You Had Me at Hello

The introductory sentence and paragraph just may be the most important element in your personal statement; grab your audience quickly and draw them in to your world. Admissions officers are looking for something unique and intriguing, so wow them right off the bat. This can be done through at snapshot of who you are or with a quick engaging story; in either case, make your opening paragraph entertaining and compelling.

Brag About Yourself

For some students, this is the easy part of the personal statement, but be sure to avoid making a laundry list of your accomplishments. Nothing is more boring than reading a long list of your activities and awards; it’s also not an accurate picture of who you are. Your personal statement is a chance to show you are more than just test scores and a transcript. Have you won a prestigious award? Tell why you received the award or why it’s important to you. Were you inspired by a person or an event? Talk about what motivates you and not just the actual award or recognition itself.

Get Creative

Like any good book, the first chapter (introductory paragraph) piques your interest, but the actual story is what keeps you engaged; approach your personal statement as the “story of you.” Do a little research into the campus and your choice of major, then tie specific aspects of the college into your story. For example, if you are majoring in Sports Management, is there an athlete or coach who inspired you? Write about a specific game or speech that may have been the catalyst for your decision to attend their school. Include how the courses offered at the college will be a perfect fit and how you can contribute to the program. Definitely make it personal, but be honest; you wouldn’t want to tell some elaborate story and have it come back to haunt you at a future interview.

Follow Directions

Even if you have a great story to tell, simple grammatical errors and failing to follow the instructions can result in rejection. Be sure your personal statement has clearly addressed all the writing prompts and has stayed within the word count, font size and other limitations. Read over your work several times to make sure it makes sense. Finally, have another person review your writing before submitting the final product.

Another thing to consider when writing your personal statement is avoiding clichés. If you are heading into the medical or legal field, admission representatives already know you want to help people; there’s no need to reiterate that fact. Also, don’t write what you think they want to hear — be honest and tell your story; they are more likely to remember a story about how you saved a mouse from your cat, than a statement about how much you love animals and want to be a veterinarian. Be sure you leave them with a clear picture of who you are and why you would be perfect for their school. Your personal statement just may be the deciding factor in whether or not you are “rejected” or “accepted” to your dream school.

For other great tips on writing a personal statement, be sure to check out the UC Berkeley and Purdue University websites.

First, you have to decide what to write. Not all college admission essay questions are the same, but in general, they are meant to probe you for a deeper understanding of who you are and what you can bring to the college campus. When trying to decide between essay topics, consider how writing about each topic could possibly reveal your personality, goals and ambitions.

Next, just write. Yes, you heard me correctly – just write! Forget about formatting and the rules of writing an essay. Just let the ideas pour out freely onto the paper. No need for an outline or any formatting at this point in the process; this is simply an exercise to help you brainstorm and determine what matters to YOU.

After reviewing your free writing exercise, decide which elements stand out to you. Are there certain ideas or statements you made that are powerful or passionate? Use these to draft an outline of your essay. Be sure to support your position with real-life examples and resist the urge to simply list your achievements. Instead, show how an event or person may have made an impact on you.

For example, look at these two passages and decide which is more persuasive/powerful:

I contributed 100 hours of volunteer service with Susan G. Komen for the Cure and earned a Volunteer of the Year award for my time. I helped many people and spread awareness in my community through several educational events.

OR

As I headed to the stage to receive my award for volunteer service, I looked out at the crowd and saw the many faces of survivors who I had come to know through my work at Susan G. Komen for the Cure. I realized the plaque I was about to receive was not as meaningful as the tears I had shared with the women battling cancer or the hugs offered to children who recently lost mothers to the disease. These women have taught me that life is short and that each day is a blessing. I began my volunteer work thinking I was giving my time to help others, but it turns out I was actually receiving so much more instead.

Your essay should give the college admissions staff of readers insights into who you are and highlight things not found in your transcripts or on other parts of your application. This is your opportunity to draw people into your world and let them see why they need you at their school. Simply giving a laundry list of achievements or general statements about a topic will not help YOU stand out from the crowd.

Once you have your essay topic and outline complete, it will be time to write your first rough draft. Be sure you adequately address the essay topic question and have fully supported your position. Be sure to have a couple of other people (teachers, counselors, parents, older siblings) read your work and offer feedback. They can help spot mistakes and offer suggestions for any areas that may not flow or seem weak. Once you have the feedback, polish up your essay for a final review. Again, you’ll want to enlist a few sets of eyes to ensure there are no grammatical errors or other formatting issues (be sure to check the word count guidelines, too). The entire process may take a couple of weeks, but in the end, you’ll have an essay that really showcases your inner thoughts, character and strengths; hopefully this will get you one step closer to that acceptance letter!

Need more help with the college admission process? Be sure to visit WiseChoice.com.

1. Register for the SAT and/or ACT. I know you might have just finished taking the PSAT and the last thing you want to do is think about another college admission test right now. But this is actually a perfect time to schedule yourself for one of the spring test dates. Taking the SAT or ACT in your junior year will help you get more comfortable with the tests and identify areas where you may need some additional help. Get ready for a spring test now, and you’ll have a much easier time, and be under less pressure, in your senior year.

2. Attend a college fair or financial aid night. There are many college fairs and college workshops taking place across the country in the next several weeks. Chances are there’s a fair in your area as well. Check out your school district website for information on local fairs or look into the NACAC calendar for upcoming regional events; now’s the time to talk to college admission reps and start narrowing down the colleges on your college list.

3. Create a résumé. If you are considering a summer program, internship or job, now is a good time to gather all your information and put together your activity résumé. Some colleges even accept an activity résumé as part of the college application process, so it doesn’t hurt to have one handy that can be used for more than one purpose down the road. There are many online résumé resources and résumé templates to help get you started.

4. Meet with your high school guidance counselor. Take the time to schedule an appointment with your counselor to review your transcripts and classes for 2012. You want to be sure you are on track to meet all requirements for the colleges you are considering. Talk with your counselor about potential summer activities that may enhance your college applications, as well. Your counselor probably has a wealth of information; you just need to ask him/her to share!

5. Apply for scholarships! It’s never too early to start finding free money for college. In fact, some savvy scholarship seekers start as early as ninth grade. But, if you haven’t started your search for scholarships, now’s the time to do it. In addition to the WiseChoice Scholarship Finder, there are several good online scholarship search tools that can help.  Simply complete your personal profile and start applying. The more you do it, the better you will get. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t win scholarships right away; it can take several attempts before you fine-tune your winning strategy. The point is to apply often and keep applying throughout high school and even after you get into college.

You don’t have to spend every minute of your winter break thinking about college, but it is important to set aside some time to work on these tasks. By getting a head start on your college search, you’ll be in a much better position to decide where to apply in your senior year. Happy Holidays!

1. Complete your college applications. This should go without saying, but don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today! Check to make sure you have ALL items needed for your college applications: letters of recommendation, transcripts, test scores, college admission essays, etc. Be sure to have someone review everything for errors/omissions and get your applications ready for submission. Next, submit them online, or (if you are sending them offline) take your completed packets to the post office or UPS store to be weighed to ensure you have the proper postage; nothing would be worse than getting back your applications returned as undeliverable after the deadline due to insufficient postage.

2. Register to retake the SAT and/or ACT. If you did poorly on previous tests, now’s the time to register and prepare for the next test date; use the time during winter break to study, using some of the online test prep or resources at the library. If your scores are not quite where they need to be for admission to the college of your choice, it may be worthwhile to study and try again.

3. Request financial aid forms and applications from schools. Now is the time to make sure you have submitted all the required forms and documentation for available financial aid at your intended schools. Some colleges award funding on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to get your applications in as early as possible for consideration.

4. Sign up for your FAFSA PIN. You’ll need to complete the FAFSA after January 1, and you’ll need a PIN to do so. Sign up now for your PIN to ensure you have it when you need it. Now is also a good time to coordinate with your parents in the gathering of any financial records and tax information that you may need for filing the FAFSA early next year.

5. Apply for scholarships! Many scholarships for next fall have deadlines in December and January. Take the time over winter break to apply to as many programs as possible to increase your chances of earning free money for college. Use the WiseChoice Scholarship Finder or any other reputable and free online scholarship search tool. Be sure to target scholarships with deadlines in the next few weeks. You can’t win if you don’t apply.

There will be plenty of time during your winter break to relax, have fun with your friends and sleep in, but don’t waste all your time on frivolous fun. Take some time to complete each of these five tasks to ensure you have everything you need to start the New Year right. With a little planning now, you’ll find you are much less stressed in 2012 and can enjoy the remainder of your senior year!

Want to learn more about the college admission process or your chances of getting in to your favorite school? Check out WiseChoice.com for these answers and more!

One of the first decisions she had to make was whether she wanted to pursue a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree in Dance.  Many performance dancers opt for a B.F.A., as the training and education is very specific to the major.  My sister decided she wanted a broader degree and chose a B.A.   Like any other student, she had to first consider if she could get into a college based on her grades and test scores, and then she had to evaluate the dance program based on her interests and her skills.

When visiting performing arts college, she met with the dance department and shadowed an entry-level dance class.  This was an important evaluation tool to gauge if she would be interested in the program and if the class would challenge her level of dance.  Think of it as the department auditioning for you, so you can judge if the program would be a good fit.  If your art is more of a solo process, see if you can observe a student’s private lesson. You should also check out the practice space.

After being accepted into a performing arts college, schedule an audition to qualify for your program of interest.  My sister attended a group audition similar to an audition scene from the television show, “So You Think You Can Dance.”  Each participant was issued a number and the group was taught specific choreography.  After performing, participants were separated based on level of ability.  As my sister confirmed, this was a high pressure, competitive situation.

A private audition she attended at another performing arts school was more relaxed.  For that audition, she prepared a short solo piece, which she had practiced and tweaked extensively at her dance studio.  Immediately prior to performing her solo for the department Chair, she willingly participated in a freshman dance class.  It was a great way to ease into the audition and it boosted her confidence.  After her solo performance and a brief interview, the Chair informed her that she would be accepted into the Dance program. Other schools might not tell you on the spot, however.

The important thing about a performing arts program is that just like the college itself, you have to make sure the program is right for you.  Take the time to meet with the department Chair, research the performance requirements and opportunities provided to existing students, check out the practice space, and most importantly, check out some of the classes/lessons.  If you can visualize yourself at the school and in the ensemble, chances are you’ve found the program for you.  Find out all of the audition details and schedule yours.  Approach it prepared and confident, and soon you may be on your way to a career in the arts.  Bravo!

For students with any sort of learning difference, being your own advocate when applying to college is even more important. So what does this mean?  It means understanding exactly what you need to be a successful student, feeling comfortable in discussing those needs, and asking for help meeting those needs.

Know your needs. Understand exactly what your learning differences are.  Before you head off to college, talk with your support team at home.  Go over your Individualized Education Program— IEP—to understand your challenges and the accommodations you qualify for and how those services may help you. Practice discussing your learning difference. Learn to state your limitations and challenges in a concise and informative way.  It helps to know what you need in the classroom and in your living space to be a successful student.  Maybe you need a note taker, or maybe you need to sit in the front of the class.  Maybe you would do best in a single dorm room, or maybe you would thrive with a roommate.  The point is, you need to be in-tune with your needs and be comfortable discussing them.

Understand the process.  As mentioned, go over your IEP with your current support team. Find out what documentation your college requires for special services and ensure your college meets the requirements.  Often colleges request records of IEP evaluations no more than three years old.  It’s important that you understand the evaluation process and what the various documents reflect so that you can explain your needs to your college.  You’ll want to get to know the people in the student services department because they will facilitate your classroom accommodations. Know that they are there to support you.

Know yourself.  Going off to college is a new experience for everyone. It can be exciting, frightening and challenging, all at the same time.  The important thing is to remain calm. Reflect on how your needs might best be met, and make the student services department your ally. Remember, you are the one who is ultimately responsible for your success. The student services department is on your side, but you must articulate what you need. Remain confident and calm and you’ll be able to handle most everything in stride.

Do you have any advice to share with others on how to successfully managing a learning difference in regards to preparing for college or while attending college?

As a child, my cousin was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and factors affecting his short-term memory. In a nutshell, he had a hard time concentrating on his schoolwork. Based on his diagnosis, his high school enrolled him in a support program designed to assist students with mild learning differences and prepare them for college. He was also provided other accommodations in high school, such as recording lectures and extra help after class.

When it came time to apply to college, he did his research and narrowed his list to just a couple of colleges, and even asked a teacher to review and critique his college essay. It was important to my cousin to attend a university that was large enough to offer the support he needed, but small enough so the class size would not be overwhelming. He knew he would also need regular, one-on-one access to his professors. In addition to considering the size of the student body, he made a point to research the support services offered at each university to ensure his needs could be met.  (Here’s a great list of questions to ask the support services department.)

Once at his university, he visited the Learning Center to get a tutor and request note-taking services. My cousin was also given extra time on his exams. Occasionally, this meant that he would have to take the exam proctored separately at the Learning Center, but he found that he excelled in the classroom with the rest of the students and simply notified the professor that he was allotted extra time for exams.

Another tip he shared is one that applies to all students – be practical about when you do your best work and schedule that time in advance.  If you know you have a paper due on a Friday, and you are most alert and able to concentrate in the mornings, set aside a couple of hours for research and writing each morning.  That way you’re neither waiting until the last minute, nor stressed out by spending an entire day working on a paper.

So much of academic success in college involves learning time management and proactively asking for help.  Stay tuned for our next post, where we’ll discuss how to be successful attending college when you have a learning difference.

As soon as you take the SAT or even the PSAT*, colleges will start sending you information.  You’ll receive emails, brochures, even applications.  Some of the information might be generic, but some of it might be personalized just for you.  It’s easy to read a letter with your name on it inviting you to visit the school or some other personalized offer and think that the school is holding a spot for you.  But don’t be fooled!

Most schools want as many applicants as possible and they use various forms of marketing to gain those applicants.  The more applications a school receives the more selective they may appear.  Let’s say the college knows it’s going to accept 1,000 students and receives 1,200 applications.  That gives the school an acceptance rate of over 80%, which basically screams “apply here, you WILL get in!”  No university wants to send that message, so they strive to increase their number of applicants to decrease the admissions ratio and up their appearance of selectivity.

Be wise when looking at any information from a college.  Information packets, invitations to visit, applications with your name on them, even promises from faculty members are not guarantees of admission.  That goes for letters of interest from coaches, athletic scouts, and activity directors, too.

Remember, the only guarantee of college admission is an official letter of admittance from the Office of Admissions.

*By the way, if you want to cut down on the unsolicited college information overload, the next time you register for the PSAT, SAT, or ACT, make sure to correctly mark the box that opts you out of the mailings!

So what does that mean for you?  If your school offers the option, I say take it!  Why not?  Edit your skateboarding footage into a masterpiece, share a day in your life, introduce your friends who volunteer with you, show off your cooking skills.  In my opinion, this is an opportunity to bring the admissions officer into your world and show why you are a stand out.

But don’t get so excited about your video that you forget its purpose: to supplement your application package.  Your grades, test scores, and the traditional essay are all still just as important as they always were.  The video will just kick your application up a notch, and that’s always a good thing!

Have you seen—or better yet, created—an awesome video for college admissions? Share it with us here on this blog.