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If you’re planning to apply to a college, chances are, you will have to take standardized tests like the SAT or ACT sooner or later. The question is, when should you decide take these standardized tests?

The answer to that question is relative to every student. But here are some guidelines to keep in mind to help you come to a decision:

1) Allocate enough time to prepare well.
Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” The same holds true when taking tests. Standardized tests measure a required set of skills (writing, comprehension, mathematical proficiency, etc.) that students must possess to determine if that student is ready for the demands of higher education. Hence, it is important to find enough time to hone these sets of skills.

But finding time to prepare is only half the story. You must make sure that the time you put aside for preparing must coincide with the time when you are in the best condition to study for the test. Some people, for instance, find it difficult to concentrate during the summer break, opting instead to study during the school year when academic work is routine. Others, on the other hand, prefer the opposite, opting to study during the summer break when they have no other school work to attend to except preparing for the standardized test.

Understand when you usually work best and use that time to prepare accordingly.

2) Ask yourself: “Am I prepared?”
If you can answer that question with confidence, then you are probably ready. Remember, only take the test when you feel that you are prepared to take the test. If you are not confident about yourself, it’s best to study more.

You may also want to take a ‘practice test’ just to get a feel for the style of standardized tests as well as an idea of what skills you may need to improve further.

3) It’s usually better to schedule your tests early.
The sooner you take your tests, the sooner you get your scores. Getting your scores sooner rather than later has its benefits. For one, it allows you to complete your college applications sooner since most colleges consider an application complete only when standardized test scores like the SAT is submitted.

Secondly, if your scores aren’t up to par and you feel that you can do better, you can also choose to retake the test.

4) Be wary before choosing to retake the test.
As a rule of thumb, only take the test when you know you can do significantly better or when you ‘need’ to do significantly better. For instance, if you failed the test, you have every incentive to retake and make sure you pass it the next time around lest you hamper your college chances.

Many students would end up unhappy with their scores regardless of the fact that they passed. As a result, these students simply want to retake the test just to see if they can do better. If you were suffering from a high fever or a debilitating illness at the time of the test, then your desire to retake the test may be justified, since you have a reason to think that you could do better in the next try. But if everything was normal and you studied diligently, chances are, retaking the test will only yield similar results.

Standardized tests are very consistent. Unless you have a compelling reason to think that you can do significantly better, it may be wiser to save yourself from added stress and registration costs that might yield only a slightly better (or worse) test result than you had recorded previously.

College interviews are quite rare. However, if a college recommends that you have one, it’s always best to seize the opportunity. Treat college interviews as your best chance to show the admission officers why you’re an excellent candidate for acceptance, and why you can be an asset to the school once you’re admitted.

Well-written essays help distinguish you from other applicants. However, college interviews are still more personal–these sessions allow admission officers to see how you are as a person, how you communicate with others and how well you present yourself. Accepting the opportunity to schedule an interview and doing well during the interview itself will give you a better chance to make a good impression on admission officers, as well as offer you an edge over other students who don’t show up for interviews.

In addition, college interviews also give you the chance to see what your prospective school really has to offer. The information you get in the interview may help you assess which college to choose should you get accepted in two or more colleges of equal caliber.

So how do you take full advantage of college interviews? Here are three things to keep in mind:

1. Always prepare well for the interview.
   If you have an interview the next day, don’t go out partying the night before with your best buds. The last thing you want to do is to stumble into the Admissions Office with a hangover banging away in your skull. Remember, too, that college interviews last about 30-45 minutes. For an applicant who wishes to gather enough information about the school as well as convey an ideal impression, time is definitely not on your side.

   To help you manage your time efficiently during the interview, it would be good to know the basics of what your chosen program has to offer and its mission-vision statement so you can assess what you truly are looking for in a college education. It is also important to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses as a student and try to determine why you think the college can help emphasize your strengths as well as help improve on your weaknesses. Doing so will show the admission officer that you value the ideals set forth by the college.

2. Ask pertinent questions.
   When you have a basic understanding of the school you are applying to, you can formulate important questions that you may need to ask in case certain areas of concern are not addressed. Asking questions is a good way to show the admission officer that you’re genuinely interested in the program you’re applying to. It also shows them what your academic priorities and goals might be, and therefore will project a better picture of the kind of student you are.
3. Be confident.
   It is understandable to be a little nervous when you are about to be interviewed. Being somewhat nervous is good in the sense that you know that you want to do well. However, you must make sure that your nerves don’t get the better of you. Common signs of nervousness and agitation include fidgety motions like repeatedly adjusting and readjusting your watch or bracelet, shaking your leg, tapping your fingers and, god forbid, biting your nails. These little actions detract the focus from the interview, and your interviewer might pay more attention to your nervousness than to what you actually have to say.

   Showing tension also gives the impression that you can’t handle pressure very well. That is the last thing you want to show because college is all about pressure–meant to prepare you for the real world that involves even more pressure.

   Remember to just relax. College admission officers are not asking you to forcefully fit a stereotype so don’t try to project yourself as someone that you’re not. Admission officers only want to get a glimpse of who you are so make it a point to expand the information they have on you based on your application. In the end, it is always best to be yourself.

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5 Essay Writing Tips for College Admission

That Essay Can Win You that Scholarship! on InstantScholarshipSearch.com

As you graduate and step out of college, the next item on your to-do list is to look for a job. But since the country is experiencing what feels like an economic recession and thousands of job lay-offs, expect job hunting to be quite tough and pretty exhausting.

But don’t let a bad economy discourage you from entering the workforce. Job hunting might be a little difficult, but here are some tips to make it a simpler task:

1. Assess yourself.
   You need take time to assess your skills, career objectives, and personal mission. It is important to be aware of your capabilities and strengths to know how to “sell” yourself to companies during job hunting. Deeply evaluate your abilities so you can easily find the career that suits your background, skills, and interests perfectly.
2. Gather information.
   In job hunting, you need to gather information and research on careers and industries that interest you. You can surf the web and use a lot of sites to check if there are any vacant positions you qualify for, as well as to find out more about the nature of work involved in a particular industry or company you’re interested in.
3. Be proactive.
   Don’t just rely on job advertisements on newspapers or the Internet. Some companies try to save their finances by not posting any vacancies, since doing that involves a lot of money. Why don’t you visit companies around your area and create direct contacts with various employers? Pass your resume and be friendly when asking for any vacancies and the background of the company. Your initiative and determination will surely set you apart from other applicants.
4. Prepare your material.
   Make a short yet concise resume with an accurate description of your skills, abilities, career objectives. If you’ve had a job before, be sure to specify projects you’ve handled or undertaken, since your experience alone will give you an edge over the other candidates. A well-tailored resume can get instant recognition that can help you land the job.
5. Get ready for the interview.
   During the job interview, remember to speak with confidence and respond intelligently to questions thrown at you by your potential employer. He or she might ask questions about the company, which is why researching is a must in job hunting. But don’t be too confident because too much of that might be mistaken as arrogance. Just be courteous and be on your toes during the interview to show exactly how competent you are.

   You also need to dress appropriately. The safest route in dressing up for job interviews is to dress conservatively and respectably. For men and women, a solid colored (black, gray or navy blue) suit is ideal. Men shouldn’t come in jeans or sneakers, and women should avoid putting on too much make-up or wearing revealing outfits And most of all, be on time. Being punctual during your scheduled job interview shows that you have a solid sense of professionalism and responsibility.

Keep in mind these tips when you begin job hunting. These can help you make such task a little bit easier. Good luck!

Each year, hundreds of thousands of students send their applications to their desired universities and compete for limited openings. It is likely that many of these applicants will have similar grades, resumes and/or SAT scores. If you think that being the valedictorian of your high school gives you a distinct edge, well, think again! Many other valedictorians of other schools are also applying to the same university, possibly even in the same course as you. The question is: why should the university pick you instead of the other academic ace?

This is the reason why college essays are very important. Although having high grades and being active in school help in boosting your image as a student, they do little to truly separate you from the other applicants who have the same (or maybe even better) academic and extra-curricular record.

What admission officers do is to evaluate essays to distinguish one applicant from another. Hence, your college essay could easily be the determining factor of whether you get accepted or rejected. It is wise never to take your admission essays for granted. Here are important tips to consider when writing an essay for your college admission:

1. Always keep the main question/s in mind.
   Students naturally want to impress by citing all their achievements in school. Unfortunately, many tend to veer away from the main point of the essay, which is to answer the question. Understand that your whole life won’t fit within 500 words so don’t even try. Instead, always keep the main question in mind and construct your ideas in such a way that they are always directed towards answering the question.
2. Avoid highfaluting words. Be concise and straight to the point.
   Again, some students want to impress by using rare, grand words from the dictionary. Unfortunately, using highfaluting words may also clutter your essay and make it convoluted or confusing when words are used inappropriately.

   It is always better to be simple and straight to the point. Using short sentences allows you to impart your thoughts more directly and more clearly. In addition, simple words make your essay also seem more honest compared to something that is trying too hard to sound profound.

3. Avoid colloquial language.
   Using simple words doesn’t mean using your everyday lingo when talking with your friends. Your essays still have to be formal, so avoid using slang terms or clichés that make your essay sound too casual and inappropriate.
4. Use specific examples to explain your point.
   College admission officers don’t know you so it’s highly unlikely that they will take your word at face value. When you write down things like “I am a natural leader” or “I feel a deep sense of compassion for the elderly,” chances are, you’d sound arrogant or presumptuous to them. Instead, specify your personal experiences that highlight your leadership traits or your compassion. The burden of proof is on you so be as concrete and specific as possible.
5. Don’t forget to proofread your work.
   It is important to scrutinize your essay repeatedly. Make sure that your final copy is as perfect as possible. You may also want to have your family or friends evaluate your essay so you can have an idea of how others react to your work.

Good luck on your college applications!

It has been said that college scholarships are like ‘free money’ because scholarships don’t need to be repaid by benefitting applicants. But because it is free, it is also very difficult to win scholarship awards because many others naturally want a share of this ‘free money’.

As a result, competition for college scholarships is fierce and interested applicants must prove why they are the most deserving to win the award. In order to have an edge when applying for scholarships, it is important to know five important details about college scholarships:

1. There is an extremely wide variety of scholarships available.
   Applicants don’t need to be ‘straight A’ students or superstar athletes to be given scholarships. Many people erroneously think that college scholarships are just limited to academic- and athletic-based scholarships. But they’re not.

   Scholarships can also be need-based, wherein an applicant’s social background (like family income, number of members in the family, ethnicity, religion etc.) becomes a criterion for eligibility. There are even unusual scholarships that look at an applicant’s most unusual traits and/or skills to determine eligibility.

   It is good to research on all types of scholarships and assess where you can qualify for. Remember that the more applications you submit, the better your chances of winning a scholarship award. The more scholarships that you know you could be eligible for, the more choices you have in selecting what best fits your needs.

2. Know where to look for scholarships.
   Now that you know what types of scholarships to apply for, you need to know where to get them. Searching online is the most common option. However, do not overlook other avenues as well. Your high school guidance counselor, for instance, may have useful information regarding the scholarship options available to you. The college universities you’re interested in applying to also have scholarship offers for accepted students. Your local government also offers a variety of need based scholarships so it’s good to give them a call. And of course, don’t forget about your FAFSA application.
3. Many scholarships have application forms with lengthy requirements.
   The more scholarships you apply for, the more chances of winning scholarship awards. However, many scholarships have lengthy applications. In order to apply to as many as you can, you have to give yourself enough time to complete all the necessary requirements. Essays must be well thought of and presented in a neat and organized manner so it is important not to rush. Remember that scholarship providers won’t know you from Adam. Presenting an application form that looks professionally written is always a good first impression.
4. College scholarships are not just about G-R-A-D-E-S.
   High grades are good. But they are not the only basis for determining eligibility, even in academic scholarships. This is because scholarship providers value the importance of a well-rounded individual. Scholarship providers are keen on students who can work well with other people and students who are able to use their talents in a productive manner. Therefore, active involvement in extra-curricular activities as well as community volunteer programs is always a plus for any student.
5. Specific essays matter.
   Detailed examples of your notable actions are always more credible than vague statements like “I was active in the student council.” You have to show exactly how you were active in the student council. Of course, the more active you are in extra-curricular activities and other volunteer programs, the more examples you can mention to beef up your value as a student.

College scholarships may be ‘free money’. However, you still need to work hard in proving why you are deserving of that ‘free money’.
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