February 23, 2012

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Preparing Your Portfolio for College Admission

Everyone knows going to college is essential these days in order to be competitive in the work force. With more people going to college, getting into the college of your choice and earning the scholarships to get there is more and more competitive as well. Applying for college can sometimes seem like a job in and of itself! Thankfully, there are people who are experts in developing a winning college admission portfolio.

Knowing What Admissions Officers Want

Getting high GPAs is not all that most colleges want anymore; in fact, some don’t want students with 4.0′s anymore. Knowing what colleges want is half of getting accepted. You also need to highlight the specific areas of your qualifications to make your application standout in the crowd of applicants.

Writing the All-Popular Admission Essay

Most colleges now require an admissions essay. Sometimes it will be one or two pages, or it might only be 700 to 1,000 words. That isn’t a lot of space to let them know how wonderful you are and how much you can do for their college! Getting help with college admission essays is essential in getting accepted to your college choice. Many scholarships require essays as well, so having a good proofreader or editor on your team is a great asset.

Looking for and applying for scholarships can start as soon as the sophomore year in high school. One girl made it her hobby and had more than $200,000 in scholarship money by the time she graduated from high school! It sure alleviates lots of worry when college is paid for before you start!

Filed Under: Education, Requirements Tagged With: , ,

Tips on Filling out College Applications

All students applying for college are required to fill out an application, or sometimes several different types of them. Years ago the questions asked consisted mainly of basic topics such as your name, address and educational background. Today the applications can sometimes be quite nerve wracking, due to the intense and complicated questions that are asked. Not only do most students have to provide more personal information then ever before, but many are also required to write essays and have a verbal, in-person interview before being considered.

Filling out the application can be less stressful if you follow a few basic tips from others that have recently done the same. First, be sure you understand the question completely before writing in your answer. A scribbled and corrected application will look untidy. If you are unsure of a question, ask for help from one of the student advisors. Make sure you fill in the application thoroughly. Don’t leave anything to chance by leaving a space blank, unless that is an option.

When turning in your application, be ready to produce more documents. Many times a college or university will want copies of your high school records, along with any types of awards you may have earned while in high school. You will also more then likely need a proper form of identification, along with any paperwork that has been given to you previously, especially if you are studying and attending a school abroad.

Make a list of the schools you would like to attend. Having more then one in mind is wise, just in case you are unable to enroll for some reason. Find out which schools offer the courses you need for graduation, and also check into any special areas of interest that you have to see if there are clubs or organizations you can join . Carefully filling out your application is the first step in enrolling in the school of your choice.

Filed Under: Appliations Tagged With: ,

Applying for an Academic Scholarship

Receiving an academic scholarship can be extremely helpful for a student wishing to enter college. The financial strain of attending school can be hard on many families, but for the student that has maintained a high average of grades throughout high school, the academic scholarship can be easily obtained and a real help in paying for the college education they strive to have.

There are many different ways to obtain an academic scholarship. One is by continually having a good grade point average during high school. When applying for this type of grant, the scores you earned in high school will count for quite a bit of the approval rate. Also, students that attended honors classes will be more likely to obtain consideration for an academic scholarship. Other things such as good attendance and having one of the highest grade point averages for that particular high school will make you stand out and possibly raise your chances of receiving the scholarship.

To apply for an academic scholarship you will first need to research what is available according to your needs and to see if you meet the eligibility requirements for that particular grant. You will then need to fill out the application very carefully, making sure that you leave nothing blank, unless that option is stated. You may be required to write an essay on any given subject. This may count towards your chances of being eligible for the grant, so write it to the best of your ability and have others give their true opinions on it before submitting it. After submitting your essay you are almost always required to attend an in-person interview which is also a very important part of the application process. Patience and perseverance is a large part of obtaining an academic scholarship. If you are turned down for one, try for another. There are a wide variety available to apply for, so being persistent is a necessary trait.

Filed Under: Education, Scholarships Tagged With: , ,

Tips on Filling out College Applications

All students applying for college are required to fill out an application, or sometimes several different types of them. Years ago the questions asked consisted mainly of basic topics such as your name, address and educational background. Today the applications can sometimes be quite nerve wracking, due to the intense and complicated questions that are asked. Not only do most students have to provide more personal information then ever before, but many are also required to write essays and have a verbal, in-person interview before being considered.

Filling out the application can be less stressful if you follow a few basic tips from others that have recently done the same. First, be sure you understand the question completely before writing in your answer. A scribbled and corrected application will look untidy. If you are unsure of a question, ask for help from one of the student advisors. Make sure you fill in the application thoroughly. Don’t leave anything to chance by leaving a space blank, unless that is an option.

When turning in your application, be ready to produce more documents. Many times a college or university will want copies of your high school records, along with any types of awards you may have earned while in high school. You will also more then likely need a proper form of identification, along with any paperwork that has been given to you previously, especially if you are studying and attending a school abroad.

Make a list of the schools you would like to attend. Having more then one in mind is wise, just in case you are unable to enroll for some reason. Find out which schools offer the courses you need for graduation, and also check into any special areas of interest that you have to see if there are clubs or organizations you can join . Carefully filling out your application is the first step in enrolling in the school of your choice.

Filed Under: Appliations, College Essays, Education Tagged With: , ,

The two Paths for Choosing the Right Major

While for some college freshman, the hardest choice they will encounter is what to get on a late-night pizza, others are faced with one that will decide their education for the next three years. What type of major to pursue? Some students are lucky enough to have the question answered before even graduating high school. While the rest are left to declare the ambiguous “No Preference” on their applications. Finding the right answer can be done from two perspectives: personal or empirical. Simply, students can decide using their gut or using their head; either way, the majority of students will find they made the right choice.

Finding a major from a personal standpoint is predicated on what a student loves to do. Not only what kind of work they enjoy, but also what they enjoy doing in their free time as well. For example, nearly every video game designer is an avid player too. Once a student figures out what they enjoy doing they can then research fields of study with courses that are directly related or similar. But before declaring that major, students should take into consideration the necessary work that needs to go into a job in that industry and what compensation is available. Some jobs may be enjoyable, but not pay enough to cover the tuition.

From a practical point of view, students can judge what major appeals to them by researching what programs are strongest at their university. A university can excel at anything from business to packaging and hold a high reputation from hiring managers in those fields. In addition, it is important to take notice of current career trends in each industry. This entails researching what fields are hiring and growing, along with what careers seem to be paying high salaries. It is equally helpful to look into the types of companies or organizations that operate in those industry and decide if they would make an ideal employer.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: , ,

Ways to Take Your Mind off the College Application Process

West Orange-Stark High School; a public colleg...
Image via Wikipedia

The college application process can be a stressful time for high school students. They have to spend time researching each one, weighing the pros and cons, then go through all the work to complete the application which can include the all important college essay. If that isn’t enough, there is the waiting period that can test anyone’s patience.

For a student that is ambivalent about the school they get accepted to, it isn’t as bad. But for a student that has been dreaming about one particular school–maybe because everyone in their family went there or it has the best program for their career field–it can be a nightmare. The best way to alleviate all the stresses of the college application is just to take your mind off it all.

Concentrate on High School
Face it, even though you are on your way to college, you still have time left in high school, which means unfinished business. Colleges will take into consideration scores and grades after you submit your application, so it’s imperative to keep them up to par. The curriculum and extra-curricular activities of high school should also will keep you too occupied to think about acceptance or rejection letters.

Prepare for College in General
While your destination might be uncertain, you do know it’s a college. So start planning on what you’ll need to take with you and researching what to expect on a college campus. You should familiarize yourself with how cafeterias work and living situations of dorm rooms. If you applied with no major in mind, then start thinking about what you might want to study.

Spend Time With Friends and Family
It’s highly likely that most of your friends will be heading in separate directions after high school. Now is the time to do as many things as possible before it’s too late. And once you start going to college, time at home becomes less and less frequent so cherish it.

Filed Under: Appliations, College Essays, Education Tagged With: , ,

The College Admissions Process for Older Adults

BEIT BERL, ISRAEL - SEPTEMBER 01: Israeli Tra...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Dust off those weathered notebooks, pull out that sweet Jansport bag with Led Zeppelin patches and get that beer bong ready because you are going back to school. In times of economic uncertainty, or really disaster, many people have to try and restart their careers. Some of them nearly from scratch. Either their occupation has been completely eliminated, or they find the change as an opportunity to try something new.

But as an older adult, going to back school can be frustrating process. It just might leave you asking your children for tips on filling out college applications. However, adults shouldn’t fret. It may take a little longer to get your credentials together than an 18-year old, but you will probably come off as a better candidate for acceptance. Just remember these few things:

Transcripts
What was your high school GPA again? It isn’t embarrassing to forget, and those records aren’t lost to history. You can still contact your high school and have them pull them from their records. Even though it might have been long ago, colleges will still be interested in your academic work when you’re only concern should have been grades.

Resume
This is where you will have an advantage over other applicants. Older adults should touch up their resume and include it with their application. It will provide a detailed blueprint of what you can do with their education.

Essay
Every applicant will have to write out an admission essay, and it’s a big consideration for admission officials. Again, older adults have the upper hand. While they may have to dust off their English skills, they have a spate of experience to write about.

Mailed Applications
If your profession completely missed the computer revolution and you don’t know how to post a tweet, don’t worry. For one, applications can still be submitted through the mail. Also, feel comforted that colleges will offer courses in using computers and software.

Filed Under: Appliations, College Essays Tagged With: , ,