If you’re a high school senior, consider the growing trend of taking a gap year before committing yourself to college. Taking a year off between high school and college has many benefits for self-discovery and personal growth. You’ll find yourself more refreshed and focused on education after taking a gap year to discover your interests. Especially if you’re unsure which major you would like to pursue, a gap year will help you define your academic…
College can be daunting if you’ve signed up for a full-time course load and are also working a part-time job on the side. Avoid the stress and frustration of juggling all of your responsibilities by organizing your time wisely. Here are a few tips for successfully managing your college workload. Avoid time conflicts by using a planner. By creating an organized schedule for the semester, you can develop a practical routine that you can actually…
Get a jump start on establishing your career by applying for summer internships in your field of choice. While most student internships are based on college credit, there’s been a growing number of companies offering paid internship positions. The most valuable compensation, however, are the professional skills and real-life work experience you will acquire. Since college internships typically run a few months during the summer, maximize your time by taking advantage of the following opportunities: Developing…
Beginning next Spring, there will be new changes to the 2016 SAT exam for students to be aware of. Components for the redesigned SAT will include a new evidenced-based Writing and Language Test, along with a Reading Test. The Math Test has also been streamlined to focus on fewer subject areas. To test college readiness, more emphasis will be placed on the student’s reasoning skills and knowledge. Use of modern language commonly encountered in college…
Letter of recommendation: How To Ask For It Writing a college letter of recommendation requires considerable effort. Don’t just blurt out a request to a supervisor or instructor you see walking down the hallway. Choose your letter of recommendation writers carefully, and plan out your timing and approach. Most importantly, don’t procrastinate. Ask someone who knows you well When deciding on whom to ask, don’t simply think of those classes in which you have done…
Students can strengthen college applications by exploring a couple of activities and sticking with them through high school — and they will develop skills and interests that may last a lifetime. Selecting extracurricular activities helps to strengthen a student’s high school experience. 1. Choose depth over breadth. Admission officers are more likely to consider an applicant who is deeply and passionately committed to a specific activity, rather than one who is superficially involved in multiple…
It may be only 500 words, but the admissions essay portion of a college application can mean the difference between acceptance and rejection. How you write your personal essay shows the admissions committee why you are different from everybody else. It provides information about you that test scores, grades, and extracurricular pursuits just cannot. You can use the essay to describe a favorite activity, to tell a story about yourself, or even a story about…
Some colleges require an interview as part of the admissions process but most do not. It is still important for you to visit the college at which you may spend four years of your life. The visit and/or interview may help you in your selection of a college or to verify your choice of a school. Interviews can follow several formats. It can be designed to share information or to evaluate you as a candidate…
The nature of email is informal compared to standard business mail but it is important not to be too informal. The following are a few thoughts and suggestions regarding corresponding with colleges via email: DO Remember that your email messages may be added to your admissions file. Choose an appropriate email address. You may want to rethink addresses like partygirl@hotmail.com or hatetostudy@yahoo.com. Give your full name, address, phone number, and high school in each message.…
These are factors to consider when beginning your college list. Some will be of higher priority to you than others. What is important is figuring out what you care the most about, and then using that to narrow down your options. These are also great questions to think about on campus visits. Admission Requirements What high school courses are required? Are entrance tests required? SAT or ACT? What scores are acceptable? Is a certain grade…
