Student to Student

Our summer intern Laura Card is a rising sophomore at Colgate University, where she plans to major in Biology and Women's Studies. 

Q: First year orientation was a blast. Now that classes have started, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. 

A: Attend an event on campus! Throughout the week, there are tons of fun events and guest speakers. (Some professors even offer extra credit for attending specific events!) Most of these events are free -- and many include food! So take a break from your work. You'll come back to it re-energized.  

Go to office hours! Especially in larger class sections, it can be hard to develop a relationship with your professor, so try to attend their office hours when you can. Office hours are a perfect time to clarify any confusion you may have with course material, and it will also put a face to your name. Your professor will see that you are making an effort in their class which will often help your grade come the end of the semester!

Stay on top of your work! It’s easy to get overwhelmed with assignments and exams, especially at the end of the semester. Make sure you stay ahead of your homework and studying, so it doesn’t all pile up. Try setting a goal-time each night to have your work done by and reward yourself after with a movie or a night out with friends, so you are motivated to get it finished!

Spell Chick Doesn't Catch Everything!

When I glance at an article in a newspaper or magazine, I find that misspelled words tend to jump out at me. Really! I don’t know why I can see them so quickly, but I do. So when I read a major newspaper headline the other day, and it stated that their interest was peaked, I was startled! Didn’t they mean piqued?! I shook my head and decided not to read on. Spelling mistakes happen to all of us, especially when we are hurried, but correct spelling and word usage may be all it takes to assure that the reader will read to the end.

 With college essay season in full swing, now is not the time to relax your standards. If you do, you may end up saying something that you don’t mean. Did you mean to write that College A is defiantly your first choice or definitely your first choice? Is that your favorite causal restaurant or your favorite casual restaurant? Did you volunteer as a candy stripper or candy striper? We have seen all of these mistakes! 

Remember that spell check doesn’t catch everything. Our best advice is to have a fresh set of eyes read your essay before you hit send. Even better - have someone read it aloud to you! Doing so should catch any spelling errors or misplaced words. That being said, small mistakes happen, so once your application is submitted, let it go and be satisfied that you've done your best. 

When Do Most High Schools Start Their Day?

Despite the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics, only about 13 percent of high schools start later than 8:30. Nearly half — 46 percent — start before 8 a.m.

Ask the Consultant

Q: I took the SAT this past weekend and don't think I did so well. I was hoping to apply to a few schools early action. Will I have time to take it again?

A: First of all, take a deep breath! We often have students tell us that they "bombed" a test initially, and then are pleasantly surprised with the results.  Good news!  Most colleges will consider October or even November SATs, or September ACTs, for consideration for early action. As always, check the college website or call the admission office to confirm!

There is still time!

You can indicate on your Common Application or Coalition Application that you are planning to take a test in the future, which will signal to the college admission team that they need to wait for that score to render a decision. Just make sure that you send an official score report to each college via the College Board or ACT website as soon as scores are released. You can then go back into your Common or Coalition app and update the testing section with your better scores! 

Student to Student

Our summer intern Laura Card is a rising sophomore at Colgate University, where she plans to major in Biology and Women's Studies. 

Q: I'm about to start my first year in college. What advice would you give me before I pack the car?

A: Balance your time! The best skill to have during college is, without a doubt, time management. Find a balance between academics and your social life, and don’t forget about sleep! Pulling all-nighters never feels good in the morning--make sure you’re fully rested to take on your next day. 

Plan ahead! I found the best way to prioritize my time was to outline my weekly schedule. Taking five minutes each Sunday night to write down any assignments, exams, or events I had throughout the week helped me stay organized, efficient, and prepared!

Take a class outside of your major! Branch out during course registration and try something outside of your path of interest. Following the pre-med track, my schedule was pretty science-heavy, so I decided to take Introduction to Women’s Studies and ending up loving it so much that I’m looking to double major in Biology and Women’s Studies. University offers lots of cool and interesting courses--try one out, you just might love it!

Ask the Consultant

Q: My high school senior applied to colleges late and did not receive any scholarships to attend. Should he consider taking a gap year and applying again as a freshman or go to community college and transfer?

A: Taking a gap year can be a wonderful way to re-energize, focus interests, and gain maturity. Some students travel the world during their year off, but I'm guessing that if you are looking for scholarship money for college, an expensive program won't be in the cards. Other students save money for college by working or bolster their resumes with internships or service opportunities. It's also not too late to retake standardized testing if you think that higher scores might translate into more merit money. 

There are pros and cons to each option!

On the other hand, attending community college can be a great route for the student that wants to stay on the academic track and gain credits at a much lower cost than at a four-year institution. But do your homework! Some universities will only accept a community college transfer after they have completed the equivalent of two years of coursework. Others don't offer merit money to transfers. And always make sure that you are taking courses that are likely to transfer to a full bachelor's degree! 

Fun Fact if You’re Thinking About a College Sport

Less than two-percent of high school athletes receive an athletic scholarship to compete in college. And fewer than two-percent of NCAA student-athletes will go on to play professionally. 

The 2017-18 Common Application is Live!

Yes, it's still summer, but the first day of school will be here before you know it! So why not get cracking on your Common App? There's a lot to do...