More from student interviews on High School "To Do" Lists:
Sam:
In high school I wish I had known how to set a schedule for myself. In high school it was you got up in the morning, I got up 5 minutes before I had to leave for school, went to school, every single class was run on a bell schedule, and then I came home, did my homework, hang out with my friends, and that was my day. In college it is … I drive to school so I commute in, so it was the having to learn how much time to schedule for myself to get to school so I don’t show up late at school. It’s the freedom of saying well, yes my schedule today is I must be at class at 11 o’clock, however I’m really, really tired so I think I’m gonna sleep in. It’s the homework is no longer scheduled in after school because your classes can run back to back all day, or you can have 3 hours here, 3 hours there. So it’s the making a time for yourself to sit down and get what you need to get done, done.
James:
You definitely want to be able to take notes while a professor is talking, your teacher is talking, so you need to practice taking notes in class and finding out the best way that you learn before going to college because once you get into that environment, you can be put in a lecture room and you have to … it’s better to figure out the best way for you to get information before going to college instead of getting there and having to learn from there.
Maria:
I wish my disability support service worker - love her to death, she was a great woman - would have told me more about how to speak to professors or teachers or maybe taking me along when she went to tell my teachers what I had, just so I would have felt more comfortable explaining what my disability was and how it’s supposed to be dealt with because I really only had the explanation from my mom and then reading the wording in the disability support services letter that I got to help me to formulate how I was gonna tell a professor, well these are my accommodations and this is what I need. So I would have liked in high school for someone, I guess who is in that area at the high school, to have explained to me well, this is how you can go up to your teacher or professor in the future.
Jenna:
Once I hit my junior year, I wanted to become a more well rounded student so I started participating in a lot of different organizations, I started volunteering because a lot of colleges love seeing someone who is out there volunteering, someone who’s out there in an organization or working. It’s not always all about having the highest grades, but more colleges focus on a well rounded student, someone who takes charge in life, participates, and can improve their school by participating in a lot of activities; and at the end of my junior year once I started getting the applications together, I started focusing more on my school work. I knew that college was gonna be a little bit more intense, especially in the classes so I asked teachers for help, asked them what could I do to improve in this area before I get to college.
Amy:
By taking classes in high school that challenged me, I was able to deal a lot easier with the workload; just because I knew what I was getting myself into and I already knew what I needed to do in order to succeed. One of the other things I did was start learning how to get a rapport with your teachers in high school, because high school teachers tend to be a lot more approachable than college professors do, and if you’re already in the habit of talking to your teacher, of asking them questions, going in after class, going in before class, it’s a lot easier to pick those habits up when you’re in college.
Showing posts with label study. Show all posts
Showing posts with label study. Show all posts
Monday, March 21, 2011
Friday, April 16, 2010
Secrets to Finding Great Instructors
You know it, I know it: some college instructors are great, others just stink. A PhD does not magically turn someone from a boring, monotone know-it-all into a motivational, attention-captivating knowledge dispenser. Truth is, most professors are renowned for their research and writing, not for their ability to keep entertained freshmen in their seats.
To find the best college teachers try some of the following suggestions:
* Pick the campus’s teaching award winners. The list is at the academic affairs office. Teaching award winners are few and far between. But the winners are those that stand out, even among the good teachers.
* Check student ratings of professors. Some colleges make them available in the bookstore or student affairs office. But there are rating sites used by students at colleges all across the country, Ratemyprofessor.com, for example. But be cautious – some students who are upset over a bad grade or the difficulty level of an instructor will give a bad review that is unfounded. What’s worse is when they don’t explain their rating… Make sure to read all the comments to get a good look at why the instructor has his or her particular rating.
* Ask department secretaries. They see all the faculty evaluations and may even give you the straight scoop.
* Check out syllabi. Often they're on the Web, or the department secretary has them. It is a good way to see what is involved in the class. If you’re not lecture, lecture, lecture… find an instructor with group activities or special presentations planned into the syllabus.
* Over-enroll or oversit. If you plan to take three courses, sign up for four, attend the first session of each, and drop the worst one.
Remember, you should be in that class to learn, not just pass… So if you want a good teacher you need to be good student. That means paying attention, being on time, doing your work, being prepared, doing the reading BEFORE class (so you can ask questions), and not distracting other students.
To find the best college teachers try some of the following suggestions:
* Pick the campus’s teaching award winners. The list is at the academic affairs office. Teaching award winners are few and far between. But the winners are those that stand out, even among the good teachers.
* Check student ratings of professors. Some colleges make them available in the bookstore or student affairs office. But there are rating sites used by students at colleges all across the country, Ratemyprofessor.com, for example. But be cautious – some students who are upset over a bad grade or the difficulty level of an instructor will give a bad review that is unfounded. What’s worse is when they don’t explain their rating… Make sure to read all the comments to get a good look at why the instructor has his or her particular rating.
* Ask department secretaries. They see all the faculty evaluations and may even give you the straight scoop.
* Check out syllabi. Often they're on the Web, or the department secretary has them. It is a good way to see what is involved in the class. If you’re not lecture, lecture, lecture… find an instructor with group activities or special presentations planned into the syllabus.
* Over-enroll or oversit. If you plan to take three courses, sign up for four, attend the first session of each, and drop the worst one.
Remember, you should be in that class to learn, not just pass… So if you want a good teacher you need to be good student. That means paying attention, being on time, doing your work, being prepared, doing the reading BEFORE class (so you can ask questions), and not distracting other students.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
How to Get Better Grades – Part 5 of 5
Get Support
At crunch time, it helps to have someone to coach, cheerlead, and yes, nag you. Who’s your nag of choice?
• Your mom or dad
• Your brother, sister, uncle, etc.
• A nice kid in your class who knows the stuff but isn’t such a genius that she’d have a hard time explaining things in plain English.
• A tutor. Ask the teacher if he can work with you after school. If not, ask if he can recommend someone. Tutors can make a big difference.
If You’re Too Upset to Do Schoolwork
Your parents are fighting, your best friend is telling lies about you, you’re going through another bout of thinking you’re ugly. Whatever the reason, you’re feeling too upset to think about schoolwork.
• First, try to fight through it. You may think you’re too depressed or anxious to concentrate on quadratic equations but if you just get started, you may find that the schoolwork distracts you. Get it done and you’ll probably feel better - you’ll have taken control over your life. Getting good grades is a step toward a better life. Don’t do it and you’ll have one more reason to feel miserable.
• Nip your worrying in the bud. The moment you catch yourself beginning to worry, decide whether you can do anything about your problem now. If not, turn your attention back to your schoolwork. If you don’t nip your worry in the bud, it tends to snowball into such a big worry that there’s no way you’ll be able to concentrate on schoolwork.
• If those techniques don’t work, it may be time to talk to a counselor or someone else you trust.
• Get started early. You'll be less stressed, you'll learn more, and crazy as it may sound, you may actually enjoy studying. Cramming is never fun. It’s just an adrenaline-powered frenzy session likely to result in a so-so grade, and, seven seconds after the exam, your forgetting 90% of what you crammed.
• Maintain perspective. Yes, you want good grades, and yes they matter, but there are plenty of C students with better lives than many A students. In the end, your life will probably be no worse if you get a B rather than an A in World History.
• One more secret: Your parents or teachers probably won’t tell you this, but the truth is that many FINE colleges will admit you with so-so grades.
At crunch time, it helps to have someone to coach, cheerlead, and yes, nag you. Who’s your nag of choice?
• Your mom or dad
• Your brother, sister, uncle, etc.
• A nice kid in your class who knows the stuff but isn’t such a genius that she’d have a hard time explaining things in plain English.
• A tutor. Ask the teacher if he can work with you after school. If not, ask if he can recommend someone. Tutors can make a big difference.
If You’re Too Upset to Do Schoolwork
Your parents are fighting, your best friend is telling lies about you, you’re going through another bout of thinking you’re ugly. Whatever the reason, you’re feeling too upset to think about schoolwork.
• First, try to fight through it. You may think you’re too depressed or anxious to concentrate on quadratic equations but if you just get started, you may find that the schoolwork distracts you. Get it done and you’ll probably feel better - you’ll have taken control over your life. Getting good grades is a step toward a better life. Don’t do it and you’ll have one more reason to feel miserable.
• Nip your worrying in the bud. The moment you catch yourself beginning to worry, decide whether you can do anything about your problem now. If not, turn your attention back to your schoolwork. If you don’t nip your worry in the bud, it tends to snowball into such a big worry that there’s no way you’ll be able to concentrate on schoolwork.
• If those techniques don’t work, it may be time to talk to a counselor or someone else you trust.
• Get started early. You'll be less stressed, you'll learn more, and crazy as it may sound, you may actually enjoy studying. Cramming is never fun. It’s just an adrenaline-powered frenzy session likely to result in a so-so grade, and, seven seconds after the exam, your forgetting 90% of what you crammed.
• Maintain perspective. Yes, you want good grades, and yes they matter, but there are plenty of C students with better lives than many A students. In the end, your life will probably be no worse if you get a B rather than an A in World History.
• One more secret: Your parents or teachers probably won’t tell you this, but the truth is that many FINE colleges will admit you with so-so grades.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
How to Get Better Grades – Part 4 of 5
The Final is THIS Period - 3 Tips for Successful Test Taking:
• Have you ever written four essays and discovered later that the instructions said, “Choose three of four”? The easiest way to boost your test score is to read the directions and questions carefully. If you’re not sure of what’s being asked, don’t be afraid to ask the teacher.
• On essay tests, first read all the questions, then begin with the easiest one and work your way up. Why? Because if you don’t have time to finish, the hardest essay will be left undone. Also, doing easier essays builds confidence and may even trigger thoughts on the hard ones.
• When I was in school, our biology teacher told us that on a multiple-choice test, when you’re absolutely stuck between two choices, choose a middle response (for example, choice “C”) because test makers tend to hide the correct answer in the middle. I’m not sure he’s right, but I always followed his advice whenever two choices looked equally good. It just felt better to have some way of choosing. It’s certainly better than leaving it blank.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
How to Get Better Grades – Part 3 of 5
The Final’s Coming Up! Top 9 Ways to Study the Right Thing and Remember it:
9. Ask the teacher what to focus on in studying for the test. I like this wording: “Any suggestions as to the wisest approach to studying for the exam?”
8. Ever read something for ten minutes and then realize you don’t remember a single thing you read? Here's a sure-fire preventative. Read only one paragraph, then turn away and recite what you remember. If you've left out something important, say it aloud and, in the margin, bracket that part so you can reread it just before the test.
7. Even easier, when you feel yourself spacing out, read the important stuff aloud. It’s hard to space out while reading aloud. Also you’ll remember it better because reading aloud makes you go slowly and because it enables you to hear your voice at the same time as you’re seeing the words.
6. If you don’t understand a section, reread it only once. If you still don’t understand it, just mark it with a question mark and go on. Staying stuck is frustrating. When you’ve finished reading, call a friend (poll the audience, or 50/50) or ask the teacher about your question marks.
5. Pace the floor while studying hard stuff. Walking increases circulation to the brain.
4. Use different highlighters for different stuff. Try bright orange for the material most likely to be on the exam and yellow for other stuff worth highlighting. Not only does this keep you awake, the color is a memory jogger. Rule of Thumb: Never highlight more than 1/3 of the material. A totally yellow book isn’t going to help you.
3. For memorization tests, make flash cards. So, for example, if you’ll need to memorize the symbols in the Periodic Table of the Elements, write, for example, gold, on one side of the card and AU (the symbol), on the back. Just in making the flashcards, you’ll be learning the stuff.
2. Meet with one, two or three study partners. Take turns asking your partner(s) questions you think could be on the test. But choose your study partners carefully. I remember a study group in which we spent most of the time fooling around or helping the girl who didn’t prepare for the study group.
1. Create a pretend crib sheet. Imagine that the teacher allowed you to bring one sheet of paper of notes into the exam. What would you write? (small handwriting permitted.) Right before the exam, study just that sheet.
TIP: Sometimes, location matters. Can't study in that madhouse you call your home? How about the library? A cafe? Your friend's house - yeah, right.
TIP: Music on or off? Shania Twain can, for some kids, be an excellent study buddy. For other kids, Shania will get you groovin' but not on Algebra 2. How about you?
TIP: Need a loving taskmaster? Sometimes, knowing you have to check in daily with your tough-love Aunt Edna can help you toe the line.
TIP: don’t get stuck on playing online games or checking your social network sites. That will all be there tomorrow. It can be a huge distraction that can cause you to sit down at the computer and not realize that 3 or 4 hours just went by.
9. Ask the teacher what to focus on in studying for the test. I like this wording: “Any suggestions as to the wisest approach to studying for the exam?”
8. Ever read something for ten minutes and then realize you don’t remember a single thing you read? Here's a sure-fire preventative. Read only one paragraph, then turn away and recite what you remember. If you've left out something important, say it aloud and, in the margin, bracket that part so you can reread it just before the test.
7. Even easier, when you feel yourself spacing out, read the important stuff aloud. It’s hard to space out while reading aloud. Also you’ll remember it better because reading aloud makes you go slowly and because it enables you to hear your voice at the same time as you’re seeing the words.
6. If you don’t understand a section, reread it only once. If you still don’t understand it, just mark it with a question mark and go on. Staying stuck is frustrating. When you’ve finished reading, call a friend (poll the audience, or 50/50) or ask the teacher about your question marks.
5. Pace the floor while studying hard stuff. Walking increases circulation to the brain.
4. Use different highlighters for different stuff. Try bright orange for the material most likely to be on the exam and yellow for other stuff worth highlighting. Not only does this keep you awake, the color is a memory jogger. Rule of Thumb: Never highlight more than 1/3 of the material. A totally yellow book isn’t going to help you.
3. For memorization tests, make flash cards. So, for example, if you’ll need to memorize the symbols in the Periodic Table of the Elements, write, for example, gold, on one side of the card and AU (the symbol), on the back. Just in making the flashcards, you’ll be learning the stuff.
2. Meet with one, two or three study partners. Take turns asking your partner(s) questions you think could be on the test. But choose your study partners carefully. I remember a study group in which we spent most of the time fooling around or helping the girl who didn’t prepare for the study group.
1. Create a pretend crib sheet. Imagine that the teacher allowed you to bring one sheet of paper of notes into the exam. What would you write? (small handwriting permitted.) Right before the exam, study just that sheet.
TIP: Sometimes, location matters. Can't study in that madhouse you call your home? How about the library? A cafe? Your friend's house - yeah, right.
TIP: Music on or off? Shania Twain can, for some kids, be an excellent study buddy. For other kids, Shania will get you groovin' but not on Algebra 2. How about you?
TIP: Need a loving taskmaster? Sometimes, knowing you have to check in daily with your tough-love Aunt Edna can help you toe the line.
TIP: don’t get stuck on playing online games or checking your social network sites. That will all be there tomorrow. It can be a huge distraction that can cause you to sit down at the computer and not realize that 3 or 4 hours just went by.
Monday, April 5, 2010
How to Get Better Grades – Part 2 of 5
Your Term Paper is Due in Just Two Days!
You know you should have started on it weeks ago, but the due date seemed so far away. So you bagged it. Now the gig is up: a ten-page paper is due in just two days - with references and everything. And you haven’t even started! Here’s what to do.
Step 1: If possible, choose a topic you care about. If the assigned topic - for example, the aftermath of the War of 1812 - bores you to tears, ask the teacher if she’d let you write on a topic you care more about: for example, the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on America. Surprisingly often, the teacher will say yes.
Step 2: Gather information on your topic. Try to think of it as a treasure hunt - you’re looking for nuggets on your topic. Before heading to the library, see what you can find online. Two awesome sources: Google (try using the scholar section instead of just searching) and a huge online library of reference materials at www.refdesk.com. Add your own ideas as they come to you. TIP: Write all notes on a computer so it's easy to move things around.
Step 3: In light of the information you obtained, write your thesis statement. That’s the one main point you want to make in your paper. TIP: Teachers love provocative yet plausible thesis statements.
Step 4: Place each piece of information into one of a few categories. Each category will be one of your paper’s major headings.
Step 5: Within each category, put each piece of information in a logical order. Ask yourself, “Which should go first? Which should go second?” and so on. You’re going to start seeing your paper appear before your very eyes.
Step 6: Turn these ordered pieces of information into smooth paragraphs. Add, subtract and revise material as you see fit. Rule of thumb: When in doubt, start each paragraph with a topic sentence - saying what the paragraph will be about. Then be sure that the rest of the paragraph fulfills the topic sentence’s promise.
Tip: Don't spend much time just staring at the screen. Keep adding, subtracting, and revising stuff even if you're not sure the changes are good. The constant changing keeps you feeling like you're making progress, and probably sooner than later, your paper will get better and better.
Step 7: Write your conclusion. Again, don’t stare at a blank screen. Write whatever comes to mind and revise. It’s much easier to revise than to generate brilliance out of thin air.
Good conclusions start with a summary of the paper’s main point(s) and move on to discuss the implications of those points.
Step 8: Write the title and introduction. Remember, your teacher is going to be reading dozens of term papers. Trust me, her eyes will glaze over quickly. So, if she comes upon your paper and sees an intriguing title and introductory paragraph, your paper will be greeted with a sigh of relief. She’ll read the rest of your paper with a positive predisposition - that usually means a good grade.
Here’s an example:
Step 9: Put your paper away, for at least an hour, ideally a day. Then reread it and revise. Viewing it with fresh eyes can be invaluable.
Step 10: Show a draft to someone you trust. Revise. Print!
Bonus Tips
• If you have a few days before the due date, show a draft to your teacher. Often, she’ll be willing to give you feedback on it. That almost ensures a good grade when you submit your revised final version. If she refuses, try a friend or even your parent.
• If you get a bad grade on the final draft, you might ask the teacher if you can rewrite based on her feedback and resubmit. If she says yes, it’s an almost guaranteed way to up your grade.
You know you should have started on it weeks ago, but the due date seemed so far away. So you bagged it. Now the gig is up: a ten-page paper is due in just two days - with references and everything. And you haven’t even started! Here’s what to do.
Step 1: If possible, choose a topic you care about. If the assigned topic - for example, the aftermath of the War of 1812 - bores you to tears, ask the teacher if she’d let you write on a topic you care more about: for example, the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on America. Surprisingly often, the teacher will say yes.
Step 2: Gather information on your topic. Try to think of it as a treasure hunt - you’re looking for nuggets on your topic. Before heading to the library, see what you can find online. Two awesome sources: Google (try using the scholar section instead of just searching) and a huge online library of reference materials at www.refdesk.com. Add your own ideas as they come to you. TIP: Write all notes on a computer so it's easy to move things around.
Step 3: In light of the information you obtained, write your thesis statement. That’s the one main point you want to make in your paper. TIP: Teachers love provocative yet plausible thesis statements.
Step 4: Place each piece of information into one of a few categories. Each category will be one of your paper’s major headings.
Step 5: Within each category, put each piece of information in a logical order. Ask yourself, “Which should go first? Which should go second?” and so on. You’re going to start seeing your paper appear before your very eyes.
Step 6: Turn these ordered pieces of information into smooth paragraphs. Add, subtract and revise material as you see fit. Rule of thumb: When in doubt, start each paragraph with a topic sentence - saying what the paragraph will be about. Then be sure that the rest of the paragraph fulfills the topic sentence’s promise.
Tip: Don't spend much time just staring at the screen. Keep adding, subtracting, and revising stuff even if you're not sure the changes are good. The constant changing keeps you feeling like you're making progress, and probably sooner than later, your paper will get better and better.
Step 7: Write your conclusion. Again, don’t stare at a blank screen. Write whatever comes to mind and revise. It’s much easier to revise than to generate brilliance out of thin air.
Good conclusions start with a summary of the paper’s main point(s) and move on to discuss the implications of those points.
Step 8: Write the title and introduction. Remember, your teacher is going to be reading dozens of term papers. Trust me, her eyes will glaze over quickly. So, if she comes upon your paper and sees an intriguing title and introductory paragraph, your paper will be greeted with a sigh of relief. She’ll read the rest of your paper with a positive predisposition - that usually means a good grade.
Here’s an example:
Step 9: Put your paper away, for at least an hour, ideally a day. Then reread it and revise. Viewing it with fresh eyes can be invaluable.
Step 10: Show a draft to someone you trust. Revise. Print!
Bonus Tips
• If you have a few days before the due date, show a draft to your teacher. Often, she’ll be willing to give you feedback on it. That almost ensures a good grade when you submit your revised final version. If she refuses, try a friend or even your parent.
• If you get a bad grade on the final draft, you might ask the teacher if you can rewrite based on her feedback and resubmit. If she says yes, it’s an almost guaranteed way to up your grade.
Friday, April 2, 2010
How to Get Better Grades – Part 1 of 5
The end of the school year is approaching FAST. It’s crunch time. You can picture that report card now, and it’s not looking pretty.
Here’s the good news. You have just enough time to save the day. Here are the most powerful ways to change C’s to B’s and B’s to A’s, and quick.
Getting Motivated
To significantly improve your grades, you’re going to have to work at least a little harder during these next few weeks. Why in the world you should bother? Are any of the following actually important to you? (Check all that apply.)
• Getting your parents off your back.
• Bragging rights to your siblings.
• Not being embarrassed when your smart friends ask what grade you got.
• Having a better chance of getting into Cool College rather than just Lame University.
• Having a better chance of getting into college, at all! Can you just imagine: At the end of your senior year, all your friends will be asking each other, “Where are you going to college?” How would you feel answering, “Oh, I’m not going to college.”
• Learning more. Not only will that make you smarter, you’ll feel more confident, and be more attractive to desirable friends, boys, and employers.
• Discounts on car insurance (and permission to drive…)
• Do you have another reason for studying? Write it here: _________________________.
Stay tuned for parts 2 through 5 next week!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Areas of College Prep (& When to Focus on Them)
This a rough guideline for the main focuses for college preparation, readiness, and the application process. Each of these areas will be discussed in great detail in the coming weeks and months. As always, suggestions, comments, questions, and concerns are appreciated. That said, here we go:
Homework and Study Skills: (7th – 9th Grade)
A thorough understanding of the value of at-home reading and study skill development is critical to any student’s success, especially the college bound student. Understanding this area gives both parents and students the tools they need to identify different learning styles, develop and instill efficient and effective study habits or routines, and enhance academic skills including reading, writing, mathematics, as well as general study principals that will apply both to school and a future career.
It is essential that parents are provided with key strategies to assist with homework and become more effectively involved with their children’s education and academic development. Students need to learn that there are practical solutions to common problems and a wealth of suggestions depending on each student’s individual methods and styles (or personalities and interests) are out there.
High School, The Plan: (9th – 10th Grade)
Maximizing the student’s high school experience is a critical first step toward success in college admissions and readiness. Counselors, teachers, and parents should be available for and able to provide a complete guide to planning an appropriate academic program, standardized test calendar and preparation materials, extracurricular agenda and list of summer activities. Many of the resources are becoming increasingly available online and through organizations such as the Bing Foundation. Parents should also make an effort to ensure that they receive an overview of the college admissions process. Many parents now have either been out of school so long that they cannot remember what to do and when, or as I increasing find more common, parents never went to college. There should be a focus on including a detailed timeline and a comprehensive introduction to the specific components of an application.
Paying for College: (11th – 12th Grade)
According to some parents, including my own father, financial planning by both the student and the parents is invaluable to the family of any college-bound student. Financial aid options should be explained in-depth by someone with recent knowledge, preferably a financial aid specialist (many school districts have them now) or by a specialize college or career counselor. They should cover such topics as scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs as well as how to find, qualify, and apply for each. Remember that when it comes to money timing is always of the essence! Be aware of the deadlines, file your FAFSA as soon as possible, and whatever you do, never wait until 12th grade to look for funding... Families should be introduced to options they may have otherwise overlooked and gain a thorough understanding of how to effectively negotiate with financial aid offices, that’s right, I said negotiate. We’ll get to that later.
Selecting the Right College: (11th Grade)
Every student is different. Each individual has distinct desires and interests, skills and challenges. It is vital that the aspiring college student understand that every single college is different. There are 5000 colleges in the United States alone. Don’t even ask how many possible majors there are, you would believe me if I told you. What does this mean, there are options… and now there are ways to match each student with their interest, major, ideal school size, cost, preference for public or private, rural or urban, etc. Check out College Navigator (developed by the US Department of Education).
You should establish key criteria to identify colleges that are a strong fit for each student’s interests and qualifications. Parents and students can now access parameters that allow them to examine the student’s high school record, activities, and “extras” like a professional and objectively determine the strengths he or she may have within a given pool of potential applicants.
Preparing College Applications: (12th Grade)
Obviously, this is not something that is relegated only to seniors. But that is the label that it receives and here is why. Each college aspiring student (and parent) should make a strong, exerted effort to stay on top of all the deadlines, continue in relevant (and not fluff) classes (see the last post), routinely update their timeline, look for last minute options, apply for early decision, take the SAT/ACT, and manage everything else teenagers do as they near completion of their secondary school career. I advise all students and their families to make and follow a thorough, detailed, and practical guide to the 12th grade year and producing a successful college application. After gaining a thorough understanding of how an applicant’s file is ultimately reviewed, parents and students must carefully and thoughtfully complete their applications.
Always remember that there are essential strategies for crafting an engaging essay and developing a unique personal theme that will help them stand out from the crowd. Resources such as these should not be ignored. Essays should be edited and re-written, letters of recommendation should be found, and all the applications filed, paid, and sent to the correct place. Follow that guide. Follow the timeline. Don’t make a mistake if you can avoid it.
Homework and Study Skills: (7th – 9th Grade)
A thorough understanding of the value of at-home reading and study skill development is critical to any student’s success, especially the college bound student. Understanding this area gives both parents and students the tools they need to identify different learning styles, develop and instill efficient and effective study habits or routines, and enhance academic skills including reading, writing, mathematics, as well as general study principals that will apply both to school and a future career.
It is essential that parents are provided with key strategies to assist with homework and become more effectively involved with their children’s education and academic development. Students need to learn that there are practical solutions to common problems and a wealth of suggestions depending on each student’s individual methods and styles (or personalities and interests) are out there.
High School, The Plan: (9th – 10th Grade)
Maximizing the student’s high school experience is a critical first step toward success in college admissions and readiness. Counselors, teachers, and parents should be available for and able to provide a complete guide to planning an appropriate academic program, standardized test calendar and preparation materials, extracurricular agenda and list of summer activities. Many of the resources are becoming increasingly available online and through organizations such as the Bing Foundation. Parents should also make an effort to ensure that they receive an overview of the college admissions process. Many parents now have either been out of school so long that they cannot remember what to do and when, or as I increasing find more common, parents never went to college. There should be a focus on including a detailed timeline and a comprehensive introduction to the specific components of an application.
Paying for College: (11th – 12th Grade)
According to some parents, including my own father, financial planning by both the student and the parents is invaluable to the family of any college-bound student. Financial aid options should be explained in-depth by someone with recent knowledge, preferably a financial aid specialist (many school districts have them now) or by a specialize college or career counselor. They should cover such topics as scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs as well as how to find, qualify, and apply for each. Remember that when it comes to money timing is always of the essence! Be aware of the deadlines, file your FAFSA as soon as possible, and whatever you do, never wait until 12th grade to look for funding... Families should be introduced to options they may have otherwise overlooked and gain a thorough understanding of how to effectively negotiate with financial aid offices, that’s right, I said negotiate. We’ll get to that later.
Selecting the Right College: (11th Grade)
Every student is different. Each individual has distinct desires and interests, skills and challenges. It is vital that the aspiring college student understand that every single college is different. There are 5000 colleges in the United States alone. Don’t even ask how many possible majors there are, you would believe me if I told you. What does this mean, there are options… and now there are ways to match each student with their interest, major, ideal school size, cost, preference for public or private, rural or urban, etc. Check out College Navigator (developed by the US Department of Education).
You should establish key criteria to identify colleges that are a strong fit for each student’s interests and qualifications. Parents and students can now access parameters that allow them to examine the student’s high school record, activities, and “extras” like a professional and objectively determine the strengths he or she may have within a given pool of potential applicants.
Preparing College Applications: (12th Grade)
Obviously, this is not something that is relegated only to seniors. But that is the label that it receives and here is why. Each college aspiring student (and parent) should make a strong, exerted effort to stay on top of all the deadlines, continue in relevant (and not fluff) classes (see the last post), routinely update their timeline, look for last minute options, apply for early decision, take the SAT/ACT, and manage everything else teenagers do as they near completion of their secondary school career. I advise all students and their families to make and follow a thorough, detailed, and practical guide to the 12th grade year and producing a successful college application. After gaining a thorough understanding of how an applicant’s file is ultimately reviewed, parents and students must carefully and thoughtfully complete their applications.
Always remember that there are essential strategies for crafting an engaging essay and developing a unique personal theme that will help them stand out from the crowd. Resources such as these should not be ignored. Essays should be edited and re-written, letters of recommendation should be found, and all the applications filed, paid, and sent to the correct place. Follow that guide. Follow the timeline. Don’t make a mistake if you can avoid it.
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