Then you get to your applications, and you get to the part where you answer some questions and ask some people to say stuff about you, and you realize this is the place you have the MOST control of the process. Then the panic starts. Let’s put this in some context. Essays and recommendations are WAY less important than your ...

As a college-bound student, I will admit that preparing for the college process takes more than good grades and activities. While students strive to find a place in the realm of academia, I believe that scholarships are a crucial element. Universally, most people concur that a decent education doesn’t come cheaply. Indeed, knowledge is power, but obtaining that power costs a ...

After all the stuff I shared about how college admissions committees function, you begin to get the idea that the essay isn’t getting NEARLY as much attention as the stress levels on the subject would lead you to believe. That’s mostly true, but the truth is you never know how much your essay might influence the decision, positively or negatively, so ...

Essays seem to cause a lot of stress. It seems strange to me, but the stress seems to increase when the topic is broader. When they ask about specific books you’ve read or people that influenced you, somehow that seems easier than the “tell us about yourself” questions. This seems especially odd since most applicants I met spend much of the ...

When the question is open-ended (”Tell us about yourself”), stress levels seem to increase. Bear in mind that no one knows for sure what any individual reader will want or get from an essay. That being said, I suggest you try to include two main points: Why the school wants to have you there, and why you want to go there. ...

Some simple suggestions to round out my series on your admissions essay. Do: Write multiple drafts, get help with reviewing your document, and proofread. Allow TIME for revisions and reflection. Be especially careful of how your document cuts and pastes into online applications - with many you may have a perfect essay transformed into (in technical terms) gobbleygook. Keep the length ...

'Tis also the season for my regular, always much anticipated, blog post on submitting your application materials successfully.  If you follow any of the other admission blogs (no reason you would, since you’ve discovered this one, other than morbid curiosity) you’ll see post after post complaining about all the mail us poor overworked admissions officers receive this time of year as application ...

It seems like the sophomore year is one that you don’t remember. It’s not like your freshman year when everything is new and exciting. It’s not like your junior year when you start the college search process. It’s not like your senior year that is fast-paced, application-crazed, and meaningful yet fun. It’s the often-overlooked sophomore year that isn’t given nearly enough ...

The essay: It's one of the most important parts of your college application, and it can be the hardest. But it doesn't have to be. Take a look at some of the most commonly asked essay questions and use them to prepare for your applications. Brainstorm ideas, do some research or create your own "stock" of application essays from the ...

Don't let the college admissions essay intimidate you. Remember, it's the part of your application that is fully under your control. Make it work to your advantage! Don't recycle essays. Nothing will land your essay in the circular file faster than an obviously recycled or "near match" essay. Be yourself. Choose a topic that is meaningful to you. Write in ...

Although Halloween usually marks the start of the holiday season for America’s retailers, if you are a Senior applying to college, the day signals the unofficial start of the college application season. Regardless of your grades or test scores, you will likely struggle writing your personal statement, commonly known as “the college essay.” Here are six tips that will help you ...

Despite the gloomy headlines, the outlook for hiring in finance and accounting should be strong for 2008. “You see a lot in the press that’s negative, and there are problems with the economy,” says Josh Warborg, Robert Half International district president in Seattle. “The fact of the matter is we’re seeing an expanded economy and expanding jobs.” For accountants at all ...

Regardless of your child’s grades or test scores, he or she will likely struggle with his or her personal statement, commonly known as “the college essay.” Here are six questions to consider when your child asks you to help edit his or her personal statement. 1. Did your child follow directions? Many students fail to accurately answer the question posed in ...

Wouldn’t it be great to get a part-time job or paying internship that directly relates to what you want to do with your life? But what if you’re not sure what you want to do with your life yet? What if you have to “settle” for a job at your nearby fast-food joint, department store or supermarket? Then consider yourself lucky. ...