Archive for the ‘AP Classes’ Category

3 Ways Advanced Placement Classes Set You Up For College Success.

Thursday, September 1st, 2011
AP Classes Teach You To Study Like A College Student

Learn to study like a college student with advanced placement classes. Photo credit: M00by

Did you sign up for advanced placement classes this year? Or are you thinking about switching into an AP course or two? If so, then congratulations are in order!

The time and energy you’re investing in your classes now will not only make it easier to get into the college of your choice, but also set you up for success once you’re there!

In fact, studies prove that taking advanced placement classes and doing well on the AP exams leads to better college GPAs. And that’s just the beginning of the advantages you’ll see.

Advanced placement classes prepare you for college-level coursework.

Make no mistake: AP classes are hard work. Although you’ll be learning in a high school classroom, your teachers will treat you more like the college student you will one day become. That means you’ll be expected to pay close attention to lectures, take great notes and, of course, study like you’ve never studied before. In other words, to do well you’ll have to learn how to study like a college student. And that? Gives you a real advantage over your classmates when you finally begin your freshman year.

Advanced placement classes can help you choose a college major.

It’s all well and good to say you think you want to major in biology after taking the required science course early in your high school career. But AP biology courses (as well as the AP math, chemistry and physics courses that commonly go along with them) will give you a better feel for whether or not biology is really the major for you.

Why? Well, because you’ll study things at greater depth, and be expected to learn more difficult material. You might find yourself rethinking your English Literature major course after reading Chaucer (or be even more excited about the idea). Either way, you’ll have a better understanding of what you’re getting into.

Advanced placement classes free you up to take more college electives.

When you pass an AP exam with enough points to get full college credit, you’re knocking a required course off your list before you ever get to college. So instead of spending a semester in calculus, you can explore another subject you might not otherwise have had time for, like drama, anthropology, or even Harry Potter.

Or, you can delve deeper into your chosen major, broadening your knowledge base for future success on the job market. Either way, it’s a winning situation!

These are just a few of the ways advanced placement classes give you a head start on college life. For more info about AP exams and succeeding in college, subscribe to our blog today!

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in AP Classes, College Admissions, Preparing for College | 1 Comment »

The Admissions Game: The Difference Between Selective and Non-Selective Colleges

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011

Browse around enough college websites and you’ve probably come across the terms “selective” and “non-selective.” It’s a very important part of figuring out where to spend your time and energy when it comes to applying to college!

Rice University

Rice University

There is a difference between selective schools and Ivy League schools. In general, Ivy League refers to athletics and encompasses schools like Harvard and Yale. However, there are many selective schools that aren’t considered Ivy League, like MIT and Stanford University, that are also competitive.

Selective Colleges

While any college is more likely to accept a well-rounded student with a great GPA, at a selective college? It’s doubly important! Your involvement in extracurricular activities, community service, and other activities is a key factor of college admission—and having more than good grades is a big part of achieving admission at your dream school.Selective schools are in great demand yet typically admit a very small percentage of students who apply.

Less—Selective or Non-Selective Colleges

Don’t let the term fool you: A non-selective college doesn’t mean they let just anybody in! Like any other college, a non-selective will still have standards. They usually operate on a more open admission basis, or rolling admission, where they will accept college applications until their student body is full—which is good news for you if you decide to apply at the last minute!

Who Gets in to Selective Colleges, Anyway?

Selective colleges admit the best of the best: those over-achievers who are very involved in not only their high school or homeschool groups but their community as well. They have taken (and survived) AP classes and Honors courses and passed with flying colors. They may be fluent in a second language or have some other well-developed talent or skill.

MIT

MIT

Highly selective schools consider many factors of college admission. They look at your application as a whole and decide whether or not they need someone who fits your profile.

If they have only one cello player who happens to be graduating that Spring, and you happen to play the Cello, you might get in. The same goes for students from a particular state. If the school needs a student from that state so they can mention with pride that they have students from every state in the US, you might get in.

Again, don’t think that this means that your GPA, test scores, and community service don’t matter—they most certainly do! However, a selective college has many factors to consider. Your legacy status and notable achievements are just another piece to fit into the selective college admissions puzzle.

Where Do You Fit In?

Public or private college, big campus or small, it doesn’t matter—any college can be selective or non-selective. The key to choosing a college isn’t about shooting for the most selective school, it’s about looking for the school that is the right fit for you!

Image #1 Courtesy of Flickr, Onilad.
Image #2 Courtesy of Flickr, Francisco Diez.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in AP Classes, Choosing a College, College Admissions, College Applications, College Campus, College Classes, College Life, College Search, Extracurricular Activities, Homeschool, Preparing for College, SAT/ACT Test, Summer Programs | No Comments »

Free College Resources You Need to Know About

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010

My College Guide has quite a lot of free college resources right here on our website: our annual college magazine available in full online (with featured articles also translated into Spanish), our regularly updated blog, and one more fantastic resource that we want to make sure that you know about: our College Admissions Guru!

Ask our College Admissions Guru your questions: it's free and anonymous!

Cillian Storm / Bonita Suraputra

From financial aid to the SAT/ACT test to the college application process: the My College College Guide Admissions Guru is an amazing college resource! If you want a personalized answer, just ask: it’s free and anonymous. While we can’t guarantee that each and every question will be answered, it definitely won’t be if you don’t submit it!

Latest Questions for the Guru
Question: I have heard that colleges prefer “depth” in extracurricular activities. But in order to attain “depth” in wrestling, I must dedicate nothing less than my full time and energy to the sport. I am afraid this might end up hurting my academics, as the workload of 5 AP classes is nothing to sneeze at. Also, I have an interest in many clubs and activities that conflict with wrestling, such as Academic Decathlon and Mock Trial. This goes along with the “depth” issue, as I am afraid that if I quit wrestling to attend these activities, colleges may look down on that. What would you recommend?

Answer: I recommend that you first maintain your academic record as well as you can and, second, that you pursue what you are passionate about and what you enjoy. High school is not only a time to prepare for college, but it is also a time to explore your interests and try different things that may tell you more about what you want to do later on. If wrestling is beginning to take away from that experience of exploring (not to mention your academic standing), then by all means try some other things instead. Don’t…continue reading Latest Questions from the Guru.

Let the College Admissions Guru help you with all your burning college questions!

Brett Tully / Brett Tully

The College Application Process
Question: What do you write in college application essays? Can you write an essay about your experiences in extra-curricular activities? Or do you list your extra-curricular activities? Also, is there a limit to how many recommendations you can get from your teachers? If not, is it better to get a lot of recommendations from your teachers? Even if the recommendations are not well-developed, it’s better to have lots, right? Thanks.

Answer: Great questions! You can really do a lot with a well-written, interesting essay.  If your grades are good but not fantastic, you could push yourself over the edge to acceptance with a great essay.  And even if your grades and scores are great, presenting yourself in a poor essay could really hurt your chances for acceptance. The best essays discuss…continue reading the college application process.

Financial Aid
Question: I have a few questions. When is the best time to find financial aid and where can I find applications for these? Also, when is the best time to tour colleges and is it required to get an interview?

Answer: You should start investigating financial aid opportunities, particularly merit-based scholarships and grants, in the second semester of your junior year. You’ll probably need to start applying in the first semester of your senior year. Of course, you should follow the specific requirements prescribed for any particular source of aid. With regard to touring colleges, there are basically two approaches to take. One way is to…continue reading Financial Aid

You've got a ton of questions about your future -- let our College Admisions Guru answer your questions -- and help you get to where you want to go!

mtischendorf

SAT/ACT Tests
Question: Thanks for taking the time to read my question! I am currently a rising senior in high school. By the time I finish high school, I will have taken 6 AP classes along with 15 honors classes. I was wondering, how many reach schools should I apply to? What other advice would you have for me to make my application more desirable to a school like Georgetown? Finally, would I be considered a legacy student at a school if my grandfather attended it?

Answer: It sounds like you’re doing all of the right things! You have a strong record and should be in the running at a number of fine schools. In response to your specific questions, the only thing I can think of that you could do to possibly improve your chance of getting into a top school is to take the SAT test again. You have a very good score, but…continue reading SAT/ACT Tests

Picking the Right School
Question: What is the point of going to a very expensive Ivy League school to get your undergraduate degree when you know that you are going to get your masters degree when you’re done? I would like to go to Dartmouth, but I have a full scholarship to the University of Florida, so maybe I should go there and go to Dartmouth for my MBA. What is your opinion?

Answer: Ivy League schools offer students great education and prestige. Many students find these schools attractive because they are selective and because a degree from such a school is impressive on a job application. Yet, there are great schools all over the country that offer a wonderful education and are easier to get into. And, as you know, public schools such as the University of Florida are more affordable. The best way to decide what school is best for you is to…continue reading Picking the Right School.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in AP Classes, College Admissions, College Applications, Extracurricular Activities, Gap Year, Homeschool, Preparing for College, SAT/ACT Test, Summer Programs, Technology | 1 Comment »

Advanced Placement Classes: A Taste of Higher Education

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Sure, fluff courses can potentially boost your GPA and even your class ranking, however, Advanced Placement Courses can really open the doors to your future!  With more than thirty courses, everything from Japanese Language and Culture to Macroeconomics to Environmental Science, an Advanced Placement Class may just be the boost that your college application needs to get you into your college of choice.

There are plenty of reasons to give an AP Class a try:

Prove to college admissions that you are ready for college!
Save money on pricey college courses.
Stand out from the crowd.
Go farther, faster!

LucastheExperience

AP Courses naturally carry a  heavier workload, much like the college classes you will soon be taking.  Don’t rely on your grades to get into the college of your choice. Lots of college wannabes get high marks and are involved, just like you, but not everyone makes the effort to take an AP Class.

It’s hard work and probably a lot different from the kind of classes you have had in the past, which is why, if you succeed, the payoff is even better!

You don’t need us to tell you that college isn’t cheap.  Instead of shelling out the big bucks for introductory level college classes, getting enough points on an AP Exam let you skip the intro and get right into the heart of the subject.  The smaller price tag of an Advanced Placement Exam (as compared to a college course) is just a nice little bonus.

Speak with an AP Teacher at your school to see what classes your high school offers.  Find out what to expect and get a better idea about the workload.

No AP Class access at your high school?  No problem.  Contact The College Board and get more information about independent study or even, in some areas, online AP courses.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in AP Classes, College Admissions, College Applications, Preparing for College | 1 Comment »

9 Ways to Save a Fortune on College Tuition and Expenses

Monday, December 14th, 2009

piggyThe idea of a college student being too poor to afford anything but Ramen noodles may be clichéd, but it exists for a reason—it’s true for many students. Between the cost of tuition, textbooks, a computer, dorm expenses, and every other essential part of the college life, most students find it hard to keep more than a few dollars in their wallets at any given time.

But by thinking smart and planning early, you can save thousands of dollars on college expenses. Here are just a few ideas to help lighten the burden of all those bills:

  1. Earn college credits in high school. If you still have a couple of years to go before starting college, you could save thousands in future tuition fees by taking advanced placement courses. If you do well enough on the AP exams, or if you ace your SATS, you’ll be able to bypass the lower-level general education requirements for related subjects. You can also take college-level classes at your local community college while still in high school—talk to your school counselor about your options.
  2. Instead of buying your textbooks, try renting them. While you can save some money by purchasing used copies of your textbooks from your campus bookstore, you can save way more by renting books through websites like Chegg and Bookrenter, where you can borrow a book that retails for $70 or more for less than $20 for a semester. Both sites also offer free return shipping when you’re finished with the semester.
  3. Download freeware for your computer. Commonly used computer software like MSOffice cost hundreds of dollars to purchase. Instead, download open-source software like OpenOffice, which is completely free to download.
  4. Start out at a community college. You can take the first two years of general education requirements at a local community college near your home before transferring to complete your major at your university of choice. You may not be as involved with campus life by taking this path, but the thousands of dollars you’ll save could make the decision worthwhile.
  5. Take summer classes at a community college. If you don’t want to wait to attend a traditional university, you can still save some cash by taking summer courses at a local community college, which costs less for each credit than a 4-year school. You also may be able to graduate early, saving thousands more on campus housing fees.
  6. Take an extra class each semester. Yes, you’ll be insanely busy, but it’s doable—and by taking a fast-track path with your education, you’ll spend less on rent, meals, and other living expenses.
  7. If you want to go to med school, enroll in a combined degree program. Medical school is even more expensive than college—but you can cut costs on both if you know what path you want to take before starting college. If you enroll in one of the 36 schools offering a BS/MD program, you’ll be able to complete the entire degree program in seven years, for significantly less than you’d pay going from college to a separate medical school.
  8. Live in a triple dorm. In your first year of college, you probably won’t have much choice about where you live. But if you don’t mind cramped quarters, some schools will allow you to turn a double room into a triple, saving thousands on your annual bill.
  9. Try out a student co-op. Later in your college career, you’ll probably look for a house or apartment off-campus to rent. A student co-op is the best bargain you’ll find: in exchange for doing household chores (typically 5 hours a week of cooking and cleaning for your fellow housemates), you’ll pay much less in rent than you would in a typical house.

What other tips have you used to help save money on college costs? Share them in the comments!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in AP Classes, Choosing a College, College Classes, College Life, Preparing for College, SAT/ACT Test, Technology | 3 Comments »

3 Ways to Get into Your First Choice College (Besides Getting Good Grades)

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

Pesky Library/Pesky Librarians

You can join the ranks of the 70% of high school students that receive an acceptance letter to their first choice college, but it takes more than getting good grades. Many students get so hung up on maintaining a high grade point average that they forget about the other factors college admission officers take into consideration. Building the right student record is similar to building a dream house. Start with the foundation—making good grades—and build up from there.

  1. Score high on the SAT. SAT scores are a consideration along with your grades. This means you need to score as high as you can on your SAT. If necessary, consider obtaining a SAT preparation guide or take a class to help you score high the first time.
  2. Take AP classes. Many high schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) classes to high school students. If your high school offers AP classes, then you need to take them. First, it allows you to earn high school and college credit simultaneously, which cuts down the amount of classes and cost for college. Second, it shows college admission officers that you like a challenge and take your education seriously.
  3. Be a participant. Participating as a member of your school and your community is an important college application enhancer. College admission officers equally weigh grades, SAT scores, AP classes and participation in extracurricular and community activities.

It’s important to build a college application that is complete. Good grades are a must, but you can enhance the quality of your application by scoring high on your SAT, taking AP classes and participating in school and community activities.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in AP Classes, College Admissions, College Applications, Extracurricular Activities, Preparing for College, SAT/ACT Test | No Comments »