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For Students Entering College...
For those of you entering college -- what an exciting time for you! This first year will bring a lot of new and challenging experiences, and you may encounter many questions. We've gathered some information that we hope will help you along your journey...
10 Summertime Tips For College-Bound Students
It's not unusual for parents to ask me, "What can my student do over the summer to give them an edge in the college admission process?" So without further ado, here's my Top 10 Summertime list for College-Bound Students:
#10. Prepare for the dreaded SAT / ACT tests: This could be a book, online course or a visit to the tutoring centers in your area. It will keep your mind focused and give your extra confidence when you sit down to take the SAT in October.
#9. Don't forget the Essays
I find many students procrastinate on this subject, mainly because they don't realize the difficulty of writing a solid essay (in 25 minutes on the SAT!) Your best bet is to start on several drafts for the admissions essay and then have a close friend or relative read it and give you their opinion. Essays can carry a lot of weight with admission officers. So it's to your advantage to have a well thought-out essay prepared for the fall of your senior year.
#8. Get a Job- or better yet, an internship!
Don't be the student who plays video games all summer long or becomes a familiar face at the local amusement park by utilizing that season pass like a champ. Take this time to get involved with a company; it will teach you commitment and responsibility. Starting your own business can earn major brownie points with an admission officer. The same goes for an internship in a field you are interested in. It shows the school that you are committed to your field of study.
#7. Summer School, here I come!
It doesn't sound too exciting, but just like an internship, taking a summer class earns those needed brownie points with admission counselors. This can give you that needed edge over other students who spent their time at the beach. Plus your academic focus remains constant over the summer months.
#6. College Visit schedule / College Picks (For upcoming seniors)
This is the time for upcoming seniors to put their energy into their college picks. Your goal should be to have 6-10 schools decided on by Halloween. In order to accomplish this, you need to do a detailed search, and schedule your visits. Your college visit is extremely important. Do NOT put this off until your senior year, or you will be sorry!
#5. Have fun!!
I bet the students reading this are finally relieved to see this! Yes, you should have fun this summer. That's what summer is for, so get out there and enjoy it. Whatever your passion is, my advice would be to use the extra time you have during the summer months to pursue your passions.
# 4. Volunteer your time to the less fortunate
Colleges are looking at this more and more each year. Some require a minimum of 100 hours of community service. Find the time to research different organizations within your area that you feel fit your personality and get involved. Serving meals at the homeless shelter is great, but if you were able to show your dedication through organizing an event on your own that benefited the less fortunate, now you're standing out.
# 3. Continue to revisit your College Search / Picks
I listed this twice due to its importance with upcoming seniors. The message here is GET ORGANIZED! Keep separate folders for each school. Make sure you print out the loads of information that is available on the internet for each school. If you have questions, call the admission office, they'll be glad to answer your question. Remember, they want your application, so they will do anything to please you.
# 2. Be sure to spend time with your loved ones
Summer is supposed to be fun, and it can be. The items above are not necessarily hard to accomplish; they're just tedious. If you devote the time throughout the summer days, it will be time well spent and your stress level will be reduced during your senior year.
# 1. READ, READ, READ
Get a great book that interests you and dive into to it. Set a goal to read 2, 3, or 5 books before the summer ends. Take it with you to the beach or just sit in the air conditioning at home and get lost in one. Not only can reading be enjoyable, but it's a way to study for the standardized test and can be much more fun than the standard way to study for these test. Plus, don't be surprised if you're not asked in a college interview what was the last book you read. (Try Mary Shelly's version of Frankenstein. It's rumored to have "all the SAT vocabulary words included in it." Of course thus isn't true, but there sure are a lot of those vocabulary words in there!)
Following these tips will help ensure a less stressful college admission experience. Enjoy your summer!
Choosing a College - Ten Factors to Weigh
Choosing a college can be daunting. By now you have realized there are a lot of colleges out there. In fact, there are more than 3,000 colleges across the country and it may feel like everyone has sent you a brochure. How do you decide which college is for you?
How do you choose the one that's right for you? Here are 10 factors to consider as you decide which school will give you your ideal college experience:
Degree Programs: If you have already figured out what your major is, definitely look at colleges that are strong in that program. If you have no idea what you want to study, choose a school with a wide range of degree programs to explore and eventually choose from.
College Type: Private, public, religiously affiliated, single-sex or co-ed - there are many types of colleges and all offer benefits and drawbacks. Consider carefully who you are and where you will fit in.
Student Body: Do you want a college where you'll be surrounded by students similar to yourself, or are you looking for change and diversity? College brochures and websites will provide student demographics such as male-to-female ratio, average student age, and geographic, ethnic and religious diversity.
Size: A tiny liberal arts school and a huge state university will give you two very different college experiences. Visiting large, medium and small schools will help you get a feel for which size is best for you.
Learning Environment: Consider factors like a college's average class size, student-to-teacher ratios and whether mainly professors or graduate assistants teach classes. Think about what type of learning environment suits you best. Do you learn better through discussions or through hands-on activity? All of these are factors that will impact your academic experience at college.
Distance from Home: Some students want to move far afield. Others want to stay in familiar territory. How far from home do you want to be? Some students want and need to have the support of friends and family nearby. Others want to experience life in an entirely new part of the country.
Location: Do you want the center of activity to be your college and the small town it is in, or are you seeking a major metropolitan area where you'll enjoy the benefits of city living? Do you like it hot or cold? Snow in the winter, or swimming? Beach or mountains? You get to choose some of these things as you go off to college.
Campus Life: What do you want your college experience to be like outside of the classroom? What is important to you in terms of extracurricular activities, social life, school spirit and traditions and housing options?
Cost: Don't limit your college search because of costs - financial aid and scholarships can do a lot to offset cost differences between two colleges. For first-generation students there may also be merit aid. Think realistically about how your education will be funded, and find schools that work within your financial circumstances.
First Impressions: When you have narrowed your selection, visit the top two or three colleges you are considering. Spend some time on campus talking to students. Sit in on a class and grab a cup of coffee in the student union. There is no substitute for being there. It is the best way to get a real feel for a college and decide if it is "the one." Throughout your college search, go with your instincts and believe in first impressions.
I want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to go to college. This means getting in, finding the right college fit and paying for school. I love to share what I've learned and I hope you can find some useful information useful in your college search.
How to Write Your College Admissions Essay
You have an ace up your sleeve in the college admissions process: the essay. Your essay can set you apart from other students with similar test scores and GPA.
The essay you write for your college application can make you stand out from the stacks and stacks of papers collecting dust on a college admission officer’s desk. Here are four tips on how to get through the essay writing process.
1. Be yourself: Stick to what you know. Write in your own voice. You can’t fake the real thing. The best writing is real writing. You don’t have to be a great writer to put compelling thoughts, your thoughts, on paper. Relying too heavily on a thesaurus can make you sound artificial. Use clear and vivid writing. Here’s a simple rule of thumb: If you had to look up the definition of a word in your essay don’t use it.
2. Give yourself time: Don’t start thinking about what you are going to write three days before the essay is due. Give yourself ample time to brainstorm a solid idea. You may want to outline your essay before you write. Write a draft, leave it alone for a few days and then return to your work.
3. Hook the reader: Focus on the beginning of the essay. Think how many times you stopped reading something after only a few paragraphs. Busy college admissions officers have so much to read they may only spend a few minutes reading your essay. Grab their attention in the beginning and try not to let up.
4. Proofread, proofread, proofread! They’re/their/there. You’re/your. Don’t rely on spell check alone! Let teachers, parents and friends proof your college application essay. You could be the second coming of Shakespeare, but most college officials won’t waste their time with sloppy copy.
Following these tips will put you in the best position to write the best college admissions essay possible. Stick with being yourself, don’t panic, give yourself plenty of time. Remember: This is merely the beginning of your college writing career. Now, all you need is a topic.
Continue reading this month's topic with the following articles located at MyParenTime.com:
Below is a related checklist from PrintableChecklist.com:
Below are some articles & websites that discuss the first year of college:
Below are some books that discuss college and new students. Use Amazon.com's secure server to order:
Click here to read other articles by Tate Felts.
Click here to read other articles by Phillip Walters.
"10 Summertime Tips For College-Bound Students," Copyright © Tate Felts. Tate is president of College Planning Experts LLC. His firm serves the Hampton Roads area by providing families of college-bound students with college funding strategies and guidance in matching the right school for each student. He is widely known for his College Planning Class titled "How to Choose the Best College for Your Student and Your Pocketbook" which is offered to families of college-bound students. Visit his website for details. Reprinted with permission.
"Choosing a College - Ten Factors to Weigh" & "How to Write Your College Admissions Essay," Copyright © Phillip Walters. Visit his website. Reprinted with permission.
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