Category: Academics

How to Finish Your Required Reading (and Enjoy the Last Days of Summer)

Summer reading is probably the last thing on your mind as you approach the last stretch of summer. However, since you can’t avoid it, why not make the most of it? Here’s some quick tips on how to finish your required reading and still have time to bask in the sunshine:

Start now. You are still at a point where you can start your summer reading without feeling overwhelmed by a lack of time. Don’t wait until the last minute where other distractions can come into play – you don’t want to start the year behind in your coursework.

Figure out how many books you have to read. If you only have one or two books to read, then the next few steps should be a breeze. However, if more than one professor gave assignments, then now is the time to put your organizational skills to good use! Figure out which books you need to read and which ones take priority.

Come up with a page count and set a goal for each day. You want to keep your summer reading as manageable as possible. Tally up the pages for each book and divide it by the number of days you have left before school starts, or the number of days you have for your reading goal (if you want the last few days of summer for yourself). Pick an even number of pages to keep things simple and pledge to stick to that page count each day.

Find something to appreciate about the book. You may discover you have nothing in common with the characters in the book, and the plot is less than thrilling. This is an opportunity to see the book from a different perspective. Is there something about the authors writing you find interesting? Perhaps you can research the setting of the book so when you’re reading, you can visualize it. This is your chance to learn something new, even if the book isn’t your favorite!

Take breaks, but keep a schedule. Be sure to pace yourself, and keep a journal or schedule so you can stay on track. This is a great tool for any kind of assignment and you may even get ahead of your schedule, which means more free sunny days for you.

Reward yourself. Sometimes reading can turn into a chore. Try to stretch out your reading goal for the day or stick to your regular page count but offer yourself a little incentive to stay on track. Or, you can even switch your reading assignments for a book you’re really interested in and alternate between the two.

Think ahead. Is there a fictional or real life character that you relate to? Perhaps you relate to a famous doctor, criminal lawyer, or Hollywood producer. Start looking into autobiographies to get inspired and think about stepping into their shoes with Envision’s many interactive, hands-on, summer adventure programs.

Reference: https://www.envisionexperience.com/blog/how-to-finish-your-required-reading-and-enjoy-the-last-days-of-summer

Share

Book Review: They Don’t Teach Corporate in College

Book Review: They Don’t Teach Corporate in College

Author: Alexandra Levit

Length: 240 pages

Intent/Focus: A must-have guide to success in the corporate world, for college students, recent grads and twenty-somethings readying themselves for career success.

What You Will Learn: Tips for traversing the corporate world with professionalism and panache – and coming out on top.

Why We Recommend It: They Don’t Teach Corporate in College aligns with Envision’s mission to provide students with the resources for college and career success. This book helps high school students better understand the corporate environment as they prepare to make their career aspirations a reality.

Summary: This most recent edition of They Don’t Teach Corporate in College reflects the unique needs and challenges of new grads and twenty-somethings who want to make a difference right now, but need deeper insight into making it happen. Published in September 2004, this book is currently used as a text in corporations and universities across the country.

The 10 chapters in this book cover a wide range of important guidelines for inexperienced job-seekers as well as any young person focused on career management. The title of the book summarizes its value, since, as the author points out, the corporate world is nothing like academia. “You come up against rules no one ever told us about.” Written from the perspective of a wise older sister who doesn’t want you to learn the hard way, the book provides personal anecdotes and specific tips for success.

Here is a quick summary of the chapter contents:

Chapter 1: Find Yourself. Find a Paycheck – finding occupations that match your skills and interests
Chapter 2: Congratulations. You’re Hired – creating a good first impression at your new company
Chapter 3: Working the Crowd – work relationships, mentorships and office politics
Chapter 4: Be the Master of Your Plan – goal-setting and showcasing your accomplishments
Chapter 5: The Purposeful Workday – managing your workload and business communications
Chapter 6: Check Your Attitude at the Door – combating negativism and staying motivated
Chapter 7: People Management – getting along with coworkers
Chapter 8: Moving Up in the World – scheduling and maximizing performance reviews
Chapter 9: You’re the Boss Now! – how to be a good manager
Chapter 10: Exit Stage Left – how to leave your current employer without burning bridges

Other sage advice found in the book:

  • Landing your dream job by avoiding the HR black hole
  • Developing your professional image and reputation
  • Becoming your own public-relations machine
  • Learning the real meaning behind corporate lingo
  • Dealing with corporate reorganizations
  • Navigating the office social scene and practicing cringe-free networking
  • Combating negativity and coping with difficult personalities

The Reviews

In his article in Quintessential Careers, educator and Ph.D. Randall S. Hansen said, “The book is well organized, written with a breezy style, and packed with some great advice. I also love the many vignettes from younger job-seekers who have faced the many challenges Levit highlights in the book.

Daniel H. Pink, author of another recommended book, Drive, said, “They Don’t Teach Corporate in College is too good to be given only to the twenty-somethings. Anyone who’s feeling lost and overwhelmed in cubicle country can benefit from reading this eminently practical book.”

In the many 5-star reviews from readers, we see quotes such as:

“[The author] gives the reader confidence and a new outlook because she does not just provide comforting words. She elucidates her point with concrete examples.”

“This is a great resource for anyone entering Corporate America… One might think the information is ‘common sense’, but too often we don’t use common sense until someone makes the ‘light bulb’ go off. Alexandra does this beautifully!”

From a college professor:

“Alexandra Levit is right on the mark with this book. I have incorporated this book into my class discussions and the students will be more prepared for the corporate world because of it!”

About the Author

Alexandra Levit is a former nationally-syndicated columnist for the Wall Street Journal and a current writer for the New York Times, as well as the author of several books. She consults on leadership development and career and workplace trends on behalf of American Express, Deloitte, DeVry University, Intuit and PepsiCo, among others. An American Management Association Top Business Leader for 2014, she was named Money Magazine‘s Online Career Expert of the Year.

Reference: https://www.envisionexperience.com/blog/book-review-they-dont-teach-corporate-in-college-for-students

Share

Do Colleges Examine Your Online Presence?

Do Colleges Examine Your Online Presence?

Elizabeth Hoyt

You should undoubtedly clean up your social media presence, but how much do colleges really look at your posts?

You should undoubtedly clean up your social media presence, but how much do colleges really look at your posts?

You’ll be relieved to learn they don’t – at least not in the usual circumstances.

In fact, fewer than one in three admissions officers say they check applicant’s social media posts and/or Google them when evaluating their applications, according to a Kaplan survey conducted in 2014.

The survey found that “over a third (35%) of college admissions officers have visited an applicant’s social media page to learn more about them, according to Kaplan Test Prep’s 2014 survey of college admissions officers.”

However, they’ve been tracking this college admissions factor since 2008 and back then it was one in ten admissions officers. Then, that number was one in five – so don’t count out the possibility entirely. This is the highest percentage since tracking this – so the number is likely even higher now.

A Moral Dilemma

For the most part, admissions officers felt it was an invasion of the student’s privacy. The majority of admissions officers were “appalled” at the practice of looking into a student’s private online presence.

“I just think it’s wrong to do,” said Richard Shaw, dean of admissions at Stanford University.

But, then again, you never know.

The Numbers

In addition to the morality of the issue, admissions officers also say there are far too many prospective students to Google or search on social media platforms for each individual.

Consider a small school – the admissions officers would have to evaluate thousands of profiles online, assuming they were looking into each student.

Also, because they want to remain consistent, most officers feel that it’s unfair to Google a portion of the applicants, so it’s all or nothing when it comes to looking at a student’s online presence.

Do You Want Them to Look?

This can be a good or bad thing, depending on your particular situation.

For example, if you’re constantly tweeting about issues that matter, trying to start-up social initiatives and have been featured in the local paper as a hero, you may want to be Googled.

Inversely, if your social media presence isn’t so family-friendly, you probably would breathe a sigh of relief at learning your social media posts are not likely to be examined – but you should probably clean up your act, just in case.

When Asked…

If you specifically ask a college to look at something you’re proud of on the internet, they are more likely to do so, assuming the admissions officer has time.

According to Christine Brown, executive director of K12 and college prep programs for Kaplan Test Prep, “There’s no doubt social media has become increasingly a part of the admissions process, but students should recognize that it still plays only a peripheral role. The majority of admissions officers are not looking at Facebook for applicant information, and even those who are typically do so as an anomaly — because they were flagged, either positively or negatively, to particular applicants.”

“Admissions chances are still overwhelmingly decided by the traditional factors of high school GPA, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, personal essays and extracurricular activities. Applicants’ online personas are really a wild card in the admissions process: the bottom line for students is that what you post online likely won’t get you into college, but it just might keep you out,” said Brown.

Safety First

Many students become more cautious of their web presence when submitting applications. Rightfully so: clean up your posts, just in case, because you never know who’s looking!

Increasing the Odds

Once you get into smaller numbers like, say, becoming a finalist for a scholarship or internship, the likelihood of your personal online presence will increase.

So, a basic rule to follow is: the more you put yourself out there, the less you should put yourself out there online. Unless of course you want to put yourself out there and be noticed for positive reasons.

To learn more about what you should or should not post online, check out these social media do’s and don’ts for students.

What’s your social media policy?

Need money to pay for college?

Every semester, Fastweb helps thousands of students pay for school by matching them to scholarships, grants and awards for which they actually qualify. Sign up today to get started. You’ll find scholarships like the $2,000 “No Essay” Scholarship from Niche, a scholarship open to all U.S. students and those planning on enrolling within 12 months.

Share

5 Steps to Choose How Many College Applications to Send

pic1

Make sure you’re comfortable with the number of colleges on your list.

The magic number depends on how much you can spend and the selectivity of your intended major.

By


There are more than 1,000 four-year colleges in America. Most experts agree that it is important to submit college applications to several of them, but how many is “several”?

As with most things in life, the correct answer is individual. “Several” is the number that allows you to confidently enter application season. Here, then, is a five-step guide to choosing your magic number.

Step 1: Determine Your Admissions Budget

Before you begin to apply to colleges, take stock of your admissions-specific financial resources. Entrance exams like the ACT and SAT​ cost money, as do campus visits. Even the applications that you submit carry a fee. While this is a small amount relative to the tens of thousands that you might spend on tuition, it does add up quickly. How many schools can you afford to apply to, given your budget?

 Note that you are eligible for four college application fee waivers if you took the SAT or an SAT Subject Test with a fee waiver​. All Common Application schools accept fee waivers, but other colleges may not. Check a particular school’s policy here.

Step 2: Consider the Rarity of Your Intended Major

If you intend to major in a particularly narrow field, you may find that relatively few colleges offer such a concentration. For example, there are only a handful of schools with an undergraduate degree in astrobiology. If your major is rare, apply to those colleges that offer it – you may ultimately apply to fewer schools than a prospective English major, but that is perfectly acceptable.

A corollary to this step can be summed up in the following question: “How important are specialized university facilities to your career plans?” When I applied to college, I pictured a career spent studying particle physics, and having a functional particle collider on campus was one of my primary college decision criteria.

Almost every college in the U.S. offers a degree in physics, but fewer boast of particle colliders. Even more relevant to my search was the fact that many large state schools required science faculty to include undergraduates in their research activities. Some small schools offered that opportunity too, but their research facilities were sometimes limited.

Step 3: Gauge the Selectivity of Your Intended Major

If your prospective major is highly competitive, consider applying to a greater number of schools. This can help you ensure that you are admitted to at least one college in your program of choice. Many business and engineering concentrations, for instance, require an accessory admissions process that is often more rigorous than the one that the school as a whole uses.

There is no hard and fast rule for determining the number of competitive programs to apply to. The upper limit on applications will be dictated in part by your budget.

You can also speak with admissions officers to gain a sense of how competitive you will be for entry to a particular college or major. If you are set on a specific concentration, but your admissions portfolio is not ideal given the competitiveness of the major, you may want to apply to a larger number of schools – perhaps six to 10.

Step 4: Review Your Other Needs

Colleges vary widely in their culture, location, social environment and a host of other nonacademic features. Depending on your criteria, you may have a very short list of possibilities to work with – the Department of Education’s College Navigator lists exactly two private, nonprofit colleges located in rural settings in Alabama, for example.

Another important need involves finances. If your tuition budget is limited, it may be important to you to attend a public college in your state of residence. In some states, this requirement may present you with just two or three choices, naturally shaping the number of schools you will apply to.

Step 5: Ensure You Are Comfortable With Your Number

I would recommend a minimum of three applications: one target school, one stretch school and one safety school. Even if you are positive that just one college is perfect for you, it is well worth having a backup plan.

The more difficult problem lies in deciding your maximum number – in other words, how many is too many? Again, the goal is to feel as comfortable as possible as you begin to apply to schools. Ideally, you want to have several acceptance letters to choose from.

If your discussions with admissions counselors and your own research suggest that you are borderline for admittance, six or seven applications may be warranted. More are likely unnecessary – if seven of seven colleges turn you down for a competitive program, the eighth almost certainly would have as well.

Remember that there is a cost in time, money and stress when sending out applications. The key to success lies in striking a balance between the factors discussed above.

Brian Witte is a professional SAT tutor with Varsity Tutors. He earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington and holds a Ph.D. from Ohio State University.

Varsity Tutors is a live learning platform that connects students with personalized instruction to accelerate academic achievement. The company’s end-to-end offerings also include mobile learning apps, online learning environments and other tutoring and test prep-focused technologies. Got a question? Email admissionsplaybook@usnews.com.

Share

Choose a Summer Option to Boost Law School Applications

pic5Working in a firm during college can show schools that you will enter law school with some knowledge of the day-to-day life of a lawyer.

The importance of pursuing internships and volunteer opportunities is often overlooked.

By
 

Welcome to the latest installment of law Admissions Q&A, a monthly feature of Law Admissions Lowdown that provides admissions advice to readers who send in questions and admissions profiles.

If you have a question about applying to law school, please email me for a chance to be featured next month.

Dear Shawn:  I am currently a junior in college and I am planning on applying to law school next fall. Right now I’m trying to put together my plans for next summer, and I am looking into two very different options. The first option is to spend the summer interning at a law firm in their paralegal department, and the second option is to work on a volunteer basis at an immigrant rights nonprofit.​ Would one option be better than the other in terms of applying for law school next fall? -Summer Indecision​

Dear Summer Indecision: First, you’re doing the right thing by thinking about how to best position yourself to put together a compelling admissions package. Summer jobs, internships and volunteering are important parts of one’s application that is often overlooked.

In your case, though, both these summer opportunities will strengthen your application. You’re choosing between two excellent options. You should therefore feel free to consider which option works best for you in other ways.

From a purely strategic perspective, the answer to your question depends on other aspects of your profile. If you already have significant volunteering experience or  ​significant experience in the immigrant rights field – either through other work experience, courses or additional volunteering – then you will strengthen your application most by gaining experience in a legal office. This will indicate to schools that you will enter law school with some knowledge of the day-to-day life of a lawyer and with skills that will make you effective.

If, on the other hand, you don’t have much structured experience in immigrant rights but are considering pursuing that area of law in law school and as a lawyer, you would be best served by pursuing the volunteer opportunity. This volunteer opportunity will enable you to present yourself as someone who has a demonstrated interest in immigration rights law, and will likely provide you with experiences that you could discuss in a personal statement or interview.

Dear Shawn: I received my October LSAT score and it was a bit of a disappointment. I am planning on retaking the test. Unfortunately, though, since I am currently in my senior year of college, I don’t think I will be able to devote enough time in November to further prepare for the test. Some of the schools I am planning on applying to have deadlines before the February scores will be released. Will I be able to submit my applications to those schools with my February score or will they only consider my October score? -Test Problems

Dear Test Problems: The situation you describe is not uncommon, and law schools are generally willing to consider a February LSAT score. You should make sure to do two things, though, before you proceed.

First, get in touch with the schools’ admissions offices, either via email or phone, and ask them if they are willing to consider a February LSAT score. Being able to submit an October LSAT score means you will have “completed” application by their deadline. This means you will not need your February score.

The only question is whether they will be willing to postpone fully evaluating your candidacy until your LSAT score is in. Make sure to get clarity on that point.

Second, make sure you know exactly how they would like to be notified that they should expect you to submit a February LSAT score. Some schools will ask you to submit a note or addendum with your application, others will ask you to contact the admissions office directly so that they are made aware of the situation.

Even if the school is comfortable with a note submitted with the application, I strongly encourage you to email the admissions committee directly so that you have a written record of your request and can receive confirmation that they have received the request and will honor it.

How are you dealing with summer or LSAT issues? Email me or tweet me.​

Shawn P. O’Connor, Esq. is the founder and CEO of Stratus Prep, a New York City-based test preparation and admissions counseling firm. For nearly a decade, he has counseled thousands of law school applicants, many of whom have been admitted to the nation’s top law schools including Yale, Harvard, and Stanford. O’Connor is an honors graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School and is an attorney admitted to the bar in New York and Massachusetts. E-mail him with questions.

Share

NCAA ACT Scores: What You Need to Qualify

imageGen.ashx

| Posted by Rebecca Safier

feature_mapofteams

If you’re a student athlete who wants to play in NCAA Division I or Division II sports in college, then this article is for you! We’ll review NCAA’s eligibility criteria for your GPA and ACT score, which NCAA compares using a sliding scale. Most importantly, we’ll give you the tips and strategies you need to achieve the NCAA ACT scores you need to pass the clearinghouse.

First, let’s quickly review how your grade point average, or GPA, is determined.

Review Of How Your GPA Is Calculated

NCAA considers the grade point average of your core courses. These include 4 years of English, 3 years of math at Algebra I level or higher, 2 years of natural or physical science (one lab if offered at any high school attended), 1 year of additional English, math or natural/physical science, 2 years of social science, and 4 years of foreign language, philosophy or comparative religion. Check out your own high school to see which of its courses qualify as NCAA core courses.

This means your core course GPA might be a little different than the one reported on your transcript, which is an average of all the courses you have taken at high school. GPAs are calculated on a 4.0 scale. The chart below shows how letter and percentage grades translate to this 4.0 scale.

Letter Grade Grade Point Percentage
A 4 94-100%
A- 3.7 90-93%
B+ 3.3 87-89%
B 3 83-86%
B- 2.7 80-82%
C+ 2.3 77-79%
C 2 73-76%
C- 1.7 70-72%
D+ 1.3 67-69%
D 1 60-66%
F 0 0-59%

Since NCAA compares your GPA and ACT score, let’s review how the ACT is scored. With this understanding, you’ll be able to determine exactly what ACT scores you need and how to achieve them.

Review Of How the ACT Is Scored

For a detailed explanation of how the ACT is scored, check out our article here. The gist is that the ACT has four sections: math, science, English, and reading. Each of these sections is scored on a scale from 1 to 36, and these four section scores are averaged together to get your composite score, also out of 36. However, your composite score doesn’t really matter for NCAA.

Instead, NCAA adds your section scores together into a “sum score.” So your sum score must be at least 4 and at most 144 (36 x 4).

Before you get a scaled score from 1 to 36, each section receives a “raw score.” Your raw score is simply the number of questions you answer correctly in each section. The chart below shows how raw scores are converted into scaled scores.

Why is this important? Because once you know your target score, you can figure out what raw score you need. In other words, you can determine how many correct answers you need and how many questions you can essentially ignore. Note that the ACT does not deduct any points for wrong answers, so you should still fill in answers to those questions you’ve skipped. You might get lucky and add a point or more to your raw score!

body_actrawscorechart

How NCAA Considers Your ACT Scores

As we said above, NCAA adds your section scores from math, science, English, and reading into a sum score. For example, if you got a scaled score of 20 in all four sections, then your sum score would be 80 (20 + 20 + 20 + 20 = 80).

If you take the ACT more than once, NCAA will take your best section scores from any dates. NCAA will mix and match your highest section scores so you get your highest possible sum score.

Now let’s move on to the really important part – how NCAA compares your GPA with your ACT score.

NCAA Eligibility – The Sliding Scale

NCAA uses a sliding scale that compares your GPA and ACT scores. If you have a higher GPA, you can meet the eligibility requirements with lower ACT scores. Conversely, if you have a lower GPA, you have to make up the difference with higher ACT scores.

With a 2.8 GPA, for example, you need an NCAA ACT requirements score of 57. If you scored around the same in each section, this might be around 15 (out of 36) in each section. You could score a little higher in some and lower in others.

These charts show the sliding scale to qualify for Division I and Division II teams. While you can qualify with a 2.0 GPA currently, you will need at least a 2.3 GPA starting August 1, 2016. After that date, students with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.3 may qualify for “Academic Redshirt” – they will get athletic aid and practice but cannot compete.

Division I Division II
Core Course GPA ACT Sum Core Course GPA ACT Sum
3.550 & above 37 3.300 & above 37
3.525 38 3.275 38
3.5 39 3.25 39
3.475 40 3.225 40
3.45 41 3.2 41
3.425 41 3.175 41
3.4 42 3.15 42
3.375 42 3.125 42
3.35 43 3.1 43
3.325 44 3.075 44
3.3 44 3.05 44
3.275 45 3.025 45
3.25 46 3 46
3.225 46 2.975 46
3.2 47 2.95 47
3.175 47 2.925 47
3.15 48 2.9 48
3.125 49 2.875 49
3.1 49 2.85 49
3.075 50 2.825 50
3.05 50 2.8 50
3.025 51 2.775 51
3 52 2.75 52
2.975 52 2.725 52
2.95 53 2.7 53
2.925 53 2.675 53
2.9 54 2.65 54
2.875 55 2.625 55
2.85 56 2.6 56
2.825 56 2.575 56
2.8 57 2.55 57
2.775 58 2.525 58
2.75 59 2.5 59
2.725 59 2.475 60
2.7 60 2.45 61
2.675 61 2.425 61
2.65 62 2.4 62
2.625 63 2.375 63
2.6 64 2.35 64
2.575 65 2.325 65
2.55 66 2.3 66
2.525 67 2.275 67
2.5 68 2.25 68
2.475 69 2.225 69
2.45 70 2.2 70 & above
2.425 70
2.4 71
2.375 72
2.35 73
2.325 74
2.3 75
2.275 76
2.25 77
2.225 78
2.2 79
2.175 80
2.15 80
2.125 81
2.1 82
2.075 83
2.05 84
2.025 85
2 86

Once you know your GPA and what you need to qualify, how can you get these scores? Read on for our important tips and strategies.

How To Hit Your Target ACT Scores

Play To Your Strengths

Since NCAA adds together all your section scores, all sections of the ACT are important and require test prep. However, since there is no minimum per section, you can achieve your target sum score with any combination of section scores. Put it another way, you can play to your strengths. What subjects are you stronger in? Which subjects are not your forte? If you love English but feel like math messes with your head, to give one example, you can aim for a higher target score in the English and reading sections than in the math sections.

While you definitely need to prep for all sections, you can define different target scores for English, reading, math, and science depending on your strengths and what you can realistically achieve with the time you have to prep.

Devise a Strategy

Once you have your target scores defined, take a look at the raw score chart we presented above. How many questions do you need to get right? If you need an 18 in English, for example, you need to answer 17 – 19 questions correct (aim for at least 19). This is less than ⅓ of all the English questions!

As you’re taking the test, don’t waste time on the really hard questions. Seek out questions you can confidently answer. At the same time, don’t leave any questions blank. As we mentioned above, there is no point penalty for wrong answers, so you might as well guess. If you skip any questions, leave a little time at the end of each section to fill in the rest on your bubble sheet.

You may also be able to improve your scores by taking the ACT more than once. Check out the ACT test dates here – start early to make sure you have enough test dates.

Get Training

As with the rigorous hours you put in for your sport, you need to step up to some serious training for the ACT. Doing well on the ACT is not about just showing up and being smart – it’s all about how prepared you are. Studying will help you get better, just as practices allow you to improve as an athlete. This isn’t a metaphor – it’s how any skill is developed. And believing that you can grow and get better is a big part of clearing the way for growth to happen. As you know during exhausting practices and games, a huge part of performing is winning this mental game.

These values of dedication, effort, discipline, and internal motivation will help you on the ACT and carry you through your career as a student-athlete in college. Figure out your strengths, drill your weaknesses, and keep up your drive and hunger to achieve your goals.

body_running

Find Time

Finding time for test prep is easier said than done, especially with your packed schedule of school, homework, practices, games, and social life. Create a schedule and set aside specific time for ACT studying to ensure that you make time.

As you take practice tests, time yourself the way the real test will be timed. This will help you get used to the pacing of the questions in a short amount of time, as well as understand your own stamina and what you need to do to keep up your focus and energy levels.

Use the Right Materials

You wouldn’t train for baseball with a wiffle ball, just as you shouldn’t train for the ACT with sub-par materials. High quality test prep questions are a must for preparing you for the test and breaking down the skills and content you need to master within each section. Check out our free E-Book for important tips about the ACT.

ACT Questions of the Day are also an easy and convenient way to add some extra test prep to your day. They can be accessed online or on your phone. By starting months ahead of your test, ACT QOTD will get you familiar with a variety of questions and help you figure out which kinds of question need extra attention.

To Sum Up…

By being aware of NCAA ACT and GPA requirements well ahead of your application deadlines, you will have enough time to train for the ACT, take the test several times, and ensure that you meet the NCAA eligibility criteria.

As an athlete, you know well that training and practice makes all the difference. By applying those same skills of self-discipline and internal motivation to your ACT prep, you will be able to take your career as a student-athlete to the next level at the college of your choice!

About the Author

Rebecca Safier graduated with her Master’s in Adolescent Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT.

Share

The 10 Best Art Schools in the United States

feature_bestartschoolsintheus.jpg

| Posted by Samantha Lindsay

If you have a passion for art, you should go to a college that will nurture your creativity. An art school will help you to develop your skills and learn more about what it takes to succeed in the professional world of art and design. In this article, I’ll give you the details on what defines a great art school and provide a list of the best art colleges in the country for undergraduate students.

How Is an Art School Defined for This List?

On this list of the best art schools in the United States, I only included schools that exclusively cater to art and design students. Keep in mind that there are many other colleges that have excellent art programs but are less specialized. Colleges like Yale, UCLA, Tufts, and Columbia also have fantastic art programs. I didn’t include those schools because this list is geared towards students who are absolutely certain that they want to study art at the college level (and would like to be in an environment with similarly-minded people).

There are huge advantages to going to a specialized art college if you fall into this category of students. You will make friends with other people who share your interests and who may inspire you to expand your creative horizons. You also will have the benefit of being in a place where art is never a secondary concern. Career services will be devoted to helping students in artistic fields break into the job world, and you can usually make even better connections with working artists at these schools. If you know that you plan on studying in an artistic field, the schools on this list are great college options.

At a school full of art students, everyone has paint on their hands at all times, and you can be as pretentious as you want without facing judgment! 

What Makes These Art Schools the Best?

There are several factors to consider in determining what makes an art school great. First of all, it should have a diverse and modern curriculum. A great art school equips students with the skills they need to enter a rapidly changing, highly competitive job market. It should offer a wide variety of programs that are in step with current artistic trends and movements. The best art schools are invested in providing students with instruction in design practices that are shaping the world’s creative landscape today.

A great art school should have excellent facilities for students, with access to the latest technology and artistic tools. Many of the schools on this list have extensive digital labs, on-campus art museums, and workshops that provide students with the ability to practice metalworking, laser cutting, woodworking, and other less accessible artistic disciplines.

The quality of the faculty is important as well. The best art schools employ professors who are also successful working artists and leaders in their fields. Reputation is another factor that ties into this. If the alumni of a school have been successful in their careers, the school will have better name recognition and provide you with more future opportunities.

The schools on this list have strong combinations of these qualities (and more!). They encourage students to think critically about art-making in the context of modern society and provide students with great opportunities to find their niche within the exciting world of art and design.

The art world is always in flux. Is this “graffiti” or “street art”? Or is it both? As methods and standards change, so do the curricula at art schools!

 

The Best Art Schools in the US

For each of the schools on this list, I will provide admissions statistics and information about application requirements. I’ve also listed a few facts that will give you a sense of what these institutions offer to undergraduate art students.

#1. Rhode Island School of Design: Providence, RI

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 2,014
Acceptance rate: 27%
Average GPA: 3.5
Average SAT score: 1855
Average ACT score: 28

Special Requirements

Prospective applicants are urged to follow a college preparatory program in secondary school, taking courses in studio art and art history where possible. A portfolio submission is required for admissions consideration.

Your portfolio should show a selection of 12–20 examples of your best recent artwork. This work may be presented in any medium (including film or video) in either finished or sketch form. It can be the result of an assigned project or a self-directed artistic exploration. You’ll also need to send in two drawing samples. For more details, see the admissions website.

Notable Facts

The campus museum displays over 80,000 works of art, so inspiration abounds! RISD offers advanced tools and resources to its students, including laser cutters and a kiln room. RISD also employs many famous faculty members like Chris Van Allsburg (who illustrated The Polar Express!).

body_RISD.jpgRhode Island School of Design

#2. School of the Art Institute of Chicago: Chicago, IL

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 2,490
Acceptance rate: 72%
Average GPA: 3.4
Average SAT score: Not reported
Average ACT score: Not reported

Special Requirements

In order to be considered for admission, you will need to submit an artist’s statement that represents you and your work. You are also required to submit a portfolio that showcases 10-15 examples of your best and most recent work. There are no limitations on the artistic medium!

Notable Facts

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago has a facility called the Computer Resources and Information Technologies Center, which ensures that students get access to and training on the latest digital equipment. There are also unique program offerings like art therapy and visual communication. SAIC has many distinguished alumni, including Walt Disney.

body_SAIC.jpgSchool of the Art Institute of Chicago

#3. California Institute of the Arts: Valencia, CA

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 895
Acceptance rate: 31%
Average GPA: Not reported
Average SAT score: Not reported
Average ACT score: Not reported

Special Requirements

You are required to submit 20 examples of your most recent and highest quality independent artwork for your portfolio. You’ll also need to include an artist’s statement.

Notable Facts

All faculty members at the California Institute of the Arts are working artists with lots of real world artistic experience. Every student is assigned a mentor who guides them through the program and assists them in independent study. CalArts has eight galleries dedicated to showing student work and helping students get accustomed to hanging and presenting art in various forms.

The school provides extensive facilities for student use including various media labs and a “Super Shop” for processes such as woodworking, metalworking, and moldmaking. I’m not sure why they chose to go with “CalArts” as the shortened version of the school’s name when CIA was an option.

California Institute of the Arts

#4. Pratt Institute: New York, NY

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 2,933
Acceptance rate: 67%
Average GPA: 3.64
Average SAT score: 1770
Average ACT score: 26

Special Requirements

You are required to submit a portfolio that includes 12-20 examples of your best work. You must also submit three to five observational drawings to demonstrate your drafting skills.

Notable Facts

Pratt is located in New York City, so you’ll have access to all kinds of great internship opportunities and connections to the art world. Faculty members are working artists with international reputations as well as dedicated teachers. Students get free access to the Frick Collection, the MOMA, the Whitney Museum, and more.

Pratt Institute

#5. Maryland Institute College of Art: Baltimore, MD

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 1,863
Acceptance rate: 58%
Average GPA: 3.54
Average SAT score: 1773
Average ACT score: Not reported

Special Requirements

You must submit a portfolio of 12 to 20 pieces of artwork for consideration.

Notable Facts

The Maryland Institute incorporates internships and other professional development activities into its curriculum to give students a strong foundation for careers in the arts. There are over 150 exhibitions per year by Maryland Institute students, faculty, and visitors. A strong advising system guides students through all four years at MICA.

Maryland Institute College of Art

#6. Art Center College of Design: Pasadena, CA

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 1,540
Acceptance rate: 82%
Average GPA: Not reported
Average SAT score: Not reported
Average ACT score: Not reported

Special Requirements

There are different portfolio requirements for different majors, but, in general, you are required to submit 10 to 15 pieces of artwork. See the admissions site for more details.

Notable Facts

This school is for students who know exactly what they want to do: Art Center gives students a comprehensive education in their chosen discipline starting on day one and there is no first-year general education program. However, the Transdisciplinary Studios program also allows students to collaborate with each other across different majors. Art Center College of Design partners up with companies and organizations in their Designmatters program to sponsor student projects that will make a real impact on the world.

Art Center College of Design

#7. California College of the Arts: Oakland, CA

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 1,389
Acceptance rate: 82%
Average GPA: 3.25
Average SAT score: 1601
Average ACT score: 24

Special Requirements

First-year applicants are asked to submit 10 to 20 images of their best work as a portfolio sample.

Notable Facts

The faculty is comprised of leaders in various artistic fields, and one-on-one attention is common (average student-teacher ratio is 8:1). CCA includes a First Year Program that introduces students to studio practice and incorporates a portfolio review at the end of the year to assess students’ readiness for the majors. There is also a First Year Student Exhibition every year. CCA offers numerous resources for professional development and networking in the arts that will help students to start fulfilling careers.

#8. School of Visual Arts: New York, NY

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 3,678
Acceptance rate: 74%
Average GPA: 3.09
Average SAT score: Not reported
Average ACT score: Not reported

Special Requirements

You will need to submit a statement of intent describing why you’re pursuing undergraduate study in the visual arts. You must also submit images of 15-20 pieces of your best work for your portfolio. You can decide to submit a film reel instead if you’re interested in studying film.

Notable Facts

There are three galleries at SVA that present over 50 exhibitions every year, so students have frequent opportunities to show their work. SVA has an Internship for Credit program that allow students to work with top creative agencies in New York City. The Digital Imaging Center and Print Lab offers extensive technological resources to students studying graphic design and advertising or enrolled in classes at the Center.

School of Visual Arts

#9. Parsons the New School for Design: New York, NY

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 6,695
Acceptance rate: 66%
Average GPA: 3.24
Average SAT score: 1630
Average ACT score: 25

Special Requirements

Prospective applicants must complete the “Parsons Challenge”, an artistic project exploring something that is usually overlooked in their environment. See the admissions site for more details on this. (I kind of want to do it just for kicks!) Applicants must also submit a portfolio of 8-12 pieces of recent artwork and an artist’s statement.

Notable Facts

Parsons incorporates digital arts strongly into its undergraduate curriculum, particularly in first-year coursework. Parsons also has a special first-year study program that teaches students to think creatively across different disciplines. With its location at the center of the New York art scene, this is a great place for students to explore different methods of art-making and learn how to turn their creative passion into a career.

Parsons The New School for Design

#10. Massachusetts College of Art and Design: Boston, MA

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 1,825
Acceptance rate: 70%
Average GPA: 3.37
Average SAT score: 1629
Average ACT score: 25

Special Requirements

You must submit a portfolio with 15-20 examples of your strongest and most recent artwork. You will also need to include a statement of purpose that describes you as an artist.

Notable Facts

MassArt is the nation’s first independent public college of art and design. The college has seven on-campus gallery spaces, routinely featuring work from students, faculty, and visiting artists. Degrees are offered in a wide variety of disciplines, from Industrial Design to Animation to Art Education.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design 

Which Art School Is the Best Choice for You?

All of the schools on this list will give you a great education in the arts, but some of them might be better fits than others for you and your interests. Location is a big factor to consider in deciding on the right art school for you. A few of these schools are located in the heart of New York City, which might be an awesome place for some students but an overwhelming place for others. Learn more about the differences between colleges in urban and rural environments.

You should also consider the program offerings of each school. The School of Visual Arts, for example, is a great place for film majors. Parsons is a great place for students who are interested in fashion and digital arts. If you’re still not sure exactly what you want to study in the arts, you should choose a school that has a first-year general education program and a strong advising system like California College of the Arts. If you are sure of what you want to study, you might choose a school like Art Center College of Design, which allows students to begin working in their chosen major from day one without any general education requirements.

Admissions statistics are important as well. If your grades aren’t spectacular, you should look for a school where admission is granted mainly based on artistic talent and a lower GPA and test scores won’t ruin your chances. Some of these schools can be very competitive, but if you present an impressive portfolio, you can expect to have a shot at admission.

About the Author

Samantha Lindsay is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5’s on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.

Share

3 Student Tips for Getting Great College Recommendation Letters

You’re not the only student who will be asking teachers for help, so spend time on the details and be confident.

pic9

Instead of asking for letters over email, consider meeting your teachers face-to-face to talk about your future goals and your hopes for college.

By
 

​Asking for a recommendation letter can be an intimidating task for many college applicants. Students might wonder how to ask for letters, how many letters they’ll need or if they’ll need different letters for each college. Students might even wonder, “How do I know which teachers to ask?” This question can be particularly daunting.

Regardless of whether you’ve selected three teachers or have no idea where to begin, the tips from students themselves below can help you approach this process efficiently and successfully.

1. Identify the classes that you excelled in or in which you grew as a student: Many high school students gravitate toward those teachers who taught their strongest subjects. While this can be a perfectly fine strategy, also consider those classes in which you struggled, but progressed over the semester or year.

It is impressive to have a recommendation letter that praises your natural strengths, but a letter that details the strides you took to drastically improve in a course can truly stand out.

New York University junior Kirollos Morkos chose the latter strategy​. Morkos said he struggled in English class during his freshman year, but worked hard and ended up performing significantly better in his junior year – in front of the same teacher for both classes.

“Clearly, I had grown a lot from when I was a freshman, and my English teacher saw that first-hand more than anybody else,” he says. “Because of this, she was the perfect candidate to write my recommendation letter, even more so than the AP teachers in whose classes I got straight A’s.”

2. Spend some extra time on details: Obtaining letters of recommendation involves more than just the two-step process of asking a teacher, and waiting for the letter to be written. Focusing on the extra, less talked about details can help distinguish your application.

For instance, consider any supplementary materials that your recommenders might need, even if they do not immediately ask for them. Kenny Zesso, a junior​ at University of Notre Dame, says he made sure he had his resume ready and prepared for his teachers if they requested it.

Zesso said he also gave some additional thought to what message he could send college admissions staff with his specific selection of recommenders.

“I decided to ask a math, social studies/history and English teacher because I hoped to highlight my well-rounded curiosity,” he says.

Zesso noted that these were also people with whom he had developed strong relationships during the course of his high school career.

3. Remain confident: It is easy to feel overshadowed or crowded by all of the other students who are also asking for recommendation letters, but it is important to remain unswayed by these circumstances. Ensure that you still take the necessary steps to stay on your recommenders’ minds.

Old Dominion University senior Javan Tenemille​ says he found it crucial to make sure he consistently, but politely, reminded his teachers about his letters.

“I knew I wasn’t the only person trying to get a letter of recommendation from them, so I would just give them friendly reminders every week or so,” he says. “I had one teacher who forgot all the way up until the deadline, then wrote one, then I had to express deliver it.”

Another tactic to remain confident and to avoid getting lost in the shuffle is to approach your teachers in a unique way when you ask for the letters in the first place. Instead of just sending an email, or asking the question and then simply leaving it at that, consider what Morkos did.

“I approached them after school, and we talked about my future goals. I gave them a feel of what I wanted to accomplish in college and what drives me to be successful. I also gave them some background into my interests and hobbies I enjoy outside of class,” says Morkos. “It’s important for the teacher to really understand you as a whole.”

Cathryn Sloane is a marketing coordinator for Varsity Tutors. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Iowa.

Varsity Tutors is a live learning platform that connects students with personalized instruction to accelerate academic achievement. The company’s end-to-end offerings also include mobile learning apps, online learning environments and other tutoring and test prep-focused technologies. Got a question? Email admissionsplaybook@usnews.com.

Share

How to Tell if an Online Program Is Accredited

pic Beware of accreditation mills, which provide a false sense of legitimacy.

 

Back when Lauren Marrett wanted to be an art major, she didn’t care much about whether her school was accredited or by whom.

It was the quality of her art portfolio that mattered, she thought, not the reputation of her college.

She enrolled in a for-profit online college lacking regional accreditation. But six months into her schooling, she started to get nervous about how employers would view her school.

“I started to think, ‘Art is a competitive field and I need a backup plan,'” says the 23-year-old, who eventually transferred to the University of Illinois—Springfield, a college with solid academic credentials. “I wanted to go online and have it be a legitimate school.”

[Video: Find out if your online program is legit.]

With a little bit of Google research, Marrett got to the bottom of a problem that plagues many online students: how to determine whether a school has recognized accreditation – verification by an outside, legitimate authority that a college or university provides an education that meets certain standards.

Discovering whether your school has a stamp of approval can be a painstaking process, but it’s an important one, experts say. Many colleges and universities won’t accept transfer credits from schools without recognized accreditation and employers often won’t pay for their employees to attend them.

“When searching for a university that offers online courses, students must inquire about accreditation,” says Susan Aldridge, a senior fellow at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. “Accreditation doesn’t guarantee quality, but does provide more assurance that there is oversight regarding the instruction and their authority to issue degrees.”

During the typical accreditation process, a nongovernmental body conducts reviews and site visits to assess faculty, student support services, finance and facilities, curricula and other factors. There are so many so-called “accreditation mills” – groups that will accredit schools using minimum standards – out on the Internet that it can be particularly easy for online students to get involved with schools that lack legitimacy, experts say.

“They have very misleading names. They sound like they are these wonderful institutions but they are not,” says Judith S. Eaton, president of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or CHEA. “This is especially a problem for international students. We take our complex higher education system for granted. Someone will see something called ‘U.S. University’ and assume it’s okay, but it’s not. It’s just a degree.”

To see whether an accrediting agency is legitimate, students should check to see if it’s recognized either by the council or the U.S. Department of Education.

Both groups investigate accreditors to ensure they are using appropriate standards when they are evaluating schools. But students can only receive federal student aid from schools accredited by agencies recognized by the U.S. government.

The council, a private sector group, publishes a list of accrediting organizations recognized by both it and the federal government.

[Learn how to vet a for-profit online program.]

The federal government recognizes seven regional accreditors, which evaluate schools in certain parts of the country, while the council recognizes six.

Both groups also recognize fewer than a dozen national accreditors, such as the Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation and the Distance Education and Training Council Accrediting Commission, which evaluate faith-based schools or career-oriented programs. Many religious institutions have regional accreditation as well.

Students who take courses from nationally accredited universities may have difficulty transferring their credits to regionally accredited schools, since most regionally accredited universities do not accept transfer credits from those schools, according to Aldridge.

“State universities and private nonprofit universities are regionally accredited,” says Aldridge. “This is the most desirable accreditation because students taking courses at one regionally accredited university will be more likely to transfer their credits to another similar institution.”

Reference

Share

The 8 traits shared by the most successful entrepreneurs

By Entrepreneur June 10, 2015


Thinkstock

What separates the successful entrepreneur from the one who fails?
There may not be just one answer. However, the common theme among successful entrepreneurs is they have the right mentality to embark on the entrepreneurial journey.

What specific mentalities do successful entrepreneurs possess? Here are eight of them.

1. No respect for the status quo.

“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” – Apple, Inc.

When Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997 the famous, ‘Think Different,’ campaign was launched. This was no coincidence. Jobs was known for not following the status quo, which is why most entrepreneurs turn to his career for inspiration. Most successful entrepreneurs strive for the freedom to do what they want and not be told that, “this is how things are done.”

2. Abundant thinker.

“Over the years, I have noticed that there are two kinds of thinking. One kind leads to success, joy, and fulfillment. The other leads to failure, fear, and discontent.” – Michael Hyatt

Best-selling author Michael Hyatt believes that for people to be successful they need to be abundant thinkers. Characteristics of abundant thinkers include:

  • There is more where that came from.
  • Want to share ideas, knowledge, contacts, etc.
  • Can easily build relationships through trust.
  • Embrace competition.
  • Deliver more than expected.
  • Are optimistic.
  • Think big and take risks.
  • Are confident and appreciative.

So, would you rather be generous, confident and able to make meaningful connections or stingy, pessimistic and fearful?

3. Learn as you go.

“He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand, and walk, and run, and climb, and dance; one cannot fly into flying.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

As any entrepreneur will inform you, there’s a lot of trial and error involved with starting and maintaining your own business. No matter how knowledgeable you are regarding your industry, how many college degrees you have, or how much money you’ve made or lost along the way, entrepreneurs face their fair share of success and failures. That’s a part of the journey. Being able to learn, however, increases your chances of success since it will help you adapt to changes, as well as discovering what works for you and your business.

4. Live a frugal life.

I think frugality drives innovation, just like other constraints do. One of the only ways to get out of a tight box is to invent your way out. – Jeff Bezos

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos may believe that being frugal can help with innovation, but living a frugal life is championed by many other entrepreneurs and business leaders. For example, Warren Buffett, despite having the money to purchase anything he wants, lives a modest lifestyle. Instead of toys and mansions, Buffett’s riches come from loving what he does and doing it well. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg famously drove an entry-level Acura even though he was worth more than $7 billion.

Being frugal doesn’t mean that you have to be cheap. It means not being careless with your money. Instead of taking loans out to purchase a luxury vehicle, save that money so that you can expand your business.

5. Problem solver.

“The happiest and most successful people I know don’t just love what they do, they’re obsessed with solving an important problem, something that matters to them.” – Drew Houston

Don’t just start a business for the sake of starting a business. Successful entrepreneurs start a business because they see a real-world problem and have the drive and desire to solve that problem. Remember, as Martin Zwilling puts it perfectly in Entrepreneur, “Entrepreneurs see problems as milestones to success, not barriers.”

6. Hustler.

“Good things happen to those who hustle.” – Chuck Noll

Entrepreneurs are go-getters. They never stop. In fact, that’s how Gary Vaynerchuk launched Wine Library. According to Gary, “I was walking into any business that might be relevant to my community and passing out flyers and coupons one-by-one to gain more exposure. Nobody gave a crap or knew who we were, but I knocked on doors and made sure we got the exposure we needed.”

If you want to succeed, you have to hustle. You have to put in long hours, build a quality  product, and do whatever it takes to get your name out there.

7. Listen to others but decide for yourself.

“Most of the successful people I’ve known are the ones who do more listening than talking.” – Bernard Baruch

While entrepreneurs are free-spirits and make their own decisions, it’s also important that you listen to what others have to say. If you aren’t listening to your customers, how do you know if they’re satisfied with you products or services? Maybe this entire time they haven’t enjoyed what you’re providing, which is why sales have been sluggish.

Whether it’s from customers, team members, colleagues or mentors, always take the time to listen to advice. However, it’s you who ultimately has to make the final decision.

8. Think like an athlete.

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twentysix times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

Athletes are some of the most passionate and driven individuals on the planet. How often do you hear about the insane training regiments that athletes subject themselves to in order to play the game? How about the Olympic star who was told that they’ll never compete again, only to win a medal the next time around?

Athletes regularly defy the impossible. And so do entrepreneurs. Evan Spiegel, for example, was told that Snapchat was a “terrible idea” by a venture capitalist. Did Spiegel listen? Of course not. He marched forward and made Snapchat a hit.

As an entrepreneur, you’re going to face failure and opposition, but you’re passion and obsession with your idea will be the drive you need to find success.

Share