Find the total surface area of the cube if the side length of the cube is 12cm. Given the side length of the cube, s = 12cm Every side in a cube is of equal length. Since its a 3-dimensional geometric shape, it has 6 surfaces where every surface is a square of equal sides. Hence the total surface area of the cube, A = 6 * s2 Total surface area of the cube is 6 * (12cm) 2 = 864cm2 Hence the total surface area of the cube = 864cm2

What is it Like to Attend St. Marys University

What is it Like to Attend St. Mary's University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Christine is a Houston tutor and 2012 graduate of St. Marys University in San Antonio, Texas. She holds a Bachelors degree in Biology and currently specializes inmany subjects including Algebra tutoring, Chemistry tutoring, and Writing tutoring. See what she had to say about 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? Christine: St. Marys entire campus is gated and there are police in cars and on bikes patrolling 24/7. After midnight, all of the gates on campus are closed except one. I have always felt very safe on campus and it is easy to get in contact with the police if you have any safety concerns or need someone to walk with you late at night. Yes, occasionally, there have been cars that do get broken into just like at any parking areas but as long as you do not leave your valuables in sight, your car is unlikely to get broken into. Because the campus is relatively small, a bike is not necessary. On average, it takes about 10-12 minutes to talk from most of the dorms to the classrooms. I would suggest having a car if you need to get off campus often. Another option is riding on the public VIA bus to get off campus. There is a VIA bus stop right by the school. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Christine: This is what I loved about St. Marys University the most. My professors and academic advisers are not only my mentors but also my friends. Because most of the classes have about 20-30 students, professors quickly learn each students name. It is easy to meet with professors before or after class and they respond to emails fast. I could also easily meet with them in their office even outside their office hours. You even find students having lunch with their professors around campus. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Christine: St. Marys recently decided to accept more students than they could house. Within the past few years, many students find themselves having 2 roommates instead of the traditional 1 roommate in a bedroom. The school has already started making plans to build more dorm buildings. St. Marys recently changed the dining option to where students buy meals instead of having points. The school also just added Chick-fil-A and Starbucks on campus. I would consider the location of St. Marys to be in a rough area but as I had mentioned, the school is gated and I have never felt unsafe on campus. University Programming Council (UPC) and Student Council do an excellent job with planning school events to ensure that students feel very welcomed and are actively involved in campus life. It is very easy to join several organizations and to make new friends. 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? Christine: There is a large number of Biology majors and Business majors. I was a Biology major and pre-medical student. St. Marys University does an outstanding job supporting Biology majors. All the Biology professors and advisors make sure that the students are on track and assist the students with finding research jobs and applying for professional schools. 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? Christine: I found it very easy to meet people and make friends as a freshman. Most of the students, professors, and faculty are friendly and easy to talk to. While walking to and from classes, students and professors wave and say hi to each other. It is common to see familiar faces when you walk around campus. The warm friendly environment is just part of the Marianist spirit of the school. Yes, Greek life does play a role in the campus social life but I chose not to join a sorority and found myself just as involved with campus life and had just the same amount of friends and fun as sorority girls did. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Christine: Because I was a Biology major and pre-med student, I did not find myself using the Career Center often because the chair of the Biology department did a superb job of notifying students when and where there were research and clinical opportunities. Throughout the school year, there are a few job fairs and events where companies recruit on campus. The Civic Engagement service does a great job of keeping records of your volunteer work and hours. The only time I went to the Career Center was when I needed help with my resume to apply for a medical school program and for a mock interview. The individuals that work there are very helpful. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Christine: I believe it was a good idea for St. Marys to recently remodel the lower floor of the main library to have more group tables and group study rooms. The lower level allows students to talk and use white boards. The second floor has most of the computers and allows students to talk. The top floor is the silent floor. The library does get crowded during finals week, just like most colleges and universities, but most of the time, it was easy for me to find a place to study in the library. Most dorm lounges are good study areas. I would also suggest studying at the Law Schools library, where it is completely silent, if you cannot find any other place to study. 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? Christine: There is not as much to do in San Antonio as compared to the activities in Dallas or Houston. Of course, no student attends St. Marys University for four years without visiting the Alamo and the Riverwalk in downtown at least twice. The La Cantera and Northstar malls are good shopping locations. You will find many delicious Mexican restaurants all over the city. There are a few fun clubs and bars such Cowboys, Wild West, Howl at the Moon, Fox and Hound, and Posh. Most students go to the downtown area or drive at least 15 minutes to go have fun off campus. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Christine: St. Marys University has a small student body with a total of about 2,460 undergraduate students and a 13:1 student to teacher ratio. I graduated from high school with a class of about 270 students and felt very comfortable at St. Marys. I personally prefer small class sizes where I know almost everyone in the class and can maintain a close relationship with my professors. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Christine: My most memorable experience was being in Dr. Manchesters General Biology class. He has a genuine passion to teach and is extremely knowledgeable. He cares for each of his students and their career goals. Dr. Manchester would teach using a wooden stick that he chopped off a tree outside of the Biology building and he made up funny stories for his students to remember many Biology concepts. His class was by far the hardest class I had ever taken but it was worthwhile because I learned to perfect my study skills in his class. Check out Christines tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors

Act Practice Test Can Be Easy If You Have TutorPace Beside You

Act Practice Test Can Be Easy If You Have TutorPace Beside You College is one of the most awaited places for many students. Each one craves to reach there and wants to enjoy the freedom and independence that is found there. After the disciplined life of school, it becomes very refreshing to live a college life. Every student wants to attend a good college that will not only provide them with good vision but will also help the vision to get turn into reality. This is only possible when you have got your admission at a reputed and a good college that has good prospects and also good teaching staffs. But thinking of getting admission and reality of getting admission is very different from the other. Getting admission in a good college is very tough but it is very important as well for a better future for any student. Al the reputed colleges have opened up a new way of admitting the students in their colleges and that is through an entrance test. The entrance test is called ACT exam. This is the ticket through which you can be enrolled in any of the good and reputed colleges and universities of most of the nations. As we all need to avail any good college or university for our better future so this exam becomes much more important and it is natural that cracking it will land up a student towards a bright future. ACT and its whereabouts ACT is considered as one of the tough exam through which a student can get admission at a good college of university of the nation. The exam consists of four subjects that are English, social science, mathematics and science. Each exam has to be qualified by the candidate and then only one can get admission in any of the reputed colleges of the town. It is tough to crack al the exams and the entire subject with good percentage. For this you need the help and guidance of a good and eligible teacher who have passed such an exam and can handle the kind of pressure that arrives in. Private teachers are available but there are various students who are unable to take up private tuitions as of many difficulties that they face. The transportation expenses are also high and this makes many students to step back and think of learning and studying at home. When you are thinking about something then you can come and get a try with online tutoring facilities. Today with the advent of technologies various types of inventions have helped us lessen our pressure and work load from our life. Internet is also one such way out. It helps the young generation in various ways and also lands them into various types of information and necessary details that they want. What online tutoring is all about? Online tutoring may seem a new way to learn and teach, but with passage of time this type of learning process is gaining a lot of fan following for itself. The online tutoring process can be said as a way of great stress buster for many students. Many students come up with various problems and this can only be solved with the help of online teachers being beside you. The teachers can carry of various types of subjects with same efficiency and with same approach. The teachers present in such type of online tutoring institutes are very much qualified with a subject and knows how to handle the subject with ease. It is very necessary that one should know the subject properly if they want to teach their students with full proficiency. Online teachers have to go through tremendous tough interview and then only they are appointed. The teachers are known to teach the students well and thus for this they sketch a structured plan and they work over this with ease. The weak areas of the students are detected and then the process of teaching gets started up. This helps the weak students also to rise up and get comfortable with the teacher. The other benefit of online teachers is that each individual student is attended by each individual teacher. This increases the confidence level of students largely and this helps the students to open up with their problems to the teachers and solve them immediately. I have said the word immediately because online tutoring has another major facility and that is the teachers are available all round the clock and also throughout the year. They do not have any holiday and so whenever a student encounters any problem or doubt in any subject they can clear it at that moment from the teacher. Every child in the present timing can easily come up with the knowledge of how to handle internet and how to use it with efficiency. So enrolling oneself in such an institute does not seem to be a great cause of concern as they can for once check the entire process of online tutoring and know what are the basic facts of it and how much is it useful. TutorPace, one of the well known online tutoring institutes In the midst of various online institutes it is very essential that being a responsible parent you should go for such an institute who will guide you, support you and also help you with the subjects that seem to be a nightmare to you. Just for example you can go through the site of TutorPace. It is one of the reputed site that helps in providing you all the above facilities that has been talked about. It has good teachers, throughout the clock service, less charges of any service; individual teachers attend single students and as the entire process of online tutoring are conducted via online chats, tele conferencing, video conferencing, audio medium and so on. This helps in saving time and energy of any student along with also saving god bucks that is generally used as transportation expenses for attending any private tutoring. TutorPace will help you attain Act practice test with its efficient teachers and good features.

The Ohio State University College Experience

The Ohio State University College Experience Vignesh earned his bachelors degree in biological sciences/pre-medicine from Ohio State University. He specializes in algebra tutoring, SAT tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below he shares his review of his experience at Ohio State University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Vignesh: I went to Ohio State University for my undergraduate schooling. I also attended Wright State University for summer classes in order to transfer credit to Ohio State University. The campus setting was great, as Columbus is such an active and engaging city. The campus had a very urban feel to it, as the best transportation options other than walking were going to places via bus. There was a regular bus schedule with scheduled stops at 15-minute intervals. I felt safe on campus, as campus security is very strong and available in many different buildings. You dont necessarily need a car or bike, but if you want to get to places quickly, having a car or bike will help. I walked to most places my first year, and had a car with me the rest of the years. How available are the professors, academic advisors, and teaching assistants? Vignesh: Since this was a very big school, professors, academic advisors, and teaching assistants usually taught different sections of a class. They were very available during their office hours. Emailing these faculty members was always helpful for me when needed, and most of them were very nice during their office hours. They were even willing to schedule separate meeting times if our schedules conflicted. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Vignesh: The dorm life was an experience of mixed emotions for me. I loved the new atmosphere, meeting new people, and the location of my dorm, as it was close to restaurants and many buildings as I lived on South Campus. I made lots of good friends in my dorm and studied, hung out, and played a lot of basketball with them since we were very close to a gym. The downside of living in a dorm is the loudness of the students there, including some crazy weekends with social activities and quiet hours. It was very tough to get adjusted to some aspects of dorm life, but it was a very interesting experience for me. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Vignesh: The sciences and mathematics are strong at Ohio State University. I studied biological sciences/pre-medicine and minored in business management. The university did a good job of supporting my particular study, as there were clear course guidelines for what classes to take to stay on track for graduation. I met with my academic advisor about once a quarter/semester to help stay on track. Meeting with an academic advisor is a great thing to do and helped me a lot. I would suggest everyone do the same. 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? Vignesh: It was a bit difficult to make consistent friends as a freshman. Lots of kids from my childhood and high school went to Ohio State University, but lots of these friendships broke apart due to different atmospheres, values, career ambitions, etc. I made plenty of new friends due to the large number of students at the university. Joining clubs, meeting people through dorms and classes, and at the gym were how I made most of my friends. I didnt join any fraternities, but I know it is a good way to make friends. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Vignesh: The Career Center was very helpful from reviews I heard from others. There is a nice learning center called Younkin Success Center to help with students struggling with school or coursework or other aspects of life. There are career fairs held regularly on campus. I was a pre-medical major, so there was a pre-medical club, and physicians and medical professionals that would come to campus and give talks or answer questions on a regular basis. How are the various study areas, such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Vignesh: There are a few libraries on campus. They are very available and have multiple floors, which are great due to the large number of students on campus. It does get hectic during midterm or final exam week. Those weeks I usually study in my dorm or apartment. The noise level is pretty well controlled in these areas due to good enforcement and following of rules. Describe the surrounding town. Vignesh: The city of Columbus is great. It is such a big city with so much to do with restaurants, venues, stores, gyms, football and basketball stadiums, and plenty to do on weekends or during free time. This made the environment very fun. It is important not to get too distracted from all there is to do there. The students go to the downtown area a decent amount during less stressful weekends. Going to football games at Ohio State University is the most popular thing to do on campus for social life. I got season tickets all four years at Ohio State University and loved going to the games. There is a lot to do in Columbus. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Vignesh: The student body is huge, as Ohio State University is ranked as the 2nd or 3rd biggest school in the country. Some of my classes had 200 to 300 students in the lecture hall, which had two floors to accommodate the number of students. The only disadvantage of this was that there wasnt much of a community feel to classes and interaction with teachers during class. The advantage of this is that it really teaches you independence and how to survive in real world settings. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Vignesh: I have some memorable moments with professors and classes. I took plenty of difficult classes in the sciences, but one class I enjoyed most was one I took my senior year. I took a two-course sequence in physiology, and I really enjoyed learning about the body, functions, and so much more in depth. We covered cellular reactions, homeostasis, action potentials, organ systems (heart, lungs, kidneys, respiratory, etc.) in great detail and I really enjoyed the class. This was my favorite science/major class. My favorite class in all of my undergraduate career was a sports and society class that I also took my senior year. This class required us to see how sports related to society, and the significance of sports in daily life and to cultures. We read a few books on how sports has impacted our world and had to do a final project picking a sports movie and writing about how it affected us, our view of society, and how it has shaped our understanding of sports in culture. I chose Coach Carter, an inspirational true story basketball movie talking about the importance of academics and balancing academics and basketball. I had a lot of experiences that I loved and some that I regretted, but these were the few that stick out to me the most. Check out Vigneshs tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

How to Stop Colleagues From Taking Credit for Your Great Ideas - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How to Stop Colleagues From Taking Credit for Your Great Ideas - Introvert Whisperer How to Stop Colleagues From Taking Credit for Your Great Ideas Self-promotion is a vital activity for everyone, and sometimes it’s harder for Introverts. But just because it can be a challenge, that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done. No one but you will promote your cause. (Click here to tweet this thought.) There are many things you can do that constitute self-promotion, and one of those is promoting your great ideas. Creative idea generation is as important as your ability to get results and take responsibility for things. The problem you can face is what to do when you discover someone has ripped off your great idea. It’s more than just irritating; it won’t enhance your career if you aren’t acknowledged for an idea whose ownership is given to someone else. Especially if that idea is a seriously good one. Here are some tips for you to consider to help prevent or to deal with this issue: 1. Be Realistic There is some good news, and that is that someone thinks your idea has merit, or they wouldnt have chosen to share it as their own. Being mimicked is a high form of flattery. That said, the downside to this situation is that you dont get credited for the good idea. Your good ideas are part of your self-promotion its how people come to view your potential. Let me just say this to set your expectations you can never completely protect your ideas. But you can do some things to help reduce the likelihood of other people taking credit. 2. Spread the Word When you toss out an idea, toss it out to more than one person. It doesnt have to be at the same time, but the more people hear your idea, the more people will know its yours. That way if someone does try to represent the idea as yours, others will know it came from you. 3. Document It Early When appropriate, document your idea via email. Again, its hard to misrepresent something that’s in black and white and sent to others. 4. Reclaim It This may take some effort, but you can inject a quick ownership soundbite when someone has talked up your idea as their own. You could say something like, I guess you really did like my idea. We should talk about it some more. Its important for you to realize that when someone does this, it usually isnt done with foul intent. We all have tons of information coming at us all the time and dont always remember its origins. I have a couple people very close to me that do this all the time. 5. Know When to Fight (and When Not to) If you do know that someone has done this not only repeatedly, but to undermine you, you need to stop sharing with them if you can. Understand your boss may do this to you (as well as others in your group) and that situation is different. Sometimes, management does represent ideas, work and results as theirs to simplify communication. In some ways, they have to represent everything going on in their group, and it may not be appropriate to detail out every single persons contribution. The main thing is that the boss does recognize your ideas and contributions. You may need to ultimately confront your offender or discuss this issue with your boss for their guidance. Only take these steps if the tips outlined above have failed to stop a “repeat offender.” Have you ever suffered idea theft? How did you handle the situation? Share your stories in the comments! Image: Flickr Go to top Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today! Start watching now: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

May 5 SAT cancellation at Paly

May 5 SAT cancellation at Paly Many AJ Tutoring students were recently affected by the cancellation of the May 5, 2012 SAT at Paly.  So far, what we know is that someone pulled a fire alarm at Paly around 8:30 am, forcing the evacuation of students who were just sitting down to start the SAT.  Students were evacuated to the athletic fields, and the alarm stopped sounding by 8:55.  Students were not allowed back into testing rooms until 9:30, after which they were told that the SAT would be cancelled.  Read more about the cancellation at Palo Alto Online  and Menlo-Athertons newspaper.Obviously this is not an ideal outcome for all the Palo Alto students and those from surrounding areas who worked so hard to prepare for the test on May 5.  Its a real letdown, especially at the end of the school year when students are so busy with finals and AP exams.  However, we hope that the College Board will make things right for the affected students.  They havent yet announced official plans to reschedule the test, but parents who have called the College Board say that there will be a retake offered before the next SAT on June 2, and students will be given the option of taking the test on the retake date or taking it at a later date.Students and parents of affected students: make sure your email is registered with the College Board to get the latest information on the May 5 SAT cancellation!  If the test is rescheduled, it may be announced at the College Boards website.Finally, I know youre busy, but try to make time to do a little more SAT review before you have to retake the SAT.  Even if its just doing the College Boards SAT Question of the Day, make sure you keep your brain engaged with SAT questions.  Good luck, and AJ Tutoring will keep you posted with more information as we hear about it!

Helping Kids with ADHD become Strong Readers

Helping Kids with ADHD become Strong Readers Reading skills are central to every academic subject, and kids who struggle to read are at risk for difficulty in math, science, history, and writing. Research shows that kids with ADHD are more likely to have reading challenges than kids without ADHD, possibly because of working memory and processing speed weaknesses. Reading problems may be subtle at first and involve difficulty identifying letters or sounds. Over time, problems can include slower reading speed, difficulty with decoding, poor sight word identification, and poor reading comprehension. Once a child has fallen well behind his or her peers in reading he or she is unlikely to catch up without extra support. Research shows that kids with reading difficulties do best when they receive interventions as early as possible. So, if you suspect that your childs reading skills arent developing as well as they should be, talk to your childs teacher now. Understanding how to help a child with ADHD improve his or her reading skills can be challenging. I usually recommend starting with an academic assessment. Results from a thorough evaluation will let you and your childs teacher know exactly which reading skills are weak, will identify whether or not your child has a specific reading disorder that needs to be addressed, and will explain how your childs ADHD symptoms and difficulties with motivation are impacting his or her reading development. All of this information will help you and your childs teachers identify strategies and services that are tailored to meet your childs needs. Extra instructional support at school and through afterschool learning and tutoring programs can help your child learn basic and complex reading skills that he or she may have missed during regular classroom instruction. Many kids with ADHD are reluctant to read and go out of their way to avoid of reading. When they do read they choose books that are too easy for them or are very short. Unfortunately, this reluctance limits their opportunities to practice reading and gain essential skills. As a parent, there are many things you can do to help your child get the reading practice that is needed, without engaging in stressful arguments or negotiations. Here are some suggestions to get you started: Read to your child. Even kids who do not like to read enjoy having someone else read to them. Reading to your child can help improve his or her skills, especially when you have your child read along and ask your child to share his or her predictions and observations about the story. Take turns reading. If your child resists reading, offer to alternate reading aloud with him or her. For young children this might mean that they read one word or sentence and then you read the next word or sentence. For older children you can alternate paragraphs. Keep going and before you know it, youre child will have read half of a book! Supplement with skills practice on reading apps. Studies suggest that kids with ADHD may benefit from practicing their reading skills using computer-based reading programs. Bluster is a fun vocabulary building app, Montessori Crosswords is great for learning phonics, and Mad Libs can be a fun way for kids 4th grade and up to practice vocabulary and reading comprehension. Help your child explore websites on topics that they enjoy. Exploring interesting websites can be a great way for kids to practice reading without even realizing they are building new skills! Sit with your child and ask him or her to share what he or she is learning as he or she reads. This will improve his or her comprehension, and youll be sure that he or she is not skipping the text and only looking at pictures. With support and practice kids with ADHD can develop into strong readers. If you suspect that your childs reading skills are not as strong as they should be, dont wait. Talk to your childs teacher right away so you can get started with a plan to get your child the help that he or she needs. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Want to Be the Best Babysitter Ever Get Certified!

Want to Be the Best Babysitter Ever Get Certified! Photo courtesy of pixabay.com 1.  CPR: As an active babysitter myself, this is the most popular request I have received. The Red Cross offers courses, and there are many other online options as well. This certification does cost a bit of money, but if you have already signed up to babysit for someone, you may consider asking them to use part of your pay to pay for the course. It is very quick and easy, but it will help you gain trust in any family you babysit. 2.  First Aid:  Chances are that if you are CPR certified, you are also first aid certified. But if you choose to opt out of the CPR, the first aid certification is a good starting position that will still get you in many doors. This course will teach you the basic facts of caring for a child, such as how to treat simple cuts, how to perform the Heimlich maneuver, and how to stabilize a child until further help arrives. 3.  General Babysitter Certification:  Check out if there are any 4-H Clubs near you that offer babysitter certification services. These courses provide useful tips as to how to entertain children, what to do when children act up, and what to do in emergency situations. You can also receive your first-aid certification through the program. The clubs will often come to schools to conduct the certification, which will be one day a week for a month, but there are other options as well. If there is no 4-H near you, check for a Safe Sitter course. It offers many of the same things as 4-H. You can also find a similar course at your local YMCA. The top three certifications are the most important to have, as they directly relate to the safety of the children. There are, however, other steps you can take to further set yourself apart from other applicants and increase your credibility. Photo courtesy of pixabay.com 4.  Drivers License:  You will find that many parents want to hire someone that will be able to pick up/drop off their children at school or extracurricular activities. So, having your license (and access to a car) can prove a valuable asset. 5.  Lifeguard:  Especially for the summer, this certification is very valuable. Many families may have access to a pool club or public pool, and they will want someone who they can trust to swim with their children and help as needed. Of course, all of these places have lifeguards, but extra reassurance is never a problem. Furthermore, if these families have pools in the backyard, you will act as the one and only lifeguard. 6.  Pet Care:  Pets are common in family households, so parents like you to be comfortable around them. Whats even better, however, is if you can take care of the pets. Its actually possible to become certified in pet sitting. If you own a pet yourself, that may be enough, but it can never hurt to be over prepared. 7.  Nutrition:  Consider taking some nutrition classes or a Cooking 101 session. These will give you more credibility when a parent wants someone that can prepare meals for their children. If your school does not offer a class, or if it cant fit in your schedule, keep an eye out for events going on locally. There are many opportunities you may not realize were ever out there. 8.  Tutoring:  Being a certified tutor can also play to your advantage. It shows that you are able to work well with children in addition to being an academically strong candidate. While not all of these certifications are necessary, nor does having them necessarily mean that you will get the job, they will certainly provide an advantage over a disadvantage. Most parents are willing to give you a chance if you show that you are responsible. Think back to your favorite babysitters and what you liked about them, and aspire to be like them. At the same time, do not forget that babysitting is not always fun and games. You should be prepared for anything and know how to respond. With everyone wanting a babysitting job these days, consider going the extra mile with these certifications to seal the deal.