6 answers
Sarai
Student
Coachella, California
1
Question
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What are some advice for college?
steps for college, applications tips
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6 answers
Katia Ratkovich
Recruitment
10
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Katia’s Answer
Hey there! When it comes to getting prepared to apply to college, it can definitely seem like a daunting task. However, if you start early and stay organized, it can be super exciting!
Regarding identifying colleges, here are some tips I would recommend when trying to figure out where to apply:
Academic Fit: Consider the academic programs and majors offered by each college. Ensure they align with your intended field of study or your academic interests. Review the faculty's qualifications and research opportunities within your chosen field. A good resource to review these is https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/
Location and Environment: Think about your preferences regarding location. Do you want to study in a city or rural setting? Also, consider distance from home. I would recommend visiting campuses if possible to get a feel for the environment and campus culture.
Campus Culture: and Campus Size: Decide whether you prefer a small liberal arts college, a mid-sized university, or a large research institution.
Consider class sizes and student-to-faculty ratios, as they can impact the quality of education and personal attention you receive. Regarding culture, consider your personal values, such as the college's mission, values, and community involvement. Look into campus traditions, student clubs, and events to see if they align with your interests. Is Greek life important to you? Do you prefer a football team and a campus culture that values that? Or do you prefer a smaller school? These are some examples of questions to consider.
Cost and Financial Aid: Evaluate the cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, room, and board. Consider your family's financial situation.
Research available scholarships, grants, and financial aid options.
Extracurricular Activities: Look into clubs, organizations, sports, and extracurricular activities that interest you. Consider how you can get involved on campus. Consider if there are opportunities to pursue your hobbies or passions outside of academics.
Talk to Current Students and Alumni: Reach out to current students and alumni to gain insights into their experiences and perspectives on the college. You can easily find these individuals via LinkedIn!
Sometimes, your intuition plays a role in your decision. If you have a strong gut feeling about a particular college, it's worth exploring why you feel that way.
As far as standing out on the application, here are some recommendations:
Extracurricular Activities: Showcase your involvement in extracurricular activities, clubs, sports, volunteer work, or part-time jobs. Highlight leadership roles, achievements, and any long-term commitments that demonstrate your dedication and passion.
Recommendation Letters: Seek out strong letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to your academic abilities, character, and contributions. This could be a homeschool teacher, a tutor, an employer, or a community leader.
Personal Statement/Essays: Use your personal statement or essays to explain your academic experience and how it has shaped your educational goals. Have you had to overcome any challenges? Have you won any awards or taking any advance classes? Have you experienced any big changes that helped your growth? The personal essay is the perfect place to share that.
Portfolio: If applicable, compile a portfolio of your work, including essays, research projects, art, or any other creative endeavors. This can provide tangible evidence of your skills and interests.
Special Talents: If you have unique talents or skills (e.g., music, art, sports, coding), showcase them. Include awards, competitions, or performances that highlight your abilities.
Independent Projects: Mention any independent projects or self-directed learning experiences you've pursued. These can demonstrate your initiative and curiosity.
Hope this helps and good luck!
Regarding identifying colleges, here are some tips I would recommend when trying to figure out where to apply:
Academic Fit: Consider the academic programs and majors offered by each college. Ensure they align with your intended field of study or your academic interests. Review the faculty's qualifications and research opportunities within your chosen field. A good resource to review these is https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/
Location and Environment: Think about your preferences regarding location. Do you want to study in a city or rural setting? Also, consider distance from home. I would recommend visiting campuses if possible to get a feel for the environment and campus culture.
Campus Culture: and Campus Size: Decide whether you prefer a small liberal arts college, a mid-sized university, or a large research institution.
Consider class sizes and student-to-faculty ratios, as they can impact the quality of education and personal attention you receive. Regarding culture, consider your personal values, such as the college's mission, values, and community involvement. Look into campus traditions, student clubs, and events to see if they align with your interests. Is Greek life important to you? Do you prefer a football team and a campus culture that values that? Or do you prefer a smaller school? These are some examples of questions to consider.
Cost and Financial Aid: Evaluate the cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, room, and board. Consider your family's financial situation.
Research available scholarships, grants, and financial aid options.
Extracurricular Activities: Look into clubs, organizations, sports, and extracurricular activities that interest you. Consider how you can get involved on campus. Consider if there are opportunities to pursue your hobbies or passions outside of academics.
Talk to Current Students and Alumni: Reach out to current students and alumni to gain insights into their experiences and perspectives on the college. You can easily find these individuals via LinkedIn!
Sometimes, your intuition plays a role in your decision. If you have a strong gut feeling about a particular college, it's worth exploring why you feel that way.
As far as standing out on the application, here are some recommendations:
Extracurricular Activities: Showcase your involvement in extracurricular activities, clubs, sports, volunteer work, or part-time jobs. Highlight leadership roles, achievements, and any long-term commitments that demonstrate your dedication and passion.
Recommendation Letters: Seek out strong letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to your academic abilities, character, and contributions. This could be a homeschool teacher, a tutor, an employer, or a community leader.
Personal Statement/Essays: Use your personal statement or essays to explain your academic experience and how it has shaped your educational goals. Have you had to overcome any challenges? Have you won any awards or taking any advance classes? Have you experienced any big changes that helped your growth? The personal essay is the perfect place to share that.
Portfolio: If applicable, compile a portfolio of your work, including essays, research projects, art, or any other creative endeavors. This can provide tangible evidence of your skills and interests.
Special Talents: If you have unique talents or skills (e.g., music, art, sports, coding), showcase them. Include awards, competitions, or performances that highlight your abilities.
Independent Projects: Mention any independent projects or self-directed learning experiences you've pursued. These can demonstrate your initiative and curiosity.
Hope this helps and good luck!
Lilia Bidzyan
Sales Strategy Senior Analyst
9
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Lilia’s Answer
Hi Sarai,
Thank you for your question. One piece of advice I have about college is starting the application / preparation process as early as possible. If you are able to start as early as possible, you will save yourself from a lot of stress down the line and the overall process will feel a bit less overwhelming. Whether this be getting teacher recommendations early, ensuring that you've taken the necessary exams for the universities you are applying to, or ensuring that your GPA is where you need it to be for the colleges you are aiming for - these are all good and proactive steps you can take.
Once you get to college, my advice is to make sure that you utilize any college resources that will help you get the best possible grades - for example, attending every lecture, attending office hours, finding on-campus tutors that are specialized in specific subjects, etc. By being proactive about these resources, you will ensure that you are setting yourself up for success!
Hope that the above is helpful, and best of luck!
Thank you for your question. One piece of advice I have about college is starting the application / preparation process as early as possible. If you are able to start as early as possible, you will save yourself from a lot of stress down the line and the overall process will feel a bit less overwhelming. Whether this be getting teacher recommendations early, ensuring that you've taken the necessary exams for the universities you are applying to, or ensuring that your GPA is where you need it to be for the colleges you are aiming for - these are all good and proactive steps you can take.
Once you get to college, my advice is to make sure that you utilize any college resources that will help you get the best possible grades - for example, attending every lecture, attending office hours, finding on-campus tutors that are specialized in specific subjects, etc. By being proactive about these resources, you will ensure that you are setting yourself up for success!
Hope that the above is helpful, and best of luck!
Patricia Berrios
Registered Nurse
13
Answers
Spokane, Washington
Updated
Patricia’s Answer
Hello! Depending on your age, you should consider courses in your high school that will give you college credit such as AP courses and/ or the option of concurrent enrollment at a nearby university or community college. Some states or school districts refer to this as "Running start". Your school counselor or district website should have this information. The college application process can be involved and a little costly so only apply to those schools that you actually want to attend. Remember that enrolling at a community college is a great option for cost and convenience, especially if you are not sure what your are majoring in. Just make sure that the courses you take are transferrable to a 4 year school. If you need to take a "0" credit course to gain knowledge that is okay and will help you in the long run. College scholarships are out there. Many but not all, take time and references and usually require written applications or essays. Look into a scholarship data base to see what you may be eligible for. There may even be some at your or your parents place of employment. GPA is very important for some colleges and some scholarships but a determined person that makes B's and C's can get through school. Other things that are important are your extra curricular activities. If you are able to volunteer, especially in the area of interest for your career that is helpful. If you need to work while in school, see about working somewhere that will actually help pay for school and even work with your schedule or is related to your career of interest. Do not let the stress of looking forward to college rob you of high school. Yes, hard work pays off. Yes, get a tutor or go online for help if you are struggling in a subject. Learn who you are and what you are passionate about and good at. That will make your work of school and later career very fulfilling. If you have to take out college loans, check what the interest rate is before signing anything, Private colleges tend to charge 3 times more for tuition than a state school, so even with scholarships, it can be quite costly and can be considered if their academic reputation in a certain specialty will help with job attainment or academic fulfillment for you.
angie azur
Writer | Artist | Death Doula | Yoga | Meditation | Psychology | Philosophy
78
Answers
Weaverville, NC
Updated
angie’s Answer
Hello Sarai,
Kick off your college journey by getting a head start. Do a bit of research to understand what the admission requirements are, and strive to keep your GPA high. Don't shy away from challenging courses like AP or IB, they can really make your application stand out.
Get involved in extracurricular activities and community service that you genuinely care about. This will not only enrich your personal growth, but also add depth to your college application. Building strong relationships with your mentors will also come in handy when you need powerful recommendation letters.
Take your time to craft personal statements that are not only well-written, but also customized for each college you apply to. Don't forget to explore different financial aid options and scholarships that can lighten the financial burden.
Organization is key! Keep a close eye on application deadlines and don't hesitate to seek advice from counselors or mentors. When applying, consider a mix of reach, match, and safety schools. And remember, always be true to who you are throughout the process.
It's also important to remember that colleges are businesses. They want to attract students and they rely on tuition fees. So don't be afraid to ask them why their college stands out from the rest. After all, you'll be investing a significant amount of money for your degree, so be selective. Choose the one that feels right for you.
Best of luck on your journey!
Angie
Kick off your college journey by getting a head start. Do a bit of research to understand what the admission requirements are, and strive to keep your GPA high. Don't shy away from challenging courses like AP or IB, they can really make your application stand out.
Get involved in extracurricular activities and community service that you genuinely care about. This will not only enrich your personal growth, but also add depth to your college application. Building strong relationships with your mentors will also come in handy when you need powerful recommendation letters.
Take your time to craft personal statements that are not only well-written, but also customized for each college you apply to. Don't forget to explore different financial aid options and scholarships that can lighten the financial burden.
Organization is key! Keep a close eye on application deadlines and don't hesitate to seek advice from counselors or mentors. When applying, consider a mix of reach, match, and safety schools. And remember, always be true to who you are throughout the process.
It's also important to remember that colleges are businesses. They want to attract students and they rely on tuition fees. So don't be afraid to ask them why their college stands out from the rest. After all, you'll be investing a significant amount of money for your degree, so be selective. Choose the one that feels right for you.
Best of luck on your journey!
Angie
Lenin Pena
Business Intelligence
1
Answer
Charlotte, North Carolina
Updated
Lenin’s Answer
Hey Sarai,
This is a great question to ask. I think the fact that you are asking it is already a great start. It is important to know that everyone's path to succeed in college is slightly different. The biggest things that helped me was, studying to understand a topic and not just to memorize it. The more you develop an understanding of what is being taught, the better your experience will be. The other most important thing that helped me was, being involved in activities. In general, having people skills can be great to land jobs and other opportunities. Work on communication/understanding and you'll have success:)!!
This is a great question to ask. I think the fact that you are asking it is already a great start. It is important to know that everyone's path to succeed in college is slightly different. The biggest things that helped me was, studying to understand a topic and not just to memorize it. The more you develop an understanding of what is being taught, the better your experience will be. The other most important thing that helped me was, being involved in activities. In general, having people skills can be great to land jobs and other opportunities. Work on communication/understanding and you'll have success:)!!
Melissa Mercado R.T. (N)(CT), LNMT
Nuclear Medicine/ PET/CT Technologist| Imaging Research Associate
2
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Melissa’s Answer
Remember to take notes, network with your fellow classmates and professors, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Also, consider using 'ratemyprofessor'. This is a big help when picking your classes and matching yourself with the right professor. Having a great professor can significantly enhance your college learning experience.
Thanks for the advice.
Sarai