One of the most often asked questions on a college application is "Why are you a good fit or match for this school?" Colleges want to know why you're interested in them and if you understand what they are all about (their mission, their vision for the future, etc.). Do you know more about the school than they have a good football team? Have you investigated their academic departments? Do you know what courses you will have to take? Is it a socially conscious campus or a politically active one? How important is service to the school community? The questions you could ask are almost endless.
More often then not, when I ask a student what she liked about a university, she starts with something very vague (like it's pretty). On the surface, she is intrigued by the campus, but she hasn't really taken the time to look below the surface, often relying on first impressions or what she's heard about the school from friends and alums. So when she has to write an essay about why it's a good fit for her, her answers are non-specific and cliche.
So how do you answer that particular essay question? Fortunately, Jeannie Borin, the founder of College-Connections, has written some great advice that just might help you focus. It's not a question you can take lightly, nor is it a question you can answer quickly. You may have a word limit, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't take just as much time on this short question as you do on your essay. That means it will take several drafts until you get it just right. However, in the end, it just might make a difference.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Monday, July 21, 2014
Where has the summer gone?
Perhaps it is like this every year, but it seems the summer has flown by faster than ever before. Class schedules will be posted in the next week or two, and I'm already scheduling a number of college visits for the fall. Among the schools that will be stopping by are George Washington, Virginia, Birmingham Southern, NYU, Richmond, Lehigh, NC State, and many more. You can check Naviance for a complete list of the school's that have signed up so far.
In addition, there are two special programs you should be aware of if you're considering these schools. The Vanderbilt Road Show will be in Chattanooga on Monday, August 11 from 7-8:30 PM at the Chattanooga Marriott Downtown here.
The University of Georgia and Georgia Tech will once again team up for an information session on Monday, August 25 from 6:30-8:30 PM in the GPS Evans Center. If you are interested in either of these schools, you should make plans to attend. We will let you know how to register as soon as we have that information.
While I'm thinking about it, it's very important that you RSVP for events when required. Some people say that the courtesy of a response (or RSVP) is a dying practice, but that doesn't mean you should ignore it. Frankly it's simply rude to show up unannounced, especially when your host is basing the number of chairs, handouts and perhaps food on the number who said they were coming. Get into the habit of replying now!
This is the time of year when you should also make a habit of reading all your email. You might not use email as your primary form of communication any more, but many people do, including your college counselor and admissions offices. Don't miss out on an opportunity simply because you were too lazy or busy to read.
As we gear up for a new school year, there will be a lot of details to remember, but if you organize and pay attention, you'll navigate the college process just fine.
In addition, there are two special programs you should be aware of if you're considering these schools. The Vanderbilt Road Show will be in Chattanooga on Monday, August 11 from 7-8:30 PM at the Chattanooga Marriott Downtown here.
The University of Georgia and Georgia Tech will once again team up for an information session on Monday, August 25 from 6:30-8:30 PM in the GPS Evans Center. If you are interested in either of these schools, you should make plans to attend. We will let you know how to register as soon as we have that information.
While I'm thinking about it, it's very important that you RSVP for events when required. Some people say that the courtesy of a response (or RSVP) is a dying practice, but that doesn't mean you should ignore it. Frankly it's simply rude to show up unannounced, especially when your host is basing the number of chairs, handouts and perhaps food on the number who said they were coming. Get into the habit of replying now!
This is the time of year when you should also make a habit of reading all your email. You might not use email as your primary form of communication any more, but many people do, including your college counselor and admissions offices. Don't miss out on an opportunity simply because you were too lazy or busy to read.
As we gear up for a new school year, there will be a lot of details to remember, but if you organize and pay attention, you'll navigate the college process just fine.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Summertime, Summertime
Let's face it: it's hard to get motivated during the summer. We all need time off, but seniors also need to spend at least some time thinking about their college list. So between summer jobs, volunteers positions, those books you have to read before school begins again, and hopefully some relaxing by the pool, what should you be doing?
1. No matter what the college "experts" say, you really do need some time off. Last night I saw an interview with the author Malcolm Gladwell, and even his mother told him that sometimes you need to be bored. That's when your brain gets to take a rest, and after a busy school year, it needs one! Ideally that means you should try to separate yourself from social media as well. Really turn off and give yourself a break. Personally I believe that if a college doesn't understand the need to recharge everyone once in a while, it might not be the place for you. (And some times the best things happen when you're not looking for them!)
2. However, you do need to spend some time thinking about college, and hopefully you have carved out some time for some campus visits. Summer might not be the best time to tour, but sometimes it's the only chance you have. I am a firm believer that you can glean enough from your visit to know whether you need to go back and visit during the school year.
3. If you want to brainstorm some ideas for your college essay, the summer can be a laid-back time to do it. Review the Common Application prompts and notes you took during your college class third quarter, and maybe even try writing a few opening lines. Read these tips from "The Prospect", a website written by college and high school students that aims to help other students through the college process. If you've got a great idea for an essay and want to go ahead and write a rough draft, do it! But don't expect that your first draft will be the one you submit to colleges. More likely you'll have to write four or five drafts before it's close to being a finished product.
4. I hope you've found something interesting and fun to do this summer. It might be a job or internship in a career that you're considering, or it might be a volunteer position that has nothing to do with your future career. Then again, you might discover a career you haven't considered before.
5. Yes, you have required summer reading to do, but I also hope you pick up at least one book that is just for you. It doesn't have to be a weighty tome, a beach read is just fine. And I hope you have made some time to be with your friends. Seriously, I want you to have some balance in your life this summer. I want you to come back to school refreshed and ready to tackle your senior year!
Finally, one word of caution. Parents notoriously want this process to be finished as quickly as possible, and I understand that. But some things take time, and the college application process is one of them. You will need to slow down and do your applications very carefully and thoughtfully. That's the best path to a good decision next May.
1. No matter what the college "experts" say, you really do need some time off. Last night I saw an interview with the author Malcolm Gladwell, and even his mother told him that sometimes you need to be bored. That's when your brain gets to take a rest, and after a busy school year, it needs one! Ideally that means you should try to separate yourself from social media as well. Really turn off and give yourself a break. Personally I believe that if a college doesn't understand the need to recharge everyone once in a while, it might not be the place for you. (And some times the best things happen when you're not looking for them!)
2. However, you do need to spend some time thinking about college, and hopefully you have carved out some time for some campus visits. Summer might not be the best time to tour, but sometimes it's the only chance you have. I am a firm believer that you can glean enough from your visit to know whether you need to go back and visit during the school year.
3. If you want to brainstorm some ideas for your college essay, the summer can be a laid-back time to do it. Review the Common Application prompts and notes you took during your college class third quarter, and maybe even try writing a few opening lines. Read these tips from "The Prospect", a website written by college and high school students that aims to help other students through the college process. If you've got a great idea for an essay and want to go ahead and write a rough draft, do it! But don't expect that your first draft will be the one you submit to colleges. More likely you'll have to write four or five drafts before it's close to being a finished product.
4. I hope you've found something interesting and fun to do this summer. It might be a job or internship in a career that you're considering, or it might be a volunteer position that has nothing to do with your future career. Then again, you might discover a career you haven't considered before.
5. Yes, you have required summer reading to do, but I also hope you pick up at least one book that is just for you. It doesn't have to be a weighty tome, a beach read is just fine. And I hope you have made some time to be with your friends. Seriously, I want you to have some balance in your life this summer. I want you to come back to school refreshed and ready to tackle your senior year!
Finally, one word of caution. Parents notoriously want this process to be finished as quickly as possible, and I understand that. But some things take time, and the college application process is one of them. You will need to slow down and do your applications very carefully and thoughtfully. That's the best path to a good decision next May.
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