Archive for the ‘College Admissions’ Category

Three Things You Avoid Leading Up to the SAT

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

The SAT is a big deal.  It will play a major role in determining what colleges and universities ultimately accept your application.  There are many things that you can “blow off” in life (and sometimes doing so not a bad idea in order to maintain your sanity), but blowing off the SAT is a really bad idea from beginning to end.  In this article we will look at some of the things you shouldn’t do before you take the SAT.

You may be able to do any of the things on our list and have everything turn out just find, but doing so means that you are depending upon good old-fashioned luck.  And depending on luck for success is rarely your best bet.  A good score on the SAT, like so much in life, depends greatly upon preparation.  Adopting the right strategies and tools for the job, such as test prep tutoring and college admissions counseling, can make a big difference.

Number One-Don’t Stay Up Late

Staying up late the night before the SAT is to be blunt a little crazy.  This test is long, demanding and it requires you to think clearly.  Don’t study or do anything other than relax the night before the SAT.  Showing up to take the SAT well rested could be one of the smartest moves you make in the entire SAT exam process.

Number Two-Don’t be a Social Butterfly

If a good SAT score is truly important to you, then you might have to trim down your social calendar.  It is a brutal truth, but many of your current friends you won’t see or think about in two years… let alone five years or ten years.  Whatever good times they have for you really can wait until you have studied for the SAT.  You won’t regret the time you spend on test prep tutoring and SAT practice test online exams.  Hanging out with some people you won’t see ever again after high-school instead of studying for the SAT is a different story…

Number Three-Don’t Indulge in Too Much of a Good Thing

Leading up to the SAT, it is important to you avoid eating foods that could make you ill.  Also don’t try anything like working out too vigorously.  Anything that could leave you feeling weak or simply not at your best will impact your score and not in a good way!

We’ve covered three big “don’ts,” and there are definitely more that will fit your own life and your own situation.  The real point here is to focus on your goal and that means sacrificing some of the things that you might want to do in the short run so that you will have success on the SAT.  Missing out on a good time is never easy, but neither is looking at a disappointing test score! When it comes to a test like the SAT that has such a profound impact on future educational options, it is best to play it safe.

Tips For Picking Your Major

Monday, December 12th, 2011

If you are concerned that you haven’t yet decided on a college major, stop worrying.  The simple fact is that many people don’t know what their major will be when they enter college, and switching majors is very common as well.  In fact, some people switch their majors more than one time!

When you want to find the right college it is good to consider what kind of college admissions counseling is available to you as well as college counseling services, in general.  Thinking about your major is something that you will want to begin thinking about while in high school.  However, it is important not to panic if you don’t have it figured out on your first day of college.

Many experts increasingly believe that most of us will have several different careers throughout our lifetimes.  This is due to the fact that technology is forcing the workplace to change more rapidly than at any other time in history.  So the career that you pick today may not be related to the field you will be working in thirty years from now.

When it comes to deciding on a major, there are two big “pulls” that most students face.  The first is that most of us want to like our work.  After all, forty hours a week or more is a lot of time, and it certainly adds up over the course of one’s working life!  This means that having a career that you like is a big factor.

The second factor in most people’s minds is the salary that a given career offers.  Yet, there is a third factor, which frequently gets overlooked, and that is job stability.  It is important to note that job stability is something of an illusion despite what you may hear.  Again, this is due to the fact that technology is changing the workplace landscape at a rapid pace.  The idea of long-term job stability for most people, in most careers, may be a thing of the past.

Trying to balance these three factors is difficult, and students handle these issues in different ways.  No one knows you better than you know yourself.  You may have family pushing you towards a major that does not interest you.  Don’t worry, as this is very common.  Usually this is an issue of your parents and relatives wanting you to have financial stability in your life.  Regardless of their motives, if you are positive that you will hate a given career path, you do need to strongly consider other options.  In order to be successful in a career, or even make it out of college with a degree in hand, you must be able to tolerate the major you select.

Another issue to consider is the connection between mind and body.  Our emotions do, in fact, impact our physical health due to the release of stress hormones and other factors.  Thus, if you truly hate a given career path, it could impact your health, and nothing is more important than your health.

Ultimately, you want to find a major that will lead to a career that will both make you happy and allow you to earn the kind of money you want to earn.  This isn’t always easy and it’s a good reason to invest some time into contemplation as well.  You can also ask for advice during college admissions counseling.  Many students realize that when they get to college that their concept of what a major would be like isn’t always reflected in the coursework itself.  Being adaptable and flexible is a key part to knowing how to survive college.

5 Brain Boosters Before Taking the SAT

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

If you are like most students, you are looking for ways to improve your SAT score. This is only natural, as this is one serious test. It can have some pretty serious implications and ramifications for your future. No pressure, right? In this article, we will look at some of the ways you can boost your brain in the weeks leading up to your SAT exam. We will also look at tips that can help you the day of your exam as well!

1. Chocolate! (Yes, Chocolate)

High quality chocolate, not the candy bar stuff, but high quality dark chocolate is loaded with compounds that are good for your brain. Studies have shown that chocolate can help you focus and may even help you improve your test scores. Chocolate also releases endorphins, which can boost your mood. Odds are you will want your mood to be boosted on test day!

2. The Caffeine Boost

People react differently to caffeine, as it is a stimulant. Most people don’t realize that caffeine is a natural insecticide created by plants to protect them against insects. It’s true! With that stated, however, caffeine does have many amazing properties, and one of them is it can boost your attention. This effect can be particularly pronounced when you don’t drink coffee or tea very often.

3. Puzzled by the SAT?

One good way to prepare for the SAT (other than studying, of course) is to do puzzles. Working on complex puzzles is a way to help you learn to focus on a complex task for a long period of time. Now what does that sound like?  The SAT, right?  Doing puzzles also forces you to think logically and exercises your brain in a different way that will help you come test time.  Just don’t depend on puzzles too much, as you do still have to study!

4. Exercise and the SAT

Now you might be wondering how exercise can help you with the SAT.  Some people might tell you that exercise couldn’t possibly help you the SAT, but they are wrong. Exercising reduces stress levels and gets blood flowing to your brain. “Runner’s high” isn’t a myth, but instead has been proven scientifically, as exercise, like chocolate, produces endorphins that make your feel better. Getting some exercise, even as simple as walking, will help you relax and have a more positive outlook. If you are relaxed and feel better, the odds are that you will have a better SAT score as well!

5. Meditation and the SAT

Recent meditation studies have surprised even the experts. Meditation has long been know for having the ability to calm people down, but recently science has learned that meditation can also make your brain grown new connections as well! Staying calm during the SAT is very important because if you panic, you will not achieve your optimal score. Practicing meditation weeks or months in advance, and then meditating the morning of your exam is a great idea. Don’t bother “cramming” half an hour before your exam, meditate and have some chocolate instead!

4 Ways to Fight the SAT Prep Blues

Monday, November 28th, 2011

Anyone serious about getting into one of his or her top college or university picks is also probably pretty serious and worried about the SAT. Your parents, teachers and other friends may amplify your level of worrying, especially if those friends are also serious about getting into one of their top picks. All of this pressure can become a little too intense sometimes. Let’s take a deep breath and take a closer look at some of the things you can do to reduce the depression, anxiety and stress that comes along with taking the gigantic and serious test called the SAT.

1. Realize a Less Than Perfect Score is Not the End of the World

If you have intense and serious parents, you may have been lead to believe that the difference between living in a “cardboard box” and living in a mansion with a butler is your score on the SAT.  This is not true. Your parents and other adults, such as teachers and guidance counselors, are stressing the importance of this test to you, because, in reality, it is very important. However, it is not life and death, and a less than ideal score is not the end of you, your dreams, your hopes, your career or anything else you may have heard.

Success in life is multifaceted, complex and involves many more factors than your SAT score. For example, many people get great SAT scores but are so burnt out by the time they get into college that they drop out! Of course, you should aim for a great score and study hard to achieve that goal. But don’t believe that your “world will end,” if you don’t get a great score.  In short, life is more complicated than that!

2. Take Time to Relax, Your Mind and Body Will Thank You

Stopping to relax and do something that you enjoy will help you keep the stress of SAT prep at bay. Music, mediation and exercise have all been proven as good ways to relax and clear your mind. Finding a few minutes to relax every day will help you achieve a better score in the long run.

3. Remove the Distractions

It is easy to use communication devices constantly including your phone and computers. One problem is constantly being online also keeps your mind racing as well. Step away from all of your distractions for a few moments a day to help unwind and relax.

4. Get Outside!

Humans only live in caves when necessary. Get out of your modern cave as much as you can and get sunlight and fresh air, both of which are good for you. Indoor air is several times more polluted than outdoor air, and this means that opening up a window or two is a very good idea. Even in the winter, fresh cold air is better than no fresh air at all. Fresh air will also help you calm down and clear your mind before the “big day.”

What You Should Wear To A College Interview?

Monday, November 21st, 2011

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.

How Far In Advance Should You Know Your Major?

Thursday, November 17th, 2011

You may have parents who were kind enough to tell you what your major was going to be before you were born.  Now that is a tricky situation indeed, but for those of you whose college destiny hasn’t be predetermined and prearranged, there are decisions to be made.  In this article, we will explore how far in advance you should be thinking about your major.

The costs of a college education are rising dramatically faster than inflation.  This means that being able to afford a college education is no longer as easy as it once was.  In fact, college graduation rates appear to be going down, not up, for the first time in decades.  While this is a complex topic, it is also tied into the issue of knowing your major.

There is no doubt it can be very difficult to decide what you want your major to be at the age of 17 or 18.  In short, it is actually pretty unfair.  For many students, the cold hard truth is that deciding your major may come down to being a financial decision.

The “financial wrinkle” in deciding your major means that it is worth the time you will invest to closely decide what career path and degree program is right for you.  The odds are excellent that you will have ample advice and perhaps even considerable pressure from your parents and others.  If they are paying for your college, this could prove to be another wrinkle in your equation.  Yet, ultimately it is your life, and you will have to live with the decisions.  So, if you just know you are going to strongly dislike a given career, this is something that you must consider in advance!

Clearly, the sooner you can decide on a major, the better off you will be.  Once you are in college, you may change your mind.  But there are some ways that you can safeguard against this happening and keep from spending a fortune in the process.  Focusing on general requirements while taking one or two classes in your major is a good idea.  The chances are good that if you are destined to truly hate a given major, you will know it or at least have a strong suspicion after a couple of classes.

Picking a major is tricky… and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!  Deciding upon a major can, in many cases, be deciding upon a career.  That is a pretty serious responsibility with a lot of pressure.  Deciding that you are on the wrong path early in college can be just as important as picking the right major to begin with.

Your most important question isn’t how far in advance you should be selecting your major.  Instead, you should be figuring out how to take the steps necessary to make sure that you are selecting a major that will lead to a successful career and long term happiness.  In the end, keep this fact in mind; experts believe that in the future, people will be switching careers numerous times over the course of their lives.  So even if you do make a mistake, there may still be hope.

Can Volunteer Work Help You Get Into College?

Saturday, November 12th, 2011

Volunteering work is a wonderful thing to do regardless of your age.  Admissions counselors and officials will no doubt be impressed to see that you are involved in volunteer work.  However, it is important to realize that volunteer work is something that you should do only if you truly want to do it.  More than likely, there is an issue that you feel strongly about whether its homelessness, pet adoption or the environment.  If you volunteer to help out with a cause that you feel passionately about, the end result will not just be a booster for your college applications, but you will also feel great at the same time.

Volunteering Will Help You Stand Out

College admissions are very competitive because so many students are applying.  The simple fact is that colleges and universities receive thousands and thousands of applications every year.  As you most likely already know, the competition can become very intense.

Colleges and universities eliminate many applicants almost immediately for a variety of criteria, ranging from grades and test scores to more controversial measurements.  Some universities and colleges “set aside” a number of slots of children of alum, athletes and other such practices both stated and unstated.  Yes, the admissions process is highly flawed and problematic.  Knowing this detail is important, but you shouldn’t fixate upon it, as this will not contribute to achieving your goals. Instead you need to take the steps necessary to help your application stand out from the crowd.  One way that you can stand out is through volunteering work.

How Do You Start Volunteering?

First, don’t worry about volunteering being complicated or hard to do.  Most organizations are more than eager to have new people get involved.  The vast majority of organizations that you can volunteer with will have worthwhile and even interesting work.  A quick phone call or email is a good place to begin.  Try to find a local organization that is giving back to your own community.  One reason that this is a good idea is that you will be able to see tangible results from your efforts and work.

Learn on the Job!

If you select the right kind of organization, you will even be able to learn on the job.  This most definitely will help you with your college interviews and applications.  Being able to point to real world experience gives you an edge over many young people also applying to college and that is, of course, something that you want.  This aspect of volunteer work is one that is frequently overlooked, but you can put it to your advantage!

Reflect Your Positive Attitude In Your Interviews and Applications

If you volunteer, you’ve helped people and probably learned something in the process.  Don’t be afraid to reflect this fact in your college interviews and applications.  If you were indeed excited about your volunteer work and can point to the tangible impact that your work had, don’t be shy about pointing out these accomplishments.  Let college admission officials know that you are looking to help your community.

Are Extracurricular Activities Worth It?

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

One key point that must be made about extracurricular activities is that the sooner you begin doing them the better off you will be.  If admissions counselors feel that you got involved at “the last second,” your activities will be seen much differently than they would have been if you’ve been involved for years.  In this article, we will look at why extracurricular activities can be very worthwhile when it comes to getting into college.

College Admissions Can Be Quite Competitive

It can be difficult to truly understand how competitive college admissions can be without first understanding the number of students that are applying right along with you.  For example, in 2010 Harvard received more than 30,000 applications!  This amount is particularly alarming when you take into account that the school only accepts 1,600 freshmen each year.  These statistics can be a bit scary, but that doesn’t mean you should give up on getting into the school of your choice.  Instead you need to focus on finding different ways to help yourself stand out from the crowd and a great way of doing so is to take part in extracurricular activities.

What Kind of Extracurricular Activities are the Best?

Deciding what kind of extracurricular activities are the best for you can be quite tricky.  In part, the answer lies in what you feel the most like doing.  You don’t want your extracurricular activities to feel like a burden and nothing but extra work.  If you take this path, you may not get the results you ultimately want.

It is an easy trap to pick the extracurricular activities that you feel admissions counselors will want to see, but there is a problem with this approach.  For example, if you don’t like the extracurricular activities that you pick and are only becoming involved in them because you think these activities will “look good” on your application, you may not stay involved.  If you don’t stay involved for a substantial amount of time, the end result will be that your extracurricular involvement was of no real help in the long run.

The Three Ways Extracurricular Activities Help

A good aspect of extracurricular activities is that by participating, teachers will have an opportunity to get to know you better.  This factor can translate into a great letter of recommendation.  A second way that extracurricular activities can help your efforts to get into your college of choice is that those activities will give you something additional to discuss during your college interviews and on your applications.  Finally, extracurricular activities will help you demonstrate to admissions counselors that you got involved in your school community and did not just “drift through.”

Three Ways Extracurricular Involvement Scores You Points

1) Teachers get to know you better and that means better letters of recommendation
2) You will have more to discuss in interviews and on applications
3) Extracurricular activities show that you get involved

Are There Times You Should Not Participate in Extracurricular Activities?

Usually participating in extracurricular activities is a good idea, but there are exceptions.  If you think your grades will suffer as a result, you should skip the extracurricular activities.  Additionally, if you are working a part-time job after school, you likely shouldn’t stretch yourself so thin.  Ultimately, extracurricular involvement should boost your chances of getting into one of your top picks.

5 Tips for Creating A Glowing Admissions Letter and Statement

Saturday, November 5th, 2011

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.

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.