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!

Sincerely, 

Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services

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.

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.