College Track
Spring Is College Crunch Time For Seniors
Spring Is College Crunch Time For Seniors
By Jean Burk Author of
College Prep Genius:
The No Brainer Way to SAT Success
It's spring and if you are one of those procrastinators who have run out of
time when it comes to college prep, take heart. There is hope for seniors and
their families who have waited until the last minute to start thinking about
higher education. Many colleges (not wanting early decision) have deadlines for
application as late as April. Here are some tips that can lessen the worry and
help you get back on track.
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Students will need to take the SAT for college entrance.
(There is one on May 1, 2010 and June 5, 2010.) Students should improve each
time, so I recommend they take both tests if possible. (There are no penalties
for taking the SAT more than a couple of times and some schools will even take
the highest scores in each section from different tests.)
Remember, there are deadlines and late fees, so you will need to
sign-up early. It's never too late to learn
how to take the test, so find a prep class that can show you how to decipher the
questions and answer them logically. (High SAT Score Open Doors)
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Polish up your transcripts. Colleges love to give scholarships to
students who are well rounded. Those who not only have a good SAT score, but also
have a transcript that reflects their commitment to public service. It is one that
displays their volunteer work, their leadership skills and any awards received. This
demonstrates to the school that the student has been an asset to their community,
which in turn exhibits a willingness to become involved on their campus. Brainstorm
what you have participated in. Be sure and write everything down, even if it was a
one-time service.
Some community service ideas are Habitat for Humanity,
Meals on Wheels,
Library aid, tutoring another student, painting houses for the elderly, candy-striper, etc.
Club involvement could include 4-H, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and YMCA. Awards could include honor societies, Who's Who, piano,
dance or sports achievements. And don't forget, if you have held a part-time job,
it is always a plus on their transcript.
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Schedule an interview with the college of your choice. Take a weekend to
visit and meet with the Dean of the department you are interested in. Go in prepared. This
is your time to SELL yourself to them, (especially for scholarships that
might be available).
Be honest, dress appropriately, be on time and shake their hand. Come with an arsenal
of information: your transcript, letters of recommendation, extra curricular information.
Always practice with a mock interview by using possible questions that the interviewer might
ask you.
As you can see, even if you are a last-minute person, there is still hope. Going to college
will have enough challenges, so start to minimize as much stress as possible. Don't waste any
more time. That said; do try to take time to enjoy the fact that you've just conquered high
school.
About Author Jean Burk
Jean Burk is the author of "College Prep Genius: The No Brainer Way to SAT Success."
She has written numerous articles about the SAT and PSAT/NMSQT. She has been
featured as an SAT expert on Good Day Dallas (Fox 4) and KXAS (NBC 5). She
currently travels and speaks about the importance of college preparation, and
teaches her "Master the SAT" Prep Class all over Texas.
Both her children received incredible scholarships because of their PSAT and SAT
scores. Her teaching DVD will be released in the Spring of 2008, as well as the
first edition of the brand new VocabCafé Book
Series intended to help teenagers and younger children increase their knowledge
of vocabulary words.
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