Design Your Own Life From High School to Career

Design Your Own Life May 1. May 1 is the date when colleges require commitment and deposits. Notify your counselor and others involved in your application process. Send in the deposit by the postmark date of May 1. If you have been offered financial aid, accept the offer and follow all the instructions. 2. Make sure your final transcript is sent to the college you will be attending. 3. If by chance you are “wait listed” by a college make a point to visit, call and write the admission office to make your interest clear. 138 Chapter 8: Preparing for College

Design Your Own Life Summer 1. The journey from high school to college can be a hectic one. Congratulate yourself for making it. 2. A summer job can help pay your college expenses and help move you into your career preparation. 3. Create a list of your needs for dorm life. This type of information can be answered on the college’s website under ‘Housing’ or ‘Residence Life’. 4. Roommate assignments become easier with advance calling, emailing, or Skype. 5. Some colleges offer summer orientation/registration days. Attending will allow you to meet fellow students, your roommate, and other important people. This is when you normally sign up for fall classes. Chapter 8: Preparing for College 139

Design Your Own Life 140 Chapter 8: Preparing for College Sample Junior Year – Charting the Action Calendar SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER Register for Take PSAT Register for Use a day of vacation to PSAT Begin online college PSAT. review your handbook, Choose type of education search. Read college/career Choose type of education fill in the flow charts after high school: handbooks. If apprenticeship: after high school: and set new goals. 4 years public college Ask counselor about contacts 4 years public college, PSAT/NMSQT 4 year private college in area of interests. Investigate 4 year private college, scores are returned Vocational school Advanced Placement (AP) and Vocational school, and interpreted. Talk Community College College Level Examination Community College, to a counselor and Military Service Program (CLEP). English Military Service, or understand what they Apprenticeship Locate (CLEP) Exam given. Apprenticeship. mean to you. information catalogs Locate information If military – learn test Catalogs. date, requirements, and If military – learn test application procedures for date, requirements, and Academy entrance. application procedures for Academy entrance.

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL Calculate Grade Point Ask about Spring test Average (GPA) and know date for SAT. Register to take Study for SAT Exam. your rank in class. Begin scholarship search. Advanced Placement (AP) Exam. MAY Design Your Own LifeJUNEJULYAUGUST Take SAT for schoolsChapter 8: Preparing for College 141Make an appointment Careful and early with “early admission” and for senior pictures. Take CLEP planning is essential to for military academy. Exam. avoid deadlines.

Design Your Own Life Junior Year – Charting the Action Calendar SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST 142 Chapter 8: Preparing for College

Sample Senior Year – Charting the Action Calendar SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER Register for SAT Ask for letters of Take SAT. November Family complete Continue scholarship recommendation (give 1-15th: Test scores and financial aid forms (FAF/ search them completed activity applications due for FFS). Apply to four year, Investigate CLEP, partic- sheets for reference and “early application discussion” community, vocational Design Your Own Lifeipate in it. Visit colleges,stamped envelopes). Chapter 8: Preparing for College 143see an advisor, attend openUpdate any change inFill out scholarshipcollege. Interview with house. your personal information. applications. Interview Military Service Recruiter. Complete this handbook. someone employed in Check with college on Write or rewrite the “your selected field/s”. special tuition assistance essay on the college deadlines. December 15th: application. Talk to others often application deadline who have or are attending for selective colleges. “your” college of choice.

Design Your Own LifeJANUARYFEBRUARYMARCHAPRIL 144 Chapter 8: Preparing for College January – May mail Play “catch up”. Work out your College acceptance tentative college letter due. Submit financial aid forms. Study college catalog. schedule. Register to take housing/tuition deposits Ask counselor to send Military: Stay in contact (AP) Exams. as requested. Application transcript to college. Regis- with recruiter/admissions deadlines for many col- ter to Vote if 18. officer for details of enlist- leges. If accepted by several ment, responsibilities, etc. colleges; make your selec- Apprenticeship: Learn tion and notify all others. about opportunities in If put on a waiting list, call, field and methods of visit or write director of application. Vocational: If admissions regarding any there is a waiting list, be recent academic or other on it. achievements. MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST Take (AP) Exam Graduate from high Careful and early school! Take English planning is essential to (CLEP) Exam. Read. Re- avoid missed deadlines. view math. Get a summer job if possible in field of interest.

Design Your Own Life Senior Year – Charting the Action Calendar SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST Chapter 8: Preparing for College 145

Design Your Own Life Tentative College Schedule Worksheets* Based on Quarter System Based on a careful study of your selected college catalog, draft a tentative class schedule based on the quarter/semester system First Quarter Freshman Year Third Quarter Second Quarter 146 Chapter 8: Preparing for College

Design Your Own Life First Quarter Sophomore Year Third Quarter Second Quarter *Ask for help with this activity. Review it with your high school counselor then confirm before registration day at college. Realize this is a draft and will require adjustments. Chapter 8: Preparing for College 147

Design Your Own Life Tentative College Schedule Worksheet Based on semester system First Semester Freshman Year Second Semester 148 Chapter 8: Preparing for College

First Semester Design Your Own Life Sophomore Year Second Semester Chapter 8: Preparing for College 149

Design Your Own Life That College Application Submit a college application that holds the interest of the review committee. A “reader” and “scorer” of college applications for a university admissions office, provides the following list of ten things a college application committee looks for in an applicant: 1. Standardized test scores, quantity and quality of courses taken, and associated grades. 2. Evidence that the applicant likes to learn new things. 3. Evidence that the applicant is a match for and compatible with the school and its mission—this is huge! 4. Proof of long-term “passion” for something outside “self ”. 5. Applicant’s self-awareness — personal values, goals, interests, curiosity, and “focus” over time. 6. Interest in the college or university through campus visits, online registration, correspondence and the like. 7. Student talents and skills sought by the college. 8. Evidence that family members are alums of the school. 9. The strength of outside recommendations (optional). 10. In some cases, family income level and “ability to pay”. 150 Chapter 8: Preparing for College

Design Your Own Life Certainly not all of these things are immediately apparent on the application; but, when push comes to shove, they may factor into the applicant’s acceptance or rejection. In reference to the above list of ten, an admissions officer from a highly selective college once gave me some insight into the selection process: “We cannot fault a student for not taking what his or her high school does not offer, but we can hold him/her responsible for not taking many of the demanding courses the school does offer.” In other words, take challenging classes that are in line with the applicant’s academic abilities. Just remember to follow instructions. If the application asks for two recommendations, do not produce five. If the essay is limited to three hundred words, don’t write five hundred. Some colleges will even disqualify an application if it does not adhere to written instructions. The temptation to provide more information than a college or university— or a potential employer, for that matter—can be overwhelming, but you need to resist that temptation. The Ideal College Applicant Just because one applicant gets accepted at college x and another applicant who is similarly qualified does not, does not mean the selection process comes down to luck or chance. Many factors figure into the applicant selection-rejection process. Applicants—and their parents—should have an understanding of these subjective “markers” in advance. Here are just six of them: 1. Student’s level of interest in the institution 2. Compatibility “match” with the college 3. Consistency of performance in school and in community activities Chapter 8: Preparing for College 151

Design Your Own Life 4. Course curriculum strength and academic reputation of the student’s high school 5. Student focuses on areas of interest/depth of involvement 6. Family member attendance as alums of the college Here is a little known fact. Many colleges and universities maintain spreadsheets that reflect student performance at the college and at the student’s former high school to gauge the “quality” of the high school curriculum over time. The most sought-after—and rare—college applicants are those who love to learn things—just for the sake of learning. Here are five quantifiable evidence-based characteristics that the most selective colleges look for in an applicant: 1. Demonstrates a high degree of self-awareness (e.g., level of involvement in school and community). 2. Possesses talents and skills sought by the college (e.g., abilities in art/ music, leadership, science and math, athletics). 3. Illustrates problem-solving skills needed to question, evaluate, and compare information (e.g., action verbs are important here). 4. Gives evidence of a passion for learning (e.g., a well written essay). 5. Communicates effectively/shows leadership skills (e.g., letters of references). First of all, most applications are submitted online nowadays and lots of applicants seem to get carried away, shot-gunning applications to lots of colleges through the common application process The Common Application allows students to apply to a list of approved institutions, using a single application. Each college applied to will probably require additional 152 Chapter 8: Preparing for College

Design Your Own Life “supplemental” information from the applicant. Usually, the hard-copy or online application packet require four basic things to start—the application for admission, an official high school transcript, standardized PSAT, SAT or ACT test scores and fee or fee waiver. The more selective public- and private colleges in the United States and in Canada may ask for more subjective personal information about the college applicant by way of teacher recommendations, the high school profile (sometimes referred to as a portfolio)—if your high school does not offer profiles, help get one created (or create your own personal webpage) in it include a list of personal accomplishments or resume, one or more personal essays, and samples of the applicant’s work. This sounds like a lot of work, but prepared candidates stand out in the crowd. Numerous schools currently accept the Common Application from students who are seeking admission. Some only accept the Common Application while others also maintain an application that is just for their school. The Common Application can make your life a lot easier if several of your schools accept it. Individual schools may request additional information or ask you to fill out supplemental forms. It is always a good idea to check out the admissions webpage of the schools to which you are applying. Chapter 8: Preparing for College 153

Design Your Own Life COLLEGE APPLICATION CHECKLIST Create One Checklist Per School Directions: Below is a sample college application checklist to use for tracking your progress. Name of School: Completed School visit (online and/or in person?) Application: Have you carefully read the application form? Have you completed the application form? Have you proofread the application? Are all questions answered? Is spelling/ grammar correct? Filing Deadlines: Regular admission Early admission Early action Have you completed an interview (if required)? Have you signed application? Have you included the application fee? Essay: First draft of the application essay? Received input on first draft of essay? Essay revised to your satisfaction? At least two other people have proofread your essay? 154 Chapter 8: Preparing for College

Design Your Own Life Grade and Test Scores: Official high school transcript sent? ACT and/or SAT scores sent (if applicable)? SAT II or AP test scores sent (if applicable)? Letters of Recommendation: Date sent Date Thank You Note sent Thank You Note sent Date sent Date Thank You Note sent Date sent Date Names and addresses of those writing letters of reference: 1. 2. 3. Financial Aid: Completed Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)? Complete any other required financial aid forms? Searched for and documented potential scholarships? Completed other scholarships and/or loan applications? Request very small contributions from friends and family Track each contribution and send Thank You Notes. Name and address of each contributor: 1. 2. 3. Scan and/or keep copies of all forms, applications and letters sent? Chapter 8: Preparing for College 155

Design Your Own Life Recommendations that Strengthen Applications… Many counselors, administrators, and others think that repeating stuff found in the application or on a resume can make a difference. It doesn’t! Just picture yourself reading dozens of bland general recommendations, and you can understand why that doesn’t work. Letters of recommendations create a picture of the applicant as a person, complete with quotes and examples – remember those action values and action verbs from earlier in this book. Letters of recommendation need to profile the applicant as a genuine person, with examples of leadership, academic achievement, and demonstrated potential. The writer must create a realistic image of the applicant. As with most things you ask someone else to do, a thank you for his or her service is always in order. A small Hershey’s bar can go a long way too. It’s the little things that can make a real difference. You never know when you might need to call on that person again for help. Those who write a letter of recommendation should be someone who knows you well. Assist the writer by providing a resume or a link to your online personal profile or portfolio page and be clear on the deadline date. Then, follow up as the deadline nears. The following example letters were written for students by faculty members. As you read them, note the skills mentioned, especially the self-management skills, the activities included and the attitudes that were considered important. 156 Chapter 8: Preparing for College

Design Your Own Life Example: Letter of Recommendation December 1, 20xx ASHLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS School District #100 Main Town, Washington 98858 Insert University Address To: The Admissions Committee, Prestige University It is with enthusiasm and without hesitation that I recommend Whitney Doe to you as a candidate for admission to Prestige University. I have known Whitney through all of her high school years. She served as classroom assistant and as such was efficient, accurate, and responsible. She is a mature and highly motivated young woman. She is an honor student, graduating with a 3.87 grade point average. Her academic achievement reflects her good study habits and self-discipline. She has been active in extra-curricular activities and is an enthusiastic athlete. As advisor of the high school yearbook, I found Whitney to be a cooperative, dedicated, talented staff member; one who could be counted on when needed. Whitney is a strong self-directed individual. She does not hesitate to take a stand and is prepared to defend her position. She has a very high moral code; you would never question her integrity. Whitney has recently been honored by being selected as the Young Women of the Year in our local town and as an Ashland High School Scholar Athlete. She will be equally successful as a college student. She will be a worthy addition to your student body. Sincerely, Sally Singleton Principal, Ashland High School Chapter 8: Preparing for College 157

Design Your Own Life Example: Letter of Recommendation December 1, 20xx ASHLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS School District #100 Main Town, Washington 98858 Insert Foundation Address To: Elks National Foundation Scholarship Committee It is with pleasure and without hesitation that I recommend Whitney Doe to you as a worthy candidate for the Elks’ National Foundation Scholarship. I have known Whitney throughout her school years. During two of her high school years, she has served as my library assistant. Whitney is the best student assistant I have had in sixteen years as school librarian. She is resourceful, competent, and conscientious. She seeks opportunities to learn and is efficient in all aspects of her work. A close family is important to her, and she has devoted much time to community and family activities. Good time management has enabled her to participate in sports, to serve as editor of the school paper, as student body treasurer and as a class officer. She was the recipient of the school’s Outstanding Junior Award, a singular honor. In addition to this busy school schedule, she has managed a part-time job averaging ten hours per week. She was selected as Junior Class Concessions Chairman, a year-long commitment to food service, a position that involved ordering, preparing and selling food, as well as scheduling personnel and keeping accurate records. She is neat, courteous, confident and cooperative; she has followed-through. Her future goal is to be a school librarian; as such, she will be a valuable, contributing professional. I highly recommend her to you for any consideration. Sincerely, Heather Hastings Ashland High School Librarian 158 Chapter 8: Preparing for College

Design Your Own Life JUST FOR FUN... Review your earlier worksheets, take special note of your skills and accomplishments; record your honors and awards and WRITE A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR YOUR SELF. Recommend yourself for a job, a scholarship, college admission... To whom this may concern: It is with pleasure that I recommend (your name) to you for (scholarship, college).                  Chapter 8: Preparing for College 159

Design Your Own Life The College Search and Selection Process Selecting the “right” college is a process, requiring preparation and action. Students who apply to college often have one of three misconceptions— (1) “I can get into any school I want to attend.” (2) “I don’t think my chances are very good so why try.”, or (3) “I can put this stuff off and still apply later.” The fact is, there are over four thousand colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. They range in difficulty from open admission – meaning almost anyone can apply and get in – to the very selective – where only a few are accepted. They are two- or four-year schools, public or private, career- technical or liberal arts; and each offers a “product” in search of potential buyers like you. The most selective schools—those that accept fewer than 15% of those who apply—are looking for applicants who bring talents and skills that can use what the school has to offer most effectively. Given that, preparation cannot exist without a plan of action which breaks down into these basic parts: Exploration: The first year of high school provides the “foundation” for success. It’s a time to explore what the school has to offer; a time to develop a support system of caring, effective, available, and capable teachers and administrators; a time to discover what is good and what isn’t; a time to take in the social- and academic lay of the land; and a time to develop a reputation as someone who is recognized, respected, and taken seriously. Simply put: proactive assertive students get noticed. Self-Assessment: The sophomore year can be a time for focusing on self- awareness and survival skills. The process of problem solving, goal setting, and decision-making should be taught in every high school—but it is not. Perhaps more disturbing is that few schools take time out from academics to help students understand themselves better. Self-awareness is a powerful 160 Chapter 8: Preparing for College

Design Your Own Life thing. It transcends much of what we do. Our interests, abilities, values, and personality direct our behavior. It is not a coincidence that admission essays often focus on an applicant’s interests, values, and intellectual skills—the very things the candidate may feel least prepared to examine. Preparation and Planning: The junior year is the most important year in high school, some say. It is the time to do certain things at certain times. It’s time to tape the school year calendar on the refrigerator and refer to it often. A complete list of things college-bound students should do can be found on the website collegeboard.org or by visiting the school counselor. Students can reduce parent anxiety by scheduling and listing stuff like a student-parent counselor conference, college orientation sessions, the PSAT, the SAT, a list of prospective colleges, scholarship opportunities, and college visits. Sure, there are more things to do, but this is a start. The junior year is the planning year, the time to do the things necessary for applying to college—gathering information, making contacts, and piecing together an action plan. Imagination exercise: Picture the ideal college. Include size, location, physical layout…you know, the usual stuff you can see. Then imagine a typical class, the student body, and the social scene. Then write those things down. Parents, you do the same thing and compare notes. Sometimes parents and kids have two different sets of expectations about college choice, career selection, and values. Each acts based on assumptions about the other. This is the time to try and get on the same page—together. Come to some mutual understandings. Agree to disagree if necessary. If financing and cost will affect college selection, find time to talk about it you’re your family. Student’s need to feel included and respected, so allow parents the courtesy of sharing their thoughts and say what they can or cannot pay for college—without putting the family deep in debt. Chapter 8: Preparing for College 161

Design Your Own Life Action: Seniors, it’s time to act. Time to take the SAT and ACT; time to visit colleges if necessary; time to apply to a handful of schools; time to request recommendations be written; time to write college- and scholarship essays; time to apply for financial aid, time to make final decisions; and time to follow-up and keep track of things needing done. Whew, lots to do. Most colleges and universities plan for a certain number of admitted students each year from which the number of actual attendees is predicted— usually around 30% of those accepted. Candidates for admission are either accepted, denied, or wait listed as part of the admission process. Most applicants will know if accepted by the middle of April and will need to select a college by around May 1, senior year. As part of the process, you may be asked to complete five or more applications for the college you select: 1. a supplemental application as requested 2. a FAFSA and/or PROFILE need-assessment form for aid 3. an institutional aid application for the college 4. an NCAA Clearinghouse application (if you are an athlete) 5. an application for school housing. Housing and admissions usually expect a deposit after acceptance. As for financial aid, any award monies offered the applicant are only available upon acceptance to the school. Finally, all colleges will require an official copy of your final high school transcript, stamped with your date of graduation. 162 Chapter 8: Preparing for College

Design Your Own Life School Personality, Match, and Program Compatibility: Clues to a Fit Some people spend more time picking out an outfit to wear or a car to buy than a school to attend. In fact, students nowadays take longer to complete a college degree; they transfer routinely from one place to another; and they take courses online as part of their course load. Greater flexibility, however, does not mean the college selection process should be ignored. Ask yourself, “What is the most overlooked factor in selecting a college?” Is it the COA (cost of attendance) or the design of the dorm rooms or the school’s reputation or its social life? Nope. For many students and parents, the characteristic most overlooked is the “personality” of the school. Along with all the rankings, admission criteria, and school offering stuff you need to know, ask yourself “Will I fit in with the people I encounter every day?” Unfortunately, for many college graduates the college experience has meant just time spent and a diploma, a spot in the rear-view mirror and a few goodbyes. I know that a school’s “personality” is a subjective thing. That’s why it is so often overlooked in the discussion. Your college quest requires you to focus on what is important to you. Things like reputation, prestige, mission statement, emphasis on career exploration and student services each paint an insider’s picture of what the college values and how it operates. Resources That Offer an Inside Look The following nine plus resources offer more than basic facts about a college’s size, cost, and location. They peel back the cover so you, the consumer, can take a look inside: Chapter 8: Preparing for College 163

Design Your Own Life 1. Cappex.com for college information and student commentary on specific schools 2. Collegedata.com for comprehensive profile, cost, and scholarship information 3. Princetonreview.com for a college search engine that matches you with colleges 4. The Fiske Guide to Getting Into the Right College—a must-have comprehensive strategy, planning, and to-do resource 5. Colleges That Change Lives for schools that demonstrate a “calling” to develop students as people too 6. Resource books like The Fiske Guide to Colleges and the Princeton Review’s The Best 371 Colleges 7. USNews.com/education for insider insights 8. Insightful materials by Edward Fiske and Frederick Rugg 9. Scholarship “.com” search engines like fastweb, scholaraid, finaid, and payingforcollege Exercise: A good way to develop the art of asking and responding to questions is to practice. Try asking open-ended questions. Questions that start with “What if…” or “How would you…” or “What do you think about…” are the kinds of inquiry that encourage a thoughtful response. As you are developing your college prospect list of five to ten schools, you may want to ask your college contacts some important questions. Nine questions come to mind to get you started: 1. Are merit scholarships renewable year to year? 2. What are your retention-and loan default rates? 164 Chapter 8: Preparing for College

Design Your Own Life 3. What other schools are like you? 4. How are your classes taught (traditional, experiential, etc.)? 5. How safe is your campus and what safety services do you provide your students? 6. What support services do you provide students in need? 7. Do seniors take comp exams or write a senior thesis? 8. How do you prepare your students for the world of work? 9. (Coach) How many of your freshmen scholarship athletes are still here as seniors? Most questions center around one or more of the six broad areas that make a college tick: 1. School atmosphere – student body “personality” 2. Instructional approach – academic atmosphere/majors 3. Admission policies – financial aid philosophy 4. Extracurricular activities – social events and traditions 5. Campus buildings and facilities – “Capitol improvement” plans 6. Student support services – faculty involvement Networking and Communication Many adults know the importance of “networking”. Someone knows someone who knows someone. Think about going to an unfamiliar place. How would you know where to stay or the best place to eat or the right road to take? Today, many people go directly to Google or some other travel website. But you are still left to chance with cropped photos and vague information. A Chapter 8: Preparing for College 165

Design Your Own Life better bet would be to talk to several people who have actually been to that place. Even then you may get conflicting information. Talking with several people will improve your chance of gaining reliable information. Here are eight things that can help build your communication skills and help you learn how to gauge the accuracy of information different people proved. 1. Write down your impressions of people—who is helpful and who is not—and create a contact log. Take a few risks. Talk to the dean of a department; schedule an information interview with a professor or a coach; ask an adult for advice; offer honest feedback to a friend; write a letter to your favorite teacher, thanking her for what she does. You see, it’s the little things that people DON’T do that make the difference and improve communication skills. 2. Get on the college “radar”. Sign onto the admissions website and schedule a visit. Ask if you can make contact with students from your high school who are attending the college now. 3. Ask a lot of questions. Sometimes it’s not just what someone says, but how he or she says it that matters. Context and affect—that is, the way a person appears—tell us about the “messenger”. Research says we remember more of what we see than what we hear. Practice asking questions with a friend or parent, acting as the employer or college contact. 4. Develop that “third eye”. Intuition can be a powerful tool. It can help us know if someone is sincere and honest. For many folks that “gut feeling” is there; it just needs to come out and play. Our bodies tell us things that our intellect may not. Understanding body language is just as important as what a person is truly saying. 5. Watch for body language during interviews. If you have ever seen a person tell you how happy he is while looking sad and depressed, 166 Chapter 8: Preparing for College

Design Your Own Life turning his head back and forth as if to say no. Then you can begin to understand how important it is to read body language correctly. Unless there is a special situation going on, in normal conversation, body language should always match what is being said. 6. Follow up when appropriate. Never leave an information interview or call on the phone with less information than you started with. Schedule a follow-up, get a contact name, ask for feedback, or request information on how to follow up. It is okay to be assertive without being aggressive. 7. Develop an understanding of how you fit, connect, and match up with the school. Be specific and have examples (e.g. “What is level of controversy between the student body and the school administration? What are the chances that classes will be closed due to this controversy?”). Chapter 8: Preparing for College 167

Design Your Own Life THE VALUE OF ESSAYS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND INTERVIEWS Personal Essays that Make a Difference… Simply put, an application’s essay makes him/her a “three dimensional” person. Good essays speak to reviewer. They encourage, the reader, to stop and linger and take a second closer look. The essay can demonstrate the hidden quantities of the applicant. Words are powerful—sometimes the fewer the better. Here’s an example of an award-winning six-word story, written by Earnest Hemmingway. It’s a classified ad, tucked away in a newspaper want ad section, “For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.” The words elicit a mental picture, tweak our curiosity, and tug at our hearts. Now consider the difference in impact between these two pairs of sentences: First: “The Queen died. The King died.”, Second: “The Queen died. The King died of a broken heart.” One is a statement. The other is a story. Effective college application essays tell a story, create an explanation, and focus our interest. The examples used, the stories told, the situations explained are often metaphors that reveal the writer. Most effective application essays demonstrate a writer’s ability to think, to understand, and to explain. An admissions officer once said; “the mistake many applicants make is to talk about an event or situation without referencing the long-term effect on the writer”. If I were to go to Ecuador, for example, on the all-too- overused church mission trip, I might typically talk about what I learned or saw. Missing would be what I would do with my new awareness. Maybe tutor immigrant students or advocate for the poor or study Spanish or start a Spanish Club. Colleges like “doers”, people who are affected by what they 168 Chapter 8: Preparing for College

Design Your Own Life have learned—not just talkers. As the saying goes, strong essays “SHOW”… weak essays “TELL”. An excellent resource is Fiske’s Real College Essays That Work. What you write about does not need to be earth shaking or awe-inspiring. It just needs to tell the reader something about you, the writer. Some of the best essays talk about little things and small events—a first kiss, a chance encounter, an event that impacted the family. Remember, each can be a powerful metaphor that reveals much about the writer. For practice sake, application essays are based on one of five topics or prompts. They are as follows: 1. Tell us about you to reveal your values, priorities, interests, and personality 2. Tell us about a personal “challenge” to demonstrate your problem- solving ability 3. Pick a topic and write about it to show your values, interests, character, and priorities 4. Why do you want to attend our school to suggest your fit or match potential 5. Discuss a particular issue or concern to exhibit your ability to analyze, compare, contrast, and evaluate Practice College Essay: Please write a brief practice essay of 200–300 words on any topic which is of direct personal importance to you. Write a draft essay then print it out or save it electronically then continue editing it until you are happy with Chapter 8: Preparing for College 169

Design Your Own Life your results. Having someone else read the essay is always a good idea. See examples below. The following are a few of the topics that have been used in past essays, but it is by no means an exhaustive list, and good essays can be written on any subject: (a) unusual circumstances or background factors in your life; (b) a serious problem you worked and solved; (c) high or low spots or turning points in your life thus far; (d) a particularly rewarding academic or learning experience; (d) the best or worst aspects of your secondary school experience; (e) travel or living experience in other countries; your home area as a place to grow up; (f) a recent development in your school or community and its consequences; (g) an answer to a question that should have asked on your application form. The following are examples of a student’s response to one of those hard to answer essay questions that appear on scholarship and college applications: Question Describe the personal quality or trait that you possess, which you most value. Limit your answer to the space provided. (Paragraph form) Answer Of all my personal traits, the one I value most would have to be my curiosity. I am always interested in learning new things and gaining insight into the world around me. I have never taken a class in high school that I did not want to be in, and I try not to limit my studies merely to the classwork assigned. I believe that my keen interest in learning has been the main reason for my success in high school, and that it will bring me continued success in college as well as in the rest of my life. I spend a lot of my spare time studying things 170 Chapter 8: Preparing for College

Design Your Own Life like world history or my particular interests in math and science. I enjoy doing research on my large stamp collection, which helps me learn more about geography, as well as the people, events, and other subjects depicted on the stamps themselves. I also have a personal computer on which I like to spend time programming in different software languages. Curiosity is the reason I have chosen biochemistry as my major area of study in college. In this field I will be able to research new fronts of knowledge and technology that no one has learned before. My life would certainly be without purpose if I had no curiosity or interest in learning more about the world in which I live. Question What educational and career goals have you established? Answer I have chosen Hotel and Restaurant Administration because it is a rapidly growing field offering exciting opportunities for those with a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Management. Such an industry offers a wide variety of career choices, challenges and opportunities for advancement. Because of the heightened business travel and convention activity, there will be opportunities in sales, public relations, accounting, and general management. I plan to work in the hospitality field while attending college and this experience will help me decide which area holds the most interest for me. I work well with others, have a good general education, and possess sufficient skills to hold an entry level position. I have a strong sense of responsibility, am goal oriented, and accomplish the tasks I set for myself. By applying myself in college and taking advantage of the wide variety of courses offered in Hotel Administration, I feel I will be prepared for a well-paid, satisfying career. Chapter 8: Preparing for College 171

Design Your Own Life I have decided to enroll in Washington State University to take advantage of its strong program. I plan to transfer to Seattle University as a junior because Seattle, a large metropolitan center, offers excellent choices for employment. I am enthusiastic about my current career interests and know that with proper planning and with scholarship help I can accomplish my goal. The College Essay The college essay gives students a chance to illustrate what’s special about their personality, values, viewpoint and experiences. Colleges ask for essays for one reason only. They want to get to know a prospective student as an individual. The essay must be a personal statement, not a rehash of other people’s opinions or what the student thinks the college wants to hear. Professional writers suggest the following: 1. Never use lists in an essay. Sports records do not belong in an essay. The admissions committees want a glimpse of a student’s character, not a repeat of other information on the school application. 2. Provide a close-up of yourself. A memorable moment or life-changing insight that is rich in detail will have a greater impact. 3. Read the essay aloud more than once. Awkward sentences and phrases will become clear when read to someone else. 4. Remember, the best writers use as few words as possible to get a point across. Stay within the word limit. Short sentences of about twenty words work well. 5. Write in the active voice. Writing in the passive voice will distance the reader and slow the reading pace. Pull the reader in with strong verbs and active voice sentence structure. 172 Chapter 8: Preparing for College

Design Your Own Life 6. Show humility. Bragging really turns off a selection committee. 7. Always proofread. Spell check is not the same as proofreading. 8. Follow the rules. Every college has its own rules and requirements. Stick to the word length, format and topic suggested by the school. Where to find help? Review the resources on Common Application, a universal college application form accepted by a growing number of schools. The College Interview: Making an Impression that Sticks… Usually the one question an employer, scholarship committee, or admissions officer wants to answer is “Why should we take this applicant?” In business terms, it’s kind of like the cost: benefit analysis. You, the college or work applicant, need to demonstrate you have something the school or business wants. Think of yourself as that interviewer, sitting across from an uninspiring candidate whose blank eyes tell it all. The minutes hang like hours. What is your first impression of that candidate? Is there anything he or she could say that would redeem the interview in the candidates favor? When preparing for an interview, “Knowing who you are and what you have to offer is a powerful thing.” So let’s prepare for that inevitable interview, knowing that the prepared candidate has a big advantage: he or she knows what to say before the interviewer does. Along the way, here are five tools that can help seal the deal toward a positive outcome: 1. Be specific, clear, and concise rather than general and vague in your answers. Chapter 8: Preparing for College 173

Design Your Own Life 2. Know at least five good things you want the interviewer to know about you. 3. Understand the ways you are a good match for the company or the school. 4. Be genuine, candid, honest, focused, and self-disclosing during the interview. 5. NEVER demonstrate anger, jealousy, arrogance or other self-serving negative behaviors. The goal is to convince the interviewer that you are worthy of consideration. Most interviewers—and college admissions readers, for that matter—know nearly right away whether the candidate is a “one-of-the-many” or a “one-of- the-few” opportunity. Just remember that good interview skills can be taught and learned. It just takes practice. 174 Chapter 8: Preparing for College

#9 Emerging Issues Introduction When you shop you decide on which brand to buy. High profile sports figures, movie stars and rock bands have clearly defined brands (e.g. the big red lips and tongue logo are part of the Rolling Stones brand, Coke, Pepsi, and Tide all have well defined brands). Today, career experts recommend that young people think of themselves as a brand under development. Everyone understands how difficult the job market is and will continue to be without the necessary education and skills that will brand you professionally as a teacher, scientists, rancher, mechanic, actor, etc. Social media is now playing a major role in branding personal maturity, values and personal safety. So how do we use the new social media to your advantage? Even in the digital world, the resume is still a required job tool. However, the traditional resume and job boards alone just isn’t cutting it these days. What is now required is a professional web presence that harnesses social media channels to your advantage. Therefore, if you don’t have a professional profile on one or more social network, you will need one sooner or later. These sites are the new hunting grounds for job candidates. For example, LinkedIn, a professional networking site, allows users to build an online profile that includes: a resume, recommendations and references. It also provides job applications. Facebook has “Professional Profile,” which allows users to upload resumes or import your LinkedIn profile and recommendations. Facebook also allows users to set up an advertising page to sell their skills. To stay current about a specific company and its activities; there is a good chance you’ll need to follow them on the company’s website, blog, or monitor their trending on industry blogs within websites such as Bloomberg News, Facebook Social Jobs, Twitter Job Search, and Glassdoor. Glassdoor is 175

Design Your Own Life considered the best workplace review site. It allows job seekers to review more than 14 million job postings and salary information at more than 250,000 companies. Employees can anonymously rate their workplace. Glassdoor publishes an annual list of 50 top places to work list based upon employees’ ranking. A nice feature is the ability to view interview questions and responses. With smartphones, job searching is now mobile. Phone apps can help you streamline job searches and track job listings on the go. Be sure to include Podcasting in you search efforts. Companies are using podcasting to advertise positions and providing interviews from current employees as a recruitment method. Remember, companies want potential employees to match their qualifications to specific company needs, even at the entry level position. Knowing this fact, a brief story explaining how you recognized and solved a specific problem and the impact that had on a school situation or at a company will have greater impact than saying, “I get along well with people”. That type of statement is highly unlikely to win the job because it is too vague. You can now add “getting a job” to your Google News homepage. Reading industry websites, blogs, and twitter you can build a deeper understanding what is going on within the industry you hope to enter. This new knowledge will allow you to customize your resume and professional portfolio for a specific job, and better prepare you for the interview. Since about 2010, employers and recruiters began looking for virtual portfolios – most colleges are requiring them and some high schools. For serious job seekers, having an online presence has reached a must. Just as companies have created their own brand, job seekers can use online applications to brand themselves and advertise their skills and accomplishments. With all these technological changes, the personal reference is still in the forefront of getting hired. So insure your reference list is updated and 176 Chapter 9: Emerging Issues

Design Your Own Life each person can match your skills and qualifications to the specific job you want. This will require a close and ongoing contact with your references; so by phone or email keep your references in the loop of your job search (e.g. you may want to email them a job announcement each time you are granted an interview). Keep in mind, electronic reference systems are being used more and more (e.g. Credit checks with employee’s permission, checking individual professional and social network presence: Before or soon after the interview, personal Facebook pages are the first place employer’s reference followed by LinkedIn and Facebook Social Jobs). The demand for highly qualified employees, workplace violence, rising costs of employee benefits are just a few of the issues facing companies. Therefore, your personal references and online personal presence will be highly weighted during the hiring process. In order to understand what is on the mind of company recruiters, visit websites and blogs hosted by and for human resource managers and recruiters. There is no need to join these sites. Just reading different topics will help you understand what is going on in the minds of recruiters during the hiring process. A few interesting websites: Workforce, The Society for Human Resource Management, and Recruiting Blogs. Spending time on these websites will give you an inside view of what this industry is thinking and how you should best respond to their concerns (e.g. smiling is always important, being able to demonstrate how your skills match the job, and what value you can bring to the company is very important). These issues are true for internships, and entry level positions. Chapter 9: Emerging Issues 177

Design Your Own Life Benefits of LinkedIn, Facebook and other Social Media Connections Companies and Politicians are two examples that spend millions of dollars creating their own brand. Personal branding is basically promoting your own name throughout your career. It can help find a job, and it can help find a new job. Side effects can be quicker promotions, getting a raise, and recognition and appreciation from your peers and business associates. You have worked your entire life to build a brand offline in everyday life. Those around you are aware of your honesty, gratitude, kindness, service to the community, generosity or perhaps immaturity traits. The ways you speak and present yourself are the factors of your brand or personality. You already have a good idea about your brand. However, sometimes there is a mismatch with what you think and what others think. The only thing new here is the buzz word “brand” itself. It is not just a word, it is a business concept and strategy and it is not going away anytime soon, so best get used to it. More and more companies use or will start using social media for recruiting, screening and hiring. Why? Because it is becoming more cost effective. For example: As a means to speed up the screening process, some companies are requesting job applicants to respond to one or two video questions online. Those with weak responses are screened out immediately. Those who make it through the video screening are screened again by reviewing their social media presence (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, etc.). Another course of screening is scanning resumes with a software application that searches for keywords or phrases that match the job application. 178 Chapter 9: Emerging Issues

Design Your Own Life How to Integrate Social Media with your Career and Life Plan 1. Before you build an online professional profile, make sure you understand the problems within the professional field you hope to enter. Then build a profile that demonstrates how your education, skill or experience can manage or resolve those problems. So, how do you do that? You, learn the lingo, email companies asking for career advice, track Company Twitter accounts, and the local and national news about specific industries, social media feeds that a company uses to advertise their charity work, etc. 2. Review company websites and their social media presence. You will learn their hiring process, what others are saying about them, and decide if your skills match their job openings. 3. In addition to joining and getting actively involved in professional groups, LinkedIn offers a feature through which you can get people to recommend you. Large numbers of recommendations (an average of ten) will attract employers’ attention. However, some employers care more about matching job skills to their needs rather than reviewing recommendations that may or may not be valid. Make sure your recommendations are serious, not overstated, and match your education and skills. One well written recommendation by an influential person can make a bigger impact than ten poor generic letters that can wipe out your credibility. 4. High school and college students can use the social networks to discover how college graduates found a job or got hired. 5. The common social networks have a global network for those seeking jobs in foreign countries. Chapter 9: Emerging Issues 179

Design Your Own Life When building your online professional presence, selecting the right photo is paramount. All the work you put into branding yourself can be undone with a simple photo. Research has proven that viewers almost always go directly to your photo. So consider the following: 1. Choose three words or phrases that best describe your personality and how you want potential schools or employers to perceive you (down to earth, middle of the road or rocker). 2. Choose a few suitable images (kid next door, volunteer, outdoorsy type, or musician). 3. Choose three people you believe will give you an honest answer then let them provide words that describe the photos you selected to use online. 4. If their descriptive word’s do not match your words, then you may need to choose new photos. 5. Never use rude, low quality, or photos of someone else. Quick Response Codes (QR) Technology There is now a “world economy” that is constantly changing. Therefore, it is important to research and know the latest business practices for getting hired. For example, Quick Response (QR) codes are showing up on resumes and business cards. The codes are small, square and usually black and white barcodes containing links to information. These codes can be read with free software downloaded to smartphones. The full benefit of the code is yet to be seen. However, you now see them in magazines and newspapers, on signs and posters and even buildings. Companies use the codes to promote products and services by directing consumers to websites. For the tech-savvy, the codes can be created to connect to social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, 180 Chapter 9: Emerging Issues

Design Your Own Life and LinkedIn. This emerging technology can be used as another tool in getting noticed above the crowd. Some are using the codes as art. Google offers this technology free for Droid phones. Look around to find the app that best meets your need. New Fast Emerging Technologies A fast moving app is Touch code. Touch code is an invisible electronic code printed on paper. How to use this technology is being explored and new ways of using it are being devised. Touch code marketers state that it will end Quick Response (QR) code. However, that is highly unlikely in the near future. Now more than half of all online searches originate from a mobile device. QR codes are designed to be scanned with a mobile device. They are free and affordable services that can enable you to build a mobile mini- site to showcase your talents and achievements. With added administrative tools, you can receive text or email alerts that monitor the number of scans performed on your QR code, including geographic points of origin. This will help you gauge the interest in your resume. When a user scans a QR code, the URL is saved in the user’s mobile device, which can be an added advantage. Make sure your codes provide the least amount of information as possible or they become hard to read. Make sure they can be used on an international level and always test your code. There is nothing worse for a company or individual than a code that doesn’t work. QR codes do not have to be black and white. You can copy them into MS Word and add color and design. Personal branding power can come by adding color and/or a design to the code. You can embed multiple colors and apply color gradient without affecting scanability. One rule is that the code color should not generally be dark and placed against a light-colored background. The contrast has to be sufficient, or the code will be difficult to scan. Chapter 9: Emerging Issues 181

Design Your Own Life There will be countless times in life when you already have plenty on your mind, and you don’t want to start writing a resume, online profiles or create a large web presence. To avoid this stress, make sure you have the bare minimum documents prepared. Here is a checklist: Must Haves 1. Updated hardcopy resume 2. Matching Cover Letter 3. Letters of reference 4. A good looking and effective social media profile 5. A well-rehearsed statement about yourself to pitch at any time (e.g. Hello, my name is Joe Smith I am interested in joining your catering team. I have three years’ experience in culinary work with the ABC hotel, and I am majoring in hotel and restaurant management). 6. A clean professional online image Extra’s 1. Resume uploaded and searchable on social media 2. Personal blogs (community service you provided, events you actively participated in) 3. Website that contains your personal portfolio (e.g. photos of art work, audio of music, videos of volunteer work) 4. Your own LinkedIn Group 5. Professional Twitter Account 6. Download mobile job search apps 182 Chapter 9: Emerging Issues

Design Your Own Life Discover ways to use Quick Response (QR) codes in your branding (use colorful QR codes on your artwork and sculpture photos, business card, personal webpage, etc.) Most of us have little bites here and there on the Internet. A way to test your own brand is simply run a Google search on your name, just like a potential school or employer will do. There is always room for improvement on your online presence. Building a false presence of yourself in hardcopy or online will derail your career sooner or later. Online Security and Manners: 1. Limit the amount of personal information available online (phone numbers, address, etc.) 2. Make photos, videos, and status updates private to anyone that isn’t your friend 3. Do not allow anyone to tag you in rude photos 4. Update your profile regularly using information consistent with your resume 5. Delete pictures/messages/information that is controversial or inappropriate 6. Realize that your friends and followers can be a negative or positive reflection 7. Do not write negative comments about past or present employers/ companies 8. Do not join interest groups based on inappropriate or controversial themes 9. Do not use inappropriate language 10. Do not discuss recent interviews Chapter 9: Emerging Issues 183

Design Your Own Life Your Online Reputation – Are you Proud of It? Your online persona shapes opinions and perceptions of you—both personally and professionally. Searching online information about a potential employee is quickly becoming a part of a standard background check. This includes blogs, Facebook profiles,Twitter updates, and other information available on the Internet. In a survey published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers in 2009, 70 percent of U.S. recruiters and Human Resource professionals say they have rejected candidates based on information they found online. To create or freshen up your professional online presence, it is suggested you should do the following: 1. Use Google, or another search engine, to search all versions of your name (full name and nicknames) and see what information is readily available about you on the Internet. 2. If you find something on websites that might damage your online reputation, take action to try to have it removed. 3. Use the privacy settings on your Facebook account to ensure that personal information, posts, and photos you do not want shared with employers are not viewable on your public profile. 4. The safest way to ensure that compromising information doesn’t wind up in the hands of employers is to regularly review your profile and delete posts or photos that are inappropriate. Whether you uploaded them or not. 5. Always use sound judgment when posting comments and photos. There is a strong likelihood that negative information and photos will produce unwanted consequences. 184 Chapter 9: Emerging Issues

Design Your Own Life Building a Student Portfolio What should go into a portfolio? First, gather your strongest pieces of academic work. These items should always relate to your field of study. Do not include general education courses unless it is directly relevant. Second, gather any awards, certificates of achievement, letters of commendation, photos of art work, sculptures, videos’ of volunteer work, athletic events, video or audio of your music playing or performances and/or plays. Select only the best. Creating a high quality portfolio will demonstrate technology ability, and your organizational ability. If you have a tablet or laptop you might want to bring it to the interview and if time permits, share the information. If time is an issue, provide your online portfolio URL address. If you have a compelling story use the interview process to tell it well with creative documentation. Continue to update your portfolio as often as needed. After you have been employed you may want to remove certificates of appreciation gained during high school. Never include anything from your current employer which could be considered as confidential or proprietary. You do not want to come across as someone who gives away company secrets. Do not give away control of your portfolio information, it can send a message you don’t value your own work. Taking this position will demonstrate your willingness to safeguard company information. Be prepared to spend substantial time in preparing your portfolio. You will never know what piece of information is the “decision maker” that will get you the job. Chapter 9: Emerging Issues 185

Design Your Own Life The Next Step Creating a professional presence within the social networking world will help you stay ahead of the competition when it comes to landing a job that supports your career and life plan. Remember, getting a positive notice is just one step. Getting hired is how well you can compete in the world of work. If you have questions about the do’s and don’ts or need someone to bounce ideas off then reach out to your team. 186 Chapter 9: Emerging Issues

#10 Meeting College Costs Introduction The federal student aid website is where most start their search. Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (FAFSASM) is the first step toward getting federal aid for college, career school, or graduate school. You can get an estimate of your eligibility by working with FAFSA4Caster. Click here to view video of other government loan services. Occasionally, a few of these websites have popup messages suggesting you might have a computer problem – just ignore the popups, some attempt to pull students into student loan websites that charge excessive fees. Those who play a major role in the supporting the governmental financial student aid programs are Student Financial Aid Administrators. Their website offers insights into many aspects of going to college and paying for it. The College Affordability and Transparency Center provides the College Scorecard which helps to find out more about a college’s affordability and value. Paying for college is a major decision. So where can you get free non- commercial online help? A good starting point is The National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE). It is a commercial free non-profit foundation dedicated to helping individuals and families make sound financial decisions. It provides information on where to seek funding while providing online training on aspects of managing money. The American Indian College Fund is the nation’s largest and highest- rated American Indian scholarship organization. There are 35 fully accredited tribal colleges serving more than 30,000 students who represent more than 250 tribes from across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Visit the 187