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Posts Tagged ‘college of william and mary’

College of William and Mary Supplemental Application Video Tips

Friday, December 31st, 2010

Since My College Guide pointed out the supplemental video essay option at a handful of colleges, we knew we should also provide you with a concrete example of what college admissions are looking for in these videos! The College of William and Mary created their own fantastic college application video to give college admission applicants a helpful nudge in the right direction.

This award-winning YouTube video is an easy way to gauge the effectiveness of your own college supplemental video essay. Does your video have what it takes? Watch the College of William and Mary Application Prompt on YouTube or below. If you only remember one thing from this video, make sure it’s this: You aren’t telling us who you are, you are giving us a sense of who you’ll become.

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. If you’re a student, enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad or iPhone or cash!

Tags: college, college admission, college application, college application process, college application video, college essay, college of william and mary, Colleges and Social media, colleges and youtube, youtube
Posted in College Admissions, College Applications | No Comments »

Four Colleges with Supplemental Video Application Essays

Tuesday, December 28th, 2010

Finding it hard to whittle down and explain who you are in 500 words or less? If you feel less than gifted with a pen (or are feeling less than college essay inspired), why write about who you are when, instead, you can show college admissions by submitting a college application video! Sounds good, right?

afagen / Adam Fagen

At many four year colleges and universities, college admissions are accepting a supplemental essay in the form of a video, and in the case of at least one college – it gets you out of filling out the college essay altogether!

After penning numerous college application essays, application videos might just be a welcome break! We’re sure that leaves you with just one question: “Where are these video loving colleges?”

College of William and Mary – Want in to one of the oldest colleges in the United States? At the College of William and Mary, they not only offer students the option of choosing a supplemental video, they also give you a little insight into the process (and highlight a few favorites) which should help you figure out what college admissions is really looking for and help you get started!

George Mason University – If you are hoping to call Fairfax, Virginia your home for four years, you’d better make it good! Your George Mason University application video can clue college admissions in to your personality and, best of all, you can use it either in addition to or in place of the college essay (which could mean one less written essay on your end).

St Mary’s College of Maryland – Convinced you want to take the supplemental video essay route? Well, at this four year liberal arts college, you can skip the college essay altogether! St. Mary’s College gave the usual essay question a twist by having admissions hopefuls treat the video as an audition to be a part of the college class of 2015!

Tufts University – We brought Tufts University admission videos to your attention last year after Tufts hopefuls uploaded them on YouTube for the whole world to see. If you are a Tufts hopeful, you have the same option: though they do recommend private settings. Do you really want your plea for college admission following you around for the rest of your life?

Tags: college admission, college admission terms, college application, college application process, college application video, college of william and mary, george mason university, st mary's college of maryland, tufts university
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!

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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:
Are you involved in any extracurricular activities?
Do you have a part-time job?
Are you active in community service?
What about sports teams?
Are you close to any of your intended college’s alumni?
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!

Tags: college, college acceptance factors, college admissions, college admissions process, college application, college application process, college of william and mary, georgetown university, letter of recommendation, tufts university
Posted in College Admissions, College Applications | 1 Comment »

College Graduation: Pomp, Circumstance, and Unusual Traditions

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

My College Guide has mentioned unusual college traditions and superstitions before…but with all the exciting talk about college graduations all over the web — we thought you might be surprised to hear that many college commencement ceremonies are definitely not what you would expect! Take a peek at some of the fun and unique traditions surrounding college graduation – and some of the fun events that you have to look forward in the future!

Colleges with a large student body, like at Texas A&M University, decorate their mortarboards so friends and family can pick them out in the crowd!

sarowen / Sarah

For some colleges, it is all about the graduation gowns: they’ve gone green! No, we aren’t talking about the color — colleges like the University of New Hampshire and Saint Michael’s College are wearing earth-friendly recycled graduation gowns created from plastic bottles.

The College of Charleston has a different take on caps and gowns: they just don’t wear them! Spring graduates wear white — dinner jackets for the men and dresses for the women, while December College of Charleston graduates attire themselves in black tuxes or dresses. No formal dress required at the University of California Davis – students go with the creative flow, decorating their mortarboards as they see fit, even wearing flowers and leis from friends and family.

Some colleges give a nod at their heritage, like Covenant College which includes bagpipes at their graduation ceremony. While others, like Connecticut College, honor the college seal. For almost twenty years, Conn College graduates have received an Eastern White Pine sapling, wrapped in blue and white ribbon, Conn College’s school colors, and green, that they will carry with them as they walk.

Saint Mary of the Woods College doesn’t receive a sapling but a crown of leaves. The intertwined leaves are a symbol of success and a “well-rooted foundation” and are handed to graduates while at the Faculty – Senior Reception, traditionally held the week before graduation. At Williams College, graduates hope for success as all eyes focus on a watch, or rather, the dropping of a watch from the top of the college chapel spire, a fall of 80 feet! This Williams College tradition dates back to 1916 – if the watch breaks, the class will be lucky in life!

Mira (on the wall) / Mira John

The University of South Florida new graduates, like many college grads, sing the USF Alma Mater at the end of the graduation ceremony. Goshen College graduates sign their names in the college book, a 100 year tradition! Oglethorpe University graduating seniors also sign a book – but not before gaining exclusive access to the Lutpon Hall Clock Tower and ringing the bells! The College of William and Mary seniors line up to ring the Wren Building Bell after their last class.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology students have a different tradition – before graduating, MIT undergraduates wear their class ring, or Brass Rat, flipped around, so only the seal, motto, and skyline is visible. When graduating, the ring is turned, to proudly display the graduation date! Meredith College and Indiana University are a couple of other colleges that share this common college ring tradition.

Wondering about any new college traditions? It might just involve Twitter! Colleges like East Carolina University, Hampton University, and the University of Pennsylvania encouraged the Class of 2010 graduates to follow along or update their Twitter status during the ceremony – it’s a trend that is sure to catch on!

Tags: college commencement, college graduation, College Life, college of charleston, college of william and mary, college superstitions, college traditions, Colleges and Social media, colleges and twitter, Columbia University, connecticut college, graduation, indiana university, massachusetts institute of technology, saint michael's college, Twitter, university of new hampshire, university of pennsylvania, unusual colleges, williams college
Posted in Choosing a College, College Campus, College Life, Fun Stuff | 2 Comments »

Kiss a Tree? Bribe a Statue? College Superstitions Revealed!

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Chaval Brasil

Groundhog Day: all eyes are glued to a fat, furry little critter that is supposed to predict whether or not we endure winter or welcome in the Spring. Punxsutawney Phil got us thinking. We’ve all heard about college athletic superstitions but what about those found at the colleges and universities themselves?

You may have thought you only had to worry about finding your classes…turns out you also have to worry about how you get there! Legend says that undergraduates should avoid entering the arches at the University of Georgia, the FitzRandolph Gates at Princeton University and the Van Wickle Gates at Brown University or they won’t graduate from college! If there is an inlaid seal like at the University of Chicago or Roanoke College, don’t step on it!

Wise students would do well to avoid the Campanile (bell tower) found at the University of Kansas (it’s supposedly bad luck) though at Iowa State University, you aren’t “officially” considered an ISU student until you receive a peck underneath the Campanile at midnight.

Thinking of waiting for this guy to cross your path?

KT Shiue

Need a little good luck? Who doesn’t! According to legend, you could kiss the Stanford Tree at Stanford University during the Full Moon on the Quad Celebration, touch the foot of John Harvard (according to Harvard University campus tour guides) or Theodore Dwight Woolsey’s toe at Yale University for a boost in the luck factor. Want to do great on that exam? Rub the 4.0 Ball found in front of the Campanile at the University of California Berkeley – it’s not called 4.0 for nothing!

If that’s still not enough, you could hope that the albino squirrel crosses your path during finals week at the University of North Texas, hope for the “disco tray” — a glittery 60’s relic at the Hendrix College cafeteria, or bribe the powers that be with a small gift (like pennies or chocolate) for the Athena statue at Bryn Mawr College.

Want to tie the knot? Smooch in the gazebo at the University of Richmond, steal a kiss on pretty Crim Dell Bridge at the College of William and Mary, or under the Upham Arch (when the lantern light is on) at Miami University and you’ll hear wedding bells ring-a-ding-ding.

Sit at the Class of 1912 Memorial with your sweetie at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign or stroll from the East side of the Oval, the center of Ohio State University, all the way west to the Main Library, and you and your significant other will be together forever, as long as you remain holding hands, that is!

Did we miss a good urban legend or superstition? Please share it in the comments section below – we love a good story!

Tags: brown university, bryn mawr, College Life, college of william and mary, college superstitions, colleges, groundhog day, hendrix college, iowa state university, ohio state university, princeton university, roanoke college, stanford university, universities, university of california berkeley, university of chicago, university of georgia, university of illinois urbana champaign, university of kansas, university of north texas, university of richmond
Posted in College Life, Fun Stuff | 5 Comments »

8 of America’s Most Affordable Public Universities

Monday, January 25th, 2010

brainchildvn

Public universities are often much bigger than private schools—but what they may lack in intimacy, they often make up for in resources, course options, and an ultra-low price tag. If the cost of college is a concern for you and your family (and when isn’t it?), choosing a public university could save tens of thousands over the course of your academic career. The key, as always, is choosing the right school for you. Here’s the run-down on eight public universities.

College of William and Mary. This school, located in the quaint historic village of Williamsburg, Virginia, has the size and character of a private school with the low cost of a public university. The college has less than 6,000 undergraduates, and offers a diverse range of liberal arts courses with world-class professors on the beautiful campus. The school, founded in 1693, is the second-oldest college in the United States.

Georgia Tech. Located in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia Tech offers world-class facilities, instructors, and research opportunities, particularly in the fields of science and engineering. If you’re a football fan, you’re in luck: thousands turn out to see the Division 1 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets play at the huge school stadium.

UC Berkeley. Located within an easy BART subway ride of San Francisco, UC Berkeley provides students with an Ivy-caliber education at a fraction of the price for in-staters. The school tops the academic charts in just about every field, and the town boasts an eclectic blend of hippie and student culture.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. With more than 30,000 undergraduate students, this school is big and bustling, but it’s got plenty to do. Students can choose from more than 150 unique majors, have access the largest school library outside of the Ivy League, and can cheer for the school’s 19 varsity teams.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor. This school has over 40,000 students, great sports teams, and top-notch programs in nearly every field. Choose from more than 200 majors, including unique fields like kinesiology (the study of movement, if you were wondering).

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. UNC-Chapel Hill is one of the least expensive of all public universities, but it boasts world-class facilities in a beautiful historic campus, Division 1 sports teams, and a friendly Southern college town. The school has a strong focus on sustainability, and requires all new buildings to be constructed to LEED standards.

University of Wisconsin Madison. Located between two lakes in the charming city of Madison, UWM is home to almost 30,000 undergraduate students. Students can choose from 135 unique majors, including human ecology, cartography, and—fittingly for a state known for its cheese—dairy science.

University of Virginia Charlottesville. UVA was established by Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, and the school’s beautiful green lawns and historic architecture are reminiscent of his home, Monticello. The academic programs are some of the best in the United States, and with a $5 billion endowment, UVA is the wealthiest of all public schools in the U.S. And while secret societies may be a thing of the past at many schools, they’re alive and well here—see if you can score an invitation to Seven or Z.

Tags: Choosing a College, choosing a university, college of william and mary, georgia tech, liberal arts colleges, private universities, public colleges, public universities, state schools, university of california berkeley, university of michigan ann arbor, university of north carolina chapel hill, university of virginia charlottesville, university of wisconsin madison, unviersity of illinois urbana champaign
Posted in Choosing a College, College Campus | 1 Comment »

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Posts Tagged ‘college of william and mary’

Four Colleges with Supplemental Video Application Essays

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

Kiss a Tree? Bribe a Statue? College Superstitions Revealed!

8 of America’s Most Affordable Public Universities

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