SHMOOP’S COLLEGE 101

A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO GETTING READY FOR

COLLEGE WRITTEN FOR STUDENTS BY COLLEGE
STUDENTS

Note: Shmoop uses a lot of humor and pop culture references to get
their point across easily to students. The information here is real and
serious, but if you’re looking for something that is even more to the
point, then go elsewhere. This document as a whole was not created
by, endorsed by, or affiliated with Shmoop. However, the individual
articles are written by Shmoop and taken from their website. This guide
was produced in order for all their college 101 articles to be in one
place and organized. Also, no Internet connection is required for this
completely offline, ad-free guide. The author of this document is not
claiming any of the work here as their own (except for the brief
descriptions under each chapter heading and this title page).

The information in this guide is up-to-date and accurate as of December

6, 2016.
A
Chapter 1: Define My Interests
This chapter is about defining your interests. What do you like to do? What skills do you have?
What are your talents? What are you interested in?

Deciding What I Want to Do

There's one question that adults love to ask that's exciting when you're a kid, but gets more and more
nerve-wracking the older you get. You know what question we're talking about: What do you want to be
when you grow up? Kids get to answer with exciting possibilities. Some answers they give are feasible:
doctor, firefighter, teacher, etc. Others not so much, like cowboy, dinosaur, or motorcycle. But whatever
it is they say, they arrive at the answer the same way. Think about what you like, and make a job out of
it.

Like space? Be an astronaut. Do you live for bugs? Be a scientist. Can't get enough of pumping chemicals
through dead people before dressing them up? Be a mortician. Okay, the last one might not be so
common, but you get the idea. Is it really that simple, though? Can we all end up liking our work so
much that our kid selves would squeal with glee seeing our adult selves get up every morning?

Reality: no. Some poor schlubs are going to end up stuffing envelopes or washing shrimp scampi pans
and hating every minute of it. Don't be that schlub. There exists a more optimistic reality: some of us
can like our work. So why not shoot to be that person? Alarm clock goes off, stretch, big smile, and you
get to work doing stuff you can't believe they pay you for.

The tricky part is figuring out what that "stuff" is. To do it, you need to think seriously about two major
questions. The first is What Do I Like to Do? This needs to be in in-depth analysis of interests, projects,
tasks, and work that you actually enjoy and find rewarding. The second question you need to ask is all
about skills. What am I good at? Don't lie to yourself here. Your buddies might think you are a great first
baseman or an amazing chef when you pull out a perfectly-heated Hot Pocket, but will the rest of the
world see it? No. So, don't freak out and start screaming and breaking stuff the next time Aunt Hulga
asks what you want to be when you grow up (just don't tell her Bible salesman). Take time to do some
down and dirty soul-searching. Figure out what makes you happy, create a list of stuff you're good at,
and find a job that matches. No idea where to start? Make a plan with Shmoop.

As usual, we don't have the answers, but we do have the questions. Have a look:
 What careers interest you the most?
 What kind of money might you make from your chosen career? (Shmoop's salary chart can
help you compare everything from mob boss to mall Santa (spoiler alert: the mob boss makes
more).
 How important is a high salary for you?
 To get the career you want, what are the majors you need to consider?
 Which schools are best for the majors that will get you the best career? What does it cost to
go to those schools?
 Would going to a state school and saving some money make more sense? Or does going to
the school with the fancy name that might help you get a higher-paying job make more
sense? Basically, is going to an "expensive" school a good return on investment for your
given career choices?
  How much college do you need for your career? Do you need a professional degree?
 Do you need to go to grad school for your chosen degree? If you do need to go to grad school,
what grad schools and programs do you need? How much do they cost? What financial aid is
available?

Your Interests
What do you want right now? A nap? A cheeseburger? A break from reading about college finances?
Us, too. But what do you in life? Very different question, right?
In Shmoop's opinion, there are three major things to consider when assessing your needs and wants
regarding college and the money it costs to go:
1. Your family's income.
How much money does your family have? Are they able to send you to your dream school without
blinking an eye?
Can they contribute nothing, and will you have to make your own way?
2. Your own lifestyle requirements.
What do you want to do after you finish college? Do you want to own a house? Live in New York?
Have a family? Travel the world?
3. Your financial goals post-graduation.

Do you want to graduate debt-free? Do you want to pay off your loans within five years? Do you not
mind swimming in debt the rest of your life as long as you went to the school of your dreams?
It's important to think practically, but you also want to enjoy life. Life is short, after all. You might as
well be happy. Just think about what floats your boat. Once you figure out your interests, it'll be easier
to decide what you want to do. These interests are a starting point for what you might like to do for a
career, and then you can Make a plan with Shmoop to get you there. But what if you only read gossip
magazines or manga, or spend your days playing video games or on Facebook? What if the only thing
you use newspaper for is to line your hamster's cage? Calm down. Even those interests can be worked
with, although it would have been easier if you just loved reading medical guides. But we can still work
with gossip and manga.

Where to start? There are lots of great resources out there, but it's best to begin with an understanding
of what jobs intersect with your interests. What do you love working with on a high level: people, ideas,
data, or things? Some jobs may work with just one of those, some may work with all, or a combination
of two or three.

If you've never had a job, think about your school experience. Are you fascinated by the social grouping
patterns in your high school lunch room? Did you flunk gym because you were too busy checking
Kickstarter to kick a ball? Were you too busy engraving your new bookshelf to talk to the kid next to you
in woodshop? In the hallways, do you look people in the eyes and does everyone know your name, or
do you hug the lockers and try to go unnoticed?

If you have had a job, what did you love about it and what did you hate? Did you hate having a boss or
did you get along with everyone? Did you enjoy your work with people more than stocking shelves?
Could you sit at a computer all day crunching numbers?
This is important stuff, and it can help you decide if you work best with people, things, ideas, or data.
Once you have a good idea of your answer, check out the World of Work map here and begin exploring
some of the careers that fall in your interest areas.
Another way to go about this is to take advantage of the loads of interest surveys that are out there.
They're all pretty similar, and will ask you a bunch of thinly veiled questions, each suggesting an aspect
of a particular field or career. You will rank phrases like "Drive heavy machinery" and "Research a cure
for a disease” as being "Very interesting" or "Shoot me in the head, please." Or something like that.

Take a few surveys and see what they say. Remember, these will never tell you what you should do for
a career, but rather some careers which may match your interests. Here are a couple Shmoop faves:
 ISEEK Careers Cluster Survey
 Career Test

Your Skills
We’re talking skills. Don’t worry, though, you’ve got them. You may just need to figure out what the
heck your skills are... So…what are you good at? And be brutally honest here. However, don’t confuse
liking the idea of being good at something with actually being good at something. If you consider
yourself the songbird of your generation but are afraid to sing in front of anyone, forget it, Nighthawk.
What can you actually do almost effortlessly that other people struggle with and, when you finish,
have people say “Wow, you’re good at that”? Video game skills are nothing to sneeze at if you’ve got
‘em—flight simulators are training tools for pilots. And your cross country running skills have given
you great stamina and patience. Some of your answers might easily apply to career fields or areas of
study. Can you do complex Calculus problems in your head? Mathematician. Do you write amazing
code? Computer programmer. Does your gorgonzola soufflé make people weep with joy? Chef.

Other skills don’t immediately cause careers to pop into your skull. Maybe you’re great at sticking up
for people in school (lawyer, mediator, bouncer). Perhaps you’ve had perfect attendance since
kindergarten (teacher, bus driver, goody-goody). Or your closet is organized by the colors of the
spectrum (clothing or interior designer, future therapy patient). What then?
This stuff is important too. What we are talking here are called “transferable skills.” These are skills
that are applicable (and often hugely important) across a wide variety of careers. Examples, you ask?
Try these on for size: organizational ability, time management, people skills, public speaking, clear
and accurate writing, goal setting with follow-through, and conflict management. You can even check
out this Skills Checklist for more ideas of what you have and skills you might want to gain.

So, start creating an inventory. Go through your daily and weekly routine, and pay attention to areas
where you excel (and areas where you suck—we all have them and it’s good to put them out there
now so you can get to work on them). Write down activities, hobbies, school projects and subjects,
hard skills and transferable skills that you feel you truly are great at. Combine that list with some of
your Interests, and then take the time to investigate some Shmoop Careers which match your interests
and skills. Once you have an idea of what direction you want to take, Make a Plan with Shmoop to help
you get there.

Advice from Current Students: Passion

Want to hear about what current college students have to say about what they were passionate
about? Keep reading.
Student from Northwestern University.
I wanted to be an engineer and had excellent test scores in math and science, but I spent most of my
time outside of class on non-scientific activities, such as debate, music, and running. I showed that I had
the talent to be a top-notch engineer, but that pursuing different passions in my free time gave me a
unique perspective lacking in the typical engineer who hacks websites and does Science Olympiad in his
or her free time.

Student from Harvard University, majoring in Computer Science.

I absolutely love art and learning in general, I read Wikipedia in my spare time and also did a lot of
painting, sculpture and printmaking in high school. I think I talked about that a lot in my
application, and submitted an art portfolio to supplement my application at most of the schools I
applied for.

Student admitted to MIT.

I was (and currently still am) very passionate about start-ups and technology. In high school, I started
an educational non-profit organization with a few of my friends creating online tutorial videos for our
peers. Born and raised in Silicon Valley, right next to Stanford, I was fortunate enough to have the
sources and environment where I could reach out to my teachers and professors to learn more about
the field.

16 High School Student Rockstars

Jason Ai
F.W. Buchholz High School
"There are many students gifted in academics; Jason Ai is no different, having won accolades in math,
science, and writing contests. He has a comfortable niche at the top of the class as well as principal oboe
of the county orchestra; his academic and extracurricular life is essentially perfect. Despite this, he still
exerts himself by choosing to give back to his community and to share his experiences with children who
initially weren't interested in math and science. During the past school year, he traveled to middle
schools over a half hour away to tutor them in math and science and helped students win awards in
Math Counts, Mu Alpha Theta, and Science Bowl. This summer, to continue these efforts, he created a
summer camp focused on competitive math and getting kids interested in mathematics. In order to run
the camp, he spends many hours writing problems and devising curricula that help the students think
creatively in order to tackle the problems posed by AMC and AIME tests. A common quote states that
character can judged through how a person treats those who can do nothing for him; Jason's selfless
dedication to his community reveals a character worthy of Shmooperstar."

Steven Gregory
Duanesburg Central School District
"Steven is outstanding. He took on an extremely challenging year, taking multiple AP classes, presenting
to our board of education, overcoming physical injury. In large part because of Shmoop, Steven's writing
improved dramatically, and he has found much confidence and pride in his own voice. I am proud of
him, and I think that his ability to communicate his own voice and the merit of what he has to say make
him worthy of the Shmooperstar award."

Lauren Ashley Guzman

Hanna High School
Lauren has excelled in academics her own life, but her Shmooperstarness goes well beyond that. She's
been dancing since the age of three and absolutely loves to perform. "What is probably most
noteworthy about Lauren, though, is her absolute devotion to her volunteer work." Here's a quick peek
at what she's done:
 In elementary school, she started a recycling program at school. (Uh, we couldn't even spell
recycling when we were 7.) She even presented the project at a district board meeting and
convinced them to adopt it the following year.
 As president of her middle school, she kept the volunteering going, including keeping up a
beautiful garden on campus.
 And yes, she's president of her high school class, too. She volunteers in all sorts of ways:
spearheading a schoolwide effort to participate in Locks of Love, leading her school to victory in
a recycling contest, and volunteering at her church and local soup kitchen.
"Lauren is honestly such a selfless soul!" Now that's a Shmooperstar.

Corey Hale
Ohio County Middle School
“Awesomeness does not begin to describe Corey Hale. As a 7th grader, he expressed the maturity,
compassion, academic know-how, and powerful work ethic normally, yet very rarely seen in much older
students. Walking into my language arts classroom on August 9, 2013, Corey's bright eyes, attentiveness
to class, and respect for others even from the beginning told me what a great character he was! After
speaking with his parents, I learned that in fourth grade Corey had set a goal to become valedictorian
and had always placed high importance on academics, scholarly clubs, and character development. He is
involved in several student involvement programs, and he even reaches out to students who are bullied.
Above all other students, the entire student body loves Corey, just because of who he is and how he
treats each person for who they are. This quality is very rare in society—much less in a middle school.”

Gillian Hardy
Cantua High School
“Gillian handled advanced math, AP online history, Honors English, and so much more this year. While
she struggled, she kept her head above water and was not only able to maintain her GPA, but she even
raised it. She did it all while playing soccer, being in the school orchestra, and helping out at activities at
her church each week. She even spent two weeks in the summer to participate as a youth leader in a
church camp for under-privileged children in our local area. She’s talented in so many ways, yet she
doesn't think she’s anything special. In my book, that makes her very special.” Being awesome is one
thing. Being awesome and humble? That's an accomplishment.

Leonardo Kim
Chaminade College Preparatory
“Leo is one of the most genuinely kind people I've ever had the blessing to meet. He’s a bright soul who
does his best to spend his life cheering up others, and at the same time, he can prioritize his personal
life so well that he can maintain a nearly perfect GPA, while being the captain of the Debate Team,
Model UN, and working on the board of multiple admissions boards at school. Leo has been given the
title of the President's Community Service Award, and has been doing it since he was in the second
grade, spending three days a week and twelve hours doing his best to alleviate poor communities in our
area. He's the absolute best.”

Chana Devora Levine

Yeshiva of Greater Washington
"Chana Devora graduated at the top of her class and excelled in every single class. She was her school's
valedictorian, while also being the President of her school's Knitting and Crocheting club (all projects
benefit cancer patients), backstage coordinator of the annual production, participant in the Howard
Hughes Medical Institute Holiday Lecture Seminar, founder and leader of her community's Bnos chapter
(Bnos is a nationwide religious program that provides activities on the weekends and during the year),
and volunteered her time at her school's annual carnival for children with disabilities and their families.
She has been a diligent worker, blending hard work and persistence in every class. She truly deserves
this honor."
Ezequiel Lozano, Jr.
Lopez High School
"Ezequiel had been slacking off in my class and was ready to give up even attempting to pass. I told him
that instead of trying to make up weeks of missed or substandard exercises he could go on Shmoop and
do enough outside exercises to pass my class. He ended up getting the most shmoints of anyone in my
class. He passed my class and hopefully the AP Language and Composition exam. I am very proud of his
dedication to Shmoop." We're happy to help, Ezequiel, but that's all you.

Lourdes Sarmiento Martinez

Escondido High School
Feel like you're busy? Take a look at Lourdes' schedule.
 4.5 GPA
 Maintained a job working 3-4 days each week for a year Officer for MEChA and CSF
 Member of prestigious National Honor Society Student Ambassador
 Interned 75+ hours

Faith Moore
East Central High School, c/o 2014
Faith is a regular academic rockstar. She graduated third in her class (out of 640—yowza), and got
straight A's in all of her AP classes. Her sophomore and junior year AP scores earned her the title of AP
Scholar with Distinction, and she was president of the National Honor Society and the National Beta
Club. Oh, and how about the fact that she was a member of the second-place regional Literary Criticism
team and a member of the French club? Whew.

Vennela Pothugunta
Cinco Ranch High School
Vennela started high school in a new district, but she kicked high school's butt, becoming a leader in her
school and inspiring others. Her biggest accomplishment was her work with her school’s chapter of
Future Business Leaders of
America (FBLA). She was president (NBD), and she helped grow the chapter to become the 10th biggest
in the nation with 320 members. Here's her FBLA resume:
 Qualified for Nationals every year.
 Was elected as state officer.
 Officer meetings, conference calls, general meetings, volunteering events, FBLA school store,
financial reports...
Okay, we'll stop now. Vennela believes in herself and we're pretty sure everyone else does, too.

Julissa Rodriguez
IDEA Mission College Preparatory
“This past school year, [Julissa] was able to balance so many extracurricular and personal things, all
while doing exceptionally well in school with regards to her grades. Julissa is an example of the ideal
student. She is the Logistical Director for Model United Nations, the Parliamentarian for National Honor
Society, the Treasurer for Theater Club, and the Public Relations Officer for Yearbook Club. As if this isn't
amazing enough, Julissa also received an award for her academic achievement and 3.71/4.0 Grade Point
Average. For her entire high school career, she held two jobs in order to help me and her sisters
economically. Aside from this, Julissa has been an active member of the community and has done things
such as volunteering multiple times as an actress at the local church plays, volunteering at a homeless
shelter, and volunteering at the Rio Grande Valley Food Bank. Julissa is a very involved student in every
single way possible. She looks to the future with a ready mindset and wishes to make herself proud.
Ultimately, Julissa deserves to be titled the #1 Shmooper because of her impressive academic record
and heart of gold."

Chris Ullrich
Cy-Fair High School
Chris has been described as articulate, charismatic, musical, goofy, and... lots of other stuff. Here's a
note from a doting teacher:
"Seriously, Chris was such a joy to work with in class. I could always count on him to embrace many of
our zaniest ideas with verve and elan. He prosecuted Andrew Jackson wholeheartedly, embodied
Theodore Roosevelt with Teddy's own bullish personality, and created a music video about the moon
landing to the tune of 'Sweet Caroline' entitled 'Leave Earth Behind.' He is the personification of the
Shmoop attitude."
Monica Valenzuela
Mar Vista High School, c/o 2014
Some people exist to inspire greatness. Take Monica Valenzuela, for example. She aced her AP classes
while providing over 400 hours of community service through church and club activities, including her
role as president of the Environmental Club and Teacher Assistant for the Adventurer's Club. And why'd
she do it? To "set an example for the future generations." Hear that, future generations? Follow
Monica's lead.
Micalah Yovanovich
Norton High School
Here's something: Micalah cares more about learning than she does about grades. Yup, you read that
right. Sure, she's smart, but she also works like crazy. Here's what her teachers said: "She will knock
herself out for a 15- point project or a 150-point project. She takes pride in her work and wants to be
the best. I introduced her to Shmoop when she was struggling with the novel 1984. Her goal wasn't just
to get a good grade on the quizzes and papers, but to actually understand the book." We could all learn
a thing or two from this gal.
Melanie Yu
Glen A. Wilson High School
Melanie was nominated by her little sister, which we think speaks wonders given what Shmoop's
siblings thought of them in high school. Here's what she said:
"My sister is really fantastic. She is the president of the Pencils of Promise club, the VP of the American
Red Cross club, the VP of the California Scholarship Federation club, the treasurer of Key Club, and the
VP of Promoting Animal Welfare club at Glen A. Wilson High School. She's also the student adviser of the
Formosa Association of Student Cultural Ambassadors (FASCA). She was nominated as the student of the
year for 2013-2014 too! Even though she has so many clubs, she still has straight A’s! I'm really proud of
her. :D She's going to test for her poom belt (red-black belt) for taekwondo soon, which is just one belt
away from black! My sister doesn't just do these awesome things, she also makes videos with me on our
YouTube channel MelSimanie!" And... we’re out of breath just thinking of everything Melanie does in a
given day.
Chapter 2: Exploring My Options
This chapter will talk about the different post-secondary educational paths. Is a
high school diploma good enough? Should I go for the GED? What about
attending a community college or vocational training instead of a traditional 4-
year college? Maybe I should take a gap year? For each path, find out how to
prepare for it, the reality of choosing it, and some common misconceptions. It
should be noted that Shmoop is kinda biased towards you choosing a 4-year
school; so, keep that in mind when reading their information.

Chapter 2.1: High School Graduate (HS Diploma Only)

High School Diploma...Are You Sure?
First of all, do you like money? If so, let’s talk earnings. The average yearly income for someone with an
Associate’s Degree is around $37,000 a year. Remember, an Associate's Degree is what you can get at a
two-year community, technical, or junior college. For a person with a Bachelor’s Degree, it is more like
$45,000.

Know what it is for someone with just a High School diploma? Right around 30 grand. That’s a $15,000 a
year difference in earnings between a diploma holder and a Bachelor’s holder. Stretch that out over a
working lifetime, and you are talking a difference of almost three-quarters of a million dollars in
earnings.

Speaking of making money, most people do it with a job. Are you planning on getting a job after you
graduate from high school? We hope you are in the lucky group, as the unemployment rate for high
school graduates is at about 34.4%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Compare that to around
17% for college grads, and the future looks a little bit iffier.

Speaking of the future, you never know when working your entry-level job when you might need health
care. Sure, you are a healthy high school student now, but that can change pretty quickly. Consider that
only about 7% of high school graduates receive health insurance from their employers (it’s more than
four times that for college grads). So, go ahead and work health insurance into your budget.

Still shooting for just the diploma? Fine with us, we just wanted to give you the facts.
Don’t Be a Cliché If You’re Gonna Do This: High School Graduate Edition
Graduating high school is a wonderful thing. Something you should be proud of, so go ahead and pat
yourself on the back. You just upped your average salary chance by about ten grand a year, which
sounds pretty good.
Of course, there are downsides too. Almost three million other teenagers are graduating high school
this year too, which means there is a big chance you could end up a clichéd graduate, working a dead-
end job or mourning the loss of your days as the star of the school musicals. Don’t fall into one of these
traps.

 The Nostalgic: High school can be an awesome time. Maybe you helped win the state soccer
championship. Maybe your girlfriend or boyfriend was the most popular person in school...or
 better yet, you were the most popular person. As awesome as that was, a few years down the
road, it probably won’t matter that much.
 The Perpetual Minimum Wager: Yes, job prospects can be more difficult to come by when your
education ends with a high school diploma. And yes, entry-level jobs do tend to have a high
turnover rate. But that doesn’t mean you need to fall into that vicious cycle. If you are entering
the world of work, try some jobs on for size. Find one you like and work hard at it. Maintaining a
job is your key to moving up the ladder of responsibility (and pay). Otherwise, you’ll always be
the newbie.
 The Voice from the Basement: “Mom! Make me a sandwich!” First of all, say please. Second,
why are you living down there? You’re 26 years old for crying out loud. We know rent can be
expensive, but it’s time you cut the cord. Find an apartment. Share one with a friend. You don’t
want to be 30 and still sleeping on the sofa bed. Do you? Make your own sandwich.

Reality Check: Bio of a High-School Graduate

Shawn V. Rizon has a confession to make: He is addicted to Orange Julius. Luckily, there’s a shop right
next door where he can get his fix. How can one person be lucky enough to have unlimited access to the
juice? Shawn is a sales associate for a mobile phone company.
The road to sales associate was a long and rocky one. Shawn graduated from high school four years ago,
and made the decision to enter the workforce right away. The reality was that, with a high-school
diploma on his resume and little work experience, Shawn was looking at entry-level jobs.
But he was willing to start at the bottom of the totem-pole and work his way up. Shawn knew from a
part-time job at a pizza joint he held during high school that the food industry wasn’t for him—he was
tired of smelling like tomato sauce every night. Instead, he began filling out applications at the variety of
shops at the local mall.
Problem was, it was summertime, and all the college students were back in town, filling up the jobs they
had the previous summer. Pickings were slim. Shawn persevered, and was eventually hired to handle
shelf stock and customer needs at a hip clothing store. Shawn did well with the customers – he had
always been a people person. Nobody could be demanding enough to wipe the smile off Shawn’s face,
and customers responded.
Unfortunately, Shawn wasn’t very skilled at keeping the sales floor neat. He’d never been one to
organize his closet (his method of folding was closer to bunching) and it showed on the shelves.
Undaunted, Shawn went back on his word and took a job at a hot pretzel stand to earn some cash until
he could find something that suited him more. He had by now found his own apartment, and needed to
pay rent, bills, and feed himself. While he was able to make ends meet while working at the clothing
shop, being unemployed wasn’t an option.
With luck, his days of spreading cream cheese on pretzels (and sneaking a pretzel now and then) were
short-lived. His application to the mobile phone shop next door went through, and Shawn found himself
a sales representative, with a required uniform of khaki pants and a white collared shirt. Buying a few
sets put a dent in Shawn’s savings, but he was excited about the opportunity.
With only his personal clothes to fold, Shawn found his people skills allowed him to do very well as a
sales associate. People trusted his answers to their questions, and more often than not bought from
him. This was key, as Shawn’s salary was very low – sales associates relied on commission to augment
their pay. Luckily Shawn’s skills helped him earn a decent salary, and his work ethic impressed the
manager.
Within 16 months, Shawn had been promoted to floor manager, and was making thirty grand a year. He
was able to move into a nicer apartment (and could afford to furnish it this time). When his buddies
came over to hang out, he heard their stories about how difficult it was to find and keep work. The
economy was suffering, and a few of his friends had been let go—their positions taken by over-qualified
college grads looking for jobs.
This reality check made Shawn work that much harder, knowing he had a pretty good gig at the shop. He
had his sights set on store manager, and knew that with perseverance and hard work, he could get
there.

Careers for High School Graduates

Curious about what you can do with your high-school diploma? Well, here's an exhaustive list. (Note:
The links go to Shmoop’s career page for that career. That will probably be put together in another PDF
by me.)
 Actor
 Animal Trainer
 Bartender
 Baseball Manager
 Beekeeper
 Cashier
 Cattle Rancher
 Celebrity Personal Assistant
 Crop Farmer
 Deejay
 Dog Groomer
 Entrepreneur – Small Business
 Exorcist
 Fighter Pilot
 Flight Attendant
 Floriculturist
 Florist
 Golfer
 Hair & Makeup Designer
 Landscaper
 MMA Fighter
  Magician
 Mall Cop
 Musical Theater Performer
 Model
 Musician or Singer
 Painter
 Pet Sitter
 Repo Man
 Stand-up Comedian
 Stunt Performer
 Taxi Driver
 Truck Driver
 Waiter

Biggest Myths about High School Graduates

The Legend of the Millionaire with the High-School Diploma
OK, we are sure this legend has some basis in truth. There are probably a handful of millionaires out
there who graduated from high school and – through loads of hard work, a few brilliant ideas, and
probably a bit of luck – became millionaires. This select few only make this legend all the more
dangerous. The reality is that college graduates will earn an average of a million dollars more over a
lifetime than high-school grads.

High School Prepares You for College…Somewhat

The idea is simple. Go to high school and you will be ready for college. Unfortunately, there are some
weak links in this chain. First of all, just going to high school doesn’t cut the proverbial mustard. Why?
Because almost 25% of high school students drop out before they earn a diploma. So that leaves 75%
ready for college, right? Wrong again. Looking at college-readiness exams shows that 75% of those
students aren’t equipped with the skills to succeed in college. What do all of these numbers add up to?
The fact that you can’t count on learning by osmosis in high school. Get active! Talk to teachers,
participate in class, read in your free time. That’s how to take hold of your high-school career and make
the most of your learning.

High School Diploma vs. Post-Secondary Education

High School Diploma

Important A high school diploma means…you guessed it…that you graduated from
Stats high school. Exams, projects, papers – you did ‘em all and your
teachers liked you enough to pass you.
 Pros You can get one for free, if you go to a public school, and be done with
it by the time you are old enough to vote.

Cons While a diploma is better than no diploma, today’s world of work is

going to seem a lot friendlier if you have some more education or
training under your belt. High school grads face pretty high
unemployment and underemployment rates, and odds are any job you
may land is going to pay significantly less than if you had higher
education.

Bet on a High School Diploma If:

You can’t stand the thought of more schooling, and you have a job lined up that you can get once you
turn your tassel and toss your cap in the air (watch for the sharp corners as they all come back down).

Post-Secondary Education

Important Keep in mind that education after high school doesn’t always mean
Stats a Four-Year Degree (although it certainly can). There are loads of other
options, such as Community College, Technical Schools, and Vocational
Training. Heck, even Internships and Apprenticeships can count as
education. The important point to keep in mind when determining
which educational path is right for you is the cost (in terms of money
and time) versus the benefits. Oh, and make sure your education will
get you into the career you want.

Pros Opportunities. That’s the key word when talking pros of post-secondary
education. Just a few numbers that will go up significantly with more
education include average salary, chance of being employed, and
amount of benefits provided. If that’s not enough, one number that will
go down is the chance you will end up in jail.

Cons With cons, we are pretty much talking investment: time and money.
Education beyond high school is going to take both, but if you crunch
the numbers, it is probably worth it.

Bet on Post-Secondary Education if...You want to increase your opportunities to find (and keep) work
that is meaningful and pays more.

Chapter 2.2: GED

GED – Are You Sure?
Taking one test and getting high school out of the way may sound like a dream to you right about
now. No more lunchroom drama, A lot of famous people have felt the same way. We just want to be
sure you’ve considered all the implications of taking the GED before you plunge right in.
-Yes, most colleges and employers will look at your GED as the equivalent of a high school diploma. Note
that we used the word “most” meaning some won’t. In fact, some universities (and the military for that
matter) have higher admissions requirements for GED test-takers than high school grads. This may not
seem fair but if you’ve been through middle school and even a portion of traditional high school, you
already know that life is not fair. You’re going to have to GED over it because here comes more that isn’t
fair…

"Caption: Popular hangout for dropouts."

(Source)
-While GED holders will likely earn more than high-school dropouts, average salary is less than that for
those who earned a diploma. Ouch.
-The GED is designed so that 40% of graduating high school seniors will not pass it. (Is that a scary
thought? It should be.) Did you pay attention in school? Feel confident you’re in the other 60%?
Still planning on taking the GED? Great, we admire your determination. We just wanted to lay it all out
for you.

Get Prepared for the GED

The GED tests are meant to determine if you have mastered high-school skills. One way to ensure you
have these skills in your tool belt is to…graduate from high school. If this just isn’t your tepid water from
the drinking fountain, your school lunch Sloppy Joe, your cup of lukewarm tea, then passing the GED
tests can help improve your chances in the real world.
If you aren’t attending classes, how can you prepare for the exams? Good question. The answer is that
there are loads of online resources out there that will help you get ready with practice tests, tips and
techniques, and study guides. And unlike attending high school, you can do this in your jammies if you
like, and eat while you learn.
Some of these are free, and some will take your money. The trick is to find one that works for you.
 Shmoop GED Test Prep
 https://secure.practice4ged.com/
  http://www.gedforfree.com/
 http://www.testprepreview.com/ged_practice.htm
 http://www.gedonline.org/
 http://www.4tests.com/exams/examdetail.asp?eid=38
 http://www.learnatest.com/LEL/index.cfm/general/moreInfo/ged
 http://www.pearsonlearningsolutions.com/online-learning/prep-for-the-ged-test

Steps for Taking the GED

Wanting to take the GED? Follow these steps to make sure you do it right.
First determine that you’re eligible according to the GED standards. The GED is available to folks over
the age of 16 who aren’t attending (or haven’t graduated from) high school.
Next, figure out if your state has any additional requirements or restrictions on eligibility. If you’re 10
and already dreading high school, sorry—you’re going to have to wait. If you need to contact the GED
testing representative for your state, you can find their information here.
Now you need to determine if you have what it takes to pass the exam. Having the highest score in
Grand Theft Auto IV amongst your buddies doesn’t qualify. Passing means you score better than 40% of
graduating high school seniors (meaning you need a total score of at least 2250 out of 4000; if you’re in
that 40 percent you can do the math). Take a practice test to see how you may do here.
If your score doesn’t meet the mark on your practice test, you’re going to want to do some prep work—
like studying because even if you aren’t attending high school, chances are you’ll need to study. Check
out Tasty Bits: Get Prepared for the GED.
Once you’re ready to take the exam, you’ll need to find a test center. There are thousands of them in
North America, so one should be close by. Search by zip code to find a testing center here.
Once you find a testing center, you’ll need to register to test. Keep in mind that, depending on the state
and test center, there may be a charge of up to 150 bucks to take the test (although it may be free).
Some test centers will use paper and pencil tests, some will use computers, some will provide an abacus,
some won’t. So, if you have a preference, be sure to register at the right place.

"Maybe there’s some kind of abacus app you can download to your iPhone…"
(Source)
Double-check your state’s rules for taking the test so you don’t break one of ‘em here.
Time to test! First of all, show up on time and prepared. Get out of your jammies, wash your face, and
set your alarm. The test will take right around seven hours to finish, but some centers will have you do
so over different days, so make sure you know what to expect. Bring a snack.
You testing center will have a transcript of your scores (some will have them instantaneously, but some
will take a few weeks). If you want to see what your scores mean, you can find a breakdown here.
Now you can use your scores. Many colleges and employers look at a GED as equivalent to a high school
diploma. You’re even eligible for the same financial aid as if you graduated from high school.
Once you complete this checklist, treat yourself to a yay-me-I-took-the-GED frozen yogurt.

Don’t Be a Cliché if You’re Gonna Do This: GED Edition

Earning a GED is certainly better than not earning a GED. Having said that, there are a handful of
dangerous clichés that you want to avoid if you are going this route. We all know someone like this.
-Now I’ve Got Nothing: Imagine this scenario. This hackneyed individual (who is not you) drops out of
high school with plans to take the GED. Problem is, dropping out of high school was a result of not
paying much attention in classes anyway, not having much of a taste for learning in general. Fast
forward to the test, which is meant to be too difficult for 40% of graduating seniors (who probably paid
attention at least 40% of the time) to pass. Guess what? Now this person has neither a GED nor a high
school diploma and a job at Micky D’s. Oops.

"Caption: We wish we could stay here forever, too. But get out of bed and use that GED that you worked
so hard to get!"
(Source)
-The Dead-End Jobber: Taking and passing the GED is meant to be a step toward improving chances of
landing a decent job or getting accepted into some form of higher education. But job prospects can be
difficult to come by for a GED holder, especially in this economy when folks with college degrees are
looking for minimum wage jobs. (There’s that F word again: fair.) As a GED holder, you may be looking at
entry-level jobs, which is fine, but avoid the cycle of working one entry-level job after another. The idea
with entry-level is that you learn some skills and move up the ladder. Don’t sit on the bottom rung your
whole life, coming home every night smelling like greasy buns or pool water.
-The Failure to Launch: You’ve got your GED! Now it’s time to take the next step. Get a job, apply to
school, or find an apprenticeship or internship. Just make sure it’s something. What you don’t want is to
wake up 10 years from now, still sleeping on the foldout bed in your dad’s basement and asking to
borrow the car on Saturday night. Get moving.

GED – Are You Really Sure?

Listen, it’s time to get serious here. If you dropped out of high school a long time ago and want to take
the GED to better your chances, that’s great. If, however, you’re still in high school and are considering
dropping out and taking the GED instead, be sure to consider this:
-Yes, many colleges and employers say they look at a GED as the equivalent to a high school diploma.
Remember, though, that these are people, not robots, considering your application. When they see a
GED, a red flag is going to pop up (no matter how much they deny it) that says you didn’t stick with high
school long enough to earn a diploma.
-We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: the GED is hard. It’s designed so that almost half of
graduating seniors will not pass it. Willing to take that chance? Take a look around the car you’re in with
three of your buddies. Just about two of you can’t pass the GED.
-If you are considering dropping out, think about how much time you have already invested in high
school. Think what you went through freshman year and how much better it is now. If you’re a junior or
senior, you’re almost there. A year, heck even two years, is nothing in a lifetime. Sticking with it just a
bit longer will earn you a diploma. If you aren’t a junior or senior, how old are you? Do you think you’re
ready to face the real world at 15 or 16 years old?
Keep on keeping on? OK, we needed to be certain you were committed to this whole GED idea.

Careers for GED Holders

 Actor
 Animal Trainer
 Bartender
 Baseball Manager
 Beekeeper
 Cashier
 Cattle Rancher
 Celebrity Personal Assistant
 Crop Farmer
 Deejay
 Dog Groomer
 Entrepreneur – Small Business
  Exorcist
 Fighter Pilot
 Flight Attendant
 Floriculturist
 Florist
 Golfer
 Hair & Makeup Designer
 Landscaper
 MMA Fighter
 Magician
 Mall Cop
 Musical Theater Performer
 Model
 Musician or Singer
 Painter
 Pet Sitter
 Repo Man
 Stand-up Comedian
 Stunt Performer
 Taxi Driver
 Truck Driver
 Waiter

Biggest Myths about the GED

The Legend of the Big Cram…Learning Everything from High School to Pass the GED
So, for whatever reason, you didn’t finish high school, and now you are thinking about taking the GED.
That’s a great thing, but perhaps there’s something holding you back? Is it the Legend of the Big Cram?
Are you under the impression that you will have to learn all of the content from a four-year high school
in order to pass the GED? Think again. The GED does test on some content, but it is also a skill, logic and
reasoning test. This means that if you are able to problem solve, you may be able to pass the GED.

The Myth of Same Same…But Different

Earning a GED is the same as earning a high-school diploma, right? Well, no. Not really, anyway. Passing
the GED earns you the equivalency of a high-school diploma, but not a diploma. And while equivalency
should mean equal, it doesn’t always. Some universities and employers openly admit they would favor a
candidate with a diploma over one with a GED. And for every person who openly admits it, there are
probably lots more hidden under the cupboards (get it, like cockroaches?)

The Legend of the Online GED

Shmoop has traced this legend back to its original two sources. The first comes from the fact that there
are tons of practice resources online for taking the GED. The second is that you have the option of taking
the GED using paper and pencil format or…on a computer. However, in this case, on a computer does
not mean online. Currently, the only way to take the GED is at an official testing center.

High School Diploma vs. GED

GED

Important The GED is a test that can prove you have more smarts and skills—and
Stats yeah, more incentive, too—than 40% of graduating high school seniors.
It‘s a seven-hour test covering Social Studies, Science, Math, Language
Arts, and Writing…pretty much everything covered in high school
(minus sex ed, gym, and complicated between-class hallway rules).

Pros Passing the test means you’ve earned a GED certification which is
looked at by many schools and employers as an equivalent to a high
school diploma. So, the bright side is that you have the chance to earn
an equivalent certification in seven hours instead of four years. Quite
the time-saver.

Cons There are a few cons here.

 Lots of employers (including Uncle Sam) and schools don’t look
at the GED as equivalent to a diploma and raise the admissions
or hiring standards for GED holders because they haven’t
earned a four-year diploma. Again, not really fair.
 Combine that with the con that even though they earn more
than folks without a diploma, GED holders still earn
significantly less than high school grads, unless they go on to
higher education. But remember, sometimes those places of
higher education require that diploma so…

You left high school a long time ago and don’t have the option to return to earn your diploma.
"Never too late to get your GED, it is."
(Source)

High School Diploma

Important A diploma means you did it. You successfully sat through all those
Stats classes, passed the tests (at least most of them), and survived
freshman hazing, sophomore malaise, an overloaded junior year, and
senioritis. A diploma is your ticket to higher wages and is a key
credential for applying to jobs or college.

Pros  This diploma, this seemingly thin, letter-sized piece of paper

(usually not parchment—sorry), is the baseline for pursuing
higher education or getting a job. Colleges and employers are
going to look at a high school diploma and know that you had
the smarts and persistence to stick with high school for four
years.
 For those who like money, having a diploma is going to earn
you an average of ten grand more per year than someone who
didn’t finish high school. On that note, if you do stay in high
school, you may want to go ahead and take that Financial
Intelligence elective.

Cons Four years can seem like an eternity, especially when viewed from the
back of the Geometry classroom. It’s a whole lot of work to earn a
diploma.

You want to up your chances of earning a decent salary, getting a better job, joining the military, or
getting into just about any type of college.
"A high school diploma is not something you’ll regret. If nothing else, it’ll look nice on your wall."
(Source)

Chapter 2.3: Community Colleges

Community Colleges – Are You Sure??
Community college can be a smart choice for some. Maybe you want to save some money or maybe
your dream career doesn't require a bachelor's degree. But we at Shmoop are looking out for you and
want to make sure you are sure you are making the right choice. Consider the following:
 You probably aren’t going to get the traditional “college experience”. Most community college
students take classes and commute home afterward. Yes, there are some opportunities for
socializing, but there will certainly not be the gamut of events, clubs, and close-knit bonding you
would get at a four-year college.
 Community colleges can sometimes have pretty narrow curricula. There are some non-
vocational paths, but most prepare students for specific professional, vocational, or technical
careers, so you may not have the chance to explore different courses to figure out your
passions.
Change your mind? Check out some other options like Four-Year College, Vocational Training, or a Gap
Year. Cool with all this? Great, keep on the community college track. We just wanted you to be sure.

What is Community College?

What the heck is this Community College thing all about? And is Community College the same as Junior
College?
Don't worry — we're here to make everything clear for you and understand what everything means. The
term Junior College began a long, long time ago, and actually referred to the fact that the schools were
connected to four-year colleges or universities but were simply scaled-down, two-year versions. These
schools were designed at first to serve as an extension of high school and prepare students for their final
two years of college.
Times have changed. The term Junior College is on its way out, as is the idea that attending one is simply
a remedial way to get ready for a four-year college. Most schools now refer to themselves as
Community Colleges, and offer Associate’s degrees which prepare students for professional, vocational,
and technical careers.
The option of using a Community College as a path to a four-year degree still exists and remains a smart
choice for students wishing to save some money, have an easier transition from high school, or raise
their GPA in order to transfer to a more competitive college or university.
Community Colleges serve different members of the community. The traditional two-year student
typically goes to a Community College to transfer to a four-year college or to obtain their Associate's
Degree and enter the workforce directly afterwards. Some people who are already in the workforce take
community college classes for their own personal development or extra training for their current jobs.
So, fear not. Take a look at Fight Club: Community College v. Four-Year College for more details on if
Community College is right for you.

About the Associate’s Degree

Let us introduce you to our associate. The Associate’s Degree.
The Associate’s Degree enjoys finishing in two years, saving you from astronomical College Costs, while
still preparing you for a particular career. Like what you see? Get to know the Associate’s Degree more
at a Community College near you.
Seriously though, what’s an Associate’s Degree, and will potential employers look down on you if you
have one?
To start off with, an Associate’s Degree is a two-year degree earned from a community or technical
college. Keep in mind that the two-year rule is a general rule. Just like four-year colleges, some people
take a little more or a little less time to finish their degrees.
An Associate’s Degree will normally include some general education courses (like English Composition
and basic Math such as Algebra). Once you get those out of the way, the course of study is pretty much
designed to train you in a specific career or at least a career area.
On to question number two. What kinds of careers are we talking about here?
Most Associate’s Degrees can be grouped into six categories of careers. These are: Medical Services,
Business, Data Processing, Public Service, Mechanics and Engineering, and Natural Sciences. If you want
to get more specific, check out Shmoop’s Community College Careers. For now, know that some of the
most popular careers Associate’s Degree grads enter include Computer Programming, Early Childhood
Education, Dental Assistance, Engineering Technician, and Registered Nursing.

Don’t Be a Cliché if You’re Gonna Do This: Community College Edition

Listen up. Community College can be a very smart way to get affordable training for a career, save
money on your way to a four-year degree, or explore some options while you figure out what you want
to do without breaking the bank.
But just because it can be a smart plan, doesn’t mean there aren’t some ways you can muck it up.
Shmoop highly suggests you don’t take a good idea and make it crummy. Here’s what you want to
avoid:
-The Under-Matched Student
Studies show that underprivileged students who enroll in Community College are much more likely to go
on to earn a four-year degree. Wonderful! Studies also show that students who could have easily gone
right from high school into a four-year college and been successful, but instead decided to go with the
less-challenging route of Community College, are actually less likely to graduate from a four-year
program. Meaning, if you have the intention, the smarts, and the means to graduate from a four-year
college, skip the Community College part.
-The Pigeonholed Student
Community College and an Associate’s Degree are going to prepare you for a specific career. This sounds
awesome … if you know exactly what you want to do. If you aren’t sure, it will come as a pretty nasty
wake-up call seven years down the line when you are trained as an X-Ray Technician and you realize you
don’t want to be an X-Ray Technician, but instead want to be a Computer Programmer. Not too many
transferrable skills there.
-The Floater
While some Community College courses will be very challenging, most are known to have a less-rigorous
work load than at a four-year college. Nice. Time to take it easy, right? Wrong. Floating through your
classes, not really putting in full effort is only going to hurt. Why? Either you are going to graduate and
go into the workforce, or you are going to transfer to a four-year college. Doing so with lazy habits and
poor follow-through probably isn’t the best idea.
-The Perpetual Community College Student
This is the student who actually is a member of lots of clubs and social organizations on campus, which is
great. What isn’t so great is that he also happens to have been president of the Student Poet Society for
six years. What’s going on here? This is the guy who enrolled in Community College to explore some
career possibilities. Seven years later, and he has nearly completed three different Associate’s Degrees,
but has decided to switch programs in the final semester of each. Community College is only a good deal
if you don’t stay there forever.

Checklist: Steps to Get into Community College

There are tons of entrance requirements and procedures among community colleges. This checklist
represents a comprehensive list of them. In other words, if the community college you are considering
wanted to make your life as complicated as possible, here’s what they’d ask you to do.
Decide what type of student you will be. You can enroll as a full-time or part-time student, and may
need to apply as such. Keep in mind that many financial aid awards require you to maintain a certain
number of credit hours.
Figure out the application or registration deadline. Don’t wait until the last minute to turn it in.
Nobody likes to make rush decisions, so don’t force your potential school to dislike you before they even
meet you.
Request official transcripts from your high school or college.
Be prepared to provide proof of income or funds to pay for the classes. Some community colleges
check that you can pay before you play.
Take the SAT or ACT and submit your scores. Not all community colleges require standardized test
scores, but many do. Check your specific college for testing requirements.
Fill out the application. How else will they know you want to attend?
Be prepared to show proof of state residency status. Lots of schools charge lower tuition for residents.
Take placement exams. Some courses with prerequisites require that you show your smarts before you
register.
Participate in an orientation. Why wouldn’t you want to be orientated? Or is it oriented?
Register for classes. Be sure to register early, as popular classes may fill up fast. You don’t want to be
stuck with Biscuit Making 101. Or maybe you do.
If you plan to attend community college and eventually transfer to a four-year college, be sure to check
with both schools to ensure that credits will transfer and that you are covering core requirements.

Transferring to a Four-Year School

Should You Consider Transferring?
A mountain of reasons exists why you might consider spending your first two years in college at a
community college, and then transfer to a four-year school to earn a Bachelor’s degree. What are some
of them? College Costs are daunting, and maybe you aren’t made of money and are looking to save
some serious bucks. Perhaps you are the student who could have done better in high school, but are
now ready to Beef Up Your Transcript by hitting the books and rocking a 4.0 in order to get into the
college of your dreams. Or, you aren’t sure what you want to major in, and don’t want to spend your
first two years (and tens of thousands of dollars) trying to figure it out.
Your reason doesn’t really matter much. The important point is that you do it right. Let’s talk critical
steps to make sure this works.

Key Steps
First, be very clear on your plan. What kind of Four-Year College are you eventually looking to attend?
The more specific you can be the better — having an actual school in mind is great. If you aren’t even
close to this step, why not Generate a Big List of schools and then Narrow Down Your List? Why, you
ask? Because you are going to need to know the entrance requirements and whether or not your four-
year dream school accepts the credits you are going to earn at community college.
Don’t have a specific college in mind? Try this: go to the community college of your choosing and ask
them if they have any transfer relationships with four-year institutions. Some community colleges will
have a pool of four-year schools they work with, and have programs designed specifically for students
taking this track. If this is the case, sign up for the school transfer program; it’ll make your life much
easier in the long run.
You’ll also need to know what the minimum grades or GPA are for the school you want to transfer to.
Don’t be the student who goes to two years of community college with a 3.0 and finds out a 3.5 is
required to get into the University of Awesome.
Finally, when you actually make the big transfer, pat yourself on the back. You saved some serious cash,
with hope raised your GPA a bit, had a smooth transition into the rigor of college, and (here’s the sweet
part) a Bachelor’s degree from a full four-year university.
Totally lost? Make a Plan with Shmoop.
Biggest Myths about Community Colleges
The Legend of Four…I Need a Four-Year Degree to Make Any Money
Reality: Listen, a four-year degree is going to accomplish one thing: give you more options for
careers. But it’s only one path to a career. If you are passionate about something that you can prepare
for with a two-year degree, go for it. Check out Quick and Dirty: Community College for more
information about them.

The Myth of the Four-Year Rejects

This is an ugly myth which often rears its venomous head. You will hear this often when the topic of
community college comes up: that the only students who attend community college are those who
couldn’t get in to a four-year school. Stop spreading this myth, help it die a painful death. Why? Because
students attend community college for loads of reasons. The two-year path makes the most sense for
those who are certain they are entering a career where an Associate’s degree is the proper training.
Some student use community college to earn core credits on the cheap before transferring to four-year
schools. Others take advantage of community colleges to explore areas of interest before enrolling in
college and declaring a major. So don’t jump to conclusions...

The Can’t Transfer Myth…Community College Credits Won’t Transfer to Four-Year Colleges
Wrong. Wait, correction. Pretty much wrong. More and more community colleges are designing
programs and making agreements with four-year colleges to aid students in earning and transferring
credits to get a Bachelor’s degree. This myth has a nugget of truth to it, though. Some community
college credits may not be applicable at the school or in the program in which you are interested. If this
is the path you want to take, be sure to do your research and confirm that your community college
courses will survive the transfer.

Community College vs. Four-Year College

Community College

Important  There are probably a few community colleges near you. If you
Stats don't know where to look, we suggest looking on Google Maps
for the closest community colleges. That's what these schools
are all about: offering local students the opportunity to study in
a way that's accessible to them.

Pros  Community colleges are cheap. According to U.S. News, they're

about $9,000 a year for full-time tuition (source). Okay,
not super cheap, but it's cheap compared to the costs of a four-
year college, which can get super pricey (some are over
$60,000 a year). Most people tend to live at home when
attending community colleges, so the easy commute can help
you save big bucks on room and board as well.
 Attending community college can set you up to transfer to a
four-year program if you rock the GPA.
  Some careers don't require a Bachelor's degree, so an
Associate's degree is the smarter choice.

Cons  Lack of mobility. An Associate's degree tends to prepare

students for a very specific career, which may limit options
after graduation if you decide that particular career isn't for
you.

Bet on a community college if...

1. You plan to eventually earn a Bachelor's degree, but want to save money and/or raise your GPA
before attending a four-year college.
2. You have a specific career in mind and a community college Associate's degree is the way to get
there.

Four-Year College

Important  When you hear "college," it's these bad boys you think of. The
Stats four-year school can offer the quintessential college
experience of crazy parties, cramming for exams, late-night
roommate talks, and Frisbee in the quad.
 The important point to remember is that these schools come
in a huge variety of flavors, so be sure to find the one that fits
before investing your time and money.

Pros  Career mobility. A four-year Bachelor's degree prepares you

for a more specialized professional career and is a prerequisite
for many jobs and graduate school.
 Four-year colleges can be a great return on investment.
They're more prestigious than two-year colleges, and they look
good on your resume—which could mean getting a higher-
paying job.

Cons  Money and time. You need to be sure that your plans for the
future require a four-year degree, and that the cost of your
education is worth the cost.

Bet on a four-year college if...your plans include a professional-level career that requires a Bachelor's
degree or graduate school, and the finances make sense.

Chapter 2.4: Vocational Training

What’s A Vocation and How Do I Train?
Coming from the Latin word for “voice,” vocation has come to mean something that you are “called” to
do. Yes, it used to refer to a calling from God, but now it’s more like an inner calling. Very Zen.
While vocations technically refer to activities that bring you satisfaction, most people use this term as a
synonym for “technical career.” As you can tell, vocation is kind of a loose term. You can choose
whether you want it to mean “that which makes you happy” or “blacksmith.”
We at Shmoop are assuming that you are here to figure out where you want to end up in the near
future in terms of schooling and a job. We are going to ignore the Zen-like definition for now and stick
with the commonly-held meaning. When we talk vocations, we are talking careers that usually involve
more hands-on, technical skills and require education other than a four-year degree.
So, if it’s the blacksmith route you want to take (or baker, or pilot, or welder), you are probably asking
yourself how you might get there. Answer: it depends. What does it depend on? Where you want to go.
Enough with the Yoda answers, you say? Fine, young Skywalker. Let’s start with some more examples of
vocations:
 Nurse
 Chef
 Illustrator
 Real Estate Agent
 Electrician
 Administrative Assistant
 Plumber
 Pre-School Teacher
 Aircraft Mechanic
 Computer Programmer
 Massage Therapist

"Meant to be a Massage Therapist, you are."

(Source)
Got an idea now of the range of careers we are talking about when we say “vocational training”? You
could become anything from a Marine Mechanic to a Midwife to a Probation Officer. How do you
narrow it down? Simply ask yourself what speaks to you. Idealistic question: What topics are you
passionate about? Realistic question: What activities could you see yourself doing every day without
feeling like you’d rather be somewhere, anywhere else?
Because these jobs are so different, your area of interest will decide how your vocational training will
look. Take a look at Quick & Dirty: Types of Vocational Training for the different ways you can train for
the various vocational careers.

Types of Vocational Training

Vocational Training does not refer to one set path to a career, but instead can be one of a number (or a
combination of) potential ways to get the skills and knowledge needed. Here are some of the more
common paths to vocational enlightenment.

High School Vocational or Technical Courses

Lots of things fall out of style, including leg warmers, the mullet, jean jackets, and boy bands. High
School Vocational Programs were on that list for a while, but now they’re staging a comeback. Many
public schools offer more traditional vocational courses like metal shop and mechanics, and more and
more schools are dedicating entire programs to teaching technical skills.

State Technical Schools

These are the revered grandfathers of Technology training. They’re research-intensive colleges and
universities that specialize in Mathematics, the Sciences, and Technology. If you want to be the next
Sheldon Cooper of Mechatronics, consider this option.

Private Technical Schools

These schools are sometimes also called Technical Colleges or Technical Institutes and offer training in
technology at the community-college level, offering Associate’s Degrees to graduates in a career-specific
field such as Engineering or Computer Programming. Quality varies here, so be careful to do your
research. Anything that sounds sketchy probably is.

Internships
Internships are opportunities for folks wanting real-world, hands-on training straight from the source.
While internships can be arranged in loads of different career fields, they are generally viewed as
exclusively white-collar opportunities. They’re the “professional” version of apprenticeships, which tend
to focus on technical or vocational training. Doesn’t matter. What matters is that an internship should
provide you with a valuable learning experience that will ultimately help you gain a position in your
desired industry.

Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships hold a bit of medieval romance to them. Picture a stonemason learning the craft next to
his master, working side-by-side building a soaring cathedral or impenetrable castle. New living abodes
are constructed in a different style these days. Fewer turrets and moats. Think apprenticeships have
changed too? Oddly enough, the answer is “not really.”
"We bet you’ll be building your own fortress in no time."
(Source)
There are loads of opportunities to earn your keep as an apprentice in certain industries. Building and
construction apprenticeships abound, with opportunities in specialties such as carpentry, electricians,
sheet metal working, plumbing, and even elevator construction and maintenance. Further, many of
these professions actually require that you have experience as an apprentice before you can gain the
certification necessary to practice on your own.
Apprentice opportunities don’t stop with construction, either. The important point to remember is that
this career path requires a large amount of legwork if you want to gain a foothold and be successful. You
have to find the opportunities, make contact, and work out the terms. Trust us, nobody is going to send
you a nice glossy brochure outlining your apprentice opportunities.

Checklist: Is Vocational Training Right for Me?

This is your life, so we’re guessing you want to be pretty sure you are on the track that will take you
where you want to go. You may be second-guessing yourself, wondering if Vocational Training is right
for you. While nobody can tell you what you should do with your life (although a lot of people will try),
you can take a look at what makes for a successful vocational student and worker and see if some of
these traits apply to you. If more than a few do, you may be on the right track.
You are more of a kinesthetic learner. “What did you call me?” Relax. That means that you learn by
doing. You respond to more hands-on learning rather than book or classroom learning.
You are pretty sure of what you want to do. There’s no such thing as Vocational Training in General
Studies. Sorry. If you are entering Vocational Training, you need to have a specific career (or at least a
specific career field) in mind. Want to become a Histotechnician? Take classes that will teach you what
you need to know.
Your career of choice prefers to hire people with vocational training. We hate to break it to you, but
there are few qualified neurosurgeons who learned their trade in a Technical School or Apprenticeship.
At the other end of the spectrum, having an Associate’s Degree won’t matter much if you’re slinging
frozen yogurt. Make sure the training makes you desirable for the market.
 You have some skill and experience in the career of your choice. We aren’t suggesting you need to be
a pro—that’s what training is for. But knowing that you like and are good at the activities involved in the
career is pretty important. Simply deciding to study Culinary Arts for two years when your specialty up
to this point has been orange juice with ice cubes isn’t the way to go. Still feeling inspired by all those
chefs on Chopped? Good for you. Just make sure you try sautéing some veggies before you commit
yourself.
You want to start work sooner rather than later. At a four-year college, you have to wait a while before
entering the job market. If that’s too long for you for whatever reason, Vocational Training’s shorter
scope may be right for you.
You need to work while you study. Many Vocational Training options are more flexible for people who
need to work full or part-time. Flexible is good.
You are willing to be an active learner. This means you help design and guide your training. No sitting
in the back of the class doodling pictures of your dream life under the sea. At least, unless you’re
attending Triton’s University for Mermen.
Do a handful of these describe you? Awesome. You’re almost ready to pass “Go” and collect your first
paycheck.

About Technical Schools

To sort this out, Shmoop actually had to graduate from the Polytechnic Technical Institute of
Technology. It’s a prestigious program which offers degrees in figuring out what the heck is out there in
terms of technical education. *
*Note: This is not true. Shmoop, being a company and not a person, is unable to earn a degree.
Technically (see what we did there?), the term “Technical School” is a catch-all for any school which
trains for a particular career having to do with the Sciences, Math, Engineering or Technology. The level
(and quality) of education across these schools varies wildly, so hold on to your pocket protectors and
protractors for a quick tour.
State Technical Schools: These are the revered grandfathers of Technology training. When you think of
research-intensive colleges and universities which specialize in Mathematics, the hard Sciences, and
Technology, you’re thinking of these schools.
Private Technical Schools: These schools may also be called Technical Colleges or Technical
Institutes and offer training in technology at the community-college level, offering Associate’s Degrees
to graduates in a career-specific field such as Engineering or Computer Programming.
Polytechnic Schools: This is a moniker adopted by a few universities to communicate that they are
heavy hitters in the Technology department. If you are going to one of the Polytechnic schools (think
CalPoly), you’ll do pretty well for yourself.
Institutes of Technology: Here’s another catch-all term that can apply to prestigious, highly-competitive
research institutes like the Massachusetts and California Institutes of Technology, along with less-known
private institutes.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships hold a bit of medieval romance to them. Picture the stonemason learning the craft next
to the master, working side-by-side building a soaring cathedral or impenetrable castle. Think
apprenticeships are anything like that these days? In reality, they sort of are.
Shmoop loves to lay it on the line, no holds barred. So, here’s the skinny on apprenticeships: they hardly
exist anymore in the United States. Jobs have become so service-oriented or technical that either formal
education, such as Community College and Technical Schools, or very little education has become the
norm for training.

But take heed, ye squire or damsel of old! There are still opportunities to earn your daily bread as an
apprentice in certain industries. Building and construction apprenticeships abound, with opportunities in
specialties such as carpentry, electricians, sheet metal working, plumbing, and even elevator
construction and maintenance. Further, many of these professions actually require that you have
experience as an apprentice before you can gain the certification necessary to practice on your own.
Apprentice opportunities don’t stop with construction, either. The important point to remember is that
this career path requires a large amount of legwork if you want to gain a foothold and be successful. You
have to find the opportunities, make contact, and work out the terms. Trust us, nobody is going to send
you a nice glossy brochure outlining your apprentice opportunities.
With a bit of research, however, you can find training programs in industries as varied as horticulture,
fire-fighting, tree surgery, engine mechanics, sign making, and ambulance driving. Start with checking
out this. You can search here for opportunities by industry or by geographic location.
Also, have a look at Shmoop Careers to investigate if one of these apprenticeship careers may be right
for you.

Reality Check: Bio of a Vocational Worker

Mary Ida Graham—everyone calls her MIG for short—works six months out of the year. She isn’t a
lifeguard. She isn’t a ski instructor. Mary’s a traveling welder. Mary’s interest in welding started early,
helping her mom in the shop solder circuits to make a homemade computer. She was fascinated with
the way heat could join metal into anything. In high school, Mary was sure to take any shop class she
could, although she often had to fight with the boys to get a spot at the arc welder. MIG didn’t look
back, taking out a student loan to pay for a 14-month certification program in welding. The certification
allowed her to get entry-level gigs on some low-level construction sites. Times were difficult. Employers
wanted experience. But Mary’s sights were set on pipe welding for oil companies. It took her nearly a
decade of moving up the ranks, getting more and more experience and skills, until she was finally in.
Black and Crude Oil Corporation was looking for welders willing to hit the road and repair pipelines.
Mary had the welding chops, so she sent in her resume and was invited to show her skills. After her
“audition”—joining a 16-inch pipe at 45 degrees in 30 minutes—she was hired. When she works, MIG’s
day starts before dawn in some strange hotel room. She gets dressed and grabs her duffel bag filled with
safety gear—helmet with goggles, two pairs of welder’s gloves, fire-retardant pants, and steel-toe boots.
She is on site as soon as enough light is peeking over the horizon. Her first step is always a meeting with
the site supervisor, who shows her the blueprints of the oil field and helps her mark in red wax pencil
the pipe joints that need strengthening. Only the most experienced supervisors can spot these stresses.
But in an industry like oil, anything more serious doesn’t fly. Mary tosses her duffel in the back of the
company jeep (already loaded with the arc welder) and drives out to the first joint. It’s a ten-hour day
that follows, driving along the massive pipes and welding joints to make sure the oil keeps flowing. What
definitely keeps flowing is the pay. MIG started at rock bottom a decade ago, earning entry-level pay for
entry-level knowledge. She barely scraped by on 25 grand a year, paying the minimum each month on
student loans. But as her skill and reputation grew, she was able to demand better wages. Now,
although she only works six months of the year (six hard months of ten-hour days, six days a week) she
earns nearly a hundred grand a year. Student loans are a thing of the past, and she does what she loves.
The other six months of the year she spends traveling or doing whatever she wants, as far away from
hot metal as she can get.

Biggest Myths about Vocational Training

The Myth of Money…or Lack of
This is a myth folks in the vocational world might prefer we kept believing…that you can’t make very
good money in a vocation. Not true. Median salaries for vocations range from 45 to 75 thousand bucks
a year. Know what median means? Average. This means lots of folks earn well below this number. But it
also means that lots of folks earn well above this average. Hint: you want to belong to the second group.

The Myth of the Degree-Less Vocation

Think that vocational training means you can’t earn a degree? Think again. Vocational training is a broad
term for any education or experience that leads you to be skilled in a particular craft or career. Sure,
sometimes that training may be an apprenticeship with a shipbuilder. No degree there, but it sure
sounds cool. But just as often, the training for a career may require a two-year Associate’s degree or a
four-year Bachelor’s degree. Check out Quick and Dirty: Vocational Training for more details on how to
pursue a Vocational degree.

Job vs. Career vs. Vocation

Job

Important A job might be part of your career or might be your vocation, but the
Stats connotation of a job is closer to getting paid for your time than for
your skills. Working at a fast-food joint? Job. Handing out skee-ball
prizes at the arcade? Job. Painting fire hydrants during the summer?
You guessed it.
 Pros  Four words: money in your pocket. People work jobs to make
money, so having a job means you will have money. Jobs can
also be steps in your career or can fund you in your vocation.
 Jobs are also often good ways to get used to an industry. If
you’re interested in getting into a field, an excellent way to
gauge whether you’d enjoy doing it as a career or as more of a
hobby is to take an entry-level job in that area.

Cons Lots of folks out there stuck in dead-end jobs or jobs they hate or jobs
that pay minimum wage. Don’t be one of those folks.

Bet on a Job If: You’re exploring an industry to get a feel of what it’s like, or you need to get your hands
on a paycheck for whatever reason.
We spent one whole summer working at an amusement park just to finance our Starbucks habit. Gotta
get those non-fat low-milk half-calf organically grown caramel macchiatos.

Career

Important Careers require much more of a time commitment in terms of

Stats education and training (either in school or on the job). The longer you
are in a specific career, the more likely you are to have greater
responsibilities (and higher pay!).

Pros  A career will make your mom happy. People who have careers
have studied for their positions, and are considered higher up
on the food chain because they have specialized skills that are
hard to come by. And, of course, they generally have higher
salaries.

Cons Just like jobs, people can get stuck in career paths they aren’t stoked
about. Make sure you’re careful about what you choose to devote
yourself to, because getting into a career is a pretty big life
commitment.

Bet on a Career If: You know what you want to do, and are ready to take long-term steps to do it.

Vocation

Important Keep in mind that, while vocations may technically refer to activities
Stats that bring you immense satisfaction, lots of people are going to use this
term as a synonym for “technical career”. It is therefore kind of a loose
term. You can choose whether you want it to mean “that which makes
you happy” or “blacksmith”.
 Pros  A true vocation can provide you with a very different level of
enjoyment and life satisfaction.

Cons Your true calling might not pay much, if at all. While it may make you
immensely happy to collect sea shells, “beachcomber” isn’t a job title
that’s going to net the biggest paycheck you’ve ever seen.

Bet on a Vocation If: You’re a hands-on kind of person and want a job where you can use your technical
skills.

Chapter 2.5: 4-Year Schools

The Biggest Myths About 4-Year Schools
The Legend of the Secret Formula
Have you heard about the secret formula to get into any school? Yes? That’s funny, because there isn’t
one. There is no ONE activity that you can do that will guarantee success. Think about how easy
admissions would be (and also how boring schools would be) if everyone just followed the same
formula. All college admissions committees are looking to build a diverse, passionate student body.
What does that mean? It means, please don't feel obligated to do 500 community service hours or go to
Africa for a life-changing experience just because it looks good on your resume. As long as you pursue
your passions and interests, you’ll have a very high chance of getting into a "good" college.

The Myth of Quantity…Schools Want to See a Zillion Extracurricular Activities

You may think that having a separate page to list all of your photos in the yearbook will show
prospective colleges that you were a superstar. And superstar = accepted, right? Not necessarily. What
schools are looking for is quality over quantity. They want to see that you are invested in a couple of
activities and that you pursue them with a passion and strive for excellence. Not that you simply
attended weekly meetings of 17 different clubs, but that you founded/ran/excelled in one or two.

The Legend of the Perfect School

Reality: The perfect college doesn’t exist. And trying to find a place that’s perfect is only going to lead
to disappointment. What does exist are hundreds of great schools where you will be challenged
academically, where you will find like-minded peers to do amazing things with, where you will be
pushed out of your comfort zone by students, professors, and experiences - and you will grow and see
and try and do wonderful new things. Find schools where you think you will be happy and successful,
and be ready to put in the work once you get there to make it happen.

The Legend of the Late-Bloomers

Looks like a few late-bloomers are being pretty optimistic here. This legend fools people into thinking
that a dismal start to high school can be erased by getting straight A’s and being in a million
extracurricular activities during the end of junior year or even senior year. There is a nugget of reality
here: an upward trend in performance (that is, increasingly-good grades and involvement) throughout
high school shows that you struggled, but eventually learned to adjust, gained your footing, and learned
to succeed. That’s a good thing. Hanging out in the back of the room shooting spitballs and texting in
your pocket for three years and then trying to make up for it senior year is a different story. That’s a bad
thing.

Top 10 College Dropouts

Bill Gates

Bill Gates is a Harvard dropout, and now he’s one of the world’s richest people. What does that say
about college, hmm?

Paul Allen

Co-founder of Microsoft, along with Bill Gates up there. Allen was the one who convinced Gates to drop
out of Harvard, after he dropped out of Washington State University himself.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga dropped out of NYU to pursue her music career. Good choice on her part, no?

Mark Zuckerberg

Another Harvard dropout to add to the list. Zuckerberg is the billionaire co-founder of Facebook, and
Hollywood even made a movie about him- The Social Network.

James Cameron

Director of the Titanic, Aliens, The Terminator, Avatar, etc., this celebrated deep-sea diver dropped out
from Fullerton College and became a truck driver.

Michael Dell

The founder of Dell Inc. and ranked 41st richest person in Forbes 2012 Billionaire list, Michael Dell
dropped out of the University of Texas at Austin.

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys dropped out of Columbia University to focus on her career with Columbia Records.

F. Scott Fitzgerald
Author of The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald dropped out of Princeton University after being placed
on academic probation.

Ellen DeGeneres

Lovable talk show host Ellen DeGeneres dropped out of the University of New Orleans.

Steve Jobs

The co-founder of Pixar, and of course, Apple Inc., dropped out of Reed College and went on to become
a ‘pioneer of modern technology’. That’s better than any degree.

Chapter 2.6: Gap Year

What’s a Gap Year?
No, it isn’t the year you can’t remember. Nor is it the year you wore braces to close that space.

"You couldn’t pay us to re-live that experience (or our parents to relive the payments). Shudder."
(Source)
A gap year refers to some period of time (a year is simply a suggestion but any longer and it’s not a gap;
it’s a hole on its way to a chasm) that people can take to explore their interests and learn things that
they might not be able to learn in school. The concept of a gap year is actually quite common in Europe,
and is only getting more popular in America (kind of like showering less and Speedos). Typically, a gap
year is taken between high school and college, but people take gap years for different reasons. Maybe
by the time you’re a senior, it just isn’t what you thought it’d be and you’re having dark thoughts about
all your teachers and you’re so burned out on school that the thought of diving right into college classes
is the mental equivalent of nails on a calculus-riddled. chalkboard.
Maybe you need some more time to earn cash for the Costs of College. Or perhaps you feel like you
need to develop some additional skills—or different ones—by traveling abroad or working, so you don’t
sink to the bottom of the college fishbowl. Many parents, college admissions officers, and other
students all assert that taking a gap year allows students to learn more about themselves and become
more confident and mature professionally, intellectually, and academically.
3 reasons not to take a gap year:
1. You want to hang out with the kids who were juniors when you were a senior. Now they’re
seniors and you’re all ready to party like it’s [insert graduation year].
 2. You want to work part time at the same place you worked at during senior year and spend the
rest of the time glued to the tube watching those kooky Kardashians.
3. There’s no way that bratty little sister of yours is ever getting your room. Whatever your reason
may be, there are a few critical requirements you need to consider before making a gap year
part of your plan.
First of all, we strongly recommend that you are accepted to college and then defer your admission to
take a year off. Why? Because as a senior in high school you have the motivation and support to apply
and get accepted, but as a globe-trotting GAP-per, you probably won’t. So even if you’re a junior or
senior and know you’re going to take a gap year, you’ve still got to go through the rigmarole and hassle
and expense that is the college application process. So, get into college, then Defer for a Gap year.
Second, be sure your gap year has some sort of purpose that leads you into your college studies. Keep in
mind what a gap year isn’t: free time to chill. If you're considering one, we hope you're trying to find
something productive to be engaged in. (Sorry, getting a tan is not productive—except perhaps to the
Kardashians).

"Hope the guy on the right has some SPF 500."

(Source)
What’s out there? Good question. The range of choices for a gap year is huge. Here’s a Quick & Dirty
rundown of some of the options.

Courses and Certifications

Want to develop a specific skill or hone your knowledge of a certain subject? Consider a program that
offers specific areas of study. Depending on what you choose, you could leave the program fluent or at
least proficient in Arabic, skilled in building furniture from scratch, or with a Wilderness First Responder
certification. Maybe even a First Responder certification for work in Qatar.

Cultural Exchange
Feeling like your hometown doesn’t offer much in cultural diversity? Is a 7-Eleven Slurpee your idea of
ethnic food? Maybe it’s time to immerse yourself in a different culture before hitting the college books.
Programs which provide cultural immersion are all over the place, you just need to pick where you want
to go and what you want to do there. (But again, this isn’t supposed to be a “surf’s-up-hang-ten-
everyday-is-Mele Kalikimaka” kind of cultural experience.

The Call of the Wild

Want to feel the wind in your hair and get your normally-white Keds dirty? Test your mettle in the
mountains, the desert, or on the open sea? Think about setting off with one of the many programs that
plunge you into the epic battle between humanity and nature. (And no, this doesn’t have to be like
Castaway or 127 Hours…)

" Comfortable hiking boots? Check. Trail mix? Check. Deep philosophical question to ponder as you
walk? Done and done."
(Source)

Volunteering
Maybe you feel like giving back a bit to the world from which you’ve taken so much. Because that’s how
all teenagers think…. Well anyway, volunteering is an amazing way to build skills and make community
connections (plus, it looks killer on a resume). Organizations that set you up in volunteer roles are a
dime a dozen (and some charge a ton for their services, ironically enough) so be sure to do your
research to pick one that creates a worthwhile experience for you.
Examples of legit volunteering opportunities:
 AmeriCorps
 Outward Bound
Examples of less-than-legit volunteering opportunities:
 Sitting in for your grandma’s missing Bridge partner
 AGYSF (American Gap Year ScamFund)

Work
There are two reasons to work for a while between high school and college: money and experience. If
it’s money you want, shy away from Gap year organizations (most of whom want your money), and look
to your local businesses for a job. (GAP organizations are more concerned with experience, and will
charge you for finding a placement – not something you want if your idea is to make money.) If it’s
experience you’re after, think about a program that places you in interesting work, and consider
combining it with volunteering or cultural exchange: two for the price of one.
Ready to get searching? Check out Tasty Bits: Find Your Perfect Gap Experience.

Checklist: What to Expect from a Gap Year?

Your gap experience may have you volunteering in an orphanage in Malaysia, learning sustainable
farming techniques in Costa Rica, meeting with policymakers in Zimbabwe, or earning a River Guide
certification in Patagonia.

"This cat will have better days. And you will, too."
(Source)
With such an assortment of possibilities, how on earth could Shmoop have a checklist for what to expect
from a Gap year? Simple: as different as these possibilities may be, every gap experience is going to
share certain characteristics. Know—at least partly—what to expect with our Gap year checklist.
You’ll be nervous. This is going to be a very different experience from what you know (hopefully), so
there are bound to be some nerves in the weeks before you get started.
Reflect and blog—or journal—often. There will be moments you won’t forget. (But remember, not
every moment is mean to be shared…) It may be watching a sunrise from atop a temple, or teaching a
classroom of children basic English skills, but it’s going to happen. That’s why you’re doing it. It's a good
habit to reflect on your day-to-day observations or write about what you're learning. You'll look back on
your year's accomplishments with a smile when you reread these moments.
There will be moments you’ll hate. You will be uncomfortable, cold or hot, wet, tired, scared, dirty. Be
ready for these moments, they are most likely to turn into some of your most vivid memories. And when
people say they “build character?” They build character. And they prepare you for the brutal finals
weeks and the morning after your first frat party at college.
You will be pushed outside of your comfort zone. Outside of your childhood bed, your mom’s lasagna,
the Xbox in your room. Maybe you’re scared of heights, or crowds, or public speaking. You can be
certain that, whatever your fears, you will most likely need to take a deep breath and jump into your
gap experience.
You will be changed. Many students find their gap year helps them gain more independence, maturity,
confidence, and builds a new perspective. Not bad, huh? You can bet adults who’ve been working in the
real world for 20 years would love to have the opportunity to take a gap year.

Don’t Be a Cliché if You’re Gonna Do This: Gap Year Edition

A gap year really is a gift that you give to yourself. So, in the words of our Great Aunt Bessie: Use it in
good health, darling. You get to take some time after high school to explore the world and gain
extraordinary experience, get to know yourself…and maybe realize that your self needs to be in school.
Or you can fall into one of these clichés and end up a GAP casualty. Don’t muck this up.
-The “Takin’ a Year Off-er”: Yes, a gap year is a period of time between high school and college. What it
doesn’t equal is a year off. Take summer vacation to relax and work on your tan and our longboard
moves. After that, be sure your Gap year can be justified to your college. Otherwise, when they ask you
why you deferred, your answer may force them to un-invite you to the party (the study party, the house
parties, the dorm parties, the frat parties… that is).
-The Post-GAP Applicant (AKA the Gaplicant): Perhaps you’re planning to take a gap year and then
apply to college. Bad move. Listen, in high school, you’re going to be surrounded by resources. Your
teachers are there to write letters of recommendation and edit essays. Your counselor is there for you
to bounce ideas off of. Your classmates are there to help motivate you. Pens abound. After you
graduate? Not so much. After a gap year? Even more not so much. Apply now, then defer.
-The Vagabond: You can recognize this cliché by the humongous backpack and the smell of patchouli,
the Burning Man plans, and B.O. The thought process that led here? “I think I’ll wander the globe for a
year before college.” Most of these folks find, after a year of hostels with shared bathrooms, a library of
travel guidebooks, and one too many hair wraps, that they’re no more prepared for college than they
were when they graduated high school (except that maybe they can say “Where can I buy cigarettes” in
six different languages).
-The Ten Years Later Wake Up: Yes, we understand many people will need to work for a year to save
money to help cover the costs of college. And yes, we remember how exciting it was to get that first
paycheck, maybe get an apartment and be on your own for a while. You may even be able to scratch out
a decent standard of living—maybe even cook dinner for your folks once in a while and finally buy your
dream bed. Don’t take your eyes off the prize. The idea is to save money for college, not to fall into the
routine of working a minimum-wage job to pay the rent and bills. Because guess what? Ten years just
went by and you’re still doing the same thing.

Deferring College for a Gap Year

First of all, let’s get something straight. In order to defer attending college, you have to be accepted to
at least one college. Deferring doesn’t mean waiting to apply to college for a year. That’s called
procrastinating. That’s cheating.
OK, now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s talk about legitimate deferment.
Students may defer for a semester or two (or up to two years at some schools) for a variety of reasons.
There may be some medical issues, or perhaps they need to work for a year to save some dough. Many
students defer in order to participate in a gap year program, which is what we’re talking about here.
Notice a pattern, though? All of these are actual, legitimate reasons to defer. Don’t expect your school
to hold your place so you can hang out at the mall for a year, your goal to sample every combination of
frozen yogurt and toppings.

"We must admit though… it IS tempting…"

So how to go about it? There are a few steps you must take to ensure you do it right.
First of all, check with your school’s admissions department to get details about its specific policies for
deferring, as they will be different for every school. Once you confirm that deferring is a possibility,
you’ll want to communicate your intentions with the school.
This is not the time to tweet your plans. “Heading to Bangkok LOL” is not an acceptable way to defer.
Bust out your formal letter writing skills, and make a written request to admissions, outlining your
specific (and constructive) plans for the time you’ll not be going to their school but still thinking about
their school…often. Be very clear about what you will be doing, exactly when you plan on enrolling, and
how this important activity will help you contribute to the school once you finally start.
Be sure you know if your school needs a deposit to hold your place, and confirm when your school
actually wants your deferment letter (whether it’s with your application or after you’re accepted.)
During your gap year, be sure you’re documenting your experiences through journaling, blogging,
photos, or some culminating project. Not only will this help you justify your time away from school if
needed, but it will be a great way to remember that year between high school and college. Have a great
time! And if you run out of things to do, try out this prank.

Find Your Perfect Gap Year Experience

There are too many gap year programs and experiences to list. So how can you go about finding the
perfect experience for you?
Simple. You need to first figure out what you want out of your Gap year (and what you don’t). What are
some of the possibilities? Tons. Try this. Rank the following in order of importance to you:
1. Cultural Connections
2. Second Language Development
 3. Work Experience
4. Volunteering/Giving Back to Communities
5. Experiences in Nature
6. Money
7. Travel
8. Resume Building
9. Physical Challenge
10. Coursework or Certifications

"We’ve also estimated the number of stars in the night sky. We’re going with 15."
(Source)
Figured out what’s important to you? Great, now check this out for a zillion* programs and find one that
meets what you’re looking for. *Disclaimer: We didn’t actually count; a zillion is an estimate.
Here's a basic less-than-a-zillion list we compiled if you wanted somewhere to start.
1. Thinking Beyond Borders
2. CIEE
3. Adventures Cross Country
4. International School for Earth Studies
5. Amigos de las Américas
6. Seamester
7. Youth for Understanding
8. United Planet
 9. Art History Abroad
10. Carpe Diem Education
11. Outward Bound
12. The Leap
13. Visit Oz
14. Oxford Advanced Studies Program
15. National Outdoor Leadership School
16. International Volunteer HQ

Reality Check: Biography of a Gap Year Applicant

It’s May. High school graduation was almost a year ago, and Kara has her final project deadline
tomorrow. Are we talking about college here? Nope. Kara Van has spent the last 11 months traveling the
globe with the gap-year organization Study Without Borders, which combines international travel,
service learning, and a final presentation on global sustainability. Kara seriously enjoyed her senior year
in high school, although the AP classes combined with college applications made for some late nights.
She was accepted into a prestigious liberal arts college, but chose to defer for a year to participate in a
GAP program. Kara felt ready for college, but also believed that a year abroad would help her decide on
a potential major. After a summer spent hanging out with her friends and working to save money for
spending, Kara met her fellow gap-pers for their training and orientation week in St. Louis. The week
involved a series of workshops where staff gave courses in language and customs, discussed projects
and rules, and review the year’s itinerary. Before she knew it, Kara was jetting to their first stop on a
five-nation tour: Vietnam. Until her orientation week, Kara had always viewed Vietnam through the lens
of her history class and the stories of the war. Now she had the chance to live with a Vietnamese family
in a small fishing village, and engage in community service helping to build more eco-friendly fish farms.
After two months, Kara and her peers—all of them smelling of Vietnam’s ubiquitous fish sauce, nước
mắm—had to bid a tearful goodbye and fly to India, where she was introduced to her next home stay
family who lived in the shadow of the Himalaya Mountains. She spent the next eight weeks volunteering
in a clinic and participating in as many festivals as she could. After India, the Study without Borders
group traveled to Madagascar, where they didn’t meet Marty, Gloria, Melman, and Alex but where they
worked with local park rangers to improve the protection of Isalo National Park, totally unique on Earth.
High school French came in handy, and Kara and her peers spent their free time exploring various parts
of the island by bicycle and searching for King Julien. The next stop was Brazil, where Kara worked with
an inner-city nonprofit whose mission was to engage children in art projects to beautify their
communities. Kara and her peers were able, thanks to the organization’s connections, to meet with the
mayor of Rio de Janeiro and hear how he was working to curb gang violence in his city. Finally, the group
traveled to rural Guatemala, where they lived with families and worked with an indigenous woman’s
cooperative, promoting traditional textiles as crafts for visiting tourists. During the entire program, the
group was meeting with officials, conducting interviews, and taking photographs and video for their final
project. After returning to St. Louis, the group worked together for two weeks to distill their information
into a 12-minute documentary about sustainable development around the world. Kara knew what her
major would be when she enrolled in college, and she knew she had spent her year wisely. Now, don’t
we all feel like lazy slugs?
Packing List for Travelers
If you’re here wondering how many pairs of socks to pack for your year of hiking in the Himalaya, move
on. We’re going to assume that you’re going to pack the necessary clothes, toiletries, and personal items
for your trip.
So, here’s a packing list of items you might not have thought of, that tend to come in extremely handy
for travelers. This is the stuff you might not always need, but when you do, you sure are happy to have
it.
This list comes from years of experience traveling the globe, and nothing on it takes up too much space.
What have you got to lose (except your passport—check the last item on this list)?
__Dental floss: Not just to clean the nasty from between your teeth. Stick a sewing needle in the floss
box and you can use it to repair a backpack or replace a broken shoelace.
__A Head Lamp: They aren’t just for miners anymore. A flashlight is great, until you need one and
actually need to use both of your hands at the same time. Plus, a headlamp is great for reading at night.
__ Some Toilet Paper: You can figure out why. Trust us.
__Pens: Don’t be the person on the plane who needs to fill out their immigration form but doesn’t have
a pen. Bring a few, and stash them in different places (but not so many that you’re stopped by customs
for smuggling).
__Duct Tape: You’ll need to MacGyver something along the way (plus it’s great for blisters, (something
MacGyver knows something about, what with all the hurtling over things, scaling walls, and such). If you
have a water bottle, wrap a couple of meters of tape around it.
__A Small Notebook: Back-pocket size. Great for working out exchange rates, communicating ideas
when you don’t speak the language, and jotting down random thoughts.
__An International Phone Card: If you need this and don’t have it, you will really wish you had brought
it. If you don’t need it, use it up at the airport on the way home calling random people to tell them
about your trip. Call up that snot-nosed yuppy neighbor boy and all his trips to the Caymans—tell him
about your experience swimming in the South Pacific with two nurse sharks and a transsexual.
__A Travel Bottle of Shampoo: Use it as soap in a pinch. Even better, shampoo works great to wash out a
few items of clothing in the sink. Heck you may even need to wash out a sink with it…
__A Handful of Plastic Bags: These can protect your books, disguise your computer, or separate dirty or
wet clothes from your good stuff. Tons of uses.
__A Deck of Cards: Travel means delays. Start up a game. A game of Old Maid or poker (played with
peanuts, of course) is a great way to meet people.
__An information card: This is something you can have two of: One for you to keep on you and one to
leave with family or friends back home. This will have things like your passport number, your driver’s
license number, your credit card number and the numbers to call and report it missing.

Biggest Myths About Taking a Gap Year

The Legend of the Gap Year…Waiting Is Always a Good Thing
There are loads of potential benefits to taking a structured year between high school and college:
increased maturity, skill development, and a world perspective to list just a few of them. But the danger
of believing the legend that waiting to enroll is always a good thing lies in the pitfalls. There is a very real
possibility that taking time off from academics will mean that you never get back on track. In the throes
of your Gap Year experience, you may feel like you are earning enough money or having enough of a
good time to put off college just a little bit longer. Ten years later…

The Myth of the Bad Choice…Taking a GAP Year Means You Are Behind
It’s called a GAP Year for a reason – because it can take a year. Does this mean that you are a year
behind your peers who entered college right after high school? Well, yes. That is, if you are talking about
time only. The reality is, that taking a structured GAP Year designed to develop much-needed skills and
maturity, actually can put you ahead of the pack in terms of your chances for college success.]

Gap Year Program vs. Self-Structured

Gap Year Program

Important  Organizations exist for every type of gap year experience, from
Stats cultural immersion through volunteering, wilderness travel,
certification courses, and leadership development. Their
programs may be a few weeks or an entire year to fit your
needs.
 Keep in mind that this is a rapidly expanding market, so do your
research to ensure that any program you choose has been
around for a while and knows what they are doing.

Pros Programs are designed to provide meaningful experiences, build your

resume, and even sometimes earn college credit. The good ones will
also have community and government connections developed through
years of operation which will provide opportunities that may not be
open to independent individuals. Programs will also assist with logistics
and travel, which can be quite complicated.

Cons There will be less freedom. Many programs will require that you agree
to certain codes of conduct. So, if you have visions of going wild during
your gap experience, think again. There’s also the cost to consider.
Most programs provide a lot, so they charge a lot. Be sure it’s in your
budget.

Going through an organization to help set up your gap year experience is the most common option
chosen for students taking this route. There are loads of programs out there — so many that one is
bound to meet your needs.
Bet on a Program If…You have the funds to pay, and want to get the most out of a gap experience (as
well as have someone else take care of the logistics).

Self-Structured
 Important  Winging it is a possibility, but only if you are willing to take the
Stats bull by the horns.
 Nobody is going to check that you have the proper travel
documents and vaccinations. Nobody is going to award you
college credit, or provide an introduction to your volunteer
organization, or give you a crash course on survival Swahili.
Nope, that’s all up to you.

Pros Freedom and flexibility. Don’t like working in a specific place? Move
on. Oh, and you won’t be paying anyone to set stuff up for you. Doing
some unstructured travel, such as backpacking or finding a freelance
job or working full-time or part-time are great options.

Cons Complication. You are going to have to arrange for every detail of your
experience, from travel to housing to work to food. Are you ready for
that?

Whatever your idea is for your gap year, you may decide to organize it on your own. Very independent
of you, just know what you are getting into.
Bet on Winging It If…You have a very specific goal, itinerary, or responsibility in mind and you excel at
hammering out the details and holding yourself accountable. Sometimes it's good to be spontaneous in
life anyways. #yolo
Chapter 3: Generating Your Big List
This chapter is about generating the list of schools that you may want to attend. You will
receive tips on how to start with an open mind, and whether it’s worth it to choose a big-name
school. You will learn how to find what’s out there, as well as some misconceptions about the
college selection process.

Introduction to Generating the Big List

We at Shmoop just love lists. We eat, sleep, and breathe lists. We even take lists with us on romantic
weekend getaways to Barbados. (We have to make sure they apply plenty of lotion though. They burn
easily.)
To prove it to you, here is our Top 5 list of favorite… lists:

Top 6 Lists
1. Lindsay’s List of Cute Boys 2013
2. List of Guys Who Have Written their Names on the Wall of the Men’s Room at the Exit 314 Rest
Stop
3. Preemptive List of the Best Movies of 2038
4. List of Places Sam will not Eat Green Eggs and Ham
5. List of James Bond Movies with Questionable Titles
6. This list (of course)
Now it’s time for you to make a list. Specifically, a master list of colleges that might be lucky enough to
have you.
There are almost 4,500 colleges and universities in the United States. That’s too big a list, even for our
liking.
Narrowing that down to a manageable number for completing applications, not to mention
paring that list down further to a single school, can be a Herculean task. And even Hercules never went
to college. (He was more brawn than brains).
The challenge is to know how to go about it. Here are some possible approaches:
 Put on a blindfold, spin around three times, and pin your dreams to one random school. Hope
against hope that you don’t wind up being the donkey.
 Choose schools based on the name only, believing that you need to attend a big-name school to
have the future of your dreams. “Wurthingham Refrigerator College” seems like a pretty big
name.
 Faced with the possibility of drowning in options, grab frantically for a lifeline school because a
friend goes there, your cool uncle went there, or even because the school won last year’s
basketball championship. You’re not a basketball player, but you’re only 18 – you might grow
into it.
"Aren't you hot in that getup?"
(Source)
Shockingly… we don’t recommend any of these strategies.
What we do recommend is wiping that unfathomable number of schools from your mind as quickly as
possible. Seriously – Start with a Blank Slate. If it helps, start first thing in the morning, the second you
wake up. That’s when our mind is usually a blank slate anyway.
If you think you can learn enough about a large number of schools to choose a great fit, think again.
College counselors don’t even do that, and they get paid big bucks* to guide people through this
process.
*oversized $1 bills, usually not even legal tender
A better way to think of choosing a college is to focus on you, not on the schools. Hey, awesome… you
already spend most of your time focusing on you anyway. You love you. This should be a snap.
1. Think really hard about What You Want and What You Need in a school – everything from academic
programs to whether or not they serve vegan hot dogs.
2. Use all of the characteristics you want to generate a Big List. You’ll need to figure out What the
Heck’s Out There and What’s in a Name. You will create a list — using a college search engine — of
schools that fit your needs. It’s like a Google specifically for colleges. A “colloogle,” if you will. And we
know you will.

Start with a Blank Slate

Pick a spot on a white wall. Stare at it. Let your mind go completely blank. Think about absolutely
nothing, let all of your worries and concerns simply vanish. You are getting very sleepy. Now, when we
snap our fingers, you will awake, and when you hear this bell, you will begin dancing the samba and will
have an irresistible urge to eat a Pringle.
Okay, so you don’t have to let your mind go that blank. But when it comes to narrowing down your list
of schools, it does help to start fairly fresh. Throw away those preconceived notions. Don’t worry about
where your great grand-pappy went to college. (That placed closed down 35 years ago anyway.)
"Oh, how the great has fallen."
(Source)
There are 4,500 colleges and universities in the U.S. If each of those colleges were a song, you would
need about 30 gigs to store them. (And if you don’t go to college, you’ll need about 30 gigs just to make
rent.) You know how hard it is deciding what song you’re going to listen to for the next four minutes,
and now your task is to decide what school you want to attend for the next four years. The last thing you
want to do is hit shuffle.
We want you to end up at a school where you can be happy and successful. Because you’re so much
nicer to be around when you’re happy.
To accomplish that feat, we propose that you enter into this process like a naked babe in the woods. Not
actually naked, just with an open mind. Let’s keep this PG, people.
Especially if you're an international student applying to a college in the states, make sure you do
thorough research of potential schools. It’s possible your high school counselors doesn’t know a ton
about out-of-country schools and, trust us, there are many more schools than the famous Harvard, Yale,
Princeton, and Emerson. Or, “HYPE,” as we like to call them collectively. (Okay, so Emerson kinda snuck
in there, but we needed it to make the acronym work. Sue us.)

"That’s right, keep your pants on."

(Source)
Yes, it is very important that you understand What the Heck’s Out There and What’s in a Name as you
go about the process of Generating Your Big List. To do all of this, you need to first determine What You
Want and What You Need in a school. Just don’t be too needy. Most schools consider that a huge turn-
off.
But here’s the rub: if you have already decided exactly where you want to go, one of two things is true:
1. You have gone through the entire process with Shmoop. In this case, congratulations, but you don’t
need to be reading this page. You’re ready to start Applying. Jump out of the nest, little bird, and fly like
the wind.
2. You are blindly attached to a school because:
1. You like the name
2. You have seen how awesome their basketball players can dunk
3. Your mom told you to go there
4. It’s been your dream school since you were five
…or some other silly reason.
Wanna hear a better idea? Erase every school name from your brain. Really get in there and scrub that
puppy clean.
Let your needs and wants — with the help of a College Search Engine — generate a list of schools that
matches those parameters. Then… guess what? If the school you were originally drawn to pops up on
that list, end of story. You belong there.
But if that school doesn’t make an appearance… let it go.
Instead, check out the schools that do pop up. You might find a school that is perfect for you. And not
just perfect for… your mom.

What the Heck is Out There?

Feels like a good time for another top ten list…

Top Ten List of Things That Might Be Out There

1. A werewolf
2. That tree that's been there for over a hundred years
3. The boogie man (or woman)
4. Space
5. Justin Bieber
6. Your creepy Uncle Jonah
7. Batman
8. A pack of rabid squirrels
9. The great unknown
10. The slightly-less-great unknown
Yeah, okay…but, how about other than what's outside your bedroom window?
We're talking colleges.
Public University. Private Liberal Arts School. Institute of Technology. Ivy League. Head spinning yet?
You may have heard a lot of these words bandied about. There are loads of misconceptions out there as
to the similarities and differences between them. But lucky for you, we’re here to shed a little light on
the darkroom of your mind.

"You've got some things…developing in there."

(Source)
Even if you feel like you have it all figured out, it can’t hurt to review the basics. Here's a Quick & Dirty
rundown of the types of schools that could someday appear on your application list:

Colleges and Universities

A college is just a less-fancy name for a university, right? Like… the movie could have just as easily been
called Monsters College, yeah?
Well…sort of. But not. The exact definitions have been blurred throughout history, but there are a few
differences that generally hold true.
First of all, keep in mind that the word "college" has come to be a synonym for just about any institution
that offers post-high school education. With the possible exception of what you learned staying at Aunt
Norma's beach house the summer after graduation.
But fine, we'll let them use the name. More specifically, though, a college is an institution that offers
four-year degrees in the Arts and Sciences (awarding a B.A. or a B.S.). Colleges may offer graduate
degrees but, if they do, the areas of study are usually more limited. Like…you shouldn't expect to get
your graduate degree in "math" or "words" or "interesting stuff." Although, some will try…
A university, on the other hand, tends to be offer both undergraduate and graduate programs, and
there's also an air of prestige associated with the name. But then again, there are plenty of schools with
"college" in their names that are pretty darn prestigious (like Dartmouth College and Sarah Lawrence
College).
"At least they got your good side."
(Source)
Universities also tend to be larger with a bunch of smaller schools within them. For example, you might
attend Cornell University, but earn a Bachelor's in their College of Arts and Science. Universities also
tend to offer a wider variety of graduate and postgraduate degrees (Master's and Doctoral degrees). So
if being in one place for the next fourteen years sounds appealing to you, a university is probably the
way to go. (Your other option is to unsuccessfully pull off a major bank heist.)

Public and Private

Public colleges or state schools get some of their funding from the government. If you haven't noticed,
the government isn't, uh, doing so well, which means public schools don't have the same kinds of
resources that private schools do. You won't be showered with fancy resources and beautiful new
facilities…but you also won't be showered with student loan bills.
That's right. The major difference between public and private colleges and universities involves money,
honey.
If you go to a public school in the state you live, your tuition costs and fees will be way lower than the
ivy-covered school next door. How much less? As an example, the University of California system
estimates that non-residents pay an average of nearly $23,000 more a year than residents. Let's hope
those out-of-towners don't sign up for an economics course right out of the gate.
Also, these days, plenty of state schools are just as well-respected as their golden-boy neighbors. If
you're lucky enough to live in a place like California, Michigan, or Virginia, live it up.
Private colleges are four-year colleges that don't get government funding. Translation: they're mega-
expensive. They're the Tesla of college education: they cost a ton, but they sure look good. Private
schools come in all shapes and sizes, from the ivy leagues to the small liberal arts schools and everything
in between. Some of the most expensive schools in the nation, like Sarah Lawrence, Columbia, and
Vanderbilt, have sticker prices that start in the mid-forties per year. But who knows? Maybe you have
really excellent haggling skills.
Here are the top ten benefits of attending a private as opposed to public school:

Top Ten Benefits of Attending a Private School

1. You don't have to be shy about including that "III" after your name
2. Free ivy
 3. 24 karat gold leaf textbooks
4. Professors all have English accents
5. Yacht club > Scrabble club
6. Even the janitors wear ties
7. Gate to keep out the riff-raff
8. Mascots are classy and dignified, even when they're something ridiculous, like a unicorn
9. It's right across the street from a Ben & Jerry's
10. Extra leg room
Let's be real, though. Those pros might not outweigh the cons. We'll let you figure that out for yourself,
though.
Think about it. Is it all worth $250,000 to attend?
Well, it depends.
If you borrow the full cost of an Ivy League education and don't get a high-paying job after graduation,
you could still be paying off your student loans when you're fifty. Do you really want a mid-life crisis and
student loans at the same time? Probably not. In other cases, though, that fancy degree can help you
get a job that makes it worth it and then some.
So, ready to roll the dice?

Liberal Arts Schools

If you have conservative leanings…stay calm. We're talking about a different kind of liberal.
The term "liberal arts" originally referred to the areas of study that any "free man" should have access
to ("liberal" coming from the Latin for "pertaining to freedom"). But…we have come a long way, and the
term now (usually) refers to smaller, four-year schools that emphasize a general foundation of
education before a student declares a major.

"The majestic water buffalo – where buffalo wings come from."

(Source)
Are we breathing better now, Young Republicans?
These schools will likely have a series of core educational requirements every student must take to earn
their degree (think Composition 1A, Biology 101, Intro to Philosophy, etc.), as well as more specialized
courses once you have declared a major (think Composition in Blue Ink, Biology of the Water Buffalo,
Philosophy Cosmetics, etc.)
Liberal Arts schools are also big on faculty interaction with students. Hello, letters of recommendation.

The Ivy League

Ah, the Ivy League. These are the hallowed halls of education where the nation's movers and shakers
were and are educated. Students who attend these universities were born on silk sheets. Their first
meal? Champagne and caviar.
True? Well…kind of. Minus the champagne because babies don't drink, obvi. The Ivy League is a group of
eight schools that originally got together so that their football games could be standardized
(Harvard used to have a rule that a kick was good if the kicker could rattle off all of the elements from
the Periodic Table before the ball passed the uprights), but they evolved into some of the most selective
and academically challenging colleges and universities in the nation.
The eight schools which make up the League of Extraordinary Colleges are: Harvard University, Yale
University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, Brown
University, Dartmouth College, and Columbia University.
In the case of alien invasion, these eight schools have the ability to merge and form a giant eighteen-
wheeled killing machine. So far, they have not had to take such action. Thank goodness.
But are these schools…worth the hype? Here's our answer to that question.
You can be certain you will be challenged academically, get a stellar education, have unparalleled
networking possibilities, an impressive name on your degree (aside from your own) and something to
lord over your younger siblings for all eternity—if you meet the school's requirements. But if the school
doesn't meet your requirements, look elsewhere. There are plenty of other schools of fish in the sea.

Technical Schools
To sort this out, Shmoop actually had to graduate from the Polytechnic Technical Institute of
Technology. It's a prestigious program that offers degrees in figuring out what the heck is out there in
terms of technical education.
Technically (you knew that was coming), the term "Technical School" is a catch-all for any school that
trains for a particular career having to do with the Sciences, Math, Engineering or Technology (STEM)
fields. If you're into numbers, chemicals, or pulleys, we're probably lookin' at you.
"Here's a freebie. The next one'll cost ya."
(Source)
The level (and quality) of education in these schools varies, so be sure to do your research. If there's a
wild-eyed, crazy cartoon rabbit on the front of the building claiming, "I love maths!"…maybe steer clear.

Religious Schools and Religious Affiliations

The history of the United States has a lot to do with religion; we pretty much can thank churches for
founding a lot of our colleges and universities. In fact, why not take a moment now and write a quick
thank-you card. Just address it to "churches." They'll get it.
However, just because your college is named after a saint, it's not necessarily a foregone conclusion that
you're going to be eating communion wafers for every breakfast.
Some of the best schools in the nation like Kenyon College, Boston College, and Notre Dame are
religiously affiliated, but students may not feel the influences unless they specifically seek them out.
So…you can pay and not pray. If you'd like to look at it that way.
On the other end of the spectrum are religious schools such as Seattle Pacific University, Wheaton
College, and Brigham Young University which absolutely define their missions through religious
tradition. You'd better be a big fan of God if you're applying to one of these babies.

Art Schools
Knowledge is beauty, but beauty is knowledge. You are more interested in matters of the soul than
matters of the mind. Also, your parents may or may not have been hippies.
Whatever the reasons, being creative is your thang. Art schools, which range from private, for-profit
schools to some of the most well-respected colleges and universities in the nation, could be just what
you need to…paint your wagon.
Regardless of your art addiction—music, design, drama, film, visual arts, or some abstract combination
of any or all of the above—here is a school or program that caters to it. Go ahead…feed the beast.
Some schools, like the New York Institute of Photography or New Mexico's Institute of American Indian
Arts will focus on a specific genre or medium in the art world. Others, like the Savannah College of Art
and Design or California College of the Arts, have a huge range of areas of study (SCAD offers forty-two
different art-related majors).
Finally, there are loads of colleges and universities that may not focus exclusively on art, but have very
well-respected art programs within their schools, like the University of Michigan's School of Art and
Design, and the University of Florida's College of Fine Arts. Definitely consider the latter if you're
passionate about painting portraits of gators. They've got their share of oversized reptiles down there in
the ol' Sunshine State.

"This guy’s just here for Spring Break."

(Source)
Don't stress, Shmoopers. It's a lot to process, but we're here to help guide you through this all-important
decision. In the meantime, if you ever need a confidence boost, check this out.
Is anyone else hearing the Rocky theme right now, or is that just us?
If you want to learn more about how to get into art schools, check out this article.

What About International Colleges?

Is "French Parisian Party Ideas" your top Pinterest board? Did your feeling of schadenfreude give you life
while watching The Princess Bride? Is Become a "Dancing Queen" on your 7th grade list of hopes and
dreams? ABBA 2.0, of course.
Whether or not you've got a quirky obsession with our overseas friends (Ahem, our BFF Liam), we've got
5 cool reasons on why you should consider European colleges when generating your big list.

5 Reasons You Should Consider European Colleges:

1. "Land of the Free" What?
In case you haven't heard, money can't buy happiness. But a lot of it can buy a designer-label education
in America. Education prices continue to rise in the U.S., while Finland, Germany, and Norway offer free
tuition for international students. Other countries like Austria, France, and Swedencharge a fraction of
the tuition price that American universities do. According to the College Board, the average tuition in
the U.S. for a public two-year college is $3,349 and the average tuition for a private four-year college is
$31,231. That's a pretty penny when you could be paying $500 a year (or less).

2. Back to the Mothering-land

European universities aren't writing us napkin-notes every day, but they also don't take tough love to a
whole new level like American universities. The brutal admissions process in the U.S. has brought many
a high school senior to their knees. On the flip side, European universities don't feel schadenfreude from
watching applicants squirm. "Standardized testing" is rarely a phrase at the center of a hot debate,
which means it's rarely a requirement. Hey, can't complain about that.

3. #socollege But Better

Fraternities and tailgates may be in short supply in Europe, but your traveling experiences will be
exponentially more awesome. Sure, a trip to see the Cavs is cool while you're going to Ohio State. But an
undergrad spent in Berlin means you're a quick rail or plane trip from nearby cities like London, Brussels,
and Paris.

4. A Whole New World of Learning

We know what you're thinking: "Well, duh, I'll have to learn a new language." And yes, being immersed
in another country's education, culture, and language will give you the raved-about opportunity to
become fluent in a new language. You'll feel the smartness coursing through your brain, you'll hear
"That accent is so cute" before it even reaches the lips of your new friends, and you'll relish in the ability
to add "Fluent in French" to your resume. But if learning a new language is an intimidating roadblock in
the way of international colleges, stop right there. Hundreds of European schools offer programs in
English because they're welcoming to American students. On top of that, European universities pride
themselves on engaging, challenging, and interactive educational styles. You'll have to head abroad to
find out just what we mean. Check Bachelor's Portal to find an English-taught program for you.

5. Energy Efficient
Many European universities will give you an intense workout, but it'll be worth it. Getting you in and out
in three to three and a half years is a big achievement when nearly 80% of American students
overstay their original four-year booking at public universities. That'll save you time and money, and
saved money is good money. But, hey. You may never want to leave Europe once you land at your top-
pick international college.

What’s in a Name?

Widener Library, Harvard University

(Source)

Harvard. Princeton. Yale. Slippery Rock.

If we at Shmoop were the gambling types (we’re more the gamboling types), we’d be willing to bet that
you have heard of the first three schools. We’d also be willing to bet that, unless you live in Western
Pennsylvania, you may not have heard of the fourth. Here’s a list of some other colleges you may not be
familiar with:

Top 10 Colleges You Have Never Heard Of

1. Michigan Institute of Typesetting
2. Cheyenne Academy of Not-So-Fine Arts
3. We Wish We Were Harvard University
4. Little Rock School of Miniature Geology
5. Seminal Seminary of Selma
6. Phoenix Institute of Lower Learning
7. Las Vegas Academy of Dealing, Bartending and Troublemaking
8. Nashville School of Rock
9. Vermont Collage College
10. Yonkers Institute of Silly Names
As you Generate Your Big List of schools, you may ask yourself how important name recognition is when
choosing a college. And then you remind yourself that your name is Bluto. Ouch. But here’s an answer
that is going to anger people who like answers: it sort of depends. Please… chill. Put down the shard of
broken glass. Sheesh, you’re touchy.
First of all, let’s lay this all out on the table – there are definitely some advantages to going to a well-
recognized, highly-esteemed school (like Hogwarts, for you non-muggles out there).
To begin with, future salaries and the likelihood of going to graduate school are much higher for
students who attend top schools than for those who attend the… less top ones. However, it’s impossible
to measure whether the reason for this statistic is the caliber of the institution… or of the brainiac
students it attracts. In other words, you can’t get bees from vinegar. Or something like that.
Plus, there are certain schools that specialize in this, that or the other thing, and majoring in their
program may potentially lead to more options upon graduation. Everyone loves a specialist (except
HMO’s, apparently). Seems like there’s no downside, right? Hold on there… as our Uncle Morty might
say, “There’s always a downside.” He was fun on long trips.
For starters, the Costs of College are high, and elite schools come with a pretty elite price. If these
schools aren’t prepared to offer you a sizeable chunk of financial aid, your student loan debt after
graduation might cancel out any salary advantage for years to come. Might not seem like a big deal to
you now, but just wait until you’ve finished hand-crafting your very first Sallie Mae dartboard.
Also, no elite school is going to make you happy just because of a well-known name. You still need to
put in the research in Narrowing Down Your List of schools to make sure you find the right fit. If you’re a
size 12 and your dream school is a size 11… you may find yourself running away from the ball barefoot.
And this time, the prince(ton) won’t come chasing after you.
If you do your research, and an Ivy-League school pops up on the list, great! If not… think hard
about What You Want and What You Need in a school before clinging blindly to name recognition.
If you're an international student, understand that big name schools look for international students with
more than just good test scores. You also have to look good in a swim suit.
Check out International Student experiences for more details.
Okay, so maybe they’d be forgiving of an imperfect beach body. But they do want students who can
provide diverse multicultural backgrounds to their schools. So in that sense… it’s at least a little bit about
appearances.

"Do you think Harvard will accept Tollhouse as a down payment?"

(Source)
Time to recap (if you haven’t capped already):
If an elite school matches your criteria for a college, offers you a reasonable financial aid package, and
you are willing to bust your butt to make your college experience as rich as possible, go for it.
If the costs are going to be too high or you are attracted to the school only for the name, spend your
dough and energy elsewhere. After all, you’re gonna want that dough to rise someday.

What You Want, What You Need, What to Consider When Choosing Colleges
There’s nothing worse than ordering a mushroom, pineapple and anchovy pizza and having them get
your order wrong. Except maybe having them get it right.
But most of the time, we simply want to get what we ask for. Surprises are for birthdays. Same deal
when choosing a college. The more you think about what you want in a college environment, the less
likely you are to run into surprises once you enroll. Unless, of course… you happen to enroll on your
birthday. (Card’s in the mail.) The goal of college isn’t just to get in, but to be happy and successful while
you are there. And… hopefully beyond.
Here are the Top 10 ways to make sure you’re happy at college:

Top 10 Ways to be Happy at College

1. Schedule only classes starting 3:30 pm or later
2. Don’t befriend anyone named “Spike” or “Willow”
3. If you open the microwave and there’s already food in it… don’t eat it. It seems convenient,
but… just don’t.
 4. Buy your professors lots of presents. Like cops, they love bribes.
5. Boxes and boxes of Pop-Tarts
6. Call your mother (she made us include this one, sorry)
7. Be the star quarterback of the football team
8. Buy your RA (Resident Advisor) lots of presents.
9. Don’t wake up with your face in a pile of your roommate’s dirty socks
10. Don’t let your roommate wake up with his face in a pile of your dirty socks
Of course, before you even get to college, there are some steps you can take to set yourself up for
happy times to come.
Here is a rundown of what you should consider as a first step to crafting your Ultimate List of Schools:
1. Location — Pretty straightforward. Where do you want to go to school? East coast? Somewhere
sunny? In the back of a van, down by the river?
“Location” is… kinda vague. Let’s break it down.
Actual Location on a Map — Are you dying to get away from (or get to) New England? The Midwest? The
Pacific Coast? Or maybe you have an even more narrow location in mind, like a specific state or city?
We’re not sure there are any colleges in Glacier View, Alaska, but we’ll see what we can do for you.
Geography —Do you need to live in the mountains or you’ll just die? Maybe you can’t live without
seeing the Great Plains or the Great Lakes every day. Hey, that’s not such a crazy thought. Lake Michigan
can be pretty when it isn’t completely frozen over.

"Now that’s what we call football weather."

(Source)
Weather — If it rains for two days straight do you begin to twitch? Or… something else that rhymes with
it? Have you lived your entire life in flip-flops? Do you recoil from the sun like a pasty vampire? If you
have specific climate needs, try to find schools that provide them so you don’t wither up like the lettuce
left in the back of the fridge.
Distance from Home — Think about how often you may want to visit home, or have family visit you. In
other words, how often do you want to see these people? Your instinctive answer may be “as far away
as possible,” but that might change when you are hungry and have no clean laundry.
Urban, Suburban or Rural — There are two kinds of people: city-lovers and… city-haters. Don’t set
yourself up for a difficult experience by choosing an environment you can’t stand. And if you do decide
to make the big move to the city… please don’t saunter down the middle of the street. There are cars
there.
2. Size — Turns out… it does matter. Colleges can be grouped into the (very technical) categories
of small (fewer than 5000 students), medium (5000-15,000 students) and large (15,000 and up).
And sadly, there is no Biggie Size option. You get what you get.

Pros Cons

At least 15,000 students, maybe as many as

30,000 or 40,000. You’ll probably get some
top-notch facilities and plenty of random That’s a lot of people. Your professor may not
Large
course options (ever wanted to learn know your name. And not just because you’re
School
horse-shoeing?). Also, increases your odds forgettable.
on the dating scene. Not that… you’ll have
time for that sort of thing….

Between 5,000 to 15,000 students. You’ll

still see familiar faces around campus, and
You get neither that big city feel (probably) nor
there will be a variety of student
Medium the personal attention of a small school. But if you
organizations and activities to keep things
School were the middle kid growing up, you’ll probably
interesting. And there’s much less chance
feel right at home.
of you getting lost on the way to the
theater building.

Do you really want all that personal attention if

your plan is to fly under the radar? Not the best
Fewer than 5,000 students. Often private
Small option if you intend on skating by. But hey, if you
institutions, which means high quality
School actually want to learn something… you can’t go
instruction and lots of personal attention.
wrong. Maybe not as diverse an array of course
offerings, but that’s about the only drawback.

3. The Academic Program — How challenging are classes? Wait wait… in college, you actually want
to be challenged. Promise. Otherwise, the real world is going to challenge you after graduation
and you won’t be prepared to deal with it. You’ll wind up being one of those people who
wanders the sidewalks of Chicago, mumbling to yourself about cheeseburgers and hot glue
guns.
It’s clearly important to consider the quality of a school’s program, especially if your high school
experience fell at either end of the spectrum: you flourished when challenged and loved rigorous
classes… or you tended to float along at “just good enough.” Those who floated in high school… sink in
college.
If you know exactly what you want to study, make sure the schools have the majors and minors you
want, and that the required and elective courses offered sound like something that could tickle your
learning bone. (Note: There are no bones in the brain. “Learning bone” is just a figure of speech. That we
just made up, right now.)

"Your kind of people."

(Source)
4. Demographics — Do you have a need for a community of people… like you? Could be kind of
fun to have classes with a bunch of your exact clones. At least you’d know when you had food in
your teeth.
Different schools may have different make-ups of specific racial, religious, gender and socioeconomic
populations. If you depend on a specific group for support or a sense of belonging, be sure it’s on your
list. If you’re a mime and feel like only other mimes really “get” you… then focus on colleges with large
mime populations. Try schools in the San Fran area.
5. Admissions — This is not the time to ignore the numbers. (Honestly, we at Shmoop believe you
should never ignore the numbers. They’re a spiteful bunch.)
Be realistic. Do your grades and test scores measure up to the averages of the school you’re looking at?
If so, great! If not, suck it up and keep looking. Somewhere there’s a school that doesn’t care you didn’t
nail Home Ec.
See How Your Scores Stack Up and I Have a ___ GPA, Am I Golden or Screwed?
6. Cost and Financial Aid — Unless you are an heir to an oil fortune, money will be a consideration.
If you are an heir to an oil fortune… call us, we need to talk. About something… totally
unrelated. Oh, and have your debit card handy.
But if you’re one of the throng of non-rich people, think about the total cost of tuition… plus room and
board… plus books. That equals… expensive. (We’re rounding here)
What kind of financial aid packages do you need? Does the school agree to meet 100% of financial
need? Is their admissions process need-blind? Will you have to make up the difference by drumming on
overturned trash cans at street corners?
Check out How Do I Pay for All This?
7. Graduation and Retention Rates — Unless your plan involves a sixth year of college,
transferring colleges, altogether dropping out, or just being that really old guy at frat parties…
 make sure the school you’re interested in has a high rate of retention (who sticks around) and
graduation (who does it in four years).
8. Campus Environment and Facilities — What will it actually be like to live, work and play on this
campus? Unlike high school, you’re not going to be taking the big yellow bus home at the end of
the day so you can tell mommy and daddy all about what you learned.
Do you want an urban campus among skyscrapers where your commute to class might involve the
subway, or a picturesque rural campus (think: Frisbee golf course)? Consider features like student dining
options, sports and exercise facilities, academic support centers and housing availability. It’s like you’re
school-hunting and apartment-hunting at the same time. Cue panic attack.
9. Athletics — Is your varsity letterman’s jacket your go-to item of apparel? Do you own a t-shirt
with the definition of either “pain” or “victory” printed on it? Do you love the big spirit that
comes with getting ready for the big football games? Then a school’s athletic program or
intramural offerings should be part of your decision. Rah, rah, you’re our man, if you can’t do it,
no one can. Check out our section for recruiting athletes.
10. Social Activities and Clubs — If you are a dedicated scrapbooker or a member of
the International Quidditch Association, you’ll want to investigate what each school on your list
offers… or be prepared to start your own club. You may have to supply your own flying brooms.
If the social scene revolves around fraternities and sororities, and you can’t stand beer or high-fives (you
should certainly never do both at once), look for a school with social activities that do interest you.
Once you have thought long and hard about all of these aspects of your decision… take a nap. You’ve
earned it. Then, after you wake up refreshed, think long and hard about them again and write down
what you want in terms of each. You can now input your preferences into a College Search Engine
to Generate your Big List.

The Biggest Myths about College Selection

University of Where...The Myth of the No-Name School
Think that any school you’ve never heard of probably stinks? Think again. The reality is that there are
thousands of schools in the United States. College counselors haven’t even heard of them all. Most of
the time, you hear about schools because of sports or because of top ranking lists, both of which aren’t
the best reason to choose one. Have an open mind when a school pops onto your radar; it might end up
being a great fit for you. And guess what? As soon as you hear about the school, you’ve heard of it.
An alternative version of this myth holds that the opposite is true – that a big-name school is going to
equal happiness, riches, and a guaranteed ticket into graduate school. Nope. Check out our Find
Colleges search engine to find colleges that you may be interested in.
The Myth of “More Is Better” …Applying to Lots of Colleges Is the Way to Go
Reality: This is like saying “I’m not going to read the menu, but I will order one of everything to make
sure I get something I like.” Applying to colleges takes money and time. Instead of applying to a
gazillion schools, put in the work to create a short list full of schools where you have a good shot at
getting in and where you would be happy to attend.
The One-Application Myth…Focusing on the One School Where You Really Want to Go
Reality: Ummm . . . can you say all of your eggs in one basket? Keep your options open. It’s great if you
have one school where you really want to go. But guess what? Tomorrow you might change your
mind. Or get a rejection letter from that school. Now what?
The Legend of Private “Reach” Schools and Public “Safety” Universities
Are private schools usually harder to get into, and should public universities be reserved for fallback
schools? Reality: Short answer: no. Long answer: Pretty much no. Yes, some public universities more or
less check for a pulse when admitting students, but others are uber-competitive. Same goes for private
schools. It’s best to thoroughly understand each school’s admissions requirements and not make any
assumptions.
The Legend of Big-School Diversity
This is a popular legend, up there with the Loch Ness Monster. Loads of folks believe that diversity (of
people, opportunities, and experiences) only comes in big packages. Reality: Sure, large schools
generally have more ethnic diversity. But all schools are going to attract people with different
backgrounds, and at smaller schools, you will be more likely to interact with those people. Plus, even
smaller schools have a few thousand people, which means thousands of different interests, clubs to join,
activities to learn, and more. Check out What the Heck’s Out There to learn more about the different
kinds of schools.
If You Don’t Know Where You’re Headed, Go Big…The Myth That Undecided Students Need A
Big School
Reality: Sure, bigger schools usually have more choices. But they also have more people. For undecided
students, a better choice may be a smaller school with general requirements that introduce them to a
range of subjects before they need to declare a major. Also, consider schools with strong advising
programs, so you can get some help on which major would be best for you.
Is a Top College Worth Your Cash?

(Source)
There are a lot of big name colleges out there—you know, the ones with ivy growing up every wall—but
are they really worth the sticker price? As it turns out, the answer is a resounding, triumphant, "well,
maybe."
Private universities are usually ranked more highly than public universities (source). These private
schools have large endowments, small class sizes, and reputations that attract world-class talent
(source). Lists of universities with the highest return on investment (ROI) are likewise dominated by
private schools. Like the one we found on Payscale.com.
However, the schools with the highest ROIs aren't necessarily the biggest public universities. They're
generally institutions that produce a large number of graduates with science, technology, engineering,
and math (STEM) degrees. The evidence is clear and unsurprising: alumni in science, tech, and math
earn more than their counterparts in other fields and they earn it earlier. Science FTW.
Problem solved, right? Go to a private school, study engineering, and win big? Got it. Let's all go home.
Wait, wait, wait. Actually, a few liberal arts schools, like Williams College, have alumni that boast median
mid-career salaries over $100,000 per year. So what's an enterprising college aspirant to do?
Well, the smart money is still on a STEM degree at a school with a high ROI. You can make a liberal arts
degree work, though, by researching schools with a strong department in your preferred field (source).
For instance, we've heard highway robbery is an up-and-coming major.
If you decide to head off to a mid-tier college with a lower ROI, consider looking into ways to manage
your debt load in order to maximize the financial return on your degree (source).
Oh, and take note: whether you choose a big name private school or a smaller public one, just having a
degree is increasingly handy (source). Trends show that 65% of job openings will require at least some
college education by 2020. Hopefully, by then we'll have figured out a way to improve on movie theatre
nachos.

What’s a “Good School”, Anyway?

(Source)
You've studied hard and chugged so many energy drinks that you could vibrate your way into an
alternate dimension. Naturally, you want to get into a good school. And everyone knows what makes a
good school, right?
Well, we think the sign of a truly great school is that it has a dining hall with all of our favorites, but we'll
understand if your criteria is a little more rigorous. You might be thinking of the big names—we
bet Stanford, Yale, and Princeton come to mind. But can all that prestige (and the hefty sticker price that
comes with it) buy you a good fit?
Not exactly. A 2014 poll found that there was "no discernible advantage" provided by graduating from
an elite college vs. any other school (source). The same poll saw a sharp decline in the amount of
students who claimed to be thriving as their loan debt increased. It also found that graduates who felt
"emotionally supported" by a professor or mentor were three times more likely to thrive as adults.
We're not telling you to write angry letters to Ivy League schools, but it might not be a bad idea to avoid
racking up insane levels of debt to go to a name brand school. This is especially true if you can fulfill all
of your educational and personal goals elsewhere.
It's a good idea to figure out exactly what you want to get out of your school of choice and then make
informed decisions from there. For example, data from PayScale has shown that community college
graduates in the tech field earn higher median salaries than Bachelor's degree holders across all
programs (source). Take that, you cool universities with Latin mottos.
On the reverse end, there’s definitely a place for degrees from traditionally prestigious schools. A 2011
study found that elite investment banks, consultancies, and law firms showed clear preference in hiring
graduates from "super-elite" universities (source). So that community college degree that was so hot
about a paragraph ago? It's not really that useful in this context.
Here's the take-home: a good school—like a good degree, or a good car, or a good set of chopsticks—is
only "good" depending on what you intend to do with it. If it's your dream to rub shoulders with the
snobby-yet-dapper Wall Street elite, then it makes sense to invest in an expensive education at a
prestigious school. In that case, it's a good school. But if your goals are more modest and you can be just
as happy at a local school, with a great staff, training to become a massage therapist, then guess what?
That's a good school, too.

Top 10 Schools with Mascots Related to Weather

Wheaton College

Wheaton College is represented by a mastodon (extinct relative of the elephant) named Thunder.
Although, it doesn’t look it’s going to thunderstorm in this blue-skied picture of the campus.

Middle Tennessee State University

A winged horse named Lightning represents Middle Tennessee State University.

St. Cloud University

St. Cloud University is represented by a costumed husky named Blizzard.

University of Miami

Nicknamed the Hurricanes, the mascot of the University of Miami is the Ibis- a bird that supposedly is
the last to leave before a storm and the first to come back.

Southern Nazarene University

The sports teams at Southern Nazarene University are known as the Crimson Storm, and the mascot is a
thunderbird- a mythical creature that allegedly makes thunder by flapping its wings.

Lake Erie College

Stormy the animated cyclone is the mascot of this liberal arts college in Ohio.

Fresno Pacific University

Sunny the Sunbird is the mascot of Fresno Pacific University, which is located in always sunny California.

Cloud County Community College

The mascot of Cloud County Community College is Thor- you know, the god of storms, lightning, and
thunder, the thunderbird. No, not like the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, more like an animated
bird costume.

Trine University

Trine University’s nickname is Thunder, and their mascot is a white tiger named Storm.

Oglethorpe University

The mascot of Oglethorpe University is Petey the Stormy Petrel. We couldn’t deny a bird with ‘stormy’ in
its name a spot on this weather list.
Chapter 4: Visiting Colleges
This chapter will discuss the importance of visiting colleges. What about if I can’t afford to do college
visits? Alternatives will be presented as well. You will learn what to NOT do at a college visit as well.

Introduction to Visiting Colleges

Wrong way to start thinking about visiting colleges. Erase any fantasies of wild parties from your mind; a
college visit is a serious tool that can help you decide where you want to spend the next four (or possibly
more) years of your life.

"Better leave the outfit at home."

(Source)
What are college visits all about? The great thing is, you will have the power to design your visit so you
experience every aspect of the school that interests you. A college visit can happen at any time during
your application process, but is probably most useful during two stages: Narrowing Down Your List, and
after you have been accepted to a few schools. A visit to the campus will help you get a feel for the
school and allow you to make more informed decisions (making good decisions is not guaranteed.)
First, know that you will have to spend some time Preparing for College Visits. Just showing up
unannounced doesn’t fly. Second, take along a checklist of What to See, Ask, and Do when visiting
schools. Information and options are going to come at you fast and furious, and you want to make sure
you don’t miss anything. It is supremely important that you consider What Not To Do When Visiting
Schools. We guarantee that every admissions office has stories of that guy who visited that one
time...don’t be that guy. Finally, know What To Do If You Can’t Visit Schools. All is not lost, there are
options.

Checklist: Preparing for College Visits

You don't just appear one morning at your dream school, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and call that a
college visit. No. You prep ahead of time, so you can squeeze every drop of information and observation
out of the short time you'll be on campus.
Research the school online. Fail to do this, and you've got bigger problems than getting into college,
friend.
Compose a list of questions to ask students, professors, university staff, the hot campus tour guide,
coaches, and the random guy streaking in front of the library. The more questions you ask, the more
information you'll have...and information is power.
Look at the school calendar. Will that Statistical Thermodynamics class you're dying to sit in on be in
session? Check.
Make appointments. Show up for a tour without registering, or at a professor's door without e-mailing
first, and you will get the stink eye.
Look at a map. We're not saying you have to know where the food court and Frat House Row and the
student-run pub is...but the hot campus tour guide will be impressed if you at least know which way is
north.
Pack. Even if you're just taking a day trip to your local liberal arts college, bring a notebook and a camera
and a snack for in case you get hungry.
Dress to impress. During your campus visit, you'll meet people who have a say in the admissions process
and in the awarding of financial aid. You'll talk to professors who could someday be grading your finals.
So, wear deodorant, iron your shirt, and Febreeze your shoes. No one likes the smell of yeasty feet.

What to See, Do, and Ask During College Visits

It's the day of your campus visit. There are crowds of prospective applicants milling around, smelling of
nerves...just like you. There are roving parents, each one ready to slit your throat if that will increase
their kid's chance of getting an acceptance letter. There is information everywhere, on the admissions
process and financial aid packages and campus housing and extracurricular activities and on and on and
on.
Your brain is about to go into overdrive. Prepped as you are, it's still possible that you will forget to see,
do, or ask something that's really important to you. How do you avoid that? Hit these high points, and
you should be fine.

"You’re a deer in the headlights no more! Shmoop’s got your back."

Five Things You Must See During Your College Visit

1. The classrooms. The only thing you will learn in a windowless, moldering basement is that it
sucks to have class in a windowless, moldering basement.
2. The dorms, both on-campus and off-campus. Are there bars on the windows to prevent
students from jumping out? That's an important safety feature!
3. The library. Yes, you'll do a lot of stuff online in college, but there is no better place for a pre-
class catnap.
4. Sports or recreational facilities. Some schools have an Olympic-size swimming pool. Some
schools don't have an Olympic-size swimming pool. It matters if you're trolling for a swimming
scholarship.
 5. The campus. Believe it or not, trees matter.

Ten Things You Must Do During Your College Visit

1. Sit in on a class that interests you. It may make you question your chosen major. Better now
than midway through your last year of college.
2. Talk with current students about what the school is like. They'll happily share what they know,
and they'll even more happily try to scare the bejeezus out of you.
3. Eat the cafeteria food. Tall order, we know.
4. Spend the night in a dorm. See what life is like with a roommate who is your complete opposite.
“Eye-opening” is the descriptor you're looking for.
5. Take a housing tour. It's the next best thing to spending the night in a complete stranger's room.
6. Attend a cultural event. Choose something non-controversial, like a play or concert, if in the
company of a parent. You don't want to listen to them complaining the whole way home.
7. Checkout the neighborhood surrounding the school. It's probably a happenin' place...unless the
school is in the middle of an Iowa cornfield.
8. Interview with an admissions officer. They've got lots of good information and advice, and the
more you ask now, the less you'll ask later, when every other applicant is busy driving the
admissions office insane.
9. Wear comfortable shoes. Yes, stiletto heels make your legs look good. No, they were not
designed for wandering around the Quad.
10. Arrive early for tours, information sessions, interviews, and chats. It's just polite.

People You Must Talk to During Your College Visit

You may be shy. You may be anti-social. Doesn't matter.
A college visit could be the swing vote that decides where you attend school. It may actually alter the
course of your life. Your future is on the line, and you need to speak up.
1. Ask students what it's like to attend school. They are guaranteed to say something that will
surprise you and is worthy of your consideration.
2. Ask students what life is like outside of school. College isn't just about lab work and exams. It's
about the people you meet and the ridiculous things you do when you aren't sweating your way
through Calculus IV.
3. Ask students what they love and what they hate about the school. Again, prepare to be
surprised.
4. A professor in a field of study that interests you what their teaching style is like. If she uses the
Socratic method, you have some mental conditioning to do before your first day of school.
5. A professor what traits will help you succeed at the school. We guarantee he won't mention
beer pong.
 6. An admissions officer for financial aid information. There may be a super-secret full-tuition
scholarship floating around.
7. An admissions officer for a copy of the student newspaper. Are the school's budding journalists
editorializing on “Why You Should Spend Your Spring Break Volunteering” or “How the Board of
Trustees Lost Our Endowment in a Massive Ponzi Scheme”?
8. A coach about sports you might be interested in. Your future may lie in rugby, not marketing.
9. Ask yourself… is this school a good fit for me? Can I see myself as a student here? And be honest
when you answer these two, because self-delusion won't benefit you.

Nine Ways to Get Yourself Labeled a Shmuck by Your Dream School

There's always that one person. You know who we mean: the guy busy playing Candy Crush Saga on his
phone during a presentation; the girl who's more interested in her Pinterest-inspired manicure than
directing questions at the hot campus tour guide.
Do NOT be that person.
And, just in case you're wondering how you get yourself labeled a schmuck by your dream school...
1. You do not speak to another living soul during your campus visit. Congratulations, you've now
shot your best chance to ask questions and get information about the school.
2. You pretend to be a British teenage tennis star when you really come from Tennessee. If you
want to be successful at college, you need to be at a school where you feel comfortable...as
yourself, and not your British alter-ego.
3. You act disinterested during a tour. It's like not eating your vegetables: the only person you're
hurting here, is yourself.
4. You visit during a school holiday. All you see is an empty campus, with not a professor or a staff
member or a student in sight. You've just wasted your time.
5. You make it all about your friends. Chit-chat when you're back at your high school. During a
campus visit, you need to focus on mapping out your future.
6. You make it all about your parents. Daddy went to college twenty years ago. It's great that a
campus visit takes him down Memory Lane, but this trip is about you. Be the person in control.
7. You don't do your prep work. How will you know what you don't know and what you need to
know if you don't make an effort to know ahead of time?
8. You rely on your memory. You are going to be inundated with information. You will be
drowning in it. Take along a camera and a notebook so you can keep track of what you learn.
9. You misbehave. Sometimes, the cops need to be called. Just make sure no one calls them on
you during a campus visit.

What to Do if You Can’t Visit Schools

There are two good times to visit colleges: when you're Narrowing Down Your List, and once you've
gotten a couple of glorious acceptance letters in the mail. But what if you can't pull off a campus visit?
Truth is, college visits cost money. There's the cost of a gas or a plane ticket, the cost of renting a car,
the cost of a hotel room. Campus visits also require time that you (and probably your parents) can't
spare. If you live in a foreign country, well...it's all of this nonsense, times a hundred and plus a visa.

The Pros and Cons of Visiting Colleges

Pros Cons

A visit to Big State U, a school you were wild to You miss Homecoming. Your girlfriend dumps you
attend, reveals that it wouldn't be a good fit for you for the second-string quarterback. Bummer, dude.
after all. You cross Big State U off your list.

You're accepted to Wee Prestigious College. You go Not only does the trip cost your parents nearly
for a visit, and it feels like home. You know which two thousand dollars, but TransAir loses your
admissions offer you'll be accepting. dad's luggage. Dad is not a happy man.

Your college visits helped you figure out which Your college visits cost you and your parents’ time,
schools to apply to, which school to attend...and, money, and effort. And wouldn't you rather just
hey, they were kind of like mini-vacations! take a vacation to Hawaii?

Fortunately, there are substitutes for college visits:

 Get to Know Your Counselor. Your counselor receives oodles of print material from every college
in the country. If you want to know what a school has to say about itself, if you want to see what
it is about Big State U that makes Big State U think it's a rockin' place to be, then beg your
counselor to part ways with a college guidebook or three.
 Surf the Internet. Guidebooks only tell the school's side of the story. The Internet, however, can
provide you with reviews of and opinions about a school from a hundred different viewpoints.
There are college ranking websites, professor review websites, websites dedicated to student
and alumni chatter...the list goes on. Check out College Research Resources for more ideas.

"Good luck trying to find a virtual frat party though. We hear those are hard to come by. Guess acting
like an idiot digitally isn’t quite the same."
(Source)
 Talk to people. Chances are, you can Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon yourself into chatting with a
current student or alum of any school that you are interested in. If your connections are such
that you really can't get in touch with a Yale graduate, then go beg your counselor for an
introduction. They've had hundreds of kids come through their office over the years, and they
can probably point you in the right direction.
 Contact a school's international student adviser, if you're an international student. Not only will
an international student adviser be able to go over the run-of-the-mill information that you
need about the college and its admissions process, but this person can also get you up to speed
on what exactly you will need to provide in order to get a student visa.
  Take a virtual tour. Colleges provide video tours of their campuses, their dorms, their sports
facilities, and their classrooms. If you can't make it to a college in person, then sit back in your
big comfy chair and let the Internet whisk you away to your dream school.
Visiting a college campus isn't just an informative experience, it's also an exciting one. We get the
attraction. But, keep in mind that a college visit will neither decrease nor increase your chances of
receiving admission to your dream school. The campus visit is just a tool, one you may or may not use,
depending on circumstance, and one which has less expensive, less time- and work-intensive
alternatives.

College Fairs
You're entering your junior year of high school. Forget about campus visits; the only college you've ever
seen is Mississippi State University, and that's because you live in Stark Vegas. You've been told that
there's a vast cornucopia of institutions of higher education out there. Your classmates whisper about
places called Duke and Vanderbilt. You want to know what other schools are out there that might be a
fit for you, but there's so much information, and you don't know where to start.

"If only college fairs involved gorging on cotton candy…"

(Source)
Enter the college fair. Funnel cakes! Haunted House! Huge stuffed animals! Step right up and . . . nope,
wrong fair.
The college fair is a magical event that exists to help you in Narrowing Down Your List of Schools, and
may even draw your attention to some awesome colleges you never even knew existed.
A college fair is like a Renaissance Faire, just without the costumes and turkey legs. There are booths.
There are representatives of colleges at these booths. You go from booth to booth, doing the meet n'
greet, asking questions and collecting information.
The whole Twenty Questions thing is reciprocal. College representatives will ask you for your name and
number, what you're looking for in a school, and what your projected area of study is. This way they can
keep track of you and put a voodoo curse on you if you don't apply to their college.
So, what's your part in all of this?
Three Things You Shouldn't Do at a College Fair:
1. Show up with bedhead in flip-flops and pajamas.
2. Slurp on an Icee while talking to a college representative.
3. Make paper airplanes out of the papers you pick up at the Harvard booth.
Treat the college fair like it's a college visit...or, really, a lot of college visits crammed into a couple of
hours. This means you dress well and go in with some information about the schools that will be present
at the fair.
Take a list of questions you can throw at the various college representatives so you look intelligent and
interested. If you really want to wow the guy from Berkeley, carry a side-by-side comparison chart of all
the schools at the fair, where you can scribble down pertinent facts for easy reference. Take a bag,
because you are going to go home with more guidebooks, brochures, and merch than your two arms
can carry.
Oh, and take your curiosity. Chances are, you're going to run across a school that you've never heard of,
one that catches your interest and makes you think, “Hmm, maybe that's where I belong...”

Biggest Myths about College Visits

The Legend of the Spring College Visit…You Should Go After You Have Been Accepted
Reality: This is like buying a car before test driving it. If you have the opportunity, try to visit colleges
before you apply and use these visits to help narrow down your list of where to apply. There’s nothing
like spending time on campus to get a real sense of a school. Then, after all of your acceptances roll in,
visit again to make your decision. Check out Visiting Colleges.
Chapter 5: Narrowing Down the List
So, you have all these colleges and universities you may want to attend; but in the end, you will
probably only be able to afford to apply to a few. How do your narrow down that list? This chapter will
teach you how to do just that! Some of these articles are just silly and provide fun facts about certain
schools. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read them though!

How Many Schools Are Too Many?

How many colleges should I be applying to? The big money question. Here are some things you should
take into consideration to determine if you maybe have too many on your list.
 Cost: Applying to colleges - just like every other aspect about college - costs money. Application
fees can be nothing (rarely), but most schools charge between 50 and 80 bucks to apply. If your
list is so long that just the application fees are becoming a financial burden, trim the fat.
 Application Quality: You want to present the strongest application possible for each
school. That means flawlessly Filling out the Application, writing inspiring essays, sending in
amazing Letters of Recommendation, and all the other details which go into every application. If
your list of schools is so daunting that you don’t have the time and energy to put your best into
each application, get rid of some.
 Your Senior Year Performance: You don’t want to be that guy (or gal) who gets into their first-
choice school, only to have their senior year grades force the school into taking back their offer.
It’s called rescinding your offer. A strong senior year is critical to getting into (and actually
attending) college. Are college applications causing you to neglect classes and extracurricular
activities? Stop doing that.
Still looking for a magic number? We recommend six, ranging from safety, reach, and target schools.
The truth is, you should apply to a range of schools where you would be excited to attend, with the
specific number determined by your ability to juggle everything that you have to do.

Target vs. Reach vs. Safety

Target

Important  Also, called a “core” school, a target school is one that you
Stats really, really, really want to attend, and where your stats match
their admissions standards.
 Signs that this could be one of your target schools: You’re
DYING to go there. Your GPA falls within the school’s
expectations. Your family’s house has the school’s mascot on
the front lawn. (Hey, there’s nothing wrong with a little alumni
involvement. Consider the Bushes, the Kennedys, the
Sopranos…)
 Does your choice pass muster? If that’s the case, then you are
looking at a target school. The majority of the schools on your
list should fall in this category.
 Pros These are the schools you shouldn’t need to sweat about. Your target
schools should be places you really want to go, and the ones you
should be fairly confident you will be accepted into.

Cons  The key phrase here is fairly confident. There can be danger in
counting on the idea that you will get into one of these schools.
 Remember, you may meet admissions requirements perfectly,
but colleges are looking to admit a well-rounded class. This
means the schools might already have plenty of students just
like you, and will take a pass to admit others. It can be a totally
random thing...admissions officers and their ilk can be a
capricious bunch.

Bet on a school as a target if: You meet or exceed their GPA, transcript, and standardized test score
requirements, and the rest of your application is strong.

Reach

Important  Think about a reach school as that dream school. You know,
Stats the Princeton (Joel in Risky Business) or the Harvard (Elle
Woods in Legally Blonde) that you would love to attend.
 Maybe you just don’t make the grade in one or two areas.
Maybe your GPA and transcript are stellar, but you didn’t quite
hit the mark on your SAT. Or perhaps you rocked the ACT, but
that one C- in freshman English has your GPA hovering a bit
below the standard.

Pros You just might get in. A strong application with the majority of
requirements for admission exceeding the mark, may make up for one
area that falls short. You might also fall in that demographic the school
is looking for to round out their freshman class (Southpaw gluten-free
vegan from the Isle of Wight…).

Cons  Your odds of being admitted aren’t great. You know, that’s why
it’s not in your target schools list.
 If your grades and standardized test scores are below what the
school must have (ridiculous or not), chances are that the
college simply has enough qualified applicants who look better
on paper than you. This isn’t to say that you aren’t good
enough for the college, or that the admitted students are
better than you in any way. Rather, it’s just a statement that
the college isn’t the best fit for you, one way or another. Sour
grapes all around! Nyah-nyah!
Bet on a School as a Reach If: You fall short in one area, but exceed the other requirements, and have a
strong essay and letters of recommendation. You’re good enough, you’re smart enough, and doggone it,
people like you.

Safety

Important  A SAFETY school is what it sounds like: a school where you are
Stats very confident that—barring some sort of catastrophe—you
are going to be accepted.
 Your stats exceed all the requirements, and the subjective
parts of your application will blow them away. This isn’t a
“throw away” school, however. Make sure it is one you want
to attend if need be.

Pros You’re going to get in. And since you did your research, you would be
happy attending Community Fishing College of the Puget Sound (home
of the Plankton-Eating Killer Whales!) if it came down to that.

Cons You didn’t put in the research, and this school ends up being your only
option and it isn’t for you. Gap year (bring your shirt-folding skills),
here we come…

Bet on a School as a Safety If: You feel very confident about your chances of getting accepted, you
wouldn’t be embarrassed to tell people about it, and you would genuinely enjoy attending that college.

Top Deciding Factors in Choosing a College (Satire)

The Number of Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts on Campus

Frappucinos, iced coffee, unlimited pastries. Hey, if you want to study late into the night, you'll need the
caffeine. (Note: Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts did not endorse this blog).

Flower Allergies

Are you allergic to the flowers around campus? Think about how miserable you'd be if you went in
sneezing and sniffling to every class...

Good Food (and Fruit)

We here at Shmoop love food, and let's be real. Who wants leftover potatoes from last night's dinner as
the next morning's fried hash browns?

Mirror Sizes
No full-length mirrors? Seriously, it's not convenient to have to stand on the toilet so you can get a full
profile of yourself in the tiny sink mirror. And college is all about looking good, not learning.

Location of Laundry Machines

You might not think it's a big deal now, but when you have to lug that 10-pound dirty laundry bag that
you've tried to neglect for weeks.... trust us, the location of laundry machines to your room will be
important.

Romantic Getaways

Many people meet their loved ones in college, so it's important that your first romantic date with the
one you might spend your entire life with isn't at McDonalds because it's the only restaurant around.

Sports Teams

There's nothing like a 'friendly' rivalry with your rival school. But only if you win.

Big Dorm Rooms

Of course, this is on the list. If you don't have a big dorm room, where are you going to fit your plasma
screen TV? Or your summer and winter wardrobe? Or even little Fifi and all her toys?

Free TV and Wi-Fi

Let's be real. When you get a break from that crazy college life (i.e. staying up until 5:00 AM cramming
for your physics test), you're not going to socialize with people. No, you're going to spend all of your
time with your favorite reality TV show and the Internet.

Ping-Pong Table

To fit in with the frat-boys, you got to get those ping-pong skills down.

Attractive People on Campus

Having good-looking people on campus isn't a must, but it certainly doesn't hurt.

Tailgating Parties
In the end, it's all about community. And sports and community equal tailgating parties that are bound
to be fun.

Best Colleges to Attend to Become a Criminal (Satire)

University of Nevada
If George Clooney is your intellectual guru, head to University of Nevada, Las Vegas. What with college
education and proximity to the Sunset Strip, you too might figure out how to rob the safest safe in the
world.

Tufts University
Tufts is the Alma Mater of Andrew Fastow, a key mastermind behind the Enron scam. Perhaps you can
follow in his footsteps and tank a great American company.

Southern Methodist University

In 1987, Southern Methodist University tackled a problem with criminal football coaches. Football fans
the nation over were less than happy to hear that some players received more than $60,000 as
“encouragement” to attend SMU.

University of Tennessee
Head to the University of Tennessee, and put off that pesky psych homework by honing your hacking
skills. Maybe you’ll be as successful as David Kernell, the undergrad who in 2008 broke into and
published vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s email.

Hofstra University
If you aspire to pull off a great Ponzi schemes and garner national infamy, you may want to head to
Hofstra, Bernie Madoff’s alma mater. But we don’t recommend joining him at his current institution,
Butner Medium.

Columbia University
In a 2010 police sting called “Operation Ivy League,” New York police arrested five Columbia University
students. Their crime? Selling $11,000 worth of drugs...to undercover cops. Oops.

University of California- Berkeley

Many people develop new passions during their college years. Take heiress Patty Hearst, who in her
sophomore year at University of California-Berkeley was abducted by the Symbionese Liberation Army
(SLA), a left-wing revolutionary group that was equal parts kooky and violent. Within two weeks of her
kidnapping, Patty Hearst became a passionate member of the SLA, arguably due to Stockholm
syndrome.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Ever heard the phrase “too smart for your own good?” Former Massachusetts Institute of Technology
professor John Donovan, Sr. came up with a genius plan--including shooting himself in the stomach--to
frame his son for laundering money to the Russian mafia. His sentencing judge couldn’t help calling our
Professor “bizarre” in the ruling.
University of Alabama- Huntsville
At 3 murders, 8 car thefts, and 80 burglaries in two years, University of Alabama-Huntsville is the place
to go for not-so-comical crime.

University of Maryland- College Park

Want to catch the criminals, not be one? University of Maryland-College Park is the best school of
criminology in the country.
Chapter 6: Building Your Resume for Success!
This chapter will talk about how to build a resume, or what they call a “brag sheet”. You will learn about
the importance of grades, extracurricular activities, and standardized test scores.

Chapter 6.1: Introduction to Building Your Resume

5 Steps to College Admission Gold
Ever notice how your name jumps out at you in a list of hundreds of names? (Or, if you’re Kim and
Kanye’s daughter, on a compass.) Or how — when you're really hungry — phrases like “melted cheese”
or “barbeque sauce” or “peanut butter and pickles” make your stomach growl? The same phenomenon
occurs when college admissions officers review applications. Fact is, there are some qualifications and
experiences that will go a long way to helping ensure that your application is placed in the “admit” pile
and not in the shredder.

1. Grades and Transcript. Yawn. Snore. OK, boring, we know. The reality is that your cumulative
GPA and the rigor of your courses are huge determinants of how strong of an applicant you are
(and choosing to take weightlifting over AP calculus will make you a different kind of strong
applicant). Be sure you know how to Beef Up Your Transcript, and learn about gold nuggets
like AP, Honors, and IB courses.

2. Extracurricular Activities. Colleges want to admit interesting, engaged students who will shine at
cocktail parties and potentially donate millions of dollars to their alma mater someday. Your
application should list a variety of activities that show you took initiative, developed leadership,
or were passionate about something, be it jai-alai or anime.

3. Volunteer Work. Engaged citizens in high school often translate to engaged college students.
Help out regularly with Habitat for Humanity or at your local SPCA, and a college is gonna want
to put a ring on it.

4. Multicultural Experience. This is more than vacationing in Cabot for a week or watching
marathons on the National Geographic channel. A multicultural experience means you have
developed cultural and language connections through meaningful interactions and travel, so
you're super prepared to function successfully in today’s global society. If you're an
international student, make sure to highlight the unique perspective you'll bring to a school.

5. Part-Time Work. Success in college is all about being able to keep a dozen different plates
spinning at the same time. Did you wait tables in high school? Then not only do you have a head
start on how to manage your priorities, but also you know how to spit in someone's food
without them ever finding out.

Introduction to the Resume/Brag Sheet

In essence, a brag sheet is simply a resume. A 50-year-old woman changing careers is bound to have a
very different sort of resume or brag sheet than you will. Matter of fact, so will a 23-year-old college
graduate heading out into the world. (Notice we didn’t say “scary wild world where you’ll be competing
with a cast of hundreds for the same job.) As a teenager, your resume will—and should—look and feel
different from one where you’re trying to land a job. A brag sheet is also very useful to have when
you’re asking for letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches, and other leading adults in your
life. It lets everybody have a peek into the human that is you (so please wear clean underwear). When
you’re applying to colleges, most of them want to see things other than your stellar (or perhaps less-
than-twinkly) GPA. What’s in your heart? What are your passions? What do you do after school and on
weekends? Are your vacations simply for sleeping in? All of this goes into your brag sheet.

Key experiences that colleges are going to be looking for include:

 Volunteer work.

 Leadership positions.

 Involvement in music and the arts.

 Clubs.

 Cultural experiences.

 Honors and awards.

 Community service.

 Employment. Even if you worked summers at your dad’s commercial seating company, include
it.

You should still make sure those grades are included here, but in a perfect world (and let us just assume,
for the rest of this paragraph, that it is, indeed, perfect) you’ve been keeping track of every
extracurricular activity, sport, club, travel time, volunteer service, etc. since ninth grade. It sure would be
a lot easier to write this brag sheet thing if you have…It’s not the time to be skimpy or overly humble.
(That being said, some colleges do verify these so do be honest.)

Brag Sheet Template

When developing your brag sheet, feel free to use the template below. And listen: If you don’t have a
very good idea of what you want to major in or do with the 50 years of your life upon graduation, take
that part out. There are many ways that wind can blow once you start taking your classes. You may find
you have a passion for things you never even dreamed of. So remember: A template is a starting point.

Name
Address
Phone Home
Cell
Parent (1)
Parent (2)
What are you considering as your major in college and why?

What experience do you have which will prepare you for that major?

Choose two or more questions below and answer them thoroughly to give your teachers and
counselor some ideas of what to include in your letter of recommendation:

1. What might your teachers say is your greatest strength as a person? As a student?

2. What sets you apart as an individual?

3. If your best friend were asked to describe you, what would he/she say?

4. Discuss an event in your life that has had a significant impact on you, your life, your
academics.

Volunteering Schools Years Hours/Weeks Positions/Responsibilities

Leadership School Years Hours/Weeks Positions/Responsibilities

Arts & Music School Years Hours/Weeks Description

Clubs School Years Hours/Weeks Positions/Responsibilities

Cultural Experiences School Years Dates Description

Community Service School Years Hours/Weeks Positions/Responsibilities

Employment School Years Hours/Weeks Positions/Responsibilities

Honors & Awards School Years Description

Yes, that is a LOT of information for a teacher or college admissions board to take in. And they are busy,
busy people. Keep it clear and concise. Use bullet points instead of long-winded paragraphs extolling
your every virtue and examining your every thought, it should read nice and straightforward. Readers
can scan it and hey, it may be one of the first to be completed since it was so delightful to look at…
Advice From Current Students: Becoming a Good Applicant
Student admitted to Princeton University
Don't spread yourself too thin and try to do everything in high school. It's fine to experiment with
different clubs and activities in the first year or two, but once you get to junior or senior year, being
passionate and excelling at a few things trumps being a mediocre jack-of-all-trades any day.

Often times, prospective applicants will ask current students, "What did you do to get into [college]?"
The bottom line: it really doesn't matter what activity you do, as long as you choose something and give
it your all. Trust me, there really is no "one" formula.

Chapter 6.2: Grades/Transcript

The College-Prep Transcript
Have a look at your transcript. Don’t know where to find it? No problem. You won’t have to go all Bear
Grylls and search for it in the wilderness. Take some time to Get to Know Your Counselor – bring them a
Diet Fanta, some Jujubes, a foreign fashion magazine – and they should be able to get you a copy.

Some schools use online methods to get transcripts, too. Your school portal won’t respond to bribery, so
make sure you learn how to work the system. If you know the difference between a tangent and a
cosine, you should be able to download your transcript. If you don’t… well, we can help with both.

Transcripts might as well be written in cuneiform. They can be trickier to decipher than the Rosetta
Stone, and every state and school district has a different system, with seemingly random values
representing credits, and graduation requirements that vary more than Rihanna’s wardrobe changes.

But don’t despair, all solid college-application transcripts share core requirements in common. If your
transcript doesn’t have any of the following, meet with your guidance counselor ASAP to ensure that
you're scheduled for these classes before you attempt to strut across the stage in your cap and gown.
Needless to say, the earlier you get this step done, the better.

Why should you bother with all this? Because colleges are like Santa Claus, and they’re going to be
checking this list twice to make sure you meet all the requirements. Imagine getting a lump of coal
instead of an acceptance letter from your top-choice school simply because you failed to meet the
Useless Phys Ed requirement. And you thought Curling 101 would be a waste of your time. When the
only job you can get is Zamboni driver at the skating rink, you’ll regret that decision.

Seven Things That Need To Be On Your Transcript

1. English. Doesn't matter if the coursework goes by Language Arts, English Comp, or Survey of Brit
Lit...you just need four of 'em.
2. Math. Everyone's favorite subject. While some schools require only two years of math, and
others require you to suffer through Cal I your senior year, a solid college-app transcript will
include Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. If you're aiming for the Ivy League, man up and take
Pre-Calculus or Cal I, because – trust us – that's what the competition is doing.:
3. Science. You need three full years, with two of those being lab courses. The more cute,
innocent, dead animals you’ve dissected, the better. Biology, Chemistry and Physics are the
most common lab sciences, with bonus points if you also know the difference between
 sedimentary and igneous rock (Geology), can spot Orion and Andromeda on a clear night
(Astronomy), and realize there’s a vast difference between the vas deferens and the urethra
(Anatomy). In other words, non-lab sciences look good, too.
4. Social Studies. Three or four years of this subject should do the trick. You'll need one year of
U.S. History and one year of World History, and maybe even a semester of Economics or
Government.
5. Foreign Language. ¿Hablas español?. Parlez-vous français? If you want to travel the world, you
need to know how to ask “Will this pair of Levi's work as a bribe, or do you need more
cigarettes?” in various languages. Take at least two years of the same language, or go the
distance and take four to really strengthen your transcript.
6. Computer Classes. Do you want to retire filthy freakin' rich at the age of 35? Do you want to be
able to attend your twenty-year high school reunion with your head held high and your Ferrari
in the parking lot? Then do yourself a favor, and take any computer class that's available to you.
7. Electives. Take a chance on a Pottery class. Not only will you learn something new that could
potentially have a place in a college application essay, but women totally dig guys who look like
Patrick Swayze and know their way around a piece of clay.

How Important are Good Grades?

Listen, we aren’t here to lie to you or sugarcoat things, that’s what the news and grandmothers are for.
Shmoop is going to give it to you straight. Grades are important. In fact, combined with a challenging
course load, grades are a pretty important factor for college admissions. Drats. Says the B- student. OK,
hold on a minute. Grades are very important, and if you have your sights set on the Ivy League or other
hyper-competitive schools, you are pretty much going to need straight A’s in challenging courses. If you
don’t have straight A’s, you are going to need to start looking at the hundreds of other amazing schools
out there. And really ask yourself, if I didn’t get straight A’s in high school, how would I really do at
Harvard anyway? There are close to 1000 in the United States who admit between 50-75% of their
applicants, meaning they are ranked as “somewhat selective”. The long and the short of it is that grades
are important. If you are early in your high school career, great, get studying. If you are a senior ready
to begin looking for colleges to apply to and your grades haven’t been stellar, get studying. But also
think about other ways to strengthen your application. Even if you have a few B’s here and there, it’s
still possible to get into those hyper-competitive schools if you work hard on, and get involved in
activities. Many schools not only look at grades, but also consider applicant as a whole in making
admissions decisions.

Beef Up Your Transcript, Even If You’re a Vegetarian

The Ten Commandments. The Declaration of Independence. The script for the series finale of “Breaking
Bad”. Your high school transcript. These are all important – nay, mythical –documents. Of course, the
high school transcript might be the most influential one, at least at for you.

No other piece of paper has the potential to launch your college career or drag you down into the
depths of mediocrity like your transcript. It can result in your future looking like this or this. Like it or
not, your transcript is a record of how you performed academically over a four-year period, so college
admissions committees look closely at what it reveals about your potential to succeed at their schools.
Let’s talk ways to improve what they see:

Six Ways To Class Up Your Transcript

 1. Get to Know Your Guidance Counselor. You’re too young to wine and dine your counselor (or
booze and schmooze 'em if they’re not into wine), but you can still put on a nice smile and drop
in to say “hi” every now and then. Your guidance counselor can give you advice about enrolling
in challenging classes, and steer you away from not-so-impressive ones.
2. Take Honors and Advanced Placement Classes. These show colleges that you are a super-serious
student ready to survive, and even thrive on, challenging work. Heck, they might even earn you
college credit, saving you or your parents a few thousand dollars. Check out Fight Club: Honors
v. AP Classes.
3. Don’t Take Classes Pass/Fail. Geh. Pass/Fail is for losers.
4. Take More Than the Minimum. Yes, we know that the idea of sitting through academically
challenging classes during your senior year makes you want to weep hot tears of despair, but
colleges are more likely to “ooh” and “aah” over someone who buckles down for AP Spanish Lit
than someone who wastes their time and intellect baking chocolate chip cookies in Home Ec.
5. Even If You Struggled, Show an Upward Trend. You’ve seen it before at the Olympics: a gymnast
rocks the balance beam… then falls flat on her butt upon landing. This can't be you. Make sure
you actually show up and perform during your senior year, because colleges will notice if your
grades slump. Similarly, even if your grades tanked during junior year, show admissions
offices that it was a fluke by acing your senior year.
6. Take Advantage of Electives. Electives doesn’t equal easy. Feel free to take classes that might
not be college preparatory, but help you learn and grow in other ways.

IB Diploma
No need to call your doctor. The IBD, or International Baccalaureate Diploma, doesn’t have anything to
do with IBS. Colleges consider a strong performance in earning an IB Diploma a desirable characteristic
in an applicant, as the curriculum tends to challenge students in a way that prepares them for college
success. If a high school diploma is like a gold star in life, the IB Diploma is the peach-scented scratch-n-
sniff sticker on your accomplishment chart.

So, what’s the IBD all about? Students in the program are required to take courses in five categories:
Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Society, Mathematics, and Sciences.
They're also required to complete courses in the Arts, or additional coursework from the five core areas.
What, no astrophysics?

If it sounds like a lot of work, well, it is. During the course of the program, students must take regular
examinations, complete an extended essay (of 4,000 words), study something called the Theory of
Knowledge, and participate in service learning. Assessments are graded by outside, IB evaluators, with
points awarded for quality. (We bet those IB evaluators are glad this has nothing to do with IBS. They
can leave their rubber gloves at home.) Students must earn a minimum of 24 points to graduate with an
IB Diploma, with the highest possible score being 45 points.

If your school offers the IB Programme, check it out: it may be for you and may help Beef Up Your
Transcript. But don’t try to commute to a different high school if your school doesn’t offer the IBD.
Colleges evaluate candidates with the resources their high schools offer in mind, so you won’t be
penalized for not having access to certain classes (this applies to AP and Honors classes, too).
Financial Benefits of AP Classes
Okay, it’s time for some math. Not up for it? Please stop considering AP classes. Still here? Then think
about this: college tuition varies wildly. Resident tuition at a state university is going to be in the $8,000
per year ballpark. Out-of-state tuition at the same school might be more like $18,000 a year. Tuition at a
private school could hit the $30,000 per year mark, or be even more (we know, right?)

What does that break down to per class or per credit hour? A full load for a semester in college is about
five classes. Some semesters may be more, some may be less, depends on your major and timeline, but
let’s call it five, since anything below three is considered part time. So that means that in an academic
year, a student is most likely going to take 30 credits, or ten full-time classes. Still with us? Applying an
extraordinarily-complex algorithm where x equals cost per year and y equals number of classes per year,
we can calculate average cost per class:

Resident Cost per Class at State University: $266.67

Out-of-State Cost per Class: $600.00

Private School Cost per Class: $1000.00 And that’s not even counting textbooks.

Don’t get us started on the cost of textbooks. If you are able to take AP classes and score a three or
higher on the AP exams, you will be able to save up to a thousand dollars for each class. And if you can
take enough to allow you to graduate a semester (or even a year) early, you will be saving on tuition plus
room and board and pizza and all the other expenses that come with college. Simple Math.

AP vs. Honors vs. IB

AP

Important  AP might as well stand for “Almost Professional.” We’re talking

Stats college-level curricula that’s intended to cover information and
develop skills students will actually encounter in college and
university classes. It’s… pre-college. College Light. (Please do
not drink College Light if under 21.)

Pros  AP courses will give you an idea of exactly how well you are
prepared for college, since you will be covering a college-level
amount of information. Rather than merely testing the waters
with a single toe, you’re basically having someone jam your
head underwater to see how long you can hold your breath.

 These courses look amazing on your transcript. Blush,

eyeliner and lipliner. They are often worth more than regular
courses to reflect the additional challenge, which can boost
your GPA. And, best of all, if you can score a minimum of a
three (out of five - though a score of four or five is, of course,
better) on the AP Exam, many colleges and universities can
 help you save time and money by accepting the credit you
earn.

 Like… as actual college course credit. Believe it or not (and it’s

almost too good to believe), you are racking up college credit
while still in high school. And you didn’t even have to waste
one of the three wishes granted to you by that genie you found
in an old bottle in the attic.

Cons Apart from the fact that some schools don’t offer AP courses, which
could limit your options… the cons are about the same as Honors
courses. Make sure you can deal with the load so they won’t bog you
down. If you are up for it, though, take as many AP’s as you can
handle… without going certifiably insane.

Bet on AP Courses If: you are up for the challenge, your school offers the courses that match your
interests and skills, and you like to save time and money. Or if you think it will help you get Jenny
Hoover’s phone number (it won’t).

Honors Classes

Important  Honors English. Honors Biology. Honors Calculus. What makes

Stats them Honors courses? Are they taught by judges?

 The answer is actually… pretty simple. An Honors course takes

a standard curriculum for a high school class and covers
additional topics or delves deeper into the existing topics. It’s
like getting an expansion pack for your brain.

 These courses are designed to challenge students who aren’t

content to check a few boxes and move on, but who are willing
to take on additional work and content in areas where they
excel. “Overachievers,” you might call them. Except that, once
they’re out in the real world, we call them simply, “Achievers.”

Pros  Honors courses look great on a transcript. Especially with a

little blush and eyeliner.

 Not only do they look great, but many schools will give Honors
courses additional weight when calculating your GPA (finally,
somewhere you want to gain weight), so if you do well, it can
really boost your average (although be forewarned that some
colleges remove this extra weighting when considering
applications).
  Honors courses also give you an amazing opportunity to show
your interest and talent in subjects that you may take in
college. If you want to one day be able to “love what you do”…
you might as well start lovin’ it now.

Cons Honors courses will be, well… harder. More… honor-y. There is more
material to cover and more work. While all students, not just the top
bananas, should consider honors classes, try to find a balance so you
can build a solid transcript without getting overwhelmed by your
coursework. You don’t want to put your brain on overload, have it
crash and wind up in… Honors Psychotherapy.

Bet on Honors Courses If: There are subjects that interest you and match your skills, and you are willing
to take on the additional content and work. And if three witches said you could become king by taking
them. It’s worth a shot.

IB

Important  The IB program is a high-school curriculum made up of courses

Stats from each of five categories: Language and Literature,
Language Acquisition, Individuals and Society, Mathematics,
and Sciences, and then take courses in the Arts or an additional
course from the five core areas.

 During the course of the program, students must take regular

examinations, complete an extended essay (of 4,000 words),
study what is called the Theory of Knowledge, and participate
in service learning.

Pros Big pro here if you are in a high school outside of the United States, as
an IB diploma is considered by most colleges as a standard, rigorous
curriculum. In fact, most colleges consider success in any IB program a
good indicator that you will succeed in college, as the curriculum is
designed to develop the critical-thinking skills needed to do well.

Cons No floating allowed here. The curriculum is rigorous, and requires a

great deal of student motivation and independence Assessments are
graded by outside, IB evaluators, with points awarded for quality (so
sucking up to your teacher won’t help.) You may also consider it a con
that the IB program is not available in most high schools, although the
number is growing.
Bet on IB if... The program is offered at your high school, and you are a motivated student up for the
course load.

Chapter 6.3: Extracurricular Activities

How to Spend Your Summer Vacation
Months before you toss your mortarboard in the air and dash away from the pomp and circumstance to
participate in some post-graduation party romps that would make Johnny Knoxville and Dita Von
Teese blush, consider this: Any idea what college admission officers want to see their applicants doing
during the languid, summery days and nights that follow?

a. Perfecting their tans

b. Chillin’
c. Continuing Ezio’s memories in Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
d. Somethin’ worthwhile
e. None of the above

The answer is E, none of the above (duh). Summer vacation, while it needs to provide you with a break
from full-time schoolwork, is not a free pass to do nothing for weeks on end. While it may seem like a
total buzz kill to even think about enriching your mind as well as your mood, it’s pretty much a lock that
you’ll be fortifying your summer, your resume, and your image in admission officers’ minds if you
consider participating in a few of the options below:

 Get a part-time job. Sure, working at Wendy’s or Payless is a perfectly legitimate employment
experience, but if you’ve got an idea of what you may want to study in college, try to wriggle
your way into a job in that area. Animals? Become a dog walker. Architecture? Toil in the soil for
a landscaper. Teacher? Be a tutor. You never know—the pooches you may be promenading and
the kids you’re coaching may belong to an alumnus of your first choice college or the admission
officer’s old flame from a relationship that was never sufficiently doused.
 Do some volunteer work. There are tons of places that rely on the time and attention of
volunteers. Consider helping out at a homeless shelters or soup kitchens, participating in a river
cleanup with an environmental group, or driving blind people on their errands. See what’s out
there waiting for someone like you:
 Take a trip, write a blog. Mom and Dad are celebrating graduation—not yours but your little
sister’s…from fifth grade into middle school. They’re taking the whole family on a trip…to
Disneyland! Yes! (Or maybe not…) While a trek through Tomorrowland and Frontierland may
not typically be the cultural immersion experience that tips the admissions scales in your favor,
here’s a great opportunity to keep a journal, write a blog, create a video diary (or all of the
above) of what it’s like to be a teenager being held hostage on the “It’s a Small World” ride for
the fourth time. Some unique observations, a liberal cupful of good writing, and a dash of
sarcasm, and you’ve created the perfect recipe for a fun—not to mention possibly
advantageous—summer project.
 Read, read, and then read something hard. Sure, finishing up book #3 in the Divergent series is
good, solid reading, consider taking your reading list to the next level. There’s a reason that
Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse, Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment, and Sun Tzu’s The Art
of War are books that never go out of print. Get these under your belt and you’ll be ready for
 anything a college lit professor tosses at you (If you really want to show off, try James
Joyce’s Finnegan’s Wake. This experimental novel took Joyce 17 years to write, and with its
stream of conscience writing style and general lack of any sort of recognizable plot or character
construct, just ignore what we just said here and try Normal Mailer’s The Naked and the
Deadinstead. At least there’s some heart-wrenching combat action and good old-fashioned
naughtiness.)
 Enroll some preparation or enrichment courses. Nope, this doesn’t mean starting college early
(or rehashing what you just got a diploma for). You may have taken all the AP classes your high
school offered but hate to break it to you, Grasshopper, but that’s not all there is. Many local
community colleges offer these pre-college summer courses and some even offer lecture series.
Now you can finally get a grasp on calculus before you enter that freshman weed-out class Or,
rather than spending another night watching summer reruns of The Walking Dead, get up close
and personal with Jeff Bezos or Sir Richard Branson. Some of these courses (online, mostly) and
lectures are even free.

The Enormous List of Summer Camps

Middle School
General Academic Programs:
 Stanford EPGY Summer Institutes: Computer Programming, Creative Writing, Earth Sciences,
Expository Writing, Mathematics, Physical Sciences; Grades 6-7; Requires General Application &
Work Sample

 Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY): Humanities, Math & Computer Science, Science,
Writing; Grades 7-8; Requires minimum SAT scores (varies by grade level)

 Duke TIP Summer Studies: Fine Arts, Humanities, Math, Science, Social Science, Technology;
Grades 7-8; Requires minimum SAT scores (varies by grade level)

 Brown University SPARK: Science; Grades 6-8; Requires General Application

 Oregon State Summer Programs: Music, STEM; Grades 6-8; Requires General Application

 LeadAmerica Medicine & Science Program: Medicine & Science; Grades 6-8; Requires General
Application

 UCLA Extension: STEM; Grades 7-8; Requires General Application

 Northwestern Summer Camp for Academically Talented Middle School Students (SCATS): All
Academics; Grades 6-8; Requires Teacher Nomination, 90th Percentile Scores on recent
achievement tests or IQ of above 125

High School
General Academic Programs:
Note: “General Applications” include teacher recommendations, standardized test scores, and personal
statements.
  Columbia Summer Programs: Arts, Design, STEM, CS, Humanities, Business, Law, College Prep;
Grades 9-12; Requires General Application & Optional Interview

 Cornell Summer Sessions: Arts, Design, Engineering, Humanities, Business; Grades 9-12;
Requires General Application

 Emory University Pre-College: Arts, STEM, Humanities; Grades 9-12; Requires General
Application

 University of California Irvine Summer Scholar Program: Arts, Design, STEM, CS, Humanities;
Grades 9-12; Requires General Application

 UC COSMOS: STEM, CS; Grades 9-12; Requires General Application

Similar Programs:
 Brown Pre-College Program

 Emerson College High School Programs

 University of San Diego Accelerated Academic Summer Program

 Summer at USC

 Boston University High School Programs

 American University College Programs for High School Students

 Northwestern University Summer Session

 Summer at Stanford University

 Berkeley Summer Sessions

 Penn Summer High School Programs

 Georgetown University Summer Programs

 New York University Pre-College

 University of Rochester Pre-College Programs

 University of Chicago Summer Programs

 Duke University Summer Session

 UC Santa Barbara Summer Sessions

 Ithaca Summer College

 George Washington University Pre-College

 UC San Diego Summer Session

 Clemson University Summer Scholars

  Case Western Reserve University Summer Session

Rutgers Summer Session

University of South Florida Pre-College

Santa Clara University Young Scholars Program

Debate Camps (Policy, Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Parliamentary, Congress):

Grades 9-12
Note: Applications to debate camps often require win-loss records at previously attended tournaments.

 North Western Debate Institute

 Cal National Speech and Debate Institute

 Liberty Debate Institute

 Capitol Debate: Communication, Law, and Debate Camp

 Gonzaga Debate Institute

 Harvard Debate Council Summer Workshops

 Michigan Debate Institutes

 Bay Area Speech and Debate Academies

 Spartan Debate Institutes

 KU Debate Camp

 Missouri State Debate Institute

 The Debate Institutes at Darthmouth

 Indiana University Debate

 Georgia Debate Institutes

 University of Miami Debate Team

 Cornell International Summer Debate Camps

 Chicago Debate Summer Institutes

 Stanford National Forensic Institute

 Oregon Debate and Speech Institute

 Victory Briefs Institute

 POI Debate Institute

Chess (Elementary-High School):

  The United States Chess Federation

 USA Chess Camps

 UT Dallas Chess Program

 Bay Area Chess

 US Chess Center Summer Camps

 Berkeley Chess School Summer Camps

 Chess NYC

 Anatoly Karpov International School of Chess

Outdoors
Note: General Applications do not require academic data.

 Wilderness Ventures: Adventure Trips, Community Service Trips, Leadership Trips, Bicycle Tours
(all in both international and domestic locations); Grades 6-12; Requires General Application

 Lifeworks International: Adventure and Community Service Trips (all in international locations);
Grades 9-12; Requires General Application

Similar Programs
 Broadreach Summer Programs

 Adventure Treks

 Crow Canyon: Archaeology Summer Camps

 Williwaw Adventures

 ActionQuest Adventure Camps

Theater/Film Camp
 USC Cinematic Arts Summer Program: Filmmaking, Screenwriting, Film and TV Business

 New York Film Camp

 University of Wisconsin Whitewater

 Muskingham University Music Theater Camp

 BYU Theater Workshop

 Alfred University Theater Residential Institute

 Liberty University Theater Summer Camps

 UCLA School of TFT Summer Programs

  US Performing Arts Camps

 Northern Illinois University Theater Arts Camp Junior (Grades 6-8)

 East Carolina University Summer Drama Camp

A Manageable College-Bound Reading List

"Even just carrying one of these around will make you look smarter. But remember what our mom
taught you: looks aren’t everything; it’s the inside that counts."
(Source)

There’s no college application out there that has a space for you to list all of the books you’ve ever read.
(At least let’s hope that your list is too long to list…) But that doesn’t mean that putting your video game
controller down or turning off your cell phone for an hour each day isn’t a good idea. There will come a
time during this process—it may be during an interview, while writing an essay, or in a simple
conversation with a college tour guide—when you will wish you had read that particular book that will
add to conversation about what it’s like to wake up and realize you’ve turned into a giant cockroach….
(Kafka’s The Metamorphosis)

Shmoopers love to read and, while that may not be true for everyone, if you’re planning on heading to
college, you will do a lot of reading, and it’d behoove you to have some of the following classics under
your belt (and understand what the word “behoove” means). We aren’t saying that you have to read
them all; we’re just providing suggestions that might help you launch your college career. To make this
list less overwhelming, we’ve grouped some of the most important college-bound reads into themes so
you can choose books on topics that you enjoy (and won’t be surprised that Wuthering Heights isn’t an
adventure story about conquering a fear of high places).

Adventure

 Gulliver's Travelers by Jonathan Swift

 Beowulf by Unknown

 Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad

 Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe

 The Odyssey, Homer

  The Call of the Wild, Jack London

Coming of Age Stories

 Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

 Lord of the Flies, William Golding

 To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee

 The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger

 Hamlet, William Shakespeare

 Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Romance (or lack thereof)

 Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte

 The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

 A Doll’s House, Henrik Ibsen

War and Revolution

 Last of the Mohicans, James Fenimore Cooper

 A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens

 Catch 22, Joseph Heller

 A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway

 Macbeth, William Shakespeare

 Slaughterhouse Five, Kurt Vonnegut

The Human Condition

 Waiting for Godot, Samuel Beckett

 The Stranger, Albert Camus

 The Cherry Orchard, Anton Chekhov

 Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky

 Invisible Man, H.G. Wells

 The Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka

 Woman Warrior, Maxine Hong Kingston

Another Enormous List of Competitions
Tired of beating your little brother in Words with Friends, Call of Duty, or FIFA? Try using your
competitive edge in these competitions instead. Here’s a few that might toot your horn.

Interested in Science?
 Siemens Science Competition

 Intel Science Talent Search (STS)

 Intel Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

 Biology Olympiad

 Chemistry Olympiad

 Physics Olympiad

 Science Bowl

 Ocean Sciences Bowl

 Brain Bee (for you future neuroscientists)

Interested in Math?
 Math Olympiad

Interested in Computer Science?

 Computing Olympiad

Interested in Linguistics?
 Linguistics Olympiad

Interested in Business?
 Future Business Leaders of America

Interested in Aeronautics?
 NASA

Know a lot of trivia?

 Quiz Bowl

Interested in Speech and Debate?

 Good at improv? Try improv. Good at speaking fast? Try policy debate. Want to be a lawyer? Try
public forum. Look at the site for more details.

Interested in Government?
  Model United Nations

 Mock Trial

Interested in English?
 Essay Contests

Good at Chess?
 Chess Federation

Six Reasons Why A Part-Time Job Can Help You Get Into Your Dream School
If financial circumstances require you to work a part-time job during high school instead of heading to
France for the summer to practice the lingo and eat lots of bread, then don't worry: you can use your
work experience to your advantage.

1. College is all about juggling responsibilities, like homework and lab work and ultimate Frisbee
practice and laundry. If you can work a job while doing well in high school, then admissions
officers will know you have the mad skills to stay afloat in college.
2. College costs money...and that is the understatement of the year. Your bachelor's degree is
going run you tens of thousands of dollars, and the fact is, if you've had experience earning a
paycheck, you're more likely to be more responsible with your spending and saving and less
likely to drop out of college due to money trouble.
3. Work shows a level of maturity that may not be reflected in a “typical” high-school
application. If you’ve held a job, it shows you're responsible and can follow through. (Or at least
that you didn't get caught texting while restocking shelves at your local Wal-Mart.)
4. If, by chance or by plan, your job relates to your potential major – you work at a museum
because you want to go into art; you help draw blood at the hospital because you want to go
into law – then this is a good way to show how passionate and committed you are to a
particular field of study.
5. Work experience can provide great material for college application essays. Remember that
time a customer smeared poop on the bathroom wall, and you swore you'd go to college so
you'd never have to clean up someone else's feces again? That, friend, is essay gold.
6. Unless your summer job is lifeguard, swimming and suntanning are not good extracurricular
activities to include on a resume. Employment during the summer – any employment – looks
good, because working a summer job shows that you are willing and able to remain engaged.

Our Favorite Top 10 Part-time Summer Jobs

1. Theme Park Employee

2. Rangeboy

3. Vampire Slayer

4. Mathlete

5. Babysitter
 6. Assassin’s Assistant

7. Dance Instructor

8. Superhero

9. Reporter

10. Camp Counselor…On second thought, forget that one.

6 Books Every Aspiring College Athlete Should Read

A New York Yankee in King Arthur’s Court

First baseman Mark Teixeira convinces the members of King Arthur's Court that he is a powerful wizard
by crushing a wicked curveball that no mere mortal could hit.

For the real thing, check out A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.

The Runningback of Notre Dame

He may have been ugly, but boy could he break a tackle.

For the real thing, check out The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Their Eyes Were Watching Golf

A group of married men get out of dishwashing duties by retiring to the living room to watch the U.S.
Open.

For the real thing, check out Their Eyes Were Watching God.

Breakdancing at Tiffany’s

Set in World War II-era New York, a young woman charms and delights as she spontaneously starts b-
boying on the floor of a luxury jewelry retailer.

For the real thing, check out Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Little League Women

Four sisters grow into adulthood, forming America’s first ever women’s baseball league.

For the real thing, check out Little Women.

A Spare for Owen Meany

An unusual young boy with a damaged larynx is ecstatic when he is successfully able to pick up a 7-10
split.

For the real thing, check out A Prayer for Owen Meany.

Chapter 6.4: Standardized Testing

Five Facts About the PSAT
The PSAT—or Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test—is a shorter version of the SAT that students can
use to practice for the PSAT's hairier, angrier big brother...kind of like facing off with a Tasmanian devil
before trying to tackle Wolverine.

1. What is it?
The PSAT is the training-wheels version of the SAT. It’s like the minor leagues, the amateur
wrestling circuit, or the cruise-ship stand-up comedy tour of college placement exams. That
doesn't mean the test isn't important: there may be money at the end of the PSAT rainbow in
the form of National Merit scholarships.
2. What's on it?
The test has three parts: a 60-minute Reading section with 47 questions, a 35-minute Writing
and Language section with 44 questions (those two combine to make up the Evidence-Based
Reading and Writing section), and a 70-minute Math section with 48 questions. There is no
essay.

"Slow down, big girl. Still got that 35-minute Writing and Language section left."
(Source)

3. How often is it given?

Unlike the SAT or the ACT, the PSAT is only given twice a year, usually on a Wednesday and a
Saturday in October.
4. Where is it given?
Check with your guidance counselor, because the PSAT could be coming to a school near you, or
your own. Not all schools that give the test are willing to host students from outside the school
(boo!), so be sure to confirm before signing up.
5. When should you take it?
Take the PSAT in October of your sophomore or junior year. If you want your score to be
 considered for a National Merit scholarship (and who doesn't?), then you have to take the exam
your junior year, whether you took it as a sophomore or not.

Prepare for the PSAT with Shmoop!

Why Should I Care About the PSAT?

The best thing about the PSAT is that the pressure's totally off. It's called the "Preliminary SAT" for a
reason. Nobody's expected to know everything on it yet, but you should probably forgo spelling out
YOLO with your Scantron bubbles.

Between homework, extracurricular activities, babysitting, community service, hanging out with friends,
and attempting to increase likes per minute rates on Instagram, it's a miracle that anyone has time to
breathe anymore, let alone leave the house fully clothed every morning. It seems crazy to spend those
precious few hours of free time volunteering to take a test that doesn't count toward anything, but
there are quite a few good reasons to do so.

1. It's practice for the SAT.

Wouldn't it be great if life came with a crystal ball? People would know the exact moment a crush was
going to ask if they had plans this weekend, allowing time to rehearse a more eloquent response than,
"No! I'm totally free, but not because I don't have a social life or anything. I'm actually super busy, but I
could move things around, you know, if I had a reason. I don't know. Why do you ask?"

The PSAT won't help anyone get a date, but it does act as a crystal ball for another big high school life
event: the SAT. The College Board redesigned both exams in "tight alignment," meaning the PSAT covers
the same content as the SAT and provides a preview of the question types to expect. Seriously, it's the
exact same content. We wouldn't joke about something this important.

To sweeten the deal, the College Board is creating personalized SAT study plans for anyone who takes
the PSAT. Scoring high on the algebra questions but struggling with geometry creates a study plan that
breezes through solving for x and focuses on finding the volume of a sphere. Of course, the College
Board isn't exactly known for its sparkling wit, so we at Shmoop also have a complete SAT prep course,
guaranteed to provide dozens of comical pop culture references and geeky puns.

2. You can win cash money.

We're not talking about jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash levels of money, but strong PSAT scores
could put students in the running for several college scholarships.

In fact, the "NMSQT" part of PSAT/NMSQT stands for "National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test."
Unlike other scholarship competitions, the National Merit Scholarship doesn't require six million hours
of community service or a personal essay on how much we love milk or that time we rescued four
kittens in a tree with a revolutionary branch-removal tool we invented.

Scores on the PSAT/NMSQT are automatically submitted for scholarship consideration as long as
students answer a few extra identification questions, such as "Are you enrolled in high school?" and
"Are you a citizen of the United States?" Check yes or no and move on.
The National Merit Scholarship program is one of the most widely known awards for high school
students, so even the sheer honor of being a finalist or a semifinalist is impressive to college recruiters—
actually winning some money to help pay for college when you get there is the icing on the cake.

3. It can guide you toward a better high school experience.

The PSAT helps squeeze every last possible drop of scholarly goodness out of students' remaining time
in high school, whether that's one year or all four. If earning college credits before graduation sounds
like fun, PSAT scores can help guidance counselors recommend the best AP courses to take.

Elvis, on learning he earned a college credit for acing AP U.S. History.

See? There's one of those "pop culture" references we promised!

The PSAT also provides a clear picture of a student's academic strengths and weaknesses, which means
an opportunity to sharpen skills before leaving the safe nest of high school and flying solo in college or a
career. You're already here, though, so we probably don't need to convince you that taking the PSAT is a
good idea, you smart cookie, you.

6 Facts About the SAT

The SAT is the preppy poster boy of standardized tests for college applications: clean cut, wholesome,
but with that subtle mischievous smirk that makes ya melt. But seriously, the SAT is the test that freaks
the most people out. A huge percent of that freak-out quotient comes from not knowing what to
expect.

Remember: fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering, and suffering sometimes
leads to great art. But it also leads to the Dark Side. No need to turn into a cold-hearted Darth Vader
toward this bad boy, because Shmoop's here to fill you in on the SAT.

The Skinny on the SAT:

1. What is it?
The SAT is a standardized test that exists to drive college-bound high school students
insane...oh, and to test their problem-solving, real-world skills, and knowledge important for
college and careers.
2. What's on it?
The test is divided into three sections:
 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

o Reading: 65 minutes for 52 questions

o Writing and Language: 35 minutes for 44 questions

  Math: 80 minutes for 58 questions

 Optional Essay: 50 minutes for one essay

3. How often is it given?

The SAT is offered seven times a year in the United States and at least six times a year
worldwide.
4. Where is it given?
You can take the SAT, you lucky bugger, you, at official testing centers, a.k.a. certain high
schools, college campuses, or community centers.
5. When should you take it?
Never. Oh, wait, you want to go to college. In that case, give yourself enough leeway to take the
test multiple times, in case you want to improve your score. (Note that there's no guarantee
that taking the SAT over and over and over again will lift you up and over that 1550 you scored
on attempt number one.) Most folks dip their toe in the SAT pool sometime near the beginning
of their junior year.
6. How will schools look at your scores?
If you don't get a 1600, most colleges will burn your application on a funeral pyre. Others will
take the highest section scores across test dates (a.k.a. super score). Every school's different, so
check with each Admissions department to find out.

Standardized tests can haunt your dreams and harrow your soul, so we're sorry to have to say this, but,
if you're an international student, there's no exact answer to Question #6. In most cases, however, your
standardized test scores are going to be super-duper important, because they allow colleges to compare
you to your peers in a way your transcripts can't. Start preparing for the SAT with Shmoop!

What is the SAT?

Be prepared. It's the motto of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts everywhere, and should be the one for SAT-
bound students. We're talking the kind of student who always carries a spare pencil, makes lunches for
school the night before, and invests profits from babysitting/lawn mowing/lemonade stands in a
retirement account. No, we don't have a snazzy vest for all those badges, but the Shmoop Troop's got
the inside scoop on the SAT so you're not bamboozled come Test Day.

What Does the SAT Look Like?

In 2015, the College Board decided it was time for a makeover of the entire SAT Suite. No, that's not an
HGTV show about renovating the classrooms where tests are administered. The term "SAT Suite" refers
to the SAT and all of its related tests.

The new and improved SAT is different from the old exam in a few important ways.

Mo' Time, Mo' Math

The new SAT is 3 hours long with an optional 50-minute essay section. That's only 5 minutes longer than
the old exam if you opt for writing the essay. There are fewer problems on the new reading and writing
sections (yay), but more problems on the new math section (less yay). Here's how it all shakes out.

 Reading Test: 65 minutes to answer 52 questions

  Writing & Language Test: 35 minutes to answer 44 questions

 Math Test: 80 minutes to answer 58 questions

 Essay (Optional): 50 minutes to write 1 essay

If you opt for writing the essay because you just love taking standardized tests (or because a college
you're applying to requires it—check the list here), that's 50 more minutes in the testing room. That's
only enough time to watch one episode of The Walking Dead, though, so we think you'll live.

Tweaks to Test Components

The old SAT had four components: Critical Reading, Writing, Math, and the Essay. On the redesigned
SAT, the Math component hasn't changed, but the essay section has been made optional and there's a
new mega-component in town: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing.

Granted, that component is still made up of a separate Reading Test and Writing & Language Test, so
it's more of an "in-name-only" change, like rebranding water as "Whoater!" Here's what to expect on
each test.

 Math Test: Algebra, geometry, trigonometry, equations, and problem-solving all make an
appearance on the Math Test. Yes, calculators are allowed, but no, not the whole time.

 Reading Test: The College Board probably had the saying "read between the lines" in mind while
designing this test. Show off those sweet comprehension skills while interpreting five passages,
connecting them to extra-fun supplemental materials like graphs and…well, mostly just graphs.

 Writing & Language Test: Jump into the role of an editor for this test, which involves correcting
four passages for grammar, style, punctuation, and other linguistic errors.

 Optional Essay: Rather than writing an argumentative piece on why you think Mr. So-and-So's
quote about chocolate muffins is right or wrong, the new SAT Essay is an analytical response to
a source text. Oh, and guess what? Those kind souls over in SAT-Land have already given us the
prompt here.

Focus on Real-World Skills

The SAT and all of its related tests are supposed to measure how well students will succeed in the real
world. Memorizing the first 74 digits of pi or knowing the definition of "furciferous" may be impressive,
but it won't help much in college when a professor's ranting about the Oxford comma and you have no
idea what that means.

With that fact in mind, the College Board redesigned these tests to measure skills that come in handy in
college and careers.

 Reading and analyzing texts on a variety of subjects: The key word here is "variety." The
College Board wants to make sure students are comfortable reading everything from a political
speech to a history of the hummingbird to an in-depth analysis of Justin Bieber's career.
  Editing texts for correct grammar and punctuation: This is a useful skill for acing college English
classes and explaining to friends why they should be saying they figuratively, not literally, "can't
even."

 Using math to solve everyday problems: No matrices or disembodied data sets here; some
math problems on the SAT are rooted in science, history, or social studies.

 Strengthening arguments with solid evidence: This handy knowledge can help us write a
stronger essay and convince the teacher to overlook the fact that it's three days late and
covered in glitter glue.

 Connecting information on a graph to related texts: If a picture is worth a thousand words, a

graph could be worth millions—as long as we can decipher it.

 Determining the best word choice in context: There are more context clues hidden in a text
than there are colors hidden in the wind. Unleash that inner explorer to find them.

If you love reading about standardized testing (who doesn't?) and/or have a few hours to kill at your
cousin's dance recital, check out the College Board's freakishly detailed breakdown of the redesigned
SAT suite.

Scoring
After years of going against the grain, the College Board has reverted back to the old 400-1600 score for
the new SAT. Each score for the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and the Math section ranges from
200-800, while the essay is scored on a scale from 2-8. The essay score is reported separately and isn't a
part of your 400-1600 SAT score for the other two sections.

But, that's not all! The new SAT offers subscores that give you much more information about how you
performed on the test. We love a good chart as much as the next visual learner, but here's a verbal
breakdown of these fancy new subscores.

Unless the next Shmooper is this guy, because he definitely

loves a good chart more than we do. (Source)
The tester is given a test score for the Writing and Language Test on a scale of 10-40, which is then
combined with the Reading Test score to give a section score on a scale of 200-800, which
is then combined with the Math Test section score to provide an overall score between 400-1600.
Phew. This scoring process occurs through some sort of occult, alchemical catalysis that can only be
understood by one willing to peer into the dark otherworld where standardized tests are spawned.

Instead of performing the arcane rites required to obtain this knowledge, let's skip right to the question
of the hour: "What do I need to do to pass this test?" For goal-driven students who feel lost without a
target score, the College Board does at least offer a little something. They've identified a "benchmark
score" of 500 for both sections of the SAT. Students who hit that mark have a 65% chance of earning at
least a B- average during their freshman year of college.

There's another change to the way the redesigned test is scored, and it's a big one: There is no longer a
penalty for wrong answers.

On the old exam, a wrong answer was like a double blow of bad news, so students were encouraged to
leave answers blank. Not only did students miss the points for that question, but the number of wrong
answers also counted against the total score.

This policy gave the SAT a bad rap around the schoolyard for being mean, so the new and improved SAT
Suite has switched to a more positive scoring method. Scores are calculated based on the total number
of questions a student answers correctly, and that's it. Ya know, like normal scoring...

Logistics
For starters, there's a newfangled online registration. If you're interested in taking the SAT, follow
the College Board's instructions to snag an SAT golden ticket.

Most students take the SAT at school, but if yours doesn't offer it or you're home-schooled, use the
College Board's School Search tool to find local schools that can hook you up.

The test itself is a throwback, so instead of completing the exam on computer machines, students are
asked to fill out a Scantron with a trusty No. 2 pencil. When it's over, skip on down to the soda fountain
and order a strawberry malt to celebrate.

We're back in the 21st century once the tests have been scored, though. The College Board sends
students a personalized code to an online portal, which sadly does not catapult them into a fantasy
world à la Alice's rabbit hole.

However, the portal does provide access to a veritable wonderland of data, including a score report, an
assessment of individual strengths and weaknesses on the test, and a personality profiler that suggests
possible majors and careers. We doubt "mob boss" is an option, but it's still nice for the College Board to
provide some official advice about what SAT scores might have to do with the rest of your life.

SAT FAQs
We can't give you all the answers to the actual SAT, but we can give you the next best thing: answers to
any questions you may have about the exam itself.

Is this seriously a paper-and-pencil test?

Yup! Scantron and No. 2 pencil all the way. No fancy-pants computerized testing here, so make sure you
bring plenty of pencils, and maybe a pocket sharpener. Look at it this way: One day your grandkids will
marvel at the fact that when you were young, you had to use bits of rock wrapped in wood chips to fill in
bubbles printed on a tree carcass.

Will I need a calculator?

Yes, because it's much easier to use than an abacus. Make sure your calculator is on the College Board's
list of approved calculators, and put in fresh batteries before the test.

How long is it?

The SAT lasts for an exciting 3 hours and an extra 50 minutes if you opt for writing the essay. That's like
sitting through an Avengers movie with previews. You've probably already had enough sitting
experience to make it through the SAT, but feel free to practice if needed.

Are there breaks during the test?

Absolutely! The College Board may be a powerful organization with the ability to influence students'
futures, but its members aren't heartless. There will probably be one 10-minute break and one 5-minute
break between sections, and likely some time to crack your knuckles between the exam and the
optional essay.

To make the most of your breaks, get out of your seat, even if you don't need to use the bathroom.
Shake out your limbs, walk around, and get your blood flowing. There probably won't be room to
breakdance—though technically we suppose any dance performed in those five minutes could be
considered a "break dance."

What if I need special accommodations?

With a little advance notice, it's amazing how accommodating the College Board can be. Of course,
there are limits—you probably won't be approved to bring your pet hamster, Lucky, into the testing
room—but here are some of the most common accommodations for the SAT:

 Extended time

 Extra and extended breaks

 Braille, large-print, and audio test formats for students with seeing or reading difficulties

Talk to your guidance counselor or Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) coordinator at least eight
weeks before the test, and they can help you request any accommodations you might need. If you need
more information, the College Board has a whole section on its website for students with disabilities.

How do I sign up for the SAT?

You can register for the SAT by going to the College Board's SAT website and following their instructions.
It costs $43 to take the test without the optional Essay, and it costs $54.50 to take the test with the
optional Essay. But, uh, we recommend you take it with the essay, so your options are wide open in
terms of which colleges you can apply to.
How many times can I take the SAT?
Wow, we tip our hats to you simply for asking that question, and. we. wear. a. lot. of. hats. Your
dedication is inspiring and a little terrifying. Hypothetically, you could take the test as many times as you
want. Keep in mind that each test takes over 4 hours to complete (if you include all of the breaks and
administrative time) and the tests cost money every time you take them. It's good to plan your SAT
schedule ahead of time, and hopefully you won't be visiting those testing centers more than two or
three times.

What if I'm abducted by aliens on Test Day?

Unfortunately, if you are sick/have a family emergency/pull a Freaky Friday situation with your mom on
Test Day, there's no easy way to make up the test. Some nearby schools may be administering the
test at a later date than your school, so contact their guidance counselors if you'd like to register to take
the test with their students. Because you'll have worked so hard to prepare for the SAT, missing the test
would be a major bummer, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. You can always find another testing
date to take the test.

Where can I find more sample questions?

Shmoop's SAT Test Prep is full of tasty samples, and check out our diagnostics, full-length practice
exams, and drills to give you the full SAT experience.

SAT Do’s and Don’ts

How is the SAT like 2nd-century BCE Italy? Conquering it requires planning, forethought, and excellent
tactics and strategy. Unlike conquering 2nd-century BCE Italy, mastering the SAT involves a lot fewer
elephants falling off cliffs in the Alps.
The Scantron shall be your mountain,
and the No. 2 pencils shall be your pachyderms. (Source)

Fortunately for all you junior Hannibals, Shmoop has you covered when it comes to stratagems for
surmounting even the craggiest of tests. We can't help you with the elephants, though, unless
they're metaphorical.

DON'T pull an all-nighter.

It might be tempting to stay up until 4 a.m. going over quadratic equations or the appropriate uses for
semicolons one last time, but a good night's rest is far more important. Studies actually show that sleep
deprivation negatively affects concentration and memory recall, so drink some chamomile tea, turn on
relaxing music, and get a full eight hours of sleep before Test Day.

DON'T forget the essentials.

Before leaving the house, be sure to pack your Admission Ticket, the correct photo ID, at least two No. 2
pencils, and a College Board-approved calculator with extra batteries. Double, triple, and quadruple
check that you have these items with you.

We also recommend bringing healthy, protein-packed snacks for the breaks. It's shocking how much
energy a long standardized test requires. Think of it like a brain workout, minus the muscle burn and
profuse sweating. There may be some sweating, but hopefully it won't be profuse.

DON'T ignore this very important conversation for the Reading Test.
Spend two seconds on the College Board's website, and it's easy to tell that they're really pumped about
including the "Great Global Conversation" on the redesigned SAT. They guarantee that at least one
passage on the test is from an American founding document or a global commentary on topics like
freedom, justice, and liberty.

Why are we divulging this not-at-all secret fact? We just happened to find the perfect resource to
prepare for this part of the test. No, it doesn't involve stealing the Declaration of Independence. The
Constitution Center has an amazing Historical Documents page on their website, so you can snoop
around for examples of the types of documents that might pop up on the SAT without being put on the
Secret Service's naughty list.

DON'T be afraid to mark up your test booklet.

Though both share an intimidating sense of authority, the test booklet is not the Necronomicon. Feel
free to mark it up. Write notes in the margins, circle words that don't make sense, and cross off
incorrect answers. Don't worry about keeping things neat and proper, either. If the only way you can
remember the formula for the circumference of a circle (2πr, by the way) is to think about Aunt Millie's
two raspberry pies she brought to Thanksgiving last year, go ahead and scribble "Aunt Millie" next to
that circle. The College Board only cares about scoring the Scantrons, so consider the test booklet a
judgment-free document.

DO take advantage of the built-in safety net for the Math Test.
On that note, sometimes it seems like there are more formulas to study for the SAT than there are digits
in pi. Thankfully, the College Board values actually knowing what to do with those formulas more than
memorizing them, so they've thrown test-takers a major lifeline. On the first page of both math sections,
there's a reference sheet with the most common formulas that appear on the test.

It's still important to be familiar with the formulas, though, if only to prevent paper cuts from flipping
back and forth in the test booklet, but it's nice to have the reference sheet to fall back on if necessary.
Check out the official practice test to see exactly which formulas are included.

DO eat a healthy breakfast.

Skip the magically delicious sugary cereal. It's not luck you need; it's protein. Even if you don't usually
eat breakfast, your brain needs some fuel to do well on the exam. Eggs, cottage cheese, and yogurt are
all good options—maybe not in the same bite, though.

DO turn off your cell phone for the entire exam (even breaks).
We can't stress this enough: Cell phones must be turned off.

Not on vibrate, not on silent, not on airplane mode: turn them off. Here's the official word from the
College Board:

"If your device makes noise, or you are seen using it at any time, including during breaks, you may be
dismissed immediately, your scores can be canceled, and the device may be confiscated and its contents
inspected."

Yikes. Even if our Nana Shmoop sends a "good luck" text and we don't answer it, the sheer noise alone
will cause all of this hard work to go to waste. Nana Shmoop can't bear that much guilt. Just turn your
phone off, and wait to post a celebratory selfie after safely vacating the testing premises. #nailedit

DO check out the Common Prompt.

Those merciful SAT designers have made preparing for the Essay Exam easier than ever: they're giving
out the prompt ahead of time. Now, don't get too excited. Nobody's shouting out the title of the source
text from the rooftops or anything like that. However, regardless of what text you'll be asked to analyze
on test day, the prompt will always say something like this:

"Write an essay in which you explain how [the author] builds an argument to persuade [his/her]
audience that [author's claim]."

Those fun little brackets will be filled in with the author's name and claim, so there's no need to waste
several anxious minutes trying to figure out what the writer's getting at. Take that pre-approved central
claim and start analyzing!

DO make educated guesses.

This isn't the whateverth annual Hunger Games, so a wrong step won't unleash toxic gas or swarms of
tracker jackers. With the switch to a correct-answers-only scoring system, an incorrect answer no longer
counts against the total score, so the worst thing that can happen is missing the points for a particular
question. There's no reason not to give every question a shot. Cross off any answers that are obviously
wrong, then make your best guess.

DON'T rush, but DO watch the clock.

The SAT is notorious for throwing out choices that are almost right (but still wrong) among the answer
options. For instance, on the Writing Test, a question stem might include two grammatical errors, and
there may be a wrong answer choice that only corrects one of them. Take time to read each question
carefully, and read all of the possible answers before deciding which is best. That said, if one question is
taking up too much time, circle it in the test booklet and come back to it later. If you have to, heed the
advice in the above tip. May the odds be ever in your favor.

SAT Study Plan

Unless you're Usain Bolt or Seabiscuit, it would be insane to wake up one morning and decide to run a
giant race. It takes some blood, sweat, and tears to cross that finish line, and studying for the SAT is like
that, too, albeit with a lot fewer tears, a bit less sweat, and hopefully no blood—unless you get a really
nasty paper cut.

No matter how much time until Test Day, Shmoop has training regimens to fit every schedule.
Plus, Shmoop's SAT Test Prep can keep track of all of it for you. Our diagnostic and practice exams even
calculate a projected score for the actual test to track your progress. Think of us as a wisecracking-but-
lovable coach, here to help you get the gold.

90-Day Plan
We call this the "marathon plan." With more than three months until Test Day, this plan is perfect for
the super-busy because it can be broken up into tiny little chunks. If you only have 15 minutes between
your cello lesson and volunteering at the school bake sale, no problem. Do a few math practice
problems and call it a day—there's plenty of time left before the SAT. Of course, this plan is also popular
with those who like to be super-prepared because it's the most extensive review of every facet of the
SAT, so lace up those sneakers. We're in this for the long haul. If our calculations are correct (they are),
there should be about 12 weeks left until Test Day. With all of this time, divide up the study strategy into
four three-week blocks. Here's the plan of attack for each block, after you take a practice test or
diagnostic exam with Shmoop.

 Finish two drills each for the Reading Test and the Writing & Language Test. Spread the love and
switch up the topics—if you practice the science and history passages on the Reading Test, try
the careers and humanities passages on the Writing & Language Test.

 Complete a handful of problems for the Math Test, sampling the flavors from every content
area. We know it's tempting to focus only on weak links in your game, but loading up on all the
geometry drills at once won't help much on the algebra section of the practice test.

 Visit our new grammar section to brush up on any rusty areas for the Writing Test.

 Stop by Math Shack every week for some even more targeted practice based on the results of
your diagnostic exam.
  Write at least one practice essay a week, using our trusty essay drills and step-by-step SAT Essay
Lab.

 Take a practice exam and revel in your (hopefully) higher projected score. Dancing is optional,
but strongly recommended.

Lather, rinse, and repeat. In an ideal world, take the last practice test just days before the real SAT, so
you can cruise into that testing room with confidence.

60-Day Plan
To paraphrase well-known test prep guru Goldilocks, this 60-day plan is not too long and not too short.
It's just right, the perfect combination of brain strength and endurance training to get that mind in tip-
top shape.

With eight weeks until Test Day, the end's in sight. We recommend keeping up a steady jog until you get
there; no all-night study sessions required. To stay on pace, schedule study time in four two-week
blocks. Each block should follow the same basic roadmap as the 90-day plan; just step a little harder on
the gas.

30-Day Plan
It's not procrastinating if we're fashionably late, right? Celebrate the fact that we showed up to this
party at all, then start that sprint to the finish.

This plan's a little different from the others because you'll definitely want to identify the areas that need
a little more TLC before the big day. Take a practice exam or Shmoop's diagnostic exam, and here's what
to do after those results come in.

 Study based on your weakest areas, plus any others where you feel you could use a refresher. If
you aced the pronoun questions in Writing, don't spend precious time reviewing that section
right away. You'll miss some awesome Ariana Grande references in our guide, but it's okay;
there may be time to go back to them later.

 Focus on drills that match those weak areas. If your projected score was 650 in Reading but only
200 in Math, spend more time on Math.

 Visit the SAT Essay Lab whenever possible for step-by-step essay writing guidance. Make it your
goal to write at least two solid practice essays, consult them against our handy grading scale,
and brush up on your weaker analytical areas in our Essay study guide.

 Two weeks before Test Day, take a practice exam. Hopefully by then you've built up a little
muscle in the weakest areas, giving you a better projected score overall. If not, it's still okay. Be
sure to note any areas that didn't seem to improve much, and give them some extra attention
right before the final practice exam.

 Now, spend some time reviewing areas where you did well during our diagnostic exam or
practice exam.
  With a week to go before the SAT, switch things up and revisit those areas that didn't improve
as much as you would have liked on the first practice test. Drill like you've never drilled before.

 Take another practice exam a few days before Test Day to check your progress. Polish any areas
that still need work by revisiting those sections and watching as many Shmoop videos as
possible.

Phew. The 30-day plan is exhausting, but all that hard work pays off. There's nothing like the adrenaline
rush of seeing a great score on the SAT.

3 Facts About the ACT

The ACT—which used to stand for “American College Testing” but now stands for nothing—is a
standardized test used to assess your content mastery in determining how likely you are to succeed in
college. Many people are unfamiliar with the ACT, which makes it the scary stepsister of the SAT. But
don’t ignore taking the ACT just because you don’t know much about it. Some students may do much
better on the ACT, so it makes sense to give it a try. Here’s a quick and dirty description so you know
what to expect:

1. What is it and what’s on it?

Unlike the SAT, the ACT is meant to test mastery of high-school curricula. This means that, to do well,
you should have been paying attention in class. The test is divided into four sections: Math, Reading,
Science, and English (which contains an optional Essay). Each section tests separately, with time limits
ranging from 35 to 60 minutes.

2. How often and where is it given?

The ACT is given six times a year in the United States, and five times worldwide. Tests are given at
official testing centers, which may be a high school, on a college campus, or in a community center, but
there is certain to be one near you (in fact, the test might even be administered at your school). If you
need help signing up, be sure to get to know your high school counselor.

3. When should you take it?

What’s important is that you provide yourself with the option to take the test a number of times if you
want to improve your score. Since the ACT tests content mastery as well as reasoning, it makes sense
that your score might improve over time for a couple of reasons. First, familiarity with the test and with
pacing can help improve your score. Second, you will have had more time in higher-level classes in
between exams, exposing you to more content. Plan to take the ACT the first time in the middle of your
junior year. This will give you plenty of chances to take it again later that year or in the first part of your
senior year before needing to submit scores to colleges. Prepare for the ACT with Shmoop!

What is the ACT?

We understand your love for standardized testing. There's nothing quite like the smell of a freshly-
sharpened No. 2 pencil, or the luster of graphite in a perfectly-filled-in oval. Getting into college is just
the cherry on top of the treacle tart that is the standardized test. Heck, we'd turn down an invitation to
Hogwarts: we read those books, and no one ever offers Harry a Scantron.
We admit that when we're talking about college entrance exams, the SAT is usually the first thing that
comes to mind. That is, of course, for good reason. The SAT has been both the Elder Statesman and
the Kingmaker of the standardized test biz for a long time. Some schools looked down their snobby
noses at the ACT exam because it tested "achievement" (what you actually learn in school) instead of
"aptitude," or, your ability to puzzle out more advanced concepts.

The experts originally thought that the SAT was a better judge of how students would perform in
college, but that opinion is changing. Today, every four-year college in the U.S. accepts either test, but
some strongly prefer one over the other. Be sure to do your research before applying. You don't want to
show up to the admissions party in the wrong ensemble...

What Does the ACT Look Like?

This particular standardized test looks, well, pretty standard. Come Test Day, you'll be sitting down in
front of four multiple-choice tests and one (optional) writing test.

 English: 75 questions (45 minutes)

 Mathematics: 60 questions (60 minutes)

 Reading: 40 questions (35 minutes)

 Science: 40 questions (35 minutes)

 Optional Writing Test: 1 prompt (40 minutes)

That's two hours and fifty-five minutes of pure bubbling goodness. Three hours and thirty-five minutes if
you opt to take the Writing Test, either because it's required by one of the schools you're applying to, or
because you want to impress admissions committees. Three and a half hours may sound like a long
time, but it's shorter than most Netflix binges.

Tweaks to Test Components

Starting in 2015, the ACT gave its writing section a makeover. Where the test used to focus on arguing
for or against a given topic, now it's all about engaging with multiple perspectives—three perspectives
to be exact. In real life, things aren't always as simple as, say, whether or not bubble gum ice cream is an
abomination, so the new Writing Test comes with three perspectives on the given topic, and asks
writers to engage with more than one. Even better, the enhanced Writing Test comes with guidance for
planning and pre-writing, so test-takers will have a better idea of how to go about writing their essays.

Scoring
ACT multiple-choice scoring, like UPS's policy on turning, is rights only. That means you won't have
points deducted from your score for choosing the wrong answer on a question. The points you earn for
correct answers on each section are added up and converted into a scaled score of 1-36. Those scaled
scores are added up again, averaged with your three other section scores, and voila, a 1-36 point ACT
score emerges from the confusing cocoon. New for 2015 are a whole slew of extra reporting: a STEM
score, English Language Arts score, career readiness indicator, and an Understanding Complex Texts
subscore—more fun stuff for test-takers to look forward to receiving in the mail. These scores are
compiled based on student performance on the ACT, but they don't affect how the test itself is scored.
They all contain useful information, but there's no need to sweat over them while preparing for the ACT.
Just focus on doing your best on each of the five sections, and the rest will sort itself out.

Logistics
The ACT totally grooves on online registration. At least, so long as you're over 13 and have access to a
credit card. Want to take the ACT, but your school doesn't offer it? No sweat. There are tons of
ACT testing centers around the country. Live more than 75 miles from one of those testing centers, or
can't make any of the existing test dates work? The ACT still has you covered, just download and fill out
the form for Arranged Testing. The ACT also has forms for students who need extra time, or have other
special needs. Sadly, these forms can't be submitted digitally, and have to be mailed in, which is…not as
cool. Come on, ACT: You were doing so well!

ACT FAQ’s
The ACT exam is like an old friend. Maybe it's an old friend who obnoxiously and incessantly quizzes you
on inane topics, but it's a friend nonetheless because this friend wants to help you get to college. We
realize that might be stretching it a bit, but we want you to be so excited about flexing your big brains
on ACT Test Day that you just can't hide it. That being said, we challenge you to think of the ACT exam as
an old friend—someone you are always happy to see, someone with whom you enjoy a nice Saturday
bike ride, and from whom you occasionally borrow $10 for lunch, none of which you have any real
intention of repaying. Oops.

The ACT exam is also:

 A standardized test (surprise!)

 2 hours and 55 minutes long (3 hours and 35 minutes with the optional Writing Test)

 Composed of 215 questions

 Multiple-choice (except in the case of the optional Writing Test, which involves, eh, writing)

If that isn't the recipe for a best friend, we don't know what is.

What's the purpose of the ACT?

Like the SAT, the ACT exam is designed to test how ready you are for college-level classes. Colleges will
use your scores to figure out where you are in your educational career and if you would be a good fit
academically with their university. There remains some debate over how valuable standardized tests are
in terms of determining college preparedness, but debate or no debate, they're here to stay. We might
as well embrace them like kooky Aunt Polly who never misses an opportunity to squish our face with her
talon-like acrylic nails at every family holiday.

The ACT exam helps colleges compare students who may have had completely different educational
experiences. Imagine you're a student at a huge public high school in Chicago. Now imagine you're a
home-schooled student in Fresno, CA or a student at a rural school in Montana. These educational
experiences could potentially differ by extreme amounts, and without standardized tests, there would
be no way to establish how much or how little you truly took away from your high school experience
besides an aversion to cabbage and the intriguing scar on your calf. Standardized tests are what make
up this difference by helping colleges to understand what knowledge and skills students all across
America have in common. That's pretty cool when you think about it. We're like one, big, happy family,
it seems.

How do the ACT overlords decide what's on the exam?

For a good time (and to understand what they hope the exam will measure), check out the test's College
Readiness Standards. It's riveting reading; we warn you.

In order to build the exam, the ACT demigods look at textbooks and work with middle school and high
school teachers to figure out what you've been learning. The good news is the ACT exam tests stuff that
you've been studying for years. Chances are, there won't be too much on the exam that you haven't
seen before, at least in passing and before the nap you won't admit to taking. There's also a lot of
problem solving involved, and by virtue of being a human being, you're probably really good at problem
solving already.

Also, the ACT exam is predictable. We already know exactly what kinds of questions are going to be on
this puppy and, as if that isn't enough icing on your cupcake, we also know to approach them. Doing well
on the ACT exam at this point is simply a matter of practicing and sharpening the skills you already have.

What does the ACT exam test, exactly?

The ACT exam is composed of 4 main tests and 1 optional test:

 Math

 English

 Reading

 Science

 Writing (optional)

FYI: Shmoop's ACT Test Prep takes you on a guided tour of each test, complete with pictures and clever
jokes. (The jokes we throw in for free.)

How do I sign up for the ACT?

You can register for the ACT exam by going to the ACT website. The test is offered in all 50 states from
September to June of every year (usually in September, October, December, February, April, and June).
It costs $39.50 to take the test without the optional Writing Test, and it costs $56.50 to take the
test with the optional Writing Test. Every college admissions office in America accepts the ACT exam,
though some colleges give it different weight in their evaluation processes. Also, we absolutely
recommend that you take the Writing Test.

When should I take the ACT?

Like any good hairstyle, it's a matter of personal choice, but we suggest taking the test in your junior
year. If push comes to shove, you can always take it again in the fall of your senior year. Apparently, 57%
of students who retake the ACT exam improve their composite score.

However, we know standardized tests can get pricey (college application fees, too). If you're only able to
take the ACT exam once, that's okay. You can practice, practice, and practice so that you're more than
ready for game day (P.S. we can help you do that with our ACT Prep). Just be aware of college
application deadlines so that you can be sure to get your test scores in on time. If you take the ACT exam
in February of your senior year, it will probably be too late since most application deadlines will have
passed by then. Give yourself enough time to get scores to the right colleges so that they can be
appropriately dazzled by your academic wonders.

How does ACT scoring work?

This isn't the evil empire or anything. None of the ACT exam graders are plotting your downfall, fingers
tented Mr. Burns' style. No, the folks over there are good people. They will count every answer that you
get right on each of the four tests. They'll then convert that number of right answers into a scaled score
between 1 and 36. Next, they average these four scores to come up with an overall composite score
between 1 and 36. 36 is the highest possible score a person can receive on the ACT exam and basically
solidifies your rock star status, if you were wondering. Colleges are probably going to pay the most
attention to this composite score. The good people at ACT HQ will also calculate seven subscores on a
scale of 1 to 18 for each of these tests:

1. English: Usage/Mechanics

2. English: Rhetorical Skills

3. Math: Pre-Algebra/Elementary Algebra

4. Math: Intermediate Algebra/Coordinate Geometry

5. Math: Plane Geometry/Trigonometry

6. Reading: Social Science/Natural Science reading skills

7. Reading: Arts/Literature reading skills

Subscores, like submarines or subways, have nothing to do with your overall ACT exam composite score.
In other words, adding up your subscores won't give you your composite score. Instead, these subscores
provide a more detailed picture of how you did on the exam.

Next, the Writing Test is scored on a scale of 2-12 in four individual domains.

1. Ideas and Analysis

2. Development and Support

3. Organization

4. Language Use and Conventions

What happened to 1, you ask? Wish we knew. We do know that these four scores are combined,
through black magic and not simple arithmetic, into a Subject-Level Writing Score of 1-36. If you choose
to take this optional exam, the score you receive will be combined with the English and reading test
scores to provide a combined English Language Arts score.

Some really good news:

You will not be penalized for wrong answers.

You heard it right here, people. You will absolutely not be docked points, or partial points, for any wrong
answers. This means, according to our powers of logic, that guessing is A-Okay, terrific, and an all-
around safe strategy for those questions that make you cry a little bit…internally, of course.

ACT Do’s and Don’ts

Whether you've studied like crazy or just put in a few hours here and there, these are a few tiny, but
mighty, things you can do right before test time to help you knock it out of the park.

DON'T be a zombie.
No one likes skipping meals, unless it's Nana Shmoop's liver and onions, so why would you make that
mistake on Test Day? We know you have to get up early on a Saturday, and we know you're probably
going to be a little wired, but please, have a balanced breakfast before you leave. It doesn't need to be a
twelve-course tasting menu of the finest French fare, but your brain needs it like your car needs gas. We
want you to rip through this test like a winning NASCAR driver, not stall halfway through and spinout to
the side of the track. Everyone shows up to watch the wrecks, but trust us: you don't want to be one of
the cars on fire when college admissions is at stake.

Also, we've slogged through our fair share of early morning classes, so learn from our mistakes. Get
good sleep starting two nights before the test. Seriously. Functioning on eight hours of sleep is so much
nicer than functioning on any less. Your synapses will thank you when they're not sluggishly battling to
fire off answers for you.

DON'T be a statue.
This one is along the same lines as that "don't be a zombie" thing. You're limited to the one square foot
that your test chair encompasses, so you won't be able to have a dance party or anything, but try to
move around as much as you can. Shake out the limbs, stretch, whatever. Just do what you gotta do to
keep the blood flowing without maiming or otherwise distracting the other test-takers. Maiming is
frowned upon, for all you reckless pencil tappers.

The ACT is a test of skill and knowledge that you already have. That part is great. However, that doesn't
mean you should roll up out of bed on Test Day prepared with nothing but your morning breath. To truly
conquer the exam and score as high as you possibly can, you need to know it inside and out, and to do
that, you will assuredly need to practice. So...

DO practice, practice, practice.

How does that saying go? Anything worth doing is worth doing right. Louis Armstrong wasn't just born
awesome at jazz. Michael Jordan didn't just strap on tiny baby Nike sneakers and start dunking as soon
as he could toddle (or did he?). If you want to be good at something, you have to practice. (Pssst. We
can help.)

DO come prepared.
What to bring:

 Your admission ticket—it's that thing you were supposed to print after you registered for the
test. If you lost it, don't worry. You can log in to your account and print another one before the
test. Bet you were scared for a minute, weren't you?

 A photo ID—preferably a driver's license or student ID

 No. 2 pencils—that one's pretty self-explanatory, we think…

 A calculator—check the ACT website to make sure your model isn't prohibited

 Remember cell phones are not allowed. Back in the cretaceous period before smart phones,
people used "watches" to keep track of time. You might consider bringing one to help pace
yourself.

DO mark up the test booklet.

Take notes. We're not saying you should be writing love sonnets on the ACT exam. In fact, we're
definitely saying that you should not do that. However, it is a fantastic idea to annotate the margins of
the booklet with key facts, figures, ideas, or vocabulary that may come in handy. Basically, be
an active reader. Actively reading a text is a good way to keep yourself focused and in tune, even when
some of the inevitably dull passages turn up.

DO guess intelligently and with purpose.

You're not penalized for guessing, but before you go crazy with that No. 2 pencil and tempt the hands of
fate or good conscience, try to narrow down the possibilities. There are usually at least one or two
answers that are definitely, no doubt about it, incontrovertibly wrong. They're "duds," if you will. If you
can get rid of these dud choices like the vegetables you so skillfully avoided as a child, possibly leading to
the dog's inexplicable obesity, you'll have a much better chance of guessing correctly.

DO keep calm and carry on.

On Test Day, relaxation is key. We know that's easier said than done. There's actual strategy involved
here, too. Take it easy and give yourself plenty of time to wake up, get ready, and meander (as opposed
to rush maniacally) to the test center. Make sure your mode of transportation is reliable. We always
take extra precaution with Papa Shmoop. Even though we remind him when we need to leave, he tends
to lose track of time, and then yells at us to jump in the car when we're already five minutes late.

DO stay positive.
We're not saying that you have to be Little Miss Sunshine. You already know that tests are not always
the most thrilling of adventures, so we're not going to spit in your face and tell you it's raining. Still, if
you focus on how torturous this test is going to be and how badly you're going to do on it, chances are
your experience will be really torturous and horrible and you may do badly (self-fulfilling prophecy,
anyone?). Belief affects behavior, simple as that. So, think positively. Leave little sticky notes all over
your house reminding yourself of how awesome you are, give yourself a pep talk as you're driving to the
exam, and even try smiling while you're taking it.

ACT Study Plan

As Aaron Burr said, "Never put off for tomorrow, what you can start studying for today." Fun fact: Aaron
Burr actually used Shmoop's Duel Prep Guide. We, uh, took that one down on July 12, 1804. No matter
what Aaron Burr said, don't let the ACT sneak up on you. Shmoop has convenient ACT 90-, 60-, and 30-
day study plans to get you started.

90-Day Plan
90 days means more time to let the information soak in, more time to work on any weak spots in your
repertoire, and more time to catch up on your Netflix queue. Plus, thirty more days of Shmooping if
we're your study buddy. Start your Shmoop odyssey (Shmoodyssey?) by taking our diagnostic exam, or a
practice exam. This should give you a good sense of where you stand with the ACT.

Pro-tip: When you actually take the ACT, sit.

Now you have a solid 12 weeks of study time before Testmas day. Lucky you. You can divide that vast
expanse of time into four easy-to-chew three-week blocks. Here's how you're going to properly
masticate each block.

 Run five English Test drills and two Reading Test drills. Switch up the topics as you go: No sense
doing both humanities passages on the first day. What will you have to look forward to in week
10?

 Sample drills from different topics in Math. You'll want to take eight or nine math drills during
each three-week block. This is another case where mix-n-match is in your best interest. Taking
all the trigonometry drills at once and leaving the plane geometry for later is like having your
pasta and your sauce in separate bowls.

 Work through two or three of the Science Test drills; the same rules apply re: mixing it up.

 If you're taking the Writing Test, respond to one of the writing drills during each of the first
three blocks. Save that extra time during the last block: you'll need it. You should also drop by
the Shmoop ACT Essay Lab every other week to brush up on those essayistic skills—once a
week, if you feel like you need extra help.

 Do your inner grammar nerd a favor (yes, everyone has one) and spend some time in our shiny
new grammar section. This will help prepare you for the English Test, and, if you're taking the
Writing Test, will give you an extra edge when it comes time to write the best essay you can.

 Stop by Math Shack every week for targeted practice based on the results of your practice
exam.
At the end of each three-week block, take a practice exam, and reward yourself for your (hopefully)
growing score by doing something fun, like preparing for the robot apocalypse. Start your last three-
week block with a practice exam, you know, for extra practice, and aim to take the last practice exam a
few days before the Real Thing. You'll be so prepared that even the Arctic doomsday vault will be
jealous.

60-Day Plan
Don't have three months to spend studying? Perhaps Shmoop can interest you in a 60-day plan. 60 is a
great number of days. Why, in 60 days you...couldn't build Rome 60 times. The 60-day recipe is the same
as the 90-day, just a little leaner and meaner. Instead of 4 three-week blocks, work in 4 two-week
blocks. It's the same thing, just in a smaller package. Think of it as fun-sizing your study schedule.

30-Day Plan
Okay, maybe you spent 60 days knitting a scarf for your pet giraffe. Maybe you work better under
pressure. Maybe your middle name is Danger. Whatever the case, if you only have 30 days to study, it'll
be hectic, but in the end you'll still be better prepared for the ACT. That's a good thing, because it's a
true fact that if you ace the ACT, you get three wishes from the Scantron Genie*.

 Take a practice exam or our diagnostic exam first. Yup, eat your dessert now and save the salad
for later. You'll get a solid idea of where you're already performing well, and that's important
knowledge to start with when you're doing the 30-day plan.

 Work on drills for those areas where you fell short, where you need a refresher, or where you
still feel uncertain.

 Spend some time in Math Shack, and brush up on those mathletic events where you're weak.

 If you're taking the Writing Test, take one of the Writing drills as soon as possible. Then spend
some time in the ACT Essay Lab before trying a second drill.

 Two weeks before the test, take a practice exam. Hopefully, you're improving already. Look for
areas where you haven't improved over your diagnostic exam, or where you'd like to improve
more. Re-work those areas, hit the drills for those topics, and watch as many Shmoop videos as
you can.

 Now it's time to hone your strengths. Go back and work the areas you skipped over before. Test
yourself by answering sample questions, and try drills on any topics where you had trouble
answering those sample questions.

 One week to go, baby. In this last week, aim for two practice exams. Try to take one at the start
of the week so you can review as much as possible. And, of course, drill. Take the second a day
or two before the actual test. Getting comfortable with the format and process of taking the test
helps, and it never hurts to have more practice.

Now that's a sprint. If Alexander Hamilton could have moved that fast, all of Aaron Burr's studying might
not have paid off.

*Absolutely not a true fact.

AP FAQs
In case the sweaty palms and late-night cram sessions didn't tip you off, AP exams can cause stress like
no other. Are you gearing up for battle against European History, priming yourself for Psychology, or
calculating the probability of acing Stats?

Whatever's on the horizon, it can be tough to keep your cool with so much on your plate. We're serving
up the answers to your big questions to help you stay sane during AP season.

What do I need to bring?

 An approved calculator, if needed. It'll vary by test, so check here to see which type will be
accepted.

 A watch. Your testing room may not have a clock. Either way, you'll be safer if you discreetly
glance at your watch instead of crane your neck around suspiciously and risk getting tackled by a
proctor who probably moonlights as a linebacker.

 At least two No. 2 pencils. A tip from past experience: sharpen them before you start the test.

 At least two pens with black ink. Pick ones you like, although maybe not your lucky Hello Kitty
ninja chef glitter pen from third grade. On a related note, make sure your pens have ink.

 Driver's license or other photo ID. Yes, we can still tell that your terrible DMV photo is you.
Sorry.

 Social security number. It's like Ronald Reagan said: Trust, but verify.

 Your SSD Student Accommodation letter if you've been approved for special test-taking
procedures.

If we didn't mention it, you can't bring it. (Do wear clothes, though. That's a good idea.) More
specifically, don't bring:

 Blank scratch paper. The test booklets will give you plenty of room for notes and calculations.

 Phones. Blah blah blah, this isn't your first rodeo. Who you gonna call, anyway?

 Things that go "ping," even metaphorically speaking. Computers, iPads (i-anythings, for that
matter), Kindles, and cameras. If it's vaguely electronic, plugs into things, and has a screen, then
it's a no.

How much does it cost to take an AP exam?

The fee for every AP Exam taken in the U.S. is $92, whether you're taking French, European
History, Biology, or whatever. At schools outside of the country, the fee goes up to $122 per person—
that's still in U.S. dollars, not euros or rubles or whatever.

We know paying to take a three-hour exam might seem as weird as paying to receive a punch in the
stomach. However, it may help to remember that students save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars
by potentially earning college credit through this test, so in the long run, $92 isn't that bad. Students
concerned about being able to afford all of the exams can talk to their school's AP coordinator. He or
she will likely be able to help with applications for federal or state financial assistance.

How do I study the night before the exam?

Cramming the night before is not your best option. Instead, on the eve of the exam, concentrate on
reminding yourself of the big pictures instead of all the details. Review key concepts, equations, big
events, etc. Of course, if there are small details you always forget, feel free to remind yourself of those
things, but most importantly, try to review all of the course material in a way consistent with the
representation of each section on your exam.

Is it okay to guess on the exam?

"Yes, yes! Please guess!" Okay, of course it's always better to know the answer. However, in a
circumstance where the answer is not known, based on the way the AP exam is graded, it only makes
sense to take your best guess. Use the process of elimination to funnel out obviously incorrect answers
to increase your chances of accidentally landing the ace. When you don't know an answer, guessing is
your best chance at racking up a few extra points.

Am I supposed to know every passage that comes up?

If you open up your test booklet and realize that you possess an in-depth knowledge of every passage
cited and discussed within its pages, you have won the lottery. (The metaphorical lottery. Sorry.) This is
on par with an asteroid traveling from Saturn and landing in your precise lap at 11 a.m. on a Tuesday.
Let's just say that it's improbable—and that's okay. Regardless of which AP you're taking, there is no
expectation that you will have read or even heard of every author or topic that is addressed within your
exam. None. (Whew.)

Will I earn college credit if I score a 3 or higher on my AP exam?

Maybe! Every university is different. Be sure to check with the school to see whether or not they accept
passing AP test scores.

The final grade for the exam is a whole number on a scale of 1 to 5. A 3 or better often qualifies for
college credit, but a 4 or a 5 on the test generally guarantees that credit is given where credit is due at
any school—that offers credit for AP scores, that is. Once you've found out that you did indeed ace the
exam, be sure to call your academic institution of choice and ask them, "So what can you offer me?"

Or something. We trust you to use your words.

My school doesn't have a specific AP course, but it's my favorite subject and I
study like a maniac. Can I still take the exam?
Sure can, champ. Students who are homeschooled or who attend schools that don't offer the AP course
can take the test at a participating school. Contact AP Services by March 3rd to get the ball rolling.
Contact info here.

Is there a limit to how many AP Exams I can take?

No. Except you can't take Calculus AB and Calculus BC in the same year. (Because we knew that was
your next question, obviously.)

I'm freaking out! I have another exam at the same time as this test, so what do I do?

Before you rush out to invest in a Time-Turner, take a deep breath. The College Board anticipated go-
getters like you having this problem. There's a late-testing period the week after traditional exams are
over. You can take any of your AP exams during that period if needed.

What if the test goes badly? I mean really, really badly.

We all have those days. Sometimes you're battling food poisoning or the flu or it's just a terrible,
horrible, no good, very bad day. Sometimes you're panicking in the bathroom in the morning and
accidentally put in your brother's contacts, which in retrospect will be one of the grossest things to ever
happen to you. (Not that we're speaking from personal experience or anything…)

We're certainly hoping this won't be the case, but if it is, you can cancel your scores at any time. To have
them permanently wiped from your record before the score report comes out (and sent to whatever
universities you designated) you'll need to fill out this form before June 15th (check this link for more
info).

Can I take my AP exam again if I'm unhappy with my score?

Yup, you can repeat the exam next year. But keep in mind that unless you're also retaking the AP course,
you won't have the advantage of a built-in review. On the bright side, you have an entire year to study
on your own, or with us (wink-wink). Just make sure you request that the lower score be withheld, or
else both scores are reported.

Voltaire once said to "judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers." AP graders are pretty
fixated on answers, though, and luckily, Shmoop has the answers to any lingering questions about the
exam.

Can the College Board accommodate my disability?

If you have a documented disability that would make taking the AP exam challenging, the College Board
is happy to help. Some of the most common accommodations (a-common-dations?) include extended
time, large-block answer sheets, and a reader to dictate questions. Work with your school's AP
coordinator to get any accommodations approved by the College Board's Services for Students with
Disabilities office.

Feelin' a little more prepared? You got this.

Why Should I Take AP Classes?

"AP" doesn't really stand for "Awesome People," but it could. Those of you who hang with AP courses
are a step ahead of the game, studying at the college level while still in high school. Earning college
credit and valuable experience by taking a rigorous course and a bend-your-brain exam before even
setting foot on a university campus? Amen, preacher. Amazing & powerful. Also, priceless.
Studies show that students who grab the Advanced Placement gold ring by scoring a 3 or higher on AP
exams tend to do better in college. We like shiny things. We're here to help you nab not only that gold
ring, but also that magna cum laude medal at university commencement. If the medal comes with a
shiny new job offer after graduation, even better. But you probably can't achieve all of that without
some blood, sweat, and tears. That's why we're serving up a list of four reasons to remind yourself why
you're bustin' your butt during AP season.

Why should I take AP classes?

1. To get into your dream college

You've probably heard of the #collegestruggle, but we'll remind you: college is challenging. With college
acceptance rates dipping lower and lower at elite schools, 10 AP classes is the new 5 AP classes.
Competitive schools want to see you challenging yourself, even more than they want to see stellar GPAs.
That one AP class you dragged your feet to sign up for could mean the difference between an
acceptance and a rejection.

2. To help you choose a career path

With over 30 AP classes that directly connect to college majors and career choices, you could get a head
start on planning that elusive thing called your "future" now. Post-HIMYM marathoning, did you really
want to be an architect? AP Environmental Science may surprise you as a connection. Ever wondered
what a Nutritional Sciences major may entail? Take AP Statistics to take the first step. The College Board
has really stepped up its cool factor with this Find Your Future tool.

3. To help you save time and money at college

If you score a 3 or higher on your AP exam, you could earn college credit before you even get there. If
you're taking 15 credits per semester at college, already having credits checked off could save you up to
$5000 per semester. Not only are the financial benefits of AP classes a win-win, but getting generic
requirements out of the way will allow you to spend more time taking classes that are truly the bomb
dot com.

4. To get the most out of your high school education

No matter where your future takes you, APs will make you feel like a lion taking down an antelope.
Challenges are good for the soul. And the application, the wallet, and the stable future you'll have built a
foundation for. No matter how together you feel, there are going to be times you want to give up AP
studying and just watch cartoons in your pajamas. First things first: that's okay. Everyone's allowed a
pajama cartoon once in a while. Once that's out of your system, though, think about why you're even
taking all these tests. Whether it's to help you get into your dream college, help you choose a career
path, or just because Big Brother made you do it, remember what prompted you to start. Let that
motivate you as you sprint toward the finish line.

"And the geek shall inherit the Earth..."

–Bill Gates (Well, that's what we imagine he would say if we could get him in a room to do a Shmoop
interview.)
AP Do’s and Don’ts
"AP" doesn't really stand for "All-Powerful," but it could.

If you're feelin' the pressure of the all-powerful AP exams, and all you want to do is snuggle up with a
Little Hug juice and Full House, take a deep breath and take note of our top AP tips. You got this.

DON'T forget that breakfast is the breakfast of champions.

We're not saying you should eat the country stack of pancakes and a pound of bacon, but a growling
stomach is a distraction, especially if it does the gurgling thing that everyone else can hear. On the flip
side, it's also hard to concentrate on the argumentative strategies in an essay by Francis Bacon if all
you're doing is regretting that pound of sweet, sweet bacon you consumed on your way out the door.
There's a short break in between sections in case you forget breakfast entirely, so bring a granola bar or
other nutritious munchies to sustain you. Remember, no food or drink can come with you into the exam
room. No pets, either.

DON'T just bring a pencil.

You should, of course, bring multiple pencils, but you'll also need a photo ID and a few blue or black ink
pens. You have options, kind of—for example, essays can be written in dark blue or black pen—but at
the end of the day it all needs to be handwritten. Leave Grandpa's typewriter at home, because that will
definitely be classed as a distraction. #thekeysarereallyloudokay #pluswehaveweakpinkies

Know what you need, and double-check what you need, for each AP course, before you’re uh, sittin' in
the seat staring at the exam.

DON'T bring a watch or timer that beeps or makes noise.

In other words, don't be that guy.

If you bring in a watch that inexplicably can't stop beeping every nine minutes, we can't be responsible
for what happens to you.

DON'T walk in there not knowing what this thing looks like.
You know that dream where you show up to your exam naked? The AP equivalent of that is showing up
without knowing your exam format. The first rule of exam prep is: do not talk about exam prep...wait,
no...we mean, you should not be surprised by anything you see on exam day.

DON'T talk out loud to yourself.

It doesn't matter what you're talking about—just don't do it. You can be disqualified if the proctor gets
even an inkling that you might be trying to give answers away or distract other students. This is not a
happy situation.

DON'T over-guess on the free response section.

If you can't decide which equation to use, don't write down all the equations and hope that one will be
right, since partial credit only extends so far. Guess, but make your best guess.
DO write something down.
Because, yes, the all-powerful AP overlords are merciful enough to offer partial credit.

Squelch your panic and take the time to write with good penmanship, complete sentences, and/or
organization. The test graders are human—probably—and they reward well-written responses that they
can actually read, not the second coming of the Rosetta Stone.

DO make yourself at home and mark up your test booklet.

Taking an AP exam is like being stranded on a desert island ("Wilsoooooon!"): use whatever is available
to write on, whether it's blank space, margins, your arm…okay, probably not your arm. In the event of
an emergency, your proctor can be used as a flotation device.

DO remember the time.

If you look at a question and have no clue, skip it (good) and come back to it later if there's time, even if
it's only to guess randomly in one final burst of glory. Don't take too long on any single question, even if
it brings you great personal satisfaction.

DO know how to use your calculator.

Three main things if your AP requires a calculator:

1. Test day is not the day to debut the fancy new calculator that runs only on unicorn tears and a
baby's laugh.

2. If your finger slips, do the calculation again to double-check your work.

3. Do all calculations with the figures intact, and don't round off the answer to significant figures
until the end.

DO practice.
There's no way to know exactly what will show up on the test, but the College Board makes past
exams available on their website with scoring guidelines. (Find your course and click Exam Practice in
the top toolbar.) So giving yourself practice tests has never been easier. Passing this up is crazy; AP
Lang has ten whole years!

DO churn out a vanilla five-paragraph essay if your burning question is HOW

CAN I WRITE AN ENTIRE ESSAY IN FRENCH?
Whoa, easy on the caps lock. Learning to write in any foreign language takes consistent practice over a
long time. The more you listen, the easier it'll get. YouTube is your friend. Search for French clips of TV
shows or movies that you know well: you'll find songs from the French dubs of Disney movies, clips from
the Simpsons, and other goodies. Maybe these clips are illegal, or maybe they're "fair use." Who are we
to say? And take it easy with the essay: Intro, point 1 (from source 1), point 2 (from source 2), point 3
(from source 3), conclusion. Don't wipe out all your energy on the essay. Other sections will account for
way more of your score. Stay frosty!
DO stay positive, even when it feels like your world is crumbling around you.
It's not, and you're awesome.

5 Foolproof Ways to Score a 5 on Your AP Exams

'Tis the season to be panicky. If AP Season's getting you all in a tizzy, we've got 5 foolproof tips to help
you get your act together.

1. Make Educated Guesses on Multiple-Choice Questions

There's no penalty for incorrect answers on AP multiple-choice questions, so even if a particular

question is so confusing that it may as well be written in Akkadian, don't leave the answer blank.
Eliminate any choices that are obviously wrong, and then give it your best shot.

2. Zoom In and Zoom Out

No matter which exam you're taking, you're going to want to think big picture and...small picture. Sure,
for AP World, you'll want to know which empire was in power in East Asia in 618 CE, but you'll also want
to think about broader themes of history, patterns of change, or how different areas of the world relate
to each other. Ditto for Biology, English Lang, Comp Gov...the list goes on.

3. Think Outside the Box

Turns out critical thinking is an actual thing. A thing that will help you thrive in college and in your
career. And a thing that will help you ace any AP exam. If you're not sure how to tackle a short answer
question or an essay or a DBQ, start with some non-judgmental brainstorming. Like Forrest says, you
never know what you're gonna get.

4. Use Shmoop's Test Prep

Uh...duh? If you don't already have a license, subscribe to Shmoop for less than $1/day and get access to
prep for literally every single AP exam on the market. Start by taking the diagnostic exam, and then read
all the parts of the guide corresponding with your weakest areas. Next, focus on drills that match those
weak areas. Two weeks before test day, take a practice exam. After you've inevitably missed a bunch of
questions, read the parts of the guide that you skipped before, and test yourself by answering all the
sample questions. With a week to go, revisit those areas that didn't improve as much as you would have
liked, drill like you've never drilled before, and take one last practice exam a few days before to
(hopefully) boost your confidence.

5. Breathe

Seriously. In through your nose. Out through your mouth. You got this (and we got you).

*Since you're not a fool, there's no guarantee.

SAT Subject Tests

You may think the SAT and the ACT are enough to deal with. We’re here to tell you there’s more. Thank
us later. The SAT Subject Tests are shorter, content-specific tests that students choose to take to
supplement their college applications. Why on Earth would anyone choose to take more tests? For a few
reasons. First of all, some of the more competitive colleges and universities recommend or require that
students take a number of SAT Subject Tests. Second, if you excel in one or more subject areas and
either want to show off or eventually major in the area of study, a solid performance on the
corresponding test will speak volumes.

3 Facts About the SAT Subject Tests

1. What is it and what’s on it?

The SAT Subject Tests are available in five different content areas: English, Science, Math, History, and
Languages. There are twenty subjects within these areas. Each test lasts an hour and will contain
between 50 and 80 multiple-choice questions. Some language tests will also contain listening sections.

2. How often and where is it given?

SAT Subject Tests are given six times during the year, but not every subject is given every date, so be
sure to check what tests are being offered when. Tests are given at the same time as the regular SAT,
which means you can’t take the SAT and Subject Tests on the same date, so plan accordingly. If you need
help signing up or need advice on what tests to take when, be sure to get to know your high school
guidance counselor.

3. When should you take it?

It should go without saying that you should take Subject Tests after you have studied the subject in high
school. Duh. Depending on the course progression of your school, this may allow you to take some
earlier-level tests (like U.S. History or Biology) in your junior year, and then take some later-level tests
(like Physics or Mathematics Level 2) senior year. Just remember that you must choose to take the SAT
or Subject Tests on specific, separate dates: you cannot take both on the same day. So choose wisely,
grasshopper. Prepare for the SAT Subject Tests with Shmoop!

TOEFL and IELTS

So. Many. Acronyms. It's overwhelming, we know. TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign
Language and IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System.

If you're an international student interested in applying to U.S. colleges, you should strongly consider
taking one of these tests to demonstrate your proficiency in English. Prove you aren't these guys.

To learn more about the TOEFL, head to this website, and start preparing for the TOEFL with Shmoop.

To learn more about the IELTS, head here.

Need help determining which test to take? Look here.

What is the TOEFL?

Welcome, international Shmooper! May we also add,

 Bienvenidos!

 Bienvenue!

 欢迎你来!
  Willkommen!

 ‫!وسهال اهال‬

 добро пожаловать!

Seriously, take a plane. It's worth it. (Source)

Before you book your flight, schools want to know that you have the appropriate language skills needed
to succeed in a college environment. They could test you on French, otherwise known as the language of
love, but they don’t. Even if you can fluently wax poetic en françias, schools are more interested in
verifying that you know the world's most widely spoken language: English. That’s what the TOEFL is for.
No offense to the language of love; the TOEFL is just being practical.

Format and Breakdown

The joyous experience of taking the TOEFL lasts roughly four hours total and consists of four sections:
Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. So far, there are no sections on body language, interpretive
dancing, or awkward pauses. We'll cover these four sections in detail in our TOEFL Test Prep. For now,
here are the basics:

The Reading section comes first. You have 60 to 80 minutes to read three or four passages and answer
12 to 14 multiple-choice comprehension questions about each passage. That's a little less than two
minutes for each question, so use the time wisely. It's probably not a good idea to spend it doodling a
picture of a giraffe.

The Listening section takes 60 to 90 minutes and involves (surprise!) listening to people speak English in
different situations. You listen to four to six recordings of professors speaking in a classroom setting and
two to three recordings of students dealing with common university situations, like buying textbooks or
talking with a registrar. Then you answer about five multiple-choice questions about each recording.
There's no popcorn available for this section. Save that for the next Avengers.

The Speaking section is the shortest one, taking only 20 minutes. In this section, you speak into a
microphone to record responses to six different questions. Two of the questions, the independent
exercises, are broad and open-ended. The other four questions are integrated exercises that require you
to read a short passage or listen to a recording before speaking a response. It's a lot like being
interviewed by Maury Povich, except no one is getting the results of a paternity test.

The Writing section appears last on the TOEFL. It takes 50 minutes and asks for two different essay
responses. In the first prompt, the integrated writing task, you read a passage, listen to a lecture on the
same topic, and write a summary of both. The second prompt, the independent writing task, asks for an
opinion essay in response to a written question. The question probably won't be "Which are
better, crinkle fries or curly fries?" but we can dream.

Scoring
Mama Shmoop always tells us, "It's not whether you win or lose; it's how you play the game." She's very
wise. She must be talking about the TOEFL, because there is no winning on this test. There is no official
passing score because every school decides its own passing score individually. Schools are also free to
set different passing scores based on the specific program a student is applying to. What can we say?
We like our freedom here. In total, the TOEFL is worth up to 120 points, with each of the four sections
worth up to 30 of those points. Like many other tests, the multiple-choice questions on the Reading and
Listening sections of the TOEFL are graded via computer, but the responses to the Speaking and Writing
sections are graded by humans. Someday the whole test might be graded by a hyper-intelligent octopus,
but not yet.

Logistics
Attending school in another country is never easy, but signing up for the TOEFL is. Visit the TOEFL
website to register online or look for available test centers and dates. You can take the TOEFL almost
anywhere, except for maybe in a place that doesn't have Internet access. After taking the test, scores
are automatically sent to up to four schools of your choice for free, but sending more than four score
reports costs an additional $19 for each one. Who said education was cheap?

Are You Terrible at Taking Standardized Tests?

As mentioned above, the three most recognized and common standardized tests are the PSAT, SAT,
and ACT. These exams aren't the be-all and end-all of life, but if you're MIA for one of 'em, your college
career could be a struggle before it even begins.

These tests are like psychic friends designed to predict your abilities to succeed in college or university.
The PSAT serves as kind of a practice round, the SAT is meant to test your problem solving real-world
skills, and the ACT is designed to test your general college readiness. So, let’s say you’ve practiced, you
have impressive reasoning skills, a flawless complexion, washboard abs, and you've taken advanced
courses and mastered all of the content in them...but you're still having trouble with standardized tests
for some reason unknown to you. Is it time to throw in the towel and prepare for a career as a gas
station attendant? Sometimes standardized testing just makes us feel like that.

Five Things To Do After You Bomb a Standardized Test

1. Remember that your standardized test scores are only one part of your college application.

You'll have other opportunities to dazzle those college admissions officers (who, by the way, are well
aware that many outstanding applicants may not be good test-takers).

2. Understand where and why it went wrong.

The first step to improving your score is to recognize your weaknesses. It doesn’t have to be ugly, like a
plastic surgeon circling all your flaws with a red Sharpie. You just need to take a good, honest look at
your strengths and your shortcomings.
 3. Practice and prepare.

Just like fire juggling, magic tricks, or beating your own high score in Pac-Man, taking tests is a skill that
can be improved with practice and preparation. How can you make this happen? Use our diagnostic
exams to help you figure out where you need to improve, and get to work with Shmoop Test Prep.

4. Take advantage of accommodations if you have a learning disability.

Have you ever had an Individual Education Plan at your school? Have you been diagnosed with
ADD/ADHD, Anxiety, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, or Dyspepsia? The good news: if you have Dyspepsia, you just
need some Pepto-Bismol...and a doctor who knows that indigestion doesn't qualify as a learning
challenge.

5. Examine college admissions requirements.

Ever heard of a Testing Optional School? If you regularly crash and burn on standardized tests, then look
into these colleges. They're dedicated to making standardized test scores an optional part of the
application process, and it may be worth your time to check a few of them out.

How Important Are My Test Scores?

Standardized tests are big and bad and scary and we hate them just as much as Gollum hates hobbits.
They are, however, a fact of life, so you need to pull yourself together. How do you do that? Grab
your Miley Cyrus mix tape and a virgin piña colada, because we've got a list for you.

Four Reasons Why You Should Not Be Terrified of Standardized Tests

1. SAT and ACT scores are important, but they won’t make or break you.

There are lots of pieces to your application, and lots of places for you to shine that do not in any way
involve numbers.

2. College admissions officers are people, too.

See number 1, plus the fact that they freely admit that a 100-point increase in test scores won’t make
much of a difference to your application. Although a 100-point increase in your ACT score means
something went wrong. The max score is 36.

3. Retakes are up for grabs.

If you’ve given yourself enough time, you can take the SAT and/or ACT more than once. Brrr.

4. Some schools are test-optional.

You can recognize them by the holy light emanating from their campuses. What this means is that the
strength of your application will not be affected if you choose not to submit standardized test scores.
Check out a list of test-optional schools here.

Applying for Accommodations

The folks in charge of the PSAT, SAT, and ACT are aware that some students are faced with challenges
and difficulties in the classroom that make test-taking more difficult. They can grant specific
accommodations to students with documented need. That’s a documented learning or physical
disability. While you may think that trying to schedule Tough Mudder training around your weekly Parks
and Rec marathon is challenging, that's not the kind of thing that will qualify you for accommodations
during a standardized test.

What documented needs are we talking about here?

If you have ever had a 504 or Individual Education Plan because of a learning challenge, you might be
eligible. If you think a 504 is a cleaning spray, then you need to move along. Examples of learning needs
include ADD/ADHD, Anxiety, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Processing Speed Issues, Math or Writing Disorders,
etc.

What kind of accommodations will I receive?

Accommodations vary based on need, but might include 50 or 100% extra time, large-print exams,
small-group settings, and additional or extended breaks. Sorry, free apple fritters are not a potential
accommodation.

How do I apply for accommodations?

To apply for accommodations, get to know your high school guidance counselor, who won’t help you
pretend you’re blind or break your kneecaps to give you a physical disability, but who will be able to
help you with accommodations you actually need. If you can’t access help at school, have a look at the
following websites to access instructions for application: PSAT and SAT, and ACT.

SAT vs. ACT

SAT

Important The SAT is meant to measure your logic and real-world skills. The idea
Stats is that, no matter what classes you've taken, you should be able to do
well on the SAT if you're a good problem solver. The test is divided into
three sections: (1) Evidence-Based Reading and Writing broken down
into two subsections: (a) 65-minute 52-question Reading and (b) 35-
minute 44-question Writing and Language (2) 80-minute 58-question
Math (3) 50-minute Optional Essay. Get Shmoop SAT Prep here!

Pros Because the SAT is designed to test reasoning ability more than
content, strong students who haven’t taken some advanced courses
still have the opportunity to do well. Reasoning generally takes longer
than answering content questions, so the SAT gives test-takers a bit
more time to answer each question. The test also doesn’t include a
Science section, good for students who slept through Chemistry.

Cons The SAT is meant for students to apply logic to new material, so
learners who depend on memorization over problem-solving may find
this test more difficult.

Bet on the SAT if...you are a good problem solver and aren’t afraid of the Big Bad English sections.
ACT

Important Unlike the SAT, the ACT is meant to test mastery of high-school
Stats curricula. This means that, to do well, you should have been paying
attention in class. The test is divided into four sections: Math, Reading,
Science, and English (which contains an optional Essay). Each section
tests separately, with time limits ranging from 35 to 60 minutes.
Get Shmoop ACT Prep here!

Pros Content mastery is the name of the game, so students confident that
their high school courses have prepared them well should kick butt. For
those who snoozed through their English teacher's lectures and shine
in science, the ACT may be attractive (probably more attractive than
your English teacher.)

Cons Science. If you bombed any class having to do with particles,

molecules, DNA, or heat transfer, you may have a hard time with this
section. The ACT also packs lots of questions into each section, so be
prepared for rapid-fire answering.

Bet on the ACT if...your high school transcript is full of advanced courses and you feel like you mastered
the content for each course.
Chapter 7: Getting Organized
This chapter is about getting organized for college. Learn how to ask your high school guidance
counselor the right questions, not the wrong ones. There are also checklists by different grade levels on
how you should (or should’ve) prepare(d) for college.

Chapter 7.1: Get Organized!

Get Your Ducks in a Row!
You are 100% ready for college. You’ve surfed Notre Dame’s online store and ordered a pair of your very
own Fighting Irish knee socks. You’ve gone to the grocery store and purchased a year’s supply of peanut
butter. The deeper voice seems to be working for you, and with that mature, parted-down-the-middle
haircut, no one is going to mistake you for a high schooler any longer. Yep, sounds like you’ve thought of
everything. Guess all that’s left is to… is to…What, exactly? Turns out they won’t let you register for
classes just because you’re wearing an “I Love to Register for Classes” T-shirt. The admissions office has
no record of you having been accepted. Mainly because… you never were. And that parted-down-the-
middle haircut? It’s really just going to make the act of befriending people that much more difficult.

No, really, it looks great...

(Source)

If you really want to be prepared for college, you have to get your ducks in a row. Not just any ducks…
the right ducks. If you’re wondering which ducks those might be… you’ve come to the right place. We
can give your ducks the tools they need to start swimmin’.

And why would you want to be prepared for college? Because this is huge. Bigger than huge.
Ginormous, even. College is the bridge between learning and living. The decisions you make now will
impact how you exist for the rest of your existence.

It’s where you’re going to realize that combat juggling isn’t really a great way to earn a paycheck, and
that instead you’re going to go into medicine. It’s where you will meet Bill and Bob and Joyce and Judy,
who will stick with you through thick and thin for the rest of your life. (You’ll also meet Carter, who will
make your life hell, but you’ll be done with him in 4 years.) It’s where you’ll pack your head so full of
knowledge you’re going to need to build an addition to your skull just to hold it all. The magnitude of the
decision before you cannot be overstated. But overstate it we will. Because we can’t reach through the
screen and shake you by the shoulders, which would be our first option.

But first things first. Before you write a single paper, before you fill out a single application… the very
first thing you must do is Make a Plan with Shmoop if you haven't done so yet. You can’t expect others
to assess you favorably if you haven’t first…assessed yourself. Just make sure the blinds are closed
before you begin. Don’t believe us that it’s important to plan ahead? Here are the Top 10 occupations
held by people who never made a plan:

"Happy assessing."
(Source)

Top 10 Occupations Held by Non-Planners

1. Ice cream man

2. Sous sous sous chef

3. Professional temp

4. Bearded lady

5. Court jester

6. Model (think: JC Penney, not Glamour)

7. Food taster (great gig as long as none of it’s poisoned)

8. Sean Penn’s Personal Assistant

9. Typewriter repair man

10. Actor

Take a look at the checklist next so that those ducks of yours don’t freak out and scatter.

Checklist: Preparing to Apply to College

Organize Your Space
Organization is key. Would anyone listen to Martha Stewart explain how to keep a clean home if her den
was a pig sty? Girl’s got it together (insider trading aside). Create paper and file management systems so
that you can keep track of all the documents, essays, brochures and full-ride scholarship offers that are
going to pile up on your doorstep. Don’t let this happen to you. You may want to create an online file
management system as well, since most applications are done online now. We recommend creating a
Dropbox or Google Drive, lest you spill water on your computer and lose all your files the day before
everything is due. Your work will stay safe in cyberspace. Unless, of course, it gets abducted by a group
of cyberaliens.

"We come to your PC in peace…"

(Source)

Organize your Time

Set aside a block of time every day or week that you can dedicate to the college application process.
Think of it as a part-time job (that costs you money). Say you pour 50 total hours of work into the
college application process. Sounds like a lot of hours you could be spending beating new levels on
Candy Crush or whatever the new hot game is, but those 50 hours could be the difference between a
state school and a top university… or the difference between $1,000 in scholarship money and $10,000
in scholarship money. Those 50 hours now could translate into 50 years of freedom later in life.
Wouldn’t it be nice to retire at 40? It can be done… but you may have to decide between a long
retirement and Candy Crush. It’s a close one. Get to know a good calendar system where you can set
goals and get reminders for upcoming deadlines. We suggest you Make a Plan with Shmoop. In fact,
we strongly suggest it. (Winks, pounds open palm with billy club.)

Organize Your Brain

Let’s face it – your brain’s a mess. There’s too much going on in there. And Merry Maids won’t touch it
with a ten-foot Swiffer. Ask yourself… what do I like to do? Like something that could be a career. In
other words, you may enjoy downloading questionable content from the internet (don’t forget to clear
your download history afterward), but it’s more of a hobby than a calling. The more time you spend
organizing your brain, the better you’ll be prepared for college and the real world. Have you thought
about what classes you want to take? Do you have the rest of your life planned, so you’re just going to
enroll in a given program, take the required courses, earn your degree and skedaddle? Or do you want
to take a slew of varying courses so you can figure it out?

Do you know where you want to go to school? Maybe not a specific school, but at least what type of
school? Community college? Ivy League? Military academy? School of hard knocks?

And what are you doing outside of school to better yourself? No one likes a well-rounded student more
than an admissions officer… what are you doing in your free time to blow their minds with your
awesomeness? Cleaning up your neighborhood? Starting your own company? Volunteering at soup
kitchens? Finding a vaccine for polio? (Got some bad news for you on that last one…) You’ve got your
whole life in front of you, but it’s closing in on you quickly. Time to get your brain in gear. You’re going
to have to decide where you want to apply and, eventually, where you want to attend. You don’t have
to have the next 50 years of your life planned just yet, but at least start thinking about what and where
you might want to study. You know… something more specific than “the library.”

Important points to consider include:

What you like to do and what you are good at. More specifically, something you could make a living
doing. You might be a world-beater at clipping your toenails, but no one’s currently hiring for that.
Check out some interest and skill surveys.

"Tools of the trade"

(Source)

What you want from your college experience. Have a look at what you should consider in a school. It’s
your turn to be the picky, critical one. Don’t let those admissions officers have all the fun. How strong of
an applicant are you? It’s great that you can bench press your body weight, but we’re thinking more…
intangible strengths. Take an honest inventory of the goods, considering:

 What are your grades like? Oh, and straight C’s are not “like” straight B’s.
 What are your test scores? If you got a 28, we sincerely hope you took the ACT and not the
SAT.
 What does your transcript look like? Not the court transcript from your recent armed
robbery hearing – the other one.
 What have you done outside of school? Are you as… well-rounded as Elle Woods?

Advice From Current Students: The Application Process

Student from Georgetown University:
Start early—better to be safe than sorry. Most people procrastinate until the week before applications
are due, then really screw themselves over by writing subpar essays in what is likely to be the most
competitive college applications year ever. Give yourself the time you need to write your best work,
because now is when it really matters and a 2 AM essay just won’t cut it.
Write essays from the perspective of who’s going to be reading them: admissions officers, which include
deans and professors. As a result, you want to be highly academic, but also be interesting and show your
funny side (if you have one; don’t try to be funny if you aren’t).

Lastly, don’t view college essays as a chore or as homework that you have to do, because if you do it’ll
become clear in the tone. Instead, think about the college application process as a valuable opportunity
for introspection, to discover what about yourself you are most proud of and to show it off to people
whose job it is to discover others like yourself.

Student from Harvard University:

Think about what you like doing and what you’d like to continue doing in college. What kind of unique
point of view do your personal experiences offer? How do you want others to see you as a person? I
guess those are a few good questions to get you started. Also, do your research – each college is
different and you want to make sure you’d enjoy being wherever you end up. Also, it’s good to form good
relationships with teachers you like – these are probably the ones you’ll ask to write your
recommendations and the more they know you as a person, the more they’ll have to say about you. Plus,
they tend to be pretty cool people once you get to know them as well.

Student from Northwestern University:

Start your essays early and send them to as many people as possible. Send them to teachers and parents
as well as people your age - both types of feedback are valuable for different reasons. Ask your close
friends to describe you in three words. Using their feedback and your own judgment, decide what kind of
person you want to be to admissions officers, and build your essays / application up to that image. Above
all, be honest and speak in your own voice.
Top 5 Reasons Your Dream School Won't Return Your Calls
1. Your Test Scores Stink
Your friends at Shmoop know that you are a rare and special flower, but it takes more than moxie and
an encyclopedic knowledge of Friends episodes to stand out to colleges. On that note, we have bad
news for nervous test-takers. While the importance of standardized test scores varies greatly between
colleges, it can weigh heavily in the admissions process (source).

So, what are your options?

1. You can find schools that will overlook test scores altogether (source).

2. You can use our test prep to help you get into the college with the most appealing dining hall
food. (Since food is obviously your guiding light in making some of the most important decisions
in life, right?)

Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to us.

2. Your Course Load is Too Easy

AP Relaxation might make you a significantly calmer individual, but it probably won't look great on your
college applications. A nice slate of AP and honors classes in high school could earn you a few college
credits and prove to your dream school that you're serious about your academics (source).
Just don't take too many at once if you value your sanity.

3. Your Essay is Boring, and So Are You

Your grades are fantastic and your resume has both substance and swagger. The bad news? Interviewing
you is like watching paint dry in slow motion. Or maybe your essay is so bad that it defies reason. If so,
you should totes check out our Essay Lab and acquire some social skills already. Because colleges are
looking to create a student body that is passionate and full of personality (source). On that note, as
much as you love that story about your pet spider's first molting, perhaps there's something
more interesting that you might share about yourself?

4. You Make Questionable Life Decisions

It probably seemed like a good idea at the time to get PUGLIFE tattooed across your forehead, but it
might put a damper on your idyllic college dreams. Colleges aren't likely to go trawling through your
social media posts for hints about your life, but any information they happen across while researching
your accomplishments might color their impression of you (source). Similarly, those who
have been convicted of a crime face a tougher road to admissions success (source). It's not impossible to
be a student with a checkered past, though. For instance, Hogwarts graduated boatloads of rough
customers and they're still in business.

5. You're Just Like Everyone Else

You've got good grades, great hair, and big dreams. Congratulations: you are completely typical. College
admissions are a melting pot of class, race, and more. You will be evaluated differently if you are a white
student from an affluent area than if you are a black student from an underprivileged background
(source). Remember that you're competing against your peers and you have to stand out if you want a
fair shot at getting into your dream school. Demonstrate leadership, initiative, and meaningful growth
(source) and you'll be on the fast track to getting in. Just try not to let all that personal greatness go to
your head.

Chapter 7.2: Get to Know Your Counselor

Your Counselor
Yes, their office may be down that hallway that smells funny, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting to
know your counselor as soon as you can. Why? He is there to help you with lots of stuff, but he probably
won’t come looking for you. You need to make the first move. Good luck, grasshopper.

Top 10 Things to Expect from Your Counselor

1. They will address you as “ma’am,” whether or not you are female

2. They will be an excellent pastry chef in their spare time

 3. They will look almost exactly like Ryan Gosling

4. They will have a cute little catch phrase, like “Got any gum?”

5. They will want to show you pictures of their kids. Deal with it.

6. They will pronounce GPA as if it is a word rather than as an acronym

7. They will have an entire drawer full of Skittles

8. They will be bald. Not balding – bald.

9. They will know your parents personally, so don’t try any funny stuff

10. They will wish they were somewhere, anywhere else

Okay, but… what can you actually expect from your counselor?

It depends. There are different types of counselors. Some specialize in high school guidance, some in
career and vocational help, some in psychological support, some in papier-mâché, and some - and these
are the ones you should be looking for - are experts in helping you get into college. Bingo… that’s the
one you want. What kind of help? Are they going to call the admissions office themselves, turn on the
charm and start sweet-talking? Are they going to give you a $150k loan so you don’t have to worry
about financial aid? Mm… that’d be nice. Unfortunately, counselors are only there to guide you through
high school and toward the college career of your dreams. So the help is a little more subtle and indirect
than you might have hoped, but still pretty invaluable.

Some services provided by counselors:

 Scheduling a College-Prep Load: College Counselors know what classes look good on
applications, and can help make sure your schedule will allow you to Beef Up Your Transcript.
Unless you’re vegan, in which case they can help you kale up your transcript.

 Meeting Deadlines and Requirements: Your counselor should be able to help you stay on track
with application steps and deadlines, and give you a hand preparing for and registering for
standardized tests like the PSAT, ACT, SAT and SAT II. You may spend one entire session just
working on filling in bubbles. It’s an art, really.

 Suggesting Colleges to Consider: Counselors have been there and done that. They have a lot of
knowledge about different schools from sea to shining sea. Tell them What You Want and What
You Need in a school, and they might clue you in to a great fit. Or they might be able to tell you
which ones to run screaming from.

 Providing Enrichment Opportunities: Counselors might be able to hook you up with experiences
that can enrich your application and high school career. Also, if they never tried out for the
school play themselves, they can live vicariously through you. Just let them. It’s their only joy in
life.

 Besides helping schedule you for Honors and Advanced Placement Classes, your counselor may
have a pool of internship or enrichment courses available. So… come on into the pool. Water’s
fine.
This is not something to put off. (Leave the procrastination for your homework and household chores).
Make an appointment with your counselor this minute (unless it’s before 11 am or after 2 pm) and go
have a chat.

They usually have a ton of students in need of assistance, so the more (and sooner) you stick your nose
into their office, the more likely you are to get help. And the more likely you are to smell something
delicious baking.*

*See #2 from list above

Your counselor should know your name and your story – you want them lying awake at night hatching
plans for you. They can sleep when they’re dead.

What Your Counselor Won't Do For You

Having a college counselor is awesome – whether you have a school counselor or a private one –
because it’s their job to help you. It’s like having a personal assistant. Don’t ask them to pick up your
dry-cleaning though. They hate that.

Help You Decide Where to Go to School

This is your life – as long as you haven’t signed it away to the devil or anything – and you need to step up
and make some decisions. It can be difficult to decide which colleges to apply to, and ultimately where
to enroll. Even your Magic 8-Ball keeps telling you to “Ask Again Later.” Your counselor will be a good
source of information on certain things, like recommendations for schools that match your interests and
personality. In fact, their entire career is devoted to making those kinds of recommendations, so they
should be a superstar in that department. In the end, though, the decision of where to go is up to you,
so it’s important to get as much information from them and do as much research as you can so you can
be sure you’re not, you know… fouling up the rest of your life. Shmoop can help if you are having
trouble getting started, or want to narrow down your list.

Tell You What You Should Study

Think of counselors as fonts of information. (Times New Roman can only tell you so much.) They can
give you studies on majors that lead to the highest-paid professions or have the best hiring percentages.
They can lead you to graphs of expanding job markets and careers that are shrinking faster than
America’s attention spans. They will not, however, tell you what to major in. You get to manage that
part. Start by taking some interest surveys and check out a handful of careers that align with your
passions. It can’t hurt to talk to people either. If considering medicine, for example, ask your doctor how
much she enjoys being sneezed on continually by five-year-olds. The answer… might surprise you. (It
won’t. They hate it.)

Fill Out Your Application

Will counselors help you set timelines and deadline reminders? Abso-tootly. Will they assist you in
finding your school code and tell you to get to work when it’s crunch time? Hopefully. But when the
time comes to buckle down and actually fill in all the little spaces on those apps… your counselor may
suddenly have a “thing” they have to “do.” Okay, but you might want to cut them a little slack. They are
busy helping the hundreds of other people in your class. So take your future into your own hands, and
be prepared by learning how to fill out your college applications with Shmoop.
Write Good Letters of Recommendation (without your help)
Most school counselors have caseloads of students. Do you know a thousand people your age (or,
looking at it from their perspective, people who are ten, twenty, or thirty years younger)? If you do…
man, you must have no problem finding something to do on the weekends. Well, if some random
approached you and asked you to describe their best qualities, could you write
anything meaningful without a bit of help? If you want your counselor to paint a glowing picture of you
for those admission counselors (assuming they’re plum out of neon paint), you’re going to have to help
them, at least a little, by getting in touch with them and giving them the information they need. Go
ahead… spill the beans. Someone will clean it up. Get the inside Shmoop on Letters of
Recommendation and creating an awesome Brag Sheet.

Edit Your Essays

The core purpose – the very soul of the essay – is to communicate your unique voice to an admissions
committee. Counselors get this. So don’t expect them to turn a page of drivel into a monumental
window into your literary genius. If your writing is clunky and awkward… they’re going to let you speak
in your own clunky and awkward voice. What they can do is guide you in choosing topics, provide
grammatical and spelling reviews, and make suggestions. They can also suggest a really killer font to use.
Comic Sans, for example, has that hilarious, I-don’t-really-want-to-be-taken-seriously vibe to it. You
KNOW you want to accept me!!! See what we mean? Let Shmoop help you get started crafting your
essays.

16 Questions to Ask Your Counselor

You don’t want to be that kid in the back of the car who keeps asking “Why?” about everything. Yeah…
don’t make your guidance counselor threaten to… “come back there…” With enough students in a
typical counselor’s caseload to fill a small stadium, it is important that you don’t waste the poor guy or
gal’s time. You can ask them their favorite color when you accidentally run into them at Arby’s. Here’s a
Shmoop-approved checklist of the questions every student should ask a high-school counselor. Some of
these are dependent on what grade you're in, but take a look (and bring a pen to write down the
answers).

"When talking to your counselor, picture yourself as a sharp reporter looking for the scoop. Just make
sure to check out our question guide so you don’t ask something that warrants a “No comment”."
(Source)

1. How can I schedule my high school course load to meet the required classes for graduation?

2. How can I schedule my high school course load to create a solid college-application transcript?
 3. What Elective courses should I take?

4. Are there Advanced Placement or Honors Courses available?

5. Does our school offer an IB Diploma, and can I sign up?

6. When should I sign up for the PSAT? How can I prepare?

7. When should I sign up for the SAT and ACT? How can I prepare?

8. When should I take SAT Subject Tests, and which tests do you recommend?

9. Do you offer after school or weekend college counseling sessions or workshops?

10. What college guides or resources do you have available?

11. Do you have a schedule of nearby college fairs?

12. Do you have an alumni network I can contact for college advice?

13. Do you write letters of recommendation?

14. Can you help me find appropriate scholarship opportunities?

15. Can I see my transcript?

16. Do you offer help with Financial Aid forms?

School Counselor vs. Private Counselor

School Counselor

Important Average caseload for a High School Counselor: 500 students. That
Stats means three things.

 First, they could potentially throw together one heck of a

bingo game.

 Second, these people have lots of experience working with

students just like you.

 Third, you had better not need any special or individualized

attention, because there aren’t enough hours in the day.
Science is working on it, but it’s harder than you might think
to slow down the Earth’s orbit around the sun.

Pros  Free help! Woot! High School Counselors are available to

enrolled students at no extra charge. They won’t even accept
tips. They also have tons of experience and are familiar with
hundreds of colleges, so they can be a great resource. Some
 of the truly exceptional ones will even offer to go to
college for you. Bless their hearts.

Cons  Popularity is a double-edged sword. (Note: owning a double-

edged sword tends to make you very popular.) Counselors
often work with hundreds of students, and that number is
growing every year. The average caseload for counselors in
California is nearly1000 students, so don’t be offended if, in
passing, they call you “Judith.” (This will make sense to all
readers except those named Judith.)

 Your High School Guidance or College Counselor is there to help you sort through all the BS
(Bureaucratic Silliness) so you can make informed decisions about your high school and college
careers. You didn’t know it was a “career,” did you? Hey, where’s your paycheck?

 These fellas can serve as resources for the college search process, completing applications,
taking standardized tests… they can make sense of all the mumbo jumbo involved in the
application process. (If applying to a school in Louisiana, be prepared to run into a bunch of
mumbo gumbo.

 Bet on the High School Counselor If: You are fairly independent and self-motivated and don’t
require individualized attention. So… you know how to tie your own shoes, for starters.

Private Counselor

Important  Private counselors cost money. Not just a bit of spare change
Stats either. An inexpensive counselor might set you back a couple
of grand, while the in-demand superstars can charge more
than $40,000 – pretty much what it costs to go to college for a
year or two. So… hopefully you can find a private counselor
who is also really good at teaching you how photosynthesis
works. A two-birds-one-stone kinda deal.

Pros  Individual, one-on-one attention. Just the way you like it.
Private counselors will meet or speak with you regularly,
rather than just when they can “squeeze you in,” and they’ll
help you with college research, applications and essays. If you
spent the summer running a bikini car wash, they’ll help you
come up with the title “Automotive Cleaning and Visual
Stimulation Facilitator.”

 The biggest distinguishing factor between private counselors

and school counselors is that private counselors generally
provide substantial help on your essays and often help with
 the final “packaging” on your overall application, while school
counselors simply don’t have the time to do that for every
student. Busy, busy bees they are.

Cons  Money, money, money. Private counselors will cost you gobs
of it. And sometimes the money you pay makes it difficult to
make your own decisions when they disagree with you.
Although… you could probably give them more money to
change their mind on the matter…

 It’s important to remember that private counselors can make

your application look better, but can’t redefine who you are
or remake your high school career—there’s only so much
anyone else can do to make you look good. Even Banana
Republic has its limitations.

 Private College Counselors aren’t quite as introverted as their name implies. Most of them are
pretty open communicators. Some of them will still blush when you ask uncomfortable
questions though.

 Private Counselors are in the business of helping you get into college, by whatever…legal means
necessary. They may be independent or work for a firm, and might be educators, business
people, or even parents who learned about the process by helping their own kids.

 Bet on a Private Counselor If: You can afford one. Keep in mind that you (or more likely your
parents) are also going to be paying for a four year education, so really consider the financial
burden you’re likely putting on them and weigh it against the potential benefits. Remember
how crabby your parents can be when they’re out of money, and keep that in mind.

Chapter 7.3: Checklists by Grade

Middle School
What? College? You want me to think about college? Dude, come on. I’m in middle school. I'm busy
thinking about pimples, science fairs, and the school dance on Friday. No way I’m thinking about college
yet. Right? Well, for all you middle-schoolers who want to be extra ahead in the game, Shmoop is here
to tell you...it’s great that you’re thinking about college this early, but seriously, relax. Unless you have
the type of parents who have mapped out your entire life for you (and we apologize if you do), you’re a
long way from having to make any binding decisions, at least about college. That doesn’t mean you get
to spend the whole year trying to score the private jet on Rock Band. There are a few steps you can take
during your formative middle school years to ensure that—when the time comes— you are ready to
take the college plunge.

Build Yourself
Think about your Interests and Skills. Try a new activity. in short, try to figure out what you’re interested
in and what you’re good at. It’s perfectly fine if you have no idea what those are yet, but that isn’t a
reason to not be adventurous and try new things. Grab some friends and start a t-shirt printing business.
Maybe even think about what foreign language you might want to learn. Build Your Brag Sheet. Or start
thinking about it at least. Your what? Think of it this way. Now is the time to start getting involved in
some activities that you could potentially carry into high school and help your eventual college
application shine. Join the debate club. Win that science fair. Make an impression (a positive one) on
your teachers. Or if your middle school doesn’t have these, start thinking about which subjects you like
or clubs you may want to join. Why wait until high school to rock out?

School
Earn the Best Grades You Can. Are colleges going to look at your middle school grades? Nope. But
earning good grades now can open up your options to take classes in high school that colleges drool
over. Remember, that the classes you take in middle school provide the foundation and basic skills for
what you’ll be learning in high school. Talk to a high-school student, or even better, a college student. If
you don’t know any, ask a teacher or counselor to put you in contact with one. Just go have a chat. It
never hurts to learn about what’s ahead of you for the next few years. Ask them for advice or about
questions you have about academics, social life, or whatever else comes up.

Summer
If you’re interested to see what the college experience is like, check out Tasty Bits: Summer
Programs for a list of summer programs that are academically enriching, allow you the opportunity to
meet people with similar interests as you, and even give you the option of experiencing what college is
really like. Do Something Constructive with Your Summer. OK, so your friends might be sleeping until
noon, trying to get to the next level in League of Legends, or long-boarding in the park all afternoon. But
try and do something a little more constructive with your time. Learn how to code and try building a
website. Check some books off from the Ultimate Summer Reading List. Travel to a foreign country and
pick up a new language. Volunteer at the local hospital or animal shelter. The point is to look back on
your summer and be proud of what you accomplished. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, you
can Make a Plan with Shmoop.

Freshman
You made it! High school! This is it: starting your prime teenage years, getting a driver’s license, flirting
at those Friday night football games. Wait. You’re a freshman. Forget we said that stuff. Try not to get
beaten up in the locker room. Just kidding. High school is great, but in the meantime, you should
probably start thinking about what you want to do after your four years in high school. You’ve got lots of
choices. You might find a Vocation, go to Community College, or take a GAP Year. Odds are, though, that
you’ll end up at a Four-year College, which means it’s time to start planning. What can you do your
freshman year to stay ahead of the pack?

Build Yourself
Think about your Interests and Skills. What do you enjoy doing on a free afternoon? Look for some local
volunteer opportunities to see what interests you. Kick butt in things you excel at. Great practice for the
next few decades. Build Your Brag Sheet. You should know what this is by now. This sheet will eventually
be filled with all the wonderful things you have done, so get started now. Join some clubs, go the extra
mile in class, get to know your teachers well. When the time comes for letters of recommendation, you
want your teachers lining up to write for you because of your awesomeness. What if your school doesn’t
have any clubs you’re interested in? Grab some friends and start your own. Or find a local club you can
join.

School
Earn the Best Grades You Can. Remember back in middle school when you relaxed knowing colleges
probably wouldn’t look at your grades? Play time is over. Struggling? Let Shmoop help with some
handy Study Guides. Take the Most Challenging Course Load You Can. Go for honors classes. Challenge
yourself from the very beginning, but remember that you’ll still be adjusting from middle school, so
don’t burden yourself with a heavy course load and become overwhelmed with work. You have three
more years ahead of you.

College
Visit Local Colleges. You don’t need to take a formal tour right now. No need to meet with an admissions
representative. Save that for later. Just walk around and see if you like the general vibe you get. Talk to
some students (we know it can be scary). Get a feel for a couple of different types of colleges and
campuses -- small, big, private, public. This is the fun part. Get To Know Your School Counselor. This
person will be there to help you navigate the maze of college applications. Here’s the reality of your
school counselor: the vast majority of them are ludicrously overloaded. Some may have to deal with up
to a thousand of people just like you. Are you high-maintenance? Multiply you by a thousand. Take this
into consideration and be ready to drive your quest for college with the following steps.

Summer
Do Something Constructive with Summer Vacation. OK, so your friends define constructive as sleeping
until noon and then playing X-box for hours on end while downing seven bags of Doritos. But there’s
little there to go on a resume. Why not work a part-time job? Or, see if you can score an internship.
Check some books off from the Ultimate Summer Reading List. The point is to look back on your summer
and be proud of what you accomplished. If you’re interested to see what the college experience is like,
check out Tasty Bits: Summer Programs for a list of summer programs that are academically enriching,
allow you the opportunity to meet people with similar interests as you, and even give you the option of
experiencing what college is really like. If this feels like a bit too much, you can try to Make a Plan with
Shmoop.

Sophomore
Yeah, big sophomore. You’ve made it through freshman year, and now you aren’t the newbie. Nice
work. Shmoop knows what sophomore year is all about: learner’s permits, feeling cool because you’re in
classes with juniors (go you, taking harder classes), and not having to use a map to find your classes on
the first day. While reveling in your newfound wisdom, make sure you’re moving in the right direction
for college: what can you do during your sophomore year (besides begging your parents to take the
minivan out for a spin)?

School
Take the Most Challenging Course Load You Can. Go for Honors Classes. Take AP Classes if you've met all
the prerequisites and if they are available. Challenge yourself. Remember, a B in AP Physics will be more
impressive than an A+ in Beginner Noodle Making. Unless you are applying to Santa Barbara Noodle
College. Earn the Best Grades You Can. Grades are important. How Important Are Good Grades? Short
answer: super important. Struggling? Let Shmoop help with some handy Study Guides. If you need
additional help, try reaching out to your teachers and being more active in class.

Building Yourself
Think about your Interests and Skills. If you didn’t quite find an activity you loved during freshman year,
try a new sport or club. There’s no better time than now to explore your interests and acquire new
skills. Try entering in some competitions. Interested in science? Try the Intel Science and Engineering
Fair. Interested in Politics? Try joining a local Model United Nations Group. Take a look at Tasty Bits:
Competitions for more ideas. Build Your Brag Sheet. You should know what this is by now. This sheet
will eventually be filled with all the wonderful things you have done, so get started now. Join some
clubs, go the extra mile in class, get to know your teachers well. As a sophomore, you may be able to
take on some leadership positions. Take on the challenge. When the time comes and you need letters of
rec, you want to give teachers every reason to write about how amazing you are.

Standardized Testing
Take the PSAT in the Spring. Wait, there’s a PSAT? Yes. The PSAT is a great chance for you to test out
your standardized test chops before the arrival of the big, bad SAT and ACT. And who know? You might
just rock it and qualify for a National Merit Scholarship. Consider an SAT Subject Test at the end of the
school year. Did you rock the mitochondria in Biology? Is your Spanish excelente? Try an SAT Subject
test. What do you have to lose? You just might kill it. Besides, even if the colleges you’re applying to
don’t require them, it doesn’t hurt to take them. Check to see if the colleges you’re applying to require
certain ones too. If you’re super ahead of the game, maybe even consider taking the SAT or ACT at the
end of the school year. You can spend some of your summer studying for the exams if you don’t do as
well as you hope.

Getting Ready to Apply to College

Visit Colleges. Take a formal tour. No need to set up an interview with an admissions representative, but
go ahead and ask them any questions you might have. Talk to some students and get a feel for a couple
of different types of colleges and campuses. Get To Know Your School Counselor. If you haven’t done
this yet, do it. If you have, do it some more. This person will be there to help you navigate the maze of
college applications. Here’s the reality of your school counselor: the vast majority of them are
ludicrously overloaded. Some may have to deal with up to a thousand of people just like you. Teenage
hormones making you crazy? Multiply you by a thousand. Take this into consideration and be ready to
drive your quest for college with the following steps.

Summer
Do Something Constructive with Summer Vacation. Go to camp. Study something you don't have time to
do during the school year. If you're in love with science, try conducting your own experiment. If you're
passionate about a charity cause, spend the summer volunteering at the local charity organization.
Travel to a foreign country and pick up a new language. Find an internship. The point is to look back on
your summer and be proud of what you accomplished.

Junior
Junior year is awesome. It’s like being next in line for a whole year. You get to be excited to be a senior
until, well, you become a senior. Try not to wear yourself out. Junior year is when things actually get
pretty important and quite frankly, when things can get pretty stressful too. Make sure you don’t end up
with the short end of the stick by taking care of the following stuff.

School
Take the Most Challenging Course Load You Can. Go for the Honors Classes. Take AP Classes or IB
classes. Challenge yourself. Remember, a B in AP Physics will be more impressive than an A+ in Beginner
Noodle Making. Unless you are applying to Professional Noodle College. Earn the Best Grades You Can.
If you haven’t noticed a pattern yet, we can tell you. Grades are important. How Important Are Good
Grades? Short answer: super important. Struggling? Let Shmoop help with some handy Study Guides if
you need some help in your classes.

Building Yourself
Think about your Interests and Skills. In fact, do more than that. Do what interests you. Kick butt at
things at which you excel. Hopefully, you've found something you're passionate or at least a little
interested in by this time. It might make for a great college essay topic. In fact, some of the best college
essays are actually written about people's passions and interests. Try entering in some competitions.
Interested in science? Try the Intel Science and Engineering Fair. Interested in Politics? Try joining a local
Model United Nations Group. Take a look at Tasty Bits: Competitions for more ideas. Build Your Brag
Sheet. You should know what this is by now. This sheet should be filling up with all the wonderful things
you have done. By junior year, you should be an active voice in at least one extracurricular activity. Your
teachers should know you as the student who will take leadership and get stuff done in class. Develop
relationships (not creepy ones) with teachers.

Standardized Testing Requirements

Take the PSAT in the Fall. Wait, there’s a PSAT? Yes, you took it already Sophomore year, right? The
PSAT is a great chance for you to test out your standardized test chops before the arrival of the big, bad
SAT and ACT. And who knows? You might just rock it and qualify for a National Merit Scholarship.
Prepare for the SAT and ACT and take one of each in the Spring. These two tests are really important for
the applications process, so make sure you prepare well (if you happen to get unlucky or don’t score as
well as you’d hoped, you can always retake them, though!). If you're an international student, make
sure to prepare for the TOEFL and IELTS. Point them to Shmoop’s Test Preps. Take SAT Subject
Tests near the end of the school year. Remember that some of the more competitive colleges require
that you take some of these. If you are shooting for one of these schools, don’t wait until the last minute
to take a few.

Getting Ready to Apply to Colleges

Visit Colleges. Now’s the time to let the schools actually know you’re visiting, letting them know you’re
interested. Schedule a formal tour. Talk with an admissions officer. Sit in on some classes or talk to a
coach. The goal here is to get a feel for specific schools you may apply to. Begin to Generate Your Big
List. Not like Nixon’s Big List. This is a list of schools that meet your requirements to research and visit.
Request Letters of Recommendation. Remember that Brag Sheet you have been filling out since Middle
School? Pull it out, sponge the Pepsi off of it, and use it to get some great letters. Just remember to tell
your teachers where to send them.

Summer
Do Something Constructive with Summer Vacation. This is a pretty important summer. Why not work a
part-time job? If you didn’t have time during the school year, or you anticipate maybe not having that
much time next school year either, start researching colleges or even college visiting. Or see if you can
score an internship. Getting some real work experience and talking with working professionals who are
in the field you might be interested in is certainly very valuable. Check some books off from the Ultimate
Summer Reading List. The point is to look back on your summer and be proud of what you
accomplished. Start looking at a few college essay prompts and start brainstorming in College Essay Lab.
Reflect on some of your most proud accomplishments and the best experiences you’ve had in high
school.

Senior
Seniors! Woo Hoo! Class of (insert year) is the best! More Woo Hoos! Calm down. Yes, it’s awesome to
be a senior. You rule the school. There’s senior cut day. Prom. Maybe you get that parking spot you’ve
been eying. But guess what? There’s also Senioritis. Nothing can derail your college quest like a nasty
case of this disease. And it’s contagious. So wash your hands. Besides good hygiene, what else needs to
be taken care of senior year? The short answer is lots. Last stretch…so let’s make it a good one.

School
Earn the Best Grades You Can. Senior year grades are very important. Don’t be that student who lets
their grades slip during second semester. It’s ok to take it easy a little, but any major GPA declines and
colleges might even rescind their offer. Having a bout of Senioritis? Let Shmoop help with some fun
videos to watch and some handy Study Guides. Take the Most Challenging Course Load You Can. Senior
year is when you’re most prepared for college, which translates to taking some of the most challenging
classes of your high school career. And colleges know it. So, make sure your schedule is just as or more
rigorous than it has been in the past to make sure the image you present to colleges is consistent.

Standardized Testing
Prepare for the SAT and ACT and make sure that you take or retake them if you’re unsatisfied with your
scores. Odds are you’re going to send these in with your college applications, so take them and take
them seriously. Take another SAT Subject Test in the fall. Don’t wait until after winter break; it may be
too late to submit results. Remember that some of the more competitive colleges require that you take
some of these. If you are shooting for one of these schools, don’t wait until the last minute to take
them.

Applying to Colleges
Get Organized with your Timeline and Deadlines. New information and requirements are going to come
(and pass by) quickly, so make sure you stay on top of them. Link to our calendar so that they can track
deadlines and test dates. Figure out where you want to apply Early Action, Early Decision and Regular
Decision. Finish Up Your Brag Sheet. By now, this should be filled up with all the wonderful things you
have done. You should be the leader or superstar of at least one extracurricular activity. Your teachers
should know you as the student who always takes on leadership and gets stuff done in class. Request
Letters of Recommendation if you haven’t already. Remember that Brag Sheet you have been filling out
since Middle School? Pull it out, sponge the Mountain Dew off of it, and use it to get some great letters.
Just remember to tell your teachers where to send them. Visit Colleges. You should be Narrowing Down
Your List of Schools, so this is the time to let the schools actually know you are visiting and are
interested. Schedule a formal tour. Talk with an admissions officer or even schedule an interview, if
possible. Sit in on some classes or talk to a coach. The goal here is to get a feel for specific schools you
may apply to. Narrow Down Your List of Schools. Now is when you need to refine your Big List down
through research, visits, talking with counselors and family, etc. to the list of schools where you will
apply. Shoot to have this list finalized by fall. Submit Financial Aid forms. Paying for college is tough, and
Shmoop is here to help you find the money. Complete Your Applications. Lots of stuff to think about
here. Make sure to stay on top of your deadlines. Start a Google Calendar, or sign up for email
reminders, whatever works best for you. What’s important is that you get them done right and on time.
Then we can just cross our fingers and hope for the best. Know when your decision is due and have your
deposit in on time. Eventually, you are going to have to make a choice of where you will go. Choose
wisely, grasshopper. If you're already accepted, check out how to Prepare for College!
Chapter 8: The Application Process
This chapter will focus on filling out a college application. The most common way is to apply online
through the Common Application. Letters of recommendation will be discussed here as well as
preparing for college interviews. There are critical differences between early action vs early decision vs
regular decision that will be discussed. Don’t miss that!

Chapter 8.1: Filling out the Application

The Common Application
What the Heck Is It?
Last summer at camp, you sent all your family members the following letter:

Dear [Beloved family member],

Things are great here at camp. I’m learning a lot, like when you taught me how to make a [helpful
household instrument] out of only [MacGyver-like supply of materials]. Everyone here is really nice,
which of course makes me think of [beloved family member’s spouse], and how nice [he/she] always is
when I come to visit.

Well, gotta run. We’re about to learn how to carve things out of planks of wood, so I’ll probably try
making you a [useless knick-knack to be displayed on mantelpiece for next 20 years], since I know how
much you want one!

Love, [Sender]

It got you thinking… what if there was such a handy-dandy tool for college applications? Yet again, the
world is one step ahead of you. The Common Application was created by a non-profit institution with
the goal of providing more equality in the college application process. You’re all for equality. Especially
when it means having to do less work. Basically… if your schools accept the Common Application, you
may only need to fill out one application and send it to all of your colleges instead of completing one for
each. That way, your senior year will be made that much easier, and you can focus on other things (like
whose house you’re going to TP first, the principal’s or your gym teacher’s).

"Let them fill out Common Apps!"

(Source)
Is It That Simple?
Short answer: No. Longer answer: Nope.

Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world, and the whole process is a little bit more complicated.
Here’s why: while nearly 500 schools do accept the Common Application), some of those schools
accept only the Common App, some of them accept the Common App or their own application, and
some of them accept the Common App plus their own supplemental stuff. Hrumph. Always making
things difficult. We’ll just see if they get a letter from camp next summer. So, because everyone is doin’
their own thing, it is critical that you keep track of who accepts what. Microsoft Excel may become your
new best friend. Just be sure it doesn’t try to format any of your cells. It should really be more of a one-
way relationship. Check out our Staying Organized section for help.

Is the Common App for Me?

Well, it’s not just for you. But… maybe. Your first clue will be whether the schools on your application list
accept the Common Application. The bigger question though – what type of school becomes a member
and accepts the Common Application? If they’re willing to accept form letters, does that mean they’re
also willing to accept… form students? The rules of membership state that a school can only be a
member if they take a holistic approach to evaluating applications, which includes a complete picture of
the applicant. They’re not referring to a headshot where your ears haven’t been cropped. They want to
know who everyone really is, not just skim through a bunch of impersonal statistics.

Which means that if a school only uses GPA, class rank and test scores to decide who gets in… they can’t
be a member of the Common App. No shirt, no shoes, no in-depth analysis of each prospective student
on an individual basis… no service. If your grades and test scores are out of this world and you won’t be
weeded out based on some formula, you can look outside the Common App schools. Not right outside
them. That’s usually where the football field is. If you hope to depend less on grades and tests and rely
more on your experiences, essays and letters of recommendation to be admitted, Common App schools
are the type you want. So like… if you got straight C’s but you discovered the cure for lung cancer. Or…
something less extreme. This doesn’t mean Common Application Schools are easier to get into (Harvard,
Princeton and Yale are all members) – just that they value a more complete picture of students. So… pull
your ears in and say ‘cheese.’

What Should I Expect?

You decide to use the Common Application. Excellent – good luck. We hope using the Common
Application leads to you finding… uncommon success. First you will need to go to the website and create
an account. Write down your password. Yeah, right now you may think that BroncoFan23972394 is
locked firmly inside your noggin, but time has a funny way of… clearing your mental cookies. Just jot it
down. It’ll take you two seconds. Next you will identify a teacher and a counselor – you’ll need their
email addresses – who will be sent forms to complete and submit (so make sure they don’t harbor some
deep-seated ill will toward you, and instead are prepared to give you the most glowing reviews of all
time).

You will then complete a few pages of forms which include these sections:

 Standard Personal Information like your name, address, birthday, etc.

  Future Plans and Academic Interests

 Demographics and Family Information

 Your Education and Academic History

 Extracurricular Activities and Work Experience

 The Essay

Since filling out an application is a pretty lengthy process, we recommend printing or saving the
completed form to reference if and when you need to complete other applications. You’ll send us an
email to thank us later. Unless your motherboard becomes completely fried, in which case a nice,
handwritten note on personal stationary will suffice. The essay, of course, is the scary part (ominous
drum plays). The Common Application asks that you write one essay on one of six topics that change
often. So your older brother may be able to score you an illegal beverage or two, but his old essay will
do you no good. Have no fear, however, as Shmoop can help you with your Common Application essay
at the College Essay Lab.

12 Simple Things You Need To Know

1. Your full name. This one's a gimme.

2. Your e-mail address. If you're using an e-mail address that will make you a standing joke in the
admissions office of your dream school (*cough*iheartbieber@hotmail.com*cough*), then get
a handle you won't be embarrassed by before you start filling out applications.

3. Your social security number. If you haven't already memorized this, it's time you put on your
big-boy pants and do so, because you're going to be using it a lot.

4. Your intended major. Your response isn't set in stone, so don't wig out when you get to this bit.

5. The address of your high school. Do not put “P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney”. This is real
life, not “Finding Nemo”.

6. Your senior year courses. Try not to wish you'd taken Calc instead of Advanced Art.

7. Your graduation date. Can't get here soon enough, can it?

8. Your high school code. Hint: it's a six-digit number, the same one you used when you took the
SAT.

9. The name of your counselor and his/her e-mail address.

10. The names of your English and Mathematics teachers and their e-mail addresses.

11. Your GPA.

12. Your SAT or ACT scores. Again, don't lie here. Colleges receive copies of your test scores. They
will know…
11 Application Mistakes to Avoid
1. Don't use an inappropriate e-mail address. Yes, we're repeating a bit of advice from the list
right above this one. That's how super-serious we are.

2. Don't call a university by the wrong name. You're applying to a dozen schools. At some point,
you're going to write down “Yale” when you really mean “Columbia. “Double-and triple-check
your content to ensure you don't submit an application-killing error of this kind.

3. Don't forget to fill out every section. Yes, applications can be tediously long, but every response
you provide gives you an opportunity to set yourself apart from all the other high school seniors
out there who are after the exact same thing you are: a Harvard acceptance letter.

4. Don't wait until the last minute to ask a teacher for a letter of recommendation. Are you in
line to graduate as one of the top ten students in your class? Well, good on you...but your 4.0
GPA won't be worth jack if you don't have recs from your teachers backing you up. Get in line to
ask for their assistance, and do it early.

5. Don't forget deadlines. Every school has a different application deadline, which means it's easy
to get confused. So, put those dates on a calendar. Highlight them in neon pink. Set reminders
on your iPhone. Do whatever you have to so you don't miss getting that app in to your dream
school on time.

6. Don't shrug off word or character limits. Admissions committees have to go over thousands of
applicant essays and responses. Read the fine print and follow the instructions, or you'll find
yourself distinguished from the competition in a really, really bad way.

7. Don't ignore the question. Again, thousands of applicant essays and responses. Thousands. Cut
the admissions office staff some slack and answer the questions completely and directly.

8. Don't assume that biographical information isn't important. BigState U wants to know how
many siblings you have, where you were born, and what your parents do for a
living. Boooooooooooooring, says you. This stuff has a place in our decision, says the admissions
office, so spill it.

9. Don't leave out information about yourself. If you spend summers and weekends helping your
dad run the family vegetable stand, which brings in enough money to send your kid sister to her
piano lessons for the year, then shoehorn that in somewhere. It's pertinent, and it makes you
look awesome.

10. Don't forget to check for spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, and factual faux pas. There is
nothing more grating to a reader than to come across a “their” that should be a “they're”. Some
kid in Rhode Island didn't make that mistake. Guess what? He just got accepted to Dartmouth,
and you didn't.

11. Don't treat your application like a social media entry. You're trying to get into college, where
you'll be expected to act like an intelligent adult. Treat your application like a series of Tweets,
and you can kiss that acceptance letter adios. Go over your application again and again. Have
your parents go over it.
Biggest Myths About the Common App
I Know This One Guy Who…The Legend of the Hyper-Creative Essay
Did you hear the one about the guy who got into Yale with his amazing essay? Maybe. But the legend is
that the question asked what one thing he would save if his house were burning down. Apparently, he
burned the edges of his paper, and wrote one word – “This”. Ok, that was a pretty extreme example.
But the idea is, don’t get cute with your essay. Don’t do it in verse, don’t videotape yourself singing your
essay, and certainly save your Jokerman font for your niece’s birthday party invitation. The essay is
certainly something you can be creative and have fun with, but remember that you still have to
communicate (again, through words, not using a kazoo) something about who you are as a person that
is going to make the college want to spend four years in your presence. Additionally, amazing essays
must come in a package, with a good GPA, decent standardized test scores, and a demonstrated passion
for something.

Rocking the SAT or ACT…The Test Score Myth

Did you manage to pull off a 2200 on the SAT? Or maybe a 32 on the ACT? Nice work. This certainly is
attractive to schools. It shows you are pretty smart and…good at taking standardized tests. Now take a
look at your transcript. Do your GPA and the rigor of your courses reflect that stellar test score? Or is
your course list made up of shining stars such as Ceramics and Nutrition with a 2.0 average? The reality
is that standardized tests are used in college admissions decisions as a benchmark to compare you to
other students. But no score is going to make up for a transcript that unsubtly yells “I didn’t apply myself
for four years” and shows a person that only stayed up all night cramming for their ACT or SATs.

The Myth That They Don’t Check…Second Semester Senior Year Doesn’t Matter
Believing this myth is truly dangerous. Like believing that lightning won’t strike the same place twice. It’s
just asking for it. If you do believe this myth, and plan on acting accordingly, let us introduce you to a
new word: rescind. Most schools require that you send in final high school transcripts. If you are
accepted to a school and end up bombing second semester, your offer to attend may be rescinded. And
rescinded means taken back. In fact, some of the more prestigious schools will contact you to explain
even a moderate drop in grades, so you’d better be prepared with a great excuse if you want to attend.
Better yet, just don’t bomb second semester.

The Chosen Path…The Legend of the Career in Your Major and Applying as
Undecided
Is your plan to decide on a major as a senior in high school and to retire from your career at 65, having
had a storied and accomplished tenure? Good luck with that. The reality is that most high-school seniors
don’t have the foggiest idea of what they want to do for the rest of their lives. Students change majors
all the time. In fact, there’s a reason why liberal arts schools don’t require a declared major until junior
year – people need time to figure out what they want to do. Heck, even declaring a major doesn’t
guarantee you will work in that field. In fact, it almost guarantees you won’t. Only about ten percent of
folks in the working world are actually employed in the area of their major. Don’t be afraid to apply
undecided for schools. Seriously, it doesn’t hurt your application. Check out Choosing Your Major for
more tips.
Does Applying Under an Obscure Major Really Increase Your Chances of Getting
In?
Think applying as an Archaeology Major to a school with a small Archaeology Department will increase
your chances of getting admitted? The reasoning behind this is that chances are, the school wants to
build a more robust Archaeology Department and increase the number of students that get involved in
the archaeology department, so they might look at your application in a different light than if you had
applied under Pre-Med or Business. However, if you don’t have an inkling of archaeology written on
your application or have never even explored the field, colleges will know you’re trying to game the
system. So we strongly advise that you apply under the major you have demonstrated an interest in in
high school and showcase your passion that way.

Early Decision vs. Early Action vs. Regular Decision vs. Rolling Admission
Early Decision

Important  Early Decision deadlines are, well… earlier. We’re talking early
Stats November here. Acceptances (and rejections) are also earlier
and usually come out by the end of December. Yay! Some
good old-fashioned rejection, just in time for Christmas!
Thanks, Santa!
 Some schools have a second Early Decision deadline that
comes after the first, but before the regular decision deadline.
Ah well. Better later than early than never. As the saying goes.
We think.

Pros  Your application will get stuck under the noses of admissions
officers sooner, but your chances of acceptance are not
necessarily better.
 Early decision applicants do usually have a slight edge, but you
have to keep in mind that the early applicant pool is also
much stronger than the regular decision pool. You’re going to
be thrown in with all the other go-getters. But don’t let that
dissuade you. Just… go get ‘em.
 Either way, you’ll know the decision in time to celebrate (or
weep) for New Year’s, which will give you extra time to work
out housing options and think about what classes you want to
enroll in. It might also give you the chance to make a New
Year’s Resolution to never let your future children enroll at
Purdue. Those jerks. How could they not see your potential?

Cons  You are obligated to enroll if you are accepted. Obligated

does not merely mean “encouraged.” If you get accepted,
 you’d better get your buns there. Or they will send someone
to escort your buns personally.
 Okay, they probably won’t go that far. But if you withdraw
other applications and send in your deposit… you kind of need
to be sure here. There’s no turning back. You also won’t have
an opportunity to compare financial aid packages from a
number of schools, so if you are really dependent on financial
aid, think hard about this option. You’re much too young to
be selling your kidney on the black market.

Early Decision is kind of the big gun in the college application world. Applying Early Decision means that,
if accepted, you are obligated to enroll at the school… as long as their financial aid package meets your
family’s needs. If you get accepted and don’t go… bad things can happen. Other schools will find out and
they will not be especially eager to bring someone on board with such a blight on their record. You will
have signed a contract, so… action can be taken against you. It’s not just a spit-into-your-palm and firm
handshake. They’ll have it in writing that you swore your allegiance to them. You’re too young to give in
to corruption and betrayal. Wait until you’re in the Senate. You are only allowed to apply to one college
Early Decision (although you can apply to others regular decision). It’s the equivalent of putting most of
your eggs in one basket… but then still hanging onto a few spare eggs in case that basket breaks and
someone comes along with a slightly less desirable basket. Beyond that, the metaphor sort of falls apart
a little.

Bet Early Decision If:

 You have done all the research and are absolutely positive a specific school is your top choice.
Let’s just hope it doesn’t turn out to be a case of unrequited love. Maybe you should hold off on
getting that “ME + YALE4EVA” tattoo on your right bicep.

 You should probably prepare your applications for all the other schools Regular Decision, just in
case. No one ideally wants to go to their fallback school, but if you fall back and there’s no
school there to catch you…it might take a while for that bump on your head to heal.

Early Action

Important  Early Action deadlines vary, but generally fall in November,

Stats which may add stress to your holiday season. Just to keep
things in perspective, though, it’s going to be much more
stressful for all the turkeys.

 Most applicants will hear back from schools about Early

Action decisions by the end of December. There's also
something called single-choice early action, which is a
program that asks you to only apply early to that college and
to no others. A little possessive, if you ask us. But hey, it’s
between those colleges and their psychiatrists.
  Some schools also have a second Early Action deadline that
comes after the first, but before the regular decision deadline.
Might want to throw those dates into your calendar. The old
melon ain’t what it used to be.

Pros If Early Decision is a 10 on the stress-o-meter, Early Action, which

doesn’t have the added pressure of the required commitment, is
around an 8. Basically, you won’t need to withdraw other applications
if you get accepted. Also, if accepted, you can wait until May 1st to
respond. May Day! May Day!

Cons  Familiar with the term “contingency plan?” Plan A is always

nice, but sometimes life hands you a few lemons, and you get
stuck with Plan B. Unless you don’t have a Plan B, in which
case, you’re probably going to get stuck with Plan Live in Your
Parents’ Basement. That should be like Plan W… minimum.
 You will find out if you got in to your dreamy dream school
two weeks before the deadline for most Regular Applications,
so we recommend you work on your other applications just in
case you don't get in. At the very least, it’ll give you
something to do so you don’t spend all your time chewing
your fingernails off.
 And don’t be like Jonny Slackoff (it’s Slavic). Jonny had
everything going for him. 3.7 GPA, half-ride to Purdue… but
he came down with a bad, bad case of senioritis. Not
something his doctor was able to do anything about. Stopped
showing up for class, homework was turned in with nothing
more than doodles and his girlfriend’s name written in various
fonts. Those guys from Purdue caught wind of his declining
performance and turned that half-ride into a… no-ride.
Whoops.

Early Action applicants apply before the Regular crowd, but aren’t required to commit if accepted. It’s
the perfect option for wafflers. Pretty popular among future politicians. Some colleges offer single-
choice early action, which means that you won't be able to apply early action or early decision to any
other schools aside from the one you've chosen. So choose… wisely.

Bet Early Action If: You are relatively sure of the school you want to attend, but want to keep options
open and consider other schools. It’s like… you definitely care about Tonya, but you’re not quite ready
to stop being a playa.
Regular Decision

Important  You are one of the 99%. Get your picket signs ready.
Stats  Regular Decision deadlines can fall anywhere between
November through March, with the majority of them in
January and February. That’s right – it’s gonna
be snowin’ deadlines up in heah!
 Colleges will usually let you know their decision by around
March 15, so beware the Ides…

Pros No pressure here. Phew. There is no obligation to enroll in any school

that accepts you with a regular decision application. Plus, you get an
extra few months to work on your application. And your tan.

Cons You’ll be applying with all of the other Regular Decision Joe Shmoes,
so the competition for remaining spaces is tougher. But you thrive on
competition, or you… would have applied earlier.

Regular Decision is just that - applying when most regular folks do. No bells or whistles here, just get
your application in by the regular application deadline, and it will be considered along with all the other
Regular Decision applications. How special do you feel now?

Bet Regular Decision If: You are applying to a number of schools, and aren’t positive yet which one you
want to attend. You’re also the one who takes like twenty minutes to decide what you want any time
you and your friends go into a Coldstone. It’s ice cream. Pick something.

Rolling Admission

Important Make sure you do it before there isn't any space...

Stats

Pros  Depending on when you apply, you'll be notified of a decision

before many of your other deadlines. This is a biggie, because
deadlines suck. Not as much as flat lines, but still… they’re up
there.

 If you're accepted, this leeway allows you to plan things such

as financial aid, housing, classes… and that Yale tattoo…
earlier. It also allows you to weigh other options, such as
whether you should apply to other schools. If you aren’t
accepted, it gives you time to apply to other colleges as well.
Trust us – once MIT sees you picnicking in the park with
 Wesleyan, having the time of your life… they are so going to
regret their decision.

Cons  Rolling admissions may make you feel freer than a bird in
flight… but it doesn't mean that you should neglect college
applications until the very last minute. Especially if you spot a
guy in a duck blind wearing a camo vest. Keep clear of that
gentleman.
 Sometimes applying early increases your chances of getting
accepted, so don't put it off. We know you’ve listed “putting
things off” under your special skills, but now isn’t the time to
demonstrate it.

Wait – is this like rollover minutes? If I don’t use all of my good college juju this month, does it mean I’ll
be able to save it for next month? You wish. Rolling admission simply means that you can apply to a
school whenever you like within a large span of time, usually from about the early fall to sometime
during the summer. Perfect for the indecisive procrastinator. What? We totally weren’t looking at you
when we said that. If you go this route, you have a couple options. You can apply early in the time
period or you can apply later; either way, you'll be notified within a few weeks. Rolling admission
colleges typically continue accepting applications as long as space is still open. If they’ve got seats
available, they’ll want to make sure there are butts in them. Make sure one of those butts is your own.

Chapter 8.2: Letters of Recommendation

Everything You Need to Know About Recommendation Letters
Teacher recommendations are the butter to the bread that is your college application. (Say what?) It's
true; just bear with us. And get the toaster ready.

Do you prefer your recommendation letters lightly browned or burnt to a crisp?

(Source)

Why do teacher recs matter so much? Think about things for a minute from the perspective of an
admissions officer at your dream school. What's his job? To find the best students he can for his school
and shape the freshman class (and make him look really good). Period. But what, exactly, does that
mean? And how is that admissions officer supposed to distinguish one promising application from
another? Things that happen in the movies (Risky Business, Clueless, Rudy) don’t generally happen in
real life, and sending a scented application with a $25 gift card to Olive Garden doesn’t cut it either.

Admission officers work for the faculty they represent. They’re like the underbosses, or maybe the capos
in a mob family: They’re responsible for bringing in the best crews (freshman classes) to the family (the
college). They’re responsible for vetting the new wise guy (you).

In other words, they want to bring the best young scholars as possible to these educators. They want
their faculty to be able to teach the most engaged, interested, and hard-working individuals available
(capiche?). And they want to find students who can grow, and use their college experiences to
contribute (yup, it’s all about contributions, wise guys) something to the wider world. In other words:
They want these bright, industrious young people to inspire alumni to give and give…and give. They also
want to find students who can live with others in tight quarters without turning the dorms into Lord of
the Flies, figure out how to use quarters to wash their clothes (believe us when we say that sometimes a
quarter is more than just a quarter), feed themselves in the dining hall, make their fraternities and
sororities look good (in the brochure, anyway) and, perhaps, successfully get their flirt on.

"I'm a genius! Wait, why don't you guys speak Hindi or Tamil or something?"
(Source)

Some of those attributes may shine through in things like grades or test scores. Others…yeah, not so
much. Typically, a teacher evaluation or teacher recommendation is just a simple form; you want to
make it as easy as possible for them to sing your praises. Your teachers will find blanks to provide
information about who they are, what they teach, and how they know you. They’ll fill out a series of
boxes asking them to rate your skills, your character, your academic potential, your work ethic, and so
on. There might be space on the form allowing them to elaborate. This can be both a good and a bad
thing. Are teachers always going to elaborate? Um… probably not. The good teachers are going to be
asked by lots of seniors for letters of rec; imagine their irritation translating to the page when you’re the
one pestering them to elaborate.

Writing an actual letter is usually optional for your recommenders. Lots of teachers do end up writing
formal letters, but it’s not a requirement. Admission officers won’t think less highly of the student if
there is no letter attached to the evaluation form. Instead, they will scrutinize the form even more
closely. Sometimes the form can provide more information that a letter can. And to be honest,
sometimes you don’t want this teacher actually writing an essay about you; just because she’s a teacher
doesn’t mean she can write. Sure, maybe a letter would be great from your English teacher but your
calculus teacher, who can wax on about divergent sequences and deltas, can barely write his own name
on the blackboard.

"So close, Mr. Smith."

Letters of rec are really important in helping an admission officer get a sense of how you learn and of
who you are as a person. Hearing it from you or your parents is one thing but learning about you from
someone who’s seen you take the SAT at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday after the Homecoming dance is going to
count more. These evaluations help your admission officer know whether you will thrive in, and
contribute to, the academic (and social) setting of the college.

Additional Letters of Recommendation

Some schools allow you to submit additional or supplemental letters of recommendation. These can
come from a coach, a friend, an employer, a youth group leader, or just someone who knows you well
enough to give a different perspective other than what your teachers could say. (And by different we
mean better, more fleshed out than just the fill-in-the-blank yes-no-yes-no-I-choose-to-not-answer
questions.) Want to know more? Of course you do. You’re a curious high school student who wants to
become a fantastic college student. Check out What Makes a Great Letter of Recommendation, Who to
Ask, When to Ask, How to Ask for a Letter, and How to fill out your Letter of Recommendation Request.

How Important are Recommendation Letters?

Analogy time! Imagine you are getting ready to go on a blind date and wondering what to wear. Let’s
say you are an extraordinarily unattractive person (don’t get mad, it’s just an analogy). So go ahead and
reach into your closet and pull out your very best designer clothes. Put ‘em on and check yourself out in
the mirror. Nice! But guess what? You are still an extraordinarily unattractive person in a zoot suit. Now
switch gears: say you are an amazingly beautiful person. Say Angelina Jolie calls you for beauty tips.
Reach into the same closet, but this time, pull out a stained purple sweat suit with a puffy parrot
applique. Now what does the mirror say? OK, sure, you’re still very attractive, but that sweat suit ruins
the whole picture. This is how you can think of letters of rec. A glowing letter — like an Armani suit —
will make an attractive applicant more attractive, but put on the parrot, and the beauty factor starts to
tank. Similarly, the parrot will make the terrible applicant even more terrible (remember: two wrongs
don’t make a right) and even the Armani is just lipstick on a pig.
"It’s what’s on the inside that counts. (Mmm… bacon)"
(Source)

Now let’s stop pretending and get back to reality: You are the Angelina adviser and it’s important you
figure out who can whip up an Armani suit for you. Two rights do make a right.

Waiving Your Right to See the Evaluation

Evaluation forms will usually include a box for you to check, indicating that you waive your right to read
the recommendation in the future. Our advice: just check it. If you're really worried that your teacher
might write something unflattering about you, then you might actually want to ask somebody else to be
your recommender. (And don't be afraid to ask: it's better to straight-up ask a teacher, "will you write
me a positive recommendation?" than to just hope for the best and end up with negative comments in
your evaluation.) Anyway, assuming that your recommendations are going to be positive, there's really
no reason why you'd ever need or want to read it, anyway. So checking the waiver box will give
admission officers confidence that your recommenders are being completely honest, not just saying nice
things about you because they're worried that you'll read their words someday. On that note, make sure
that you think long and hard about Who to Ask for Letters or Recommendation, because you want to be
sure you get the designer version and not the puffy parrot one. Check out What Makes a Great Letter of
Recommendation for some inspiration.

Who to Ask, When to Ask, and How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter
Different colleges require a different number of evaluations from teachers or other folks who know you.
Here are a few different permutations we've seen before:

 One Teacher Evaluation and one Secondary School Report (i.e., a recommendation from your
school counselor)

 Two Teacher Evaluations and one Secondary School Report

 Two Teacher Evaluations from teachers of core academic subjects(math, science, English, social
studies) who taught you during, 10th, 11th, or12 grade, one Secondary School Report, and one
optional additional evaluation from another teacher, coach, activity leader, or boss

 One Teacher Evaluation, one Coach testimonial, 75 cents, a bent nail, and a photo of you
standing in a pear tree in front of a full moon. This one isn’t actually true and be careful because
the 75 cents may be interpreted as a bribe.
As you can see, some schools are really particular about exactly what type of letter of recommendations
they want. Others are more flexible. Make sure to read up on the schools you're applying to so you can
make sure to hit their requirements. Once you know what sorts of teachers you can pick from, it's time
to get a little bit strategic. Should you choose that one teacher who gave you a C — or even an A — in
basket weaving back in the 9th grade? Probably not.

Who to Ask
First let’s start with who not to ask.

 Friends

 Family members

 Your cheerleading coach (unless he or she is also your math, French, or other major academics
teacher)

 The clerk at 7-11 who clued you into how to make Red Bull kiddy cocktails

 The girl you’ve been stalking since 8th grade. (Yes, tenacity and doggedness are hallmarks of a
successful college student but…)

These are the questions you need to ask yourself before asking a teacher to write you a rec:

1. When did they teach you? You've probably changed a little bit since your dweeby, hairless,
brace-faced freshman year. And college admission officers expect that. How well you did in a
9th grade class doesn't necessarily say a whole lot about how well you'll do as a college frosh.

So it's best to pick a teacher who taught you in 11th grade. Why 11th? Because you haven't been with
your 12th grade teachers for very long yet, and 10th grade is already pretty far in the past. So 11th
grade really hits the sweet spot. That said, if the same teacher taught you during two years in school
(say, 10th and 12th grades), that teacher could be a great alternative option.

2. What subject did they teach you? Overall, it's best to pick a teacher who taught you in a core
academic subject. You know: math, science, English, social studies, foreign language. Make sure
to check the requirements of the school you're applying to, because some require one
recommendation from a math/science teacher and one from a humanities teacher.

Admission officers are using the evaluation to get a sense of how well you do in school in general, and
these subjects tend to be viewed as the most "rigorous." If you are allowed more than one teacher
evaluation, then you might consider your brilliant chorus teacher or your awesome track coach.
"Yup, running as fast as we can to the finish line."
(Source)

3. What grade did you earn in their class? You might think you should try going for a teacher who
gave you an A, or a teacher who taught you an AP, IB, or honors class (if advanced-level classes
are available at your school.) However, if you didn't have a personal relationship with that
teacher, you're better off asking a teacher who knows you better, even if you didn't do your
best in his or her class.
4. How well do they know you? It’s a good idea to choose a teacher who really knows and has
worked closely with you; someone who has seen you grow and change (for the better, that is)
Often the best recommendations are those that describe how a student has improved over
time. (“Ari’s penmanship finally became legible in 10th grade and he almost always stays awake
now.”)
5. How long have they been teaching? Teacher evaluation forms often ask teachers some basic
questions about themselves, including what classes they teach and how long they've been
teaching.

A teacher who's been in the classroom for 25 years and calls you one of the five best students of her
entire career will carry a lot more weight with admission officers than another teacher who has only
taught for two years but also speaks glowingly about you. Still, it's more important that the teacher
really supports you than that they've had a long career.

When to Ask for a Recommendation

When not to ask a teacher for a letter of rec:

 When she’s passing back your pop quizzes (for which you received a 65).
 At any time at his house. This is stalking.
 Last day of school.
 The first time you meet her.

Teachers want their students to succeed. It really is a two-way street (or, actually, a one-way street in
which there are two lanes going the same direction splitting the gas). As you probably know from
writing essays throughout high school, it takes time to write heartbreaking works of staggering beauty. If
you want your teachers to write a good (and heartbreaking) recommendation for you, make sure to give
them that ample time to write. We recommend asking them during the second half of junior year. This
gives you time to exchange information with them and also gives them more time to polish their letters.

Asking for a Recommendation

It can be really hard to ask favors of people, especially if they're intimidating authority figures. Luckily for
you, most teachers actually enjoy writing letters of rec for their students. Here's why:

 Teachers like to see their students succeed. If anyone values education, you can hopefully bet
on a teacher, and they want to help their students further their educations by going to college.
 If you choose teachers who know you and respect you, they will want to help you out as an
individual.
  It’s part of their job description. Most likely, they’re really experienced with the art of the
teacher evaluation. They write recommendations for college-bound seniors every single year
and know the drill. They're fully expecting students to ask them to write evaluations. Hopefully
they don’t write the same thing for everyone, just substituting names and particulars. Make sure
you choose a teacher whom you know likes you (no, not likes-you-likes-you — ewww) and
admires your work. And make sure to send them your brag sheet.

What Makes a Good Recommendation Letter (and what makes a crummy one)
Quick quiz:
Who would you rather be friends with?
a) This guy we knew once from 5th grade sleep-away camp who had Star Wars sheets and ate his
boogers. (Then again, the nerds—bad habits and all—are the alpha males of the 21st century so…)

b) This other person who is awesome all the time and never makes a mistake and makes sure that
everyone knows about it and is who your parents think is a god and will compare you to for the rest of
your life.

c) This girl who has varied interests, talents, strengths and is challenging herself to grow and makes
you look good just by standing next to her even though you know she is way too cool for you.

d) Friends take too much time away from Xbox.

The point here is obvious. We want to be friends with interesting people. They make us cooler. College
admissions committees want to admit students whom they feel like they know, and who are interesting.
A great letter of recommendation won’t be a vague description of you as a student, or even worse,
simply list your GPA and classes—that’s what a transcript is for.

The Ultimate Letter of Recommendation will:

___ Show the reader that the person writing the letter knows you well and has interacted with you over
a period of time—strictly in a professional setting.

___ Provide insight into your personality and character instead of simply listing accomplishments
(although some insights—your tendency to be a chatterbox, your successful stint in rehab—can be left
out).

___ Analyze ways you have challenged yourself and outline the strengths you have drawn on to
overcome those challenges and grow. In other words, make you sound better than you know you are.

___ Use specific, result-oriented details to illustrate statements made about you.

___ Talk about your skills that will matter in college (hint: not lacrosse/cheerleading/yearbook) like class
participation, organization and follow-through, reaction to adversity, and the ability to sleep sitting
straight up in a chair throughout that adversity.

___ Hint at your potential and your future. What can the college expect to see from you (and your
parents’ copious amount of money)?
___ Mention your recommender's qualifications. Accolades from a teacher with a PhD and 25 years of
experience will hold more weight than one in their second year of teaching (unless of course the teacher
is Bill Gates or someone who fulfilled a lifelong dream of teaching after building schools for girls in
Somalia, starting her own bank, and representing her state in the U.S. Senate).

___ State that you would make great contributions to the college or university (and what a generous
alumnus you’d make…)

Recommendation Letter Request Template

Okay, time to man up and turn that letter of recommendation you desperately need from a twinkle in
your eye to an actual Word document. Since every other junior in your high school is after the same
thing you are, be that one guy or gal who makes the letter-of-rec process so easy for your wonderful,
fabulous, underpaid teacher, that Mr. AP U.S. History will sing your praises until the day he shuffles off
this mortal coil. Start by going to your teacher in person to ask them for a letter of recommendation.
Your future hangs in the balance here, so don't leave this to a Facebook message. Be appropriately
thankful when your teacher says “yes”. Weep tears of undying gratitude as needed.

Follow up on that in-person request with an e-mail specifying exactly what you need for your
recommendation. A written request will get you a stellar letter written in a timely manner so you can
worry about more important things, like how to talk your parents into letting you take a car to college. If
you don't provide a written request, then you're signing yourself up for a one-way ticket to flipping
burgers for the rest of your life. Car at college = good. Flipping burgers and no college = bad. Looking for
a letter of recommendation request template that'll wow your teacher? Well, here you go. Get to the
cuttin' and the pastin'.

Request for Letter of Recommendation for _____________________________

Dear ____________,

I am applying to__________________ college/university, and would very much

appreciate a recommendation letter from you.

Attached, you will find my Brag Sheet which lists my strengths and accomplishments
to use in your letter. While I would be happy for you to include any of the attached
information, I would most appreciate you focusing on the following characteristics
and achievements:

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________

Please address the letter to the following:

School:_____________________________________

Attn:________________________________________
 Street Address:_______________________________

City, State and Zip Code:_______________________

Please do the following when the letter is complete (email, print and mail, etc.):

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
__________________________

Thank you very much for your time and for your valuable recommendation.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Remember, it's one e-mail per letter of recommendation you want written. Jam three or four rec
requests into one e-mail and something will go horribly, terribly wrong. You will be courting disaster.
You will be asking to spend your days smelling like a giant French fry. Also, attach your Brag Sheet to the
e-mail request. You'd be shocked at how many people forget this bit. Most institutions of higher
education are aware that we live in the 21st century and have adjusted their application processes
accordingly, which means your teacher will likely be submitting your letter of recommendation online.
Hooray for fast and easy! However, should the admissions office of your college(s) of choice still require
letters to be submitted via Pony Express, then make sure you prep a stamped, addressed manila
envelope for your teacher...and have fun when you get to Dark Ages U! Try the chastity belts, we hear
they're all the rage this year. Now that you've placed your future in your teacher's hands, here are The
Top Five Things You Absolutely Should Not Do Under Any Circumstances:
1. Pick your nose, because that's disgusting.
2. Misplace your Burn Book at school.
3. Nag your teacher.
4. Nag your teacher some more.
5. Use your psychic powers to nag your teacher in their dreams.

Seriously, give your teacher the time they need to write that epic letter of recommendation. Most
teachers have been through this rodeo before, and will get your rec in with time to spare. That being
said, this is your college application we're talking about, and knowing the letter submission deadlines is
on you. If your recommendation needs to be at Big State U by next week and your teacher hasn't
mentioned whether or not your rec has been submitted, then, for the love of Pete, ask what's up. Once
your teacher's letter of recommendation has reached its destination and you're one step closer to going
to college and one step farther from a career of mopping up pee in the men's bathroom, it's time to say
thank you. A simple, verbal “thank you” is nice...although we guarantee extra karma points if you
handwrite a thank you note. A cookie bouquet is probably extreme. Besides, that letter is already in a
manila folder somewhere: it's too late for bribery by snickerdoodles. However you choose to say thanks,
be sincere. Your teacher just did you a solid and rescued you from the eternal ear-piecing song of the
chicken nugget fryer.

How to Thank Your Recommenders

The best part about asking a teacher to serve as your recommender is that you get to thank them
afterwards. Knowing this makes asking for their help a bit easier. Here are 12 ideas of how to show your
teachers how grateful you are for their time and help:

1. Write a hand-written thank-you note expressing how they have helped you. No one ever gets
hand-written letters anymore. This is perhaps the nicest thing you can do. No matter how you
thank your teacher, be sure to include a hand-written note.
2. Gift certificates are great. Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, local coffee shops, local restaurants,
smoothie store, iTunes, Amazon.com, Movie tickets, Home Depot (everyone also likes a good
hardware store)
3. Flowers are always a nice touch. Or a plant for their classrooms/desks.
4. If you like to knit or sew, how about making them a blanket or a hat?
5. Tickets to the local museum, gallery, ballet, symphony, concert, theater, or sports event.
6. Create a video thanking them for their help.
7. Serenade them at lunchtime.
8. Better yet, bring them a delicious snack one day. Homemade cookies are always a hit.
9. Wash their car.
10. Offer to babysit their children (if they have children).
11. Write a letter of recommendation for your teacher and give it to him/her.
12. See where we’re going with this? You can get creative!

There are many ways to thank your recommenders. Remember, your teachers are rooting for you. They
want you to do well. So don’t be afraid to ask them for help.

Chapter 8.3: Preparing for the College Interview

How Important is the Interview?
Really. How important is it?

"We're a bit nervous too."

(Source)
Is it worth having to wear that uncomfortable suit that's two sizes too big for you and the annoying
butterflies in your stomach? Something to keep in mind while preparing for the interview is how
important the interview is in your overall application. Long story short, the answer is “not very”
important. However, if your application is borderline, interviews are one part of the big picture the
admissions committee can use to judge one candidate over another. Different schools do this in
different ways. For instance, Dartmouth has its interviewers answer several questions about the
applicant that are relevant to the application process, then asks for an overall evaluation of the
applicant. Other schools use similar systems, often asking interviewers to provide an overall rating as
well as more detailed comments. It’s worth remembering that many students who have good interviews
aren’t admitted, and many who have poor interviews are. Interviews aren’t a be-all-end-all ordeal.
Rather, they are just one more data point, probably less important than your GPA, but more important
than your middle initial. In the end, your transcript and essays are significantly more important than
your interview. However, given a transcript that fits roughly into the student body of your chosen
university and a solid essay and resume, a good interview can push your application from the reject pile
to the admit pile. Nevertheless, be prepared for your interview. It's good practice for the future when
job searching.

College Interview Do's and Don'ts

Before the College Interview
Do:
-Background research on your college. Odds are pretty high that your interviewer’s going to pop the
“Why do you want to go to this school?”, so you’d better be prepared.

-See if you have to sign up for an interview. If you do have to sign up, it’s always a good idea to do so,
even if you aren’t good at interviews—it shows that you care about attending, and a good interview
helps your application a lot more than a bad interview hurts it.

-Look up your interviewer on LinkedIn, Google, or other social media sites. Don’t mention that you
quasi-stalked them during the interview, but it’s worth checking up on them to see if your interests
match theirs so that you can highlight the similarities on your resume, or to just see what their face
looks like so that you both don’t end up sitting at different coffee tables wondering who is who.

-Put together a resume. If you’ve already written one for the application, think about whether or not
you want to shorten it. When your interviewer contacts you (or in your initial contact with your
interviewer, if that’s how the college wants you to do it), be sure to offer to send your resume so they
can “preview” your accomplishments. If they agree, remember that the resume will be their first
impression of you, so make sure it’s formatted neatly and contains only information you’d be willing to
talk about for thirty minutes to an hour.

-Think about all the common questions they might ask you, and prepare solid answers. Remember
that your interviewer knows nothing about you besides what you tell them, and that they’re trying to
get a holistic opinion of you, which is hard—you want to make their job easier. Here are a couple
potential questions to get you started:

1. Tell me about yourself.

 2. Let’s talk about this thing on your resume.

3. Why do you want to attend XYZ college?

4. What were your favorite classes/clubs/extracurriculars?

5. How would your friends describe you?

6. What gets you up in the morning? (don’t answer “my mom” or “my alarm clock”)

-Do a mock interview, either with yourself in the mirror, or with a friend, parent, counselor, teacher,
etc. And if you think your mock interviewer is going hard, check out these guys.

-Be courteous to your interviewer. Their first impression of you comes from your initial email
communication, so be sure to emanate the three C’s: calm, cool, and collected. Sit on your emails before
sending them out to make sure you haven’t missed anything. Be flexible in terms of scheduling and
location.

Don’t:
-Be annoying to your interviewer. There’s a fine line between being enthusiastic and responsive and
being insistent and not giving your interviewer room to breathe. Remember that your interviewer is
scheduling interviews with potentially dozens of other applicants, so don’t pester them with too many
emails.

-Stress yourself out. Interviews are important, but there’s no point in worrying about them incessantly.
Keep in mind that your interviewer is just a person who happens to be doing the college you’re applying
to a favor.

-Do nothing and plan on “winging it”. As good as you might be at communication and making people
like you, you’ll be so much better if you’re well-prepared. Regardless of how busy you are, it’s worth the
thirty minutes to an hour it takes to do some baseline research.

During the interview

Do:

"The rare few who can pull off blue overalls and miner goggles."
(Source)
-Dress nicely. Even if your interviewer tells you to dress casually, they can’t fault you for a dress shirt
and khakis. Ideally, dress business formal. For guys, this means khakis or black dress pants, maybe a Polo
or dress shirt on top. A tie is probably overboard, as is a suit jacket. Don’t be afraid to put on a light
sports jacket, though, especially if it’s cold. For girls, wear a nice blouse or buttoned-up shirt with dark-
colored pants or a skirt that isn't too short. A good test to see if your skirt is too short is to put your arms
by your side and see if your skirt is above your fingertips. Be sure not to show any cleavage and make
sure not to wear excess makeup or perfume. You never know if your interviewer has the same tastes as
you do.

-Be polite, courteous, all that. Your job is to convince the interviewer that you’d be a good addition to
the college’s class of 20-whatever, and being good-mannered will put you one step closer.

-Bring a copy of your resume, even if you’ve already sent one to your interviewer. The only time you
shouldn’t bring one is if they explicitly tell you not to. Bring it in a nice folder, and hold it with your left
hand so you can shake your interviewer’s hand without having to switch which hand it’s in.

-Be yourself. Don’t try to make yourself seem like someone you’re not, because most people will be
able to tell and it looks bad. You should be applying to college as the person you are; being genuine will
take you a lot further than trying to act like someone you’re not.

-Ask questions. Odds are, they’ll ask you if you have any questions for them, so try to come up with a
few (ideally based off your conversation). Even if you can’t, it’s always a good idea to have a couple
ready on hand, like:

1. What was your most/least favorite part about XYZ college?

2. Is there anything most incoming freshmen don’t know that they should?

3. What clubs/organizations did you join/would you recommend joining?

4. If I have more questions later, do you mind if I shoot you an email?

Don’t:
-Order messy food. It’s your choice if you want to order a drink (especially if you’re meeting at a coffee
shop), but if you do, order something with a lid so spills aren’t an issue, and only order one if your
interviewer does too. Having a cup of coffee is handy to sip while listening to your interviewer, but be
sure to be respectful about it and not let it distract you from your responses.

-Let your interviewer see your parents. If they’re dropping you off at the interview place, have them
drop your off somewhere your interviewer won’t be able to see you, and walk in alone. You want to give
an impression of independence.

-Bring up hotly contested issues like politics, the death penalty, abortions—the off chance that they’ll
disagree with your opinion could turn an otherwise great interview into an argument over something
irrelevant to your application that will invariably hurt their opinion of you.

-Stick around after it’s over. When the interview is done, shake your interviewer’s hand and leave, even
if it means waiting outside for a while for a ride home. There’s nothing more awkward than hanging
around with nothing to say. If you have any questions for your interviewer, ask them during the
interview, not after it.

After the interview

-Send your interviewer a thank-you email. Ideally you want to mention how you enjoyed the
discussion, even if you didn't and think it went terribly, and highlight some of your strong points again.
It’s important to sound sincere in giving thanks (and you should actually be thankful), because they’re
volunteering their time to help with your college applications. A thank-you email lends a sense of
closure to the interview, and will leave you on good terms with your interviewer.
Chapter 9: College Essays
This chapter will have 2 parts. The first talks about college essays and how to construct them. The
second part will showcase actual examples of college essays that have been successful!

Chapter 9.1: About College Essays

Who’s Reading Your College Essay?
Essay writers, meet Stacey. She's an admissions reader at Boston University, and she'd like to tell you a
little bit about herself and the work she does during application season.

 Allow Me to Introduce Myself

 A Day in the Life of an Application Reader

Now that you're thoroughly intimidated (or maybe totally pumped about the chance to really show your
stuff—it's cool, let the fist pumps roll), let's talk about your audience further. Have you ever wondered
who actually reads your application essay? They drink sherry, read Derrida on their lunch breaks, and
gleefully thrown your essay out the window if you use "who" instead of "whom," right? Not quite.
Gnomes? Elves? The Jabberwocky?

They come dressed to universities wearing ties and dresses and appear in human form. But they aren’t.
They did something very bad in a former life and karma is punishing them by having to read 9,500 bad
essays to find the 500 decent ones and the 3 dozen awesome ones that then become part of their
Pantheon? Sorry.

The key fact to know about your audience (and yes, you are writing for a specific audience and it doesn’t
include Grandma) is that they are bored. Tired. Jaded. Think of all your friends applying to the same
school who will spend an hour on their essay with trite blurbs about how good it felt to help the needy.
These people must read them, every word. Bring the pain.

Who are these admissions gnomes? Imagine that:

 You are locked in your office from approximately November to March every year.

 You read applications day and night, and we're not exaggerating.

 You work your booty off trying to find the students that will be a good fit for your school, and
vice versa.

 You respect every applicant, and you know how much time it takes to put an application
together.

 You've read hundreds and hundreds of applications this year alone. They really start to blend
together.

Now, imagine that you're that same admission officer and that you've come across one really rad college
essay. It's like the smell of fresh-baked cookies, making you sit up in your chair and smile (and reach for
milk). The applicant took the time to make sure there were no spelling mistakes. The applicant really
thought about what she wanted to say. She wrote from the heart and conveyed a sense of personality.
She told a compelling story. Bliss. You'd want to put this application in your "favorites" pile. Write for
that pile. Get the gnomes excited. Or, at the very least, don’t put them to sleep. Okay, so you get the
idea, right? Admissions readers have a pretty tough (and potentially boring) job.

The Four Most Common Types of College Essays and How to Approach Them
Want to skip all the research and get to writing? Go straight to our COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAY LAB for
a step-by-step walkthrough of the writing process, from brainstorming all the way through to revisions.
And now, onto the meat.

Essay is not a four-letter word—though you may feel like using a few of your own when it comes time to
write one. Most students would rather swim in a vat full of sharks while singing the national anthem
(sharks + singing = Shmoop's worst nightmare) than sit down and write an application essay. And hey,
we get it. It's easy to shrug off brainstorming, outlining, and agonizing over essay prompts for a Saturday
afternoon snooze or four back-to-back episodes of The Walking Dead. But we also know that,
sometimes, all you need to get started is a gentle little Shmoop. (Hint: It means to move things forward
a bit. These essays should be… fun. They're much more like narratives, journal entries, and free form
writing than the highly structured, boring 5 paragraph essays you’ve probably been writing in school. In
fact, some people say they’re even easier to write because they’re meant to be written in an everyday
voice. It should all flow easily once you figure out what you want to write about. That, of course, is the
hard part: deciding what stuff to write about. But the nice thing about applying to colleges is that you’ll
be able to recycle some of the essays you write for different schools, so you'll probably only have to
write 3-4 essays at most. Sure, there’ll be slight changes here and there and maybe from year to year,
but you’ll probably be able to use a couple of your essays multiple times. There are always going to be
those schools with that weird prompt that doesn’t fit into any of these (check out UChicago), but even
then, odds are you can adapt one of those four into one of the prompts. Most essays can be grouped
into four general types:

1. The Personal Statement

The Gist: There are a lot of essay prompts that can be considered personal statements; these will range
from “Tell us about yourself” to “Tell us about an experience that defines who you are.” An excellent
example is the first essay topic choice from the 2013-2014 Common App:

“Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their
application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.”

The point of college essays in general is to show a side of you that the admissions committee can’t see
just by looking at your transcript, letters of rec, resume, and what not. The point of personal statement
essays in particular is to communicate something you do or did in the past—whatever, really—that
defines who you are.
Remember when you rescued those 37 cats from the burning animal hospital? Now’s the time to brag
about what a hero you are.
(Source)

Approach: When choosing a topic for this kind of essay, you should select an experience or activity that
played an important—even central—role in your life, but one that isn’t covered by the rest of your
application. For instance, if most of the awards you won were from mock trial, you had a letter of rec
from your mock trial coach, and mock trial filled up half a page on your resume, it might be better to
write an essay about something else, unless you provide a story about an intense mock trial that
required you to persist under pressure. Remember, the point of the essays is to show the admissions
officers something that they can’t garner from the rest of your application. In other words, write about
anything. You can write about how singing in the shower has fundamentally changed the way you see
things (we’re not even kidding, check this out), about how much you love baking cookies, or just about
how much you loved this one art class you took (even if the rest of your application is pretty hardcore
math/science). Colleges want multi-dimensional students, so show them something unique about
yourself.

2. Your Favorite Activity

Gist: The answer to this prompt can range from competitive math to basketball to debate to a collection
of vintage Superman comics. It can also be used for your personal statement as well. The point of this
essay is to demonstrate your passion, have a deep intellectual understanding of something, and notice
the details that 99.9% of others wouldn’t notice—anything that makes you stand out from the crowd.

Superman. Now THERE’S a guy who knows how to stand out from the crowd.
(Source)
Approach: Think about what your interests are. What do you do in your free time? If you could spend a
day doing something, what would you do? Maybe answering watching TV or playing video games isn’t
the best idea, unless you happen to run a TV station or have released your own iPhone apps. Think
about why it’s your favorite activity and what about it gets you excited and just write. A good way to get
material for a first draft is to write like you’re trying to convince someone how great lacrosse or
competitive speed-eating or stamp collections really are. Just remember what you’re trying to get across
to the people reading your essay: that you truly feel passionate about that activity, and that it brings
something out of you that most people can’t match up to.

3. Why [insert school name]?

The Gist: This prompt will ask you why you want to spend the next four years of your life at one
particular college. Strategically, this essay accomplishes two things: it shows your interest in the school
(which is important, because schools want to maintain high matriculation rates), and it shows that you
are a good fit for the school.

Approach: To approach this essay, think about how the admissions officers will see you: a potential
math major with an interest in Shakespeare, a politics nerd with a photographic memory, an all-around
artist with a knack for biology, whatever. Then, do some research. If you’re applying as a math major,
check out the math department’s website. Look up clubs and organizations that you’d like to join at the
school. Professors you'd like to work with on their groundbreaking research. In short, you want to
communicate to the admissions committee that if you’re admitted, you would attend (regardless of
whether it’s on top of your list or on the bottom; the point is to get in first, then decide where you want
to go), and that if you were to attend, you’d contribute positively to the school one way or another.

4. Intellectual Curiosity

Gist: College = freedom at last. True, but let's not forget; you're also in school to study. You'll have to
choose something to major in, and most schools will want to know what you like to learn in your free
time. An example of this kind of question comes from Stanford's Supplemental Essay questions:
Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been
important to your intellectual development.

Approach: What are some of your favorite subjects in school? Do you feign a stomachache before math
class so you can skip class? Similar to the other three previous essays, think about what characteristics
are not yet portrayed through other essays or parts of your application. The admissions committee
wants to know that you have a mind that's always hungry for more knowledge.

"This guy’s brain, on the other hand, is totally full."

(Source)
The people reading your essays are regular human beings, which means you should write with that in
mind. A good way to check your tone is to read your essays out loud. No, not in your head, out loud.
Read them to a friend, parent, sibling, whatever, and if you feel embarrassed or uncomfortable by the
style, then you should change it. This doesn’t mean you should add in colloquial filler words like like, um,
and uh, but it means that the essay should flow smoothly enough that you feel comfortable reading it
out loud in front of someone you don’t know very well (don’t actually do that, but you should feel good
enough to). And… have fun. A lot of people think of college essays as a tedious chore, but actually,
they’re a valuable experience to learn more about yourself and at the same time shake off the modesty
a bit and brag to someone whose job it is to listen. For a more extensive walk-through of the College
Application Essay, check out our Writing the College Application Essay nano-course!

Brainstorming and Outlining Your Essay

You look at the essay prompt. You look at your blank Word document. You look at your essay prompt.
You look at your blank Word document. Okay, time for a break. You're going about this the wrong way.
Your essay isn't just going to magically spring out of your fingertips (at least, we hope not, because that
would be painful). First, before you do anything, you need an idea. And where do ideas come from?
Brainstorms.

Hurricane “Harvard Essay” is on its way.

(Source)

Most students choose a prompt before brainstorming their college application essay. And most of the
time, that works. But sometimes the reverse works just as well. Before you start thinking about specific
essay prompts, we think it's important for you to think about what makes you unique. The
best stories make the best essays, so what story can you (and only you) tell really, really well? What's
super important to you? What's the one quality you possess that makes you a little bit different from
the rest of the students at your high school? Finished? Well, wasn't that fun. Time to click on this link,
grab a snack, and Shmoop your way to the college essay of your dreams. Or, scroll down for some
survival tips from our college essay-writing experts. You could also keep both windows open. Live
dangerously. All of the options are options, you know.

Four Steps To Surviving A Brainstorm

1. Read the essay prompt. Observe it in its natural habitat. Understand what the prompt is really
asking for. Focus on key words, like “contribution” or “accomplishment”, “challenge” or
“diversity.”
2. Write down what comes into your head. Use a piece of paper and a pen or your laptop, we don't
care. The ideas will come thick and fast, and your job is to jot everything – everything – down.
 Don't second-guess yourself. Don't censor. This is a brainstorm: the forecast is calling for heavy
showers of ideas, and you gotta catch 'em all. (Wait, that's Pokémon.)
3. Detach yourself from the writing utensil of your choice. Once the ideas are no longer pinging
around your brain, once your mind is empty, you need to stand up and go do something else.
Let those ideas marinate like a good steak. Mmmm, steak. Don't return to your page full of ideas
for at least a day.
4. Revisit what you wrote down. Some of your ideas are going to leap out at you because they are
beautiful and fabulous and essay gold. Hold them close: you've survived the brainstorm.

Trust us. Trying to write a perfect essay in one sitting is a great way to pop a blood vessel.
(Source)

Outlining your Essay

You've gotta start somewhere (the mud pit on the football field? Starbucks?) and when you're writing an
essay, that somewhere is typically an outline (ohhh, the groaning!). Now that you've selected your essay
topic and prompt, you may be raring to go, but trust us, starting with an outline will save you time in the
long run. An outline is an important first step in the essay-writing process. It helps you focus in on the
best details to include and forces you to think about how each section connects with the next. Writing
an essay without an outline can result in rambling, unfocused paragraphs. Don't go there. It's more
terrifying than hugging a lion. Start by breaking your essay down into four or five parts: an intro, two to
three supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion. But don't worry—no one will be checking for thesis
statements or asking for an annotated bibliography. This is just an easy way to organize your ideas, and
to keep your essay at a length that will meet the Common App word limit requirements. For more help
brainstorming, check out our handy College Essay Lab. Trust us.

Writing Your Essay

You've written a lot in your lifetime. For serious. You've authored papers for your history classes and
reports for English. You've penned poetry en español. You've Tweeted, Facebooked, and blogged. The
college application is an extension of something you've been doing for most of your life, so don't treat it
as something terrifying. Treat it as a challenge. Treat it as one of the obstacles you have to overcome in
order to get your grubby paws on an acceptance letter to Yale.
Maybe your paws wouldn’t be so grubby if you washed them once in a while.
(Source)

Now, how do you actually get this sucker written? So glad you asked. First thing's first: start writing.
Take your favorite idea from your amazing brainstorming session, and run with it. You're going to do a
million drafts of your essay, so don't waste your time fretting over word choice or semicolon placement.
The important thing is that you get something – anything – written down, so you have raw material to
work with. Once you have a couple of pages on how your summer mission trip to Guatemala changed
your life, you can take your ugly lump of coal and start polishing it into a Harvard-worthy diamond.
Parke Muth knows a thing or two about application essays (only two though). After serving in the Office
of Admission at the University of Virginia for almost 30 years, he's seen his fair share. Read what
Parke has to say about voice and about well-written application essays in general.

Two Things To Keep In Mind While You Write

1. Is your essay answering the question? As you hammer out the many iterations of your essay,
remember that you're responding to a particular prompt. Your reader should be able to tell
what question you're addressing when they start paging through your essay, and they should
have your answer to that question by the time they get to your final sentence.

2. Are you making the impression you want to make? You are a composition of hundreds of traits,
qualities, and quirks. In your essay, you will emphasize one or two of the things that make you,
you. You will emphasize the one or two things that you feel make you an exceptional applicant
to a particular school. Polish your essay accordingly.

It might as well be – both will deprive you of sleep.

(Source)

You've written four drafts of your essay. You've spell-checked the heck out of it. It's a product that
you're proud of, and that you feel will enhance your application. Time to let other people look at it. This
part...well, this part can hurt, because your essay is your baby. Thing is, you want honest opinions on
this. While you'll find that not all input is useful or workable, you're likely to get back a suggestion or two
that will make your essay stronger, better, faster. So, suck it up, and ask someone with an editor's eye to
read what you've written. Then, edit. And rewrite. Rinse and repeat until you're satisfied it's your best
work.

Editing Your Essay

You’ve put the finishing touches on your essay, and it feels oh-so-good. Now you want nothing more
than to close your laptop, throw on a pair of flip-flops and head to the beach (or, if you live in the
Midwest, throw on a pair of galoshes and head to the movie theater). Deep sigh… your work is done
here. Hardly. Despite all the time and effort you’ve put into the thing, it’s only half done. There’s too
much riding on this baby to stop now. It’s revision time. Ooh yeah.

You doth protest too much, we thinks. Yeah, it’s tempting to just hit that button that will send your
essay hurtling into cyberspace as is, but turning in a sloppy essay communicates a clear lack of interest.
Admissions officers will think that if you don’t put in the time to refine your essay, you don’t really care
about going to their school. And… they’re kinda right. Keep in mind how badly you want this. Don’t just
talk a big game – if you really want to put your best brain forward, give it everything you have to give.
Tackle the challenge like it’s fourth and goal with one second left on the clock. Or, if you’re not into
sports analogies, like it just stole your wallet. However… you are allowed to take a break after
completing your first draft. Let it sit for a while. Step away from your desk. Shut down your computer.
Go do something fun. Okay, so maybe you do have time to take in that movie/beach volleyball
tournament. Sleep on it. Wait a few days, even. Then, come back and hit those revisions like they talked
smack about your mother.

Get Some Help

Seek the advice of a trusted friend, mentor, or teacher. Or, if you don’t have one of those, maybe talk to
a pet fish who’s a really good listener. Outside help is often the way to go. However, you have to
remember to keep your own voice and stick to your ideas—it’s your essay, not theirs. So get feedback,
but don’t channel anyone else in your essay. If you’re suddenly rattling off British colloquialisms and
you’re not a teeny bit British… they’ll know something is afoot. You can also turn to Shmoop for Essay
help.

Read It Out Loud

Aw… it’s like you get to read a bedtime story to yourself! Go ahead… get all snuggly under the covers…
maybe even bring a flashlight and make a fort. Whatever makes it fun for you. If you find yourself
cringing when you read your essay aloud because the tone is forced (did you use too many $5 words?)
or the essay feels choppy, that’s a good thing—it means you’re catching your goof-ups now, rather than
later. Or rather than… never. If your essay sounds awkward when reading it aloud to yourself, that’s
exactly how it’s going to sound to the reader. And they’re not as forgiving of your mistakes as you are.
You’ll let yourself get away with practically anything. On the other hand, once your final product flows
as smoothly as Michael Jackson’s dance moves, even when put to the ultimate test of being read out
loud, you can rest assured that your reader will give you brownie points for style and tone. If it’s
spectacular enough, they may even give you actual brownies. You should probably let them know if you
have a gluten allergy.

Five Steps To Beautifying Your Essay

1. Craft an exquisite first sentence. Ms. Mary Admissions is on her 453rd application essay and
fourth cup of coffee of the day. Her eyes are blurring. You need to leap off the page, across time
and space, and grab her attention. How do you do that? Write a first sentence that makes her sit
up and take notice.
2. Craft an exquisite first paragraph. You don't have a lot of space in this essay to tell your story,
which means you hit 'em fast and hard. By the time Ms. Mary Admissions reaches the end of
your first paragraph, not only will she have experienced a mental reveille, but she'll know
exactly where your essay is going to take her and why she should care about what you have to
say.
3. Show, don't tell. If we had a dollar for every time an English teacher threw this one at us, we'd
be able to buy a steak dinner at Ruth's Chris. Don't slap your reader across the face with facts
and feelings; draw them in and make them feel like they're right there, fighting malaria in Africa
with you.
4. Let your personality shine. This is your essay; this is your opportunity to show your dream
school's admissions office who you are, beyond the test scores and your GPA and your litany of
extracurricular activities.
5. Aim for personal, but not casual. Your essay isn't a diary entry. You're not sharing an experience
with a BFF. You're telling your story to a stranger...a stranger who's going to decide whether or
not you get into Northwestern. So, keep it about you, but the classy, intelligent, adult you.

The Nitty-Gritty: Checklist

Did you do all of this stuff?

___ Spell-check your essay

___ Spell the college's name correctly

___ Stick below the character limit

___ Write in paragraphs instead of one huge block. Think ice cubes, not icebergs.

___ Vary your sentence length and structure

___ Use the active (not passive) voice

___ Avoid using big $5 SAT vocab words

___ Include a personal anecdote about yourself

___ Use specific details

___ Avoid clichés like the plague

___ Open with an engaging first sentence

___ Finish strong

We actually use the same checklist when we’re on a first date. Works like a charm.

11 Essay Mistakes to Avoid Like the Plague

Want help writing your college app essay? CLICK HERE to go to our College Application Essay Lab, which
will walk you step-by-step through the process, including loads of examples along the way. Okay. Now
onto the common mistakes.

1. Don't be offensive. Hey, we get that it's hip to be edgy. We're with it. But watch that you don't
overstep the bounds of good taste in your essay when ruminating on faith, race, socioeconomic
status, sexual orientation, or politics.
2. Avoid controversial political topics. You're in the Tea Party. The admissions officer is a
communist. Step back, everyone, this could get ugly.
3. Don't be negative. It's not okay to talk about your dead dog in your college essay, unless Fido's
death spurred you into caring about the plight of homeless animals so much that you felt
compelled to start your city's first animal shelter.
4. Beware the overshare. There are some things that the admissions office does not need, or want,
to know.
5. Don't disparage the school you're applying to. You're trying to get in, right? Just...just don't do it,
okay?
6. Don't be “too creative. “The admissions office at Vanderbilt is looking for a solid, real,
interesting piece of prose, not a Shakespearean sonnet.
7. Don't be arrogant. Highlight your strengths in your essay, but not at the expense of others.
8. Answer the essay prompt. We've discussed this before, but it's another one of those things we
can't say often enough, rather like “Brush your teeth twice a day” and “Milk belongs in the
fridge, not on the counter.”
9. Don't write too little. There's a word limit attached to your essay, which means that the
admissions office thinks you'll have at least that much to say about their prompt.
10. Remember what your English teacher taught you. Check for spelling and grammar errors, write
in paragraph form, and don't use profanity.
11. Don't spell the name of the college incorrectly. It’s “Johns Hopkins”, not “John Hopkins.” Yeesh.

Essay vs. the Rest of the Application

You have twelve different college applications to fill out. Each application requires a different essay. You
scream, you cry, because it looks like you're going to spend the next few months of your life typing out
mini-Great American Novels. Or maybe not?

The Rest of The Application

A significant portion of the college application is made up of forms. Simple, easy-breezy forms. You write
down your name, your address, blah blah blah. You also write down two sets of numbers: your GPA and
your ACT or SAT scores. Say your numbers are stellar. Like, you-are-one-of-the-smartest-people-in-the-
world stellar. Well, chances are, those numbers are enough to get you into most, if not all, of the
colleges you're applying to. The problem is, while your GPA and test scores show that you're smart, they
really don't tell an admissions committee much else. What are you passionate about? What global issue
do you plan to spend the rest of your life fixing? James T. Kirk or Jean-Luc Picard?

The Essay
Your essay and letters of recommendation are the subjective portions of the application, and they exist
to give a college a picture of you as a person...and to possibly save your butt. For example, it's your
junior year in high school, and your parents get divorced and your grandma dies and your dog dies and
your house burns down. You're depressed, and your GPA suffers. It's not that you aren't smart; it's not
that you aren't ambitious, with big dreams and plans. Your numbers just suck, because there's a lot
more going on in your life than AP European History. Time to deploy the essay.

This is your chance to show that not only are you a fabulous writer with interesting ideas, but that you
are a person...a person who will benefit from an Ivy League education. A person who will make that Ivy
League institution a cooler place for other students to go to school. A person who will graduate and go
on to do incredible things that will reflect well on the university where you earned your degree. While
an amazing essay can’t make up for a dismal transcript, a well-written couple of pages filled with
personality and insight can certainly sway admissions in your favor if your application is borderline.

Expending Time and Effort on a World-Class Essay

Pros Cons
A great essay will even the odds on your getting accepted if you have a decent GPA
...
and test scores.

Um, there aren't

A great essay will make you a shoo-in if you have an incredible GPA and test scores.
any.

The take-away is this: No matter how perfect your numbers are, you will always benefit from a well-
written essay. And, now that we've convinced you of the importance of writing an application essay
worthy of John Steinbeck, here's the nitty-gritty on how to get 'er done.

Examples of Awesome Personal Statements

Write your own awesome personal statement with our COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAY LAB, which will
guide you through the process, providing tips and even more examples along the way. Before you start,
check out our own sample essays—or scroll down for the Best of the Web. Whether you're an athlete, a
minority, or no one special (or, uh, probably some combination), we've got you covered.

No One Special
 Common App Prompt 1 Example: Background and Identity

 Common App Prompt 2 Example: Failure and Success

 Common App Prompt 3 Example: Challenging Beliefs

 Common App Prompt 4 Example: Problem-Solving

 Common App Prompt 5 Example: Accomplishment or Event

  What matters to you and why? Example

Minority
 Common App Prompt 1 Example: Background and Identity

 Common App Prompt 3 Example: Challenging Beliefs

 Common App Prompt 5 Example: Accomplishment or Event

Athlete
 Common App Prompt 1 Example: Background and Identity

 Common App Prompt 2 Example: Failure and Success

 What matters to you and why? Example

Emotional Hardship
 What matters to you and why? Example

Physical Hardship
 Common App Prompt 1 Example: Background and Identity

 What matters to you and why? Example

International Student
 What matters to you and why? Example

Special Skills
 Common App Prompt 1 Example: Background and Identity

 Common App Prompt 4 Example: Problem-Solving

 Common App Prompt 5 Example: Accomplishment or Event

Non-Traditional Age
 What matters to you and why? Example

Some are surprising and some are clever, but they're all good examples of a "hook," not the kind with
the pointy mustache but something that writers use to grab their reader's attention and make them
want to keep reading.

Additional College Essay Writing Resources

Grab Them with the First Line
Stanford Magazine compiled the following list of great opening lines written by hopeful Stanford
applicants.
Essays That Worked
Connecticut College posts a list of college essays “that worked.”

More Essays that Worked

Hamilton College provides access to some of their favorite application essays.

Other Resources for College Essay Writing

Writing the Personal Statement

The Purdue Online Writing lab offers a guide to writing all kinds of personal statements.

UC Berkeley Has a Say

Check out the University of California at Berkeley’s guide to writing the personal statement.

Application Tips: Tackling the Personal Essay

Abc.com provides some good tips on approaching the personal essay.

10 Tips for Writing the College Application Essay

The famous U.S. News & World Report offers some writing advice.

The Elements of Style

Flip through this famous guide to writing by William Strunk, Jr. that many students and teachers use.
Read the 1918 version for free online.

Get Your Writing On

Some great handbooks on writing by writing guru Andrea Lunsford.

A Guide to Grammar and Writing

A cool interactive guide to grammar.

Grammar Resources
The University of Chicago’s guide to grammar.

Advice from Current Students: Essay Specific

Want to know what some actual students had to say? It’s nice to hear straight from the horse’s mouth.
(Note: None of the following students were horses, despite one of them having larger than average
teeth.)

Student from Northwestern University:

My three college essays:

 “What constitutes good leadership? Describe a situation where you learned how to be a better
leader.” My response: Working as a swimming instructor taught me the value of level-
headedness and compassion when trying to lead others.

 “Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you
have faced and its impact on you.” My response: Being a musician helped me to grapple with
conflicting viewpoints on religion.
  “What are the unique qualities of Northwestern - and of the specific undergraduate school to
which you are applying - that make you want to attend the University? In what ways do you
hope to take advantage of the qualities you have identified?” My response: Northwestern’s
campus architecture reflects diversity, tradition, and modernity; the engineering school
curriculum allows me to pursue my non-technical interests.

A good college essay makes the admissions officer reading it believe they know something about you
that only a close friend would know. This “something” can be whatever you want - the trick is to find
something that reveals your character AND impresses the reader with your skills and intelligence. In my
case, I wrote about my experiences with religion - a deeply personal topic that I didn’t discuss casually -
in the context of my musical training, which was one of the most impressive aspects of my resume.

Student admitted to Stanford University, currently at Harvard University:

 "What matters to you, and why?" I wrote about my daily walks home from school.

 "Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been
important to your intellectual development." I wrote about not being able to read Chinese.

You'll notice that my first example describes an commonplace experience, and my second one even
highlights a weakness. These are, of course, highly simplistic summaries, but I've presented them this
way to make a point: your topics don't have to be remarkable. In fact, it might even be better if they
aren't. To see why, let's take a closer look at what the prompts are really asking. Although only one
explicitly mentions it, it seems to me that both of those questions ask whether you have "intellectual
vitality." So, uh... what exactly does that mean? At least to me, it means that they are looking for people
who can't help but be excited by and engaged with the world around them. The things they see get
them thinking, even when there isn't any homework asking then to do so, even when those things that
aren't necessarily recognized intellectual topics, and even when there aren't people to impress. Life
simply stirs their minds into motion.

(Disclaimer: I make no claim to embody this romantic ideal. I am quite far from it. But I guess I exhibited
some of these qualities enough for the Stanford admissions committee...)

If you can successfully take an ordinary topic and illuminate what makes it extraordinary, then you
have demonstrated some amount of this intellectual vitality. You've shown that you search for meaning
in your everyday life. This is important because the way you handle the little things speak a lot about
your character (this is true in life in general, not just for college essays). It's easy enough to pretend
when it comes to big things because you're more likely to consciously mind the way you act, and there
are well-known patterns to follow. However, it's harder to pretend for the little things because you're
more likely to forget to pay attention. You probably don't want to hear this, but I think it would be
misguided for me to share the text of my essays. I don't really have anything against it; I just truly don't
think it would be helpful. I remember reading dozens of other people's essays in college prep books
when I was a senior. I convinced myself that they were helping me, but at best they gave me an idea of
the tone I should aspire to. Reading other people's stories couldn't help me find my own story to tell. I
was most productive once I stopped worshipping those models. I encourage you to think about the little
details that penetrate your everyday life. There are things that define you; you just have to notice them.
Chapter 9.2: College Essay Examples
College Essay Example #1: No One Special - Common App 1: Background and
Identity
The Prompt
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their
application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The Essay
Intro
The valedictorian at my school can play the trombone. She's a black belt in jiu-jitsu, and she invented a
new way to keep bread fresh. She's pretty amazing, but I don't think she's that unusual. In the stack of
essays being considered for admission, I would guess she's the rule more than the exception.

I haven't invented anything. I can only play the kazoo, and the only belt I own came free with the suit.
What I have to offer isn't as obvious as most applicants, but what I represent is important. My
generation is one raised by pop culture, and while denigrating it, scions of elder generations ignore one
simple fact: today's pop culture manufactures tomorrow's legends.

How can an encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture contribute to a better way of life? Partly because
this is the language of the future. I already speak it fluently, and any other ideas will be layered on top.
The other reason is that although things like popular movies, books, and video games get dismissed,
they actually have a lot to say.

Body
While teachers might struggle to bring the story of Oedipus to modern students, I got what was going on
quickly…because I watch Game of Thrones. The plotlines of incest and revenge, as well as defying the
gods, are explored in great detail on the show. So when it came time to understand, I was able to map
the characters onto one another, facilitating both my understanding and that of my friends, whom I
could help with the reading.

Additionally, when I learned about the Wars of the Roses, it didn't take long for me to understand the
importance of the Yorks and the Lancasters. I already had a window into both art and history from a
television show, and my knowledge of it helped me understand both incarnations better.

It's not just facts and art that pop culture helps illuminate; most of my moral leaders have been fictional.
Katniss Everdeen and Tony Stark both taught me about the importance of perseverance. Spider-Man's
motto is "with great power comes great responsibility." The Terminator movies pressed the importance
of preparing for the future while pointing out that the future is not set. While the teachers of these
lessons might be unorthodox, they are the cornerstones of many religions and philosophies.

These stories are often rooted, consciously or not, in religion and folklore. When Captain America
chooses not to fight his friend, instead literally turning the other cheek in the face of violence, not only
do I understand the significance, but I am also able to point to a concrete place in space and time where
this was the correct response.
Many people will agree that books, movies, and even television can contain lessons, but they still say to
throw video games away. They call them a waste of time at best. This falls apart under a similar
examination of the form.

The Assassin's Creed series, for example, taught me a bit about history. While I understand the Assassins
and the Templar are not really secret societies fighting a millennia-old war, the people they run into are
real. During the Revolution section in American History, I was the only one who knew minor players like
Charles Lee and understood his significance. I also know names like Rodrigo Borgia, Robespierre, and
Duleep Singh thanks to these games.

Conclusion
We all embrace what we love, and I have done that with the culture that has raised me. While I
appreciate it on the surface level, as entertainment, I understand there is more to it. It has caused me to
learn more than I would have in school. When I fight a new enemy in a historical game, I look him up.

Many of your applicants will run away from their time appreciating the mass art of their generation. Not
me. I am fluent in the language of my time. I am uniquely suited to understanding and applying these
concepts to higher learning. What you're getting with me is someone who will be able to bridge the gap
between past and present, and apply their education to the future.

Why This Essay Works

This essay acknowledges the applicant's weaknesses from the beginning. By adopting a funny, self-
deprecating attitude, the essay instantly stands out from the others around it. Although humor is there
and is an integral part of the essay, it never takes over the narrative. It's used in the very beginning to
separate itself from the pack, then moves into a more traditional inventory as it develops. After
humorously deconstructing the candidate's weaknesses, it moves into strengths. Many applicants don't
know what their strengths are, and the purpose here is to show that even what you might regard as a
weakness can be recast as a strength if you know how. Essentially, the writer declares a paradox in their
thesis statement: all that time people say they wasted watching movie and playing video games is
actually a strength. The most important part is in the body, where the writer then backs up what they're
saying. Making unfounded claims is good for attracting attention, but not so good for getting into
college. The key is understanding what you've learned from your time enjoying culture. The writer then
hits it, point by point, showing where movies, television, and video games have all made them a more
ideal candidate for entry. The conclusion dramatically restates the thesis, and includes the most stirring
line at the end. This applicant is fluent in the language of today, and uses a rhythmic three-part
statement on the end to drive the point home. This student knows they are not the traditional over-
achiever that colleges are said to want; instead, they show that they're bold and innovative, two
qualities that are irresistible.

College Essay Example #2: No One Special - Common App 2: Failure and Success
The Prompt
The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when
you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

The Essay
Intro
I've never been comfortable bragging. In fact, I was raised to be modest about my achievements,
whatever they might be. Applying for college is nothing but bragging, and it makes me uncomfortable. In
addition, every other essay you're likely to see is nothing but a litany of impressive accomplishments
from top to bottom. That's not me.

At least, that's not me yet. Those applicants who have already tasted far-reaching success are pretty
well-formed as people. They already know what works and see no reason to change. Why should they?
They already invented a new form of pizza. They have life figured out, or sincerely believe they do. They
are wrong. There is no better teacher than failure.

Think about it for a second. Wisdom is what you get from experience. Experience is what you get from
failure. The transitive property works out from there. I know this because I failed and it turned me
around in a way that modest or even spectacular success could not have. It all started with a D.

Body
Getting a D probably isn't the worst thing in the world, but it's not something anyone wants to see, let
alone put, on a college application. It came back to me, scrawled in red, on the first big history test of
the year. The one the teacher had assured us was a third of our grade. I could already see my chances of
a four-year college going up in smoke and my school year hadn't even started yet.

What happened? I'm not a D student. I'll get the occasional C as well as the occasional A. D's are out of
character for me, and enough of a stomach punch to really get my attention. The short version is, I
didn't study, and I don't remember precisely why. There is always a reason not to study, isn't there? I
didn't study and I went into a test woefully unprepared and got beaten up.

I had two options here. I could accept that I was in fact a D student despite what I had thought. Or I
could study hard for the next test and try to bring my grade up by the force of the average. I realized
something pretty important: while I had already forgotten the reason I didn't study, I never forgot the
grade. Thus, the grade itself was far more important than whatever it was I was doing instead.

Imagine, instead, if I had gotten a C or even a B. It would have taken sheer, blind luck, but it could have
happened. If this had happened, if I had succeeded rather than failed, I would have learned nothing. Or,
at the very least, I would have learned that I didn't have to study, which is the opposite of what any
college-bound senior should learn.

Conclusion
I chose to work harder. By my failure, that D, I had already learned the consequences of not studying. I
knew both the problem and the solution. It didn't make it easy. I steadily brought my grade up with
subsequent tests and papers.

At the end of the year, I got a better grade than I should have, based on strict averages. The teacher
weighted improvement over other concerns. Those who buckled down and worked harder as the year
progressed were rewarded.

In essence, my hard work paid off twice over. Had I not failed, I would have learned nothing. I might
have done much worse on a later test, since I "knew" studying was not important. Instead, by failing, I
was able to right my course. Going into college, I have concrete experience with just how important
hard work can be. Okay, I might be bragging a little bit.

Why This Essay Works

This essay is a good example of how to turn an ostensible weakness into a strength. The writer takes a
prompt, which explicitly acknowledges a failure of some kind, and shows how it leads to later success.
This can be a winning combination, as it shows a certain amount of humility, which can be in short
supply amongst students. The writer also uses humor, but does not let the essay get overpowered by
quips and jokey asides. Humor can be a wonderful way to liven up a piece of writing, but allow it to work
in the service of the piece rather than the other way around. In addition, never be afraid to cut a joke
that just isn't working. It's better to have no humor at all than forced attempts at it. Good writing is all
about using concrete examples. In this case, the writer is able to point to a specific incident that shows
the prompt in action. This specific failed test gives the writer a sense of immediacy and allows them to
explore the idea. In this way, the reader gets the sense that this is truly wisdom gained. That last point is
vital. To truly answer a prompt like this, you have to be completely honest about your failure, whatever
it might be. No matter what it was, chances are you learned something from it. There's nothing like a
taste of failure to make sure you never experience it again.

College Essay Example #3: No One Special - Common App 3: Challenging Beliefs
The Prompt
Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the
same decision again?

The Essay
Intro
It's pretty easy to think you already know everything. Yet beliefs can exist inside of you that you don't
remember consciously making, like old files on a computer that somehow avoid being purged.
Eventually, I had to do a little mental house-cleaning, if only because there's only so much space in my
mind and I have a math test on Friday I would very much like to pass.

This leads me to the entire concept behind belief. Recently, on social media, a friend remarked (about
an issue) that it was "just their beliefs." It doesn't really matter what the issue was, or what hinged on
my friend's beliefs. What got me to thinking was the word itself.

"Belief" is one of those words we throw around without thinking about it. It tends to be the way people
finish arguments rather than start them—when they stop thinking of an issue as opposed to analyzing
them. This casual remark by my friend made me challenge the whole idea behind the word itself.

Body
The first step was looking it up in the dictionary, and came up with "a feeling that something is good,
right, or valuable." While on the face of it, this definition would seem to put everything to rest, it
spurred more reflection on it. Namely, the one question we've all been asking since we learned how to
speak: "Why?"

Specifically, why is this thought to be good, right, or valuable? For one thing, beliefs are not constant
between cultures. They are not even constant in the same culture. If they were, no one would ever have
to inform another that they thought or said something due to their beliefs. It would be known intuitively
as everyone had the same ones.

What about any particular concept, idea, or action, would make it good, right, or valuable? "Right" is the
most concrete of these words. While correctness is hard to determine, whether or not something is
factually true has a whole subject devoted to it: science. I didn't think that science would tell me if
something is "good," but "valuable," maybe. Living organisms have needs, and thinking ones have other
needs. Fulfilling those demonstrates value.

Science is also intended to be predictive. The goal is to figure out how things will react in the future, and
through that create things like self-driving cars or microwave burritos that don't burn the roof of your
mouth. By predicting a course of action, i.e.: "This burrito is hot and could burn me," it can then figure
out why and propose a solution.

Conclusion
I went back to the original post to see if my newly minted definition of belief would be valuable. As it
turned out, this whole debate was on Star Wars. So science, or being predictive, rational, or much of
anything didn't help at all.

Or so I thought. Because it didn't fall into these categories, I was able to look at it with clear eyes. The
debate over it was just that: a debate. There was nothing predictive in either side. There was nothing
concrete. An argument that people got pretty worked up for, and invoked their beliefs to settle, ended
up being completely empty.

I was happy to challenge my definition of belief. Now that I know what it is, I can utilize it. My worldview
can be a rational one, except when it's not. And when it's not, I'll know why. One thing, it's already
saved me time arguing on the internet, and if that's not valuable, I don't know what is.

Why This Essay Works

The student takes the question in an interesting direction from the beginning. By challenging even the
wording of it, the writer is looking for a deeper meaning. In many cases, words are taken as a given, and
it's the rare person who really seeks what they mean. This is someone who doesn't take things for
granted, and approaches even the wording of questions with strong critical thinking skills. This is also an
interesting journey into the psyche of the student. Most belief systems go unchallenged, and here the
student's taking an offhanded debate over a movie as an invitation to construct one from the ground up.
This shows that the writer is an introspective person, but also has a solid chain of logic to support their
beliefs. The final reveal—that this was entirely on the back of a movie debate—adds a little levity. Things
were getting a little stiff, and just that bit of humor provides some relief. It's not a joke line, and that's
important. A simple joke might not land, but that truth grounds the entire essay in reality and should
give the reader a bit of a smile.

College Essay Example #4: No One Special – Common App 4: Problem-Solving

The Prompt
Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a
research query, an ethical dilemma—anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale.
Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
The Essay
Intro
I have a scar above my left eyebrow from when I fell from a tree when I was five years old. I landed face-
first on a particularly pointy rock. Now, you're probably thinking, "Where were this kid's parents?!"

Oh, my dad was nearby, sipping on a Corona in a lawn chair (as he does). Once I saw the blood, I bawled
my eyes out. My dad, on the other hand, calmly walked over, examined my wound, and told me it was
just a small cut, which it absolutely was (the branch I fell from was only five feet high). To make me feel
like I wasn't overreacting, my dad butterfly-stitched my bloody face with two Band-Aids.

If my five-year-old had fallen from a tree onto their face, I would have rushed them to a hospital. I would
have dramatically held them in my arms in the waiting room while quietly sobbing about the oh-so-
real possibility of a concussion, infection, or brain tumor.

You know, I probably wouldn't have let them climb the tree in the first place.

My dad's the complete opposite. He hardly ever stresses out. He's cool, calm, and collected. And in my
junior year, he had to spend a few nights in the hospital due to high blood pressure.

Body
They said the cause was most likely stress. Stress from what? I thought to myself. He was a stay-at-home
dad. For the most part, he takes it easy, eats healthy, exercises regularly, and doesn't have anger issues.
There really wasn't a reason for him to be stressed out, let alone have high blood pressure due to stress,
but he did.

I was very distracted when he spent those couple of days in the hospital. I struggled with my homework,
I was distant, and I wasn't eating very well. The medical issue my father had was so common. It could
also kill him. How could we not know the cause of the stress? I thought about this extensively. It felt
completely hopeless.

I snapped out of it once I figured out what I could do about it. In the face of adversity, the worst a
person can do is dwell. I was stuck on the hopelessness of the situation. The solution? Become a doctor,
of course.

Okay, easier said than done. That goes without saying. Still, I couldn't help but feel that there was
something I could do about it, so at that moment, I decided I wanted to be a doctor. I enrolled in a few
extra classes at my community college. Now, if all goes according to plan, I could get a Bachelor's in pre-
med in as little as two years.

Conclusion
I still have no clue how my dad has high blood pressure due to stress. My general classes didn't teach me
any of that. What I do know is that I'm my father's daughter, and I'll most likely have the same medical
issues. If I stress so much about stressing out, I know I'll be dead before my dad, who I'm sure will live to
be a hundred at least. That's why I'm writing this personal statement.

Why This Essay Works

The key to making this personal statement work is focus. It's all about spending enough time talking
about the right things, not leaving anything out, and not getting too far off track. In the introduction, we
meet the writer's father. He's basically her foil. He's calm and laidback, she's neurotic and controlling.
This lays the foundation for her to answer the prompt. The thesis comes a bit later than expected, and
the conclusion ends rather abruptly, but what else is there to say? The body paragraphs tell the story
introduces what exactly the problem is: her father has high blood pressure due to stress and doesn't
know why. This essay's all about how the writer coped with that problem and what solution they came
up with. It's a personal statement, so while focusing on solving a problem to answer the prompt is
important, what's more important is the writer talking about herself and her personal development. In
the beginning, the essay discusses her dad. In the end, it's about her.

College Essay Example #5: No One Special – Common App 5: Accomplishment or

Event
The Prompt
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to
adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

The Essay
Intro
I did not emigrate to this country from some far-off land. I don't live in an ethnic enclave that still
treasures the values of the old country. I don't practice an "exotic" faith, nor is my community
particularly tight-knit. I am a regular suburban teenager from the United States. Though my culture is
not necessarily unique, that doesn't mean we don't have adulthood ceremonies.

There is no definitive point at which someone is considered an adult. It's more a gradual process of
milestones: graduations, the addition of rights, more responsibilities and so on. The most important of
these, for me, was getting a driver's license.

On the face of it, that might not seem like something all that important, but it has become one of the
most important rites in our culture to indicate adulthood. Getting my license, and afterwards access to a
car, has done more to push me towards responsibility before or since.

Body
Look at the facts. A car is two tons of metal, usually hurtling along at between thirty to sixty miles an
hour, which is more than enough to kill someone. It's become a cliché of sorts, but only because it's
true. When you're driving, you're operating a lethal weapon. I don't have any sort of dark origin story
about why I feel this way. Seeing enough statistics was enough to convince me.

My home state now trusts me to go zooming around in one of these things. While some people might
think adulthood should come first, this was a measure of trust. When someone trusts you, you don't
want to let them down. My state said I was grown up enough to operate a weapon. I better prove them
right.

A car isn't just a weapon. It's also an incredibly complex machine that seems to do whatever it can to fall
apart. My parents couldn't afford to get me a car, but I can now use one of the two—the older of the
two, because my parents are also smart people who want to hedge their bets. I am supposed to take
care of this thing.

Because it's old, the car does have its share of quirks and it likes to break in new and exciting ways.
Sometimes it's harder to steer. Sometimes it comes to a shuddering stop. I learned that the quickest
way to avoid a breakdown when I was in the middle of something else was maintenance. A car is,
essentially, almost a pet. An extremely important pet you have to take care of or it goes to the vet and
costs money you don't have.

Feeding this pet is also expensive. Gas prices are up over three dollars, and though I've heard legends
that it was once under a dollar a gallon, I don't believe it. I had to get my first job so that I would be able
to pay for the gas I use to drive around. This made me construct my first budget, analyze my travel
times, and really figure out if going someplace was worth it.

Conclusion
Most people think of driving as a gateway to freedom, and it is. It's also a host of new responsibilities.
That is what adulthood is: the combination of these two concepts. While driving a car doesn't carry any
spiritual significance in our culture, it's the perfect example of what we value.

Perhaps most importantly, driving isn't the end of my maturation. There are still other steps: graduation,
college, voting, and so on. At each one, I'm sure I'll have the same response I had to driving. That's
because adulthood is a journey rather than a destination. We become incrementally older, allowed to
do more, but compelled to take care of more.

At least I'll be able to get there behind a wheel.

Why This Essay Works

This is a student who doesn't have any obvious answer to the question, and instead of letting that
frighten them away from it, they embrace the mundaneness of their answer. It's very common to think
of a place with a different culture as having "more" culture than one's own, but this isn't true.
Sometimes it just takes a critical eye to examine one's own culture. The student does an excellent job of
laying out the three main reasons a car carries the responsibility of adulthood. It's dangerous, it has to
be maintained, and it's expensive. They explain the point behind each one, using a delicate touch to
keep from being too somber. The writer also employs a little bit of humor, but it's only the slightest bit.
In this way, there's little chance of a joke sinking the entire thing. Humor is best used in a light touch, to
keep the reader's attention, but never taking away from the thesis.

College Essay Example #6: No One Special - What matters to you, and why?
The Prompt
What matters to you, and why?

The Essay
Intro
There's a short list of what is supposed to matter. It's been signed off on, supported by the culture, and
in some cases bolstered by millions of years of evolution. Things like friendship, family, perseverance.
There is nothing wrong with any of those concepts, but mine is a generation raised by television and
movies, by comic books and video games.

This isn't all that different from other generations, either. Over time pop culture becomes stories, stories
become legends, and legends become myths. People like Hercules, Beowulf, and Hiawatha were
admired by generations past, so looked at from that idea, my choice is not too terribly strange.

What matters to me, fundamentally, is all of those important things I mentioned earlier. The same ones
the other essays likely return to again and again. For me, a personification of those values is far more
important, a figure I can look to as the exemplar of behavior. It can be none other than Steve Rogers,
better known as the Avenger, Captain America.

Body
Yes, Captain America is a comic book character. Yes, he's gotten wider fame by being the centerpiece of
a couple of very profitable movies. It would be tempting to dismiss him as "kid's stuff," but he's anything
but. The point of Captain America is far more clever than that, exemplifying important values in a
palatable way.

Friendship is probably one of the most common things one could value, and for good reason. Friends
are, essentially, the family you choose. Captain America demonstrates his commitment to friendship
when he squares off against the Winter Soldier, formerly his best friend (spoilers, sorry). While another
hero like Thor or Batman might have simply beat the other man into a pulp, Captain America throws
aside his shield and refuses to strike his friend, eventually redeeming him from the life of a brainwashed
assassin.

Perseverance is commonly cited as the weakness of my generation. There's an idea we give up at the
first sign of adversity. Once again, I look to Captain America as an example. Before he became a super
soldier, he never backed down. Whether it was standing up to bullies or fighting in World War II, if Cap
knew he was in the right, he would go down fighting.

Patriotism is not really considered cool. Cynicism is far too easy to fall into. I have had to wrestle with it,
as too often good ideas are co-opted and fall apart in the face of reality. Once again, Captain America
shows what we could accomplish if we really did work for the best of America. When his country needed
him, he volunteered. When his country went too far, he helped pull it back. Cap is a champion of the
spirit of our ideals, the best face of America.

Conclusion
Don't dismiss a man just because he wears red, white, and blue tights. And also happens to be fictional.
Wisdom can be found in the most surprising of places, if you only look for it. I found it with Captain
America, and his example continues to inspire me.

My generation's heroes are largely fictional. There's room for debate as to why this is, and it's certainly
much too large to tackle here. The point is, we should not dismiss a hero for this simple crime. It's not
their fault they're fictional. It can be a boon in the sense that a fictional person is much more likely to
live up to their values.

Captain America is valuable because he displays all the best in the American psyche as it is intended. He
is the best in all of us. So when he faces problems and issues far more extreme than anything I will deal
with in my life, he still can show me the way. My friends aren't going to be brainwashed assassins, but
they might do something wrong and need me to forgive them. I'm not going to fight Hitler, but racists
and anti-Semites still exist in the world. That is why Captain America matters. Not just to me, but to the
culture at large.

Why This Essay Works

This essay has the reader's attention right from the first sentence. The writer names Captain America,
and by choosing such an unorthodox thing to write about, they have the reader. They begin with the
simplest critiques, that Captain America is a comic book and movie character, and deal with them
adequately enough. Being fictional does not mean something does not matter. In the body, the writer
lays out precisely why Captain America matters, using concrete examples from the films. In this way, the
reader, who is likely to have seen at least one of the movies, can instantly relate. This also casts choices
made in the storyline in deeper meaning, showing that the writer is adept at analyzing fiction. The
conclusion ties the essay together. The writer explains exactly what their point was throughout. The
second-to-last paragraph especially shows how these larger-than-life examples can be understood in a
more sedate environment. In essence, the writer takes a large risk with the subject of the essay, but
with solid logic and good writing, defends the case well.

College Essay Example #7: Minority - Common App 1: Background and Identity
The Prompt
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their
application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The Essay
Intro
Being different is lonely. No one ever tells you, but it's true. You can be in a huge group of good friends
and feel like a complete outsider if there's something about you that "others" you.

I first truly realized I was different when I was in middle school. That's when my classmates started
holding hands and pairing off, and it was all anyone could ever talk about: Garrett's holding hands with
Kristen, but only one week after holding hands with Frannie? What a jerk.

The beginning of adolescence is when it truly started for me.

Body
I always knew I liked girls, but as people always tell me, "You never would have guessed it." I don't fit
the mold. No one's ever screamed at me on the street because of my apparent sexuality. Coming out to
my family was also very simple; my mom's brother is gay and so are a few cousins on my dad's side.
Homosexuality is not a big issue in my family.

I'm very grateful for this, by the way. There are people whose journeys have been much more difficult
and painful.

Even so, as any non-straight person will tell you, it's a lonely life. For everyone you meet, unless they fit
a certain stereotype, it's assumed that they're straight. If they're not, it's rude or tactless to ask (it is a
private matter, after all). It's a bit difficult to find someone to relate to, and even harder to find
someone romantically compatible. No one in my immediate group of friends at the time was openly gay,
so whenever the subject of dating came up (which was very often), I just checked out. I couldn't relate,
and no one asked me to.

I'm not one to just complain and do nothing. Still, it took me a while to figure out what to do. For middle
school and part of high school, I had myself convinced that it wasn't a big deal. It almost worked.

Finally, in my sophomore year of high school, I joined the Gay-Straight Alliance. My high school was
much bigger than my middle school, so I met a lot of other people like me. From there, I learned about
our city's Queer Center, where I met even more people like me. This is where I met my first girlfriend. I
joined a Chicano Rights group with her, because being a Chicana is something I can't relate to with her.
For once, I was part of the majority in a group of minorities.

Conclusion
I'm not a sociologist or a psychologist (I've only taken AP Psych). Still, from what I've observed, humans
are naturally social. We need to interact with people. Feeling alone is horrible, and depending on the
extent of isolation, it can also be traumatizing. This is why communities are so important. Being a part of
a community of people saved me.

Why This Essay Works

This essay covers a young person's journey from emotional loneliness to a sense of belonging. Her
sexual orientation is part of her identity, but it's not the focus of the essay. Being a lesbian could have
been switched out with anything else that would make someone a minority: being a person of color,
being trans, having a disability, etc. We also see that she steps back when she needs to. She discusses
her very fortunate situation with her family and with the public; she's never been bullied or targeted
because of her sexual orientation. Immediately after, she checks her privilege by saying how grateful she
is. Also, in the concluding paragraph, she makes a claim about the way humans are. She acknowledges
that she's not an expert, but her claim isn't that far off anyway. In the end, this personal statement is
something we can all relate to: Being different can be pretty lonely. This is why niche communities are
important. This essay's a little on the short side, but the message is short, sweet, and to the point, so it
works.

College Essay Example #8: Minority - Common App 3: Challenging Beliefs

The Prompt
Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the
same decision again?

The Essay
Introduction
My father's words stumbled through his mouth and past his lips like a stream of water sloshing over
upturned, jagged rocks. I felt his discomfort in my bones. Our new neighbor's openly judgmental
expression angered me and I felt myself turn red. Twenty years my father spent carefully learning a
language that somehow still betrayed him. Twenty years, and my father was still an outsider.
Up until this moment, this first encounter with our neighbor, my relationship with my father had been a
lot like his English: broken. It took me seventeen years to realize the linguistic persecution that my
father had felt for twenty. Once I finally did, my self-identity completely changed.

Body
My story is the same as most first-generation Americans: my parents are from a completely different
culture, and so I was raised multi-culturally. I didn't quite fit in with my classmates, but I couldn't really
relate to my parents either. I was stuck in the middle between two entirely different worlds.

As a child, of course, I chose the one I was living in.

I would come home some days and ask my parents if they could stop packing me leftovers for my lunch
and just buy me Lunchables instead. I wanted clothes from American Eagle instead of Ross and Wal-
Mart. My parents' native tongue was slowly becoming my heritage language. In other words, my first
language was becoming my second language.

One day in particular stands out in my memory. My father had just come home from work; he had just
started his residency program. Dark circles and wrinkles surrounded his honey-brown eyes and made
them seem passionless, lost, and sad.

I didn't notice at the time.

My aging father slumped down on the couch and sighed heavily. Still, despite his very apparent fatigue,
he attempted to make conversation and asked how my day was in our native language. I was twelve—
you know, the age where you start thinking you know better than your parents. Ignoring his question, I
told him he should speak in English since we were in the U.S.

As I approached adolescence, the rift between my parents and me only got bigger. My life revolved
around school and my social life. Once my friends got their driver's licenses, I was hardly ever home.

Earlier this year, since my dad's medical practice was expanding, we moved to a better part of town. It
was beautiful, a huge upgrade. As he was telling us the news, my father, beaming with pride, explained
to me in English how we could finally afford to get cable. I laughed weakly, knowing that instant
streaming was more popular nowadays.

The first encounter with our new neighbor changed everything. His name was Bill and he was a retired
banker. My father greeted him graciously, despite the fact that he was on our property uninvited. Upon
hearing his accent, his demeanor changed. "So, how long have you been living in America?" he asked.
My father paused, as if he knew where the conversation was headed. It was probably a conversation he
had had many, many times before. "Twenty years," he responded, with his head down.

Conclusion
That's when I realized how wrong I'd been. I regret staying silent during our encounter with Bill, but
after that moment, I never spoke English with my parents again. I stopped scoffing at the cultural
traditions they practiced every year. And whenever Bill came over unexpectedly, I made sure I was the
one to talk to him. I figured that at the very least, my parents should feel at home in their own home.
Seventeen years I wasted being ashamed of my background, my heritage, my family. I'm eighteen now,
but I still cringe when I think about the self-absorbed person I once was. I still feel the shame and guilt of
having realized something I should have known a long time ago: my parents aren't the ones who are
broken.

Why This Essay Works

This essay knowingly discusses an issue that's present in many multicultural families: the culture clash
between a first-generation American child and their immigrant parents. The introduction eloquently
unfolds the situation that acted as the catalyst for the author's change. The body paragraphs give us
more background about the author's family dynamic. The small anecdotes provided are examples of the
author's cultural assimilation. We see a vulnerable, human side as they admit to things they're not
proud of. Let's be real—admissions officers probably get really tired of reading show-off essays that
discuss how perfect everyone is. Come on, Shmoopers. We all know that's baloney. Not everyone did
something when they saw someone getting bullied. Not everyone's a civil rights activist. Not everyone
decided to volunteer at a homeless shelter or retirement home just out of the goodness of their
hearts—although, those people are awesome. Admissions officers want to know about growth,
maturity, self-awareness; applicants should show that they can own up their mistakes and try to make
them better. To get admitted into college, you have to be real. In this essay, we finally see the change
we wanted to see at the beginning. The author is ashamed, sure, but they resolve to become a more
culturally aware person. Someone who would be a great addition to any college campus. Someone who
would probably do great things in the future. We'd like to get to know this Shmooper.

College Essay Example #9: Minority--Common App 5: Accomplishment or Event

The Prompt
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to
adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

The Essay
Introduction
His name was Eric Ramirez: fifteen years old with an unblemished, peach-fuzz face of innocence. Most
fifteen-year-old boys worry about chasing girls and wearing the right clothes; Eric Ramirez, along with so
many young boys in Violencia, California, worried about surviving high school.

To many, Eric Ramirez is just another statistic, a footnote in the bloody gang history of this place. I knew
him, though. We were partners one time in health class. I didn't know him enough to mourn, or even go
to his funeral. As cliché as it sounds, whoever said death changes people must have known what they
were talking about. I used to think it just made people sad, but it's actually just a huge reality check.

Body
I remember when I found out about Eric's death. My peers and I filed past the security guards and
barbed wire fence on a regular Tuesday morning. At first, nothing was unusual about that day, but I did
notice a group of girls wearing matching airbrushed t-shirts; I couldn't quite make out the lettering at
the time. I eventually found out that they said "Remember Eric."

The principal didn't say anything about Eric in the morning announcements like the time those girls died
in a car crash. They didn't offer school-wide counseling this time either. I found out through a classmate.
Eric was walking with his friend down the street when two girls of a rival gang approached them.
Without a word, one of them took out a knife. Eric's friend ran in the other direction, but Eric wasn't so
lucky. I don't know the details, and I assume they won't cover it in the news.

I was nothing like Eric. At fifteen, I played Super Mario and wore the same sweatshirt every day. I rode
my mountain bike to school and let my mom give me haircuts. I had an average of high C's and low B's,
but that's only because I didn't really care. School wasn't important to me. I was just a dumb kid. My
friends were pretty much the same, yet one by one, my circle of friends was getting smaller. The
temptation must have been too great for them.

The day I found out about Eric was the day I started thinking seriously about my future. Was I going to
be another dumb kid who didn't care? Or was I going to get my act together and stay as far away from
that lifestyle as possible?

I'm sure you can guess which way I went. I transferred to GATE as soon as I could, which qualified me for
Honors and AP classes the following year. I also joined orchestra, took woodshop, and I found out I have
an artistic side. My English teacher even entered a few of my poems into some writing competitions. My
GPA is still a bit wounded from freshman year, but a weighted average of 3.8 isn't so bad.

Conclusion
I see Eric Ramirez everywhere I go. I see him in all the young, hooded men walking down the street
wearing bandanas of a certain color. I think about these men and Eric, and I'm reminded: it could have
been me. I look at my two older brothers, who are more like Eric than I am, and I'm reminded: it more
easily could have been them. It probably was almost them a few times. It could have so easily been me,
too. So why wasn't it me?

I don't have a good answer to that question. I guess I had the right friends and the right teachers. I guess
I watched the right TV shows and played the right video games. I don't know. At fifteen, my lifestyle
wasn't something I consciously chose. I had no idea what I was doing. On that blurry Tuesday, as my
classmates solemnly went about their day, I had this realization—I'm lucky. And I'm especially lucky that
I figured this out before it was too late. And for that, I'll always be grateful to Eric Ramirez.

Why This Essay Works

We'll tell you why this essay works: it's moving, intense, and emotive without being heavy, over-the-top,
and dramatic. The author draws us in with their introductory paragraph—who is Eric Ramirez? What
happened to him? We're intrigued; tell us more. The paragraphs are well-organized and they flow into
each other well. We end up getting a good idea of the author's life and how they experienced growth.
The answer to the prompt is subtle: Eric Ramirez' death acted as a catalyst for the author's growth. The
author didn't use any of the text from the prompt in their essay. Admissions officers have to read the
same words over and over again, Shmoopers. Give 'em something to connect the dots with. They can
handle it. How the author answered the prompt was also excellent. A cliché is mentioned in the
introduction, but knowingly. How a young boy's death managed to help this author's life is a very
interesting focus—and totally not cliché.

This language in this essay shows that the author is…

 Insightful

 Mature
  Grounded

 Self-aware

 Honest

Want your rhetoric as smooth as this? Check out our Shmoop Grammar Guide.

College Essay Example #10: Athlete - Common App 1: Background and Identity
The Prompt
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their
application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The Essay
Intro
I stand behind the white line, crouching at the ready. On either side, my fellow teammates do the same,
but my eyes are not on them. No, they are locked ahead, staring not at but through the opposing team,
visualizing my goal. On this day, I am confident and determined, but I was not always this way.

Body
Growing up, I had trouble fitting in. Oh sure, people liked me, but I could never find one talent or
interest that really grabbed me. It was not for lack of trying either. I studied hard in all my subjects but
never found something to latch onto. The few real clubs my school had were similarly uninteresting,
relating to political causes or Twilight book clubs.

This would leave sports—at least, it should. Unfortunately, that was always out of my reach. Football
(the kind that you play with helmets) had always interested me, but shoulder pads, cleats, jerseys, and
the like did not come cheap, and my mother was barely able to feed me and all my siblings, let alone
guide me into some activity that in all likelihood would just leave me with broken bones.

One day, though, that all changed. I was running on a track in P.E. (my favorite "subject" if only because
testing was a lot simpler) when Coach Stevens pulled me away for a brief chat.

"Michael," he told me, "I've been paying attention to your track times and I want to ask: how would you
feel about joining the football team?" When I explained my financial situation, he simply leaned back,
stared thoughtfully at a blank spot in the wall for a few seconds and told me not to worry about funds;
so long as I promised to show up to practices on time, he would look into a law he heard about that
would make sure that money was not an issue for aspiring athletes like myself.

Next thing I knew, I was spending my Saturday mornings pounding my school's modest excuse for a
football field with my cleats and, occasionally, my face. But I kept with it, attending practice after
practice. Much to my surprise, it turned out that I was not just good at the sport; I was great. I ran
faster, threw farther, and threaded through enemy lines unlike anyone my town had seen this side of a
television screen. People actually started showing up to watch our games, and some were even inspired
to join the team themselves.

Most importantly, however, I discovered that I had finally found something I was passionate about. No
longer was I some poor nobody who shuffled hopelessly from one class to another; now, I had a special
ability—a talent. For the first time, others looked up to me and praised my accomplishments; previously,
I simply thought praise was something that happened to other people. I finally knew what I wanted to
do with my life, and with a new group of friends to carry me through I could become the best football
player I could be. With acceptance into college with a Division I football team, though, I could go even
further toward realizing my dream.

Conclusion
Six months of blood, sweat, and camaraderie later, I find myself here, in our first real match against a
respectable team. Frankly, the opposition are rather intimidating—with their proper football field with
goalposts and AstroTurf, as well as their clean, embroidered jerseys—but I know my teammates and I
will do our best. If nothing else, I am grateful and proud to have made it this far.

Why This Essay Works

Sometimes what makes an applicant stand out is not what they've done but how they've arrived there.
If this applicant has a shelf filled with trophies, he doesn't mention it here; instead, the focus is on how
he got to the status he finds himself in, which is ultimately more revealing of the applicant's motivations
and personality. The path he walked shows passion, hard work, and determination—qualities necessary
for success in college, and ones not always reflected in a list of shiny knick-knacks. The use of in medias
res—that is, starting in the middle of the action, then flashing back to how he got there, a la Iron
Man or Inception—allows for a gripping introduction and a memorable conclusion. Meanwhile, the body
of the essay allows for the reader to get a good look at what goes on inside the applicant's head, while
offering specific details about his backstory and how he came to find himself.

College Essay Example #11: Athlete - Common App 2: Failure and Success
The Prompt
The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when
you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

The Essay
Intro
The grass wads up between my fingers. My knuckles are crimson with clotting blood, and I know there's
only more pain ahead of me. I hear the snap of the ball, and then it's the cacophony of bodies hitting
one another. A lineman barrels into me, and I fall to the earth, my bones rattling with the impact.

Behind me, I can hear the quarterback being taken down, hammered to the ground again. I struggle to
rise, but I do. I glance at the scoreboard, and remind myself that this isn't just a loss. It's an historic loss,
and I feel every yard in my aching body.

Body
We never had a chance against them. While our team isn't bad, these are the reigning state champs, and
most people who speculate on those things believe they will be playing at state again. We were nothing
more than a bump in the road for them. A very painful bump in the road, as my punished body can
attest.

We didn't go in thinking we were going to lose. We never prepared to get trounced. Coach had a game
plan: we were to protect the quarterback and use a passing offense. Their defensive line, known for its
speed, would not be able to keep up. All they needed was the offensive line, including me, to dig in and
delay them. It was a good idea in theory, but theory is not the gridiron.

The defensive line plowed through us like we were made of tissue paper. My role in the plan was an
utter failure. No matter what I did, what reserves of strength I tried to draw upon, they weren't enough.
I was not big enough. I was not fast enough. I was not good enough. In short, I failed, and our team
suffered for it. For an entire game, I was flattened over and over again by players that were larger,
stronger, faster, and better than I was.

After the game, I had never felt worse. It wasn't just the physical aspects, though my aches, pains, and
cuts exacerbated my feelings. It was the sense of failure, of personal failure. Had I held the line as I was
supposed to, we would have won. There was no way around it.

Coach said something afterwards that completely changed my feelings. He told me he was proud of the
way we had played. We were knocked down, he said, but we never stayed down. There's no shame in
failure. There's only shame in never trying.

Conclusion
Had we won that day, I never would have learned anything. Had I somehow been able to hold that line
as I was intended to, I would still be the same person. By failing, I was able to grow.

I could not stop them from coming through the lines on every play, but I didn't stop trying. This was the
most important aspect of what happened. To a person who has never experienced failure, a single
setback can be crippling. Failure, though, teaches you how to persevere in the face of adversity. My
experience was painfully literal, but because of it, I can apply it to less physical areas of my life. Because
of what I did, and how Coach made me understand its importance, I know that getting knocked down
isn't important. Getting back up is what counts.

Why This Essay Works

Remember: the people reading college essays have a giant stack of them. They're reading them one
after the other, so it's vital to grab them from the beginning with a hook. What's so effective about the
introduction of this essay is that it puts you right into the middle of the action, using evocative language
to create a sense of time and place. After the introduction sets the stage, the full story unfolds. The
body of the essay plays well against type. For a sports-related prompt, the reader might expect a lot of
posturing. This essay is quite clear that the player is not at the top of their game, and there is no shame
in that. The writer is introspective about what they regard as a failure, in a thoughtful manner that
might surprise a reader expecting a more arrogant voice.

Sure, the moral is a tad cliché, but life is a little cliché sometimes. Also, when talking about success and
failure, it's a little hard to not be cliché. That's why this works. Additionally, the body continues the use
of evocative language, but scales back on the intense scene-setting of the introduction. By letting the
words breathe, the point comes across. Failure is not the end of the world, and for this writer, it's the
beginning of understanding. Lastly, the conclusion sums everything up. The writer re-states the prompt
in their own words, and lays out precisely what they learned. With the final sentence, they end with a
short, pithy comment, summing everything up in a way that should stick in the reader's mind.
College Essay Example #12: Athlete--What matters to you, and why?
The Prompt
What matters to you, and why?

The Essay
Intro
I am a wrestler. It feels strange writing it without capitalizing the word. To me, "wrestler" is part of my
identity, who I am. I capitalize my name, and so I should capitalize my sport. I am extremely good at
what I do. My record this season is 21-2, I am the 5th ranked wrestler in my weight class, I've won three
tournaments, and I am an All-American.

I also know I have no future as a wrestler. As good as I am, I will never make it to the Olympics. If I want
to turn pro, I either need to learn striking and submissions and compete in the UFC, or think up a
colorful name, buy some tights, and try for the WWE. Neither one is very appealing to me. Yet I spend
my time polishing my skills, pushing myself to improve.

I do this because wrestling is not my future, but it is the key to my future. Without my success on the
mat, it is unlikely I would have as expansive a choice of schools as I am blessed with now. Wrestling will
allow me a brighter future than I have now, and thus wrestling matters as a means to an end; it is the
future that truly matters as that end.

Body
Calling myself an All-American is a source of intense pride for both me and my family. My mother and
father sacrificed a great deal immigrating here. They both worked their fingers to the bone, putting food
on the table for myself, my brother, and my sister. I never lost sight of what it cost them to give me the
opportunity they would never have.

I am the first member of my family who is able to attend college, and it is because of my athletic skill.
My family's modest means put any private school out of reach financially, and the state schools aren't
much better. It was on me to do well enough to be accepted at a good school. Every time I won, I could
feel my future growing closer; in my losses, I could feel it falling out of reach.

There is nothing shameful about what my parents do. They are good at their jobs and do them to the
best of their abilities. I don't want to escape what I see as a fate worse than death or anything along
those lines. It is because they believe I can do better that makes me want to prove them right. They
were the first to dream a better future for me, leaving it up to me to grab.

This is what drives me in the squared circle. While it would be easy to dismiss my athletic prowess and
mere competitive drive, it is so much more than that. It is because of what it can get me, that makes it
important. I will be able to do whatever I want, and know this because I have already done what I set my
mind to.

Conclusion
Do not mistake my drive for a cynical exploitation of the rules. It is anything but. The ladder that was
provided to me included athletics. To climb that ladder, I needed to become the best wrestler I could be,
and I have done this to the utmost of my ability. Just like the sport, I will play by the rules that are given.
What is truly important, what really matters to me, is what I will become. College is a step on that path,
and perhaps the most vital of all of them. I don't know what waits for me at the end, or what I will
become. I only know that it will be something better than my parents could have hoped for. I owe it to
them. More importantly, I owe it to myself.

Why This Essay Works

Most essays from athletes concentrate on athletics, and for good reason. This is usually what they
perceive as their selling point to a college. In many cases, it can be. Don't be afraid to look deeper. You
might be great at sports, but chances are, there's something driving you greater than the act of winning.
This writer is very candid about the things that drive them. The child of working class immigrants, this
student dreams of a better life. They're quick to point out in the body that while there's nothing wrong
with their parents working low-paying jobs, there's also nothing wrong with wanting more. In fact, this is
the American Dream writ large. The student wants to be seen as more than a simple athlete, and they
do so with direct language and honest introspection. The student allows themselves to be vulnerable,
placing themselves in the hands of the college admittance office. In the conclusion, they say that their
future is wide open, and the college is the most important part. This is a way to reach out, through the
essay, a humanizing touch that helps a reader identify with one essay in a stack of hundreds.

College Essay Example #13: Emotional Hardship - What matters to you, and why?
The Prompt
What matters to you, and why?

The Essay
Intro
A woolen blanket. A thick one, so thick it's almost more akin to a furniture blanket than something you
would have on your bed. It is coarse and is too heavy to form to your body. Now it's wet, a lingering
dampness that won't go away no matter how much you want it to. The dampness leads to a chill, and
the chill works into your marrow. You would be so much warmer without the blanket, but it's too heavy
to throw off.

That is depression. Before I was diagnosed, I had been told it was a normal part of growing up. I was told
that teens are moody. I would grow out of it. I couldn't imagine anyone growing out of what I was
feeling. I couldn't imagine anyone surviving.

Diagnosis and medication have saved my life, allowing me to see the world as people without my brain
chemistry would. While both of these things are undeniably important, I do not believe they are
necessarily universally so. What it did was allow me to see the world without the blanket trying to
suffocate me, and what I found was a place of tiny kindnesses.

Body
It might sound bad—as though kindness can only exist in the smallest forms. This is not what I mean.
There are extraordinary people out there who devote their lives to doing very large, very important
things for others. I'm not talking about them, partially because they are extraordinary. They are not the
norm.
What is normal are the tiny kindnesses. These do not cost a person much of anything. A slice of time, a
moment of openness, and little else. They are a smile when you're feeling down, a comforting hand on
the shoulder, a moment to talk.

Depression kept me from appreciating these. They could not have helped me then, but now, they can
and do help me every single day. I don't know if they can prevent anyone else from sliding into a
similarly damaging emotional state. I do know that every time someone takes the time, or the emotional
moment, to connect with me in these most minor ways, I am inspired.

The blanket is off of me, but it's not gone from my life. It still wants to smother me in its clammy
embrace. Times when I still feel down, or when I believe that I am truly finished with it, and tempted to
leave the medication behind. When this happens, when I experience the spark of connection with
another person, I know that my fight isn't over, that my fight has value.

Conclusion
So much of the world hinges on the smallest of moments. These should not be discounted just because
they don't rattle the earth. History can turn on a single individual, and a person can turn on a dime.
Every last action, every effect, sends ripples outward.

These ripples can be for good or bad. It makes no sense why we would choose bad, either. All it takes is
a fraction of a moment. You can alter someone's life for the better. Who knows what that person would
have become without you? Who knows what they can accomplish with you?

My depression, my chemical imbalance, my suffocating blanket, is a curse. However, it did, in its own
way, show me how important these small things can be. It made me wonder, if such minute differences
in life can have such far-reaching consequences, what can big things do? I know I'm going to change the
world now, one person at a time.

Why This Essay Works

The intro opens by using evocative language to describe the nature of their hardship. This is an excellent
way to draw in a reader. The description instantly separates it from the other essays, which is vital when
you realize how many college admittance people read in a single stretch. This also lays the groundwork
for everything that follows, allowing someone who doesn't suffer from depression to understand what
it's like, at least in the short term. The thesis of the essay, that tiny acts of kindness can change a
person's history, is enormously appealing. It is at once a humanizing touch, as it is instantly recognizable
for anyone. It's also a useful call to arms, pointing out that even the smallest gesture of kindness can
help. It's inspiring in a very accessible way, showing a student who, though wracked with depression,
has managed to find some light in their life. The student is very clear about their hardship, referring to it
several times and mentioning what they have to do to keep it under control. This shows maturity
beyond what might normally be expected. Finally, they end on a note of hope, which is expertly
juxtaposed against the hardship itself.

College Essay Example #14: Physical Hardship -- Common App 1: Background and
Identity
The Prompt
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their
application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The Essay
Intro
I have never danced. I have never run. I have never jumped. I'll never climb a mountain, or even stairs.
I'll never go scuba diving. Barring some incredible medical breakthrough, I will never do any of these
things. Sometimes the list of things I will never do stretches for so long, it would probably break some
people.

I had my first surgery when I was three hours old. I'm up to over sixty now. Most people have a regular
doctor. I have a regular surgeon. In some ways, my body is consistently trying to break down, and I am
doing everything I can to keep that from happening.

I suffer from spina bifida, a disease that has confined me to a wheelchair as soon as I was old enough to
get around on my own. I can't walk, I need shunts, bags, and devices to keep me alive, yet sometimes,
my biggest problem is that this is all people see when they look at me.

Body
Handicapped people have to put up with a lot, and it starts with the beginning of this sentence.
"Handicapped" is a fine term. I find it clinical. "Disabled" is also fine. When a walking person decides that
I am in fact "differently abled," it makes me feel small. Condescended to. These shortcomings are not
mine; they belong to the disease. I don't have to be insulted on top of everything else.

Though my daily life is a struggle, it does not mean I want help. Many times, walking people will go out
of their way to hold doors and the like for me. While I appreciate that their hearts are in the right place,
sometimes the only thing I have to hold onto is the simple. Opening that door for myself shows me,
shows the world, that this is one thing I still can do. There is nothing more belittling than a walker asking
if I need help, and conversely, nothing more empowering when they ask if I want it.

I am a normal high school student. I have favorite TV shows. I play video games. I like to read. I have a
basketball team I root for and one I hate. I enjoy dating. Please don't take this as a license to ask how, as
that's a question I get much too often and I'll be forced to give one of the sarcastic answers I've
prepared. I do not exist for the inspiration or education of others. I'm a human being. A normal high
school student.

I am not my chair. Though this is the first (and oftentimes the last) thing people see of me, it is far from
the whole story. I am a complete person. I lack the ability to do certain things most people take for
granted, but this is not the whole of existence. It is a piece of me, an undeniably important piece. It
cannot be ignored, nor does it encompass me.

Conclusion
I have been enduring hardship before I knew there was hardship to be endured. My true struggle is a
strange one and something of a paradox. I am disabled, but I want the freedom to be so. I don't want
special treatment beyond what my body demands. It is not something I can escape as part of my
identity, but nor is it the whole of my being.
Spina bifida has been an integral part of my story since I was born. Though most will not know it by
name, they will acknowledge it within seconds of seeing me: wondering why I am in the wheelchair, and
wondering what I can and can't do.

I want the opportunity to show that what I can truly do has nothing to do with the wheelchair. It has no
relationship to the disease, beyond what it has taught me about resiliency and perseverance. I want the
world to see me by my name, and not the contraption I use to get around.

Why This Essay Works

This essay is uncommonly frank in its discussion of disability. The writer's honesty is refreshing in a topic
that usually is not discussed in open conversation, or else disguised in polite euphemism. The writer
explains how they feel in their normal life, and how the rest of the world, the walking world, can be
unknowingly complicit. The body of the essay moves into the central idea. The student is used to being
identified by their disability, and to an extent, can understand the impulse. What truly bothers the
writer is the idea that the disease will serve to define them. "I am a person," the writer is saying, "know
me as me, not as the worst thing I have to put up with." It's a powerful, humanizing statement to make.
The writer is, in fact, emphatically arguing against special treatment. They are abrogating the supposed
societal benefit of what happened in exchange for being just like everyone else. This is an extraordinary
desire, and one that shows an uncommon level of self-reflection. Sometimes honesty really is the best
policy.

College Essay Example #15: Physical Hardship -- What matters to you, and why?
The Prompt
What matters to you, and why?

The Essay
Intro
Since I was little, it was always easy to pick me out of a crowd. I was the kid in the wheelchair. Even
people who didn't necessarily mean to make me out to be "the other" would identify me this way. While
I might prefer to be identified as "the ridiculously handsome one," the fact is the wheelchair is going to
be the first thing anyone sees. It saves some time.

Because of this othering, it's very easy to assume my priorities are vastly different than most people. I
deal with a good deal of well-meaning, if patronizing, questions about this every day. People wanting to
know if a cure for my disease isn't important or what I would give to be "normal." The answer is quite a
bit, and I'm not holding my breath.

The tendency is to see the wheelchair and nothing else. To assume this overrides everything else in my
psyche. What might surprise you is that what I value is not that much different than what you do. While
I might place a higher premium on handicapped parking spaces, the fact is, what matters to me is what
matters to you. In short, my friends.

Body
What might be different is the precise way I tend to come to my friends. Sometimes, it's much the same
as anyone else. We like the same TV show, we were put next to each other in class, we traded
sandwiches at lunch. When you're little, the reasons for friendship can be nearly arbitrary. Those friends
who stick around, through commonality or simple inertia, are the ones you treasure.

The difference in these moments for me specifically is that each required a humanizing moment. While
it's no great leap to expect that someone else has the same taste in TV for you, it can be for me. The
idea that I might like sandwiches and not have to eat bizarre hospital food is a hurdle people need to
leap.

As I said, many people see only the wheelchair rather than the person in it. The people who took the
time to make the connection with me, no matter how small it may have been, assumed I was human
first. They saw the wheelchair, of course, but they didn't see only the wheelchair. They wanted to get to
know the person inside.

Not all of these friendships have lasted. Whether they did or not, I treasure those moments of
connection. These people matter to me as friends, but more than that. They help me see myself as I
truly am. I can fall into depression or self-loathing, but then I remember that there were those who saw,
just in a single second, that I was worth more than that.

Conclusion
Seeing my wheelchair isn't a problem. When all they see is the wheelchair, there is a problem. My
friends, the people who earned that title with their kindness, are the ones who see past it. Who
understand that my character doesn't begin and end with the hardships I face. It shapes me, it does its
best to hinder me, but it is not the sole defining trait.

Friends matter to all of us. It's part of being human. We need social bonds with others to stay sane. If
possible, they are even more important for me. Friends humanize me, and through their eyes, I'm just
part of the gang. I'm a little different, sure, but that's just because I like J.K. Rowling over George R.R.
Martin, or prefer Dr. Pepper to Coke.

The best part is that I know it goes both ways. All of my friends, even the ones who present the most
"normal" face, have something like my chair. They are all convinced they are only seen as one thing, but
true to who they are, they chose not to do that to others. We're all struggling in this strange world, but
thanks to my friends, we're not doing it alone.

Why This Essay Works

This essay is a good merger in subject and theme. The writer instantly subverts expectations. They take
what supposedly defines them, their physical hardship, and points out that despite this, they are much
like anyone else. The entire theme of the essay is wrapped up in this idea. Friendship is valuable to the
human race as a whole. In the body, the student turns to what is different. Namely, that because they
are seen according to their hardship (specifically, the use of a wheelchair), they often pick their friends
according to those who did not do this. They write eloquently of the simple power in the act of not
reacting solely to the most obvious part of them. The writer mentions specifically that it isn't possible
not to see the wheelchair. This is a true component of diversity, the acknowledgment and sometimes
celebration of difference, rather than a myopic ignoring of them. What the student wants is for people
to see more than that. Their friends have, and this explains why they matter so much to the writer.
College Essay Example #16: International Student – What Matters to You, and
Why?
The Prompt
What matters to you, and why?

The Essay
Intro
A few hundred years ago, it wasn't unusual for a person to live and die in a single twenty-mile stretch of
land. There are places on earth where the same is true today. We even grow complacent within the
borders of our own countries. Two thirds of Americans don't have a passport, indicating no immediate
ability or desire to travel beyond their borders.

The symbolism is easy to see. "Thinking outside the box" is a common idiom used to express the idea of
breaking free of old ways of thinking. In a real sense, the walls of the box are the borders of thought.
Moving past those barriers is considered not only a good thing, but a necessary thing.

Yet the same is not true of travel. I disagree. I could have stayed in my home country to study, but I
chose instead to apply internationally. I wanted to place myself as far from my comfort zone. In a real
sense, I wanted to not just think outside the box, but exist entirely outside it. This is a vital frame of
reference for an increasingly global world.

Body
That we exist in a global society, connected by the internet. For many, this is an excuse to stay put. After
all, you can play video games with your friend in Kenya, have dinner with someone in Japan, and work
out a business deal in the United States all in the same day. There is no substitute for full immersion.

Language is an important part of who we are as a species. Though verbal communication is not unique
to us, the depth and breadth of it certainly is. Numerous studies have pointed to the benefits of learning
other languages. I was fortunate enough to be born into a culture with more than one, and I have since
made an effort to learn more. Still, speaking daily, with native speakers, is the only path to true fluency.

Language is one facet of culture, and the most reliable window into it. Language helps others become
introduced to a new culture. Idioms, such as "thinking outside the box," do not make intuitive sense to
non-native speakers immediately. Immersion in culture gives you a true immersion in language. It is the
difference between seeing a tool in a book and using the same tool to craft a piece of furniture.

To continue the metaphor, every culture will have a slightly different way to craft that chair. There might
be a better way than the one I have seen, but only through experiencing all the different ways of
performing that task will I know for sure. Thus, immersing myself in as many cultures as I can will give
me the breadth of experience to make me the most effective thinker.

Conclusion
In many ways, immersing oneself in different cultures is its own reward. You get to experience an
entirely new way of thinking, doing, and solving, to say nothing of the great food, art, and music. This
alone would make it matter to me, though there are so many more reasons this one point defines me.
Learning about different ways of thinking helps solve one's own problems. It also shows you the places
between, where you didn't even know problems could hide. These are the assumptions, and every
culture makes them, though not necessarily the same ones. Looking in these nooks and crannies teaches
you more about the world, and about yourself.

Most people on this planet do not come from your country, wherever that might be. By confining
yourself to it, you are missing out on most of the interactions available to you. Other than growing as a
person, you are missing out some of the most rewarding interactions out there. I want to know the
world, and to do that, I want to go everywhere. For me, there is no box.

Why This Essay Works

The writer is clearly passionate about what matters to them. This heartfelt feeling and the genuine way
it is expressed helps show the reader who this person is. Being genuine is sometimes difficult, as you are
being vulnerable, opening yourself up to criticism and rejection. Don't be afraid of it here. The readers
want to know the real you. The body employs a very effective building technique. The first paragraph
discusses the idea of immersion. The second then adds language to the mix. The third adds culture. The
fourth ties it all together. Each paragraph builds on what came before it in a simple rhythm, using simple
language to illustrate a complex idea. The conclusion ties these ideas together once again. It mirrors the
structure of the body, further exploring the idea of why this breadth matters as much as it does. Finally,
it ends with a callback to the first sentence of the first paragraph, a great device to make an essay feel
like one complete point.

College Essay Example #17: Special Skills -- Common App 1: Background and
Identity
The Prompt
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their
application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The Essay
Intro
My feet hit the ground one after another, a steady percussion rhyming with the blood pulsing in my
ears. I grab the fence in front of me and vault myself over it, never losing my momentum. Beyond that
fence is a wall, but I do not stop. Instead, I climb, searching for handholds. What should have stopped
me in my path instead becomes a path to new heights. For me, every obstacle is just an opportunity to
improve.

Where most run through cities from the comfort of their couches, I vault, roll, jump all over the place in
the real world. What I do, a unique method of traversal called "parkour," is simply a lot more dangerous
than hitting buttons on a controller. It involves climbing up buildings, jumping over gaps, and all sorts of
other moves—all completely unassisted.

Body
Of course, that is why I do it in the first place. I remember when I first played Assassin's Creed, a game
where you play as a guy who climbs all around 12th-century Middle East and, yes, stabs people with a
little knife. I was not a huge fan of the stabbing, but I lost hours making my character run around the
cities and climb up buildings.

Eventually, I started to look at the world differently: where there was once an unremarkable wall with a
few windows and unevenly placed bricks, there was now a clear path to the roof. It was not long before I
actually took a chance and started climbing.

Naturally, there were setbacks. Many times, I was not as careful as I could have been, and I wound up
becoming more familiar with hospital rooms ceilings than I should have been. Taking inspiration from
games is all well and good, but no human being can match the infinite stamina and impossible
gymnastics of most game characters.

Luckily, I have always had the support of my friends and family (at least, the surprisingly large number of
them that did not think I was simply insane).

Conclusion
Through my parkour, I became stronger and more aware of my surroundings, and at the end of the day,
I look at the world in a way few others can. Few have such literal experience with falling down as I do,
but I know that I only fall so that I can get back up again.

Why This Essay Works

What makes this essay stand out is how the applicant found a unique detail about himself and explained
how said detail made him a better person. Application examiners could probably wallpaper their houses
with the number of essays they get talking about football or some other sport, but this applicant
automatically stands out from the crowd simply because of its subject matter. The essay begins with a
gripping hook--a first-person narration of a single moment in the applicant's life--and then keeps it
interesting by delving into the unique origins of his hobby. Being able to take inspiration from some
form of media--even video games--is something most teachers (especially college professors) wished
they saw more often. Another part of why this essay works is the details, such as the first-person
opening, the hospital room ceilings, and the specific game that inspired him. These give the essay a
genuine feel. Like a good essay should, the hook grabs in the reader, the body elaborates on the thesis,
and the conclusion ties it all together.

College Essay Example #18: Special Skills -- Common App 4: Problem-Solving

The Prompt
Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a
research query, an ethical dilemma—anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale.
Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

The Essay
Intro
I will never know how most people view chess. When I try to imagine it, I picture a board, the pieces
placed randomly, each existing in between times. There are stock photos of boards, and none of them
make any sense. They show two attacks that can't exist simultaneously, as though both players were
blindfolded and lied to.
This is because, to me, a game of chess is alive. The routes of every piece shine, the pathways as vivid as
the pieces themselves. I see them where they are, where they were, and more importantly, where they
will be. The game lasts from the first click of the first advancing pawn to the moment the king is toppled.
Then, the possibilities collapse into one, and the game is over.

I am a Master at chess. This sounds like a boast, but it's a statement of fact, owing to my Elo rating of
2090. I have played for so long I have no memory of learning the game. I have beaten everyone I've ever
played against, though sometimes it took a few tries. There has been only one person I've never beaten:
my father.

Body
My father taught me the game of chess. Though I can't remember it, there are pictures of me, sitting on
his lap, a chubby child of two or three, staring down at a board with a serious expression out of place on
a face so young. My father is ranked as well, though not quite as highly as I am. I have played him more
than I've played anyone else. I have yet to beat him.

By rights, I should have won a game by luck by now. It has never taken me more than two games to
successfully break an opponent's patterns and know what they are going to do before they do it. Yet
every moment I think I have him, the attack comes out of nowhere and I'm checkmated.

It's the most daunting intellectual challenge I've faced simply because I am not certain of its source.
From a psychological standpoint, I could be fearing the moment my father becomes as human as any of
my other opponents. The moment he falls from near-mythical status to being mortal. Maybe the reason
I can't beat him is emotional, rather than intellectual.

Or it could be that my father knows my tendencies better than anyone else. He had the opportunity to
mold me into the player I am today. In short, he taught me everything I know, but not everything that he
knows. In the short term, this means I am unable to win because he can read me as well as he can read
himself.

It might be because I am simply not good enough yet. There is a final piece to my game that has not yet
been constructed. I am not a Grandmaster yet, and so there is room to mature. Perhaps this is the final
piece, the one last challenge. In myths, the hero has to confront and destroy a father figure to advance.

Conclusion
I still don't know why I am stuck at this point in my development. In questioning it, I have learned to
come to peace with it. I am not happy to have this failure lingering over my head, but neither do I think
it's an indicator of some greater deficiency.

The fact that my father can beat me at a game that defines me is more interesting as a question than an
answer. It drives me to become more than I am. As long as I have this goal to reach for, I will never
become complacent.

Even better, I know my father will never make it easy for me. When I do finally beat him, it will be
because I earned it. That is the best lesson of all.

Why This Essay Works

This essay is rather specific in its details at first blush, but it can be applied to anyone who is
extraordinarily skilled at any one thing. The most appealing aspect is that right in the beginning, the
author dispenses with any sense of false modesty. This is someone with incredible skill, and ignoring
that would ring immediately false. The body goes into the reasons why the writer might have this one
block in their game. Each one is plausible, and shows an admirable amount of self-reflection. This is a
person who, while they are remarkable, is also aware of their own flaws. They don't do this in a way that
suggests they are fishing for compliments, either. These are legitimate ideas. The conclusion shows how
the entire situation is valuable. Despite, or perhaps because of, this person's skill, they value a challenge.
Because this is the one thing they can't do, they treasure it. It's a paradox, but one the author
understands. It points to an inner life beyond a single defining trait, and it shows the applicant is more
well-rounded than they might initially appear.

College Essay Example #19: Special Skills -- Common App 5: Accomplishment or

Event
The Prompt
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to
adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

The Essay
Intro
Talent is not remarkable. It's usually the first thing anyone compliments. "You're so talented." It doesn't
mean what they think it means. It doesn't mean I worked hard. It means I was lucky, or blessed, or
anything else you want to call it.

I have talent. I've known since I was old enough to hold a football. The game just makes intuitive sense
to me. The pathways of the players, both my team and the others, where the ball has to go, and what
I'm doing. In the silence before a snap, I'm already playing out what is going to happen, watching the
holes in my lines, tracing the route of my receivers.

That I would make varsity was a foregone conclusion. It was still a major part of growing up. We're a
football town. We eat football, we breathe football, we live football. For me to be anything less than
varsity was unthinkable, but when I made it, I found something I wasn't quite expecting: it wasn't
enough.

Body
I was thrilled, of course. My parents were happy. My coach was pleased. I was looking forward to
representing the town and my school on the field. I knew that with my formidable talent, I was going to
roll over the other team. If this were a movie, I would have been brought down to size. At least a loss, if
not a bad injury. This wasn't a movie. We won by twenty-two points.

It's difficult to learn from success, but that was what happened. After the game, I didn't have the normal
flush of success, where my body feels warm and my hands feel jittery, when the aches deepen into
something almost pleasant. I felt hollow, and I wasn't sure why. It wasn't until the next two victories,
both of them blowouts, that I did.
In every situation, I had the same non-reaction. I wondered why I wasn't enjoying our victories. The
whole purpose of stepping onto the field, after all, is victory. That's when I realized victory wasn't the
purpose, at least not for me.

Varsity was my goal for so long that I had forgotten the rest. I've always been told to play the game in
front of you. In other words, don't think about next week's game, or next month's. In that, I had
forgotten that varsity football, as important as it is—to me, to my family, and my town—is only one step
along the path.

I need to play well enough to get a scholarship to college, or else I'm not going. For someone with my
natural talent, anything less than the pros is a failure. That might be harsh, but based on everything I've
seen, it's true. I learned that this transition to adulthood was less of a smooth transformation and more
of one of a number of steps along the way.

Conclusion
It is far too easy to view talent as an excuse. For me, it is a motivator. For my talent, I will accept nothing
less than a dream that only a tiny percentage of people ever get to experience. To get there, I'm willing
to work hard and wring every last accomplishment from myself.

Talent is a responsibility. Because you had nothing to do with acquiring it, you are compelled to achieve
every last bit you can with it. While I had grown used to thinking varsity would be it, that was not the
case. Now, I can focus on the goal while I accomplish the steps.

I had become used to thinking of victory as a goal rather than what it is: a process. To get it, you have to
live to your absolute potential. I can only give it my best, and hope that I'm worthy of the gift I have
inside.

Why This Essay Works

Oftentimes, inexperienced writers try to mask their awkwardness with writing by using a lot of big
words. This is a mistake. The goal is to sound like yourself, only better. While the student here uses a
few words on the larger end, at no point does it sound like they were writing by way of a dictionary. The
intro sets up the student's problem well: what they had thought of as a goal was, in fact, a process. It
takes them the body and the conclusion to reach the point, but it is a salient point. It's very easy to get
blinded to what your true goals should be. In this case, the writer does not want to rest, content in a
lesser victory. The idea of talent as a responsibility, which the writer states in the conclusion, is a big
one. They give enough support for the idea, and it shows that they are perhaps more introspective than
one might imagine a football player to be. This is not some talented athlete, smug in their natural-born
abilities. This is an undeniably talented individual who looks at their gift as a way to compel themselves
to greater heights.

College Essay Example #20: Non-traditional age -- What matters to you, and why?
The Prompt
What matters to you, and why?

The Essay
Intro
When I was eighteen, I watched my friends scatter across the country, and in a couple cases, across the
world. The bulk of them were going to college. All of them were following some kind of dream, and
higher education was the key to it. I was no different in that I had a dream that called me. The difference
was that I was unable to follow it.

I was already a parent and in a year and a half, I was a parent twice over. Raising both children was more
difficult without a degree just because it limited the kinds of jobs I could get, let alone the kind of career
I wanted. It grew even more difficult when I was raising both children by myself.

I am not complaining. If I had to do everything over again, I would do it the same, give or take a bout
with food poisoning. I have no regrets about how I lived my life, or the two great human beings I raised.
I am not writing about regrets, and I am not applying to college out of bitterness. I want to go because
there is still so much life ahead of me, and my dreams were only delayed.

Body
Langston Hughes said it best in "A Dream Deferred," and though he wasn't talking about a career, his
words still resonate with me. My dream has been deferred long enough, and it is time I took the steps to
see it fulfilled. A college education is the lynchpin, and from there, graduate school. It will not be the life
I saw at sixteen. It will be so much richer.

Through my children, I got to watch dreams becoming born. I helped nurture those dreams through
childhood, before sending the kids off to college to see them fulfilled. I sacrificed parts of myself without
considering because I knew it was important for them. They deserved to see their aspirations met.

It is through them I understand the importance of meeting one's aspirations. The light I see in their eyes
when they were accepted to their schools was a light that had not yet appeared in mine. Yet when they
brought their acceptance letters to me, I could feel the joy radiating through them. It was palpable.
Their futures had opened up like the clouds after a hard rain. I knew I needed that experience too, and
now is the time.

My life has given me the kind of experience most college students couldn't dream of. I am, after all, the
parent of one college student and one college graduate. I know what it's like to yearn for something far
greater than myself—to stay awake nights with the hopes for a better career, or any career at all. To
know that I can take what life wants to give me, if only for a little time.

Conclusion
I understand the value of what I am getting. Returning to school after a long absence might be hard, but
I know what's waiting for me at the end: It's the same feeling I felt in my kids when they were accepted.
A dream within reach feels like the rays of the sun. It feels like hope—hope that I can pursue something I
have kept on hold for over two decades.

The dream never really died, and I don't think it could have. But it would have remained inside, and
probably turned me hard and mean if I ignored it. I never did, because I never wanted to turn my back
completely on it.

This is not a different life I want. This is another phase of it. I have already seen, lived, and loved so
much. I am looking forward to so much more, to embrace the part of me that I put away. I already know
the joy that will come with it through my kids. I want them to know the joy that comes with the
knowledge a loved one is doing the same.

Why This Essay Works

Any student of a non-traditional age (that is significantly older or younger than eighteen) is going to
have an interesting story for why they're choosing to attend college. Don't be afraid to tell it. Chances
are, it'll be the answer to whatever essay prompt you're tackling. A student of this type should look at
their age as a huge bonus. It's a quick reference on what to write. This student talked about their kids,
another thing that older students might share with them. In so doing, the student used personal
experience to talk about what mattered. Namely, they had a blueprint for their life that was changed
with parenthood, delayed for twenty years, and now they have a chance to go back to school and are
leaping at it. The student uses some poetic language—and in one case, a touch of humor—to make their
point. Nothing about this looks forced; it's always best to write what's inside rather than write what you
think someone wants to hear. This honesty and sense of earnest hope is a winning combination.
Chapter 10: Special Cases for Applying…What If I’m A…
Chapter 10.1: What If I’m An Athlete
Getting Recruited
Every athlete wants to be the next LeBron James and skyrocket from high school straight to the big
leagues. Almost every athlete thinks they are good enough to do it, but the unfortunate reality is they’re
not. Only 0.03% of male high school basketball players are drafted to the NBA. Out of 156,00 ballers,
only 44 make it to the big show. Further, only a couple of those are destined to be superstars, so the
odds are actually around 0.001%. We wouldn’t take those odds, but hey, millions of people buy lottery
tickets every year even though the odds of winning the jackpot are 0.0000006%, according to
the Huffington Post.

"Mmm, just right."

(Source)

For the rest of us, we turn our talents to the amateur career of college athletics, where we think that
scholarships grow like weeds and talent can get us into Stanford or UCLA with a 3.0 GPA and 1800 on
the SAT. Needless to say, the myths about the process of recruiting are abundant, and you may think
that you are special enough to not get caught up in them. We can help you cut through the obstacles so
that you end up at the school that is right for you. Think of yourself as Goldilocks picking the best soup
instead of Prince Charming sword slashing through the forest.

Before we get into the myths and how to avoid their traps, we should re-iterate that this process is
about finding the school that is right for you. When searching for a school, you should look for one that
fits academically, socially, and environmentally. You will go on tours and hear countless accounts from
older friends or alumni about how great the college is. You'll compare graduation rates with job
placement statistics (or at least your parents will). Because you're a social butterfly, you'll check to see if
there is a big fraternity presence on campus or if there is a poetry club. After you check the average
temperature for the year, you might decide that 2 degrees Fahrenheit is way too low for your liking. All
of these aspects you consider regarding your academic experience should be applied to the athletic side
as well.

Everything You Need to Know About Marketing Yourself

The biggest part of being recruited to a college athletic program is marketing. You may say, “Wait, does
that mean I get to be David Beckham and model in underwear and for Pepsi and be married to Posh
Spice and be invited to the royal wedding and have generally just have everyone adore me?” To which
we would reply, “Sure, all of the above.” You are David Beckham, and you are trying to market your
athletic abilities, the underwear, to a college program, all the adoring fans. There is no difference
between the two, besides the fact that you can’t have commercials and massive billboards with your
face on them, but that’s a plus! Don’t you hate it when you have to wait 10 seconds before you can click
“Skip Ad” to watch a YouTube Video? Although the process of recruitment is different for every sport,
there are some things to keep in mind for whatever sport you play. How to market yourself:

Know your strengths

This may seem obvious, but you would be surprised how many people are good at one thing but think
they are better at something else. Correctly prioritizing your strengths is a very important part of
marketing yourself to colleges.

"This guy’s strength would be strength, scary strength, scary, scary, scary strength."
(Source)

It is important to also consider relative strengths. You're a basketball player, and you would say that
your scoring percentage is a bigger strength than your block percentage. There are 5 other kids who
have a slightly better scoring percentage than you. These 5 kids have contacted the school you are
interested in. When you are on the phone with the coach, should you say that your scoring is your
biggest strength, or your blocking? You should probably say blocking, then mention that your scoring
percentage is also pretty high. This strategy will give you an edge on those other players who only
mentioned that they had high scoring percentages. Think of it this way: If you were competing against a
bodybuilder, would you market strength as your top asset? Probably not. Creating lists of stats and
other strengths can be very helpful to college coaches. It lets them know how you have developed over
the span of your athletic career. Think about your stats as an SAT score or a GPA. You need the
minimum score to qualify for admission, but you also need strong extracurricular activities to get you
into the school. Extracurricular activities can be thought of as the things you can’t put on an athletic stat
sheet, whether that be mental toughness, technical ability, perseverance, or any of the other, often
indescribable, qualities that make you a great athlete. If you talk the talk, you have to be ready to walk
the walk. If you tell a college coach or scout that you are a premier blocker, then you better get some
blocks when that coach or scout comes to watch you play. There is nothing more damaging to your
chances than mentioning a strength over the phone and then not being able to display it in real time.
The opposite is just as true. There is nothing more powerful than hyping up your skills and then
performing those strengths in front of a coach or scout.

Know what coaches want

Athletes often overlook the whole coach aspect of recruiting. What is that specific coach looking for in a
player? What is their coaching style? Is it a good fit for you? Perhaps most importantly, what positions
are they trying to fill? Maybe the school is perfect, the weather is just how you like it, it is academically
in your range, and the social scene is just rowdy enough for you. Oh, and what's that? The coach totally
rocks? Cool, you should be golden then, right? Be careful, because you may get stuck in a trap. You're a
high school star wide receiver going into a program that recently graduated its entire offensive line.
However, they did not lose a single receiver. Or tight end. Looks like you probably won't be seeing too
much playing time. You may find yourself sitting at the far end of one of these:

"That looks pretty cold, not exactly the place you want to be."
(Source)

But, if you do your research, you might notice that a tight end on the team is graduating, with no one to
replace him. As a result, you can modify your approach and tell the coach that you also rock at tight end.
This strategy man increase your chances of playing in the future. In general, do not be afraid to ask
coaches what they are looking for in their recruiting class. They may say that they want a high scorer, in
which case you will want to send them a video of you scoring touchdowns. Maybe they say that they
want a tight end, in which case you show them video of you running the appropriate routes, blocking,
and running the football. Perhaps they tell you that they need some aggressive linebackers. You've
never played that position in your life. Maybe it's time to look elsewhere.

For many coaches, being able to travel the country to see high school and club athletics is extremely
difficult. Unless you can get into a tournament where there are many college scouts, the best alternative
is to put together a video of your highlights to send out. Remember that the same guidelines regarding
your strengths should be used in these videos. Think about what highlights fill the coach's criteria. Don't
put in excess footage that makes you look cool but doesn’t really increase your worth. Remember that
coaches get hundreds of these videos and are looking for short, specific clips that show them what they
want to see. They are not going to sit through a 30-minute highlight reel, the first 15 minutes of which
are you flexing or celebrating touchdowns. Alright Shmoop, so what is the real take-away here?" Always
remember that knowing what a coach wants is critical to you being recruited by a school. It can also help
you decide if the school will be the right fit or not.

Play like you are always being watched, because you are
Even if you are not being watched by the scout from your dream school, or any scout for that matter, it
is still important to play as if you are being watched by the head coach of your top school, for several
reasons. First, coaches talk to each other. High school and club coaches may have been assistants for
college coaches. College coaches may have been assistants together under another college coach.
Coaches in the same division usually talk to each other about players. Coaches like to gossip as much as
anybody else, and you have no way of knowing who is talking to whom. You may be playing a Sunday
league game with the championship already clinched and think you can slack, but the opposing coach is
your target school’s coach’s brother-in-law. He tells the coach that you are a slacker. Whoops. Instantly
marked off the list of potential recruits. You are always being watched and evaluated, but at least
there’s no chance of coaches swooping in Big Brother style and taking you to Cuba.

"Those aren’t cameras. Really, they are just…bird feeders…with no bird seeds to feed on…or birds…"
(Source)

It is important to hold yourself to the highest standard possible at all times. Think of that as a positive,
not a negative. Playing your best will ensure that you can be confident in your play, and you never have
to worry about a time when you slacked off or took a break. Not only that, but imagine that moment
when the heavens open and the coach from your top school strolls up to your court. You will be better
prepared to handle the pressure of playing in front of them if you have already played every game with
that same mentality. Finally, why would you ever not want to play to the best of your ability? You are an
athlete after all.

Network
Similarly to the concept previously explained, you never know who knows whom. Maybe you blew off
the assistant coach of a school you didn’t want to attend, but then they were hired as the head coach of
your top school. You would be in some serious trouble. Approach every interaction as though your
future depended on it because, hey, it just might.
"No, not those kinds of bridges. Although, that doesn’t mean we think you should burn those either.
Typically, just don’t burn things and you’ll end up all right."
(Source)

In recruiting, as in life, it is extremely important to network and to never burn a bridge unnecessarily.
Who knows, maybe the coach who you don’t like very well will one day become the coach for the US
National Team. If you were rude and didn’t keep in touch with that coach, then you have no chance of
making the National Team. If you were smart, you kept in touch and kept those feelings of resentment
underneath the surface. What is more important, having an argument with a coach or being on the US
National Team? Yeah, we would choose the national team too. Networking can help you just like in any
other aspect in life. A lot of the time, the difference between getting a job and not getting a job, making
the team or watching them play on TV, is who you know. While this may sound jaded and political, it is a
reality of life. It is also something that you can use to your advantage. Be charming, keep in touch with
coaches, and develop relationships with people who can give you strong recommendations. A coach will
take a player with a strong resume and a recommendation from someone they trust over a player with
just a strong resume quicker than you can say, "There's no crying in baseball!"

Be accommodating and patient, but also determined

"Imagine trumpets heralding your arrival"

(Source)

Chances are, you are not going to be recruited the first time you step on a field, go to a camp, or call a
coach. Chances are they won't even talk to you the first time. But be patient— just because you are not
recruited immediately does not mean that it's never ever going to happen. The college recruitment
game is exhausting, much more exhausting than the actual sport you are playing. Yes, even you cross
country runners out there. It will require long hours, incredible focus, resilience, and strong emotional
investment. Sometimes your emotions will be shattered and those hours will feel wasted. Do not be
discouraged. The end product is being able to attend your perfect school and play a sport that you love
at a high level.

Checklist for Marketing Yourself

All coaches are different, but they have some things in common when it comes to recruiting athletes.
Here’s a list of what they are looking for so that you can be more prepared to show your stuff:

 Athleticism. Pretty basic. They want you to be good at your sport. Added bonus: If you can show
them how athletic you are, they’ll know they can train you to be even better.

 Effort. If you’re a collegiate athlete, you spend a ton of time training and practicing to get
better. Coaches want to see that you can work hard to maximize your time (and theirs).

 Coachability. Even if you’re pretty good now, coaches want to make you even better. They want
to know if you can take advice and roll with it.

 Teamwork. Do you play well with others? As you could imagine, working well with teammates is
pretty essential when you play a team sport. If you haven't learned this less yet… we worry for
you.

 Intelligence/Knowledge of your sport. How well do you know the game? Can you anticipate
what your opposition is going to do? Coaches love players who have high IQ in their sport.

 Composure. Athletes who easily lose their temper normally aren’t worth the headache. So try
not stomp around the court like a 3-year-old having a temper tantrum, alright?

 Ability to bounce back. Made a mistake? Oh well. Coaches want to know that you can move on
from a mistake because if you’re human, you’re bound to make a lot of them.

 Intensity. Coaches want to see that you really care. They want to see your passion for your
sport. They want you to have heart. "Miles and miles of heart."

Right Fit Mentality for Athletes

There are a few things to consider when looking for the right athletic fit, but remember that the most
important thing you can do throughout this entire process is to be honest with yourself, your parents,
and the schools you are contacting. That honesty will help you find the place that best suits your needs.
Ultimately, that honesty, while it might not match up exactly with your wants, will result in the happiest
and most fulfilling experience that you can get from college athletics. Here’s all the other things you
should definitely take into consideration:

Decide what division you want to play in

Many people think that there is one level of college athletics, Division I. Or, rather, they think that there
is only one level worth any consideration. This ill-informed mentality does not appreciate the level of
athletics being played in the other divisions. Each level is different and has its pros and cons. Considering
all the different options and rules can be confusing, but luckily, we’re here to translate all of that
mumbo jumbo into the things that will help you. When you are a college athlete, your coach will likely
be with you for 4 years. That is a long time to be under the tutelage of one person. Granted, it may seem
like coaches move all over the place given all the stories on ESPN, but most coaches tend to stay at the
same school. During the recruitment process, feel free to ask the coach where they see themselves in 3-
5 years. Ask them if they have kids or a relative close by. Often times, coaches with familial ties in the
area, especially ones including little munchkins, will be less likely to move across the country to coach at
another school.

When you are researching a school, be sure to look at the history of its athletic program. Pay special
attention to the coach's history. There are many factors to explore about a coach. Here are a few
specific points of interest:

 Whether they were recently hired or have been there for decades

 Whether they bring in 20 kids in a recruitment class and then cut 16 or bring in 6 and keep 5

 Whether they have ever been named coach of the year

 Whether they played that sport in college and, if they did, where was it

 Whether they’ve played professionally or not

 How long they have coached and at what level

 What alumni say about them

 Who their back-up dancers are (meaning their assistant coaching staff, of course)

The easiest way to find out all of this information is by using the internet, but we would only
recommend you do this for your initial "I'm interested" search. Going beyond that preliminary probe,
you should call the coach and speak to him as often as possible. Coaches are just like all other people;
they love reliving their glory days and having their egos stroked. Ask questions about random things,
what they like to do on the weekend, what their favorite food is, what professional athlete could they
take in a one on one match.

"If they say this guy then they must have a great sense of humor."
(Source)
Anything is on the table as long as it is honest and portrays you in a positive light. Showing a genuine
interest in them will make it easier for them to be honestly invested in you. They will have a better idea
if you fit into their team, and you will have a better idea if you could live with this person coaching your
for 4 long years. The biggest question you are going to have to ask yourself in terms of a coaching fit is,
"Am I looking for a parent or a boss?" A parent is someone who calls you to their office to chat about
how your day is going. This coach genuinely cares about whether or not you are passing classes and if
you are happy with your new girlfriend of boyfriend. A boss is someone who sticks to questions
regarding your performance and what you are doing to improve. After telling you exactly
what they think you should be doing, they leave you with an assistant to review an hour or so of game
film. Those are two extreme cases, and most coaches are somewhere in between. However, knowing
what you want from your coach in terms of those two traits can go a long way towards finding the right
fit. You might be able to put up with some gruffness if you are looking for a more professional
environment, or you might want a more personal experience with a figure that you want to be a
mentor. Be honest with yourself about what you want. If you can't perform with someone yelling at you
all the time, then pick the coach who likes to hold onto their clipboard.

Decide where you want to play

This one is not as critical in terms of finding the right division or coaching fit, but it is important in terms
of performance. There are also several factors to consider here as well. First, you have to consider
weather. If you grew up and played only in Southern California, then playing your winter season in
Chicago is going to be a major shock to your system. Simply stated, you might not be able to do it. Think
about what kind of weather is conducive to your prime performance. Do you like it cooler and a little
wet? Try the Northwest schools in Washington and Oregon. Do you like it hot and humid? Then the
South is for you. Get to know the weather of different regions, then think about whether you can
actually picture yourself trudging through 8 inches of snow every morning.

"The field was there last night…"

(Source)

Second, the facilities themselves are important. Do you want a field that sits on a bluff overlooking the
ocean? Do you want a state of the art gym with sensors in everything? Or do you want a more relaxed
experience that wouldn’t make you feel like a scientific experiment? Knowing how you train and under
what conditions is essential for this step. If possible, go to the actual campus. Usually the college will
host sport specific camps so that coaches can identify players, but you can use these opportunities to
identify whether or not you feel comfortable at the facilities. Even though all other aspects of your
athletic checklist might be marked, if the school’s facilities and weather are not conducive to your
performance, you may find yourself unhappy and struggling to achieve success. These two things are
often overlooked, but they greatly affect your day to day life. Be sure to give them the respect they
deserve.

Decide how you are going to fit in with the team

Most sports at the collegiate level are team sports. This means that you will be seeing the same group of
people almost every day of the year for 4 years. And you thought having a coach for 4 years was bad.
Your teammates are as critical to your success as you are to theirs. Being able to have a relationship with
them on and off the field is extremely important. You are going to be around these people for a large
portion of your college experience. Be prepared to sweat with them, to eat almost every meal with
them, to laugh and cry with them. There will be fights and disagreements. There will also be great
moments that you will never forget. Your teammates can end up being your best friends, but sadly they
can also become your worst enemies. Either can happen when you're around the same people for such
a large amount of time. So how do you make the most of your teammates and increase the value of
your college experience? For how important this criterion is, much of it is left up to luck. Unfortunately,
you are not going to be best friends with the entire team the instant you step on the field for your first
practice or tryout. It is something that takes work, a lot of work. Did we mention that it takes a
ginormous amount of work?

One way to make it a little easier is to research the roster. Look to see which players are graduating
versus which players are staying. Check out where those players come from, what club teams or high
schools. Also, if you are being recruited, ask your coach who is going to be recruited in the same class as
you. Show interest! Getting to know your teammates is critical for forming a cohesive team. Making an
effort to accept people that you might not normally identify as your ideal friend will improve the quality
of your time spent with the team tremendously. Another way you can start to build a relationship with
the team before you actually arrive at the school is to go to overnight camps.

"No, not that type of camp."

(Source)

Most college programs offer some sort of camps with the option to commute or stay the night on
campus. Even if you live five minutes from the college, we would highly recommend you choose the
overnight option. In the overnight program, you will have the opportunity to interact with the college
players, most of whom will be the camp counselors who stay with the campers almost 24/7. That means
that even when you leave the field, you will still be around them, hanging out in the dorms, and eating
meals with them. Camps represent a great opportunity to pick current players' brains and get to know
them on a more personal level. Who knows, they might end up becoming your best friend on your
future team. Unfortunately, being able to fit in on a team does not always work. Sometimes there are
too many people you simply cannot get along with or other circumstances that will prevent you from
success and happiness. If this is the case, do not view it as a critique of yourself. The good thing about
college teams is that every year there are new people coming in and older people going out. A team that
has some jerks on it could change in a year and be great. If this is not the case, or you can’t take that
chance, then do not view transferring as a defeat. Remember that this whole process is about finding
the best athletic fit, and if you didn’t find it on the first try, who cares? Try, try again. The added bonus is
that this time you have some experience to drawn on while considering the various aspects of different
potential schools.

7 Myths about the Recruiting Process

There are many myths surrounding college athletics. Here are some of the ones that we hear most
often:

Myth #1: Coaches will come to you.

Let's bust this one wide open first. Coaches will not be coming to you unless you are LeBron, which we
know you're not since he already plays for the Miami Heat. This means that you will have to go
after them. Call them, email them, send in video, visit the campus and meet them—anything to get you
on their radar.

"That giant tropical storm should be you."

(Source)

Myth #2: Every recruitment option has a full scholarship attached.

The percentage of recruited freshmen that are signed to a partial scholarship, let alone a full
scholarship, is extremely low. So, throw away the idea that there is a hefty amount of money waiting for
you and take whatever they will give you. Trust us, your parents will appreciate any amount of your
tuition they don't have to pay for.
"Yep, you know what that is. It’s a rainbow. And we bet you know what’s not at the end of it. Yep, a big
pot of scholarship money." (Source)

Myth #3: If you don’t get recruited, you can’t be on the team.
There are many cases of un-recruited players showing up to try-outs and making the team. They are
called walk-ons and are more common than you would think. There are also players called recruited
walk-ons who did not sign with the school but were identified by the coach before they attended try-
outs. Do not get too caught up in the official titles of recruitment. Stay focused on accomplishing your
goals.

Myth #4: College is way easier for athletes.

Athletes may receive some free tutoring. Maybe professors let them take an exam late because of an
away game. However, don't think that playing for a collegiate team means you'll get A's handed to you.
You have to do the same amount of work as everyone else, and you'll probably have to do it in less time
because of your practice schedule. Taking finals, midterms, and doing homework in noisy buses,
crowded planes, dirty airports, or hotel lobbies is certainly not preferential treatment either. Remember
that you're not just an athlete, you're a student-athlete. Professors won't be giving you any free passes,
so get ready to bear down with your books on creaky buses.

"Think this is a good place for a final? Try doing it while 19 other college boys celebrate your come from
behind victory earlier in the day. Try impossible."
(Source)
Myth #5: Division I or bust.
While this may be the prevalent theme on ESPN, it is not realistic. The level of play at Division II or III, or
NAIA and the junior, community, and city college level can be just as good if not better than Division I for
you. Let us say that again, for you. It’s all about finding the right fit, like that perfect pair of jeans that
you barely have to shimmy into.

Myth #6: Being on a good team will make up for an undesirable college or
location.
You're a beach bum, but you've chosen to attend a school in Vermont. Winning a national championship
may help you survive those cold, snowy winters. However, do you really want to live somewhere you
don't like for 4 years with only one aspect of your life making you happy? We wouldn’t either.

"This is the location of your history class. Don’t worry. You won’t fall asleep. The snapping turtles will
keep you awake."
(Source)

Myth #7: College athletes are not as smart as the rest of their graduating class.

" Sure, non-athletes can juggle. They juggle 1 ring and athletes juggle 7. What’s more impressive?"
(Source)
This commonly held belief has been thrown around for years, and, honestly, it's easy to understand why.
College athletes do get preferential treatment in terms of admission and class selection, but not in the
ridiculously overboard ways that have been made notorious through certain cases. A 2.3 student will
never get into Stanford, and the Harvard basketball team is not full of 2.5 students who are majoring in
Dance. College recruits do get put on top of the admission pile, but they still need the grades to show
that they can succeed at the school. The myth that often accompanies this one is that college athletes
should not be hired because they are not as smart as their non-athlete graduates. Again, this belief is
misguided. College athletes graduate with the same degree as their peers. Further, they have shown the
ability and maturity to successfully balance multiple other commitments, the biggest of which being the
approximate 30 hours per week dedicated to their sport. If anything, college athletes are better
prepared to handle a bigger workload because they have learned that oh-so-valuable skill called time
management.

NCAA vs. Division I, II, and III

NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the organization that is responsible for almost all inter-
collegiate athletic competition. All of the big college-sporting events that you can watch on ESPN are run
by the NCAA. March madness, the BCS bowl series, the College World Series, all of them are NCAA
events. These competitions almost always consist of Division I schools, but the NCAA also oversees two
other divisions. Division II and Division III are the other options for college athletes that fall under the
NCAA. There are many differences between the different divisions, but most of them you will never
have to worry about. Also, the recruitment information and timelines differ depending on what sport
you play, so be sure to check the recruitment calendar and recruitment guidelines for your specific
sport. Both of those can be found in the links section of each division below. It's mostly coaches who
should be worrying about these rules, but it's nice to know that a coach isn't calling you back simply
because he can't, not because he didn't like your voicemail.

"The Big M."

(Source)
Division I
This is the big leagues of college athletics. It is a heavily funded, scholarship dense, publicly well-known
organization that prides itself on having the best athletes. In many ways, this is true. Division I athletes
tend to be populated by Olympic hopefuls, future professional athletes, and superstars. Division I
athletics cater to the athlete aspect of the student-athlete. A high level of competition drives Division I
sports. Because it is considered the pinnacle of amateur athletic competition, scholarships are abundant
in Division I. Almost every DI program offers extensive scholarships, but it also depends on your sport.
While you probably will not get a full ride, partial scholarships can make a huge difference when paying
tuition. Don't take our word for it—ask your parents what they think.

Division I also receives its fair share of attention. Whether it be national media coverage with your
highlight reel being featured on ESPN or just everyone on campus knowing who you are, Division I
athletics is the place for stars to shine and grab the campus spotlight. All that attention combined with
the level of competition provides a stepping-stone to the life of professional athletics. Almost all players
who end up in the NBA, MLB, or any other professional league began their careers in college. Believe it
or not, even some of the superstars were college students before they made it big in the professional
game. However, it is also important to note that playing a sport at a Division I college does not
guarantee you fame and fortune, or a spot on the San Francisco 49ers for that matter. Almost 170,000
athletes competed at the DI level in the 2011-2012 school year. Do you know all of their names? Didn't
think so. A large majority of high school stars will play at Division I schools, but only the best of the best
will make a name for themselves there.

Regardless of how many people on campus are screaming your name at every Saturday night game, the
commitment that is required of a Division I athlete is extreme. It will be more physically and mentally
grueling than any team you have been on so far. Combine that commitment with the pressure to
succeed and you have a stressful 4 years ahead of you. There is so much money tied in with Division I
athletics that the concept of developing the athlete into a fully-functioning adult has taken a back seat
to winning. Some DI coaches treat their athletes in impersonal ways, viewing them as a means to a
victorious end. This focus on winning records and job maintenance has resulted in a higher transfer rate
for Division I schools.

Bet on Division I if… you have been heavily recruited by Division I schools. you have competed at
Olympic trials or the Olympics themselves. you have won national championships. you don’t mind
making a lot of sacrifices for your sport. you think you want to be a professional athlete. You can view all
of the requirements for Division I athletics here. You can search for all Division I schools here. You can
register as a potential NCAA recruited athlete here.
(Source)

Division II
Division II resides directly underneath Division I and is the middle child of the NCAA. It functions as a
slightly less competitive alternative to Division I that is not as driven by money. Athletes playing at the
DII level may not have been the MVPs of their high school leagues, but they still have a strong
commitment to their sport and enjoy playing in highly competitive matches. Division II coaches often
focus more on balancing the athlete and student aspects of a student-athlete than they do on winning
every single game. Balance is the key selling point of Division II athletics. It offers a level of competition
that is not far off from the Division I level, yet there is not as much pressure as the highly visible Division
I. Though you will find very few full ride scholarships, many partial scholarships are available at the
Division II level. Although they are as not as abundant as the Division I level, there is still enough money
for there to be a chance of you receiving some aid with tuition. Again, ask your parents; any aid is good
aid.

Division II can also be a stepping-stone on the road to professional athletics, but it is slightly more
difficult than Division I. Sometimes the more balanced environment and focus on player development
can actually help an athlete reach their potential faster and easier than at the Division I level. What a
concept. There is less attention for Division II athletics relative to Division I. You will most likely not feel
like the star on campus. Well, maybe you will, but not many others will recognize you as you stroll
around the quad, hot stuff. Your face won't be plastered on giant posters flying around campus, because
there won’t be any posters. You will also have to deal with people who view your athletics as a waste of
time and resources. To some people, Division II athletics is a joke. If the athletes who compete at that
level were any good, they would be at Division I schools. Most people don't agree with this ignorant
stance. We're just warning you that those people are out there. How you deal with them is up to you.

Bet on Division II if… you have been recruited by some colleges. you think the pressure of Division I will
be too much for you. you want an experience that focuses on your development as a young adult. you
don’t think that you will be a professional athlete. You can view all of the requirements for Division II
athletics here. You can find all of the Division II schools here. You can register as a potential NCAA
recruited athlete here:

Division III
Division III is the lowest division that falls under the NCAA. It is considered by most people to be the
most relaxed competitive experience of the three divisions, with a focus on the student aspect of a
student-athlete. Division III athletics are great for athletes whose focus is in the classroom. They have
limited practice and competition times, as well as less travel between schools. All of this combines for a
situation that makes it much easier to find success in the classroom. Because of time restraints, coaches
will not be able to control your life as much as DI or DII coaches could. Therefore, Division III can be a
great option for athletes who want to play their sport in college but want to focus more of their time
and effort on the great education they're receiving. Division III does not have the same prestige or level
of competition that Divisions I or II have. Though DIII athletes are still committed to their programs, they
tend to lead more well-rounded lives than athletes at the other two levels. Don't get us wrong—this
difference in emphasis does not mean that Division III is not competitive. Do you know many dedicated
athletes who don't care about winning or losing? Exactly. DIII student athletes are still competing for a
national championship, they would just prefer to spend less than 30 hours per week sweating in the
gym.

Bet on Division III if… your primary focus in college is your education. you were not the star of your high
school or club team. you are not interested in any scholarship money. you do not want media
interaction. you know you are not going to be a professional athlete. You can view all of the
requirements for Division III athletics here. You can find all of the Division III schools here. You can
register as a potential NCAA recruited athlete here.

NAIA, Junior College, Community College, City College

There are a multitude of other options for college athletics other than NCAA. That’s right, we said other.
Although the NCAA may seem as inescapable as the evil empire sometimes, there are more rebellious
organizations that will allow you to play college athletics with a bit more freedom. The rebels fighting
against the evil forces of the NCAA provide a different experience for college athletes. The strict rules
that govern the NCAA are often softened in the other leagues. There are different age limits and more
flexible requirements for eligibility. There are 2-year options like Junior and Community colleges that
can be used as stepping-stones to be accepted into a 4-year university. It might be your best bet to
spend a year or two at a Junior College to build your résumé and athletic abilities. There is no shame in
that, and it's often the smarter option, both academically and athletically.

There are also 4-year options outside of the NCAA where you can get your degree and still play college
athletics. The NAIA is the main organization that fits this bill. Like the Community and Junior colleges,
the NAIA has less strict rules in terms of age and eligibility requirements. If you are worried about your
GPA or test scores, the NAIA might be the organization for you. Because of its more lenient
requirements, the NAIA often has players who are better than athletes in the NCAA. These athletes
might not be able to make it to a NCAA school financially or academically. Therefore, the level of play at
NAIA can be varied, so do your research to see if it's a good fit for you. Don’t be afraid if your top school
is not affiliated with the NCAA. Remember that many good options fall outside of the norm. That doesn't
necessarily make them lesser opportunities. It just makes them different. As long as you like the school
and the athletic program, it doesn't matter what governing body the college falls under. Everyone is
different; every athlete follows a different path. Make sure you pick the one that will help you develop
into the best graduate you could be.

A Day in the Life of a College Athlete

So, you’re trying to figure out if college athletics is right for you. Don’t you wish there was some website
that had some examples of what a normal day would be like for a college athlete? It would be totally
awesome if you’re favorite online academic resource could also give you some advice with your
athletics. Come on, they give advice for extracurricular activities to pad your college résumé. Don’t
sports count for that at least? See how we are building up your expectation for something we definitely
have?

" See what we did there? Wink Wink, nudge nudge."

(Source)

A normal day for a college athlete does not include getting massages from professors (that would be
weird) or free gifts from the bookstore. Although college gear is always better when it's free, the
average day when you are not in season looks a little something more like this: You wake up to the
sound of a blaring alarm from your phone and the sun is barely peeking over the tops of the buildings
outside your window. Your roommate mumbles to shut off the alarm and you grab your phone as you
make your way out to the kitchen. You get ready for the day. It’s 5:30 in the morning. You grab a protein
bar because you're a college student living in a dorm room, not a gourmet chef with a TV-ready kitchen.
This 8-inch bar plus an apple and a Gatorade is your energy for the next six hours.

You quietly move back to your room and gather your things for the day. Your books and computer are
already packed in your school bag from the night before. You dress in the dark so as not to disturb your
roommate. They won’t be up for another couple of hours and will get grouchy if you wake them up now.
They had a late night at a fraternity party last night. You finish getting dressed and grab your keys from
your desk, time to go. It’s 6:45 AM. Time flies when you're having fun. You jog down the four flights of
stairs and open the door to the brisk cold. Your bike lock is slightly rusted and covered in ice, so it takes
you a couple of minutes to force the thing open. Soon, you’re on your way to the gym.
Twenty minutes and three hills later, you have locked your bike up outside and are heading down the
Inter Collegiate Athletics hallway to the locker room. You open your locker and dress with a couple of
your teammates who are also there early. When each of you is done getting ready, you head down to
the athletic training room to do some preventative exercises before practice. The rowers from the crew
team are already there getting ice for their aching muscles. They have practice that starts at 4:00
AM. The clock strikes 8:30 AM, so you head out to the field to start practice. Two and a half hours later,
sweaty, exhausted, and late for class, you run back into the locker room to grab your bag. You jog up to
your bike and pedal across campus. It’s 11:05 AM and you are only 5 minutes late for your first class of
the day. Your roommate wanders in at 11:13 AM. It’s their first class of the day too. You finish with your
classes at 4:00 PM, with only an hour break for lunch at 1:00. In History, you fell asleep and then woke
up in another class. "Yikes, how did I get here?" You are still wearing your practice gear and, even worse,
you smell like you're still wearing your practice gear. You bike home and walk up the four flights of stairs
to your apartment to shower. Your roommate is lying on their bed watching Game of Thrones on their
laptop. They invite you to come out to the bonfire tonight. You say you’ll try to make it.

"You know nothing, Jon Shmoow."

(Source)

You grab your bag and go back down the stairs to get your bike and head to the library. It’s 4:30 PM. You
meet up with some people from the team, a couple volleyball players, and a water polo player in a study
room in the library. All of you are in the same organic chemistry class and are working through the pre-
med curriculum. The water polo player has a 3.95 GPA. It’s 9:00 PM and you decide to get some dinner.
You go home and cook some pasta, a lot of pasta, with some chicken and a salad. Your buddy on the
team comes over and you go over the practice test for the math midterm that you both have tomorrow.
The clock hits 11:30 PM and your friend leaves to get some sleep. You go on the Internet and check your
Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, emails, and watch a few Vines. Setting your alarm for 5:30 AM, you start
to stream an episode of Arrested Development but fall asleep before you can finish it. Your roommate
comes home at 2:00 AM and wakes you up. You fall back asleep to the sounds of their heavy snores,
knowing that it will all happen again tomorrow. You wouldn’t have it any other way. That seems pretty
tough to us. Those athletes sure do seem committed and focused. Whoever thinks that athletes have an
easier time in college is kidding themselves. And what’s with that roommate? We hope yours doesn't
snore like that.
"No, not kidding themselves like the great Steve Carell. Their kidding is way more despicable."
(Source)

Sure, that may be a normal day. You will experience lots of work and lots of stress, but don’t worry. That
all changes once you start your season. Season is like spring dew on the leaves. It is like the frosting on a
cupcake or the drama to the Jersey shore. It is the best part imaginable. During season, you have
competitions every weekend. Every waking moment is filled with the excitement that you will be
representing your school on the court, field, or in the water. You get to put on a jersey that says your
school’s name and test yourself against the other college athletes from across the country. Plus, you still
have to do all your schoolwork and somehow manage to eat and function normally. That part is pretty
tough, but who cares, it’s just your degree and health, right? Who needs that when you’ve got sports!

Here is what an exceptional day during season might look like:

You wake up at 10:00 AM. Finally, a day to sleep in! You head to the dining hall for its premier selection
of morning vittles before taking your time on the way back to your room with a Gatorade and a banana.
You consider mixing it up next time and getting a muffin next time, but who are you kidding? That
potassium is all that stand between you and muscle cramps every five minutes. You only have two
classes today, and you almost forget about the first one starting at 12:00 PM. Your mind only has one
thing on it today: the game. It’s game day, people, and a night game at that! Getting to play under the
lights, the cool air filling your lungs as you run, wind lightly rushing through your hair, the grass slightly
slick from the evening fog, making it so much easier to slide twenty feet when you score the game
winning goal in overtime to make the sell-out crowd go nuts and start chanting your name…

Whoops, you’re still in class. Those daydreams can be pretty intense sometimes, and you’ve managed to
miss the last 15 minutes of what the professor has been saying about the amygdala. It probably wasn’t
that important anyway. It’s not like that will be on the final or anything. You finish class at 2:00 PM, and
your friend and teammate pick you up from the parking lot behind the engineering building. Off to
Whole Foods. You consume a Whole Foods custom sandwich with grilled chicken, spinach, cucumber,
onion, tomato, pesto mayo, avocado, olive oil, salt and pepper, along with the largest bottle of water
you can find…It may sound excessive, but it's ritual. You don't mess with an athlete's superstitions.
"Oh yeah, that’s the good stuff."
(Source)

Whoops, you’re drooling over this and you’re still in the car on the way to the supermarket. But its game
day! Everything seems to move in slow motion, and the second hand on all clocks just won’t go around
as fast. Somebody should definitely get those checked. But you’ve got your food now, and you’re
headed back to campus. It’s 3:30 PM. You don’t have to be in the locker room until 5:30 PM. The waiting
is the hard part. What do you do? Should you nap? If you nap, you might wake up groggy and that
wouldn’t be good for your pregame preparation. But if you don’t nap, you might be tired or flat for the
game. The dilemma is too difficult to decide. Eventually you just end up lying in bed on your computer,
finally getting around to watching that Game of Thrones season you missed. The time seems to pass like
a snail on a Sunday morning drive. Slow and steady. But finally, the clock hits 5:00 and it's time to go.
The rest of the day is a blur. You make your way to the locker room and go through the routine. You pick
out your jersey and shorts and change. You shake all of your teammates’ hands. You get the athletic
trainer to tape your ankle. You carefully put your socks on. Left, then right. You lace up your shoes. Left,
then right. The order is of the utmost essence.

You listen to music to get you focused. The coach comes in and lays out the starting line-up and strategy
for the game. Your phone shows the time. 6:00 PM. It’s go time. You walk with the rest of your
teammates to the doors of the locker room that heads out to the field. You can hear the crowd already
beginning to make noise in the stands. The doors open and the stadium lights momentarily blind you as
you step out onto the field…And from there, well the rest is up to you. This is the excitement that is
bound to come with being a college athlete, although we can’t promise the cheering crowd. You have to
be successful to draw that kind of campus love and attention. Competition days like there only happen a
few times during the year, but they are what make all your hard work worth it.

A Checklist of Don’ts
Don’t start too late. We recommend your sophomore year.

Don’t stop calling until you reach the coach you are looking for. Often, they can’t legally contact you, so
you’ll have to be the one to get in touch.
Don’t be afraid of any mistakes that are on display in your recruiting video. Coaches want to see how
you bounce back. Your flaws don't disappear after high school, we're sorry to say.

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear from coaches. They are busy people. If you are interested in the
school, keep trying until you get an offer or a rejection (sniff sniff).

Don’t worry too much about getting a scholarship. Sure, it would be great for your finances. And your
parents’ mental health. But, truth be told, not that many athletes actually get them, and many schools
do not even offer them.

Don’t just pick a college for its athletics. You could get hurt, cut, tired of playing, etc. Make sure you love
the college so that if you stop playing, you are still happy with where you are.

Don't be disillusioned. The recruiting process isn't easy. There are more rules than you could even
imagine, and you probably have more options than you're even aware of. Check out this list of myths
and realities to get a clearer picture of what you're about to go through.

Don’t let a school turning you down get you down. Unless you’re a Shaq-like prodigy, you will get
rejected by colleges. Maybe a lot of colleges. You’re not the right position, you’re not tall enough, you
don’t have good enough grades… blah blah blah. They give you a variety of reasons for your rejection.
But none of those matters. What matters is the college that you want and that wants you back. So just
keep swimming, just keep swimming...

Recruiting Emails
So, you’ve made a list of schools that have caught your eye. Good progress. Now it’s time to email some
coaches. Feeling nervous? Excited? Just wait until you get to talk to them on the phone! Talk about stage
fright. Until that joyous time arrives, here are some guidelines for creating appropriate electronic mail
messages for college coaches:

Be formal, but not stiff. This will be your first form of contact with most coaches you talk to, so you
want to be respectful and professional. No “wassup dude” or “yo your school is legit.” Street slang and
instant messaging abbreviations will not work here. However, you don’t want to be overly formal either.
If you write, “Greetings, good sir or madam. I wish to speak with you regarding your highly prestigious
program,” coaches will think you are either sucking up to them or simply joking. So how are you
supposed to sound, you ask?

Be yourself. While writing your first drafts, think conversational. You want to sound like you are simply
talking to the coach of your dreams. Er, we mean the coach of the school of your dreams. Imagine if you
ran into him or her in the hallway. What would you say? Probably something like, “Hello, Mr. or Mrs.
Brooks. How are you today? My name is…” The more comfortable and down to earth you sound, the
easier it will be for coaches to picture you as a real person. After your first draft is complete, go back and
edit it to match our first guideline. Change “Hello” to “Dear” and try to get rid of any contractions. Once
you spruce it up a bit, you should be good to go.

Be informative. You know everything about you. College coaches (most likely) know nothing about you.
Be sure to include all the basics: name, grad year, hometown, high school, sport(s), club team(s), and all
contact info. Do it right off the bat, too. No pun intended… Fine, it was intended. Anyhow, you don’t
want to keep coaches in the dark about your identity. This isn’t a game of Clue.
Be optimistic. As a general rule. It’s always good to have a positive outlook on life, grumpy pants. More
specifically, tell the coach about any upcoming tournaments, games, or competitions you have. Give
them your exact schedule and jersey number. You may just see them checking you out from the
sidelines as a result. If you are going to attend a camp that coach or college is hosting, tell them when
you will arrive and where to pick you up. Kidding, but definitely tell them you will be there!

Be video-genic. Get it? We switch video in for photo. Why? Because you’ll want to send your highlight
video in along with your initial email. If it’s a YouTube video or recruiting website, link to it right there in
the text. If it’s on DVD, then send it via snail mail and let them know in your email that it’s on its way.
Don’t have one? Make one. Seriously. If coaches do not get the opportunity to see you play in person,
how else will they witness your total awesomeness? Include a few minutes of personal highlights as well
as unedited game footage. Coaches like to take in the big picture.

Be honest. There’s no need to stand on ceremony. You are contacting these colleges because you are
extremely interested in playing for their baseball team, swimming for their program, etc. Do not be
embarrassed to say so. If you are emailing your dream school, tell them that it’s your dream school. In
fact, go ahead and tell multiple schools they’re your dream school. Coaches look for athleticism when
they recruit, but they also look for passion and dedication. They want players who care, both about the
program and about the school that will be their home for the next four years.

Be knowledgeable. You want to show the coach you are emailing that you have researched that
particular school. Coaches know when your blanket email is exactly that. If you have a template where
all your changing is the name in the “Hello ____” greeting, coaches might just gloss on past you. Be sure
to mention how you are interested in their top-notch engineering program. You have always wanted to
go to a school on the quarter system. So on and so forth.

Be cocky. Alright, maybe cocky isn’t the right word. What we’re trying to say is that you should toot your
own horn a bit. Remember that unless a college is actively chasing you, then it’s on you to convince
them of how much they need you. You belong at that school, and you belong on that team. Tell them
why you would be a great addition to their team or program. Maybe you are the one your team relies
on under pressure, or maybe you know how to kick it in high gear on that last leg. Whatever your
strengths are, identify one or two (or three) of them in your email.

Be determined. College coaches are busy people. Believe it or not, they don’t sit around all day checking
every email that pops up. Although they totally could, because they get a ton of emails. Regardless, if
you email a coach and do not hear back from them within a week, do not be afraid to email them again.
You may have just been lost in the shuffle. Besides, what’s the worst that could happen? They see
firsthand how interest you are in their program? Oh no!

Recruiting Email Template

Here we take on the character of Sulley, who wishes to be recruited by Coach Scream, head of the Scare
Team at Monsters University.

Dear Coach Scream,

My name is James Sullivan, and I am extremely interested in becoming a part of your Scare Team.
Currently a junior, I will graduate high school in 2020. I scare for the varsity team at North Pixar High
School in Disney, California. I also participate in scaring around the year with my club team, the
Growlers.

I believe that I would be a great fit for your scare program. Last year I was named MVP of our league,
and I broke the season scare record with 548 points. My physical presence along with my intuition allow
me to maximize my scaring potential each chance I get. I am also a great team player—you can always
find me on the sidelines quizzing my teammates, getting them prepped for competition.

All my life I have been a die-hard Monsters University fan, and I know that there is no better school for
me. As a huge science nerd, I am interested in becoming a doctor. The information I have read on the
Pre-Med Program makes me believe that there would be many opportunities for me to realize that
dream at Monsters U. I have sent you a highlight reel showcasing my abilities in the mail, and it should
arrive any day. I would greatly appreciate any feedback you have!

Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I look forward to learning more about Monsters
University and speaking with you about the possibility of joining your Scare Team.

-James (or, as my team calls me, Sulley)

Top 10 Athletes from the Ivy Leagues

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Ryan Fitzpatrick, a Harvard graduate, was the starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills from 2009-2012
before being traded to the Tennessee Titans in 2013.

Matt Birk

Matt Birk, 6-time Pro-Bowler and Super Bowl champ, was also a Harvard graduate.

Bill Bradley

As a Princeton graduate, Rhodes Scholar, Olympic Gold Medalist, 2 time NBA champion, and US Senator,
Bill Bradley seems like he’s done it all.

Kevin Westgarth

This Princeton grad was a member of the 2011-2012 Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup Champion team.

Lou Gehrig

MLB Hall of Famer Gehrig graduated from Columbia University and was a six-time World Series champ
and seven time All-Star.

Kevin Boothe
Kevin Boothe graduated from Cornell University and was a member of both the 2007-2008 and 2011-
2012 Super Bowl team. Not bad for an Ivy League Athlete, eh?

Zak DeOssie

Zak DeOssie, another two-time Super Bowl champ with the New York Giants, was a Brown graduate.

Mark DeRosa

World Series champ and University of Pennsylvania graduate Mark DeRosa visits the White House with
the winning San Francisco Giants.

Ross Ohlendorf

Ohlendorf is another Princeton graduate who made it in the pro leagues, and is currently a pitcher on
the Washington Nationals.

Jeremy Lin

Remember this Harvard grad? Jeremy Lin’s seven game winning streak with the New York Knicks
catapulted into a global Linsanity craze.

Chapter 10.2: What If I’m An International Student

International Student Admissions
These are exciting times to be applying to college, especially if you are one of the thousands of
international students considering applying to study in the United States. Why are we so excited? Too
much coffee, to begin with. That’s not the only reason, though. The world is an increasingly global place,
with travel and communication seeming to shrink the distances between us every day. This globalization
is leading to more and more students from around the world developing a desire to earn their
undergraduate or graduate degree in the U.S.

On the flip side, more and more colleges and universities in the United States are realizing the benefits
of enrolling increasingly diverse freshman classes. This has led to a concentration of efforts to recruit
qualified international applicants, and to expand their (unwritten) quotas of how many international
students they admit each year. These numbers still vary a great deal, with the average university
freshman class in the U.S. consisting of about 5% international students. Some of the top schools for
students from abroad enroll more like 25% international students – which is a huge number. And that
number is growing. For the first time in more than a decade, undergraduate admissions for international
students are greater than graduate admissions. Percentages of international students at loads of schools
are going up. As these go up, so do your chances of getting in.
This increase is a result of a lot of factors. In some places, wages are increasing and an increasing middle
and upper class is more and more able to afford U.S. tuition. Other nations have begun offering
scholarships for students to study abroad. In the U.S., schools are seeing the trend as an economic
advantage, as much higher numbers of international students pay full tuition (some schools even charge
extra international fees). So, the numbers look good. The reality for you is that you’ve got a lot of work
to do to enroll in a U.S. college or university. Start by having a look at our Checklist for International
Students. Once you have a solid idea of the steps, we invite you to Make a Plan with Shmoop.

Checklist for International Students

Shmoop understands that applying to college is a complex and daunting process, no matter who you
are. But take an already difficult task, and throw in the fact that you are from a whole different country,
and you’ve taken on a mission that can seem four times as difficult (and have one fourth the chance of
success.) Save your pit-of-despair sadness for your senior project on Edgar Allan Poe. Shmoop has
gathered together all the bits and pieces of information you need to keep in mind in one handy
checklist. Get ready for what you need to know as an international applicant:

__The competition is tough. Though they won’t say it to your face (dirty rats), colleges and universities
have a de facto quota for how many international students they will admit. The number is vague, but
hovers around 10% of a freshman class. This fraction means that, for some of the more popular schools
for international applicants, that acceptance rate of 40% may drop down to something closer to 10%, so
bring your A game.

__Having said that, schools want diversity. Especially in today’s “global citizen” educational world,
schools are looking to admit freshman classes who can offer diverse perspectives, experiences, and
talents, so make sure to play up your uniqueness. Remember, though, it is not enough to simply be from
Chile, China, or Cameroon. You need to be able to show schools why you as an individual from a
different nation will bring cultural diversity to them.

__Start early (like two years before graduation) and do your research. Be sure your college choices are
certified to accept international students. Check out a list here.

__Your transcript is difficult to decipher. You might think that something like a high-school curriculum
would be pretty standard, but you’d be wrong. Requirements, rigor, and content range wildly around
the world, so college admissions folks have a difficult time evaluating the strength of your transcript
when they consider you. What does this mean? It means that the other bits of your application are
going to have to shine through: SAT and ACT scores, extracurricular activities, letters of
recommendation, and your essays.

__You need to rock the TOEFL or IELTS exam. School is taught in English. Colleges and universities need
to be assured that language barriers will not hinder your success.

__Don’t be modest if you can afford full tuition. With so much competition, schools are much less willing
to offer financial aid to international students. If you and your family can swing full tuition, shout it from
the treetops (well, don’t do that, but do tell them.)

__Any school which accepts international students is going to have an International Student Advisor.
This person should be your best friend during the application process and after you enroll. As you are
applying, contact the advisor and ask any question you might have. Once you enroll, visit his or her
office and take advantage of opportunities and resources they have for adjusting to a new school in a
new country.

__Consider applying to great schools with fewer international applicants. Especially if you aren’t a super-
star student, look at schools where the competition (but not the education) may be less intense.

__Triple check admissions requirements. As we said before, this is a complex process, so be sure you are
fully aware of all admissions requirements and procedures. When in doubt, contact the international
student advisor of a particular school to get clarification (it’s why they work there).

__Follow all of the guidelines to legally enroll in a school and study in the United States (including
getting a Visa.) Once you have been accepted into a SEVIS school, you need to pay the I-901 fee (by
using the I-20 form – we told you this was complicated), and then apply for your Visa. Do not wait until
the last minute to do this! Find more details on the process here.

Advice from Other International Students

Student at Harvard University from New Zealand
 Concentrating in Computer Science
 Passionate about art, photography, and drawing
 Took her SAT's in the "summer" in New Zealand
 Fun facts: Can shear sheep and bungee jump
Q: How do you think international students can distinguish themselves from US
students?
A: I think the biggest way they can stand out is by having diversity of experience; since we have grown
up in other countries, we offer a fresh perspective on issues and come from different cultural
backgrounds which formed our outlook on life. Many of us have had what are considered to be
interesting or out-of-the-ordinary experiences in the US, even if they are fairly commonplace in the
country where we reside, which we can then share with peers -- for instance, it was part of our school
curriculum to learn Maori, the native language of the indigenous people of New Zealand. Though I am
not at all fluent, it's still a pretty cool party trick I can pull out at times. Other typical things New
Zealanders may have done include bungee jumping, shearing sheep or visiting the Shire (the set for the
Lord of the Rings movies). Having a different atmosphere to grow up in really makes international
students different from US students and thus can help them stand out in college applications, especially
if they have gained national or even international recognition for things they have accomplished. That
being said, there are also a lot of international students that apply to big name colleges in the US.

Q: How easy was it to get A's in school? How do colleges look at these grades?
A: It depended what kind of course load you subjected yourself to in high school -- in New Zealand,
there was the core curriculum which everyone had to take (some 5-6 subjects of your choosing in junior
and senior year), which would have national exams needed to get into university. I'd say if you stuck to
only this core then it wasn't too difficult to get "good" grades as long as you paid attention in class and
studied before exams, though I went to a pretty good school so our teachers were very supportive; I
know at a lot of less privileged schools, students would definitely have to work harder to get the same
grades. There were also I guess our equivalent of AP exams, called "scholarship subjects", which you
could take on top of the core, which were extra exams you could take at the end of the year with
additional material, and the top 3% of people taking the subject would earn some money toward their
university degree. Those were harder, but I think colleges in the US take them into account more when
considering applications from NZ applicants since they ranked you nationally in the top 3% of students if
you got them. That being said, I definitely work harder in college now than I did in high school.

Q: How did you manage SAT/ACT/AP/IB exams?

A: I sat my SAT reasoning test during the summer between sophomore and junior year (in January), I
took my two subject tests one in junior year (math) and one in senior year (chemistry). Actually, the
material tested was congruous with what we had learned in class so that was lucky, but I did have to put
in extra study time for the SAT reasoning test, which is why I did it during my holidays when I had more
spare time. I took a preparation class with some friends two weeks before the exam and then sat it and
got it out of the way that summer.

Q: How do universities in New Zealand differ from universities in the US?

A: There are only 7 universities in the whole of New Zealand, with the most major being in my
hometown of Auckland. Most people I knew from around the city, not only from my high school but
from all high schools in Auckland, ended up going to the University of Auckland. The university is split
into different faculties, and when applying to university, one specifies which faculty they would like to
study in. There are 40 different bachelor degrees you can get, which is different from the US colleges'
almost exclusive BA or BS -- I attended university in New Zealand for one semester before moving to the
US, where I was part of the Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Arts at the University of Auckland,
working towards a conjoint Bachelor of Engineering and Arts degree. Another big thing is the fact that
most students live off campus, since there isn't much university housing so it's usually for out-of-town or
international students. Most people continue to live at home or move into flats with a few close friends.
In this way, school life and personal life is kept a lot more separate compared to in US colleges. Another
thing I found was interesting was the fact that most people already had friends from high school before
they went to university, and since most people went to the same university within the city, many did not
bother to make new connections -- my experience in the US has been that nobody knew many others at
the same school when they entered freshman year, and I met more people in my first two weeks of
college than in a whole semester in university in New Zealand.

Chapter 10.3: What If I’m An Aspiring Military Recruit?

All About Military Recruiting
The United States military is an amazingly-complex network of branches and organizations. In fact, were
you to consider the Department of Defense as an employer, they would be the largest in the world (take
that, Wal-Mart). The military is made up of five branches: The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and
National Guard, each with active and reserve members– and there are countless sub-branches, roles,
and ways of joining each branch. Shmoop knows you are here to consider your options of making the
military a part of your education, so here’s a Quick & Dirty rundown on what your options may looks
like.

Joining the Military as a High-School Dropout: Good luck with this one. The military is very strict about
needing a GED as a bare minimum. Very few slots are available for those who haven’t completed high
school. However, there is a program for disadvantaged youth who have dropped out of high school to
earn a GED for enrollment purposes. Joining the Military with a GED: This is a tough road you have
chosen. The military categorized GED holders in the same way it does high school dropouts, and severely
limits the numbers who can enlist. They do this because their research shows that dropouts and GED
holders are much more likely to drop out of the military than high school graduates. You will also have
to score much higher on the ASVAB (the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery). There is a loophole,
though. If you have 15 or more college credits (such as from a community college), Uncle Sam will look
at you as if you have a high school transcript.

Joining the Military with a High School Diploma: This is the minimum requirement (with a handful of
exceptions) for joining any branch of the military. These are the folks who enlist, meaning a seven to 12-
week stint at one of the branch Boot Camps – which are designed to be difficult and teach you how
active duty works. After Boot Camp, Uncle Sam will determine your path and deployment, depending on
your skills and the needs of the branch. One good thing about enlisting is that – thanks to the GI Bill –
the longer you serve the more you will earn toward continuing your education once you leave active
duty. Joining the Military for College: Here’s where things start to get interesting. There are a few
options for combining military service and training with a college degree. Let’s take a look:

The first option is the ROTC program – which stands for Reserve Officers Training Corps. This is a
program in which you enroll at the same time as you enroll in college. You attend college full-time like a
regular student, only the military helps you pay your tuition. What’s the catch? First, you will need to (in
addition to attending classes) participate in drills and exercises throughout college. Second, you are
committed to serve for a number of years after graduation as an officer (the commitment varies
depending on the branch and your commission, but usually falls between four and ten years). A second
option is to apply to one of the military academies. There are five of them: West Point, Annapolis, the
Coast Guard Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy. These are highly-
selective schools with serious academic programs (in fact, all of them but the Merchant Marine
Academy require you be nominated by a member of Congress to attend). Uncle Sam will foot the entire
bill of your education at any one of these schools, and you will graduate an officer. With a service
commitment. That obligation is usually around eight years of service, with that chunk of time split
between an active and a reserve commitment. Finally, there is a sort of hybrid stepchild known as
Military Colleges. These are four-year schools such as the Citadel, Texas A&M, and Norwich University,
which have ROTC programs, but also have additional requirements for students, such as joining a Corps
of Cadets with drills, uniforms, and the whole shebang. The benefit of these schools is that students can
take ROTC for the entire four years without necessarily being required to serve actively after graduation.
Only those students who receive a ROTC scholarship will have a service obligation.

Checklist: Military Recruiting

All coaches are different, but they have some things in common when it comes to recruiting athletes.
Here’s a list of what they are looking for so that you can be more prepared to show your stuff:

 Athleticism. Pretty basic. They want you to be good at your sport. Added bonus: If you can show
them how athletic you are, they’ll know they can train you to be even better.

 Effort. If you’re a collegiate athlete, you spend a ton of time training and practicing to get
better. Coaches want to see that you can work hard to maximize your time (and theirs).
  Coachability. Even if you’re pretty good now, coaches want to make you even better. They want
to know if you can take advice and roll with it.

 Teamwork. Do you play well with others? As you could imagine, working well with teammates is
pretty essential when you play a team sport. If you haven't learned this less yet… we worry for
you.

 Intelligence/Knowledge of your sport. How well do you know the game? Can you anticipate
what your opposition is going to do? Coaches love players who have high IQ in their sport.

 Composure. Athletes who easily lose their temper normally aren’t worth the headache. So try
not stomp around the court like a 3-year-old having a temper tantrum, alright?

 Ability to bounce back. Made a mistake? Oh well. Coaches want to know that you can move on
from a mistake because if you’re human, you’re bound to make a lot of them.

 Intensity. Coaches want to see that you really care. They want to see your passion for your
sport. They want you to have heart. "Miles and miles of heart."

Chapter 10.4: What About If I’m An Artist?

Art Schools
“Art is the only serious thing in the world. And the artist is the only person who is
never serious.” - Oscar Wilde

You’re enjoying your visit to the Modern Museum of Not-So-Modern Art. Everywhere you look are
beautiful works displaying incredible skill and insight… as well as a bunch of canvases where it appears
as if there’s been some kind of accident. Jackson Pollock was either a genius or a very sloppy eater. But
then it hits you… people sit around and actually paint these things. Like… they don’t program it into a
computer or have factory workers assemble them on a line or somehow cause them to apparate out of
thin air. There are men and women sitting their butts down in chairs and tirelessly applying paint to
canvas in tiny, tedious doses until the final image is achieved. And when they’re done… there’s just this…
image. A picture of something. It doesn’t heal the sick, it doesn’t solve the nation’s debt problem. It
just… sits there. Is there really any worthwhile reason to be an artist? We can think of 10 off the top of
our head…

Top 10 Reasons to Be an Artist

1. If you’re starving, you have a good excuse
2. Never have to move beyond that stage when you were a kid and covered in paint all the time
3. You can deduct brushes
4. You get to live in a loft. Or… a studio apartment, or you know, whatever you can afford.
5. Your peers will get all of your Van Gogh ear jokes
6. No workin’ for the Man
7. Your version of an industry conference is a day on the Venice boardwalk
8. Everyone will say, “I wish I could do that.”
9. Members of the opposite sex will assume that you… know what you’re doing
10. Looks good on a business card
Artists create for the aesthetics of it… for the pure pleasure of creation. Yeah, for many of us, Art ended
in eighth grade when our clay pinch pot exploded in the kiln. But for many, art is a way of life, and for
them, the desire to create cannot be quenched. What better way to make a living, right? Doing what
you love? As long as it’s legal? And before we get to deep into this… let’s be clear: Art is not just slapping
acrylic onto canvas. The term “art” really includes a ton o’ stuff… visual arts, graphic arts, music, fashion,
performing arts… basically, any type of medium where you are creating something intended to affect an
audience in some way. Those insane, gigantic bird-like outfits runway models sometimes wear? Even
those are art… sorry.

"We’ll just never understand high fashion."

(Source)

But we aren’t here to talk your head off about art, per se, but about Art Schools. Attending a college,
university or community college specifically to study art is… a little something like Vocational Training.
Wha-huh? What in the world does art have to do with… welding, or… refrigerator repair, or… dead
animal removal? Well, while art used to be dipping your fingers into poster paints and making turtles on
a large sheet of construction paper… it gets to be something more when you begin to consider making it
your life’s work. There is technical expertise to be learned in every type of art, just as there is in any
other career. If someone attempted to become an artist without any training whatsoever, they might
only be able to come up with something like this:
(Source)

We rest our case. Sure, there is some more abstract stuff that may be required if an artist is to be truly
successful… stuff like talent, passion, patience… but no matter how much of those things they’ve got, it
won’t get them far if they can’t tell a color wheel from a Trivial Pursuit playing piece. And while aspiring
artists may not want to think about money… yeah, yeah, we know – you’re doing it “for the art” … if
you’re planning on looking at art schools, it is important to consider. Your professors will not be teaching
“for the art.” They have bills to pay. Yes – one day, for you too, the real world will come a-knocking.
You’re going to need to pay for tuition and buy materials, you may need studio or theater time... and for
what? A small shot at success is what. Keep in mind that a number of Art-related majors and degrees
consistently rank among the highest in terms of post-grad unemployment (and rank even worse
for underemployment – there are a lot of waiters out there with Art degrees.) However, art is about
passion, and if you have your heart set on art, there’s no way we are going to dissuade you. Unless you’d
like to give us a few minutes alone with your heart. We just want to talk to it, mano a… cor. Another
thing you will need to attend any Art School is a portfolio of some kind. Hopefully one
including… your work. Whether it is an album of your photographs, examples of your paintings, a flash
drive full of your music recordings, or a menu of your culinary creations, Art is about production, and
schools will be looking to see that you have the chops. In the case of the culinary arts, they’ll be looking
to see that you have the… pork chops. For a better idea of your possibilities for pursuing your passion,
take a gander at our Checklist: Art School Options.

Art School Options

___ Traditional College or University with a Focus on Art: You want to pursue a degree in Art, but you
also want to attend a toga party at some point. We hear ya. The majority of traditional schools with Art
majors will also have core requirements to earn a Bachelor’s degree, so it won’t just be all art, all the
time. The University of Chicago, Colgate, Syracuse, and Arizona State all have quality Art departments.

___ Four-Year Art School: These are the heavy hitters of the Art world – your Babe Ruths, your Barry
Bonds, your… Chris Browns. Schools with the academic rigor and reputations of the big boys, but with a
focus specifically on the arts. They’ve got your run of the mill subjects like painting, sculpture,
photography, and ceramics, but they also offer the more high-tech, fancy shmancy options like graphic
design. The Rhode Island School of Design, Savannah College of Art and Design, California Institute of
the Arts, and the Ringling School of Design (not clown central) are among the more well-respected
programs in the nation.

___ Private Art School: Oooh… private school. Mommy and Daddy have done well for themselves, eh?
The range of quality for private, for-profit Art schools is humungoid. These schools are becoming awfully
popular, partly because they offer very specific courses of study for non-traditional students. But there
are some posers out there, so do your research to make sure the school you are considering is
reputable. Hint: if their athletic facility is located in the back of an unmarked van… run. The Art Institute
chain of schools is the best-known example of this type of schools.

___ Music Conservatory: Having 10,000 songs on your iPod or being able to pick out Redemption Song
on the guitar does not make you qualified to attend a good Music Conservatory. These are the schools
for the obsessively talented, or talentedly obsessive, musicians. Some of the top music conservatories
have acceptance rates lower than the most competitive Ivy League schools. So yeah, someone might
apply to Juilliard because getting into Harvard would be “too easy.”

___ Community College: Earning a living in the Art world is tougher than getting dried oil paint out from
under your fingernails, and graduating with tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt doesn’t
make it any easier. Community Colleges are going to offer quality instruction at a fraction of the price.
And you’re guaranteed to have a nice sense of community while at school. It’s right there in the name.

___ Master’s Program in Fine Arts: You can get a Master’s by learning from the Masters. A Master’s of
Fine Arts (or MFA – artists love acronyms) usually takes an additional two or three years of study and
work beyond just a basic Bachelor’s degree. We’re talking intensely hands-on programs (if any of your
professors are hands-on though, be sure to report it to your counselor), and the expectation is that you
are working toward some sort of major performance or artistic works in order to earn your degree. So…
get going on the Mona Lisa II.

___ Vocational Training as Art Training: There are a thousand (or more, we haven’t taken the time to
count) categories of Art. There are even more (probably another thousand, give or take) potential paths
for studying and mastering artistic techniques. Many of these paths mirror Vocational Training. You
might want to consider an Apprenticeship. Hey, it worked for Mickey Mouse. Or, you could step into the
real world with an artistic Internship. Vocational Schools abound for fashion, design, and culinary arts.
It’s true – some people actually want to wear clothes and eat food, and not just watch shows about
them on cable television.

Chapter 10.5: What If I’m A Student with Special Needs

Diagnosed Learning Difficulties
School isn’t easy. We know… we’ve done it. We’ve been beaten up (with a name like “Shmoop,” you’re
bound to get targeted by bullies), struggled to keep up our GPA, and had panic attacks in anticipation of
taking the SAT. We may be a website, but we’re only human. So yeah… school is hard. And if you’re
someone who’s had to deal with a learning difficulty on top of it… we feel your pain.

We’re talking about stuff that’s even more challenging than resisting the urge to take a nap during
Algebra class. We’re talking about diagnosed struggles – ranging from Attention Deficit Disorder to
Dyslexia to Dysgraphia to Executive Functioning Difficulties. Stuff that’s actually recognized and treated
by doctors. As far as we know, no doctor has diagnosed anyone with Acute Algebraic Sleepiness
Syndrome. Although there’s a first time for everything. If you have seen a doctor or clinical psychatrist
who diagnosed you with a learning difficulty, chances are you already went through high school with
some… accommodations. In other words, specific steps were taken to minimize the effects of your
difficulty. Maybe it was a 504 Plan or an Individual Education plan… something that gave you a helping
hand by extending time on tests, putting you in small-group settings, printing instructions for projects,
or giving you preferential seating in the classroom. Like that seat front and center, where it’s darn near
impossible to avoid your teacher’s spit when they really get going. That’s some prime real estate right
there. But now… college. College is just plain harder than high school.

Top 10 Ways College is Harder than High School

1. Textbooks are heavier
 2. Instead of labyrinthine high school hallways, an actual labyrinth you must go through to get to
each class
3. Chalkboards are chalkier
4. You have to audition for school plays rather than just be related to the drama teacher
5. You have to live with someone who makes you wish you were back home still bunking with your
sister
6. Calls home are now long distance
7. They make you hold your pen the right way there
8. Pet jungle cat no longer allowed to accompany you to your classes
9. “College” is trickier to spell
10. You might want to sit down for this one… no recess or study hall.

But while the process in college is definitely different, there are tons of programs designed to help
students with diagnosed learning difficulties knock the cover off the ball in college. The major difference
is that no college is going to create a plan for you. The responsibility at this point shifts from your school
and your parents onto your shoulders. Since you’re not physically growing any taller, they now consider
you a “grown-up.” It’s a tough cross to bear, we know.

"To keep things in perspective, this guy is also considered a “grown-up."

(Source)

But as long as you get a jump-start while still in high school, you shouldn’t have to do too much…
jumping… once you actually get to college. As you begin Generating Your List of Schools, be aware that
there are a boatload of schools across the nation that have developed excellent programs for students
just like you. Everything from small liberal-arts colleges to the big, bad state universities. Some, like
Landmark College and Beacon College, are specifically designed to support students with disabilities
such as ADHD. Those standardized tests can be beasts… but fortunately, there’s also an opportunity to
apply for accommodations for the SAT and ACT before graduating from mini-college (high school).
Depending on your diagnosis, you might be eligible for stuff like small-group settings, additional or
extended breaks, or the use of a computer to write your essay. With spell check turned off, of course.
Okay, you got that precious piece of correspondence in the mail – you’ve been accepted at a college!
And you didn’t even have to lie about your extracurricular activities! (You had a feeling they’d never buy
“President of Hacky Sack Club” anyway.) So… now what? First, you’ll need to register with the student
support center in order to continue receiving accommodations. They ain’t mind-readers. Let ‘em know
you’re there and raring to go. Make an appointment with the center, and bring anything you think they
might want to get their grubby little mitts on, like your testing and diagnosis history, your high school
504 plans (or Individual Education Plans), any accommodations received on the SAT or ACT, letters of
introduction from high school principals or teachers – anything that documents a history of need. They
just don’t want somebody pulling a fast one on them. Finally, while you are enrolled, make the most of
it. College is the place to stretch yourself (especially before long workouts at the university gym), so use
your resources and practice strong self-advocacy. Most colleges and universities have drop-in tutoring
centers, especially in writing and math. Know where they are and how to access the services. Also, be
aware that some professors might not take accommodations seriously, believing that their way of
teaching and testing is the only way. This is what’s known as a “teaching disability.” So… have patience
with them. But do speak up for yourself, and let both your professors and your student support
counselor know your needs. You’re not making it up, so don’t let them make you feel as if you are.

Checklist: Diagnosed Learning Difficulties

If you struggle with ADD or ADHD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia or any one of a number of other diagnosed
learning difficulties, there is support for your learning needs after high school to help you succeed in
college. In order to take advantage of this support, you need to understand each of the points on the
following shmooptacular checklist:

While in High School:

__Uh oh. You’re older now, and being given… responsibility. A slippery slope indeed. No longer is it the
school’s or your parents’ responsibility to ensure that your academic needs are being met. From now on,
it’s all on you. Gulp.

__Begin making sure your needs for college are met while you are still in high school. What else have
you got to do your senior year?

__Review your diagnosis with your counselor, parents, educational consultant, or psychiatrist. You need
to understand your testing in order to advocate for your needs.

__Review your current high school Individual Education Plan or 504 Plan to know what accommodations
you are (or should be) receiving.

__Create a file of all documentation relating to your diagnosis and accommodations to bring with you to
college. Maybe make yourself a zip drive necklace so you always have it with you. On second thought,
probably a major fashion faux pas.

__Talk with your counselor to apply for appropriate accommodations for the SAT and ACT.

__When generating your list of colleges, make a strong student support center a priority. Kick colleges
without one to the curb.

While in College:
__Contact your student support services coordinator and introduce yourself. Using your real name
rather than your fallback pseudonym “Moonshine Muckleduck” is encouraged. Make an appointment to
review your diagnosis and accommodations early. Bring along all relevant documentation.

__Learn the locations, hours, and policies of any on-campus tutoring centers. Know them so much by
heart that it even creeps people out a little.

__Let the student support center know what worked for you in high school, so they can replicate those
accommodations in college. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

__Be prepared to advocate for yourself. Leave that shyness behind you and chalk it up to pre-college
jitters. Before classes begin, introduce yourself to your professors, and meet with them during office
hours, explaining your diagnosis and needs. Feel totally free to tattle on them to your support center if
they’re not following accommodation guidelines.

Chapter 10.6: Other Special Cases

Why'd You Have to Go and Make Things So Complicated?
Maybe you're the national hair-sculpting champion and you got a full scholarship for it. Maybe your
biggest problem is that Harvard won't stop calling and begging you to go to school there. Or maybe
Daddy's rich enough to buy the school of your choice. Usually, though, things aren't sunshine and
rainbows. So, what if…what if…what if… We don't have all the answers, but we can help you get started.
What if…I have to live at home? Maybe going away to school is just not an option. Maybe your dad is
sick or maybe your family can't afford campus housing.

Whatever the reason, we get that living at home can cramp your style. You've waited eighteen years to
get out, and now you're stuck in the same place for another four while all your friends are living it up on
their own. Sure, it's not ideal, but it can be worth it if it means more time with a sick family member or
saving money that you just don't have. Here are a few ways to make commuting work for you:

 Meet other people who live at home. It'll take a little extra effort because you might all live in
different parts of town, but these people will be in the same boat as you and will likely be
looking for people to commiserate with.

 Take part in campus activities. It's a great way to connect with like-minded people and it helps
you spend as much time as possible on campus even though you're not living there.

 Carve out some independence. One of the big concerns for students who stay at home is that
their experience will feel a lot like high school. Find ways to carve out your own life. Do away
with a curfew, for example, and look for interests and time away from your family. They'll
understand.

What if I…am an international student?

Good news: the U.S. has one of the most international student-friendly college systems in the world. No
other country accepts more international students than the U.S., with about 900,000 people from other
countries deciding to study in the good ol' U.S. of A (source). Of course, if you're applying from outside
the country, you might face a few challenges: you might have to prove that you can speak English well
enough to study at your chosen school; you might have a harder time taking the SAT, ACT, or other tests
wherever you live; you might not get to visit your chosen college before you attend; you'll probably have
to deal with fussy visa issues to get permission to study here. Oh, and studying in the U.S. as an
international student can cost more than studying here as an American. You won't qualify for as much
financial aid, either. Uh…great. Okay, it's not all bad news. All colleges have international student offices.
If you're not a U.S. citizen or are applying from outside of the U.S., you'll want to contact this office as
soon as you can: they can help you with the visa and application process and give you information about
any scholarships available for international students. Once you arrive, the office can help you with
orientation workshops and programs meant for international students.

Pro tip: If you are an international student, start the application process early. You might need
additional time to get ready for tests, have your documents translated, deal with extra paperwork, or
just handle unexpected processes.

What if…I have a family to support?

Classes and diapers are not the easiest mix. If, by the time you get into college, you have your own
family (i.e., spouse and/or kids), you'll need to find a way to juggle your family life with your school
obligations—not to mention the money it costs for both. There are a few things you can do to make the
process easier:

 Talk to your family about your plans. It's important to get their support.

 Decide where you'll live. Think about whether you'd need to commute to school or if your
spouse is comfortable living on campus temporarily.

 Find some schools and programs that are family-friendly. Some colleges offer free daycare
while others have special married student housing or night classes so you can be home with
your kids during the day while your spouse is at work. You might even find scholarships available
for students with families.

 Figure out your finances early. Contact the financial aid office at each school and talk about
what support is available for you. Apply for every scholarship, bursary, and source of college
funds you can. And try to keep your student loans small, or you'll be still paying off student loans
when your kids are in college.

 Consider taking online courses. It'll let you stay home with your family while still getting an
education; plus, online classes can cost less than traditional colleges. Win-win.

 Give yourself extra time. You have responsibilities that might not let you study full-time—that's
okay. Going to school part-time or taking longer to finish your degree can help you balance life
and school.

What if I…work somewhere that provides some reimbursement for college cost?
If your boss or your mom's or dad's boss has a reimbursement program for college, some of your college
costs may be covered. This common workplace benefit means the company pays some or all of your
tuition and fees. Not bad, eh? If your parents do get a reimbursement program at work, don't just
assume that college is handled: the money usually comes with all sorts of limits. Some companies might
pay for only some of your college costs—like 50% of tuition or a flat fee of two thousand dollars—which
means you still have to come up with the rest of the cash. Other companies require reimbursed
employees to work at the company for a few years after college or only offer reimbursement for
students who have a certain GPA. Find out exactly what limits exist so you don't run into trouble. And
don't forget to look at your own job, too. Both UPS and Starbucks, for example, offer tuition
reimbursement to their part-time workers.

What if I…don't have parent support?

If you don't have parents supporting you, the main problem you'll run into is applying for financial aid.
See, applying for financial aid starts with filling out the FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid),
a form that asks a lot of questions about your family. If your parents can't or refuse to file the FAFSA,
you won't qualify for need-based federal aid. What then?

If your parents refuse to file the FAFSA…

Try talking to them. Remind them that their private information will stay private and that the FAFSA will
not require them to pay anything or make them responsible for your college costs. For now, it's just a
form. If they still refuse, contact the financial aid office at your college. In some cases, the college will try
to talk to your parents. They can also help you apply for an unsubsidized Stafford loan—which doesn't
require your parents' signature or consent—and other financial aid. In some cases, you may be able to
apply to college with independent student status. It won't give you the same number of financial aid
options as a student with a FAFSA filed, but it's definitely better than nothing.

If you don't have parents or don't know your parents…

Your legal guardians might be able to fill out a FAFSA on your behalf. If you come from the foster system
or don't have anyone to help you, try contacting the admissions offices at various colleges to find out
what support is available. You might also want to specifically look for schools that offer help to students
without families. UCLA, for example, has special scholarships for students from foster homes and other
challenging backgrounds. The school even keeps its dorm rooms open all year long so that students
without families always have a place to stay. Bottom line: it won't be easy, but you have options.

What if I…am undocumented or have undocumented parents?

Some schools in some states (hello, Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia) don't
recognize undocumented students, but plenty of schools will go out of their way to work with you; some
schools even have specific scholarships for the situation. The first thing you'll want to do is contact the
colleges where you want to apply and find out what their policies and application process are like for
people in your situation. Do not worry about making this call. Colleges can't share private information
about students, so you are not risking anything by asking. In fact, you're probably the thousandth person
to have asked the same question to the same admissions officer—they're used to it. You won't qualify
for federal aid and can't fill out a FAFSA, but if you live in Texas, California, New Mexico, Minnesota, or
Washington, you might qualify for state-based financial help. And in some states, public colleges allow
undocumented students to pay in-state tuition, which is far more affordable.

When filling out applications, do not lie about your status and don't fill out your Social Security number.
Leave the "citizenship" section blank or choose the "no selection" option if available. Lying on your
application can hurt your chances—and has some serious legal ramifications. If you're a U.S. citizen or
permanent resident but your parents are undocumented, you can qualify for federal financial aid, but
filling out the FAFSA will be tricky. Experts tend to tell students in this situation to use their own Social
Security number but to enter all 0s when asked for their parents'. It may take a few tries, but keep
entering the 0s until the system accepts it. If you are at all worried about the process, contact an
advocacy group for undocumented people. That's what they're there for.

College Admissions is a Crapshoot

(Source)

College is a bit like the lost city of Atlantis; you hear awesome stories about it, but no one can tell
you exactly how to get there. Aside from a setting up a tent on the front lawn of an admissions officer,
what can you do to increase your chances of admissions success? Great question. It's almost like we
thought of it ourselves. The reasons why a student was or was not admitted to a particular institution
are complex and often inscrutable. As it turns out, there are things about humans that can be hard to
quantify or sum up in 1,000 words, and that makes things hard on college admissions officers and
applicants alike.

You should be skeptical of any product or service claiming to predict whether or not you'll get into the
school of your choice. Unless they've got some serious psychic cred, of course. So we recommend that
you focus on what you can control, and forget about the rest. In other words: don't blow off all of your
homework and still expect for Dartmouth to return your calls. Do work on becoming a well-rounded,
well-adjusted adult.

Colleges report that the three most important admissions criteria are high school GPA, strength of high
school curriculum, and standardized test scores, respectively (source). Obviously. You have to work hard
during high school to have a good shot at getting into the school you want. Let's talk about some specific
scenarios. What if you're an ace student, but you crack under test-taking pressure? We're talking the
kind of nerves where SAT and ACT autocorrect to a crying emoticon in your phone. For you, our
melodramatic friend, there are schools that don't require standardized test score submission. Research
shows that there's very little difference between the grades of students who submit test scores to
schools and those who do not (source). As a result, some schools are starting to reconsider the impact of
these tests.

If you have your heart set on an elite school, you'll still probably need to get on the test-prep bus. The
same goes for students hoping to get some of that sweet, sweet grant money. It might suck, but those
are the breaks. Some colleges are increasingly relying on technology and data collection to predict how
their students will fare (source). This doesn't mean that other ways of making yourself an appealing
candidate have gone out the window. We've said it before and we'll say it again: while test scores and
GPA matter a lot to the college admissions process, they're not everything.
News flash: there are tons of smart people with great test scores and a 4.0 GPA applying to Princeton.

A big part of what admissions officers do is try to determine how much a given student would benefit
the intellectual and social community of the school. Your extra-curricular activities will help make those
contributions clear, but counselors warn against overloading on activities just to pad your resume
(source). If you have a time travel device that allows you to do multiple activities at the same time, well,
that's different. Look, we know that the college admissions process can be scary...and potentially heart-
breaking...for both you and your parents. But you can get through it by being aware of your strengths
and emphasizing them. Be realistic about your grades, do some research before you decide to skip the
SATs for a beach day, and find a balance between being involved in activities and becoming unhinged.
Then try to take a chill pill because you have absolutely no control over what happens next. Getting
rejected from your dream school does not define who you are. You're just the same you as you were
before. All we ask in return for this free advice? Be a pal and grab us some pizza crusts from the dining
hall every once in a while. We're always hungry here at Shmoop. Hungry for learnin', that is. And pizza.
Definitely pizza.

Chapter 10.7: Applying to Graduate School

Wait, There's More of This?

As opposed to a chocolate chip cookie. Easy mistake to make. (Source)

You've taken the bold stance that sixteen years of school somehow isn't enough for you. Don't get us
wrong, we're impressed. We're also a little frightened of you, but that's okay. That's unimportant.
What's important is that you're applying to graduate school. You want to put some letters after your
name so that people will know for certain that you're one smart (and dedicated) cookie. Don't start
rushing off just yet. We know you want to be called "Doctor" as soon as possible. Who doesn't? For
certain fields (and your faculty advisor can tell you if yours is one), the prevailing wisdom is to go
straight through. However, it might behoove you to wait. Some programs benefit from taking a bit of
time off (source). Well, not precisely "time off." We're not suggesting you spend a year sipping mai tais
in the sun. No, we're suggesting getting some experience in your chosen field. It makes you more
attractive to graduate programs and more attractive for jobs down the road. Perhaps most importantly,
it puts a little bit of money in your pocket. College students are famous for being broke, and anything
that fills the wallet can't be all bad.

"You Probably Don't Remember Me, But..."

Still, no matter if you wait or rush off into jeopardy, one thing you should not wait on are letters of
recommendation from professors. As you may have guessed, these are super important to grad schools.
Academia is a world unto itself. Professors know one another, and know of one another. A good
recommendation can open a lot of doors. A bad letter, or none at all, will get those doors shut just as
quickly. Choose your professors wisely. Make sure they actually know you. If your letter of
recommendation focuses on what a great sense of style you have instead of how much you contributed
to class discussions, then maybe you should reconsider grad school. Professors are only human. Yes, it's
true. They might be crazy smart, but like the rest of us, they forget stuff. We recommend staying in
touch with your professors if you take a year off, or get them to write your letter as early as possible
while they still know how awesome you are. And that you exist. It goes without saying that they won't
recommend a student that doesn't exist. Trust us. We've asked.

Master? Doctor? Master Doctor?

Much like a beard, which is why a PhD is known as a beard for your education. (Source)

You're going, but you're not sure if you're going for a Master's or a PhD. A Master's takes around two
years and is geared towards a career, while a PhD can take anywhere from five to a whopping nine
years. The choice is obvious, right? Master's. Not so fast. It's time to go big or go home (source). When
hiring someone with a graduate degree, most places are going to look at the PhD candidates before they
consider anyone with a lowly Master's. Also, just because you have the degree doesn't mean you'll be
called Master, either. We know, it's a bummer. The job market is competitive. But the main problem is
that a PhD is expensive and time-consuming. You know what, though? Several places will actually fund
your PhDs for you. (source). You're not going to earn what you would earn in the workforce, but the
time spent learning won't hurt your wallet quite so much. You're going to be poor, not broke, and for a
grad student, that's a nice distinction.

The GRE: Go Relearn Everything

You should also take the GRE seriously, because he is a supervillain. Wait, we're thinking of GRU
from Despicable Me. The GRE doesn't have minions? That's disappointing. We love those little yellow
guys. Anyway, the GRE is the Graduate Record Examination, and it's basically the SATs to get into grad
school. The way to do that is by studying. Sorry, did you think you were done with that phase of your
education? You're totally not. Luckily, you live in the age of the Internet, and you can find all kinds of
study guides out there, like this one. Go forth and be brilliant, future doctor. The important thing to
remember about everything is to treat grad school seriously. No matter why you want to go, you
probably have excellent reasons. Those reasons may or may not have to do with bears wearing jetpacks,
which we only bring up to point out that Shmoop already owns several patents on that technology. If
you're really into your field, study hard, get all your ducks in a row, chum it up with your professors, take
a year off, then go big for your PhD. That's what Shmoop recommends. When it's over, you can look
forward to a long career of telling sick people you're "not that kind of doctor." It never gets old.
Chapter 11: Financing College