Archive for the ‘College Applications’ Category

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4 Ways To Reduce Stress When Applying to College

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

There are many important steps to applying for college.  Getting into the college or university of your choice can be a complex process.  This is especially true when you are applying to numerous schools.  As a result, you may at times feel overwhelmed and stressed by the process as a whole.  This is why it is extremely important to keep your focus.

When you get stressed out, you stop thinking clearly.  The end result could be that you begin making mistakes.  Whether its studying for your SAT, trying to ace as many classes as possible, or filling out your college applications, you need to keep your stress levels at a minimum.  Let’s take a look at a few of the ways that you can keep your stress levels low and increase your chances of getting into the college of your choice in the process.

#1 Realize that the World Will Not End

One basic step that you can take to keep your stress levels low is to realize that it is not the end of the world if you don’t get into your “top pick.”  Lots of pressure can be put on your shoulders, as older people just assume that you can “take it.”  Yet, if you feel totally stressed out it may impact your performance.  Now this isn’t an excuse to fail or not try, but you should keep in mind that life will go on even if you get into your fifth choice instead of your first college of choice.  No matter how others may act the world will not end, and you will not be destined to a future of poverty and failure.

#2 Walk Away and Take a Break

If all you do is study and deal with SAT preparation, you may actually be increasing your odds of failure both in the short term and in the long term.  Some students may ace the SAT, but they end up so exhausted and overwhelmed that they avoid studying all freshmen year.  This route isn’t a good plan for long term success!

#3 Short Breaks, Meditation and Stress Reduction

Stress can actually kill you.  Prolonged exposure to stress hormones, such as cortisol, can result in a decrease in the strength of your immune system.  If your immune system is weakened, your odds of getting sick, of course, go up.  If you’re sick, you won’t be studying for your classes or the SAT.  Part of staying healthy is keeping your immune system strong.

Meditation is a relaxation technique that serves to reduce stress hormone levels.  Recent medical studies have actually shown that meditation has a variety of medical benefits including the reduction of stress.  So if you are feeling upset and anxious, meditation stands as a great way to deal with this stress.

#4 Find a College Admissions Counselor

Believe it or not, utilizing a College Admissions Counselor can take a real load off your mind. Why run around worried about what you’re forgetting, or what opportunities you are missing? Start smart with a college admissions counselor who can sit down with you and your family to figure out your wants and needs and outline a plan for you to follow. Why go it alone, when you can have a partner?

Remember that any edge you can give yourself is one you should take.  However, at the same time, you should never allow yourself to become so stressed out and worried about what colleges you get into that you become miserable.

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Admissions, College Applications, College Search, Paying for College, Preparing for College | No Comments »

From The Vault: How Many Colleges Should I Apply To?

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

We know you’re still deep in the college search process, but since it pays to look ahead, we’re bringing you a previously published post that we think you’ll find very helpful! The topic? Deciding how many colleges should apply to. So what’s the answer? Read on to find out.

While you may know of a college-bound student in your class who plans on filling out 22 college applications, we’ve got a better answer – both for your peace of mind and your parent’s wallet.

The classic college campus: is this the in-the-middle school for you?

How many colleges should you apply to? Photo Credit: anne.oeldorfhirsch / Anne Oeldorf-Hirsch

If you’ve taken a look at the price of submitting college applications, well, some are definitely more wallet-friendly than others – but it all adds up (you can check out our Apply to College Without Paying a Fee article for ways to get out of that one!). So, just how many college apps should you fill out? Easy – well, sort of.

My College Guide recommends that you fill out between 6 –10 college applications. Don’t just apply anywhere, we’ve got a handy system to the college application madness. Don’t worry – it’s not as complicated as it sounds! Basically, you should apply to the three basic types of colleges: reach schools, in-the-middle schools, and safety schools.

We know that handing over college application fee after college application fee is less than fun, so we want you to know that we are here to help! Check out the three types of colleges that we believe just about every student should apply to – and why! Of course, these schools will vary with the stats of each student, so your BFF’s safety school may match your in-the-middle school. Do your research to see where you fit in and to avoid making college application mistakes!

Apply To A Couple of Reach Schools

So you don’t fit the exact college requirements for admission criteria due to your GPA, your test scores, or some combination of the two. It doesn’t mean that something else about your application won’t make college admissions take a second look! Maybe you’ve got that certain something they are looking for. Don’t sell yourself short – but don’t apply to every hard-to-get-into college, either. Fill out one or two applications and do be aware of the college admission rates. Be hopeful, but realistic – college admissions has their own reasons why a student is in or out.

Apply To A Few In-The-Middle Schools

Are you in or are you out? With these schools, it can be hard to tell if you will be accepted into college or not. Sure, you have the grades to get in to college and the rest of your college application matches up to their admission guidelines (you’ve even got a couple awesome letters of recommendation) but they can’t accept everyone! Apply to two or three in-the-middle schools that you would be happy to attend (hopefully you’ve visited at least one of them!) and see what happens.

Don’t Forget To Apply To Safety Schools

These colleges will jump for joy to have you! Not only do your standardized test scores, GPA, and your extracurricular activities set you apart from the average students that college admissions normally accepts — which means that you will most likely be “in” (although it goes without saying that even then your chance at acceptance isn’t set in stone). Of course, this is still a college that you are interested in and can see yourself enjoying and loving for four years (even if it isn’t your first choice). Being ahead of the pack has its perks so, safety school or not, your high school accomplishments could net you a nice little scholarship prize.

For more tips and tricks for making the most of the college application process all year long, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog!

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Admissions, College Applications | 1 Comment »

Especially For Parents: What Type of Parent Coach Are You Part 2.

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

Are you a good parent college coach?

Find out what kind of parent college coach you should strive to be. Photo credit: malenga

By Suzanne Schaffer

Last week, we introduced four of the most common Parent College Coach types – and their strengths and weaknesses. Today, we’ll discuss the last three types of parent coaches.

By identifying your parent coaching style, you can help reduce the stress in your household and assure your senior will have a positive college admissions process. Read on to find out more!

5. The “I’ll think about that tomorrow” parent college coach

This is the worst time in your teen’s life for you to model or encourage procrastination. The next four years can be daunting and even overwhelming, but if you approach them without planning and organization, you will never survive.

The problem with this philosophy is that it won’t work with deadlines, and the college maze is all about the deadlines. If you miss them, there are no second chances or do-overs. Not only do you risk missing the deadlines, as this type of parent you add extra stress to an already stressful time. Preparation and organization are keys to overcoming procrastination.

Thinking about it tomorrow will only lead to frustration, disappointment, and regret.

6. The “uninvolved” parent college coach

Your teen still requires your input. They may protest greatly and say loudly, “I can do it myself.” But what they really mean is I want to do it with your support and help.

If you make the mistake of turning the whole process over to your teen, the odds are great that they will become overwhelmed and frustrated to the point of giving up.

There are so many decisions to be made and things to keep track of during senior year. If you have a tendency to be an uninvolved parent, your teen will most likely feel abandoned in a sea of forms, applications and deadlines.

It’s great to expect them to be responsible, but you and I both know that teenagers will be teenagers. Their minds and lives are headed in hundreds of different directions and staying on task can sometimes be inconceivable. It’s your goal to steer them back on course and help them reach their final goal.

7. The “well-balanced” parent college coach

The well-balanced parent utilizes the best organizational tools to help their college-bound teen stay
focused and on track. This is the type of parent coach we should all strive to become.

You balance coaching, encouragement and guidance with information gathering, organization and goal setting. Your teen does not stress about deadlines because you have sat down together and created a calendar of upcoming scholarship applications, college entrance tests, activities, and school related events.

You and your teen are confident and aware of the course you have set together and assured that because you are prepared and organized, the end result will be that your senior is able to reach their goal of college acceptance.

You have planned ahead concerning the financial process and have utilized all the tools available to assure an impressive financial aid award package from the colleges where applications are submitted. You coach without pushing, pressuring or stressing out and your teen knows that they have your support and can look to you for positive feedback.

These are the most common types of parent college coaching styles. Do you recognize yourself? If so, good! After all, knowledge is power – and now you know what your strengths and weaknesses are – and how to make the most of them.

We’ll be bringing you tips on how to help your child get into college all year long. Don’t miss out -  subscribe to our blog now!

About the author

Suzanne Shaffer counsels parents in the college admissions process and the importanceof early college preparation. Her Parents Countdown to College Coach blog offers timely college tips for parents and provides parents with the resources necessary to help their college-bound teens navigate the college maze. She is also a member of the Unigo ExpertNetwork, a College Money Insider Expert and the College Coach for Galtime.com.

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Posted in College Admissions, College Applications, College Search, For Parents, Preparing for College | No Comments »

Your College Application Timeline: What To Do This Month.

Thursday, September 8th, 2011
College Application To Do List

Don't let the college application process overwhelm you. Stay on track with this helpful college application timeline! Photo credit: john.schultz

Whether you’re just starting your high school career or you’re finally beginning your senior year, you should always be thinking about the college application process. You’ve only got four years to make your college dreams come true – its up to you to make the most of them!

But don’t worry, you don’t have to go it alone. Throughout the school year, we’ll bring you monthly tips and pointers for meeting your college application goals – for every stage of your high school career!

September College Application Timeline For Freshmen

College might seem like it’s a long way off, but it’ll be here before you know it. It’s best to start preparing now! This month, you should:

  • Meet with your guidance counselor. It’s important to make a game plan for the next four years now, so you know what courses to take and areas to focus on.
  • Experiment with extracurricular activities. Try out a bunch of different clubs and sports to find the ones that fit your interests.
  • Hit the books. When it comes to college applications, grades count. Establish good study habits now!

September College Application Timeline For Sophomores

You’re another year closer to filling out those college applications. It’s time to start getting serious. This month you shoud:

  • Meet with your guidance counselor again. You’ll want to fine tune the plan you made last year and get help choosing your subjects for the year.
  • Focus on a few core activities. Extracurricular activities are important, but you don’t want to burn yourself out. Choose the clubs and sports that mean the most to you and dive in deep.
  • Register for the PLAN test. Otherwise known as the Pre-ACT, taking this test now will help you prepare for the real exams coming in the next two years.
  • Study hard. By now you should have good study habits established. Put them to good use and make this another stellar year!

September College Application Timeline For Juniors

Senior year is right around the corner. Make sure you’re ready for college application season! This month you should:

  • Meet with your guidance counselor to discuss college options. While it’s a little early to start visiting colleges, you’ll want to think about what kind of college you’re looking for. Your counselor can help!
  • Try to score a leadership position. Colleges love to see you not only participating in extracurricular activities, but leading the way.
  • Register for the PSAT. Like the PLAN test, the PSAT will prepare you for the real SAT later.
  • Keep studying. The junior year is one of the most critical in terms of grades. Make sure yours shine!

September College Application Timeline For Seniors

You’ve made it! It’s time to get started on those college applications. This month, you should:

  • Work on your college essays. After all, they’re the most important essays you’ve ever written!
  • Ask for college recommendation letters. Chances are, your teachers will be thrilled to help you out!
  • Make a list of colleges you want to visit. Try to stay focused on your core choices so you don’t exhaust yourself in the process.
  • Register for the ACT, SAT or SAT subject tests if necessary.
  • Don’t stop studying! Your senior year grades still count for college admissions.

And that’s what you need to do this month to get ready to shine on those college applications. Come back in October to see what you should be doing next! Better yet, subscribe to our blog now so you don’t miss a thing!

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Posted in College Admissions, College Applications, Preparing for College | No Comments »

How To Speak Financial Aid: A Glossary of Terms

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011
Dictionary of Financial Aid Terms

Having trouble deciphering financial aid-speak? We're here to help! Photo Credit: greeblie

If you’re like most college freshmen-hopefuls, chances are you’ll be looking for some financial aid to help foot the bill. The problem? The terms used in financial aid forms aren’t exactly words you throw around in casual conversation.  It can seem like they’re speaking another language!

But never fear. We’re here to help. Below you’ll find a few of the most commonly used financial aid terms – along with their definitions.

Financial Aid Application Terms

Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – This is the official application for federal financial aid. Colleges and universities will require you to fill this out in order to apply for any kind of financial aid.

Award Letter – This is the official document you’ll get from colleges listing exactly what financial aid has been, well, awarded to you. It will tell you how much your family will be expected to pay (expected family contribution) and how much it will cost to attend that school when all is said and done (cost of attendance), as well as list the terms and conditions of your financial aid.

Financial Aid Package – Picture all your financial aid – all of the scholarships, grants and loans awarded to you from both federal and private sources – put into a box and tied up with a pretty bow on top. That’s your financial aid package.

Types of Financial Aid Defined

Grants – Grants are considered “gift aid.” They give you money for college and don’t have to be paid back. They can come from federal sources (such as Pell Grants), but are also available from states and private organizations.

Loans – Student loans are just what they sound like – money given to you to pay for college that needs to be repaid. Eventually. There are many different types  – both federal student loans and private loans. You’ll want to read the terms for your loan options very carefully.

Scholarships – Scholarships are also considered “gift aid,” so you don’t have to pay them back. They are awarded for a variety of reasons, some simply because of merit or academic excellence, others because you’re pursuing a certain major, have specific interests, have financial need…the list goes on and on.

These are just a few of the many financial aid terms you’ll need to know. We’ll go more in-depth in a future post. Have a specific financial aid term you’d like defined? Leave it in the comments! And don’t forget, we’ll be bringing you great advice about financial aid all year long, so subscribe to our blog today!

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Posted in College Applications, Financial Aid, Scholarships, Student Loans | 1 Comment »

4 Tips For Creating A Killer Video College Essay.

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011
How to create a college video essay

Want to create a memorable college essay? Try an admissions video! Photo credit: Ezalis

If there’s one thing college admissions officers can agree on, it’s this: your college essay should be as unique as you are. So if you’re more comfortable behind the camera than in front of the keyboard, why not give a video college essay a try?

For most colleges, these types of essays are considered supplemental, meaning you’ll still have to type something up. However, schools like Tufts actually give students the option of completing an admissions video in place of the traditional essay! It pays to check with the colleges you are applying to.

But whether your video is supplemental or not, you’ll want to put just as much thought into it as you would a traditional college application essay. Here are some tips for creating a video college essay that rocks.

Be original. While it might be tempting to search YouTube  to find the best of last year’s video applications, try to resist the urge. Just like with a regular college essay, admissions officers want to see video essays that reflect who you are as a person. And mimicking someone else’s ideas? Simply won’t fly.

Write a script. You don’t have to write down what you’re going to say word for word, but it’s a good idea to have a basic outline. Spend some time thinking about what exactly you want to accomplish with your video essay, then plot out how you’re going to do it. If you’re feeling especially ambitious, you might even consider creating a storyboard for your video.

Get help. While there’s nothing wrong with simply setting your camera up on a tripod and speaking directly into it, if you want to try anything more complicated than that, you’ll probably need to enlist the aid of a friend or family member.

Edit yourself. Just as you wouldn’t send in the first draft of a college essay you’d written, you shouldn’t hand over raw video footage and call it a finished essay. There are plenty of cheap video editing programs available for PCs and Macs that require minimal editing skills to use. Or, try one of the online options, like PhotoBucket. YouTube even has its own editing capabilities!

Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be well on your way to creating a college video essay that will blow the college admissions reps out of the water. And don’t forget, we’ll be bringing you tips and advice for getting into college all year long, so subscribe to our blog today!

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Posted in College Admissions, College Applications | 4 Comments »

Five Steps To Getting Great College Recommendation Letters.

Monday, August 8th, 2011

By Ellen Bremen, M.A.

Get your favorite teachers to write college recommendations.

Which teachers will you ask for a college recommendation?

Have you ever seen one of those circus acts where an acrobat jumps on a trampoline and then lands on another acrobat’s shoulders? Then yet another acrobat (we’ll call this one #3) jumps and flips himself on to the shoulders of acrobat #2. Before the act is over, the “anchor” acrobat might carry up to four others on his back!

The teachers who know your work, who believe in you as a person, who support your goals and success are the ones you want to carry on your shoulders. Picture letters of recommendation from those teachers like the acrobats: The teachers may not be there in person when you are mailing off college applications or sitting in college interviews, but you will carry their positive words about your character and your work on your shoulders.

But how do you start the conversation and ask for those college recommendations? Follow these five steps:

1. Pick teachers who know you well, whose classes you’ve excelled in, and whose assignments gave you not just “work”, but specific experiences the teacher can speak about.

2. Ask early. You want to give your teacher no less than two weeks to write your letter, and, if possible, more time is always appreciated.

3. Ask directly both with your words and the way you make your request: Make direct eye contact and say, “Mr. Jones, you have given me many opportunities to succeed in this class and my grades have been strong. I feel that you really know me and my work. I would so appreciate it if you’d write a letter to support my admission to Chosen University/College.” (You can also ask for letters of support for scholarships).

4. If the teacher agrees, take charge of your next steps:

a. Say, “I will give you the addresses and requirements for the letter, along with who it needs to be addressed to tomorrow.” Also include a pre-addressed envelope or special mailing requirements, such as if the letter needs to be sealed with the teacher’s name across the back—some colleges require this to make sure you haven’t tampered with the letter. You can also ask, “What else do you need from me to
write the letter?”

b. Then say, “My goal is to mail this letter by February 24th. Does this date work for you?” You may also need to tell the teacher when he/she needs to mail the letter. You may want to set the teacher’s deadline slightly ahead of yours in case the teacher forgets.

5. It is acceptable for you to check in with the teacher a few days before your deadline. Say, “I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you writing the letter of recommendation for me. Are we still on track for my submission on February 24th?”

By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to getting the college recommendation letters you need to get into the college of your dreams. For more advice on getting into your first choice college, check out these tips for rocking the college application. And remember, we’re bringing you college admissions advice every week, so subscribe to our blog today!

About the Author

Ellen Bremen, known as the Chatty Professor on her blog, is tenured faculty in the Communication Studies department at Highline Community College (since 2004), outside of Seattle, Washington. She is currently finishing a book called Say This, NOT That to Your College Professor:  42 Talking Tips for College Success.

Photo courtesy of Old Shoe Woman.

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Posted in College Admissions, College Applications, College Search, Guest post | No Comments »

Practice Makes Perfect: 4 Tips For Writing A College Essay That Rocks.

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011
College essay draft

Have you practiced writing your college essay?

College application deadlines might be months away, but now is the perfect time to start writing your college essays. After all, these are quite possibly the most important essays you’ve ever written. You want to make sure they’re perfect!

And the best way to achieve perfection? Practice, of course. So take a little time during these last few weeks of summer to write a draft or three of your college essay. The effort will pay off in the long run.

Some tips to keep in mind while you’re writing your college essay:

  1. Put some thought into what you’re going to write before you start. You’ll fill out plenty of forms listing your accomplishments and extracurricular activities. That’s not what your college essay is for. This is your time to shine as an individual. To show those college admissions officers what you’re really about. So spend a little time brainstorming. Come up with a topic that captures the real you – the part that doesn’t show itself on standardized forms.
  2. Focus, focus, focus. It’s tempting to try and cram as much information as possible into those college essays. Don’t. Choose one topic and one topic only. Maybe something you’re proud of. Or a challenge you’ve had to overcome. Write about something you’re passionate about. Or an interest you hope to pursue in college. There are no wrong ideas. Just make sure yours is well defined before you start writing.
  3. Be yourself. This is not the time to try and sound like you’ve memorized the encyclopedia. Or like you’ve already gotten your master’s degree and are writing a doctoral dissertation. Let your own voice shine through. Remember, those college admissions officers want to get to know the real you. Show them.
  4. Clean up your mess. When you’re writing the first draft of your college essays, feel free to let the words flow. Don’t worry too much about grammar, or punctuation, or any of the other rules that might trip you up. But once you start polishing? Make sure that essay gleams. Correct any capitalization errors. Make sure you’re using proper punctuation. And, please, please use spell check. It’s there for a reason.

Above all, don’t forget that the people reading your college essays? Are actually people.

They’re not gray-bearded bureaucrats sitting in an ivy tower somewhere. They’re regular people who are working hard to find the best applicants for next year’s freshman class. So show them your best self. As the admissions staff at the College of William and Mary said, “you aren’t telling us who you are, you’re giving us a sense of who you’ll become.”

Want to get more of the best tips and tricks for getting into the college of your dreams? Subscribe to our blog today!

Photo courtesy of yaili.

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Posted in College Admissions, College Applications, College Search, Preparing for College | 2 Comments »

How To Get Your Facebook Profile Ready For College Application Season.

Thursday, July 28th, 2011
Do you know what your Facebook profile says about you?

Do you know what your Facebook profile says about you?

If you’re like most high schoolers, Facebook is a part of your everyday life. But when it comes time to apply for college, what you posted on Facebook two years ago could come back to bite you.

So what’s an ambitious wanna-be college freshman to do? The smart thing, of course, is to never post potentially embarrassing information in the first place. But even if you have, there are still ways you can protect your online self from the eyes of  curious college admissions officers.

Lock down your Facebook privacy settings before sending off those college applications.

Facebook privacy policies change almost as often as Lady Gaga changes her hair. Which means you need to keep a sharp eye on them.  Settings you should take a good hard look at include:

  • How (and with whom) you share information
  • Who can see  your photos
  • Who can check you into Places
  • How you show up in search results
  • How much information your friends can share about you

Comb through all those photos of you before college admissions officers do.

Snap happy people are everywhere. Which means, of course, that you’re probably tagged in a lot more photos than you realize. Sure, you’re notified when someone tags you, but things that seemed harmless six months ago might seem a little less awesome now that you know college official-types might be looking at them.

So do yourself a favor. Go to your Facebook profile page and take a good look at all the photos and videos of you. And if you see something that’s even vaguely scandalous? Un-tag yourself. It’s the smart thing to do.

Make incriminating status updates disappear.

Hopefully, there’s nothing out there that would be of concern. But, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so scroll through your shared content and status updates for potential red flags. And if you find one? Make it go away.

It’s easy. Just place your mouse on the right side of the status update box you want to delete.  A little “X” will appear.  Hover over it and a button saying “remove post” will pop up. Click it and poof! All evidence of your poor judgment will disappear.

Doing these three things will go a long way toward making your Facebook profile college application-friendly. Want more information about making social media work for your college application? Check out this post.

And don’t forget, we’ll be bringing you great information about college applications and getting into college all year long. Subscribe to our blog so you don’t miss a thing!

Photo courtesy of C. M. Keiner.

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Posted in College Admissions, College Applications, College Search, Preparing for College, Technology, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Worried About College Admissions? Just Be Glad It’s Not Like This.

Monday, July 25th, 2011

As summer slips away, the specter of college applications and getting admitted to college is looming large in many a high school senior’s mind. After all, you’re putting your whole life out there for strangers to dissect. It’s enough to make anyone feel a little nervous!

But you know what they say…it’s better to laugh than cry.

At least that’s what the team behind this video from The Princeton Tiger—the nation’s second oldest college humor magazine—think. And we hope you’ll agree.

A few of our favorite quotes from this spoof of the college admissions process?

“I wasn’t sure about this kid until I read his 27th recommendation. His uncle’s middle school art teacher’s glowing recommendation of his community service really inspired me.”

“Let’s all read this one’s personal statement and laugh at it.”

“Listen, can you hear them cry? I like it when they cry.”

But don’t worry. The actual college admissions process is nothing like this! To see what it’s really like, watch this video from Butler University.

Want to be extra sure your application will stand out from the crowd? Subscribe to our blog and get tons of useful advice about applying to college and surviving the college admissions process!

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Posted in College Admissions, College Applications, Fun Stuff, Social Media | No Comments »

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