Posts Tagged ‘college admissions process’

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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 »

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

Thursday, July 21st, 2011
Questions about getting into college

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.

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Admissions, College Applications, College Interview, College Search, Financial Aid, Online Tools, Paying for College, Preparing for College, Scholarships, Social Media | No Comments »

Let’s Get Personal: The College Personal Statement

Tuesday, November 9th, 2010

The college personal statement is a very important part of the college admissions process and, in a process that can sometimes seem a little impersonal (there are a lot of forms and fill-in-the-blanks), the personal statement or essay is the one part of the application where it’s okay and even encouraged to let your personality shine through!

For your personal statement, you'll probably want to leave the colored pencils out of it.

doug88888 / Doug Wheller

While this doesn’t mean that you should dot your I’s with hearts, it does mean that admissions wants to get a feel for your personality, your character, and your intelligence in a different way: through an open-ended or specific question in order to see how you respond.

Admissions is looking for a few simple things. They don’t want a rehash of all your accomplishments and extracurricular activities, they want to see how you have handled whatever life has thrown your way and come out on top.

How have you grown and changed? How have the events in your life made you who you are today and why should admissions care?

If those sound like tough questions to answer: they are. It’s important not to wait until the last minute on this one! A good personal essay can be what sets you apart from students who have the same academic background as you.

Before you start having nightmares about writing your personal statement, know that admission will be looking at other parts of your application as well. Other factors of college admission include items like your letter(s) of recommendation, your GPA, class rank, extracurricular activities, and standardized test scores.

pencil

Pink Sherbet Photography / D. Sharon Pruitt

So while your personal statement is important, that alone probably isn’t going to get you into a college where you don’t even meet the requirements but, if you do fit or exceed requirements, it can help set you apart from other students who have the same talents and background as you.

In fact, many admissions professionals do cite the college application essay as an important factor when weighing a college application: the less mistakes the better!

A poorly proofread personal statement is going to be a drudge to read and won’t show that you really want in to that school – so, why would they let you in?

My College Guide has plenty of tips and mistakes to avoid on your personal statement coming up! Stay on top of updates: subscribe for free to My College Guide via RSS or email.

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Posted in College Admissions, College Applications, Personal Statement | No Comments »

Applying to College: How Many Colleges Should You Apply to?

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

The college search was hard enough, now you’ve got college admissions applications staring you in the face, too. 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?

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!

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.

architekt2 / Hoch Sollst Du Leben

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.

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.

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Posted in College Admissions, College Applications | 3 Comments »

Choosing a College: Questions for Jewish Students to Consider

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

The college search is rough on everyone, but if you are looking for a college where others share your religious beliefs, it might require a bit more research on your part. My College Guide recognizes that there are some special concerns that face college bound Jewish students – and we’ve got a few questions you might want to consider as you evaluate whether or not a college is the right fit for you!

College students enjoy a Hillel BBQ.

Alla_G / Alla

What about Hillel?
Does the college you are interested in have an active Hillel (or some sort of equivalent)? The majority of colleges,  even church-affiliated colleges like Georgetown University, have an active Hillel, though it may be small in size. Find out who the staff are, the specifics about the activities and services, as well as social events to meet other Jewish students. Speak with both the staff and students actively involved in the Hillel to get a better idea of the way things are run and how your Jewish faith will fit in to your college life!

What about the holidays?
Take a look at what services are offered on Shabbat and the high holidays as well as the facility in which the services are held. Can you bring your family or other guests?

Are there any Jewish studies courses or majors?
If learning about your Jewish heritage is important to you and you are toying with the possibility of a Jewish major or minor, you will want to see how many courses are offered on the topic each semester – and if you can major or minor in Jewish Studies.

Is it possible to study in Israel?
If you  foresee a trip to Israel as part of your not-too distant future, you might want to see if your college will allow you to study abroad in Israel in exchange for college credits! Every college is different but some do have Israel programs for college students so it might be easier than you think (and definitely worth looking into). Keep in mind that Birthright Israel does sponsor free trips to Israel for Jewish young men and women between the ages of 18 and 26. Although these Birthright trips don’t typically provide you with college credit, they are a fantastic (and free!) way to visit the country of your heritage.

Johanna and Herman H. Newberger Hillel House at the University of Chicago.

reallyboring / Eric Allix Rogers

Is there a kosher meal plan?
If you want to keep kosher, your best bet is usually the meal plan offered by many of the Hillel chapters on college campuses. If that’s just not available, see if the colleges that you are interested in have either a specific kosher food meal plan or, at least, kosher food choices.

What is the percentage of Jewish students on campus? Of course it’s fine to make friends with other students from different backgrounds and cultures, but it’s also nice to have common ground with students that celebrate the holidays just like you. Knowing the percentage of Jewish students on campus can help you decide how comfortable you will feel based on the numbers. You can find the number of Jewish students at the majority of colleges simply by checking out the Hillel website.

How does your college handle holidays?
Most colleges do not close for the high holidays or any other Jewish holidays. However, if you miss classes on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, most schools will understand and your college professors usually won’t schedule exams on these days. If you are more observant and do not plan on attending classes on other holidays, such as Sukkot, Shavuot, Passover or Simchat Torah, you should check with the schools in which you’re interested to see the policy for making up work and/or exams that may be missed.

Lehigh University Hillel poster.

Sarcasmette / Dyana

Remember: the best way to get a feel for a college is to make the college campus visit! Don’t be afraid to ask your questions, get the population statistics from the Hillel website and college admissions, visit the Hillel on campus, and talk to some of the Jewish Student Union members.

It might also be worth trying to stay on-campus for the Shabbat and attending the service at the Hillel, particularly if you intend to do Shabbat services while you are in college.

Know that you can make a successful transition to college, keep your Jewish identity, make new friends, and gain a college diploma!

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Campus, College Classes, College Life, Fun Stuff | 1 Comment »

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.

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

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

Thursday, September 16th, 2010

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!

Pull up a chair and get ready for your college interview, an important part of some colleges' admission process.

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.

"D" is for Diversity! Colleges want a varied student body from around the country...and the world.

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.

Did you earn awards, certificates, and blue ribbons? Let college admissions know about them!

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.

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Posted in College Admissions, College Applications, College Interview, Legacy Status, Personal Statement | 1 Comment »

Common Application: One Application, Multiple Colleges

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

It’s just about college application submission time! Are you excited or what? Well, if the thought of filling out college application after college application doesn’t exactly thrill you – the Common Application just might! You haven’t heard about it? Well, My College Guide got in touch with Scott Anderson, the Director of Outreach at Common Application, for more info.

Remember The Lord of The Rings? It's sort of like "one ring to rule them all" except that there are no rings, Elves, or Orcs -- and it's a college application.

Generalnoir / D McG

The Common Application is one way to streamline the college application process. Says Scott Anderson, “I’ll quote our mission statement: ‘The Common Application is a not-for-profit membership organization that, since its founding 35 years ago, has been committed to providing reliable services that promote equity, access, and integrity in the college application process.

We serve students, member institutions, and secondary schools by providing applications – online and in print – that students and school officials may submit to any of our more than 400 members. Membership is open to colleges and universities that promote access by evaluating students using a holistic selection process.’”

Whew! That’s a mouthful! What that really means is that instead of filling out and sending in applications from numerous colleges and universities (let’s face it, most applications aren’t really all that different from one another), the Common Application lets you fill out just one application online – so you can then use that same application at all of the Common Application member colleges and universities.

Want into college? You'll have to submit a college application first!

james / bono / Jamie Bono

Just how many Common Application member colleges are there? “For 2010-11,” shares Anderson, “we have 415 members.”  And, from the sounds of it, it’s definitely garnering a following! “Last year,” he remarked, “489,000 students submitted 1.93 million Common Applications.”

A student can’t send the Common Application to just any college – “Students can only send a Common App to our member institutions,” states Anderson. But, the list of Common Application college and university members is quite large and features many colleges and universities that you might be interested in!

So, what’s the big benefit to using the Common App? “The Common Application saves time by allowing a student to complete one application that can them be submitted to many colleges,” reveals Anderson. “It’s also important to know that about 2/3 of our members will require some additional information from students in the form of Supplements.”

We can see how this could be a bit of a time-saver. If you are curious, there is plenty of help available to answer your Common Application questions – there’s also an online support center. Yes, Common Application is on Facebook, too. But in the meantime, My College Guide is here to help you with the rest of the college admissions process! Stay tuned as we keep tackling college admissions issues and keep you informed about the latest in college news!

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Posted in College Admissions, College Applications | 1 Comment »

The College Letter of Recommendation Is Not My Grandma Thinks I’m Wonderful

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

There are many four year colleges and universities that require at least one letter of recommendation – and for those that don’t require a recommendation but still allow you to send one in, adding a thoughtful letter or two from an objective outsider is a great way to help yourself stand out to the college admissions crowd!

Defining who you are is tough -- give college admissions a wider view with a letter of recommendation!

squacco

What is a Letter of Recommendation?

Colleges want to know the facts about your character and your abilities – and to make sure that you are worthy of entering their school! A letter of recommendation or a recommendation is an easy way for college admissions to gain an better understanding about your academic successes based on a statement from someone in a position who has seen what you have accomplished – so that college admissions can make a more informed opinion a better guesstimate about your chance for college success!

Who should write your letter or recommendation?

A strong letter of recommendation is worth so much more than a weak one. Keeping that in mind, think twice before you ask just anyone to write you a recommendation. It might be tempting to use your family members or a close friend — but try to think beyond your family tree and inner circle!

Need a place to start? Think about the following questions:
clip_image001Are you involved in any extracurricular activities?
clip_image001[1]Do you have a part-time job?
clip_image001[2]Are you active in community service?
clip_image001[3]What about sports teams?
clip_image001[4]Are you close to any of your intended college’s alumni?
clip_image001[4]Do you have a good relationship with any teachers or your guidance counselor?

If you have a particularly good relationship with any of the individuals in charge of any of these organizations, you may want to think about politely asking them for a recommendation! Coaches, employers, organization and club leaders, even graduates from that college are just a few of the options you may have when it comes to figuring out who you should ask to write a recommendation!

Yes, what's inside a letter of recommendation is very important!

Valerie Everett / Valerie Everett

Some college applications will tell you exactly what a letter of recommendation should cover – with specific questions to answer. These include subjects that range from student character traits to telling a story about the student to illustrate an obstacle that s/he overcame. Some colleges and universities, however, will leave it up to the recommendation writer’s discretion (which is why you want to make sure you have a solid relationship with whomever you choose!).

Colleges and Recommendations

Georgetown University requires a teacher’s recommendation, but others, like the College of William and Mary, have made it optional. Tufts University, for example, requires one letter of recommendation from one of your teachers from a major academic course (like math, social science, or foreign language) as well as a recommendation from your high school guidance counselor!

Recycle that College Letter of Recommendation

Don’t think that the recommendation stops at your college application. You might even be able to re-use that college letter of recommendation for scholarship opportunities, too! There are plenty of scholarships out there – and many do require or, at least, prefer, an accompanying letter of recommendation as a part of your scholarship application package. That letter you ask for and receive once can be used over and over again!

Since not every college or university requires a letter of recommendation, you may not ever have to experience this process – but if you do, know that My College Guide is here for you and will have plenty more about the college admissions process to come!

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