All posts by Suzanne Shaffer

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The college application personal statement

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college application personal statementPart of the college application is the personal statement. Basically, colleges ask you to tell them a little about yourself in a short statement. It seems easy in theory but difficult when you begin to craft it. Since the college application personal statement is the first thing colleges read, you want to make a good fresh impression.

What do you want to say about yourself? How will you communicate in a few short sentences who you really are? These are just a few questions you should ask yourself before crafting the statement. Taking a few minutes to brainstorm and get your thoughts down on paper will help you write a memorable personal statement.

Here are some brainstorming tips to help with the college application personal statement.

 

Uncategorized

10 student networking tips-BlogHer style

 

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student networking

This past week I attended a conference in Chicago specifically for bloggers—BlogHer 2013. It was my first blogger conference and to say the least, I was petrified. I don’t consider myself an extrovert and meeting new people and connecting with them on a professional level has never been easy for me. But I packed my nerve and hid away my fears and went to my first conference session. Over the next few days I learned some things about networking: some I knew, some I didn’t know. And it occurred to me that these new found realizations could apply to the college admissions process and even as students enter college. Following are 10 student networking tips that I learned at Blogher:

1. Remember that there are others feeling just as insecure as you do.

When you enter an unknown situation and you feel like you are all alone, remember that there are others feeling the same way you do. They will most likely be sitting alone, walking alone, or not speaking to anyone. Keep your eyes open for those signs and pay attention to others around you. This applies to relationships in high school and college.

2. Don’t be afraid to make the first move.

If you see someone standing or sitting alone, walk up to them and say, “Can I join you?” You will be surprised how relieved and welcoming they will be. The first day in high school or college can be a bit scary, especially if you don’t know anyone. Take a chance and approach those who seem like they are in the same boat.

3. Know what you want to say before you say it.

When meeting with an admissions officer or college recruiter, know what you want to say before you say it. Be prepared to define who you are and what you want from your college experience. Know what you are looking for and communicate it clearly.

4. Sell yourself but don’t be obnoxious.

Nobody likes a braggart. Be able to talk about yourself without spewing out a list of accomplishments and/or name dropping. Let your personality shine through and just be yourself.

5. Listen, listen, listen.

Don’t talk over anyone. If they are speaking to you, let them finish. Ask questions and pay attention to their responses. Pay attention to what they are saying and pick up on conversation topics. Most importantly, act interested.

Continue reading 10 student networking tips-BlogHer style →

tech gadgets, technology, Uncategorized

Safeguarding your college laptop against viruses

 

college laptopIn general, a computer virus is a piece of malicious software that infects and causes damage, changes, or copies files on your computer or other software. Hackers create viruses for different purposes including stealing credit card information, intellectual property, login details used by site visitors, as well as spying on unsuspecting laptop users. According to a report published by Kaspersky Lab, the company’s antivirus software detected more than three billion attacks from infected files. If you use your laptop to surf the Internet, you run the risk of downloading malicious software unknowingly. Read on to learn how to safeguard your college laptop from malicious software.

The Email Threat

Email is one of the most widely used forms of Internet communication. However, cyber criminals have turned email into a tool for spreading computer viruses. The rule of thumb is to avoid opening unsolicited email attachments or links. Even if the email seems to come from a trusted source, be careful when opening it. For example, you might get an email that says you need to verify your bank account details by clicking open a given link.

It is advisable not to open that link straight from your email. Instead, open another browser tab and use it to visit your bank’s website. Most banks have teams of representatives ready to answer client queries via web chat, phone, or instant messaging. Find out if the information in the email is genuine.

Continue reading Safeguarding your college laptop against viruses →

admissions, college guidance, college majors

ROTC in college

 

college rotcThe Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) prepares college students for a career in the military by offering them field training. Students who take ROTC classes also have to complete their college coursework like other students. Admittedly, juggling grueling ROTC field training and the demands of schoolwork can be quite challenging. However, the rewards of overcoming such challenges are enormous. For instance, with the ever-increasing cost of college education, ROTC offers students some much-needed financial assistance besides equipping them with numerous important lifelong skills. Some of the other benefits of ROTC in college include the following:

College Scholarships

Students who enroll in ROTC programs stand a chance of receiving financial aid that they can use to pay for their college tuition expenses. In some cases, the ROTC offers full scholarships that cover tuition costs, living expenses and stipends for personal expenses. In view of this, students interested in military careers who qualify for ROTC can pay for their education and avoid debt.  However, because the ROTC offers scholarships based on merit, students who receive these scholarships have to maintain excellent academic scores for the entire duration of their course.

Guarantee Promising Careers

Upon graduation, college students who are part of the ROTC program can begin their military careers as second lieutenants immediately.  Depending on the skills different graduates have, they can easily rise through the military ranking system and start enjoying the benefits of a successful military career. Additionally, even in the rare cases where ROTC members decide not to pursue careers in the military after graduation, the skills they develop while they were members of the ROTC may make it easier for them to find employment in other sectors.

Continue reading ROTC in college →

college health

College Immunizations

 

college immunizationsHeading off to college can be stressful for any student. For some, it is leaving home for the first time. For others, it is traveling across the country for the first time, maybe even entering a new country for the first time.  Between leaving home and meeting new people, the last thing that a new college student should worry about is their healthcare. Knowing exactly what is needed before school and how to get healthcare while you are away is important. The following is basic health care information for college students regarding college immunizations.

Recommended Immunizations

The first important thing to know is what immunizations you will need before entering college and where you can get them. The college immunizations an entering freshman will need depends on their medical history. Every situation can be different. It depends what immunizations the student has already had. One vaccination that most college students will not typically have when entering college is the meningitis vaccine. Students who may have had it in high school are ones who may have been exposed to someone with the disease. If not, chances are that you have not had the immunization. Students living in a dorm, in close quarters, will be required to have this vaccine.

Hepatitis B is a serious infection, which can be transferred through sexual activity. This disease can cause long term liver issues including liver failure. Many colleges require students be vaccinated against this disease. The third vaccine that most colleges and universities require is the DPT vaccine. It stands for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. This is a vaccine that most students would not have been given in their childhood or early teens.

Continue reading College Immunizations →

college guidance, college majors

Should your college-bound teen consider a legal career?

 

legal careerWith law school applicants at a 30-year low, there has never been a better time to pursue a legal career.  Some top law schools are now accepting students that they would have overlooked in the past.  This does not change the fact that tuition prices are at all-time highs, which has been a deterrent to many prospective students.  The idea that law school graduates will not be able to find a lucrative job after graduation has stopped many prospective students as well.  Statistically speaking, though, employment for lawyers is expected to grow by 11% between 2006 and 2016.

The Demand For Lawyers

The demand for lawyers will continue to rise, due to growth in population and an increase in business activity.  These factors will lead to more legal transactions, criminal cases and civil disputes; therefore, corporate lawyers, criminal lawyers and civil lawyers are all expected to rise in their level of demand.

With the advent of universal health care in the United States, the need for legal professionals specializing in health care law will rise drastically.  Another consequence of universal health care will be a demand for lawyers specializing in elderly law.  With universal health care the longevity of the United States population is expected to increase.

Continued research into alternative energy will create a demand in environmental, intellectual property and corporate law, because they will be necessary for further progress.  Other forms of technology will also be in need of experienced intellectual property and corporate lawyers.  Disputes between who developed new products and technology will always keep intellectual property lawyers in high demand.

Furthermore, the increased affordability of legal clinics will lead to middle-class clients to seek legal consultation more often.  Hence, lawyers specializing in family, civil, criminal and personal injury will be more readily sought after.

Continue reading Should your college-bound teen consider a legal career? →

college guidance, parenting

Understanding your teen’s learning behaviors

 

learning behaviorsMost people know that no two people are alike, especially when it comes to education and learning. After realizing the differences in people scientists began to create groups to determine certain things about people, such as their specific learning behaviors. Learning behaviors are generally grouped into three categories, visual, kinesthetic, and auditory. When testing individuals for their particular learning method, the results will fall into one or more of the categories.

Visual Learners

People who are tested as being a visual learner will rely heavily upon their ability to make visual contact with learning materials. They are likely to prefer seeing what they are being taught; they will generally take endless deeply detailed notes, prefer mellow environments to learn in and may often visualize the material they are trying to learn. A visual learner is also likely to prefer colorful presentations and illustrations. This type of learner is also likely to be obsessed with neatness and cleanliness.

Kinesthetic Learners

Individuals that fall under the kinesthetic learning group are people who prefer to be able to move around. This person will likely use their hands to make gestures while speaking; they will also prefer obtaining an education through courses that require them to move around, such as art, cooking, and other similar courses. The kinesthetic learner will feel the need to take short breaks while learning. This type of learner will often invent reasons to be active if put under pressure. The kinesthetic learner is also a person that enjoys experiencing educational material versus seeing or hearing it.

Continue reading Understanding your teen’s learning behaviors →

Uncategorized

How will the Affordable Care Act affect you and your student

 

Affordable Care ActCollege life isn’t always associated with the best of health practices. Between socializing, studying, and the occasional all night cram session, for most college students their health is an afterthought. Still, when it comes down to it, like everyone else, students and their parents want to pay a fair and reasonable price for healthcare that works for them, instead of the other way around.

With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s major provisions just around the corner on Jan. 1, 2014, there are more options than ever for students’ health insurance.

Let’s examine some of these options.

Mom and Dad: Healthcare Providers

Believe it or not, it’s been three years since one of the ACA’s landmark provisions became law. This provision has so far done the most to increase insurance coverage for the country as a whole. It allows children to stay on their parent’s healthcare plan, until the age of 26, even if they have a pre-existing condition.

For parents weighing the costs and benefits of student health insurance plans, this is by and large the best options for their child’s health insurance. It saves time, money, and resources during college and those crucial post-college years where your child is getting financially situated in the world.

As your child nears the age of 26 though, the ACA will give them plenty of options for solid, affordable health insurance at a good price.

SHP’s: The Benefits of College Life

SHP stands for Student Health Plan, and most accredited colleges and universities have them. SHP’s are healthcare plans offered to students at reduced rates until graduation.

SHP’s have benefitted millions of U.S. students by offering them healthcare, often in conjunction with extensive on-campus health facilities.

Medical services related to pre-existing conditions are normally not covered under SHP’s. However, with the ACA, these plans will have to cover such medical services, as well as a host of other health services mandated by the ACA, such as emergency medical treatment, prescription drug coverage, and coverage for mental health.

The Affordable Care Act will be fully implemented in January of next year, and it looks like students will be all the better because of it.

Continue reading How will the Affordable Care Act affect you and your student →

admissions, college guidance, college planning

5 Simple ways to prepare for college in high school

 

high schoolGetting ready for college or post-secondary school is a huge milestone in a student’s life and is the first real step towards adulthood. As a college student, you will be on your own immersed in schooling that will become your job for the next two to four years of your life. For the first time, rewards will be based entirely on what you produce and the time you are willing to commit to becoming successful. College really is a time that allows you to shape your future career, so it’s important to start preparing at a young age rather than at the last minute.  Here are a list of ways to help start preparing early for college in order to ensure a successful experience that will prepare you for your career:

  1. Meet with your high-school counselor by the end of your sophomore year. This is a person you want on your team for the next few years you are in high school. Your counselor will ask what you envision doing beyond high school, your goals and vision for your future career. He or she will help you draw out a plan to reach those goals.  If you wait until senior year it could already be too late to get particular requirements you may need to attend the school of your dreams.
  2. Research college degree requirements. Throughout high school, you may have the opportunity to get some college credit out of the way without even knowing it. At some universities, four years of a foreign language in high school will be enough to satisfy language requirements for your degree. Also, AP and honors classes can sometimes fulfill certain degree requirements, which will be very beneficial to you once you reach college so those classes will already be out of the way.
  3. Develop a high school schedule with your counselor. Prepare, prepare, prepare. One of the easiest ways to have a smooth transition from high school to college is to prepare. Work with your high school counselor ahead of time to pinpoint what school courses you need to take and pass to fit those college subjects the best. Sift through options of high school electives that match with the specific degree you will be going for.
  4. Get involved with extracurricular activities. Universities want to see students whom will involve themselves in campus life and have shown their dedication in the past. It is a great idea to get involved with clubs, volunteer work, or even sporting teams to prove to universities that you are able to manage your time with other events and work aside from homework.
  5. Begin preparing for and completing the PSAT/ACT/SAT. As annoying as studying for a standardized test can be, it really is important to do well on these tests in order to get into the school of your choice. Many high schools have you take these in your junior or senior year, and all universities require one of these standardized tests in order to be considered for admission. It is important to note that some college degrees require a minimum score on these tests in order to be accepted into their program.

 ______________________________

Today’s guest post is written by Trae Lewis, a recent graduate of University of Colorado and a staff writer for CollegeFocus, a website dedicated to helping students deal with the challenges of college, including housing, finance, style, health, relationships, and transferring from a community college to a four-year university. You can follow CollegeFocus on Twitter at @CollegeFocus101 and Facebook at www.fb.com/collegefocus.

 

admissions, college planning

The Common App: Available August 1

 

common app

Starting August 1, the new Common App will be available for students to complete. The CA4, as it’s called, will have a few notable changes:

  • The online experience will improve–The questions will be tailored to each individual student’s relevant information, with help available onscreen alongside each question. The app will offer continuous status checks so students can keep track of their progress; and the school code search has been streamlined.
  • The Arts and Athletics portion of the application have changed–The Arts Supplement will be replaced by Slideroom.com for easy integration with the application. The Athletic Supplement will be discontinued and become a part of the application itself.
  • There will no longer be the option to print and mail your application–You can no longer print your application and mail it to the colleges. Students can print to preview, but all applications must be submitted online.
  • There will be unlimited edits–Recognizing the need to edit the Common App for errors or updating information, students can now make unlimited edits.
  • Students can have three submitted essay versions–The essay can have a maximum of three submitted versions, allowing students to make corrections and updates.

The Common App has also improved how it collects the information from the student throughout the application process.

When August 1st rolls around, it’s a good idea to take a look, fill out the parts of the application you know will not change, and save it for later completion. Doing this over the summer allows your student has time to pay close attention to detail and become familiar with the application components.

To view a more detailed explanation of the changes for this year, check out C4: The New Common Application.