Posts Tagged ‘college admissions’

The 10 Most Overlooked Way to Boost Your Grades and SAT Score

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

Would you like to dramatically boost your SAT scores?  The answer for almost everyone reading this article is “yes.”  Now there are countless books that will outline for you all the different ways that you can boost your grades and your SAT scores, but many of those books fail to address some pretty basic points.  And as it turns out, these points are the ones that could impact your tests scores the most.

Factor One-Avoid Exhaustion

Getting enough sleep and not pushing yourself too hard is key to getting a great SAT score and great grades.  Sure it sounds simple, but many students don’t take these obvious tips seriously enough.  You may have invested time researching everything from what to take to college, why study abroad and even college student credit cards, but did you do so when you were exhausted?

Factor Two-Avoid Distractions

It would be easy to go on and on regarding this point.  Let’s just state that if you have distractions, you should eliminate them!

Factor Three-Don’t Expect the Impossible

If you haven’t been a great student for three years or more, don’t expect to suddenly be able to “ace” the SAT.  This is an unhealthy approach, and it will only serve to place you under tremendous strain.  Be realistic about what you can achieve in a short period of time.

Factor Four-Don’t Be Shy About Finding Advice

You should actively be looking for advice and preferably doing so well before its time to apply for college and take the SAT.  This doesn’t mean that you need to do everything that people tell you to do, but having advice from knowledgeable people could just make all the difference.

Factor Five-Invest in Quality Study Aids

Not all study aids are of the same level of quality.  One usually gets a better product by shopping around, and this rule definitely holds true for all study aids.  There are, for example, fantastic books on studying for the SAT and there are some rather poor books as well.  No matter what kind of study aids you need, research them and go with the good ones!

Factor Six-Eat Healthy Foods

Want better grades and a better score on the SAT?  One way to help give yourself a boost is to eliminate fast foods, processed foods and sugar and replace them with whole foods that are free of chemicals and other additives.

Factor Seven-Get Some Exercise!

Is there a relationship between exercise and better grades?  There most definitely is, and here is why.  When you exercise, you reduce stress, you get more blood to your brain, and exercise can even help relax your muscles.

Factor Eight-Take a Break!

You may have people pressuring you to study constantly, and there is no doubt that you have to study to get good test results and score well on the SAT.  But taking breaks is important as well.  By taking a break from studying, you will be able to return with a different perspective on the topic.

Factor Nine-Take Steps to Reduce Eyestrain

Eyestrain can be a serious issue if you are studying a great deal.  If you are spending a good deal of time studying on a computer, be sure that you adjust your settings.  Eyestrain is one of the reasons that it is important to take plenty of breaks!

Factor Ten-Don’t Believe the Hype

There are many “horror stories” regarding how to survive college life, going to college and getting a good score on the SAT.  Ignore as much of this as possible.  Worrying only distracts you from getting good grades and a good SAT score, which, in turn, will get you into one of your top college picks.  Focus on what you are doing right, not what you might be doing wrong.

Three Warning Signs that it is Time to Change Your Major

Saturday, March 31st, 2012

Exactly when are you supposed to know that it is time to change majors?  Every situation is, of course, different, and it can be tricky to determine when is the best time to change your major.  Just as you spent a lot of time in order to find the right college, you likely also spend considerable time thinking about and selecting your major.  However, this fact could be part of the problem.

One of the main points you need take into consideration where your college major is concerned is that you may be emotionally attached to your major.  After all, few of us want to admit that we’ve made a mistake or taken the wrong path.  Yet, sticking with a major that isn’t right for you is an even larger mistake and one that will have consequences that go far beyond your last day in college!  Let’s take a look at some of the warning signs that you might have picked the wrong major.

Warning Sign Number One – You Hate Your Major!

This warning sign couldn’t be much more obvious.  If you hate your major, then you will want to think twice about continuing on your current career path.  A major you hate could lead to more than just hardships in the “here and now.”  Pursuing a major you hate could mean a career that you hate, and that could mean an unhappy life!  For those of you reading this article who truly do hate your major, now is the time to jump ship and find a major that you like!  Don’t wait until it is too late and you’re stuck.

Warning Sign Number Two – You are Considering Dropping Out of College

If at any time you are considering dropping out of college either because you don’t like your major or because your major is too difficult for you, then drop that major!  There is nothing magical about one particular major, despite what you may have heard from older people.  Any kind of college degree in your hand is better than no college degree, so drop your major if you have to do so!

Warning Sign Number Three – Your Grades are Lousy

If you are actually studying hard and your grades are still awful, then you have two choices.  The first is you can try and study even harder and look for outside help, such as tutors.  However, if this doesn’t help, then your second option is to find a new major.  Poor college grades are not exactly going to get doors swinging wide open in the job market.  A dismal GPA isn’t likely to impress anyone.  So if you can’t handle a given major, don’t hang your head in shame.  Instead, invest your time in finding a new major.

You have a long career ahead of you.  The last thing that you want is to be stuck in a career that you simply hate.  Switching majors and career paths isn’t the end of the world.  No one will die!  If your parents or others tell you that they are ashamed or disappointed, that is highly antiquated thinking that should rest firmly on their shoulders and not yours.

6 Ways to Improve Your Letters of Recommendation

Sunday, February 26th, 2012

The constant discussion of grades and SAT scores and how they relates to getting into college may leave many students feeling as though letters of recommendation are an afterthought.  Yet, this isn’t exactly the case, as recommendations can, in fact, be tremendously important.  Good letters of recommendation, or even one glowing letter of recommendation, can be enough to push you past someone else and earn you a place in a university or college of your choice.  So before you spend too much time trying to determine what to take to college or how to find a college roommate, first focus on the basics.  One of these basics is getting the best letters of recommendation possible!

You want your teachers to be impressed and write great letters of recommendation for you, but there is a catch.  If you’ve spent all of your time in their class and never impressed them in any way, then you will have a tough time getting a glowing recommendation.  They may not even know your name!

The sooner you can begin impressing teachers, the better off you may be.  Sure, spending your time impressing teachers may not make you extremely popular in many schools, but you need to ask yourself, do I really care?  Your present is in high school, but your future is in college.

Here are some ways to impress teachers so that you stand out when it comes time for a letter of recommendation.

1) Do more work that is required of you.  Teachers truly notice it when you do extra work beyond what they assign you.  A good place to put this strategy into action is on a paper or other similar project.

2) Have extracurricular activities and make sure that your teacher knows about those activities.

3) Ask your teachers for their advice on college, the college application process and related issues.  If you can do this a year or more before it’s time to start applying for college, you can be sure that they will realize you are serious about college.  They will remember this when it comes time to write you a glowing letter of recommendation.

4) Get good grades.  Of course, nothing impresses like getting an “A” in a teacher’s class.  More than anything else that you do, they will remember giving you that coveted A.

5) Be on the lookout.  You should always be on the lookout for ways that you can demonstrate to a teacher that you are bright and eager.  This does not mean that you should try and answer every question asked in class.  But being proactive, alert and consistently prepared for class is something that most teachers notice.

6) Ask your teachers how you can improve your performance or what weak points you may have in a given subject.  Don’t be afraid to let them know that you are preparing for college.  Once again, letting your teachers know that you are thinking about college, preferably well before its time to send in applications, will impress them.

In the end, there is no “magic solution” that will help you get an amazing recommendation.  This article isn’t a guide to a guaranteed great letter of recommendation.  Instead our intent is to give you some pointers designed to increase your chances of landing that great letter.  Remember, with some effort and patience, you will likely have success.

Getting the Acceptance Letter You’ve Always Wanted

Friday, February 24th, 2012

Determining how to get that acceptance letter in the mail isn’t the easiest task in the world, but it isn’t impossible either.  With dedication, hard work and planning, you can likely get into one of your college or university choices, especially if you throw a wide enough net.  The college admissions process can be tricky, and this is one of the reasons there is college counseling services, college admissions assistance and test prep tutoring.  There are also many good resources that you can turn to that will help guide you towards a better understanding of the college admissions process.  In this article, we will look at a couple of the books you may wish to consider.

Pick One-College Admissions: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step by Robin Mamlet

College guidebooks fall into many different categories, but the best usually pull on the expertise of people who have worked in the field and understand how the process works.  It isn’t fair to say that these books give “inside information,” as they usually don’t, but they do give as sizable amount of information on issues that you might glance over or ignore when considering schools.

This book is all about “picking the brains” of admissions officers.  Most students and parents probably feel as though the entire college admissions process is confusing and a little esoteric.  College Admissions: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step by Robin Mamlet does a solid job in demystifying the process.

Unlike many books, the nature of the advice in College Admissions is of such a comprehensive fashion that parents might want to consider reading this one early in their child’s high school career.  There are many tips that can only be used if plotted out years in advance.  If you are a planner and want to get into a great school, you should read this one.

Pick Two-How to Write Your College Application Essay by Kenneth Nourse

How to Write Your College Application Essay by Kenneth Nourse is a good book, but (and yes there is a but), it is very boring, perhaps distractingly so.  Yet, with that stated, author Kenneth Nourse knows his “stuff” and does a great job instructing students in the ins and outs of writing a good college application essay.  Here is the one drawback to choosing this book over other options; How to Write Your College Application Essay doesn’t really adequately cover how to make your essay shine above the rest.  It will be up to you to determine how to make yourself stand out to admissions officers when they are reading different admissions essays.

One of the best tricks for helping you stand out to a college admissions officer is to be memorable in a good way.  This means investing the time to think about how you are distinctive and why you are likely to be a good, or even great, graduate down the road.  If you have big plans, then consider sharing some of those plans in your admissions letter.  More importantly, outline some of the steps that you have taken or will be taking to make those dreams and goals into reality.  Being able to show and point to how you are goal oriented, driven and organized may achieve the goal of assisting you to stand out from the crowd.

Looking at Your College Picks from a Different Perspective

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

A great deal of work can go into deciding what kind of college or university you should select.  This is an area where people feel completely comfortable giving you advice… and a lot of it!  If you treat the process of selecting a college or university seriously, the odds are good that you will make the right decision.  With that stated, however, you also want to take in information from many sources and consider a variety of options.  Let’s take a look at two books that might change your perspective on the kind of college or university that is a good pick for you.  If you think that the only way to select a college is to find a college by major or select a college based on college dorm life, these books may just change your mind.

Cool Colleges by Donald Asher

Cool Colleges: For the Hyper-Intelligent, Self-Directed, Late Blooming and Just Plain Different by Donald Asher isn’t aiming to please everyone and be for everyone.  The title makes this just about as clear as it could be.  If you are thinking that the “cool” colleges in this book can’t actually be that “cool”- then think again.

Author Donald Asher has hit a real home run.  The colleges that he discusses in this book are indeed quite, quite cool.  What is particularly impressive is the diversity of the colleges covered.  Everything from schools that don’t give grades to totally free schools to same sex schools are covered.

If you are a student that is looking for a different type of college experience, you really do need to pick up this book.  Viewed from this perspective, Cool Colleges is highly recommended.  Parents of students who are uninterested in college and talking about “not bothering” could benefit tremendously from reading this one!

Here is what makes Cool Colleges highly unique; it is an interesting read even for those who have no interest in attending college.  This book has the very rare distinction of being a good read for those without any stake in getting into college.  You might not think its a page turner, but there are just too many quirky and interesting facts in it to not find Cool Colleges at least slightly entertaining.

Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges by Loren Pope

Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges by Loren Pope is thought provoking.  After reading this book, you might feel less motivated to attend certain expensive schools and turn more in favor of other options.  If you think that feeling this way is impossible, wait until you’ve finished this book.

There is no doubt that author Pope is very serious regarding her mission to change the way that people see higher education.  Now, if you are obsessed with going to a big name school so that you have all the prestige that comes with the “name,” well, you should probably avoid reading this book, as it might depress you a little.  However, for everyone else, this is an interesting read.  In fact, everyone who wants to get the most out of their educational experience will like reading this book.

How to Deal with Rejection Letters

Sunday, February 19th, 2012

Rejection of any kind isn’t easy or fun, but it sure is memorable!  This is how you may feel if you receive a rejection letter from the college or university of your dreams.  The bad news is that for most students there is a possibility that such an event could occur.  The good news is that there are steps you can take to deal with rejection letters, and that is exactly what we are going to explore in this article.

So let’s say you’ve invested a great deal of time in looking for a college and avoided giving up, turning to your parents and saying, “Find a college for me,” only to receive a rejection letter, now what?  The first thing is to rewind the clock a little bit.

If possible you should apply to many different colleges and universities.  This will give you some protection against being devastated by a given rejection.  You’ve invested considerable time investigating financial aid for college tuition and SAT practice test online, so why not spend the time to find numerous colleges that fit your criteria?  Just because you think you’re a “shoe-in” for a given college or university, doesn’t mean that it’s true.

There are many different reasons why you might get edged out.  The college admissions process is notoriously esoteric and political.  In fact, the process has lead to lawsuits in the past.  Keep in mind that a “sure thing” is likely only a sure thing if you are applying to a college or university that is far below what your grades and SAT score would warrant.  If the schools you are applying to are very competitive, you will want to apply to many backup schools. (Just don’t let these colleges and universities know that they are your “backup schools!”)

Now what do you do if you didn’t apply to enough schools or you are so truly dedicated to your top pick that nothing else will do?  First, keep in mind that there are lots of other universities and colleges out there, and the odds are you can find another one that you’ll enjoy attending.  Second, remember that you can always transfer to a new school.  This happens with considerable frequency, and there is no reason that you can’t do this as well.

If you feel as though you worked very hard on your college applications, did your best on the SAT, and then you didn’t get in, this experience can be pretty devastating.  However, this does happen all the time, and so you have to let it go and focus on the universities or colleges that you did get into.

Transferring to the school you wanted to attend in a couple of years is an option.  Until then, focus on getting the best grades possible and building a fantastic case for why you should be allowed to transfer to the university or college that was your real first choice.  Until that day happens, sit back enjoy the ride and appreciate the fact that you will meet people, make friends and have experiences that you would never have otherwise made or had.  It’s not the end of the world.

The Importance of Great Organizing

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

As you look to make the transition from high-school to college, you are probably feeling as though there is a never ending and maybe even growing “checklist” of things you need to worry about or check off your list.  Don’t worry if you feel this way, as it is very normal and quite common.

When it comes to getting into one of your top college picks, you might not think much about your level of organization, but it is actually of paramount importance in the process.  The more organized you are, the greater your chances of getting into one of your top college picks.  The odds are higher for ultimate success in college as well.

If you haven’t been “much for organizing” in the past, now is definitely the time to change that.  Studying for the SAT, meeting deadlines, writing essays, taking practice tests, evaluating your different college options, investigating financial aid for college tuition and direct federal student loans takes a lot of time, and that means a lot of organization is essential.

One of the single largest steps towards great organization is being willing to prioritize what is important and what is not important.  Tackle this step first, and getting organized will become a great deal easier.

Sacrificing things that you enjoy doing in order to do something that you don’t like or find unpleasant is easier said than done.  One trick is to start small with small sacrifices of things that you enjoy.  Instead use that “recovered time” for something that relates to getting into the school of your dreams, or at least one of the schools that you like the idea of attending!

You could tackle this issue on a week by week basis.  Here is an example of how you could structure your college prep organizing.  You don’t have to use this exact model, but instead you can adapt this strategy for whatever works for you!

Week One-Spend more time studying for SAT

Week Two-Research colleges

Week Three-Get College applications

Week Four-Research financial aid related issues

Week Five-Make list of relevant deadlines

Week Six-Think about ways you can become more efficient and effective in how you use your time and make a list!

Each week look for ways that you can set time aside so that you can apply that time towards getting into college.  As a result, you will become far more organized and also far calmer!  Being organized has a benefit that few consider; being organized means less panic and that means better decision-making.

Many students “end up” at universities and colleges that were nowhere near their top picks for no other reason that a failure to get organized in advance.  They had all the tools, the necessary grades, good letters of recommendation and maybe even good SAT scores, but they lacked proper preparation.

Think of getting into college like you would think about starting a business.  You wouldn’t just try to open a business without preparing in some fashion, would you?  You instinctively understand and know that a business, at least one with any chance of success, needs work and planning.  If you invest your time in this fashion, you will be surprised by what you can accomplish.

Community Colleges – A Great Option to Consider

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

One of the single most important parts of the transition from high school to college is being prepared.  Clearly, you should work hard to find financial aid for college tuition and direction federal student loans; however, if you are unable to afford college or your grades didn’t allow you to get into any local colleges or universities, don’t panic.  It is important to remember that you still have options for receiving an education.

Millions of people have successfully used the community college system.  You can attend community college to receive further education and even transfer to a four-year college or university later on.

Here are two good books on the topic of community colleges.

Community College by Susan H. Stafford

Okay, you didn’t get into the college of your dreams or you just can’t afford to go.  That doesn’t mean that you should just give up on your dream of getting a college degree.  College graduates earn far more over the course of their lifetime than those with just high-school diplomas.  This book is valuable in that it gets students and parents thinking about community college, which stands out as an important often overlooked resource.

Going to a community college can save you a staggering amount of money, and this book has most of what you need to know to begin the community college process.  There are many misconceptions regarding community college, and Community College by Susan H. Stafford is rather effective at clearing some of them up.  Another reason this book is a winner is that it doesn’t just state, “go to a community college” but instead gives you concrete reasons to do so.  This is done by showing how community colleges can tie into creating new career and earning opportunities.

If you think that your college dreams are over, then pick this book up.  It will remind you that you can, in fact, return to college at any age with very little money.

The Community College Guide: The Essential Reference from Application to Graduation by Joshua Halberstam and Debra Gonsher

The Community College Guide: The Essential Reference from Application to Graduation by Joshua Halberstam and Debra Gonsher takes a slightly different approach to community college than other books.  Halberstam and Gonsher’s approach goes beyond making the solid case for community college and gets directly into the “nuts and bolts,” such as transcripts and financial aid concerns.

Anyone considering community college will find this helpful; however, you will definitely skip over some sections.  At times the handholding might seem excessive, but ultimately there is no denying that this book is worth the effort, just be prepared to do some serious skipping and skimming.  Any book that makes a case for the value and worth of the community college system is one that is worth reading and supporting.

Both of these books can help outline the community college experience and what it has to offer.  Remember that you should be able to find a community college in your area.  In addition, you will also find many dedicated people at your local community college that are eager to help guide you, so seek them out and ask for help!

Finding A Mentor

Monday, January 2nd, 2012

You may have never considered finding a mentor, but it can be a very worthwhile and valuable experience.  All of the issues that you are currently worried about regarding trying to find the right college can be brought into greater clarity if you can find the right individual to assist you.  But how does one go about finding a mentor to help with college?

If you are successful in finding a good mentor, you will be able to gain the assistance of someone that can help you even beyond how to survive college.  A great mentor will be able to help you with your career as well.  The first step in finding this resource is to take a mental inventory of the accomplished people that you know.

You might discover that you already know someone that is accomplished and that you think would be a solid mentor.  The main thing that you want to look for is someone whose opinion you respect that you believe will give you advice you can trust.

Since we are specifically discussing how to get into college, it is best that you find a mentor that has personally gone through this process.  After all, you want good advice specifically on how to survive college, financial aid and grants, how to find scholarships and other college related topics.

As you take inventory of the people that you know or have access to, consider if there is one or two people that stand out.  In fact, it may be possible to have several people mentor you in different ways.  This is more common than you might think, as it is a very practical approach and option.

If you are having trouble finding a mentor, reach out to friends and family.  For example, you might have a friend who has a parent that is a doctor, college professor, or who has an MBA or a range of other valuable academic experience.  This presents an opportunity to get some experienced advice. Since you want to find the right college, experienced advice is a must.

Ultimately, there are lots of options for finding a mentor.  In addition to asking your friends and relatives if they know someone, you can always ask your teachers and school facility.  Two great people to talk to are your school principal and vice principal.  They will appreciate your enthusiasm. Most likely, they have also attended graduate school.  The odds are that they may know someone (perhaps a retired associate) that would be willing to mentor you.  You never know what might happen if you find a mentor that is a retired school superintendent or principal with thirty-five years of experience!

Quite often people will surprise you in their willingness to help.  Remember that your own preconceived ideas about what is and is not possible may influence your outcomes.  If you believe that finding a mentor that will help you through the process of getting into college is impossible, then you are making your search harder.  Be optimistic!  People generally appreciate it when young people show initiative and indicate that they are taking something seriously, especially anything education related.  You can use this fact to your advantage.

3 Ways To Improve Your Discipline and Get Great SAT Scores

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

SAT prep is a lot more complicated than simply studying X,Y and Z.  SAT Prep involves having great study habits as well.  If you are going to get a great score, then it is necessary not just to study, but to study the right way and with the right materials and study aids.  In this article, we will look at how you can improve your study habits.  Many of the steps we will cover here are very easy, but you have to stick to them.  In time, however, you will see a big difference in how much you accomplish during your study time.

1. Draw on Discipline From Other Areas

More than likely, you have more discipline at your disposal than you think.  If you play sports, know how to play an instrument or have a hobby that requires focus and determination, then you already have a degree of discipline.  Even playing video games, such as shooters and role-playing games takes focus and patience.  You can tap into that discipline when it comes to your study habits.  Now this isn’t an overnight process and it will take time, but once you’ve given it some effort, you will discover that you are making nice progress in the direction of being more disciplined with your study habits.

2. Set Aside A Designated Time to Study

Knowing that you will study specifically for the SAT at a given time every day will help you find the success you want!  You may also want to consider mapping out what sections of the SAT you wish to focus on for a given day.  Through good organization you will decrease your chances of not properly covering a particular section of the exam well enough.

Just as you set time aside to study for SAT prep, you may want to do the same for other aspects of college success.  How to survive college and get into college may have a lot to do with the process of searching for financial aid for college tuition and financial aid and grants.  Setting aside time for this part of the process is a great idea and could literally make the difference between being able to afford the college or university of your choice and not going to college at all!  Discipline in this regard is really quite important.

3. Ask for Help

Don’t be shy about asking others to assist with your discipline if you are having trouble focusing like you should.  If you have a friend that is far more focused and disciplined than you are, then see if he or she will help you stay on track.  You may want to ask family members or even teachers to stay on top of your progress.  While this might not exactly be pleasant, your main goal should be achieving a great SAT score.  After all, you don’t want to waste all of those hours you spent on test prep tutoring, and finding SAT practice tests online.