Contributed by Joyce Mei, Hunter College HS (Class of 2015)
We’ve heard countless times that the early bird catches the worm, but what happened to slow and steady wins the race? So in terms of applying for college, is it better to rush to submit our applications early? Despite the common belief among teens and their parents, there is no need to submit an application in mid-August when the deadline is in early November or December. It is better to have a more thorough and complete application that handing in an early, rushed application. In addition, college admissions officers have admitted that they do not look at applications until they are “complete” with transcripts and recommendation letters from high school. Therefore, an application submitted in August will not be looked at for weeks until all the necessary paperwork is handed in as well. Submitting in applications early also gives more time for students to worry about if they will be accepted into the college of their choice. Students now also have to stress out about if they filled out the applications correctly, if they wrote their personal statements to express who they are in the best way, and if they change their minds about anything in the upcoming months. Once we hit “submit,” there is no going back. Therefore, take your time and make sure your applications are done right. For more information, contact Lee Academia experts.
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As you prepare to start the new term, you will need new college semester success tips whether you are coming back or are new to college. Getting ready to start the semester, you are filled with optimism and you are maybe a bit nervous. If you are starting out you feel that you were well prepared and made the right choice and are ready.
You want to start with a clean slate. New notebooks for each class or new folders in your computer—ideally both. You will need to save the syllabus for each course. Review the syllabus carefully and use it to do the following things:
Fill your calendar or planner. Time management is one of the toughest things that students face and it is a key life skill. You use the planner for planning. Planning is not simply recording when you have a dinner date or a paper due. It involves looking ahead and also back. You look ahead to see, for example, when your paper is due, then look back to see where you have blocks of time to work on the paper. You not only impress your teacher, but keep yourself from procrastinating. Other assignments, such as reading a novel for your literature class, may be done in small time chunks. Find out when and where you can find your professor. You want to get to know them so they can be helpful to you. Use office hours. The students who do the best also have the best relationships with their professors. Faculty enjoy the interaction with interested students and helping those who may be struggling to get better. Getting ready to start the semester begin by making a friend of your professor. Find out how the grades are structured. Sometimes there may be quizzes, papers, exams, projects or class participation. See where you are going to have to apply the most effort to get the grades you want. If you know you will need help plan to schedule time at the tutoring or writing centers. Sometimes they are first come first serve and so making an appointment while you are getting ready to start the semester is smart. Doing all these things at the beginning of the semester will assure a good outcome at the end. Stephenie Lee is the founder of Lee Academia Educational Consulting, consultant and the author of "Writing a Compelling College Application Essay: Workbook" and other College series workbooks. She is also an expert on test taking strategies, study skills and college admissions strategies. Find out more about Stephenie at website. Contributed by Joyce Mei, Hunter College HS (Class of 2015)
A crucial part of the college admissions process is the application essay. And we all want college admissions officers to read our application and totally understand who we are from these couple paragraphs that are supposed to capture our essence. One must consider, then, how will a college admissions officer dub you? We must keep in mind that these admissions officers have over 1000 applications to look over and that they will only spend an average of eight minutes per application. Therefore, they will label each applicant with a couple of words that stand out. It is the applicant’s job to make sure that dub is a good one. Here are a few examples:
For more information and advice on writing college admissions essays, contact Lee Academia experts. Student loan rate hike stopped, but that doesn't make college affordable. The lower interest rates on student loans don't do much to reduce the spiraling cost of a college education.
Congress has finally agreed on legislation to keep interest rates on federal student loans from doubling to 6.8 percent this school year. The Senate passed a compromise bill last week that ties federal student loan rates to the yield on 10-year Treasury notes. That means undergraduates will pay an interest rate of 3.86 percent on loans taken out this year; grad students will pay 5.41 percent. These interest rates will increase as the economy improves, but the legislation caps interest rates for undergrads at 8.25 percent. Keeping interest rates on student loans from rising won't do much to make a college education affordable. In fact, it may make it worse, some conservatives argue. Some believe that the federal government is contributing to the rapid increase in college tuition. Student loan debt accounts for 36 percent of Americans' total non-housing debt, a bigger share than auto loans or credit card debt. According to the College Board, it cost an average of $22,261 for students to attend an in-state public college last year; the "moderate" budget for a private college averaged $43,289. With prices like that, it's no wonder student loan debt is exploding. And it's no wonder that politicians vow to do something about it. In his economic speech last week, President Barack Obama promised to "lay out an aggressive strategy to shake up the system, tackle rising costs, and improve value for middle-class students and their families. It is critical that we make sure that college is affordable for every single American who’s willing to work for it." For ways to start saving for college tuition, start planning with expert, Ms. Elisa Cheung, at FAConsultant_Elisa@gmail.com. Contributed by Edmond Loi, Stuyvesant High School (Class of 2015)
Colleges are always on the look-out for students not only exceptional in their academic ability to achieve high grades, but are participators in afterschool extra-curricular organizations as well! There are many extra-curricular clubs and sports that colleges look extremely favorably upon, and they include but aren’t limited to:
Colleges always like students who are dedicated to the subjects they love so much that they are willing to go toe to toe with each other in competitions based around their knowledge in their respective subjects. Math team, Science Olympiad, Robotics, among others, are examples of such academic teams to join.
Community service is a nice way to show colleges that you’re not completely absorbed into your academic work as to ignore your duties to be a benefit to society. Examples of community service include volunteering in a soup kitchen or local homeless shelter.
The arts tend to be more expressive of the character and personality of the student, and colleges, always eager to bring a little more color and diversity to their campuses, always like a student who is able to express their creativity through music, painting, drawing, etc.
Students who participate in student government express themselves as leaders who are capable of handling the responsibility of representing their fellow peers and giving voice to their concerns. Colleges often look very highly on elected student officials. Examples include being class president, vice president, treasurer, etc. Of course, these aren’t the only clubs/extra-curricular activities you could join! There are countless others that are just as respectable if not more in colleges’ eyes. In fact, if you find that there are no existing clubs or sports that suit your needs or you are not happy with, you can always create your own club or sports team! Just make sure to run it by the school administration first. For more extra-curricular activities you could find an interest in and potentially put on your college application, speak with a Lee Academia college counseling expert now. Contributed by Douglas Lee, Case Western Reserve (Class of 2016)
Most successful students share a couple common habits and tendencies. Top students know there are no short cuts to success and that you can always improve and take advantages of the opportunities that are presented. For those of us that aren’t geniuses, here are a couple tips that may help.
Top students are internally driven to succeed. What drives each one is different, be it a prestigious medical school acceptance, a dream job, or personal validation, find one that motivates you from inside and see how you can use it to channel your focus. Setting a goal to achieve and having a plan to follow to reach it may help you stay on track.
Like athletes, top students like winning and coming out on top. There is some thrill and satisfaction when you, for example, come out with the highest grade on a test. Aiming to come out on top may provide some extra motivation for you to succeed.
Contributed by Joyce Mei, Hunter College HS (Class of 2015)
College freshmen, worried about forgetting something, always tend to overpack on the countless essentials that all seem to be needed, However, there are certain things that are better left at home:
For more details about the transition to college, contact Lee Academia experts. Why engage the services of a private college consultant?
Independent college consultants are
Rising High school Seniors...You're running out of time. Avoid the time crunch in the fall.
Here's what you should start to do: 1. Check deadlines: Get a calendar and start keeping track of deadlines for applications and financial aid. You'll to decide whether to apply early decision, early action or regular decision, if given those choices. When you apply early, the school might require that you submit your financial aid application far in advance, so check deadlines. 2. Get started on the essay: Writing the college essay is nerve-wracking. If you start now, you're more likely to be able to devote the time to do a great job. If you are applying to a school that uses the Common Application, you can obtain a list of the new essay questions that was released in February. While you can often use the same essay for multiple schools, be prepared to answer a college's supplemental questions. 3. Don't forget the supplemental materials: If you are an artist, musician, or actor, applying to colleges can be even more time consuming. You typically will have to send a résumé noting your artistic background and accomplishments, as well as a portfolio that can be captured on a CD or DVD. Start and finish your portfolio now. 4. Research: If you haven't begun researching schools, get started now. Start requesting admission materials from school websites. In addition, spend time on the college's admission website. You can find academic profiles of the freshmen class, notable facts about the school, information on financial aid and scholarships. There are many schools that will offer virtual tours and opportunities for online chats, so why not check it out? Also, start looking online at a school's relevant academic departments. 5. Get Help: Whether you know it or not, most collegebound students are getting help from private educational consultants. Why? Getting into college has become more and more fierce, with thousands of students applying each year. Ask an Educational Consultant for help. Lee Academia's expert consultants are affordable and are certified in College counseling with over 10 years of experience and a successful track record of getting their students into their top choice matching colleges. So get guidance and help early. Contributed by Douglas Lee, Case Western Reserve (Class of 2016)
Finding a job is easier than you may think. Across the campus, there are many departments, labs, and other outlets looking for students for work. Try to find a job that suits you and one you can work up to 10-12 hours a week. It is awfully grueling to work 20+ hours a week while also handling a full course load. Also, remember to be a good employee. Work hard in your position, and especially in internships/research jobs. These first experiences may lead to full time jobs after graduation. Later on, it’s often who you know, not what you know.
Now, with all your hard earned money from your campus job, what are you going to do with it? You should open a banking account with a debit card to store all that money so you don’t have those Benjamins just lying around! Having a debit card may help curb your temptations and impulses because you can only spend what’s in your account. Try opening a bank that is local to your college town. You may have already opened a bank account back home, but if there aren’t many branches or ATMs around your campus, that account won’t do you much good.
Great, with a well-paying campus job and a bank account to store those $9.50/hour wages, the next step is to set up a monthly budget for yourself. Set up a monthly and weekly budget and keep track of your spending. It is very easy to lose track of your spending, with weekend outings with friends, local concerts, and great restaurants tempting you to empty your wallet. You don’t necessarily have to spend money to have fun in college. Be on the lookout for campus activities / economical outings that your school provides.
Remember to keep track of deadlines and paperwork to hand in. Your financial aid may decrease substantially if you miss those important due dates. You don’t want to lose your chance at those tens of thousands of dollars that you have already been awarded just because you forgot about a deadline. Also, you may not get to register for classes in time, which only leads to disaster. You never want to be in a rush for these financial aid matters because mistakes can be made in these situations, so make sure to be prepared.
This last tip may seem the most intimidating for students who have never applied for scholarships before. There are thousands of scholarships out there and they can range from a couple hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. Don’t disregard the scholarships with smaller awards, as those will be easier to attain since they have a smaller applicant pool. Hey, getting $500 for writing an essay about a random topic, or spending a little time to fill out an application and including a resume to earn a thousand big ones sounds *For any Financial Aid Assistance, contact FAConsultant_Elisa@gmail.com. |
Stephenie Lee
Stephenie, having been a tutor/instructor/mentor since 1996, discovered her passion and founded Lee Academia Educational Consulting, LLC. after she left the dental and medical field. She loves teaching/mentoring and counseling her students. Her passion lies in educating others and helping them pursue their educational path. Today, certified in College Counseling and with more than 10 years of experience, Stephenie and her team continues to blog about current updated educational news and events. Archives
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