https://www.teenlife.com/blogs/10-tips-help-you-win-private-scholarship
Follow this link to a resource on private scholarships and how to get them!
Mrs. Mitchell
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Sophomores: How To: Find Your Path in Life
It’s never too early to think about your direction in life. Think about what you do well, what you enjoy doing, and how your interests and goals compare those needed in a career. Use these valuable tips to help discover your interests.
Volunteer for a local nonprofit group or volunteer organization, especially one that looks interesting to you.
Interview adults in your life about their careers and what they like best about them.
Job shadow at a business that sounds interesting to you.
Set up regular meetings with your school counselor to learn more about career options.
Find a mentor, or person you trust with knowledge and experience, who can help you figure out your career.
Mrs. Mitchell
Juniors: 5 reasons to take the ACT junior year
It’s a good idea to take the ACT® test for the first time in the fall or early spring of your junior year. Doing this will show you where you are doing well and uncover areas where you can improve.
Advantages to testing your junior year:
You’ve completed most of the coursework that’s reflected on the test.
You can use test scores to influence the classes you take during your senior year. (For example, if you score low in a particular subject, you will have time to schedule additional coursework to help you learn and improve in that area.)
Colleges will know your interests and scores and will have time to contact you during the summer before your senior year. Many colleges send information about admission, advanced placement, scholarships, and special programs to prospective students during this time.
You will have information about yourself and the schools you’re interested in attending before you go on campus visits, which will help you focus during those visits.
You will have a chance to retest if you feel your scores didn’t accurately reflect your ability.
If you want to improve your score, consider testing again before you start your senior year. The format of the test, the types of questions on it, and the environment will be fresh in your mind.
Mrs. Mitchell
Seniors:How many college applications should you submit?
I recommend that you apply to 3-6 colleges. It’s important to remember that each application takes a lot of time. Between your classes, exams, extracurricular activities, and social events, applying to more than 10 schools could create unnecessary stress.
Here are 4 factors to help you narrow down your college list:
1. Price of applications. If you have a limited amount of money to spend on application fees, this may force you to cut down your list.
2. Due dates of applications. Gauge how much time you’ll have before deadlines, and fill out a reasonable number of college applications, eliminating those you cannot fit in.
3. College fit. If you’ve done your research and gone on a campus visit, you should have a pretty good idea of the environment and your likes and dislikes. Eliminate schools from your list that are a bad fit for you, whether it’s related to a program of study, atmosphere, etc.
4. Likelihood of admission. Another way to narrow it down is by applying to an equal number of reach, target, and safety schools. As you’re doing your research, make a point to document the academic profile of an average admitted student (average ACT scores, GPAs, class ranks, etc.). You can usually find this information online. Compare your academic profile to the college’s average student.
Read the full article for more information on deciding how many college applications to complete.
Mrs. Mitchell
How Students Can Make the Most out of Christmas Break
Parents, challenge your student to complete these tasks during Christmas Vacation!
- Complete college applications (Seniors). Seniors can finalize their college choices and complete applications in time for regular submission deadlines, most of which are in January and February.
- Dig into that college essay (Seniors). It’s an important part of the college application process and requires a lot of thought and planning, so why not spend time away from the classroom to write a draft or two? Winter break might be a great time for family or friends to offer advice on the essay or proofread the content.
- Complete some test prep (Juniors and Seniors). Students prepare for ACT test content in the classroom, but they can use the break to prepare for the testing experience. Take a practice test or two. Use the time to dive into free or paid test prep tools from ACT.
- Get advice from family (All Students). The holidays are a great time to gather advice during family meals and holiday events. Students can turn family members into resources—ask about their college experience, lessons learned, job market trends, and even ask them to be references for college and job applications.
- Talk to friends in college (All Students). Remember: it’s Christmas break for college students, too. Students can talk to college-aged friends about their experiences so far, ask about classes and what they’ve learned, and get advice on narrowing down college choices.
- Read a book or two (All Students). That’s right—you can encourage students to crack open a book and read for fun. Never stop learning.
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Sophomores-4 People to Add to Your Support Network
Planning for college may seem a little scary. Getting advice and input from the right people can help you better navigate the college admissions process.
Family Members. If your family supports you, you’re a step ahead. If it seems like they’re not as focused on college as you are, start involving them in discussions about your future goals. Share what you’ve learned about college and career opportunities.
School Counselor. Your school counselor can be very helpful when it comes to planning your path beyond high school. Don’t wait for your counselor to contact you. Make an appointment to talk about college. Ask for advice on courses to take and resources to help you.
Mentor. A mentor is a person with knowledge and experience who can help you achieve goals. Mentors can come from formal mentorship programs, or they can be trusted people you know from your school, neighborhood, church, internship programs, volunteer organizations, or sports teams. A mentor can be anyone who can provide informed support and guidance.
Other Students. Yes, your friends can be play a big part in your support network, especially if they are further along in school. Tell them your goals and ask about their experiences. Remember to support and encourage each other. Avoid anybody who tries to discourage your future plans.
Juniors-How to Create a College List
There are more than 4,500 degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States. How do you sort through all these options and select the few institutions you want to learn more about? The type of colleges you consider will depend on your goals and expectations.
Start by asking yourself about the following features:
Major
Location
Size
Cost to attend
Extracurricular activities
Requirements
Once you’ve considered these qualities, which is your highest priority? Use it to start finding and researching colleges.
Seniors-Craft a College Application Resume that Stands Out
You may think a résumé is only useful when trying to find a job, but some colleges encourage you to include one with your application materials. Your résumé should illustrate accomplishments beyond what colleges see in a transcript and highlight experiences you weren’t able to mention in an essay or application form.
Step 1: List everything you’ve done. What have you accomplished during your high school career? Awards, honors, leadership roles, community service projects, skills, talents, work experience, etc. – write it all down.
Step 2: Decide what should go into your résumé. Once you have everything written down, cut down the text until what you have left are your most impressive accomplishments and roles. This is where a counselor, teacher, or parent could help you decide what to ultimately include in your final draft.
Step 3: Format your résumé. A general rule is to keep your entire résumé on one page (two pages, at the most). Include contact information, education details, and accomplishments. Each section should list the most recent accomplishments and roles first.
Step 4: After you have a draft, review and revise it. Finally, ask a counselor, teacher, friend, or parent to review your résumé. Use helpful feedback when you are making revisions.
Monday, October 8, 2018
FAFSA Help
I attended a financial aid workshop today and heard about this FASFA Help Website, and wanted to share it with MCA as soon as possible:
https://www.fafsahelpoh.org
Mrs. Mitchell
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Class of 2022 Freshman
Freshman year is all about exploration - a time for students to develop strong study habits, try new things, and build a solid foundation for the future. Download the Freshman Year eBook and use it as a guide to help navigate ninth-grade and make the most out of your first year of high school.
http://pages.act.org/starting-your-high-school-journey.html#_ga=2.138994935.572809162.1538855385-867602955.1538855385
Class of 2021 Sophomores
Make Your Extracurricular Activities Count
Extracurricular activities can help improve discipline, determination, commitment, communication, and social connection—which are all skills needed to succeed in high school and beyond. Our advice? Take advantage of these opportunities. According to ACT Research, involvement in high school activities is often associated with higher ACT Composite scores, regardless of a student’s GPA.
These activities can help you:
Build leadership skills
Become a team player
Nurture your creativity
Expand your experiences
Enhance your abilities
Identify your strengths
Mrs. Mitchell
Class of 2020 Juniors
10 Questions to Consider when Choosing a Major
Choosing a major is one of the first things you should consider when preparing for college… yes, even before you choose the school you want to attend. Understanding your strengths and identifying your career goals should shape the path you take after graduation.
As you start to think about your plans for after high school, consider the following questions:
Does the major match my interests?
Does this major prepare me for the career I want to have?
What college courses would I typically take for the major?
What will I learn?
What degree types are available to me?
What are the typical jobs available with my planned level of education?
What specialties are within the major?
What high school courses can help me prepare for the major?
What type(s) of schools offer the major?
What are some related majors?
If you have further questions on this topic, please schedule a time to come see me. https://calendly.com/mrsmitchell
Mrs. Mitchell
Mrs. Mitchell
Class of 2019 Seniors
6 Tips to Crafting a Stellar Application Essay
Application essays are an effective way for you to communicate unique strengths to admissions officials. Some colleges will have specific prompts they want you to answer. Others will ask for you to just describe your story. Whatever it is, be yourself, speak in your voice, and don’t try to fit in a bunch of fancy words from the thesaurus.
Consider these 6 tips as you write:
Start early. Make a list of the number of essays you need to write and their deadlines. Give yourself plenty of time to think through the topics and brainstorm writing points.
Create an outline. Break down the prompt of each essay. Use these anecdotes to help organize your thoughts around your thesis, in bullet-point format. Make sure it has a clear beginning, middle, and end. This is your outline.
Read some examples. See if the college you’re applying to publishes essay examples on their website. These examples may indicate what that college considers a strong application. Remember, NEVER plagiarize somebody else’s work.
Address what’s NOT on your transcript. Answer the question, “What else should they know about me?” How can you expand upon the information presented in the other parts of the application or highlight strengths you haven’t pointed out in other parts of the application?
The deeper you go, the better. For your anecdotes, focus on specific details and really flesh out the scene.
Have a few people review it. Once you’ve completed a draft, have someone you trust (a parent, counselor, or teacher) review your work. Remember to limit the number of people who review your essay to one or two—too many opinions can muddle your voice.
Mrs. Mitchell
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