Select the colleges you most want to attend
Applying to colleges is time consuming and can get expensive so don’t get carried away applying to too many schools. Pick a few Colleges or Universities that you would most like to attend and prepare your best effort for them.
Complete the actual application carefully and thoughtfully
Your application is your marketing tool to prospective colleges. Whether you are using the Common Application or an application unique to the school to which you are applying, read it carefully all the way through first in order to organize your thoughts. Answer all of the questions clearly and concisely. Check your spelling and punctuation. Include academic achievements, sports, clubs, awards and honors, and extracurricular activities including volunteerism.
Don’t under-sell but don’t exaggerate
Make sure you include all of the information that makes you a strong candidate for the school(s) of your choice. That monthly meal you serve with your family at the homeless center can make a difference on your application, don’t forget to include it. Employment history matters, especially if you can demonstrate consistent work history. However, bagging groceries is not a management position. Don’t try to make it sound like it was. As always, honesty is the best policy.
Your essay does what your application can’t
Once you have put the bulk of your information on your application, use the essay to share something you haven’t told them yet. What part of the story-of-you will best illustrate the kind of student you will be in the campus community? Admissions counselors are looking to your essay for the spark that allows them to get to know you. Let your personality, your hopes and your dreams shine through in your writing.
Letters of reference
Some institutions have very specific guidelines for the number of reference letters they will accept and even from whom they will accept them – usually a guidance counselor and a teacher. Other institutions will allow additional letters from an adult that knows something special about you. Regardless of the policies of your school of choice, don’t go overboard on reference letters. A few judiciously selected letters are better than burdening an admissions counselor with piles of paper.
Test scores are your responsibility.
It is your job to make sure that your best college entrance test scores (usually SAT and ACT) are provided by the testing entity to the school to which you are applying. Make sure it happens. You want the admissions counselor to have your complete information packet – including test scores – so that they can make a decision in your favor and not set the application aside because they are awaiting additional information.
On time is not soon enough.
Colleges and universities publish dates for regular admissions deadlines and early decision admissions deadlines. And everybody seems to submit their information on exactly those dates. Admissions offices are inundated, sometimes to the extent that their computer systems freeze up. Want to stand out from the crowd and avoid the deluge? Get your information in early.
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
College: More Than a Degree
Network
The ostensible goal of college is to obtain a degree such as a Bachelor of Science, Arts or one of any number of specialty degrees. However that should not be all you take away after two or four years at college. There are a multitude of experiences and less tangible benefits to the college experience than just a diploma. One of these is the networking you can only engage in on a college campus. The connections you make during your college career will last the rest of your life, and you will never know just how useful they can be. Make an effort to meet and acquaint yourself with as many of your classmates as possible apart from lasting friendships, you never know just who may be able to get you a job or help you in some other way years in the future.
Attend Functions
Dovetailing with your goal of networking should be to get out of your dorm room for more than just class. Go to sporting events, concerts, lectures and as many events as you can. Colleges host a number of interesting events that you typically won’t have access too at any other time. And generally for students the cost is minimal, if anything. Also, get a job. Get at least one job, even if you don’t need the money. One of the toughest things when you are looking for a job post-graduation is showing you did more than just show up to class. An on-campus job is a great way to buff up your resume. Work at the library or as a research assistant for a professor you like. It doesn’t really matter what it is as long as it is mildly interesting and looks good on your resume. The pay probably won’t be terrific but at college that’s usually not the point. Show up, do what you need to do and know it’ll pay off in more than just dollars and cents down the road.
Go to class
With that said, above all else, make sure you go to class. One good way to motivate yourself to attend as often as possible is to do some long division. Work out how much a single class costs based on a semester’s worth of tuition. At most places that works out to several hundred dollars per class. Nothing like knowing you’re literally throwing away that kind of cash with every late morning to get you to pull on some pants and head out the door. Don’t just go to class to be a warm body in a seat either. You will get out what you put in, and if you participate and really commit to absorbing and not just existing, you will realize just how valuable college can be. So while you are in it for the diploma, don’t forget how much more the college experience can offer, and remember how much you benefit is a direct result of how much you commit to getting that benefit. Take note of every opportunity available to you.
The ostensible goal of college is to obtain a degree such as a Bachelor of Science, Arts or one of any number of specialty degrees. However that should not be all you take away after two or four years at college. There are a multitude of experiences and less tangible benefits to the college experience than just a diploma. One of these is the networking you can only engage in on a college campus. The connections you make during your college career will last the rest of your life, and you will never know just how useful they can be. Make an effort to meet and acquaint yourself with as many of your classmates as possible apart from lasting friendships, you never know just who may be able to get you a job or help you in some other way years in the future.
Attend Functions
Dovetailing with your goal of networking should be to get out of your dorm room for more than just class. Go to sporting events, concerts, lectures and as many events as you can. Colleges host a number of interesting events that you typically won’t have access too at any other time. And generally for students the cost is minimal, if anything. Also, get a job. Get at least one job, even if you don’t need the money. One of the toughest things when you are looking for a job post-graduation is showing you did more than just show up to class. An on-campus job is a great way to buff up your resume. Work at the library or as a research assistant for a professor you like. It doesn’t really matter what it is as long as it is mildly interesting and looks good on your resume. The pay probably won’t be terrific but at college that’s usually not the point. Show up, do what you need to do and know it’ll pay off in more than just dollars and cents down the road.
Go to class
With that said, above all else, make sure you go to class. One good way to motivate yourself to attend as often as possible is to do some long division. Work out how much a single class costs based on a semester’s worth of tuition. At most places that works out to several hundred dollars per class. Nothing like knowing you’re literally throwing away that kind of cash with every late morning to get you to pull on some pants and head out the door. Don’t just go to class to be a warm body in a seat either. You will get out what you put in, and if you participate and really commit to absorbing and not just existing, you will realize just how valuable college can be. So while you are in it for the diploma, don’t forget how much more the college experience can offer, and remember how much you benefit is a direct result of how much you commit to getting that benefit. Take note of every opportunity available to you.
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Why You Should Go to College
The fact that anyone does not want to go to college is absolutely astounding. That they think they will be better off graduating from high school and getting a jog–that that somehow makes them “free” is absolutely ridiculous. Not only is college necessary for a successful future, it is actually fun.
The Alternative
The alternative to college is to graduate from high school, move out on your own, and get a job. If your rational for not going to school is that you are an adult, well then be an adult and don’t live at home with mom and dad. Getting a job without a college degree is incredibly difficult. Whereas perhaps 30 or 40 years ago you could have just a high school diploma and be successful, today a college degree is considered the bare minimum of education. If you are lucky enough to get a job, you will have to work at least 9 to 5 for a low wage that will barely cover all of the bills that come with being an adult: rent, car payments, food, electric, etc… The first and foremost reason to go to college is that the alternative is miserable and a dead end. Education is important and necessary if you want to be successful and able to enjoy your life.
It’s Fun!
While high school may not be for most and some people hate school from Kindergarten on, college is not like that. College is basically a four year vacation and party. Yes there are classes, yes there is school work–all of which is important to get done, no sense in paying all the money for college if you’re going to fail out–but classes and work do not take up most of your time. College is filled with keg parties and football games and living on your own without footing the bill and without mom and dad telling you what time to be home and asking where you are going. College has all of the perks of being an adult and living on your own without out all of the downsides. The majority of people who have graduated from college will say how much they wish they could go back and those who are in college never want to leave. College is four of the most fun years one will have in their lifetime.
You Choose
Up until college all of your educational decisions were chosen for you, what classes you took and what teachers you had. In college you get to study what interests you. You decide what classes you take, which professors you have, and what your major is. You may not have liked school when you were forced to take classes, but when you are studying things that you enjoy and are interested in, you might find that you actually enjoy school. You choose what you want to take and in effect choose your future. College will prepare you for a successful career with options that are limitless and you will have fun doing it.
The Alternative
The alternative to college is to graduate from high school, move out on your own, and get a job. If your rational for not going to school is that you are an adult, well then be an adult and don’t live at home with mom and dad. Getting a job without a college degree is incredibly difficult. Whereas perhaps 30 or 40 years ago you could have just a high school diploma and be successful, today a college degree is considered the bare minimum of education. If you are lucky enough to get a job, you will have to work at least 9 to 5 for a low wage that will barely cover all of the bills that come with being an adult: rent, car payments, food, electric, etc… The first and foremost reason to go to college is that the alternative is miserable and a dead end. Education is important and necessary if you want to be successful and able to enjoy your life.
It’s Fun!
While high school may not be for most and some people hate school from Kindergarten on, college is not like that. College is basically a four year vacation and party. Yes there are classes, yes there is school work–all of which is important to get done, no sense in paying all the money for college if you’re going to fail out–but classes and work do not take up most of your time. College is filled with keg parties and football games and living on your own without footing the bill and without mom and dad telling you what time to be home and asking where you are going. College has all of the perks of being an adult and living on your own without out all of the downsides. The majority of people who have graduated from college will say how much they wish they could go back and those who are in college never want to leave. College is four of the most fun years one will have in their lifetime.
You Choose
Up until college all of your educational decisions were chosen for you, what classes you took and what teachers you had. In college you get to study what interests you. You decide what classes you take, which professors you have, and what your major is. You may not have liked school when you were forced to take classes, but when you are studying things that you enjoy and are interested in, you might find that you actually enjoy school. You choose what you want to take and in effect choose your future. College will prepare you for a successful career with options that are limitless and you will have fun doing it.
Monday, 26 October 2009
What Online Education Can Do For You.
There has been a considerable increase in adults who decide to go back to school in recent years and much of this is due to the fact that individuals who desire to earn a degree can do so from the comfort of their own home. Some people believe that a degree earned online is substandard to a degree earned in a traditional college environment but this is hardly the case. Often a degree earned online is actually earned from an accredited school in which the same degree can be earned by physically attending the actual school. The only difference is that you are learning in an online environment. This isn’t to say that this type of learning is for everyone as you have to have a certain sense of discipline in order for it to work for you but the classes that you take are essentially the same. You only have to have the motivation and willingness to learn without someone thee to remind you and tell you that you have to. There are a number of reasons why people choose to take classes online rather than the traditional way, all of them providing at least some benefit for the student.
One reason an individual may decide to take classes online is in order to be able to stay home with their families. For years and years people, especially women, were held back from continuing their education because they were unable to leave their family to go to a traditional classroom and learn everyday. This is not the case today as people today have the option of staying home to care for their family and attend classes online at the same time. Although there are still a certain number of days each week that the student has to be involved in the online classroom environment students otherwise have the ability to make their own schedules
Another reason for which somebody may take an online class is due to a lack of comfortability in a traditional classroom. This could be because an individual is a non-traditional student or simply because an individual is unsure of themselves and would like to get used to attending school again. An online class is a great way to overcome such fears and get you back on the road to the career you always hoped for.
Finally, one of the last and most popular reasons for individuals deciding to participate in an online class is so that they can continue to be employed while still attending classes. Due to the lack of having to attend class at specific times individuals are able to continue with normal working schedules. These days it is very difficult for an individual or either spouse to not to work, online classes make it possible to continue to work without having to sacrifice their education at the same time.
With so many reasons to continue your education online its no wonder the new form of learning has become so widely popular. In all likelihood the trend will continue to grow and more and more respect will be earned regarding online education.
One reason an individual may decide to take classes online is in order to be able to stay home with their families. For years and years people, especially women, were held back from continuing their education because they were unable to leave their family to go to a traditional classroom and learn everyday. This is not the case today as people today have the option of staying home to care for their family and attend classes online at the same time. Although there are still a certain number of days each week that the student has to be involved in the online classroom environment students otherwise have the ability to make their own schedules
Another reason for which somebody may take an online class is due to a lack of comfortability in a traditional classroom. This could be because an individual is a non-traditional student or simply because an individual is unsure of themselves and would like to get used to attending school again. An online class is a great way to overcome such fears and get you back on the road to the career you always hoped for.
Finally, one of the last and most popular reasons for individuals deciding to participate in an online class is so that they can continue to be employed while still attending classes. Due to the lack of having to attend class at specific times individuals are able to continue with normal working schedules. These days it is very difficult for an individual or either spouse to not to work, online classes make it possible to continue to work without having to sacrifice their education at the same time.
With so many reasons to continue your education online its no wonder the new form of learning has become so widely popular. In all likelihood the trend will continue to grow and more and more respect will be earned regarding online education.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)