College Admissions Help Blog

People think that good grades are strictly a product of study, but they’re not. Your attitude, attendance, and class participation are all important. Equally important is being respectful of your professor and your fellow classmates. Below are 5 surefire ways to land in the professors dog house; ways that can come back to bite you in the butt.

1. Don’t talk during class: The professor doesn’t want to talk over you and your friend in the corner. The only talking in class you should be doing should involve the professor. Talk with your friends before and after class.

2. Be punctual: Nothing, and I mean nothing, gets under a professors skin like a student who strolls in late. It’s disruptive to all and just plain rude. Budget your time accordingly and get your tush in that seat before class begins.

3. Cell phone OFF: The only thing worse than strolling into class late is being on time and having your phone go off. Turn off the phone people, or at least put it on vibrate if you want to avoid the evil eye! I once had a professor take 5 points of an exam if someone’s phone went off in class – ouch!

4. Attendance counts: Most professors have rules, which are outlined on their syllabus, concerning acceptable absences. It’s certainly tough to learn the material when you’re not in class. And for all you geniuses who are smarter than the rest of us and feel you can come in every third week and take an exam and do well, too bad. You still have to show up for class too. Just sit in the back and do other homework if you must, but show up. Many times attendance is even calculated in your final grade – easy points!

5. Don’t pop that bubble: The dreaded under the desk treat. If you’re gonna chew keep your mouth closed and certainly don’t go blowing bubbles in class. Along those same lines be careful with any food and beverage you bring in the classroom. Don’t take advantage of those professors that allow you to bring something small to class by bringing in movie size popcorn, a coke in a souvenir mug, and a box of junior mints that would curb Oprah’s hunger pains.

Be a good student and classmate. After all, you catch more flies with honey, though I’m not quite sure I want to be catching flies.

Your scholarshippoints code worth 10 points is: SUREFIRE.

Selecting a major right out of high school may not be the smartest move for your longterm future. Lets examine five reasons why holding off on declaring a major is wise indeed

1. Uncertainty: Most students have no idea what they really want to be for the rest of their life when they’re 18 (neither do many adults for that matter). Why put undue pressure on yourself to enter a program you’re not confident is right for you? Allow the journey of self discovery to happen naturally. You’ll gravitate toward the classes, and thus, major that interest you.

2. Save Money: It will cost you more money in the long run if you switch majors midstream. The classes you completed under your major will be wasted, although you may be able to apply some of them toward your core or general elective requirements. Still, you will be at square one with respect to your new major.

3. Save Time: You can kiss the four year plan goodbye. Many students find themselves on the five or six year plan after changing majors. While your friends will be entering the workforce, buying their first new car, and starting life you’ll still be sitting in a classroom.

4. Don’t limit yourself: Sampling as many things as possible while in school is important – both inside and outside the classroom. By remaining undeclared or in a generic liberal arts major that will allow you the freedom to take classes in many different arenas and find the career path that is right for you.

5. Follow your heart: Don’t go into business management because Dad wants you to, or take up computer science because your friends are. You’ll just be miserable. Make your own path. Be your own man. Follow your gut instinct.

Remember, school is what you make of it. Make it the best time of your life.

Code for scholarshippoints members: MAJORPAIN

I’d be willing to bet if you look up the term “admissions process” in the dictionary you’d find a picture of a slug stuck in molasses.  It is slow slow slow, and painfully so,  but it doesn’t have to be. Knowing what to look for and how to play the game can put your application on top of the heap.

1. Know the school’s policy: Some schools simply process applications faster than others.  With all factors equal choose the school with the 2 week turnaround time versus the one with the 2 month.

2. Rolling admissions: Another policy you should check on is how applications are processed.  Is it a school with a rolling admissions, meaning they process applications as they come in, or do they hold onto your application and process it at some obscure time in the future?  Obviously rolling admissions help your cause.

3. Speak up: Here’s a novel concept – ask for a quick decision.  The squeaky wheel gets the grease my friends.  Just ask.  The worse they can say is no.  If this tactic doesn’t work see option #4.

4. Threaten to go elsewhere: School’s want you, despite the indifferent attitude they often convey.  Just casually say, “I’ve got it narrowed down to three schools – now it’s a race to see who gets back to me first.  Have a great day!”  Or perhaps a simple note attached to your application that states you would like/expect a decision mailed or phoned within 30 days would be more your style.  They will usually speed up the process for you.

The admissions process can be relatively quick if you know how to play the game.  And now that you do, why don’t you go ahead and move your Queen to bishop 6.  Nice one.  I believe that’s checkmate.

One of the most important summer’s in your life is the one leading up to you senior year of high school. That’s the time to begin visiting college campuses and narrowing down your wish list. Then, in the fall, you can apply to your top choices.

It’s important to note that many school’s do charge an application fee ranging from $25 to $100 so it could end up costing you a few bucks if you have several choice schools in mind. That said, it is advisable to hedge your bet so to speak and apply to more than one school.

Some schools will grant you a conditional acceptance within a few weeks after receiving your application. Conditional just means they must verify the prior learning experiences you claim. But if you don’t hear anything for a few months don’t panic. The admissions process is very slow, which is why most apply nearly a year out and don’t discover if their application has been accepted for four to six months. Just be patient.

Slow and steady wins the race – just like that stealthy turtle that outsmarted Bugs Bunny.

Did you know you may be eligible to earn college credit just for you life experience?

A life-experience portfolio is a comprehensive presentation listing and describing all learning experiences in a person’s life, with appropriate documentation. The basic document is then used in assigning academic credit for life-experience learning.

So if you’ve learned a language from traveling abroad, had articles published in a newspaper, or gained specific business knowledge by navigating up the ranks there is no reason to have to sit through those language, journalism, and business classes covering topics you’ve already mastered.

Contact your school’s guidance office to see if they offer life-experience credits.

I found this fascinating quote today:

The Financial Aid Newsletter is the Student Loan Network’s longest running publication, dating back as far as 1998, when the company first began publishing financial aid information. Today, Financial Aid News is a combination of newsletters and blogs from around the Internet, dedicated to bringing you the best, most up to date financial aid information online.About the Financial Aid News, Jun 2009

You should read the whole article.

I wish we had these resources when I was in college – check out FinancialAidNews.com today!

Fall serves as the perfect transition between summer and winter while playing host to Halloween, the start of the NFL season, and of course the start of a new school year. Growing up in New England I also enjoyed the foliage and smell of warm apple pie wafting down from the dorms as I walked to class.  But I wouldn’t have enjoyed those sweet sights and smells on campus had I not done my homework over the summer.

I was a first generation college student, and had little help with the enrollment process from Mom and Dad when I went to school back in the early 90’s. My parents were very supportive in my pursuit of Higher Education, they were just a bit naive to the whole process. As crazy as this sounds I actually found getting my enrollment credentials in order more challenging than my micro and macroeconomics classes. It was truly awful, and I don’t want anyone to feel as overwhelmed and confused as me.  So lets make sure you’re using your time leading up to the fall judiciously. Time, as well all know, can either be your foe or ally depending how you use it.

Here are 5 smart tips to make sure you stay on course.

Free Money: These summer months are a great time to surf the net for scholarship opportunities, which of course would decrease the amount of funds you need to borrow.  There are many scholarships to be had ranging from merit based opportunities to free scholarships with minimal requirements.

Class Availability/Schedule: When you’re the new kid on the block you often get the shaft when it comes to your schedule.  Check for updates on class enrollment numbers.  You should be able to access those details online.  I used to check the Red Sox website daily which is how I would score great seats for face value as they would release some from time to time.  The same principle applies for your classes.  Your diligence over the summer may make for a better fall.

Loan Order: Your awards letter from the school will highlight your loan options.  The most common loan type, which students secure first, is a Stafford loan.  The Stafford loan is listed in the students name with modest maximum allotments.  The second most common loan type is a Parent Plus loan, which is in a parents name and listed on behalf of the student.  Third is a private student loan which lists the students name first with the parent listed as the co-signer.  The Plus loan and private option are sometimes switched around pending the circumstance and the market.  Right now favorable rates in the marketplace have made private loans more enticing for some than Parent Plus loans.

Waiting List Update: If you didn’t get into your dream school and were relegated to the much maligned waiting list – check back with them.  Write a letter to the regional admissions officer concerning what that school means to you and keep them apprised of anything new going on in your life that may showcase you in a different light.

Smell the Roses:  You made it happen.  You scored the marks in High School, fared well on the entrance exam(s), and are ready for this next exciting chapter in your life.  It’s ok to allow yourself some indulgences from time to time.  After all, all work an no play makes Jack a dull boy.

One loop hole that gets completely overlooked is the equivalency exam.

The nontraditional approach to higher education says that if you have knowledge of an academic field, then you should get credit for that knowledge, regardless of how or where you acquired the knowledge from.

About 3,000 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada award students credit toward their Bachelor’s degrees solely on the basis of passing examinations.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Excelsior College Examinations together administer more than 70 equivalency exams that are given at hundreds of testing centers all over North America. It usually costs anywhere from $50-$100 to take an equivalency exam.

If you feel you have sufficient knowledge in a given area you may save yourself time and money by taking an equivalency exam.