Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Choosing a College Major!!




I know, having gone through the college application process just a couple of years ago, that the thought of choosing a major may seem like something that has to be done before you choose a college.  My advice: Don't stress, but have a preliminary assessment of what you would like to achieve goals.

A majority of college students change their major at least once before they graduate.  College is a place where you are encouraged to find your interests, and then begin to focus on excelling within a chosen field.   Many colleges and universities have set up their curricula to cater to this period of exploration.  Usually, students will have general required classes and numerous elective credits to explore various interests.  Students, as they progress, are then guided into a focus or concentration based on specific interests and goals.

The reason I mention having a preliminary assessment is simple:  there are many schools and programs that are very specific (ie. undergrad business, types of engineering, music).  It is important that you think about these personal goals before applying to one of these types of programs.  Although mobility is usually feasible even with these programs, many begin to focus early and switching may be a little more difficult.

That being said, here are a few simple steps to follow:

1.  Think about what you are interested in, what you would like to pursue in the future, what would make you happy
2.  Assess your strengths and weaknesses.  For example, an individual who cannot stand the view of blood could not be a heart surgeon even if human biology is one of his or her interests.
3.  Evaluate the post graduation possibilities - what can you do after college
4.  Think about your values.  Do you want to help society? Do you want to be an innovator?  Do you want do make a lot of money?

As I mentioned earlier, the college major selection process is not set in stone and is flexible.  Know yourself and what direction you would like to go, but do not stress!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

College Essay Tips!!!!


It's that time of the year and college applications are in full swing!!

For those students applying, I'm sure that you've either started or are strategizing how to tackle the college essay.  Here are a couple of tips:

1.  Stay Focused - make sure that your essay has a point that it is trying to get across and focus on proving it.  Try not to clutter your essay with too many ideas, but stick to a logical progression of one idea.

2.  Be Concise - don't use a hundred words when you can explain something with a short sentence.  College admissions officers want to see that students are able to communicate effectively and efficiently.

3.  Proofread!! - nothing will turn a college admissions officer off like a bunch of spelling and grammar mistakes.  Try to read and reread your essay to make sure that all errors are corrected (spell check doesn't always work!). It may also be a good idea to let a parent, friend, or teacher check your essay as well.

4.  Don't Lie - make sure that you are truthful when writing about yourself.  Nothing will hurt your chances more than getting caught in a lie.

5.  Be yourself - try to show schools who you are, not who you think they want to see

6.  Have Fun! - The college essay is one of the ways you will distinguish yourself from other applicants. Have fun, be creative, and convince schools that you SHOULD be at their institution!!

To see some sample essays, check out this site:  College Essay Examples

Keep it Real,

Paul