Counseling Center Summer Major

Transcription

1 Counseling Center Summer Major ****You may choose any 5 Create a resume Resumes are required for both employment and college. Feel free to research online for templates as well as utilized the attached Senior Data Sheet to compile your information. Collect 2 letters of recommendation You should have letters of recommendation on hand. You need them for employment, scholarship applications, etc Complete a Career Interest Inventory Having trouble knowing what field is right for you? You can explore interests, careers, majors and colleges at collegefortn.org. I will need to link to your account or have you provide a printed copy of your research on this site. Find 3 scholarships you meet the criteria for There is FREE money out there for everyone. You will need to provide documentation of these scholarships but are not required to complete the process for Summer Major Complete 8 hours of volunteer work You will need to complete and submit the attached form. Tour a college campus You will need to complete and submit the attached form -- campus visit checklist/comparison Audit a college class Want to see what college is like? Go sit in on a class. You will need to complete and submit the attached form

2 Job Shadow There is no better way to find out if you are interested in a particular job, than to go observe it! You will need to complete and submit the attached form Take an ACT or SAT prep course You will need to provide proof of your participation Write a Personal Statement Most colleges request a personal statement as a part of the application process. Have one ready! Please see attached prompt. Earn college credit this Summer Many colleges offer opportunities for high school students to spend time on their campus and earn college credit during the summer. If this is something you are interested in, please see the Counseling Center for details regarding the options available. Research your intended University You will need to complete and submit the attached form

3 Campus Visit Checklist Visiting a college campus helps you get a sense of what a college and life at that college is like. This can help you decide whether the college is right for you. When planning your campus visits, make sure to allow time to explore each college. While you re there, talk to as many people as possible. These can include college admission staff, professors and students. Below are some other things you can do while visiting. Note that some activities, such as meeting with an admission officer or staying overnight in a dorm, might need to be set up in advance. Gather Information Find out what you need to do to apply and see if the college s class and major offerings are what you want: Take part in a group information session at the admission office. Interview with an admission officer. Pick up financial aid forms. Sit in on a class that interests you. If classes aren t in session, just see what the classrooms are like. Meet a professor who teaches a subject that interests you. Talk to students about what they think of their classes and professors. Explore the Campus Get a feel for student life and see if this college is a place where you will do well: Take a campus tour. Talk to current students about life on campus and the college. Check out the freshmen dorms and stay overnight with a student, if possible. Visit the dining hall, fitness center, library, career center, bookstore and other campus facilities. Talk to the coaches of sports that you may want to play. Walk or drive around the community surrounding the campus. Check Out Campus Media Tune in to learn what s happening on campus and what s on students minds: Listen to the college radio station. Read other student publications, such as department newsletters, alternative newspapers and literary reviews. Scan bulletin boards to see what daily student life is like. Go to the career center and learn what services it offers. Browse the school s website and any campus blogs. Questions to Ask During Your Visit Here are some questions you may want to ask your tour guide or students you meet on campus: What are the best reasons to go to this college? What s it like to go from high school to college? What do you do in your free time? On the weekends? What do you love about this college? What do you wish you could change about this college? Why did you choose this college? What is it like to live here?

4 College Research Worksheet What is your intended major? Who is the Department Head? What is the annual tuition? What scholarships are offered by the university? What scholarships are offered by the department? Contact information for the Financial Aid office? Admission requirements for the university and department? Name and contact information for YOUR admissions counselor? Application fee List 5 next steps (for example, submit application, find a different university/program, schedule a visit, get transcript sent, get ACT scores sent, raise ACT score, write personal statement, find volunteer opportunities for TN Promise, etc

5 FAIRVIEW HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR DATA SHEET Please complete all sections of the form to the best of your knowledge and ability. The information you provide will allow us to write a personalized, effective letter of recommendation for you. If you do not have enough room, please attach extra sheets. Return the completed form to your counselor. 1. Full Name: 2. Student cell phone #: 3. What college major are you interested in and why? 4. Please list your top three college choices: I. II. III. 5. Extracurricular Activities (excluding sports): Activity or Club Grade(s) You Leadership Honors or Awards Describe your activities 1. Participated

6 FAIRVIEW HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR DATA SHEET 6. School Related Sports Participation: Sport Grade(s) You JV or Varsity Do you plan to Have you Honors Received Participated college? Y or N house? Y or N pursue this applied to sport in NCAA Clearing- 7. List any employment: Job Title Employer Duties Performed Dates of Employment This next section will require some thought. Please be as descriptive as possible. 8. What 3 words best describe you? 9. What are your greatest strengths both academically and personally? Please list specific examples. State why you think these will help you be successful in college. 10. Are there any special circumstances that could account for a change in grades or test scores? For ex- ample, was there a reason your GPA dropped one year as opposed to others? 11. Please discuss any educational opportunities you have participated in that directly relate to your in- tended major. (Examples: internships, study abroad, conferences, special summer programs, etc.) 12. College admissions counselors read thousands of applications. What do you want a college admissions or scholarship representative to know about you that makes you stand out from the crowd?

7 Personal statement Your personal statement should be exactly that personal. This is your opportunity to tell us about yourself your hopes, ambitions, life experiences, inspirations. We encourage you to take your time on this assignment. Be open. Be reflective. Find your individual voice and express it honestly. As you respond to the essay prompts, think about the admissions and scholarship officers who will read your statement and what you want them to understand about you. While your personal statement is only one of many factors we consider when making our admission decision, it helps provide context for the rest of your application. Directions All applicants must respond to two essay prompts the general prompt and either the freshman or transfer prompt, depending on your status. Responses to your two prompts must be a maximum of 1,000 words total. Allocate the word count as you wish. If you choose to respond to one prompt at greater length, we suggest your shorter answer be no less than 250 words. The essay prompts Freshman applicant prompt Describe the world you come from for example, your family, community or school and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations. Transfer applicant prompt What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had in the field such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities and what you have gained from your involvement. Prompt for all applicants Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are? Tips and techniques Start early. Allow time for reflection, thoughtful preparation and revision. Choose a topic for both essays.

8 Look critically at the information in your application: your grades, awards, activities and work experience, family and income. Anticipate questions an admissions evaluator will have after reading your application. The personal statement is your opportunity to answer those questions. Compose your personal statement in a word-processing program. Don't type it directly into the application. This way, you will have the opportunity to print copies for review. Write persuasively. Present your information and ideas in a focused, deliberate and meaningful manner. Provide specific, concrete examples to support your point. A personal statement that is simply a list of qualities or accomplishments usually is not persuasive. Proofread. In addition to checking your spelling, be sure your grammar is correct and your essays flow smoothly. Solicit feedback. Your personal statement should reflect your own ideas and be written by you alone, but others family, teachers and friends can offer valuable suggestions. Ask advice of whomever you like, but do not plagiarize from sources in print or online and do not use anyone's published words but your own.

9 Volunteering, Job Shadowing or Audit of a College Course I,, intend to: Volunteer for 8 hours Audit a college course Job shadow With who? (Supervisor) Where? (Institution) Date? Contact Information for Supervisor Please rate this student s participation: Excellent Good Fair Poor Signature of Supervisor: Date: Please feel free to contact Stephanie Sullivan at or