Monday, April 25, 2011

True Stories Part 2

Dana’s grades would guarantee admission to the University of Texas, but acceptance to the highly competitive School of Communication was a different matter. Our application strategy was to showcase qualifications relevant for the particular program.

First, she focused her resume. She did not limit inclusion of her work in a youth organization as a single item on a long list of activities. She devoted a section to her responsibilities and accomplishments as an officer. Bullet points showed she had planned and run a campaign that increased membership 200%, and that under her leadership retention increased 30%. Her resume made her already look like a pro!

Then she focused her essay to demonstrate that she is creative and communicates effectively, without ever saying so directly. Elsewhere in the application, she referenced having both the quantitative (AP score of 5 in statistics) and people skills that would be useful in the fields of marketing, advertising and public relations.

Monday, April 18, 2011

True Stories Part 1

Worried that Don’s 6 transcripts, from two high schools and four junior colleges, with several D’s, arriving cold, could ruin his chances, I convinced him to write a cover letter, even though none of the colleges he was applying to required a personal statement.

He explained that after working part time jobs and taking occasional courses, he had in the past year focused more seriously on his studies and attended community college full time. Both his life and his school experiences now led him to choose a program in international relations. He had lived and traveled in the Middle East, and was comfortable with and knowledgeable about foreign cultures. While his academic performance was uneven, his grades in courses related to his intended major were excellent, with A’s in government, history and anthropology.

Don’s well crafted note drew attention to what he wanted to emphasize in his record and communicated that he had become mature, focused, and ready to succeed.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Let College Admissions Know

It is not enough to be a strong candidate, you must show that you are one.

The college admissions officer only knows what you and the application tell him.

The application is your tool...
• Establish a strategy for your application.
• Know your strengths.
• Know what you want to tell about yourself.
• Know why you picked each school you apply to.
• Convey your message.

Stay tuned for some real life stories about the application...

Monday, April 4, 2011

Junior Year is Important

Junior year is a time of blossoming. In your first two years of high school you learn the lay of the land, make new friends, try out new activities, hit your stride academically. By third year you have mastered the environment and are ready to participate more fully. Choose and concentrate on what you like and what is important to you - in school and out, in music or sports, intellectual pursuits or employment, in service activities or solo hobbies. As you develop who you are, you naturally develop as a college candidate.
Admissions officers pay a lot of attention to junior year.

Here are some key words to help spark some of your own ideas for this year
• Explore. Try something new. Take risks. Be adventuresome.
• Lead. Help shape, run, organize something you enjoy.
• Build. Develop depth. Demonstrate discipline and continuity over time.
• Achieve. If you can – excel. Win a prize, gain recognition.
• Initiate. Start a club or small business. Develop a computer program to solve a problem. Write and publish an article. Teach yourself a language.
• Create. Develop your originality and uniqueness.
• Contribute. Follow through. Participate. Help out. Not only leaders are valued.
• Read.
• Think. How you learn from and reflect on your experience, not only what you do, makes you who you are.

Apply these action verbs to any activity – martial arts or arts, academics, carpentry, scuba diving, church altar service, playing flute or baseball, writing, scouting, fixing cars.



Let me help you during junior year to:
• Recognize your strengths
o Learn simple ways to add to your resume while doing what you enjoy
o Apply the key words to yourself
• Start learning about college choices
o Perhaps widen the options you consider
o Know how to do research on your own
• Understand Standardized Testing and Design your Schedule
o SAT, ACT, SAT II, IB, AP
• Plan which campuses and when to visit
• Gain confidence