????????? How do you apply to college?

The clock is ticking – get with the program.


Here are some pointers that may help.

• To be ready to have good options when it is time to apply, take hard classes–work hard in those classes.

• Take ACT/SAT/SAT subject tests at the appropriate times. Before testing, take a few sample tests and analyze your performance on them. Test scores matter to many colleges when it comes to admissions.

• Attend as many programs/sessions/fairs as possible–keep files of information.

• As a junior, make a list of colleges that might be good matches. (Don’t freak out–that list can have 25 places on it when you are a junior. It is easier to narrow down than it is to expand the list as a first semester senior.) Use every tool at your disposal to do this.

• The list should be vertical (meaning stretches in terms of difficulty of admission and those where admission seems likely). Compare your individual profile with the profiles of accepted students. Many factors should be considered–size, distance, location, composition of student body, out-of-class life/community factors, scholarship/financial aid possibilities, town/gown relationships, majors (remembering that many students will change their minds about majors), career planning and placement services available as well as job/graduate placement track records for the specific colleges–really the list is endless.

• Visit. If you can’t visit in person, visit virtually (on the web). Remember that demonstrated interest is reported by a NACAC survey to be a factor “of considerable importance” in admissions by 21% of the colleges responding to the NACAC survey.

• Narrow the list down by early September of your senior year.

• Follow any application procedures established by your counselor/school. Deadlines matter!

• Complete the application paperwork. NACAC reported that 80% of applications last year at surveyed colleges were submitted online.

• Request test scores from the testing agencies– www.act.org and/or www.collegeboard.org. Allow plenty of time for this.

• Follow the directives of each college regarding Score Choice.

• Proofing all materials prior to submission is essential.

• Keep copies of submitted materials.

• Relying on spell check and grammar check for essays is not a winning idea.

• Make your essays a conversation with the reader... If you aren’t funny, this isn’t the time to take up humor as you write! By the way, short essays are hard to write and write well...and they matter!

• If the colleges request letters of recommendation, follow their guidelines. Give your recommenders time to do a good job. Pick people who know you well. If the recommender must mail the letter, make sure he/she has a stamped addressed envelope with his or her return address indicated on it (not yours!!!).

• Follow your high school’s policy for requesting transcripts and secondary school reports. Remember, transcripts are required by virtually every college–initial ones and final ones.

• If you are an NCAA prospective Division I or II athlete, register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and follow their directives.

• Know that even online applications take some time to process. Make sure to confirm that your materials submitted online (or by snail mail) have been received.

• Expect some overlap–materials may be on the campus or in the campus computer but not registered yet in the online credentials received folder.

• Keep your grades up–all acceptances are conditional. Every college will require that you submit a final transcript that shows your performance for second semester senior year. It matters. There is such a thing as rescinded admissions.

Back in a bit- I gotta rest,
Clyde

You’re Special...just send in this app

OK friends, I’m delving into the realm of politically incorrect. Any of you guys get those snap apps–you know the personalized kind that says you don’t have to do an essay; you might not even have to pay an application fee? Was it called a VIP app? Do you feel special and wanted? Some of my senior friends got these.

Here is what my counselor has to say about that:

Was the college or university on your radar list to begin? The reality is that this is a fishing expedition on the part of the college. Think of this as an ad in a magazine, a commercial on TV. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but hundreds, thousands of these applications go out each year and the number of them being disseminated is growing geometrically. My counselor says this is really about colleges acting as businesses–making sure that posteriors are in desks when the following fall rolls around.

Bad reason to apply to a college–you know nothing about the school, but the application is free.

Good reason to apply to a college–you’ve done your homework, researched the college in terms of size, programs available, personal fit quotient–you know a lot and it seems like a good match.

DUH! This isn’t a gift.

The old-fashioned kind that comes in the mailbox or the electronic version that comes via your computer is just that–mail. Getting mail from a school doesn’t mean you will get in AND getting a free application doesn’t mean a school is a good fit for you or that you can get in that school.

Get the picture! See those darts in the middle of the page? Dart throwers gum up the works for every applicant. Do your homework. Apply to places that are a good fit for you. Ignore they hype–do it right. Otherwise, you might end up like feeling all caged up like my friend Zeus.

Talking about all this application stuff is making me tired. I need a rest.

CYA,

Clyde

Blood Pressure...170/110

What are your counselor’s/college adviser’s numbers? Have you made his or her blood pressure rise because you are a world-class procrastinator?

There is a plane headed in your direction. You’ll either be on it or miss the flight. November 1 is a big day in the world of college admissions. Many Early Action and/or Early Decision applications must be postmarked by that date. If you fall into the category of any early admissions plan, make sure you are taking care of your part of the application equation–meaning the application, submitting test scores, writing any required essays, requesting any needed recommendations, and giving your counselor the paperwork to submit the necessary material from your high school. DANGER!!!!!It is not advisable to give your counselor this information on Friday, October 29–just before school is dismissed for the weekend. Plan ahead! Allow your counselor and your recommenders enough time to do a good job on their parts of your paperwork.

Next up–Aren’t you special? You got a snap app! Right now, I need to contemplate helping some friends with homework.




L8R,
Clyde

High School Preparation for Engineering

While in high school students who want to prepare for a career in engineering
should plan to take:



1. All of the college preparatory mathematics course that are offered by your school, such as:


Algebra I
Algebra II
Geometry
Trigonometry
Math Analysis, Pre-Calculus, Calculus

II. Sciences

Chemistry
Physics
Biology

III. Any courses in typing and computer science offered by your school

IV. English courses with particular emphasis on development of good writing and speaking skills

V. Electives such as:

Mechanical drawing
Foreign languages
Psychology
Art
Music
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
www.eng.uab.edu

Opportunities . . . Near and Far

Wanna be a Dragon?

When looking for places to put your paws down and continue your education, don't overlook the back yard! I recently visited UAB . . . not exactly in my back yard, but not on the other side of the country either. I had no idea how many programs were available to students at this school. So . . . one of my first rules of college exploration:

Make college visits! See what is available.

UAB, for example, is a sleek, modern-looking place in an urban setting, but it does have a green feel to it and it is an incredibly diverse campus. Everybody knows UAB as a pre-health career place - I mean, everywhere you turn, you trip over hospitals and clinics and the like, but there are some cool other programs here too. For example, UAB has the only accredited undergraduate program in Biomedical Engineering in the state. I visited the visualization cube and it was way cool. Ask your parents - it was kind of like being in the holodeck on Star Trek. UAB also has the only Nuclear Medicine program in my state, the only Industrial Distribution program in the Southeast and one of four Forensic Accounting and Information Science programs in the country. Who knew? Next time, I'll give you some tips from their College of Engineering on what high school students need to study in order to be ready to pursue a degree in engineering.

For those who want a real challenge in a university setting and also want the community feel of a smaller program combined with specialized mentoring, check out the Honors Academy at this university.

I also had the opportunity to hear Linda Luck, the prehealth career advisor for UAB juniors, seniors, postbacs (that is somebody who already has abn undergraduate degree) and alums. She gave some great advice for students who want to go to medical school and advised us to check out their site .

Wanna know how to prepare in high school to become a health professional? Check this out.
You can even see some study recommendations for those who are thinking about becoming a doctor.

Can you see yourself at UAB?

Gotta go see what other opportunities I can dig up!

CYA,

Clyde

Park Scholarships NCSU, part two

How do you earn one of these fabulous scholarships?

There are two ways to get into the pipeline to be considered.

1. Some schools around the country may endorse up to two candidates

2. Students may endorse themselves and they are at no disadvantage in the process if they self-endorse

3. School endorsements are due by October 1; self-endorsements are due by October 25.

Here’s the great news–you can major in anything and be a Park Scholar. You can even have a double major. But . . . beware. This is a highly competitive program–I mean there are 1300 applications for 50 scholarships. Do the math–that’s competitive. While the review of candidates is holistic, there are certain talents and qualities the selection committee seeks. Here are the four criteria used to judge applicants:


• scholarship–yep, academics matter . . . Myron and Holley
stressed that a student’s record didn’t have to show a perfect 4.0 but the student needs to demonstrate true intellectual curiosity . . . the candidate needs to display raw and applied smarts!

• leadership–initiative and get-it-done trumps elected-do-nothing, title only stuff . . . how has the candidate seized opportunities and gotten a job done while others were still trying to figure out what the issues were?

• service–students must demonstrate a sense of and dedication to a more than a what’s-in-it-for-me mentality . . . they need to demonstrate a desire to make something better

• character–in today’s seemingly ethics-challenged world, integrity matters more and more every day–how has the student demonstrated an honorable lifestyle and shown, even when the going got tough, that he or she followed through any way

There are several essays–even an optional one–that are part of the Park application. Students were urged to complete the optional essay too. The advice was to be yourself in the essays, proofread, and make sure your voice is coming through in your essays.

In February about 100 finalists are brought to campus in-person. There are actually hundreds of staff members, alums, and students involved in the selection process. By early March, a student will know if he or she has been named a Park Scholar. However, the student has until May, the Candidate’s Reply Date, to decide whether to accept the scholarship.

The Park Program offers the best of both worlds–a small, structured living/learning community with amazing support and opportunities nestled in a large, major research university. Football Saturdays with pig roasts to a Commons open 24/7 just for the Park Scholars. That sounds good to me! Reach for the opportunities like my friend Toby. In fact, that also makes me hungry–gotta go find some food.


CYA,

Clyde