Some Useful Websites About College Admissions

This post is from Ben’s blog (http://mben12.blogspot.com) that I found useful for students who want to find good experience regarding getting college admissions:

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While we are on the topic of colleges I thought I would share some links with you that I have found helpful. I should be back to my usual topics next time.

RateMyProfessors.com: Allows current students to rate their teachers on a variety of criteria. Unfortunately there aren’t always that many reviews, but most professors have a few. Most of the above colleges have pretty mixed reviews (as can be expected) but I would think that if a college you are looking at has mostly bad reviews that might be pretty telling. RateAProf.com and PickAProf.com advertise similar things but have almost no reviews compared to RateMyProfessors

StudentsReview.com: Offers statistics, ratings and (most importantly) comments from current students and alumni. Like the above sites, there aren’t too many reviews but I found there are enough to get some idea from the comments. The UI could use some improvement, however. Type your college in the search box on the top, and then choose it from the list of results. On the resulting page you should see a pie chart of students who would vs those who would not return. Under that chart click the link labeled “click here to find out why” to read the individual student comments.

FastWeb.com: Probably everyone already knows about FastWeb, but I think they are worth a mention anyway. FastWeb offers a scholarship search. All you have to do is fill out their incredibly long, tedious survey and you will be matched with scholarships (and banner ads). They also offer some mildly interesting articles from time to time. There are a huge number of other scholarship search engines as well, but despite all the advertising I have found FastWeb to be the most usable.

USNews: America’s Best Colleges: Perhaps not as useful as the others, but It does give you an idea of how a given college stacks up to others in the US. They also have a scholarship search and other information.

CollegeBoard.com: The CollegeBoard publishes the SAT and AP tests, among others. Their website has all you need to know about their tests as well as some (basic) college comparison tools, a scholarship search engine and financial calculators. They also run the CSS profile required by some financial aid offices.

CommonApp.org: Home of the Common Application for US colleges. Fill out one form over the internet (or print and mail) to apply to a bunch of different colleges. Enough Said!

FAFSA: Online application for Federal Financial Aid.

Resume Writing 101

Get Your Resume in Shape for Jobs and Internships

Before you rush out to find that perfect job or internship, you’ll need to write your resume. And not just any resume, but the kind that’ll separate you from all the people applying to your college of choice or eager to land that dream job. Here are some ways to avoid the pitfalls of resume writing and land yourself in the spot light.
First Things First: Getting Started

Samantha was just weeks away from finishing her junior year in high school and still looking for a summer internship. She always wanted to be a nurse, so she sent her resume to several local hospital recruiters, but was just not getting any responses.

Panicked and sure she’d be jobless for the summer, Samantha passed her resume to her family for constructive criticism. They all told her the same thing: her resume did not reflect enough experience and education related to nursing. She did include her volunteer work at the neighborhood health clinic, but she mostly listed jobs as a cashier and her involvement with school sports.
Focus on Relevant Information

A lot of students think a generalized resume describing everything they’ve ever done is a great way to get any kind of job or internship. Not true. The first rule of thumb for resume-writing is to only include information that is useful to the job you’re applying for. For example, Samantha’s experience as a cashier would have come in handy if she was applying for a job in retail or sales.
Be Ready to Write More Than One Resume

If you’re applying for summer jobs or internships in a variety of fields, be prepared to write more than one resume. Once you have the first done, use it as a template and just cut and paste the most relevant information for different jobs.
The Four Key Elements

Four main themes you should always include in your resume, no matter where you’re applying, are volunteerism, association memberships, computer proficiency, and knowledge of other languages.

1. Volunteerism

No matter where you’re applying or what you plan to study in college, potential employers want to know you’re a well-rounded member of society. Listing your participation in a program, such as Habitat for Humanity or your weekly work at a local soup kitchen, can definitely add some pizzazz to a resume short of work experience.

2. Association Memberships

It’s also an added bonus for younger high school students to list any associations they’ve belonged to, such as:

National Honor Society (N.H.S.)
* National Art Honor Society (N.A.H.S.)
* Distributive Education Clubs of America (D.E.C.A.) – association of marketing students

Juniors and seniors probably have more experience in this area, but never underestimate participation in group roles. This includes any other club participation at school or in your community.

3. Computer Proficiency

Let’s face it, technology is everywhere. Knowledge of computers will most likely be a requirement for just about any job. List any and all experience you have with computers, naming the actual program names you’re familiar with (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Photoshop).

4. Other Languages

The world is getting smaller and smaller, especially in the job market. Knowing a second or third language can put you at an advantage in qualifying for a job and will certainly separate you from other candidates.
Putting It All Together

While you definitely shouldn’t go over a page, don’t feel that you have to use the resume template that’s found in most word processing programs. These models, though helpful, are often generic-looking. It’s good to go the extra mile and show employers that you are as creative as you are intelligent. Differences in formatting (bullets, borderlines, or headings), fonts, styles, and sizes will catch the eye and draw attention to the most important information.
Organization

You can organize your resume in many different ways, but the following order is one of the most common. Use it to help you get started.

Objective: state what kind of job or internship you’re looking for.
Experience: describe your job history.
Education: just list your high school, unless you’ve taken college courses on the side.
Other Skills/Information: this is where you list your computer or language skills and any associations or memberships to which you’ve belonged.

Action Words

Be sure to describe your roles and accomplishments with strong action words and key terms that will pop out at employers, usually ones that signify leadership and team roles you’ve had. These include words such as: team work, team player, multi-tasking, executed, organized, performed, maintained, supervised, managed, directed, developed, implemented.
Writing Style

The wording of your resume is just as important as the look. You may have to write several rough drafts to come up with one that will really shine. Here are a few writing style rules to keep in mind:

Use matching verb tenses.
Keep all descriptions short. Descriptions should generally take up no more than three to four lines on the page.
Full sentences are not necessary, but be consistent with punctuation.

Resume Resources

Several job search engines have resume-building pages on their websites that will give you step-by-step guidelines to writing a resume. Some popular sites to check out include:

Monster Jobs, www.monster.com
Yahoo! HotJobs, www.hotjobs.yahoo.com
JobSniper, www.jobsniper.com
CareerBuilder, www.careerbuilder.com
MSN Careers, www.careers.msn.com
JobWeb, www.jobweb.com

While these sites are free, they also offer resume-writing services you can order for a fee. It’s always best to learn on your own, however, because knowing how to write a resume properly is a valuable skill you’ll have for a lifetime.

Find the Perfect Summer Job

How to Get Started

Summer break is a great time for you to pursue interests and gain experience through paid or volunteer jobs, internships, and other activities. And don’t forget, college admission officers see meaningful summer activities as a demonstration of commitment and responsibility.
Tap Your Network

One of the best ways to find opportunities is simply by asking people you know, a.k.a. networking. Start with your parents, friends, teachers, counselors, and relatives. If you’ve already got something in mind, tell them. They may have suggestions you haven’t thought of, and may know people you can contact for more information.

Here are some suggestions to help you start your brainstorming:

1. Think Big

The world’s a big place; see if you can come up with an idea to match. Start thinking about what you would really like to do. For example, do you enjoy the outdoors and hiking? Look into becoming a counselor-in-training at a summer camp or getting a job at a national park—almost all of them hire summer help. Of course, you’ll have to get permission to range too far from home, but don’t limit yourself. See how crazy an idea you can come up with. Let someone else say, “no.”

2. Think About Careers

If you already have an idea about a career you’d like to pursue, summer break is your chance to test the real thing against your expectations. You may be anything from an aspiring attorney to a would-be bookstore owner. Start by calling up businesses and organizations that are related to your interests, and find out if they need any help. Even if they’re not hiring, they may have suggestions you can use to continue your search. Consider pursuing a paid or unpaid internship.

3. Think About Creating Your Own Job

During your job search you’re likely to come across a potential employer that just can’t afford to hire you. If you’re really interested in working there, offer your services for free. The job skills you gain may be worth their weight in gold—just as you pay college professors to teach, work experience can be equally valuable. Treat unpaid jobs and internships as you would a paid position. Be on time, pay attention, and work hard. In return you’ll get great skills, a glowing recommendation, and maybe even an offer of a paid position down the road.

4. Think About Creating Your Own Business

Being your own boss definitely has its rewards. Be warned though, it can be hard work, too! But don’t let that scare you off if you really want to try going it on your own. There are lots of potential small businesses you could try to create. For example, if you know a foreign language, people may pay you to teach them how to speak it. Or, if you’re good with plants, you could spend the summer as a landscaper. Start calling people now and see if you can line up a few clients.

5. Think About Getting More Involved

Consider exploring the interests you pursue during the school year more in-depth. If you have a job that really interests you, consider asking not just for more hours but more responsibility, to expand your experience and knowledge. Sticking with one organization or job gives you depth and breadth—and shows you’ve made a real commitment.

6. Think About Not Getting a Job

Colleges, of course, like to see that students have kept busy doing something constructive with their summer vacations, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to have a traditional job. Maybe you’re really into acting or dance or sports and you want to devote your full-time energy to formally developing those skills. Not only are there special programs out there, but most colleges will allow high school students to take an actual college class. Learn more about summer school programs.

7. Think About Volunteering

Spending a summer pitching in at a local charity is a great way to learn about life and yourself. And it can help you develop leadership skills that will last a lifetime. Learn more about volunteering.

Distance Education: Is a Virtual Classroom for You?

You’re thinking about your schedule of classes for next year, and you would really like to take AP Music Theory. The only problem is that your high school doesn’t offer that class. So you decide to include AP Biology instead. However, the lab for this class meets twice per week, and you simply do not have enough room in your schedule for that. What do you do now?

No matter what your circumstances or your interests are, there is a solution to these and other scheduling dilemmas: distance education. Of course, taking Internet-based courses at the precollege level can have both pros and cons, so keep reading to decide if virtual learning is for you.

Positive Aspects of Distance Education

1. Independence and Time Management
Students who take courses online often hone their ability to work on their own, and they also gain experience in managing their time efficiently. With nobody to stand over them and make them work, virtual learners tend to develop these skills more quickly than if they were to learn strictly in a traditional classroom.
2. A Flexible Schedule
Only so many class periods are available in a single school day, and some students already have jam-packed course loads. Distance education provides these high achievers with the opportunity to take classes outside regular school hours. By taking courses online, students have the flexibility to explore all their areas of interest.
3. Advanced and Specialized Classes
In many cases, small schools and rural schools simply cannot provide advanced or specialized classes. Virtual education gives students the chance to gain experience in areas that would otherwise remain out of reach.
4. Emphasis on the Written Word
Strong writing skills are essential to success in secondary and higher education as well as in the workplace. Distance education teaches students to communicate more effectively through writing, because the questions they ask and the work they complete is based almost solely on the written word. Virtual learning clearly gives students the opportunity to develop as writers.

Problematic Aspects of Distance Education

1. Lack of Face-to-Face Interaction
Some educators argue that both teacher-student and student-student contact are integral to the learning process, and online classes eliminate these elements of education altogether. Also, students who excel at class participation need to consider that this piece of the learning puzzle will be missing as well.
2. Poor-Quality Programs
The number of distance-learning programs is increasing rapidly, and educators are concerned that many online courses fail to provide valid educational experiences. Students must be sure to fully research any distance-education program before signing on. Participating in a weak program will only lead to a waste of time, effort, and money.
3. The Need to Self-Start
Distance education truly lets students make their own schedules. Those who have a hard time with self-motivation will undoubtedly have trouble in this type of educational setting. Procrastinators beware.
4. Emphasis on the Written Word
The heavy focus on writing can be a plus of distance education for some. However, for those students who struggle with writing, it can be a major negative. If writing is a serious weakness, virtual learning may not be the best educational option.

While distance education may be the perfect alternative for some students, it’s not the right choice for everyone. So carefully consider your unique needs and interests and weigh the positive and negative aspects of virtual learning before you sign on.

(Collegeboard)

Summer Plan: School’s Out – What Now?

No more homework, no more books … well, you know the rest. Summer has finally arrived, and the academic pressure is off. You probably have quite a few plans for the next three months: sleeping late, hanging out with friends, making some money at a part-time job. Without a doubt, this is the time to get in some much-needed and well-deserved rest. Remember, though, fall can sneak up on you all too quickly. While fun and relaxation are important to your well-being, you don’t want to lose any academic ground. Consider taking on some of the activities listed below during your summer break. They will help keep your mind active without stressing you out.

1. Read the newspaper.

Reading a local or national newspaper serves a number of purposes. You will build your vocabulary and strengthen your reading-comprehension skills. You’ll also learn about local, national, and global current events and become a more well-rounded individual.

2. Take a class.

Consider exploring an area of interest that you don’t have time for during the school year. For instance, if you’ve always wanted to try out French but have been too busy taking Spanish, find an introductory course in the language at a community college. Or perhaps you’d like to take an advanced class that will allow you to learn more about a particular subject before school starts in the fall. Either way, you’ll be able to strengthen your organizational, homework, and study skills as you delve into an exciting new area.
3. Join or form a book club.

Reading is a key to academic success. It’s the best way to build vocabulary, improve reading comprehension, and gain skills in analyzing literature. Keeping up with contemporary authors as well as exploring the classics (see our article on 101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers) will increase your understanding of literary techniques, such as tone, symbolism, and metaphor. And participating in a book club is an ideal way to become comfortable with sharing your thoughts on literature in a group setting, a common activity in advanced-level classes. In addition, you can hone your organizational and leadership skills as the person who coordinates the club’s reading selections, meetings, and discussions.

4. Keep a journal.

The more you write, the easier writing becomes. By keeping a daily or weekly diary, or by writing a blog on the web, you will automatically boost your composition skills. You’ll learn about your own writing style in addition to heightening your awareness of grammar rules and effective sentence structure. You’ll also have an outlet for creative self-expression. Who knows? As you compose tales about your vacation, work experiences, and personal relationships, you may find the perfect topic for one of your college-application essays.

5. Volunteer.

There is no shortage of organizations that can use a helping hand. Hospitals, nursing homes, animal shelters, and food banks are just a few places that need energetic and caring volunteers. The benefits are reciprocal: while you help others, you get the chance to boost your interpersonal skills as well as practice good time management and scheduling. Don’t underestimate the importance of a solid work ethic combined with a passion for a good cause; volunteering will provide you with an opportunity to show what you’re really made of.

Summer is definitely the time to kick back, relax, and reward yourself for working hard throughout the school year. But as you focus on the present, don’t lose sight of your future goals and aspirations. A few easy steps can keep you at the top of your game, ready and energized to meet the demands you’ll face in the fall.

(Collegeboard)