Choosing a Major

Choosing a college is one of the key life decisions you’ll make and one that will impact your future, both professionally and personally. There are many factors involved and as many campuses as there are personalities. So, how do you navigate through the overwhelming number of choices? There are some key things to consider when selecting a college:

- Does size matter? If you attend a large high school and feel lost in it then you should select a smaller university. On the other hand, if you attend a small high school and are frustrated by limitations of a small school, you may do well to seek a large university.
- What major of study interests you? If you already know what field you’ll be pursuing, you may opt to attend a college that specializes in your chosen major.
- Get homesick or have a hometown boyfriend/girlfriend? If you think you’ll be traveling home regularly or on weekends, distance may be a factor and you’ll want to choose a college close to home. Anxious to see or live in another part of the country? Then let your adventurous side take over and apply to schools in locations you would like call home for the next years!
- Do you play well with others? If you’re not a good roommate, or not keen on having to share a room, look into campuses that offer single housing units.

Once you have comprised a “short list” of your choices, the next thing you need to do is make a campus visit. You wouldn’t buy a new car without even taking it for a drive first, would you? Do not underestimate the importance of a college visit. Here’s how to get the most out of a college campus visit:

- Take someone with you—a parent and/or a friend
- Schedule some time with the financial aid office to discuss options
- Schedule time to sit in on a lecture or class (preferably in your chosen field of study)
- Schedule a formal tour, usually with a current student ambassador and ask questions!
- Plan to lunch on campus

Nothing can substitute for an on-campus visit. Take advantage of this opportunity to get all of your questions answered.

Find a Reading Tutor

A good reading tutor can help you get back on track, or get ahead. But a bad tutor can waste your time and money. So, how do you find a good tutor?

• Ask for recommendations from your instructors
• Ask for recommendations from other students—they’ll know what tutors are good, as well as which ones are bad
• Go directly through your local college or university, which is a particularly good idea if the school has a formal tutoring program in place. Tutors who participate in a university-sponsored tutoring program usually have to adhere to strict academic guidelines and are screened by the university. Many are teaching assistants and are familiar with the curriculum. This will also make it easier to find a tutor in your major field of study, or with the particular class you need help in.
• It’s always a good idea to interview the tutor before making a commitment to hire someone.
• Ask to see a copy of their transcripts to verify they have taken the appropriate coursework and received good grades

Make sure you get the most out of your tutoring sessions.

Once you have found the perfect tutor, there are some things you can do to make sure you make the most of tutoring. What do you expect to gain from receiving tutoring? Do you want to make up for time off from school and get caught up? Do you want to raise your GPA? Do you want extra help studying for a final exam? Whatever your expectations are, be sure to share them with your tutor. It may influence the time you spend on certain material, or the techniques your tutor uses to help you.

Make sure that price, payment methods, timeslots and frequencies of tutoring sessions are agreed upon upfront. With the “business” details out of the way, you can focus on the task at hand. Schedule a time of day when you’ll be most focused. Finally, hold your sessions in a public place, such as a library or common study area. You’ll want a place that is quiet so that you can concentrate, and also neutral so that both of you will feel comfortable.

Find a Writing Tutor

A good writing tutor can help you get back on track, or get ahead. But a bad tutor can waste your time and money. So, how do you find a good tutor?

Make sure you get the most out of your tutoring sessions.

Find a Science Tutor

A good science tutor can help you get back on track, or get ahead. But a bad tutor can waste your time and money. So, how do you find a good tutor?

Make sure you get the most out of your tutoring sessions.

Find a Math Tutor

A good math tutor can help you get back on track, or get ahead. But a bad tutor can waste your time and money. So, how do you find a good math tutor?

Make sure you get the most out of your tutoring sessions.

ACT Prep

Most colleges or universities require either SAT or ACT scores in addition to high school transcripts as part of their admissions process. Contact the universities you are interested in and inquire about which exam they require, as well as minimum test scores for admissions. Every school has different score and GPA requirements. Usually a school will consider a combination of your entrance exam test score and your overall GPA, so an exceptionally high score can be helpful if your GPA is just mediocre (and vice versa).

There are a lot of different ways that you can prepare for taking the SAT or ACT, depending on how much time or money you have, and what style best suits you. Here are some of your options:

- Take college preparatory classes – these classes prepare you for the types of questions you will find on the college entrance exams

- Study – You will want to study for these tests, like you would for any major exam. Studying in groups can help, if this is an effective style for you.

- Books – There are many books on the market designed to help you prepare for the SAT/ACT

- Tutoring – Find good tutor, preferably one through your local university who has experience with college entrance tests

Take both the ACT and the SAT

Some test-takers do perform better on one than the other and there isn’t any way to know which one you would score higher on, unless you take both of them. While most schools do have an equivalent scale or provide admissions guidelines scores for both the ACT and SAT, not all schools do. By taking both exams, your school choice isn’t limited by your choice of exam.

Applying for scholarships

What is a scholarship?

Scholarships are monetary awards given to students based on merit or ability, usually academic or athletic. Sometimes scholarships consider financial need, but not always. They are essentially a form of a gift and do not have to be repaid. Students can apply for many different scholarships from a variety of sources, including government, colleges and universities, churches, private industry and service organizations. Some scholarship programs award funds to students in a particular major; others may award money based on athletic ability, scholastic ability, religious affiliation, race (of the student or parent), or social activities. Grants, like scholarships do not have to be repaid.

While state grant programs or individual, campus-based programs for financial aid may have different deadlines or may need information other than what appears on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), many of these programs often use the FAFSA as the first step.

Scholarships versus Grants

So what’s the difference between a scholarship and a grant? The easiest to remember is that a grant is generally money given to you as a one-time offering to accomplish a specific thing and generally has no strings attached to it, meaning it does not have to be repaid. You are also less restricted in how the funds are used, as long as they go toward your education.

Scholarships also do not need to be repaid, but are usually stricter in defining how the funds are used and are sometimes awarded for multiple years. Scholarships are generally given with the requirement that the student enroll in a particular course of study, attend a particular school, participate in athletics, and may require certain outcomes such as a minimum GPA. Sometimes the funds must be allocated a certain way—specifically for tuition and books, but not room and board, as an example.

It’s important not to overlook local sources of scholarships. Inquire about scholarship information from every school that you apply to, since each one will have its own scholarship programs. Also, inquire at your current high school, church, and your parents’ employers—each of these places are great sources of scholarships and are usually lesser-known and have a smaller number of applicants, which means you may have a better chance of getting an award.

Scholarship Application Tips

1. Start planning early – scholarship deadlines are defined well in advance for the following year and the application process can be time-consuming. Do your homework and do it early, so you don’t miss out on free money for school!
2. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Since you’re not limited on the number of scholarships you can be awarded—apply for many that you are eligible for. This will dramatically reduce the financial burden on you when it comes time to pay out of your pocket, or pay back student loans.
3. Make sure you follow the application instructions exactly. This is one case where you must read all instructions—failing to do so can result in an incomplete application and guarantee that you will not even be considered.
4. Ask a parent, teacher, and/or guidance counselor review your application for you before submission
5. Make sure you are eligible for the scholarship. Again, this goes back to following instructions, but it will also save you a lot of time.
6. Make sure your letters of recommendation are from people you know well. Teachers and employers make good references.
7. Highlight and showcase your strengths. The organization offering the scholarship is making an investment in a student—why should that student be you?
8. Be clear and concise
9. Address your weaknesses. If you have a low GPA but high test scores, or vice versa, be prepared to explain yourself. End on a positive—showcase your strong points and leave that as your final impression.

The search for scholarship money can be very time consuming, but definitely worth the effort you put into it. Good luck!

Financial Aid

Start to learn about financial aid and start early

Find out about financial aid from several different sources. Start by talking to your high school counselor. Look through the financial aid resources in your high school and public library. Search for financial information online—there are many great sources for financial aid information on the web. There are also many good and current books out there.

Good news – there’s money for you!

According to the Department of Education, “Funds for college are at historic highs. In 2006 the Department of Education will make or guarantee more than $60 billion in low-cost student loans, a $4 billion increase over 2005 levels. Overall, $82 billion in grants, loans and other assistance are expected to benefit more than 10 million students - 413,000 more than last year”!

The U.S. Department of Education student aid is the largest but not the only source. There are other sources of federal aid and scholarships available. For example, nonfederal financial assistance programs and requirements often vary from school to school, so check with the schools you're interested in for information about state and institutional aid.

Applying for financial aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form used by virtually all two and four-year colleges, universities and career schools for the awarding of federal student aid and most state and college aid. A FAFSA may be submitted either on line at the U.S. Department of Education’s FAFSA site or by completing the paper form. Online applications are recommended because they are easy, quicker, safe, and accurate.

What about exceptions and special circumstances? A financial aid administrator can consider special or unusual circumstances such as unusual medical expenses, tuition expenses, or unemployment and can adjust your profile accordingly to adjust and account for those circumstances. In these cases, make sure you have as much documentation as possible. Documentation can include medical bills, tax returns, letters from medical professionals, and so on, to substantiate your financial need.

Online GED

If you didn’t finish high school, you are likely finding your opportunities are limited due to the fact you don’t have a high school diploma. You can’t go back in time but you can earn a General Equivalency Diploma, or GED. Every year, almost a million people earn a GED, and it’s accepted as equal to a high school diploma by almost all companies and colleges in the country.

Thanks to the magic of the Internet, you can now take GED courses online, in the comfort of your own home. Costs vary greatly from program to program, and some even offer financial aid as well as monthly payments. You have many options so don’t let cost deter you from getting your GED.

Perhaps one of the most confusing things about getting your GED online is where to start. There are many companies out there that provide online GED courses or software. In fact, there is so much information out there, is can be daunting as well as difficult separating the quality sites from the substandard sites.

Taking the Test

You cannot actually take the GED test online. Beware of any website that says they will provide this service for a fee! In order to obtain a legitimate GED, you must actually take the test at an official GED testing center.

Distance Learning

What is Distance Learning?

Distance learning is a means of instruction by which technology is used to delivery a course remotely or off-campus. Distance learning involves several methods of course delivery, such as online or web-based classes, use of CD-ROM and videos, interactive TV, on-demand viewing, and electronic correspondence.

What does it take to be successful?

Distance learning can provide a great convenience. It enables you to download classes on your computer or laptop and view them at your convenience, watch them on your television, or on CD-ROM for viewing anytime. However, distance learning also comes with its own set of challenges.

Since you won’t have face-to-face interaction with your instructors or other students, you won’t be able to get that real-time feedback in some cases. Of course, you will be able to ask questions of your professors via email, but that response will depend upon how often your instructor checks email. If that personal interaction is important to you or you like to have immediate faculty feedback, then distance learning may not be your cup of tea. If you find traditional classroom discussion helpful, you may want to forego distance learning as well.

Are you able to work independently, and get things done on time or ahead of time? Working at your own pace is a great convenience, but can be a problem if you are a procrastinator.

Do you prefer to have assignments and project instructions explained to you, or do you prefer to figure things out on your own? While there are mechanisms in place for you to “chat” online with instructors, post questions to an electronic bulletin board, or exchange emails, you are definitely working more independently. If you require more “hand-holding” then a distance learning or “virtual classroom” may be a challenging framework for you to work in.

Don’t think that because you are taking an online course rather than a traditional classroom course, that you will be spending less time studying and preparing for the class. This is a common mistake that many students make. Actually, the opposite is true. Since you will largely be directing your own study, you will be spending more time preparing and reading instructions. Throughout the course semester, you will also be spending more time communicating electronically outside of class time. While distance learning is convenient, it definitely requires diligence and discipline on the part of the student!

If you have some physical limitations or barriers to actually going to a classroom, then distance learning is a great alternative for you. Physical limitations can include anything from a physical injury, lack of transportation, living too far from a college campus to commute, or a work schedule or travel schedule that would interfere with attending classes in person.

Finally, here are a few other skills that are extremely helpful—no, necessary—for you to be successful in a virtual classroom:

- You must be comfortable with technology, email and the Internet
- You must be able to work well independently
- You must be able to manage your time well
- You must have the ability to communicate effectively (via writing, email, chat)

If you haven’t yet taken advantage of distance learning and you think, based on this information, that it’s right for you, start off with one class and see how it goes. It can be very liberating to be able to attend classes at your convenience—good luck!

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