Due to the pandemic, the college admissions system has been forced to adapt.
Last year’s group of graduating high school seniors and soon-to-be college freshman, could not visit colleges due to the nationwide response of sheltering at home to flatten the curve.
In addition, students dealt with problems regarding standardized testing online causing many colleges to eliminate or pause standardized testing requirements. Students will have limited access to traditional extracurricular and volunteer opportunities. In addition, sports programs have been shortened or eliminated at many high schools.
Parents and students are wondering how all these changes will affect the college admissions environment and will it change what colleges expect from this year’s crop of future students.
To answer these questions, The Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Making Caring Common project coordinated with admissions leaders to detail what exactly should be considered in the application process during the school year ahead. After interviewing 315 college admissions professionals, they published a joint statement:
“As admission and enrollment leaders, we recognize that we and the institutions we represent send signals that can shape students’ priorities and experiences throughout high school. This collective statement seeks to clarify what we value in applicants during this time of COVID-19. We are keenly aware that students across the country and the world are experiencing many uncertainties and challenges. We primarily wish to underscore our commitment to equity and to encourage in students self-care, balance, meaningful learning, and care for others.”
These admissions leaders emphasized that students should communicate if and how the coronavirus pandemic has negatively impacted them, including if they have not had access to the internet or a quiet place to study or if they have had increased family responsibilities such as taking care of sick relatives, supervising younger siblings or working to provide family income.
To sum it up, they will value five aspects in the upcoming admissions year: self-care; academic work; service and contributions to others; family contributions; and extracurricular and summer activities.
Following are the specific explanations provided for parents and students from the college admissions professionals outlined in their statement:
Self-care.
Self-care is of high importance, especially in times of crisis. We recognize that many students, economically struggling and facing losses and hardships of countless kinds, are simply seeking to get by. We also recognize that this time is stressful and demanding for a wide range of students for many different reasons. We encourage all students to be gentle with themselves during this time.
Academic work.
Your academic engagement and work during this time matters to us, but given the circumstances of many families, we recognize that you may face obstacles to academic work. We will assess your academic achievements in the context of these obstacles. In addition, we will assess your academic achievements mainly based on your academic performance before and after this pandemic. No student will be disadvantaged because of a change in commitments or a change in plans because of this outbreak, their school’s decisions about transcripts, the absence of AP or IB tests, their lack of access to standardized tests (although many of the colleges represented here don’t require these tests), or their inability to visit campus. We will also view students in the context of the curriculum, academic resources, and supports available to them.
Service and contributions to others.
We value contributions to one’s communities for those who are in a position to provide these contributions. We recognize that while many students are not in this position because of stresses and demands, other students are looking for opportunities to be engaged and make a difference. This pandemic has created a huge array of needs, whether for tutoring, contact tracing, support for senior citizens, or assistance with food delivery. We view responding to these needs as one valuable way that students can spend their time during this pandemic.
We also value forms of contribution that are unrelated to this pandemic, such as working to register voters, protect the environment, combat racial injustice and inequities or stop online harassment among peers. Our interest is not in whether students created a new project or demonstrated leadership during this period. We, emphatically, do not seek to create a competitive public service “Olympics” in response to this pandemic. What matters to us is whether students’ contribution or service is authentic and meaningful to them and to others, whether that contribution is writing regular notes to frontline workers or checking in with neighbors who are isolated.
We will assess these contributions and service in the context of the obstacles students are facing. We also care about what students have learned from their contributions to others about themselves, their communities, and/or their country (Please see Turning the Tide for additional information about the kinds of contributions and service we value). No student will be disadvantaged during this time who is not in a position to provide these contributions. We will review these students for admissions in terms of other aspects of their applications.
Family contributions.
Far too often there is a misperception that high-profile, brief forms of service tend to “count” in admissions while family contributions—which are often deeper and more time-consuming and demanding—do not. Many students may be supervising younger siblings, for example, or caring for sick relatives or working to provide family income, and we recognize that these responsibilities may have increased during these times. We view substantial family contributions as very important, and we encourage students to report them in their applications. It will only positively impact the review of their application during this time.
Extracurricular and summer activities.
No student will be disadvantaged for not engaging in extracurricular activities. We also understand that many plans for summer have been impacted by this pandemic, and students will not be disadvantaged for lost possibilities for involvement. Potential internship opportunities, summer jobs, camp experiences, classes, and other types of meaningful engagement have been cancelled or altered. We have never had specific expectations for any one type of extracurricular activity or summer experience and realize that each student’s circumstances allow for different opportunities. We have always considered work or family responsibilities as valuable ways of spending one’s time, and this is especially true at this time.
Making the most of a college degree requires a knowledge of the career path your student will be pursuing. This post is one of many I have provided to help parents and students make an informed college major choice.
Utility engineers are highly specialized professionals who usually work with public utilities that provide gas, water, power or sewer services to communities. Most utility engineers have a background in mechanical or civil engineering.
Utility engineering consultants work on how to improve the delivery of utility services to homes and businesses. They often are employed in public works activities that offer new utility services to communities. Utility engineers also work to improve current services with new technology and best practices.
Common utility engineer tasks include:
Devise plans, designs, and operations for utility systems, including gas, water, and sewage systems.
Identify and resolve any failures of utility systems and oversee preventative maintenance.
Direct utility project groups and offer guidance on how to install or improve utility systems
Gather data on utility processes, monitor utility system effectiveness and material usage.
Manage construction projects involving utilities, devise utility project scope, specifications, and budgets.
During times when there are utility outages, utility engineers are engaged in directing and managing work crews to restore services as quickly as possible.
Utility engineers also are involved in boosting service quality by reducing service interruptions. This is done by enhancing infrastructure and working to reduce any existing problems. For these types of projects, the utility engineer works in planning and execution.
Example of a Utility Engineer Project
For example, a utility engineer may determine that a plot of land with dozens of old trees is a high risk to power lines. He or she will design a project to run electric cabling underground or to reinforce current aerial lines and electric poles. He or she would collaborate with work crews to ensure these utility projects are properly carried out and thoroughly inspected for effectiveness and safety.
As a utility engineer, you may work on many different types of projects for different entities. Some may work for a city that is designing a new energy distribution grid. These utility engineers may act as consultants to provide guidance on the power requirements of a growing urban area. Others might work at smaller utilities that keep power going in all buildings, and also work in installing backup electrical generators for any power outages.
Some utility engineers also work at manufacturing plants and job sites outdoors overseeing the construction of electrical turbines and other types of equipment that produce power.
Utility engineers work on infrastructure projects that are vital to the continuing growth and viability of our society, and therefore are engaged in work of great importance.
Over a lifetime there’s a huge financial payoff for going to college, but how can students avoid taking out outsized student loans for their education in the short term? The key is to make your ‘out-of-pocket’ expenses as low as possible. You can do this by putting strong merit aid colleges on your list. Applying to colleges that are likely to give you merit aid is one of the best ways to make ‘financial fit’ choices and save thousands of dollars a year.
The largest pool of non-loan money available directly from colleges is merit aid scholarships. Colleges award over $8 billion dollars in merit scholarships annually. Understanding how colleges award these scholarships requires a thoughtful strategy that can result in significant savings. Merit aid awards are mostly given to applicants who show academic excellence and are in the top 25% of a college’s most recently admitted freshman class. Since many colleges offer merit scholarships, you don’t need to have straight A’s or a 1600 SAT score to be awarded merit aid. Each school has its own top quartile stats.
Merit aid grants are unlike other forms of aid in several ways. Federal government grants like Pell are primarily targeted at low-income families and are limited in size. Private scholarships are generally not renewable and require a separate application. And loans, of course, have to be repaid with interest. Merit aid, on the other hand, is not income dependent, doesn’t require a separate application, doesn’t have to be paid back and it’s renewable.
Finding merit aid can be tricky and time-consuming. Using a college’s Common Data information will provide some information. You can find lists of colleges that give merit aid awards online, but those lists won’t show you if a particular college is likely to give you aid based on your profile. A new tool called MeritMore uses your stats to match you with colleges most likely to give you aid and shows you how generous those colleges have been to students with similar profiles. You can check to see if your top schools are likely to offer you merit aid and then compare aid offers against each other. MeritMore also finds colleges generous with merit aid that match your criteria, but may not have been on your radar. This is a great strategy for finding financial fit gems.
The best way for families who don’t qualify for need-based aid to avoid paying sticker price is through merit aid. Awards can be in the thousands and tens of thousands of dollars per year. These scholarships help make college more financially accessible and help families avoid getting caught in the student loan trap.
For parents, preparing their kids for college can be a stressful time. While they are getting excited to meet new people, decorate their dorm, and pack everything for their first year on campus, parents are often focused on the nitty-gritty details. This often involves preparing their children’s finances and filling out paperwork among many other things.
As a parent, it’s important to make sure your child knows about the responsibilities they’ll need to handle in college. Helping them understand money management is especially important, as this will help them be better prepared for when they graduate. Here are some first steps to help teach your child financial independence before college.
Determine an Organization Method
Working on developing a budget with your child who is college-bound can help them be better prepared to manage their money and avoid overspending. Generally, your kids will have a limited amount of money each semester depending on what they’ve saved up, and if they have any type of financial aid or work-study income.
To help them create a budget, work with them to calculate the expenses they expect to have each semester, along with how much money they will have to spend. Write down each of these by category, and then determine how to best allocate their money. Generally, you should create categories that distinguish between necessities and other non-necessities, with a priority on payments that are not negotiable such as food, textbooks, and school supplies, as opposed to non-negotiable payments such as parties and socialization.
In order for your child to best track their budget in college, they could utilize a digital budgeting app so that they can always have a handle on their money whenever they’re on the go.
Set Up Financial Accounts
Getting your child’s financial situation in order also involves helping them get a bank account, among other financial accounts such as credit cards and loan accounts. If they don’t already have one, getting them a savings and checking account is a great way to help them be fully in control of their money.
One great way of doing this is by helping them sign up for a digital banking platform, which can allow them to control their finances from their laptop or mobile device. These often have additional features that can help them be more financially responsible, such as automatic savings and fee-free overdraft protection. These services can help students save money during the semester and contribute to their life savings over time.
Discuss Credit and Loans
Finally, helping your child understand debt, credit, and loans will keep them from acquiring a low credit score throughout college or falling behind on student loan payments. Discuss with them the importance of meeting any credit card payments they have on time and paying them off immediately instead of letting the debt pile up.
You should also explain how much money they will owe for student loans and what they will need to do to pay these off after graduation. This will give them a better sense of their financial responsibilities and motivate them to be on top of their finances. You can go about this by giving them access to their student loan accounts and helping them stay aware of how much they will end up owing after graduation.
Overall, knowledge about debt and loans will come with the added benefits of motivating them to be more financially independent, so that they will be in a better position when they graduate. They may even work to find ways to avoid debt while in college, and in some cases, they can even begin to pay off loans while still in college.
Helping your child prepare to become financially independent is tricky, especially since they’re getting ready to go into a new environment. However, by teaching them the right skills, they’ll be prepared to manage their money and stay financially savvy in no time.
It’s a new world; especially in college admissions. What we did last year at this time has been obliterated by the coronavirus. Future college students (upcoming seniors) will have to adapt. Current college students are faced with all sorts of dilemmas.
Just for parents, I’ve compiled some of the articles I’ve found about navigating college during COVID-19. I hope you find them helpful for you and your student.
Amy Romm Lockard of Dovetail College Consulting in Portland, Oregon works with high school students nationwide to look at careers, majors, colleges and other post-secondary options as well as all the pieces in between (testing, financial aid, teacher recommendations, scholarship applications and more).
High school juniors may be wondering how the pandemic will affect their college plans. Your student may be asking:
How is this virus going to affect my future college application?
Are these abridged AP exams going to count?
I worked so hard this year, took a rigorous curriculum, but now how can this pass/fail grading highlight my improved grades?
My prestigious summer program was just canceled—what can I do for the next several months?
With all the seniors currently asking for gap years, will this mean there will be fewer spaces in future years?”
We can’t know the future, but we can deal with what we know now. As time progresses, the options will change, but for now, here is some helpful information.
We looked at the kinds of challenges and changes that rising high school seniors may face this fall.
Here’s what we found.
All schools that return to on-campus learning will have new procedures in place for keeping students and staff healthy. That includes whatever the state mandates for the number of students allowed in buildings, mask use, how far apart they can sit, where they can eat, hand-washing routines, changes in how clubs and extracurricular activities are handled, and whether sports are played and can be attended.
Collaborating with the Making Caring Common project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, college admissions professionals have jointly issued “Care Counts in Crisis: College Admissions Deans Respond to COVID-19.” The statement focuses on five points students need to keep in mind this year: Self-care, academics, service, families, and extracurricular activities.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, rising high school seniors would likely be spending some time during the summer and fall visiting prospective colleges, attending college fairs, or meeting with college recruiters who visit their high schools. But what about now? As you might expect, researching college options for the Class of 2021 just got very interesting! Let’s take a look at what some of these formerly typical activities might look like this year. It’s the COVID college search year!
As college move-in day approaches, parents around the country have understandable concerns about online vs. in-person instruction.
Many parents wonder if the quality of instruction will be the same if classes are conducted remotely, and if it’s worth the high cost of tuition they’re paying.
Parents are also expressing anxiety about student safety — both health safety because of the pandemic and physical safety in communities where protests and violence continue. Unlike the decision about how classes will be held, your student may have a choice about whether to return to campus or study from home (unless their school has closed all residential facilities or is permitting only certain grades to return).
If you’re still up in the air about this, or just want to prepare your student as well as possible for a safe and healthy fall semester, here are some things to know and talk about.
We looked at the kinds of challenges and changes that entering freshmen and current college students may face this fall.
Here’s what we found.
All schools that return to on-campus learning will have new procedures in place for keeping students and staff healthy.
That includes whatever the state mandates for the number of students allowed in buildings, mask use, how far apart they can sit, where they can eat, handwashing routines, changes in how clubs and extracurricular activities are handled, and whether sports are played and can be attended.
COVID-19 has impacted many families financially — including their ability to pay for college. What may have been a positive financial outlook in the fall of 2019, when students applied and accepted admission, has changed dramatically for many families with the nationwide shutdowns and changes in employment.
Student athletes have been hit hard as many colleges are cutting programs to save money and stay afloat. Needless to say, athletes aren’t the only students who are impacted. Many students who’d planned to use family funds to pay for college are now faced with financial hardship and left wondering how they will be able to afford college. Families are being forced to get creative and look for funds in the form of scholarships and grants if they wish to avoid borrowing to pay for college.
If you find you are short on funds to pay for college, use these tactics before you decide to take out loans.
As freshmen and upperclassmen start thinking (dreaming?) about heading to college this fall. They’re going to be packing more supplies than usual, however. What will be different on campus this year, due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic? Maybe more elbow bumps than hugs! Here are five things you may not have thought of. Make some preparations if possible!
In one of the most challenging periods in the last century, the Coronavirus has roiled healthcare systems and everyday life, with citizens wondering what the ramifications are for society and their everyday lives.
While public health and government officials are providing their expertise to the specifics of health and everyday life, high school students, college students, and their parents face special complexities in managing their finances and their college experiences.
How do school administrators describe today’s parent?
Has it become so bad that school administrators (from grade school to college) have to label us (helicopter parent, bulldozer parent, snowplow parent)? Apparently, it has. When it comes right down to it, we should realize that this type of behavior only hurts the student. Of course, the student may not see the harm. After all, their parent is rescuing them from difficult situations in life. But in the long run, it hurts their quest for independence and causes strife within the family.
Let’s take a look at some of these parenting styles and ask yourself how they can hinder your student’s growth toward independence and influence your parenting for college.
The Helicopter Parent
A helicopter parent hovers over their child. They keep tabs on their every move, text them 24 hours a day and have tracking apps on their smartphones to keep track of their child’s location at all times. Helicopter parents are ready to swoop in at a moment’s notice to help their child in any situation. Forgot their lunch—they take off at lunch to bring it to them. Forgot to bring a permission slip—they drop everything and bring it to them. Forgot to register for the SAT—no, problem; we’ll pay the late fee. Receive a text or non-emergency call during a meeting—they drop everything to respond. Overslept for school—they write a note to explain the tardiness.
The Snowplow Parent
The snowplow parent goes beyond the hovering. They clear paths for their children and plow any obstacle that stands in the way of their happiness. Their children never learn how to advocate for themselves and head off to college to get lost in a sea of problems. As they get older, it’s harder for them to resolve conflict and overcome adversity. Honestly, I have to admit I did this with my daughter. The good news—I knew when to stop. The bad news—I did it much too long.
The Bulldozer Parent
A bulldozer parent is one who is involved in their child’s life, especially in school. This type of parent calls the teacher to complain about a grade they feel is undeserved. As their kids get older, they call the admissions office to plead their college-bound teen’s case for admittance. Bulldozer parents bulldoze their way into their kid’s lives. If their kids get into trouble, they are right there waiting to bail them out and make excuses.
Evaluate and adjust
Be honest. Haven’t you been guilty of some of these? As with any problem you have to want to stop. You have to examine your parenting style and decide whether or not you are helping or hindering your kids. And once you determine the problem you should make an effort to correct it. Back off a bit, give your kids some space, and allow them to make mistakes and learn from them.
Always remember that an independent adult will be a functioning adult and a happier adult. You may say now you don’t want them to grow up, but when they are asking for your help at 30 you will be sorry you encouraged their dependence.
It’s no surprise that parents have become so involved in their kids’ lives that school administrators have begun to label us; helicopter parent, snow plow parent, and bulldozer parent. But it can’t all be bad; after all, parents are actually involved. Is this a bad thing? As with anything there are extremes. And it’s possible that a few bad parenting experiences have shed a negative light on all of us.
Let’s take a look at the benefits of helicopter parenting:
Parents who are involved tend to have academically successful students.
Studies show kids who have parents that stay involved from Kindergarten to 12th grade are more likely to excel academically. Why? Involved parents help students with studies, organization and make sure they do their assignments. They also stay on top of grades and can recognize any problems that may require extra help.
Parents who are involved have students who are less likely to participate in at-risk behaviors.
Students whose parents are involved in their lives are going to find it harder to participate in at-risk behaviors. Why? Parents who know their kid’s friends, encourage activities at home, and encourage their kids to participate in after school activities help the kids learn responsibility and commitment. They have little time to get into trouble.
Parents who are invested financially and encourage their students to invest financially have students who take their education seriously.
College is a large financial commitment. When parents commit to invest, and insist that their student invest, the student will be more likely to see the value of that investment. That translates into academic success and a successful college education.
My mother used to say, “Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater.” I think that is the best way to look at helicopter parenting. Embrace the good things about this type of parenting and avoid the behaviors that cause educators to label us.
With competition for college admission becoming stronger, parents are recognizing the need to begin college prep early. That doesn’t mean that you start drilling college into your toddler’s head (although some parents have been known to do this). It does mean that you begin a foundation for their education that will carry them into high school and eventually into college.
Looking at the three phases of education, what should parents do to prepare their students for college?
Elementary School
When discussing college prep, most of the discussions start in middle school and the steps begin when a student is in high school. But for a student to be truly prepared for college, parents should begin talking about it, thinking about it, and discussing it as early as elementary school.
Start talking about the value of education
Begin talking about the importance of education when your child enters kindergarten. The first seven years of education are filled with learning fundamental skills and gaining knowledge. This is the foundation of all future education. If your child loves school, excels in school, and is motivated to study and achieve excellence, the logical progression will be to continue their education by going to college.
Start talking about college
The opportunities that a college education provides can be relayed to your children during the early years of education.
For example, if your child is interested in dinosaurs, parents should talk about how people that research and recover dinosaur bones had to go to college first to learn how it’s done. Or if he is interested in space, discuss how scientists and astronauts go to college to learn the skills they need to work in that field. A child’s enthusiasms are the perfect opportunities to start a discussion about how college is key to pursuing and following those interests.
Visit colleges with the family
Visiting college isn’t just for teenagers. Many universities provide campus tours and visiting days when a staff member will guide a grade school class, or other group of children, around the campus and explain the unique and exciting things they can do when they grow up and go to college. Parents can also schedule outings with their children to the college or university from which they graduated. The important thing is to make college sound interesting, exciting and accessible.
Middle School
In a Forbes article about preparing for college, Director of Admissions MaeBrown said, “Start preparing for college at grade six. ”That’s when parents and students should increase the focus on the final goal after high school graduation: college.
Start planning academics
Middle school students should begin planning their academic path that will carry into high school. Meet with the school counselor and discuss the courses that can be taken in middle school to prepare for high school, especially in the math and science categories. Many middle schools offer classes that were traditionally reserved for high school students. These math classes are required to take more advanced math classes in high school and to take science classes like chemistry and physics.
Because college work and many jobs now require computer skills, your child should also try to take advantage of any computer science classes offered in middle and high school. He’ll gain new skills and may discover a career path.
Read, read, read
Establish an environment at home that encourages reading. Students can start adding to their vocabulary by reading diversely. Tweens should be reading all types of books, articles, blogs and news articles. This increases their vocabulary, which is a strong component in essay writing and standardized tests. While you’re at it, why not make vocabulary building a family game by learning a word a day? There are lots of free subscription services that will email a word of the day.
Partner with your child’s educators
Middle school is the time parents tend to be less involved, but it’s the very time your child needs encouragement and guidance. Meet your child’s teachers, if you haven’t already done so, and make it clear that you want to be kept up to date about any changes in your child’s work or behavior.
Talk to the counselor about your child’s interests to see if there are electives and extracurricular activities that will help him develop his talents. If your child needs extra help or more challenging assignments in a subject, talk to the counselor about how to arrange it.
Start working on extracurriculars
A key ingredient in the college application is extracurriculars. Begin looking at areas that interest your child in middle school. Try out some volunteering, connect with a mentor for an internship, and explore hobbies and interests. If your child enters high school committed to one activity, it will be much easier to carry that through the next four years.
First Year of High School
It’s the year of new beginnings. Wide-eyed freshmen enter high school campuses overwhelmed on the one hand and excited on the other. High school puts them on the path to adulthood and independence. It means added responsibility and academic challenges, especially if they plan to apply to college at the beginning of their senior year.
Establish a relationship with the high school counselor
This is a person you want on your child’s team for the next few years in high school. The counselor will ask what your child envisions doing beyond high school; goals and vision for your child’s future career. They should help draw out a plan to reach those goals. If you wait until senior year, it could already be too late to get particular requirements your child may need to attend the school of his dreams. Work with your high school counselor ahead of time to pinpoint what school courses your child needs to take and pass to fit those college subjects the best. Sift through options of high school electives that match with the specific degree your child is interested in pursuing.
Research careers
By now, your teen should know what interests him in school. Is he drawn to the sciences? Or is drama his cup of tea? Does he excel in math? Or is he interested in literature? These interests will serve to guide your teen down the right career path.
It would be useless to pursue a career in the medical field if science and math are your teen’s least favorite subjects. It would also be frivolous to head down an acting career path if your teen does not like being on stage in front of people. Analyze their interests and strengths to guide them in choosing the career that would best suit them and feed their passion. Take personality and career tests and attend career days.
Plan a rigorous academic path
Throughout high school, your child will have the opportunity to get some college credit out of the way. 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 not only on the college application to communicate commitment to academics, but will also save you money paying for expensive college classes.
Research colleges
Finding a college that compliments your child’s educational goals, personality, and learning style takes time and effort. Start by making a list of what criteria the perfect school would have. From that list, focus on the schools that meet those needs with regard to location, size, character and degree programs.
Each academic year produces it’s own set of challenges if your child wants to go to college. By planning ahead, you can minimize the stress of senior year and ensure that your child is ready to pursue higher education after high school.
Many college experts offer advice on how to get into college. They recommend stellar standardized test scores, a killer college essay, a high GPA, and strong extracurriculars. While all those application components are important, did you know that there an admissions secret students can use to increase their admission chances by 40 percent!
Students who visit a college before they apply, are up to 40 percent more likely to be admitted than students who do not visit or show demonstrated interest, the data says.
Why does demonstrated interest matter?
For colleges, it’s difficult to know which applicants are really interested in attending. Due to the ease of the Common Application, students can apply to multiple colleges at once. Students often believe that applying to more colleges will increase their chances of getting accepted.
When a college receives your application, admission officers look for ways to determine whether you will accept their offer of admission. Since all colleges have quotas to fill and determine their admission offers based on percentages of acceptance, showing interest lets them know you will likely accept their offer. As they see it, why offer admission to someone who isn’t interested when there is someone who is likely to accept?
How do you find the colleges that place a strong interest on this?
Which colleges want your student to show them some love? You don’t have to guess. You can use a tool like Collegedata.com to determine if a college uses demonstrated interest in its admission decision. The colleges are asked to rate 19 admission factors by using these four categories: very important, important, considered, and not considered. Each year, colleges are surveyed and this data is used to compile the information on its website.
To access the data, you simply search for the college, click on the Admissions tab, and scroll down to the Selection of Students heading. Then you can see the importance a college places on a student’s level of interest. Harvard, for example, lists this as “not considered.” In comparison, the United States Naval Academy, lists it as “very important.”
Every college is different so it’s important to check before applying to determine whether a college visit or another demonstration of interest is warranted.
To learn how your student can demonstrate interest for a college, read my article at TeenLife.com.
Do you have an average student? Do you think your student won’t qualify for any scholarships? Think again. There are no GPA requirement scholarships and average GPA requirement scholarships. If your student can fill out a form, write an essay or simply register on a website, they could win money for college.
Some of these deadlines are close, but if your student doesn’t apply this year, he or she can always bookmark the scholarship or add it to a spreadsheet for next year.
No essay, no GPA minimums, just money to cover tuition, housing, books or any education-related expenses.
Offered by Niche, a website that analyzes public data to review schools and colleges, the $2,000 scholarship is open to all high school, college and graduate students and those planning to enroll within 12 months.
All you have to do is register on their website for free and
enter. A new winner is chosen every month randomly, and you’re allowed to enter
once per month.
Deadline: The last day of every month. Available to: Students must currently attend — or within the next
12 months plan to enroll in — a high school or college, graduate school (listed
on Niche’s website) or be the parent of a student who falls into one of those
categories. The site states that one entry per person is allowed each month, so
you or your parent could apply.
As the title of the scholarship states, you don’t need to
write an essay and no GPA is specified. You must simply enter through their website.
Winners are selected via a random drawing about two weeks
after the last day of the month and will be notified by mail, telephone or
email; the winners will also be announced via Niche’s e-newsletter.
In addition, Niche provides more than 30 scholarships from
other sources on its website besides the $2,000 “No Essay” one.
The only thing required to win this $1,000 scholarship —
named after Gen and Kelly Tanabe, the award-winning authors of 14 books on
admission and scholarships — is a 250-word or less personal essay based on
questions provided on the website.
Your GPA will not be considered. You must be in high school,
or a student in college or graduate school and a legal U.S. resident.
According to the website, “the goal is to create a level field where students have complete control over their applications and are not given an advantage or disadvantage based on financial or academic circumstances.”
Deadline: There are both fall and spring
scholarships offered. Check the website for details. Available to: Ninth- to 12th-grade, college or graduate students
including adult students.
Simply fill out the answer to one of three essay questions —
why do you deserve to win this scholarship, describe your academic or career
goals or any topic of your choice — and a committee will choose the best
answers. The first place award is $1,000; you use the money for any education
expenses, including tuition, room and board and more.
Winners will be notified approximately four weeks after the
deadline.
If you wear glasses, you may be familiar with the Marvel
Optics company, but what you might not know is that its founders hold a $1,500
essay contest for full-time college students.
Applicants must submit a video or short essay on their
social media or blog page tagging or linking to Marvel Optics that answers the
following: “Helen Keller said, ‘The only thing worse than being blind is having
sight but no vision.’ What does that mean to you?”
Two scholarships are offered (fall and spring semester) and the money is sent right to the winner’s school financial aid office.
Deadline: August for the fall semester and January
for the spring semester. Available to: Any student attending a two- or four-year college.
Follow the rules on the rules on Marvel Optics scholarship
program website.
What do Arkansas, California, Texas, Missouri, Mississippi
and Louisiana have in common? They are all rice-growing states. And if you are
a graduating high school student living in one of these places, you can apply
to win up to a $4,000 scholarship, sponsored by Corteva AgriScience, from the
USA Rice Federation.
Applicants must simply make an original video (3 minutes or
less) promoting your state’s product to the sustainability of rice crops.
Upload your video to Vimeo and YouTube and then submit your entry with an online form.
Deadline: All entries must be in by the end of
October. Available to: High school seniors living in one of the following
rice-producing states: Mississippi, California, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri and
Louisiana.
Make a short video about any aspect of the rice, or promote
your state’s rice production, upload it to Vimeo or YouTube and fill out
the online scholarship entry form. The USA Rice Federation will
contact you if you win one of the three scholarships: a grand prize ($4,000),
second place ($3,000) and third-place scholarship ($1,500).
Who knew your fire sprinkler could help you go to college or
a certified trade school? Yes, the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) —
a nonprofit representing fire sprinkler contractors dedicated to the
educational advancement of its members — started a scholarship program offering
10 winners $2,000 in tuition assistance.
Their mission is to also “educate the public at-large about
the life-saving properties of automatic fire sprinklers” and therefore part of
the application is to take a short quiz after reading an article about the
industry of fire sprinklers.
The selection does not take financial need, GPA or
demographics into consideration. The only requirements are that you must enroll
for classes beginning no later than the fall semester of the year you apply,
and take a short quiz.
Deadline: Spring Available to: High school seniors enrolled for a fall semester.
All you need to do to enter is go to the site and
fill in your education and contact information, and take a short quiz. A random
computer-generated drawing selects the winners.
AFSA will contact each winner by email and phone within 14 business days of contest end-date. The prize will then be sent directly to the college or university where you’ll be attending.
Are you the student who always gets told to quiet down in
class? Well, there’s a scholarship just for you. Unigo, a college and
scholarship search website, started their own scholarship where they encourage
you to speak out.
Applicants have up to 250 words to say whatever they want
creatively and memorably. The “loudest” person will win $1,500 for college
expenses.
Deadline: End of September each year. Available to: Students must be 13 years or older and currently enrolled (or enroll no later than the fall of 2026) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education
To enter, you must answer the following question in 250
words or less: If you could say one thing to the entire world at once, what
would it be and why? A qualified panel of judges will select one potential
winner based on the criteria of writing ability (25%), creativity (25%),
originality (25%) and overall excellence (25%).
The winner will be notified by email or phone toward the end
of December.
High school, college and graduate school students who are
interested in environmental issues, might check out Digital Responsibility’s
$1,000 scholarships. The grassroots company whose mission is to help create
safe internet awareness offers this scholarship each year. There are two steps
in the process.
First, applicants must fill out an online application form
including a 140-character limit answer to the question “the most important
reason to care about e-waste is …” From that pool of applicants, Digital
Responsibility will select 10 finalists, who will be asked to submit a
full-length essay (500 to 1,000 words) about e-waste.
Deadline: Earth Day (mid-April) Available to: All high school students, college students entering
or currently in college, and graduate school students. Home-schooled students
may apply as well. All applicants must be legal residents or citizens of the
U.S., but there is no age limit.
Fill out the online
application form via Digital Responsiblity’s website, and answer a
question about e-waste in 140 characters or less. If you are chosen as one of
10 finalists, you will be asked to submit a 500- to 1,000-word essay. The
winner will be chosen from that pool of 10 applicants.
Digital Responsibility will contact the winners by email
listed on the original application.
Ice-cream loving students rejoice, there is a scholarship
out there for you. In honor of national ice cream month (Juy) Unigo — which
also offers the
Shout It Out award above — is offering a $1,500 to the student who can
best explain to them what ice cream flavor best reflects your personality and
why.
Deadline: End of July
Available to: Anyone ages 13 or older planning
to go to a college, university or trade school. Simply submit a 250-word or
less online response to the scholarship portal. The winner is announced by the end
of November, and decisions are based on the decisions of a “qualified panel of
judges based on the criteria of writing ability (25%), creativity (25%),
originality (25%) and overall excellence (25%),” according to the Unigo
website.
Share your tips and photos for managing your stress, and
earn $1,000 in scholarship money from DoSomething.org and Blue Shield. In the
past six years, DoSomething.org has awarded $1.2 million in scholarships to
over 300 winners.
You might win cash and your suggestions may go into a guide
for students by students on how to help young adults manage stress.
Deadline: End of May Available to: Anyone in the U.S. or Canada under age 26. Become a
member of DoSomething.org and then fill out the simple scholarship
application, which takes an average of five minutes, according to its website.
Winners are announced via text message or email in late
June, and there is no GPA or essay required to win. Simply share your
strategies for dealing with stress. In addition, DoSomething.org offers other
simple entry scholarships to young people worth checking out.
Of course, a website dedicated to helping students afford
college and pay back student loan debt has a scholarship for the typical
student.
Yes, Student Loan Hero awards two $5,000
scholarships each semester to help alleviate educational costs and no
minimum GPA is required.
Deadline: Early October Available to: Participants must be 18 years of age or older and
enrolled at an eligible educational institution.
To enter, go to our
scholarship page and submit an essay in 500-700 words answering this
question: What financial challenges have you overcome growing up? How have they
shaped your goals and career aspirations?
A panel consisting of four personal finance professionals
will judge the essays. Each essay will receive a score based on clarity of
writing and organization, grammatical correctness, relevance to the prompt
question and creativity and thoughtfulness.
Available to: High School Seniors through College Seniors
Award Amount: $1,000
The Spirit of Giving Scholarship is available to high school
seniors and current college students. You must submit an essay of between 500
and 750 words on one of the following three topics in order to be considered
for this award: How have you advanced the spirit of giving in your community or
abroad either through service or in giving? How has the spirit of giving
affected you personally? How will your college or post-secondary education
allow you to be of service to others or give to others? Get more information on
the Spirit
of Giving Scholarship.
Available to: High School Freshmen through College
Graduate Students, Year 5
Award Amount: $1,000
The Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship is available to high
school, undergraduate or graduate students. You must be U.S. citizen or legal
resident and complete a short statement on why you pledge not to text and drive
in order to qualify for this award. Learn more about the Don’t
Text and Drive Scholarship.
The Paradigm Challenge is open to students up to the age of
18. You may work in a team or alone in creating an original and creative way to
help solve real-life problems in homes, schools, communities, and/or around the
world. Entries may come in the form of posters, videos, inventions, messages,
community events, websites, mobile apps, or anything else that will help save
lives. Additionally, you must submit a brief statement of your idea (140
characters or less) in order to qualify for this award. Learn more about the Paradigm Challenge.
Available to: High School Juniors through High School
Seniors
Award Amount: $250
The Prom Pics Contest is open to high school students. To be
eligible, you must submit a high resolution photo from your prom event. Prizes
will be awarded in each of the following categories: promposal, pre-prom, prom
dance, and post-prom. Get more information on the Prom Pics Contest.
Ages: High School Freshmen through High School
Seniors
The National High School Oratorical Contest is open to
junior high and high school students who are under the age of 20 and citizens
or lawful permanent residents of the United States. You must prepare an oration
on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with some emphasis on the duties and
obligations of citizens to our government. A complete list of topics are
available on the Legion’s Web site. Each individual state winner certified into
and participating in the first round of the national contest receives an
additional $1,500 scholarship. Get more information on the American Legion National
High School Oratorical Contest.
The Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest is available to high school seniors who demonstrate talent in duck calling. You must participate in a duck calling contest in Stuttgart, Arkansas to be considered for this award. Get more information on the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest.
Just one of the many scholarships without essays offered by
Niche, you can enter for a shot at this $1,000 scholarship by creating a free
account and reviewing your school. A new winner is drawn each month.
The Live Bearded team are focused on lending a hand to those
building their future through higher education. While the company Live Bearded
focuses on grooming products for men, this scholarship opportunity is open to
males, females, high school students, college students, undergraduate, and
graduate students. Send a 90-second video sharing your goals, facts about
yourself, and why you deserve the scholarship. Upload your video to a social
media platform, fill out your application with a link to your video, and you’re
good to go!
In order to ease the pain of paying for college,
SuperCollege offers a monthly drawing for a $1,000 scholarship. All you need to
be eligible is to fill out the exceptionally short application form and you’re
good to go!
Customized Girl prints bold statements on customized shirts.
Naturally, they know an eye-catching quote when they see one. To apply, post
your statement as a caption on Instagram to be chosen as one of two winners,
and your statement may be featured on a customized shirt! Check out past
winners on the scholarship page for inspiration.
While this scholarship technically has an essay, it’s only a
short 150 words, so we’re adding it in! To apply, just fill out the super short
application form and write a mini-essay about the goals you have for your university
education.
In order to win one of these no essay scholarships, simply
answer a short prompt in 150 words or less, such as “How do you prepare and
study to feel confident for your final exams?” If you have more than one
college class you’d like to review, you can improve your chances by leaving as
many reviews as you’d like!
Submit: A short letter and proof of scholarship
applications
Debt.com’s mission is to give scholarships to students who
are consistently applying to scholarships. Debt.com asks you to send all the
tedious scholarship confirmation emails you received along with a short letter
about yourself. Your letter can be about how you feel about applying to so many
scholarships, or if you learned anything from the application process. Winners
are announced every two months.
Submit: A video, music, creative writing, or
graphic design
Deadline: August – November 2020
Students between 14-22 years old may apply. The contest
seeks original work about a solution and strategy regarding reckless and
distracted driving. Choose either video, music, creative writing, or artwork.
There are many submission options and contest categories, so make sure to visit
the scholarship page for details!
Share your story of dealing with migraines or light
sensitivity. All full-time students of accredited two- or four-year American
universities may apply. Choose from a video (less than 1 minute in length) or
an image (photo, drawing, etc.). To qualify, the submission must be posted on
at least one of the following social media platforms: YouTube, Facebook,
Instagram.
HeadSetPlus.Com wants to help you pay for college…no essay
needed! Be creative and create a video with a maximum length of five minutes
detailing why you deserve the scholarship and what inspired you to pursue a
degree in your field.
If you’re planning on attending a two- or four-year
Christian college, you’re eligible to enter the drawing for this $2,500
Christian College Scholarship. Simply fill out a short online survey and you’re
good to go!
Attention all students: You can be the next J.K. Rowling!
This is your chance to show off your writing skills, get published and win a
cash scholarship.
You do not have to be an advanced writer to take part. This
is an opportunity to use words in a creative and unique way.
Students who are currently studying at or have been accepted
to an accredited university may apply by publishing an essay online on the
topic, “How Companies Can Take Advantage of Digital Marketing”.
This scholarship helps students 16 or older pay for higher
education. The scholarship is a competition based on a short essay. Family
income, grades and test scores are not used in selecting a winner. The award
must be used for any education-related expenses such as tuition, fees, books
and room and board.
Social skills are important for all of us in day to day life. The vast majority of us are surrounded by other people at all times. We have to work with others. We socialize with others. We engage with people in countless situations on a day to day basis – buying items in stores, navigating ourselves through crowds in the streets, spending time with friends… the list goes on. So, social interaction is going to be a constant presence throughout your child’s entire life. Teaching them social skills before college is essential. They’ll settle into school, make friends, enjoy extracurricular activities and much more if they are able to effectively interact with the people they’re surrounded by. Here are a few areas to focus on to get your college-bound student ready for college.
Teach Communication
Communication is absolutely essential to getting by in the world. We all need to be able to express how we’re feeling in order to maintain good relationships with anyone. Without effective communication, your teen won’t be able to make friends well. So, encourage your child to talk. Get them to talk about how they’re feeling. Get them to talk about their interests. Get them to talk about what they’ve been up to and what they’re planning on doing each day. Simple conversation can go a long way when it comes to helping your teen express themselves and build bonds with others. You can find more information on how to achieve this at teachkidscommunication.
Teach Empathy
Empathy is another essential life skill. It will help your teen to understand how others feel at any given time. This will help them respond appropriately in different social situations. They will be able to help others when they’re feeling sad, down or distressed. They’ll be able to pick up on signs of anger and help to resolve the issues that are causing it. They’ll be able to share in others joy when others are happy or celebrating. Empathy really is important. But how do you teach empathy? Well, you simply actively encourage your child to see the world through another’s eyes or walk in another’s shoes. Ask them to consider how others such as their siblings or friends are feeling.
Lead by Example
Remember that your teen will pick up on your own social behavior, so lead by example and be a good role model. Make sure to treat others respectfully and appropriately at all times in front of your child. They’ll pick up on your behavior and begin to mimic it themselves!
Hopefully, the above advice will help you to help your soon-to-be college student when it comes to social skills! Focus on these different areas to get the best results possible!
