I had a short week one due to the fact that the first part of the week I was still in Florida with no books, so there wasn't much I could do. Once I got home though, it was work, work, work! For me, the first week went way too fast and I am ready to take on week 2, this time with 3 extra days to spare me! Besides having to get things done this week, I haven't been feeling so great, so a mixture of everything is dragging me down! I decided to take the weekend to recuperate and see where that gets me!
How did everyone's first week go? Did you notice some improvements that you might want to make? These are just some things to ask yourself so you can correct any issues you may be having right off the bat. Also, if you don't like a class, speak to the professor before making any kind of move. It might not be as bad as your making it out to seem and therefore, might make a mistake letting go so early. Just remember to stay focused, regardless of the beautiful summer weather, and study, study, study. 11 weeks is going to fly right on by, so hang in there!
I have yet again another Yahoo! article I wanted to share with you guys. Yes, I do favor Yahoo! over everything else! Plus, when I log on to check my email, I always see the top news stories and you never know what you will find. Today I found an article about "How to get into college" The article includes some tips from college admissions experts that could come in handy for anyone who is looking to start their college careers. Below are the top 10 tips from these experts:
Tips from College Admissions Experts
1. Match Up Grades and SAT Scores
A mismatch between GPA and class rank and standardized test scores is just one warning sign of a weak application, according to Bev Taylor, founder and president of New York-based college counseling firm The Ivy Coach. Some other pitfalls: sending in a list of activities without any explanations to bring them to life, and penning essays on subjects like napping, which paint a picture of a passive student.
2. Improve Teacher Recommendations
Instead of giving the teacher writing the recommendation a laundry list of extracurriculars, Taylor suggests students impart a more nuanced sense of their interests and motivations. "Remind them about how you were in their class, what you did and accomplished, what you found exciting about the class," she says. "So few students will go to that extreme, because it takes a lot of work."
3. Leadership in the Community
It's more important to show you spearheaded original and creative initiatives at home than participated in a pricey public service trip abroad. "Show that you've got other people involved, that you did something great in your own backyard," Taylor says. "You didn't have to go off to Guatemala to build houses."
4. Take Advantage of Social Media
Though stories of college admissions officers scoping out applicants' credentials on Facebook is exaggerated, it does happen. Applicants should be careful about what information they make public. Says Taylor: "If you're a dancer, put up all your recital videos. If you're an artist, let's see what you've done. Your portfolio can be up there."
5. Don't Be Redundant
"Make sure that every time you have the opportunity to write an essay that it's about some different aspect about you," says Katherine Cohen of the New York-based college consulting firm IvyWise. If a student's résumé says she is captain of the soccer team, and her coach wrote an extra letter of recommendation, the student should turn to another topic. Says Cohen: "Maybe I don't know that you're a vegetarian. Tell me about that."
6. Don't Send in Too Much
Deciding how much information to send in is a tricky balancing act. "[Some students] will send in copies of every award they've won since sixth grade and repeat all their test scores on their résumés as well as all of their senior-year courses," details that are already listed on the application, Cohen says. In addition, letters from influential people or notable names may hurt more than they help, if the person writing doesn't really know the applicant well.
7. And Don't Send in Too Little
"Some kids will shortchange themselves on their résumés or activity lists. They won't think about the number of hours per week and weeks per year they spend," Cohen says. And there are times when supplemental letters are appropriate, she adds, such as "from a coach or an employer or someone you've worked closely with over a long period of time, who you think would share new and different information about you."
8. Start Early
Cohen recommends her clients start working on their essays in early summer. Though the latest iteration of the so-called Common Application, which is used by more than 150 schools, isn't available until Aug. 1, there is a preliminary version available. Things that are always required: a résumé; a short essay on a meaningful extracurricular activity or work experience; and a longer personal statement.
9. Become a Specialist
"The most selective colleges aren't really looking for well-rounded students. They are looking to create a well-rounded student body made up of specialists," Cohen says." Pick a focus--academic or extracurricular--and try to dive deep. Instead of being a 'serial joiner,' focus on those couple of things that you enjoy and can do well."
10. Avoid Taboo Essay Topics
There are certain subjects--national disasters, homeland visits and sex--which applicants should avoid unless they have a unique and personal perspective. "People are going to write about the oil spill now, or they used to write 9/11 a lot … It's sort of hard to write about something in the public consciousness," Cohen says. "Stay away from writing the 'trip to the homeland' essay. It's a hard essay to do well, and it happens to be cliché and kind of common."
This is some information to share with everyone and especially those of you who know some friends who are looking for some tips about getting into college. You never know when this type of information could come in handy.
I hope everyone enjoys their weekend and next week I will be back on track with my posts. Unfortunately, vacations over! Boo! :(
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