My College Guide» College Interview

What You Should Wear To A College Interview?

admin — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:58:55 +0000

Choosing an outfit for your college interviews is not just about knowing what to wear, but it is also about what not to wear. The fact is that no matter what you wear, you are conveying a message. Either consciously or subconsciously this message will influence the opinion of the representative who is conducting the interview.

People Do Judge One Another By Clothing Choices

You might not like the fact that people of all ages judge you by your choice of clothing, but the simple fact is that they do. Research indicates that people form their opinions quickly and a good deal of what they decide is based on how you look. Yes, this might be unfair, but it is usually the reality of the situation. When you walk into an admissions office, you have little to no idea about the background of the people that you will be meeting, what their view on life are, and/or what their political views may be. Due to this factor, you might want to play it on the safe side. For example, if you have tattoos up and down your arm, you might want to consider wearing long sleeves!

The simple fact is that when you walk into an admissions office, you could literally be meeting anyone. You may meet someone that you think is great and you wish could be your friend or you may meet someone that you truly dislike and hope to never see again. For this reason, it is important that you select clothing that is fairly neutral and run of the mill, even if you hate doing it. Remember this is not the costume you will be putting on for the rest of your life, but only for the day of your interview. This is one occasion where you are most definitely dressing for someone else and not yourself.

Are There Exceptions to the Rule?

There are perhaps a few exceptions to these clothing rules. For example, if you are applying to an art school, a design academy or a similar program in the arts you likely have more flexibility. The odds are that if you are interested in being a fashion designer, you don’t have to be quite as conservative for your interview. However, with that stated, it still could be in your best interest to side with caution and try to lean towards the neutral end of the clothing spectrum.

It probably isn’t a bad idea to ask people you trust for a little advice when it comes time to determining your wardrobe choices. They might just have some good ideas and pointers you hadn’t thought about.

Don’t Stress Too Much About Your Clothing Choices

Ultimately, your grades, SAT scores, letters of recommendation and how you present yourself will play a far greater role than how you dress. Yet, playing it safe on interview day is likely your best bet. You just don’t know who you will meet and where they are coming from. You want your to tell people that you are taking getting into college seriously, and if you show up in an outfit that would generally be looked at as odd, you may actually undermine what could otherwise be a strong application. Playing it safe with your wardrobe selection for a few hours really won’t kill you… it just maybe irritate you a bit.

5 Tips for Creating A Glowing Admissions Letter and Statement

admin — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 19:11:19 +0000

The odds are you are concerned about getting into one of the colleges or universities of your choice. There are many areas to focus your attention upon, ranging from SAT preparation to grades to applications. Let’s take a look at a few of the factors you need to consider when writing your admissions letter and statement. As you will see, some of the considerations are less obvious than others, but all of the factors we will cover can have a major impact on your final product.

Tip One – Begin Your Work Well In Advance

Just as you should begin your work on college and university applications early, the same is true for working on your admissions letter and statement. Rushing rarely yields good results. Plus, it almost always ensures a sense of panic. Avoid all of this by starting your work in advance; you will be very glad you did!

Tip Two – Create an Outline

By beginning to work on your admissions letter and statement early, you will have time to do things like create an outline. In this part of the process, you will be forced to think about what you want to convey in very clear terms. Take your time to create your outline, and don’t be afraid to revise your outline at a later date after you’ve had time to think about it.

Tip Three – Don’t Be a Mind-Reader

When it comes to your admission letter and statement, don’t try to read the mind of a stranger. Instead create a letter and statement that is a reflection of you. If you want to be believable and sincere in your admissions letter and statement, then you shouldn’t try to figure out what others want to hear. After all, admissions officials see thousands of statements and letters over their careers, and they can sniff out a phony better than you might think. They’re older than you, but not necessarily brain dead!

Tip Four – Have Several Trusted People Read Over Your Work

You may be pretty confident that you have a great letter and statement, and you may be correct in your assessment. But you should have several different people, preferably of different ages and backgrounds, read your materials. By getting a wide range of viewpoints, you will gain perspectives and insights that may help you with your final draft.

Tip Five – Rewrite, Rework and Rethink

The time that you spend rewriting, reworking and rethinking your admissions letter and statement is likely to be time very well spent. Having time to gather input and feedback from other people is a valuable part of the process, as is sitting on your letter and statement aside for a few months, so that you can look at it with fresh eyes later. Of course, all of the tips that we’ve listed here can be done in a rush, but you will likely not achieve optimal results if you handle them in this fashion.

Avoid These 5 Costly College Interview Mistakes

admin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:59:36 +0000

There are many parts to getting into your top college or university. Since there are many opportunities for something to go wrong, you may be feeling a great deal of pressure. However, this doesn’t mean that you need to panic. Smart advance preparation can do a great deal to increase your odds of getting into the college or university of your choice. Acing your college interview is a major part of getting accepted to one of your top picks. In this article, we will focus on some of the major mistakes you might make on your college interview.

Mistake #1-A Bad Night’s Sleep

No matter how well prepared you may be for your college interview, a bad night of sleep can kill your chances of getting into one of your top college picks. So this means you shouldn’t cram the night before your college interview. You also shouldn’t go out with your friends and stay out late. On the contrary, be sure to stay home, relax, and go to sleep at a reasonable hour. Of course, don’t forget to set your alarm either! It is very important to show up on time.

Mistake #2- Stressing Out Due to Parental Pressure

Some parents undo the chances of their children achieving success by putting them under too much pressure. Remember that even if you do in fact “blow” your college interview, the world does in fact keep spinning. Just do your best and try to ignore any pressure that your parents or anyone else has thrown your way. Otherwise, you may be so nervous during the interview that you stumble through the questions or forget what you wanted to say.

Mistake #3-Not Knowing Anything About the College or University

Imagine going into a job interview and not knowing the first thing about the company where you want a job. Does that make sense? The same thing applies when it is time for your college interview. This doesn’t mean you need to know who the college president was in 1948, but you should have some answer prepared for the question, “Why did you want to be a student at XYZ University?”

Mistake #4-Forgetting Key Documents

If you are planning on bringing everything with you, make sure you have all your documents and materials ready to go. This will safeguard against rushing at the last second and showing up looking unprepared.

Mistake #5- Being Rude

It is a good idea to be polite during any interview, and college interviews are no different. Be certain to introduce yourself, and if your parents are in the waiting room, be sure to introduce them as well. Also shake hands and look the interviewer in the eye.

If you can manage to avoid making these five major mistakes your odds of success will go up! Preparing ahead of time, staying calm and making sure that you are ready for your interview are things that will all go a long way. Finally, don’t panic if your interviewer asks you a question that you can’t answer. Just try to be open and honest. The odds are that he or she doesn’t expect you to have all the answers. However, the way you respond when you don’t have an immediate answer ready will tell your interviewer a great deal about you.

“Top 10″ List – Your College Search Just Got Easier!

admin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:21:45 +0000

Got questions about getting into college? We have the answers.

Summer is fast winding to a close, and when it does, the college search process will heat up for millions of students across the country. Worried about how to start? Trying to simplify your search? Are you even ready?

To help you get prepared, we’ve created My College Guide’s “top 10″ list based on our most popular college search posts!

Why are they popular? Easy, they provide helpful information on finding the college that’s right for you, figuring out the college admissions process and identifying ways to pay for college.

Let’s get started.

1. Got a pet that you just can’t stand to leave behind? In You Can Take Them With You: Pet Friendly Colleges and Universities, you’ll see which colleges and universities are pet friendly.

2. Need help paying for college? Who doesn’t? Colleges for Low Income Students: Free Tuition, No Loans, and Full Rides provides a list of colleges that offer full rides or free tuition.

3. Looking for a college scholarship? Think the scholarship options are limited? There’s more out there than you think! Be creative, think outside the box and check out our Super List of College Scholarship Websites.

4. Wish you could get advice about getting college scholarships? Read tips about finding scholarships from the pros in Fastweb, Scholarships.com, Super College: Scholarship Tips From Pros in the Know.

5. Trying to get through the financial aid process? Worrying about all the forms to fill out for college funding? Learn about the financial aid process from the people behind the scenes at the University of Michigan in our post, College Tuition and Financial Aid Explained at the University of Michigan.

6. Searching for affordable colleges? Need to find a college that’s affordable with or without financial aid? We’ve got you covered. See our list of 8 of America’s Most Affordable Public Universities.

7. Want to get an edge on the competition for admission to your dream college? Check out 3 Ways to Get into Your First Choice College (Besides Getting Good Grades) and discover things you can do before you ever fill out a college application to help you get the attention of college admissions officers.

8. Nervous about those upcoming college interviews? Read 5 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your College Interview and learn what you need to know to succeed.

9. Want to make sure admissions officers remember your name? Learn how to stand out from the pack with How to Increase Your Odds After Sending in Your Application.

10. Worried about the economy? Want to get a job right out of college? Then you should read The Most Employable Majors: 5 Concentrations That Will Land You a Job Straight Out of College.

We’re always sharing more information on getting into college, paying for college and college help, so subscribe to our blog today and stay ahead of the curve!

If you’re looking for answers to specific college and career readiness questions, Ask The Guru.

Photo courtesy of Ninja M.

5 Reasons A Summer College Visit Is A Smart Idea.

admin — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:49:07 +0000

Make college visits now so you can make the right choice later.

When it comes to getting ahead in the college admissions process, scheduling a summer college visit can be a smart move.

Why? Read on to find out.

You can schedule “practice” interviews during summer college visits.

While your college interviews will go farther if you’ve already applied to the schools in question, speaking with admissions counselors in the summer can help you prepare for more formal visits later.

Your campus tour can be more in-depth during a summer college visit.

It’s true that most colleges schedule fewer campus tours in the summer, but this can be a good thing! Without the time pressures of back-to-back tours, your tour guide can take his or her time, giving you a clearer picture of what the campus really has to offer you.

During summer college visits, you can get a preview of what classes are like.

No question about it, summer classes at most colleges are different from those during the regular school year. But you can still get a good feel for how classes are taught. And since the professors on campus usually have fewer classes to teach, they often have more time for other things—like meeting with potential students. So summer could be a great time to get some one-on-one time with a future mentor (one who might be able to help you at application time)!

You’re surrounded by other motivated students during summer college visits.

There are bound to be fewer students around when you visit colleges during the summer. But those who are? Are more likely to be serious, ambitious students—just like you. By talking to them during your college visit, you’ll get a more complete picture of the academic scene at that school—and what life could be like for you.

You have time to return for a second look if you start with a summer college visit.

Choosing a college is a major decision—one that could very well be deserving of more than one visit to a campus. Take a look at all your options during the summer. Then, before you make your final decision, return to those you liked best. That way you get more than one view of the campus!

Of course, college visits are just the first step in the admissions process, so make sure you’re getting all the latest tips and tricks for shining all the way through. Subscribe to our blog!

Photo courtesy of the University of Denver.

How to Apply to College: You’ve Got Options

admin — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:30:50 +0000

All your college searching and visiting has led up to this moment: applying to college. You know there are reasons to apply to more than one college, and you know how many colleges you should apply to: but did you know that when it comes time to actually submit your application that there are decisions to make about that, too?

Thomas Hawk / Thomas Hawk

Instant College Admission – Instead of filling out and sending in your college application and waiting for a response, colleges like the University of South Florida Polytechnic, and Pine Manor College offer on-the-spot admission. Bring your application and all other required paperwork, like your letter of recommendation, transcript, SAT or ACT test scores, etc., to a local event designed to let you apply to a college and receive an answer right then and there. You’ll basically have a college interview, your application will be reviewed, and you’ll find out either way. You’ll still receive an official letter from the college in the mail but you won’t have the stomach-wrenching weeks spent wondering “did I or didn’t I?”.

One-Stop College Sites – Many states have decided to help students with the college process in a big way, by developing free college information specifically about public and private schools in the state and offering financial aid and admission applications. Not only that, but some of these sites also provide access to state-sponsored scholarships, free SAT test prep classes, career information, and other goodies. Indiana, Maine, and Kentucky are just a few states that have set up one-stop college websites.

Fast Apps — Sometimes referred to as Snap Apps, you don’t choose this application option, this type chooses you! A small amount of schools send out partially completed applications to students who fit their admission requirements profile. They waive the application fee and keep it really simple: there isn’t even an essay to complete. Once you sign and send it in: you’re in, if you want to be. Tulane University, Marquette University, and Mount Saint Mary’s University are a few of the colleges who have used fast apps in the past.

Ollie T. / Oliver Tupman

Online – Head to your favorite colleges’ website and with a minimal amount of searching you should see the option for you to apply right now this very minute! Online college applications are quick to fill out (messy handwriting is no longer an issue) and really cuts down on paper-waste. In fact, many colleges are encouraging students to bypass traditional mailed college applications in favor of the more Earth-friendly online application – and as a bonus are willing to let you apply for free. While you are online, you might as well try to find and apply for a few college scholarships, too.

Mail – The traditional (and slowest) way to send in a college application, sending an application through the mail takes a bit more time than the other avenues. You’ll have to wait for them to receive your application and respond to you. If time isn’t a factor and you can handle the wait, it’s still an option — though you might save yourself a few bucks (and a few trees) by trying the online option above, instead.

Factors of College Admission or How to Get Into Your Dream School

admin — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:30:59 +0000

As college deadlines loom in the not too distant future, you might be asking yourself, “Can I get into college?” To answer your question, My College Guide will clue you in on the factors of college admissions! While these factors can differ a bit from college to college, having some idea of what colleges are really looking for in your academic background can go a long way to make sure you are prepared so that when you get ready to actually submit a college application: you’ll be ready!

Stuck in Customs / Trey Ratcliff

SAT or ACT Test Scores – The majority of colleges will be looking at your SAT or ACT test scores, comparing your score to other applicants. If you’ve only taken the test once, know that taking the test a second time can help improve your SAT score – just from knowing what to expect! The College Board SAT test and the ACT test are very important and, if you are homeschooled, it’s also a way for colleges to measure you academically.

College Interview – Do you match up? While not usually mandatory, the college interview is used by some colleges as a way to make sure that you are the right fit for their institution. On the upside, an interview can put a nice personal spin on what can seem a very impersonal process. You can let college admissions meet your charming, wonderful self and explain any slip-ups in your record. If it’s optional at the college(s) you are interested in, why not request one?

Community Service – Are you a valuable member of your community? Community service can help you stand apart from other college applicants – it’s not like every student volunteers their time and energy, but for the most part, many students do take the SAT, have a decent GPA, and class ranking. Not only is it a great way to get accepted into college and help out your community, but it could even net you a great scholarship!

College Essay – This seemingly innocent little open-ended question can be a hard one to answer. The truth is, college admissions can place a good amount of emphasis on what you have to say – and how you say it! Use this space as a way to explain why your grades fell your Sophomore year or how you successfully handled a difficult situation. If colleges are on the fence about whether or not to let you in, your college essay may give them a nudge in the right direction.

Leadership Roles – Are you a future leader? Did you skim through high school or did you leave a mark?Universities want independent, motivated students. They will be actively seeking students with leadership roles on their college application. Holding positions in high school clubs or as a class officer can show admissions that you are just the type of person they are looking for.

clevercupcakes / Clever Cupcakes

Letters of Recommendation – Colleges like to get a second opinion – and the college letter of recommendation is an easy way for them to learn more about you through the eyes of someone else. Whether your college of choice lets you choose who writes your recommendation or there’s someone specific, colleges will takes these letters under consideration so if the choice is up to you, choose carefully!

Diversity – Your race, the state you live in, your gender, and national origin can play a part in college admission. Colleges like to say that they have students not only from around the country, but from around the world, too. Increasing their student body while diversifying it can help pave the way for you if you happen to possess the traits of the missing pieces.

Challenging Courses – While it’s okay to have a fluff class every now and again to boost your GPA, colleges really want to see something more challenging than a constant run of classes like Film Studies or Fibers on your course schedule. Honors classes and AP classes go a long way to prove to college admissions that you take your education seriously – just don’t take on more than you can handle. These classes dole out more work to start with and receiving poor marks in a few of them because you packed your schedule too full with difficult classes won’t help you get into your dream school, either.

Legacy Status – Did your mom and/or dad attend the same college that you are interested in? Many colleges like to keep the legacy going and put special emphasis on legacy applicants! Applications will usually have a spot to check or write that you had a family member attend their college – which may help you get in! Bonus: many colleges also let you apply for a legacy scholarship!

Grades — It almost goes without saying, but your grades are one of the key factors of college admission! Colleges have a GPA range they accept for a reason: they want students who fit within specific parameters. The more competitive the college, the better your GPA had better be! If you’ve got a few years before you are officially thinking “college” make sure to use this time wisely and try to keep those grades up.

Miss Millificent / Athena Workman

Awards and Achievements – Do you have a stack of blue ribbons and grand champion ribbons from your time spent in 4-H? Did you win special recognition at your high school for an academic achievement or snag a certificate for club involvement? Not every students wins an award, so don’t just let them sit there and collect dust, write it down! Make sure that college admissions knows about your past successes. After all, if you don’t tell them, who will?

Extracurricular Activities – Colleges are looking for activities where you were meaningfully involved, not a jam-packed, alphabetized list of random clubs and organizations you joined only to impress college admissions! In this case, think “quality” not quantity! So, pick and choose your high school extracurricular activities with care and do more with it than just sign up.

Pre-college Summer Programs – More school? In the summer? Yes and yes! Don’t just think of a pre-college summer program as school, think of it as a way to do a little traveling or community service or to dig into something you are interested in, as well as earning college credit in high school and standing out to college admissions! Anything that you can do to be proactive in your education (and pre-college summer programs certainly count!) is a step in the right college acceptance direction.

5 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your College Interview

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:30:14 +0000

The key to a great college interview? Making sure that you come across as a bright, talented, and accomplished student worthy of attending your college of choice! If that sounds just slightly overwhelming – that’s where we come in! Here are tips to help you shine during your college interview!

rustman/Russ Morris

Practice makes Perfect! You might want to have some idea of what you’ll say – without sounding too rehearsed! Go over potential questions and answers with a parent or friend. Think about your response before rushing in and rambling out an answer – your interviewer will appreciate it! Common questions include:

Why do you want to go to our school?
What do you hope to get out of your college experience?
What is your biggest high school accomplishment?
What are your interests and hobbies?
Which five famous people, dead or alive, would you invite to a dinner party? Why?

Oops. Did you receive poor grades during sophomore year because you were dealing with major life events like a serious illness or parents’ divorce? This is the perfect opportunity to explain why your test scores or GPA aren’t as high as they might otherwise be. If any extenuating circumstances have negatively affected your high school performance, explain them! Keep it brief and professional – you don’t need to go into great detail.

Dress for Success. Most college students don’t exactly dress up for class—but you’re not there yet! Dress a cut above so that you can make an excellent first impression. You can probably skip the business suit, but for guys – you may want to break out the khakis and a button-down shirt and girls: think nice top and slacks or a skirt. Stay away from jeans, shorts, baggy or torn pants, and anything too tight or revealing.

Phony Baloney! Students sometimes get so worked up and nervous over college admission interviews that they stick to pre-rehearsed responses to questions – and way too many “yes” and “no” type answers! That makes for a boring interview – for both of you! It’s awesome to be prepared but the admissions officer wants to see who you are. Don’t be afraid to tell an entertaining (and true!) story that reveals your personality and interests. Just, please, don’t share anything you wouldn’t be comfortable telling your grandparents.

How about a little Q & A? Psst! This interview isn’t just for the admissions officer! Shocking, we know. But an interview works both ways. Sure, your interviewer will have questions for you but it’s okay for you to have questions, too. In fact – it’s a wonderful way to show your interest in the school – and learn a little something in the process!

To be or Not to Be: The College Interview

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:30:50 +0000

madabandon

Considering ditching your college interview? DON’T! Your grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations tell admissions a lot about who you are – but many colleges want to know more!

The college interview process, though often optional, is a great way for you to get your questions answered, put a face to a name, and explain any bumps in your high school record face to face. We’ve mentioned before that students who vocalize their desire to attend a particular college increase their college admittance odds – what better way than during a college interview? Show college admissions how much you want that letter of acceptance and it could help you get in!

Not every college or university has the staff (or the time) to conduct college interviews but for those that do (or if you happen to snag one) – it can be a great way to get a little one on one with someone whom the college trusts, especially if you aren’t sure yet which college would suit you the best. Some colleges ask you to hit up the campus (not a bad way to make a second campus visit), interview by phone, or, at some schools – they come to you.

Many colleges and universities (think Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Connecticut College, and Vassar College) utilize their college alumni, reaching out to students who live far from the college. There may be just one – or a panel.

Colleges do value what these volunteers have to say so they should still be treated with the same respect you would show the admissions counselors themselves – and they can still give you the information you are looking for – and from the point of view of a student which could prove invaluable!

While colleges and universities like to say that the college interview isn’t a major deciding factor (the rates for college acceptance are roughly the same with or without the interview) – it’s still not something to be taken lightly and, if at all possible – go for it! Standing out from the crowd (in a good way), can only help you get in!

6 Ways Homeschoolers Can Help Their Admissions Odds

admin — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:17:01 +0000

Whether it’s for religious reasons, practical concerns, or simply because it’s tough to find a school that seems like a good fit, a growing percentage of teenagers are being homeschooled by a parent or tutor. There are a lot of advantages to this approach: parents can directly oversee their children’s education, there’s no need to worry about crime or bad influences at school, and you have the flexibility of taking vacation time whenever you like. But there’s one concern that most families have a hard time escaping: once you finish your high school education at home, will any competitive college be willing to take a chance on you?

Because you have no formal GPA, you may feel like you’re putting yourself at risk of being rejected from top schools. But in fact, just the opposite could be true: Stanford University, in particular, is very enthusiastic about homeschooled students, and has accepted a far higher percentage of them than they have of the general student body. The admissions officers believe that homeschooled students who pursue unique independent learning paths have something that many other students lack: intellectual vitality.

Still, if you feel like homeschooling may be holding you back from a great college, here are some tips to help you get ahead.

Prepare well for the SATs, and take as many subject tests as possible. If colleges can’t evaluate your course performance by their usual criteria, test performance becomes even more important. Make sure to prepare well for the SATs, and take the exams several times if necessary to achieve impressive scores. Though SAT subject tests are generally considered to be optional, you’ll want to take as many as possible, since they can serve as stand-ins for formal grades.

Get recommendations from people besides your parents. Let’s face it: Mom isn’t exactly the most unbiased judge of character. Even if she teaches all your classes, schools will want to hear from others, too. If you’re involved in community service activities or are taking community college courses, get recommendations from the people guiding those activities.

Check out colleges’ homeschoolers’ admissions policies. As applications from homeschooled students become more common, more colleges and universities are publishing standardized policies about how they evaluate the applicants. This page has a listing of many homeschool admissions policies, but if a college you’re interested in isn’t listed, contact the school directly and ask if they have any guidelines.

Use the personal essay to talk about your homeschool experience. Unlike most students, you’re likely to have an education that’s heavily based on taking part in new experiences, rather than simply learning from books. Impress the admissions officers by showing them how your unique education has shaped your life and helped you to grow as a person—one who would surely be in demand at any top university.

Take part in campus interviews and college fairs. Because many people have the (often false) impression that homeschooled students aren’t well socialized, take every chance you can to prove them wrong. If you’re interested in a particular college, try to arrange a one-on-one interview with an admissions officer, so that you can impress him with your intelligence and unique outlook on education. Attending college fairs offers another opportunity to network with college officials, and can give you an opportunity to find out more about how you will be considered as a homeschooled student.

Make sure your transcript passes muster. In many states, you have a lot of leeway as to the focus of your home education. You’re free to spend time beekeeping as a science project, or take trips to the ocean to study marine biology. However, whatever you’re doing, colleges want to make sure you’re actually learning—so, along with standardized tests, you’ll want to make sure your academic transcript presents an impressive overview of what you’ve accomplished in your studies. Your family may consider hiring an admissions consultant (typically a former admissions officer) to look over your transcript and offer an honest appraisal.