For students with the graduation year of:
2015 & Above: “Pick a good book to read over this winter vacation. This is a perfect time to sit back and relax with a book you have wanted to read.”
2014: “This is a special time of year, so try to use the excitement of the winter break as a motivational tool. In addition to coming up with a sensible approach to your academic commitments, what else can you do to make your break a positive experience?”
2013: “By doing things with other people, you are making it more likely that you will create lasting memories that you can treasure and enjoy. Think about your best memories… how many of them were by yourself? Get your friends out to do things with you, as it will make your vacation a whole lot more enjoyable.”
2012 & Below: “Take this time to setup informal, informational interviews with prospective employers or leaders in your field that you admire.”
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Tip of the Week - December 3, 2012
For students with the graduation year of:
2015 & Above: Make an impact with extracurricular activities. School sports and clubs are an excellent way to meet new friends, deepen or discover your interests and, down the line, add gloss to your college applications.
2014: Make an impact with your extracurricular activities. Admissions officers look for students who make an impact on others through their activities. However, colleges are not looking for a “jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none.” Applicants who are consistent in their commitment to a handful of activities or are specialists within a particular field have an advantage over serial club-joiners who show no leadership or dedication. The activities you choose to involve yourself with outside of the classroom are also indicative of who you are as a person, what your interests are, and what kind of an impact you’ll make on a college’s campus.
2013: The key for you is to avoid burnout. You have your high school work, college planning, social activities, family obligations, and outside activities all demanding your time. Try to keep your life balanced and be sure to schedule time just for yourself. And remember that while you don't want to have a senior slump, it's equally important not to crash and burn.
2012 & Below: Take time to meet your professor. You should plan to visit each professor at least once during the semester. Office hours are one of the few times in college for one-on-one engagement with a genuine expert in the field.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
2015 & Above: Make an impact with extracurricular activities. School sports and clubs are an excellent way to meet new friends, deepen or discover your interests and, down the line, add gloss to your college applications.
2014: Make an impact with your extracurricular activities. Admissions officers look for students who make an impact on others through their activities. However, colleges are not looking for a “jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none.” Applicants who are consistent in their commitment to a handful of activities or are specialists within a particular field have an advantage over serial club-joiners who show no leadership or dedication. The activities you choose to involve yourself with outside of the classroom are also indicative of who you are as a person, what your interests are, and what kind of an impact you’ll make on a college’s campus.
2013: The key for you is to avoid burnout. You have your high school work, college planning, social activities, family obligations, and outside activities all demanding your time. Try to keep your life balanced and be sure to schedule time just for yourself. And remember that while you don't want to have a senior slump, it's equally important not to crash and burn.
2012 & Below: Take time to meet your professor. You should plan to visit each professor at least once during the semester. Office hours are one of the few times in college for one-on-one engagement with a genuine expert in the field.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Tip of the Week - November 26, 2012
2015 & Above: Make
a four-year plan.
Schedule a meeting with your school counselor to map out the classes you will
take over the next four years. All classes must meet requirements for
high school graduation and college admission. This will ensure there are
no surprises when you begin filling out college applications.
2014: Volunteer. With the holiday season upon us, now
is the perfect time to give back (and add to your resume!). Volunteering at
soup kitchens and food banks are often the first thing to come to mind, but
there are countless ways students can give back during the holidays. Look for
opportunities in your area at hospitals, shelters, and other non-profit
organizations.
2013: Make
sure all admissions documents have been sent and received.
Check with your school counselor to confirm your transcripts have been sent to
the colleges you have applied to for admission. If your transcripts have
been sent, verify with each school that they have been received.
2012 & Below: Energize
from Exercise. Carve out 30 minutes a day for
exercise. Most schools have free gym facilities, but if working out in
the company of others intimidates you, there’s always something you can do to
stay in shape. Walk, run, jog, lift, practice yoga, shoot hoops, or toss
a Frisbee— whatever. Just make sure that moving your video game controls
isn’t the only workout you get!
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Tips of the Week - November 12, 2012
For students with the graduation year of:
2015 & Above: Volunteer. With the holiday season upon us, now is the perfect time to give back (and add to your resume!). Volunteering at soup kitchens and food banks are often the first thing to come to mind, but there are countless ways students can give back during the holidays. Look for opportunities in your area at hospitals, shelters, and other non-profit organizations.
2014: Look at the mid-range scores for your schools of interest. The mid-range scores are the scores that the middle 50% of last year’s incoming class scored on their college entrance exams. Knowing these about your schools of interest will help you know what you need to shoot for as you attempt the SAT and ACT. You can find this information on Collegeboard, and sometimes on the college’s admissions webpage.
2013: Be on the lookout for local scholarships. Your guidance office will be a great resource for finding these. Check with the local businesses, Historical Societies, or Academic Booster clubs for awards in your town. These will usually be in the $500-$2,000 range, which can really help in the financing of your education.
2012 & Below: Create Inner Motivation. Recent research studies indicate that lack of motivation is the number one barrier to student success. Overcome these barriers by being thoughtful about what you choose to study so you know why you are studying it. Research your educational and career options carefully and understand how the courses you take will help you fulfill your goals. This will help you stay on track and motivated since your work will always have meaning in a larger context.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services.
2015 & Above: Volunteer. With the holiday season upon us, now is the perfect time to give back (and add to your resume!). Volunteering at soup kitchens and food banks are often the first thing to come to mind, but there are countless ways students can give back during the holidays. Look for opportunities in your area at hospitals, shelters, and other non-profit organizations.
2014: Look at the mid-range scores for your schools of interest. The mid-range scores are the scores that the middle 50% of last year’s incoming class scored on their college entrance exams. Knowing these about your schools of interest will help you know what you need to shoot for as you attempt the SAT and ACT. You can find this information on Collegeboard, and sometimes on the college’s admissions webpage.
2013: Be on the lookout for local scholarships. Your guidance office will be a great resource for finding these. Check with the local businesses, Historical Societies, or Academic Booster clubs for awards in your town. These will usually be in the $500-$2,000 range, which can really help in the financing of your education.
2012 & Below: Create Inner Motivation. Recent research studies indicate that lack of motivation is the number one barrier to student success. Overcome these barriers by being thoughtful about what you choose to study so you know why you are studying it. Research your educational and career options carefully and understand how the courses you take will help you fulfill your goals. This will help you stay on track and motivated since your work will always have meaning in a larger context.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Tip of the Week - November 5, 2012
For Students with a Graduation Date Of:
2015 & Above: Explore and Understand Career Clusters. Have you checked out the Career Clusters on Springboard? Log in to your account, click on the Careers tab at the top of the page, and explore the 16 Career Clusters. Take notes on what interests you and save information into the Portfolio section of Springboard (the tab is at the top of the page).
2014: Check-in with your teachers. See what grades you have in each of your classes. If you are unhappy with your current grade, ask your teacher what you can do to improve. Create a timeline with your teacher to monitor your progress.
2013: It may not be too late to apply Early Action. Some schools have November 15th or December 1st Early Action deadlines. Check the admission deadlines for your schools to see if you can still apply Early Action.
2012 & Below: Are you making wise choices? Consider the answers to the following questions in regards to each of your classes: What is my present situation? How would I like my situation to be? What are my possible choices? What’s the likely outcome of each possible choice? Which choices will I commit to doing? When and how will I evaluate my plan? Accept personal responsibility for your choices.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Tips of the Week - October, 22, 2012
For students with the graduation year of:
2015 & Above: Check-in with your teachers. See what grades you have in each of your classes. If you are unhappy with your current grade, ask your teacher what you can do to improve. Create a timeline with your teacher to monitor your progress.
2014: What are you looking for in a college? There are many factors to consider in finding the right college. As you begin your college search, take time to consider these factors: location, student body, academics, and type (ex. public or private). Having a clear picture will help you in your college search.
2013: Healthy Habits for test taking. There are many healthy habits that you can begin right now to prepare for the SAT on Saturday, November 3. Getting enough rest is always important. Be sure that you are getting a good night’s sleep the 3 nights prior to the test. Eat a healthy breakfast to provide you with the fuel you will need to stay alert throughout the test. Also, light exercise can help you to focus. Taking a ten minute walk before the test may help alleviate any pre-exam jitters. Remember to take deep breaths. One question at a time!
2012 & Below: Stay on track! With the majority of midterms being over, now is the time to create goals for the second half of the semester. Take another look at your syllabus for each class to determine how many more assignments, papers, and tests you will have before the end of the course. Make an appointment with your professors outside of class during their office hours to discuss your current grades and ways to improve if needed.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
2015 & Above: Check-in with your teachers. See what grades you have in each of your classes. If you are unhappy with your current grade, ask your teacher what you can do to improve. Create a timeline with your teacher to monitor your progress.
2014: What are you looking for in a college? There are many factors to consider in finding the right college. As you begin your college search, take time to consider these factors: location, student body, academics, and type (ex. public or private). Having a clear picture will help you in your college search.
2013: Healthy Habits for test taking. There are many healthy habits that you can begin right now to prepare for the SAT on Saturday, November 3. Getting enough rest is always important. Be sure that you are getting a good night’s sleep the 3 nights prior to the test. Eat a healthy breakfast to provide you with the fuel you will need to stay alert throughout the test. Also, light exercise can help you to focus. Taking a ten minute walk before the test may help alleviate any pre-exam jitters. Remember to take deep breaths. One question at a time!
2012 & Below: Stay on track! With the majority of midterms being over, now is the time to create goals for the second half of the semester. Take another look at your syllabus for each class to determine how many more assignments, papers, and tests you will have before the end of the course. Make an appointment with your professors outside of class during their office hours to discuss your current grades and ways to improve if needed.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Tips of the Week - October 22, 2012
For students with graduation year of:
2015 & Above: Take time to think about possible career paths. If you are not sure where to start, begin by completing the assessments on your Springboard account. These assessments will provide career paths based on your results. Research the different career paths to see which ones you are interested in pursuing.
2014: Attend college fairs. Listen to your school’s announcements or stop by your guidance department to find information on upcoming college fairs near you. Pick up brochures from colleges that interest you. Fill out the inquiry cards so you can get more information sent to you from those schools. Ask the admission representatives the questions you have about their colleges.
2013: Prep for college interviews. Some schools require or offer interviews with admissions officers and/or alumni. If you have a scheduled interview or are planning to schedule an interview, tune in to our Expert Session on Tuesday, October 30 at 8:00PM EST. You will hear for tips on how to prepare for your interview. Dial (712)338-8065 with access code 6079# to join us on the call.
2012 & Below: Attend a career fair. It is not too early to start thinking about a spring or summer internship! Stop by your college’s career center to find information on upcoming career fairs near you. Research information on the participating companies and organizations prior to attending. Be prepared to supply multiple copies of your resume, and create a list of questions to ask each representative.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services.
2015 & Above: Take time to think about possible career paths. If you are not sure where to start, begin by completing the assessments on your Springboard account. These assessments will provide career paths based on your results. Research the different career paths to see which ones you are interested in pursuing.
2014: Attend college fairs. Listen to your school’s announcements or stop by your guidance department to find information on upcoming college fairs near you. Pick up brochures from colleges that interest you. Fill out the inquiry cards so you can get more information sent to you from those schools. Ask the admission representatives the questions you have about their colleges.
2013: Prep for college interviews. Some schools require or offer interviews with admissions officers and/or alumni. If you have a scheduled interview or are planning to schedule an interview, tune in to our Expert Session on Tuesday, October 30 at 8:00PM EST. You will hear for tips on how to prepare for your interview. Dial (712)338-8065 with access code 6079# to join us on the call.
2012 & Below: Attend a career fair. It is not too early to start thinking about a spring or summer internship! Stop by your college’s career center to find information on upcoming career fairs near you. Research information on the participating companies and organizations prior to attending. Be prepared to supply multiple copies of your resume, and create a list of questions to ask each representative.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Tips of the Week - October 15, 2012
For students with the graduation year of:
2015 & Above: Understand what’s most important. It is essential to be aware that your high school transcript – a document that outlines your course work, grades, attendance and other important information – will be the most significant item when you apply to college. Therefore, strive for high grades, good attendance, and take rigorous course to achieve a strong transcript.
2014: Plan college visits. During your junior year, you should make it a priority to visit colleges you are interested in attending. Visiting colleges is the best way for you to get an idea if the college is a right fit for you. Sit down as a family and have a discussion about what colleges you should visit and when.
2013: The clock is ticking! Most Early Action deadlines are November 1. If you are planning on applying Early Action to any of your schools, check the admission deadline and finalize your application ASAP!
2012 & Below: Beware of plagiarism. Taking credit for another person’s thoughts or words by plagiarizing or cheating is grounds for expulsion at most colleges, even if you didn’t plagiarize on purpose. Know how to cite your sources within your papers and do so consistently. Your instructors may specify which formatting style in which they would like you to cite (such as APA or MLA).
Sincerely,
Your Friends at College Planning Network
2015 & Above: Understand what’s most important. It is essential to be aware that your high school transcript – a document that outlines your course work, grades, attendance and other important information – will be the most significant item when you apply to college. Therefore, strive for high grades, good attendance, and take rigorous course to achieve a strong transcript.
2014: Plan college visits. During your junior year, you should make it a priority to visit colleges you are interested in attending. Visiting colleges is the best way for you to get an idea if the college is a right fit for you. Sit down as a family and have a discussion about what colleges you should visit and when.
2013: The clock is ticking! Most Early Action deadlines are November 1. If you are planning on applying Early Action to any of your schools, check the admission deadline and finalize your application ASAP!
2012 & Below: Beware of plagiarism. Taking credit for another person’s thoughts or words by plagiarizing or cheating is grounds for expulsion at most colleges, even if you didn’t plagiarize on purpose. Know how to cite your sources within your papers and do so consistently. Your instructors may specify which formatting style in which they would like you to cite (such as APA or MLA).
Sincerely,
Your Friends at College Planning Network
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Tip of the Week - October 8, 2012
For students with the graduation year of:
2012 and Below: 30-3-2. Time to study! Maximize your time by using the 30-3-2 study method. Study intensely for 30 minutes then take a 3 minute break to think about other things or get a drink of water. When you return to study, take 2 minutes to mentally recall information from the previous 30 minute session before starting in on the next.
2013: Be on the lookout for local scholarships. Your guidance office will be a great resource for finding these. Check with the local Rotary Club, Historical Societies, or Academic Boosters club for awards for students in your town. These will usually be in the $500-$2,000 range, which can really help in the financing of your education.
2014: Start something new! If you have considered the clubs and organizations your high school has to offer and found nothing that interests you, you might want to consider forming your own. What are you passionate about? Who do you know who has the same interests? Once you have determined these factors, talk to a teacher who can help you turn your ideas into action!
2015 and Above: Start thinking about how to best approach the SAT and ACT. Now that you are in high school and working hard to keep your GPA and course selection at the highest possible level, you should also be thinking about how to best approach taking the SAT and ACT tests. These tests are crucial in placement at your preferred colleges.
Strategies for you to consider would be to start reading the Wall Street Journal, Novels-especially the classics, National Geographic magazine, and the daily newspaper. Books, magazines and texts that are rich in vocabulary and thought-provoking ideas are what you want to include in your activities during your high school years. Since you have time to strengthen your vocabulary skills, you do not need to speed read or memorize terms each week, but rather take a more relaxed approach in which you can enjoy learning and building your skill level.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
2012 and Below: 30-3-2. Time to study! Maximize your time by using the 30-3-2 study method. Study intensely for 30 minutes then take a 3 minute break to think about other things or get a drink of water. When you return to study, take 2 minutes to mentally recall information from the previous 30 minute session before starting in on the next.
2013: Be on the lookout for local scholarships. Your guidance office will be a great resource for finding these. Check with the local Rotary Club, Historical Societies, or Academic Boosters club for awards for students in your town. These will usually be in the $500-$2,000 range, which can really help in the financing of your education.
2014: Start something new! If you have considered the clubs and organizations your high school has to offer and found nothing that interests you, you might want to consider forming your own. What are you passionate about? Who do you know who has the same interests? Once you have determined these factors, talk to a teacher who can help you turn your ideas into action!
2015 and Above: Start thinking about how to best approach the SAT and ACT. Now that you are in high school and working hard to keep your GPA and course selection at the highest possible level, you should also be thinking about how to best approach taking the SAT and ACT tests. These tests are crucial in placement at your preferred colleges.
Strategies for you to consider would be to start reading the Wall Street Journal, Novels-especially the classics, National Geographic magazine, and the daily newspaper. Books, magazines and texts that are rich in vocabulary and thought-provoking ideas are what you want to include in your activities during your high school years. Since you have time to strengthen your vocabulary skills, you do not need to speed read or memorize terms each week, but rather take a more relaxed approach in which you can enjoy learning and building your skill level.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Tip of the Week - September 10, 2012
For students with the graduation year of:
2008-2012: Go to class. Obvious, right? Maybe, but sleeping in and skipping that 8am class will be tempting at times. Avoid the temptation. Besides learning the material by attending classes, you’ll also receive vital information from the professors about what to expect on tests, changes in due dates, etc. Know each professor’s attendance policies.
2013 & 2014: Divide the college process into manageable pieces. The college process is best approached by dividing tasks into manageable pieces. One very important piece is the admissions essay. In developing your ideas for an essay remember to talk from your perspective, bring out ideas and insights that describe who you are and how you feel about the subject matter. An essay is not something you come up with overnight, but rather, over time. During your Junior and Senior years you should begin to develop your unique perspective that helps the admissions officer get a glimpse of who you are as a person. We suggest starting this process by creating an “Essay Folder” where you jot down potential ideas. Great topics may include experience in service, leadership, clubs, special projects you have undertaken, among others. Try to develop some ideas and see which ones are easiest for you to write about.
2015: Practice good time-management. The world we live in today offers a lot of opportunity for distraction. Don’t spend hours each night on Facebook, Twitter, or playing video games. Now is the time when your grades matter more than ever, so stay on top of your schoolwork and other responsibilities.
2016 & Above: Get involved in your community. Participate in groups at school or in your community to acquire community services hours. Community service and participation in school activities in conjunction with good grades will show colleges that you are a well-rounded student.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
2008-2012: Go to class. Obvious, right? Maybe, but sleeping in and skipping that 8am class will be tempting at times. Avoid the temptation. Besides learning the material by attending classes, you’ll also receive vital information from the professors about what to expect on tests, changes in due dates, etc. Know each professor’s attendance policies.
2013 & 2014: Divide the college process into manageable pieces. The college process is best approached by dividing tasks into manageable pieces. One very important piece is the admissions essay. In developing your ideas for an essay remember to talk from your perspective, bring out ideas and insights that describe who you are and how you feel about the subject matter. An essay is not something you come up with overnight, but rather, over time. During your Junior and Senior years you should begin to develop your unique perspective that helps the admissions officer get a glimpse of who you are as a person. We suggest starting this process by creating an “Essay Folder” where you jot down potential ideas. Great topics may include experience in service, leadership, clubs, special projects you have undertaken, among others. Try to develop some ideas and see which ones are easiest for you to write about.
2015: Practice good time-management. The world we live in today offers a lot of opportunity for distraction. Don’t spend hours each night on Facebook, Twitter, or playing video games. Now is the time when your grades matter more than ever, so stay on top of your schoolwork and other responsibilities.
2016 & Above: Get involved in your community. Participate in groups at school or in your community to acquire community services hours. Community service and participation in school activities in conjunction with good grades will show colleges that you are a well-rounded student.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Tip of the Week - September 3, 2012
For students with the graduation year of:
2008-2012: Stay alert to stress, anxiety, and emotions. It is very easy to become overwhelmed by a rigorous course schedule, money problems, or by time commitments for clubs or sports. If you begin to have problems managing your stress and are falling behind visit health services for help getting back on track.
2013: Stay organized. Throughout the next few months you will need to keep track of application deadlines and what information has been sent your schools. Create a list or chart for yourself to keep track of what information has been sent to your schools and what still needs to be sent.
2014: Check-in with your guidance counselor. Make sure your course credits will meet college requirements at the type of schools you want to attend. You should also inquire if any college representatives will be visiting your high school or your community this fall.
2015 & Above: Make your ideas about your future known. If your parents and teachers are aware of your ideas about college or career possibilities then they will be able to help you explore your ideas. By exploring your ideas now you will be able to have a good idea of what you would like to study in college.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
2008-2012: Stay alert to stress, anxiety, and emotions. It is very easy to become overwhelmed by a rigorous course schedule, money problems, or by time commitments for clubs or sports. If you begin to have problems managing your stress and are falling behind visit health services for help getting back on track.
2013: Stay organized. Throughout the next few months you will need to keep track of application deadlines and what information has been sent your schools. Create a list or chart for yourself to keep track of what information has been sent to your schools and what still needs to be sent.
2014: Check-in with your guidance counselor. Make sure your course credits will meet college requirements at the type of schools you want to attend. You should also inquire if any college representatives will be visiting your high school or your community this fall.
2015 & Above: Make your ideas about your future known. If your parents and teachers are aware of your ideas about college or career possibilities then they will be able to help you explore your ideas. By exploring your ideas now you will be able to have a good idea of what you would like to study in college.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Monday, August 27, 2012
Tip of the Week - August 27, 2012
For students with the graduation year of:
2008-2012: Use daily, weekly, and semester calendars to keep track of appointments and assignments and to plan how you want to use your time. Effective time managers don't rely on their memories to hold important dates and times. They write them down! This clears their brain for more important tasks like thinking. Combine due dates for several major projects on a long-term calendar to help set and accomplish goals, plan and use time wisely, and avoid procrastination or last minute panics.
2013: Now is the time to be working on filling out your college applications. To ensure you understand the application process, join us on Wednesday, August 29th at 8:00pm EST for our Expert Session “The Application Coach Bootcamp: Mastering the College Application”. The call in number for this session is 1-712-338-8065 access code 6079#.
2014: It is never too early to understand how the college application process works. Join us on Wednesday, August 29th at 8:00pm EST for our Expert Session “The Application Coach Bootcamp: Mastering the College Application”. The call in number for this session is 1-712-338-8065 access code 6079#.
2015 & Above: Take responsibility for yourself. Recognize that in order to succeed you need to make decisions about your priorities, your time, and your resources. Center yourself around your values and principles. Don’t let friends and acquaintances dictate what you consider important.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
2008-2012: Use daily, weekly, and semester calendars to keep track of appointments and assignments and to plan how you want to use your time. Effective time managers don't rely on their memories to hold important dates and times. They write them down! This clears their brain for more important tasks like thinking. Combine due dates for several major projects on a long-term calendar to help set and accomplish goals, plan and use time wisely, and avoid procrastination or last minute panics.
2013: Now is the time to be working on filling out your college applications. To ensure you understand the application process, join us on Wednesday, August 29th at 8:00pm EST for our Expert Session “The Application Coach Bootcamp: Mastering the College Application”. The call in number for this session is 1-712-338-8065 access code 6079#.
2014: It is never too early to understand how the college application process works. Join us on Wednesday, August 29th at 8:00pm EST for our Expert Session “The Application Coach Bootcamp: Mastering the College Application”. The call in number for this session is 1-712-338-8065 access code 6079#.
2015 & Above: Take responsibility for yourself. Recognize that in order to succeed you need to make decisions about your priorities, your time, and your resources. Center yourself around your values and principles. Don’t let friends and acquaintances dictate what you consider important.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Monday, August 20, 2012
Tip of the Week - August 20, 2012
For students with the graduation year of:
2008-2012: Make sure you are making note of the upcoming dates for your school’s Parent Weekend. There are usually multiple activities that occur during this informational, fun-filled weekend. Your parent can possibly take a class offered by the college, sit in on a session from the administration or take a tour of the college area. Not to mention the time you can spend with your parent!
2013: Be aware that you can make alternate versions of the common application. If you have slightly different information to share with different colleges, you can create “alternate versions” of your common app. Doing this will create a copy of your original application that you can edit to make changes. You can make up to 10 alternate versions, and colleges will not know that they are not receiving your original application.
2014: Use effective time-management strategies to ensure a successful junior year.Make a "To Do" List Every Day. Put things that are most important at the top and do them first. If it's easier, use a planner to track all of your tasks. Use Spare Minutes Wisely. Get some reading done on the bus ride home from school, for example, and you'll kill two birds with one stone. It's Okay to Say "No." If your boss asks you to work on a Thursday night and you have a final exam the next morning, realize that it's okay to say no. Keep your short and long-term priorities in mind.
2015 & Above: Use memorization techniques when studying for tests. Create an acronym for a list. Associating a list or a concept with a certain word that can be used as an acronym to remember the terms which must be recalled is an effective way to commit something to memory. “Chunking” is used most often to remember long term groups of numbers. This way, the memorizer can remember from five to eight numbers at one time, which can be completed in three to four sets of a longer number which must be recalled through the memory.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
2008-2012: Make sure you are making note of the upcoming dates for your school’s Parent Weekend. There are usually multiple activities that occur during this informational, fun-filled weekend. Your parent can possibly take a class offered by the college, sit in on a session from the administration or take a tour of the college area. Not to mention the time you can spend with your parent!
2013: Be aware that you can make alternate versions of the common application. If you have slightly different information to share with different colleges, you can create “alternate versions” of your common app. Doing this will create a copy of your original application that you can edit to make changes. You can make up to 10 alternate versions, and colleges will not know that they are not receiving your original application.
2014: Use effective time-management strategies to ensure a successful junior year.Make a "To Do" List Every Day. Put things that are most important at the top and do them first. If it's easier, use a planner to track all of your tasks. Use Spare Minutes Wisely. Get some reading done on the bus ride home from school, for example, and you'll kill two birds with one stone. It's Okay to Say "No." If your boss asks you to work on a Thursday night and you have a final exam the next morning, realize that it's okay to say no. Keep your short and long-term priorities in mind.
2015 & Above: Use memorization techniques when studying for tests. Create an acronym for a list. Associating a list or a concept with a certain word that can be used as an acronym to remember the terms which must be recalled is an effective way to commit something to memory. “Chunking” is used most often to remember long term groups of numbers. This way, the memorizer can remember from five to eight numbers at one time, which can be completed in three to four sets of a longer number which must be recalled through the memory.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Tips of the Week July 16, 2012
For students with the graduation year of:
2008: Look back at notes from your college courses. If you’re struggling with “what to do now”, take a look back at your notes – all the way back to your freshman year. This can refresh your memory on some of the content. See which subjects you enjoy reviewing. Perhaps it will shed some light as to what you may want to pursue next.
2009-2012: Find your school’s day planner and buy it! Your college may publish a day planner/agenda book for the school year that you can use to plan your appointments, classes and assignments. Using the one your school makes can be especially helpful because it will mark special days or weekends at school, holiday breaks and campus events.
2013: Compare your SAT and ACT scores. If you have already taken an SAT and an ACT, try to determine which score was stronger. (Let us know if you need help with this). If one score was significantly stronger than the other, you might consider only retaking the test on which you scored higher in your first round of testing. The vast majority of schools throughout the country accept both tests. This allows you the opportunity to pick one test to concentrate on instead of trying to find time to study for both tests.
2014: Don't feel pressured to make a hasty decision about a career or a major. It doesn't matter if it seems as though everyone else seems to know what they're doing with their lives. The next few years are a time for you to really discover who you are, what you enjoy doing, what you're good at, and what you want to be. It's not a race; take your time and enjoy exploring your options. Know that many students do not select a major until sophomore year of college and can still graduate on time.
2015 & Above: Learn to assess your own aptitude and skills. You’re well aware that people have differing strengths. Recognize your own strengths by assessing your skills in a given area. Those who take self-inventory can make better decisions for themselves.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
2008: Look back at notes from your college courses. If you’re struggling with “what to do now”, take a look back at your notes – all the way back to your freshman year. This can refresh your memory on some of the content. See which subjects you enjoy reviewing. Perhaps it will shed some light as to what you may want to pursue next.
2009-2012: Find your school’s day planner and buy it! Your college may publish a day planner/agenda book for the school year that you can use to plan your appointments, classes and assignments. Using the one your school makes can be especially helpful because it will mark special days or weekends at school, holiday breaks and campus events.
2013: Compare your SAT and ACT scores. If you have already taken an SAT and an ACT, try to determine which score was stronger. (Let us know if you need help with this). If one score was significantly stronger than the other, you might consider only retaking the test on which you scored higher in your first round of testing. The vast majority of schools throughout the country accept both tests. This allows you the opportunity to pick one test to concentrate on instead of trying to find time to study for both tests.
2014: Don't feel pressured to make a hasty decision about a career or a major. It doesn't matter if it seems as though everyone else seems to know what they're doing with their lives. The next few years are a time for you to really discover who you are, what you enjoy doing, what you're good at, and what you want to be. It's not a race; take your time and enjoy exploring your options. Know that many students do not select a major until sophomore year of college and can still graduate on time.
2015 & Above: Learn to assess your own aptitude and skills. You’re well aware that people have differing strengths. Recognize your own strengths by assessing your skills in a given area. Those who take self-inventory can make better decisions for themselves.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Tip of the Week - July 9, 2012
For students with the graduation year of:
2008- 2011: Brush up on your grammar. More and more employers are stressing the importance of their employees’ proper usage of grammar and the English language. Some companies are even requiring that prospective employees whose desired position requires little to no writing pass a grammar test to qualify for the position. While our society becomes more lax about proper usage, you will stand out as a candidate who speaks and writes correctly!
2012: Participate as much as you can at your college orientation. Some sessions at orientation may be optional. To gain the most knowledge and information about your college, take part in as many sessions as you can. The more familiar you are with your college, the more comfortable you will feel when classes begin.
2013 and 2014: Find out the dates and times of college fairs taking place this fall. Mark these dates on your calendar so that attending them does not fall by the wayside. College fairs can be a great opportunity to learn more about schools that interest you, or discover new schools you haven’t yet considered.
2015 and above: Begin learning how to implement time management, organizational, and study skills in your life. By implementing these skills now, you will develop good habits that will help you succeed in high school and college when your classes begin to increase in difficulty.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
2008- 2011: Brush up on your grammar. More and more employers are stressing the importance of their employees’ proper usage of grammar and the English language. Some companies are even requiring that prospective employees whose desired position requires little to no writing pass a grammar test to qualify for the position. While our society becomes more lax about proper usage, you will stand out as a candidate who speaks and writes correctly!
2012: Participate as much as you can at your college orientation. Some sessions at orientation may be optional. To gain the most knowledge and information about your college, take part in as many sessions as you can. The more familiar you are with your college, the more comfortable you will feel when classes begin.
2013 and 2014: Find out the dates and times of college fairs taking place this fall. Mark these dates on your calendar so that attending them does not fall by the wayside. College fairs can be a great opportunity to learn more about schools that interest you, or discover new schools you haven’t yet considered.
2015 and above: Begin learning how to implement time management, organizational, and study skills in your life. By implementing these skills now, you will develop good habits that will help you succeed in high school and college when your classes begin to increase in difficulty.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Monday, June 25, 2012
Tips of the Week - June 25, 2012
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For students with the graduation year of:
2008: Your school’s career center can continue to be a resource. Even if you’ve just graduated, your school’s career center is likely going to be more than happy to continue to assist you with your job search, resume, and interviewing skills. Colleges want their alumni to succeed, so take advantage of the available assistance.
2012-2009: Begin your search for on-campus jobs. Obtaining a job on campus offers multiple benefits over a job off campus. When your school is your employer, they will be most accommodating to your class schedule and may also allow you to study on your down time at work. Check your school’s employment website for a listing of on-campus job vacancies for students.
2013: Decide what you’re going to stick with through senior year. College admission officers can spot a “clubber” from miles away. This is a student who joins multiple clubs or organizations at the start of senior year, when college admission is around the corner. Don’t waste your time joining new clubs now. Instead, think this summer about what you’ve already done, what you have enjoyed most and what you’ll stick with. Become heavily involved by remaining active over the summer months, and plan to do even more when school starts back up. This will be more impressive to them.
2014 & Above: Take some time this summer to read winning scholarship essays. Knowing what a “winning” essay looks like can get you thinking in the right direction as you embark on this process. Of course, your ideas absolutely must be original, but it never hurts to see what kind of work made another student a scholarship recipient.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
For students with the graduation year of:
2008: Your school’s career center can continue to be a resource. Even if you’ve just graduated, your school’s career center is likely going to be more than happy to continue to assist you with your job search, resume, and interviewing skills. Colleges want their alumni to succeed, so take advantage of the available assistance.
2012-2009: Begin your search for on-campus jobs. Obtaining a job on campus offers multiple benefits over a job off campus. When your school is your employer, they will be most accommodating to your class schedule and may also allow you to study on your down time at work. Check your school’s employment website for a listing of on-campus job vacancies for students.
2013: Decide what you’re going to stick with through senior year. College admission officers can spot a “clubber” from miles away. This is a student who joins multiple clubs or organizations at the start of senior year, when college admission is around the corner. Don’t waste your time joining new clubs now. Instead, think this summer about what you’ve already done, what you have enjoyed most and what you’ll stick with. Become heavily involved by remaining active over the summer months, and plan to do even more when school starts back up. This will be more impressive to them.
2014 & Above: Take some time this summer to read winning scholarship essays. Knowing what a “winning” essay looks like can get you thinking in the right direction as you embark on this process. Of course, your ideas absolutely must be original, but it never hurts to see what kind of work made another student a scholarship recipient.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Tips of the Week - June 18, 2012
For students with the graduation year of:
2008-2011: Take opportunities to travel when you can. The more you know about the world, the better decisions you can make regarding your career. If an opportunity arises to travel with your family, with a club in which you’re involved, or study abroad programs, take it!
2012: Start your packing list! It may seem like your big move off to college is still far off, but starting a packing list now will alleviate a lot of stress later. If you need help getting started, let us know. As you gather the items on your list, check them off and you will be sure to have everything you need by freshman move-in day.
2013: Continue to work on the list of schools to which you are going to apply. While there is no “magic number” students typically apply to 6-8 schools. When creating your list, be sure to include at least two “safety” schools. Safety schools are the schools for which your academics are higher than the average applicant’s, meaning you have a high chance of being admitted.
2014: Move items from your activity list onto a resume. Some schools will ask for a student resume when you apply next year. If they do not, many students will still submit one to present their involvement and activities in a clear and concise manner. If you choose to create a resume, do so in a “block style” which is straight forward and easy for college admission offices to view quickly. If you need assistance with this, please contact us!
2015 & Above: Take opportunities to travel when you can. The more you know about the world, the better decisions you can make regarding college and your career. If an opportunity arises to travel with a parent, with a club in which you’re involved, or with school, take it!
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
2008-2011: Take opportunities to travel when you can. The more you know about the world, the better decisions you can make regarding your career. If an opportunity arises to travel with your family, with a club in which you’re involved, or study abroad programs, take it!
2012: Start your packing list! It may seem like your big move off to college is still far off, but starting a packing list now will alleviate a lot of stress later. If you need help getting started, let us know. As you gather the items on your list, check them off and you will be sure to have everything you need by freshman move-in day.
2013: Continue to work on the list of schools to which you are going to apply. While there is no “magic number” students typically apply to 6-8 schools. When creating your list, be sure to include at least two “safety” schools. Safety schools are the schools for which your academics are higher than the average applicant’s, meaning you have a high chance of being admitted.
2014: Move items from your activity list onto a resume. Some schools will ask for a student resume when you apply next year. If they do not, many students will still submit one to present their involvement and activities in a clear and concise manner. If you choose to create a resume, do so in a “block style” which is straight forward and easy for college admission offices to view quickly. If you need assistance with this, please contact us!
2015 & Above: Take opportunities to travel when you can. The more you know about the world, the better decisions you can make regarding college and your career. If an opportunity arises to travel with a parent, with a club in which you’re involved, or with school, take it!
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Tips of the Week - June 4, 2012
For students with the graduation year of:
2008-2011: Sell the books you know you won’t need. You can sell your textbooks through online booksellers, but only do this with books that you know you won’t need. As a general rule of thumb, you are probably safe to sell books from classes that were not a part of your major’s curriculum. Keep the ones from your major courses.
2012: Utilize social media or online programs offered through your school to connect with your soon-to-be peers and classmates. There are many opportunities online to get to know your new classmates at your school. Use them to your advantage, but always remember to be safe & smart online by keeping personal information private.
2013: Get a jump on your essays this summer. Your admission essay will be a very important piece of your application, so starting early can allow plenty of time to brainstorm topics and ideas and also time for review and revisions. Work on developing topics that will emphasize your character and strengths.
2014 & Above: Talk with trusted adults about their careers. Asking people about their likes and dislikes in their work can give you some insight that you might not be able to find by reading up on a job. Most people are happy to share this type of information with students.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
2008-2011: Sell the books you know you won’t need. You can sell your textbooks through online booksellers, but only do this with books that you know you won’t need. As a general rule of thumb, you are probably safe to sell books from classes that were not a part of your major’s curriculum. Keep the ones from your major courses.
2012: Utilize social media or online programs offered through your school to connect with your soon-to-be peers and classmates. There are many opportunities online to get to know your new classmates at your school. Use them to your advantage, but always remember to be safe & smart online by keeping personal information private.
2013: Get a jump on your essays this summer. Your admission essay will be a very important piece of your application, so starting early can allow plenty of time to brainstorm topics and ideas and also time for review and revisions. Work on developing topics that will emphasize your character and strengths.
2014 & Above: Talk with trusted adults about their careers. Asking people about their likes and dislikes in their work can give you some insight that you might not be able to find by reading up on a job. Most people are happy to share this type of information with students.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Monday, May 21, 2012
Tips of the Week - May 21, 2012
For Students with the graduation year of:
2008: Send a thank-you. As the excitement of graduation dies down, it is certainly in your best interest to send a simple thank-you note to professors or administrators with whom you have worked. In job searches or applications for graduate studies, you never know when you may need a reference. Additionally, it is the polite, courteous thing to do.
2009-2011: Thinking ahead can really pay off. In order to ensure a timely graduation, you will need to make sure you are meeting all pre-requisites for your required major classes; otherwise, you will not be allowed into your required courses! Check the pre-reqs for all of the courses you need. This information is usually available on your school’s website.
2012: Ensure you are choosing the right computer and software options for your campus. While this will vary quite a bit from school-to-school, some institutions will provide information on what computer programs are going to best work for your educational programming. If you do not receive information on this, you can contact the office of technology to see what preferred options are.
2013 & 2014: Campus visits in the summer are better than no visits at all. While we encourage you to schedule your visits during the academic year when classes will be in session, it can be hard to find time during those busy times of year. If your only option is to visit in the summer, you should certainly still plan to do so. Campus visits are among the most important things you can do through this process, and you can still get a feel for a campus during the summer, and make a wise decision as to whether a school is a fit for you.
2015 & Above: Consider Dual-Credit courses for the coming years. Dual-Credit courses are taught in high school at local colleges and through distance learning (online). These will meet high school and college requirements and provide credit for both high school and college. This is a wonderful way to earn credit early on, get a feel for college coursework and boost your college applications!
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
2008: Send a thank-you. As the excitement of graduation dies down, it is certainly in your best interest to send a simple thank-you note to professors or administrators with whom you have worked. In job searches or applications for graduate studies, you never know when you may need a reference. Additionally, it is the polite, courteous thing to do.
2009-2011: Thinking ahead can really pay off. In order to ensure a timely graduation, you will need to make sure you are meeting all pre-requisites for your required major classes; otherwise, you will not be allowed into your required courses! Check the pre-reqs for all of the courses you need. This information is usually available on your school’s website.
2012: Ensure you are choosing the right computer and software options for your campus. While this will vary quite a bit from school-to-school, some institutions will provide information on what computer programs are going to best work for your educational programming. If you do not receive information on this, you can contact the office of technology to see what preferred options are.
2013 & 2014: Campus visits in the summer are better than no visits at all. While we encourage you to schedule your visits during the academic year when classes will be in session, it can be hard to find time during those busy times of year. If your only option is to visit in the summer, you should certainly still plan to do so. Campus visits are among the most important things you can do through this process, and you can still get a feel for a campus during the summer, and make a wise decision as to whether a school is a fit for you.
2015 & Above: Consider Dual-Credit courses for the coming years. Dual-Credit courses are taught in high school at local colleges and through distance learning (online). These will meet high school and college requirements and provide credit for both high school and college. This is a wonderful way to earn credit early on, get a feel for college coursework and boost your college applications!
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Tips of the Week - May 7, 2012
For students with the graduation year of:
2008: Confirm your references. Many job applications will ask for references. Be sure you are providing accurate phone numbers, e-mail addresses and contact information for your references. Also, it is very important that your references are expecting a call from potential employers. It does not look good if the employer calls your reference and he or she has not been informed that they were listed.
2009-2011: Confirm your financial aid for next year. If you’re still on campus, stop by the financial aid office and confirm that you are set to receive aid for next year. If you are not on campus any longer, a phone call or e-mail to the financial aid office will confirm that you are good to go.
2012: Be on the look out for important mailings and e-mails. Now that you have likely finalized your decision on where you will attend, now is more important than ever that you are receptive to the correspondences your school sends you. There may be important information on class registration, orientation or housing.
2014: Begin thinking about the PSAT. The Preliminary SAT test will be administered either on October 17th or October 20th, likely at your school. Contact your guidance counselor about getting registered for this. (If they tell you that your school is not offering it, check in with nearby schools). We recommend picking up a prep book for the PSAT to utilize this summer. The PSAT is also the “NMSQT” or National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, so it is in your best interest to prepare for the test to increase your likelihood of receiving a National Merit Scholarship.
2015 & Above: Make your summer extracurricular activities relevant to a field in which you might be interested. Thinking about a career in architecture? Look to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. Interested in education? Find a summer camp that you can work or volunteer for. All activity is valuable, but relevant experience will make you an even better candidate for your potential major!
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
For students with the graduation year of:
2008: Confirm your references. Many job applications will ask for references. Be sure you are providing accurate phone numbers, e-mail addresses and contact information for your references. Also, it is very important that your references are expecting a call from potential employers. It does not look good if the employer calls your reference and he or she has not been informed that they were listed.
2009-2011: Confirm your financial aid for next year. If you’re still on campus, stop by the financial aid office and confirm that you are set to receive aid for next year. If you are not on campus any longer, a phone call or e-mail to the financial aid office will confirm that you are good to go.
2012: Be on the look out for important mailings and e-mails. Now that you have likely finalized your decision on where you will attend, now is more important than ever that you are receptive to the correspondences your school sends you. There may be important information on class registration, orientation or housing.
2014: Begin thinking about the PSAT. The Preliminary SAT test will be administered either on October 17th or October 20th, likely at your school. Contact your guidance counselor about getting registered for this. (If they tell you that your school is not offering it, check in with nearby schools). We recommend picking up a prep book for the PSAT to utilize this summer. The PSAT is also the “NMSQT” or National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, so it is in your best interest to prepare for the test to increase your likelihood of receiving a National Merit Scholarship.
2015 & Above: Make your summer extracurricular activities relevant to a field in which you might be interested. Thinking about a career in architecture? Look to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. Interested in education? Find a summer camp that you can work or volunteer for. All activity is valuable, but relevant experience will make you an even better candidate for your potential major!
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Tip of the Week - April 30, 2012
For students with the graduation year of:
2008: Maintain patience in your job search. As you complete your final semester of college and you continue your job search, do not feel stressed or overwhelmed if you have not yet secured a position. Keep focused on your long-term goals, continue to network and be patient.
2009-2011: Look into taking a summer class at a local institution or online. First, confirm with your school that any credits you might take would transfer. If so, this can be a great way to ensure a timely graduation and make your next year’s schedule less jam-packed.
2012: Be smart in your selection. As May 1 quickly approaches, you will need to secure a spot at one of your schools. Be sure not to count on schools to which you have been placed on the wait list. You may not hear an answer from these schools until June or July, so you will need to secure a spot elsewhere before then.
2013: Get a jump on requesting recommendations. Most schools will require that you submit teacher recommendations as part of your application. At the beginning of senior year, your teachers will be receiving a lot of requests for recommendations. Let the teachers that you’re considering asking know before the end of this school year that you will be seeking a recommendation from them. This could put you at the top of their list of recommendations to write in the fall. Remember that your recommendations typically should come from teachers of core academics (math, science, English, social studies), and ideally they should be teachers that you’ve had in 10th grade and later.
2014 & Above: Create a log or journal of all of your extracurricular involvement. You don’t need to submit a resume or activity sheet to colleges for a few years yet, and by that time, it can be easy to forget what you’ve done. Logging your involvement, including details and accomplishments from each activity, will ensure that your resume is thorough and complete when the time comes.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
2008: Maintain patience in your job search. As you complete your final semester of college and you continue your job search, do not feel stressed or overwhelmed if you have not yet secured a position. Keep focused on your long-term goals, continue to network and be patient.
2009-2011: Look into taking a summer class at a local institution or online. First, confirm with your school that any credits you might take would transfer. If so, this can be a great way to ensure a timely graduation and make your next year’s schedule less jam-packed.
2012: Be smart in your selection. As May 1 quickly approaches, you will need to secure a spot at one of your schools. Be sure not to count on schools to which you have been placed on the wait list. You may not hear an answer from these schools until June or July, so you will need to secure a spot elsewhere before then.
2013: Get a jump on requesting recommendations. Most schools will require that you submit teacher recommendations as part of your application. At the beginning of senior year, your teachers will be receiving a lot of requests for recommendations. Let the teachers that you’re considering asking know before the end of this school year that you will be seeking a recommendation from them. This could put you at the top of their list of recommendations to write in the fall. Remember that your recommendations typically should come from teachers of core academics (math, science, English, social studies), and ideally they should be teachers that you’ve had in 10th grade and later.
2014 & Above: Create a log or journal of all of your extracurricular involvement. You don’t need to submit a resume or activity sheet to colleges for a few years yet, and by that time, it can be easy to forget what you’ve done. Logging your involvement, including details and accomplishments from each activity, will ensure that your resume is thorough and complete when the time comes.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Tip of the Week - April 23, 2012
Tips for students graduating in the year:
2008-2011: Keep your work with you throughout the day. Always having your materials with you will allow you to get some assignments completed when you find yourself with down time. Time spent between classes, on the bus, or waiting for an appointment can add up and keep you on top of your work.
2012: Keep your forward momentum. As you know,suffering grades can result your colleges questioning whether they should have accepted you and even rescinding your admission. But another reason to keep up the hard work is to maintain your momentum for the coming fall. College course work requires a lot of motivation and diligence, so keep yourself moving in the right direction.
2013: Understand your options for college admission. There are different types of admission offered at schools and the student can choose under which type to apply. Two types of ‚early admission are called‚ Early Decision and Early Action. Both of these can offer some advantages, but ED is a binding contract, under which you are agreeing to pull your other applications if admitted. (Therefore, you can only apply to one school under ED). EA is non-binding, and still admits you earlier in the year. We highly recommend avoiding ED when financial aid is a concern. The deadlines for both ED and EA are much earlier than regular deadlines, so be sure you track these.
2014 & Above: Get ahead on assignments that are due at the end of the semester. Getting a jump on any papers, projects or assignments that are due near the end of the semester will free your time up when you need to prepare for finals. This is a great way to manage the pressures that come with the conclusion of a term.
Sincerely, Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
2008-2011: Keep your work with you throughout the day. Always having your materials with you will allow you to get some assignments completed when you find yourself with down time. Time spent between classes, on the bus, or waiting for an appointment can add up and keep you on top of your work.
2012: Keep your forward momentum. As you know,suffering grades can result your colleges questioning whether they should have accepted you and even rescinding your admission. But another reason to keep up the hard work is to maintain your momentum for the coming fall. College course work requires a lot of motivation and diligence, so keep yourself moving in the right direction.
2013: Understand your options for college admission. There are different types of admission offered at schools and the student can choose under which type to apply. Two types of ‚early admission are called‚ Early Decision and Early Action. Both of these can offer some advantages, but ED is a binding contract, under which you are agreeing to pull your other applications if admitted. (Therefore, you can only apply to one school under ED). EA is non-binding, and still admits you earlier in the year. We highly recommend avoiding ED when financial aid is a concern. The deadlines for both ED and EA are much earlier than regular deadlines, so be sure you track these.
2014 & Above: Get ahead on assignments that are due at the end of the semester. Getting a jump on any papers, projects or assignments that are due near the end of the semester will free your time up when you need to prepare for finals. This is a great way to manage the pressures that come with the conclusion of a term.
Sincerely, Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Friday, April 13, 2012
Tip of the Week - April 16, 2012
For students with the graduation year of:
2008 & 2009: Clean up your Facebook and Twitter accounts – even more. Employers are now going so far as to ask job candidates for their Facebook passwords. This allows them to see information, even things that you have marked as private. Of course, it is up to the candidate to provide this information, but this shows how heavily employers are considering this.
2010 & 2011: Get ahead on assignments that are due at the end of the semester. Getting a jump on any papers, projects or assignments that are due near the end of the semester will free your time up when you need to prepare for finals. This is a great way to manage the pressures that come with the conclusion of a term.
2012: Know your payment options. Many institutions will offer payment plans, in which families can pay monthly rather than at the end of each semester. If this interests you, call or e-mail the financial aid office to see if this is an option. You may also be able to find information about this on the school’s financial aid webpage.
2013 & 2014: Cover your bases with your entrance exams. You will need to send your test scores to the schools through the test maker’s websites (www.act.org for ACT, andwww.collegeboard.org for SAT). Colleges must have received these via this method in order to complete your application. You do not need to do this immediately upon registration, but remember that it must be done.
2015 & Above: Choose electives wisely. The electives on your transcript are another way that colleges will learn about you. Selecting the electives that you will enjoy, and ones in which you will work hard will show in your grades and work very much in your favor. It is also an opportunity to discover new areas of study that you may like to explore further.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
2008 & 2009: Clean up your Facebook and Twitter accounts – even more. Employers are now going so far as to ask job candidates for their Facebook passwords. This allows them to see information, even things that you have marked as private. Of course, it is up to the candidate to provide this information, but this shows how heavily employers are considering this.
2010 & 2011: Get ahead on assignments that are due at the end of the semester. Getting a jump on any papers, projects or assignments that are due near the end of the semester will free your time up when you need to prepare for finals. This is a great way to manage the pressures that come with the conclusion of a term.
2012: Know your payment options. Many institutions will offer payment plans, in which families can pay monthly rather than at the end of each semester. If this interests you, call or e-mail the financial aid office to see if this is an option. You may also be able to find information about this on the school’s financial aid webpage.
2013 & 2014: Cover your bases with your entrance exams. You will need to send your test scores to the schools through the test maker’s websites (www.act.org for ACT, andwww.collegeboard.org for SAT). Colleges must have received these via this method in order to complete your application. You do not need to do this immediately upon registration, but remember that it must be done.
2015 & Above: Choose electives wisely. The electives on your transcript are another way that colleges will learn about you. Selecting the electives that you will enjoy, and ones in which you will work hard will show in your grades and work very much in your favor. It is also an opportunity to discover new areas of study that you may like to explore further.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Tip of the Week - April 9
For Students Graduating in the years:
Sincerely,
Your Friends at College Planning Network
2012: Search for more schools if you need to. There are still many four-year
schools accepting applications. If you are receiving more admission rejections
than you anticipated, you might consider applying to a few more institutions to
keep your options open. Let us know if you need assistance finding these
schools.
2013: Schedule a few “Junior Days”. Junior Days, or visitation programs at
colleges specifically designed for high school juniors, can give you very
valuable insight into what the campus has to offer in terms of academics,
extracurricular involvement and support services. Schools really like to make
this experience special and informative for their prospective juniors, so we
recommend taking advantage of these!
2014 & Above: Plan to do something enriching this
summer. Colleges considering students for
admission will look into the leadership and enrichment programs in which
students take part to make admission decisions. The more valuable
extracurricular involvement you have, the better. Use some time this summer to
add to your resume.
Your Friends at College Planning Network
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Tip of the Week - April 2, 2012
Tips for Students who graduated in:
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
2011: Establish
a major if you have not already. It is highly recommended that you
establish a major by your
sophomore year. This leaves you with just a few months to make a concrete
decision. There are often procedures you need to go through to “apply” for a specific
academic program so do your homework and make sure you have fulfilled all
requirements.
2012: Decide
which AP tests you will take. This
is your opportunity to take AP tests for your Advanced Placement classes and
open the possibility of obtaining college credit for your high school course
work. There is a fee associated with AP test taking so be prepared for that.
Keep in mind that this fee is likely going to be significantly less than what
you would
pay for the college credit. Stay on top of registration deadlines for these
exams.
2013
& 2014: Use DISCOVER’s college search tool. On your DISCOVER page, access the tab
that says “Schools’. Then, select “search by characteristics”. Here, you can
input your personal preferences for schools and the site will generate a list
of possible match schools for you. You can specify criteria such as location,
majors offered, selectivity, student enrollment, sports offered, and more.
2015
& Above: Be discerning with what you hear about
the college process. There
seems to be a lot of rumors surrounding college admissions and the financial
aid process. You may hear tidbits from friends and family who have been through
it. It is important to understand that every college operates differently from
others and that they have their own procedures. Use your best judgment when
making decisions and remember that we are here if you have questions. You
may wish to join us for our Expert Session on the Financial Aid at colleges on
Tuesday, April 10th. You will be receiving more information on
this session shortly.
Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services
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