A friend told me that her daughter was waitlisted at the college she really wanted to go to. What should her daughter do? Remember that getting onto a waitlist means that the school is seriously considering you and if there is an opening – someone who got in, decides not to go – you will be seriously considered. The important date is May 1, when students have to give deposits.

Unfortunately, it is very hard to predict how many students will be accepted from the waitlist every year. However, you can remain on more than one college’s waitlist. If are on a waitlist, accept another school’s offer and send the required deposit by May 1st. If you get into your waitlist college and want to attend, withdraw from the school you originally accepted and accept the waitlisted college’s offer. Here’s some other tips:
1. Be sure to keep your senior grades up.
2. Update your application through a letter or e-mail, discussing recent achievements and your continued interest in the college.
3. Write a new essay,
4. Get a new letter of recommendation from one of your senior teachers.
5. Plan a return visit to the campus and express your interest, again.
GOOD LUCK!

Not a good writer? You can learn how to write well. Why is writing important? Colleges and universities are looking for a community of scholarly students. You will be required to write many papers and reports during your studies. I maintain that those students who learn to write well, get better grades. To succeed in a career, you need to communicate well. Think of it – even emails, takes a knowledge of grammar and language usage. (Remember to always reread an email for errors before you send it.) Getting into college depends on your writing ability. Required tests, such as the SATs and ACT, now require that you write an essay (http://satdude.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/sat-multiple-choice-writing-red-flags-part-1/). And of course, as I have pointed out in past blogs, you need these skills to write your college application essays – and there are a lot of them. What are the elements of a successful essay?
1. A great lead sentence and paragraph that really catches the readers attention. Think exciting and intriguing.
2. Transitions between ideas and paragraphs.
3. Organization – are the paragraphs in the correct order?
4. Use of quotes – never in the first or last sentence but as evidence in the body of the essay.
5. A conclusion that summarizes your ideas and looks at the bigger picture – what did you learn or what is the greater meaning from your experience.
6. Can you see it, feel it, smell it, and touch it?
7. Have you taken a unique approach to a topic, issue, or experience?

Keep in mind that writing well takes practice, so keep at it!

Internships may be a good opportunity to get some real-work experience. There are paid and unpaid internships. Some are for a summer, while others last throughout the school year.

Although many internships are local, others offer work locally. For example, you could have a job at a TV station, or you could teach children guitar in Costa Rica.

An internship can show you what it’s like to have a boss, go meetings, meet deadlines, and complete work on a deadline. Internships also introduce you to mentors who can help shape what career you go into.

Here are some websites that have information on how to find an internship:
http://collegemagazine.com/page/41/Find-an-Internship
http://www.internshipconnection.com/
http://blog.blackboard.com/blackboard-developers-blog/presidential-support-for-internships-com%E2%80%99s-mission
http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2012/12-025.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
http://www.hercampus.com/career/10-spring-internships-you-can-still-apply

Check out these scholarship resources for students:
http://tinyurl.com/7fx6euc
https://bestbuy.scholarshipamerica.org/information.php
http://techcrunch.com/2012/01/24/scholarpro-intelligently-matches-students-with-educational-scholarships/
http://ap-google.journalists.org/
http://www.scholarshipsgrantsloan.com/the-juilliard-school-scholarships-usa/
http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/18/m-t-v-tackles-financial-aid/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mtvu/an-easier-way-to-find-fin_b_1214047.html
http://careers.microsoft.com/careers/en/us/internships-scholarships.aspx

Students: Please be aware that some essays are being cut off when uploaded to the Common Application. As a result, some changes are on the horizon to help the Common Application keep page with the digital age:
http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/common-app-4-0/?ref=education

Rise in applications to certain colleges – drop in applications at others. See what’s hot and what’s not.
http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/23/regular-admission-tally-2012/?ref=education

Parents and students – take some time on school vacations to visit college campuses. Many people decide to visit schools in the summer. However, it’s best to see the campus “in action” or in session. You won’t get a feel for campus life otherwise. If you are really interested in applying to a particular school, arrange for an overnight stay. This has to be done well ahead of time with the admissions office. Go on a tour of the school, but be prepared with a list of questions to ask, including:
What is the student-professor ratio in classes
What percentage of the professors have a Ph.D.?
Describe security on campus.
Is there a hospital nearby?

Here’s some other information you might find helpful: http://tinyurl.com/7ylg5v3

Be sure to visit the town or city near the college. Have lunch, visit attractions, just spend some time getting to know where you are going to spend your college days.

Here’s a new twist to college visits – personalized tours: http://itemlive.com/articles/2012/03/06/business/business02.txt

I’m often asked what “undergraduate” high school students can do to give them a better chance to get into college besides getting good grades. Colleges are looking for a well-rounded students and that includes participating in extracurricular activities. Many students associate extracurricular activities with sports. However, there are many other after-school clubs and organizations that students should get involved in, such as school plays and the newspaper. You don’t have to be an actor or writer to be a part of the “action”. You can help design a play’s set or collect advertisement revenues for the paper. Is there a Young Republican Club at your high school? If not, why don’t you start one? Remember to write about your experiences in a diary or just make notes, so you will have something interesting to write about on your college applications. It’s a good idea to take a look at the Common Application to find out what information on extracurricular activities are required.

More colleges/universities are determining their freshman classes by December through early decision. Juniors – pay attention. Ivy league schools are filling 45% of their freshman roster this way. Applicants should consider applying ED to increase their chances of getting into the college of their choice. However, you can only apply to one college ED. This takes planning and preparation. As I’ve said before, the time to begin those application essays is in August before the senior year. Read more about this tend.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/14/education/early-admission-applications-rise-as-do-rejections.html?_r=2&hpw

Hi,
If you are reading this blog – thank you. If you have looked at my website, you will see that I am an experienced teacher and English tutor.

If you are a parent of a freshman, sophomore, or junior and your teen is struggling in English classes with writing, grammar, note-taking skills, and other skills and grades are slipping, it may be time to get your child tutored. Research has shown that individualized, one-on-one tutoring is one of the most effective ways of increasing student achievement. My approach to tutoring includes:

Planning a program that will address his or her individual needs.
Giving positive reinforcement and encouragement to bring out his or her strengths.
Helping students learn to write and use grammar effectively.
Monitoring their progress and emailing you after each meeting to update you.

Colleges and universities accept students who can write well and use the English language effectively. Your teen’s grades in English are very important and impact their getting into the college of their choice. I am offering a one-time special on tutoring: four sessions for $170 ($42.50 per session). I usually charge $45 per session. For those of you who aren’t in the Boston, Mass. USA area (metrowest), we can connect through Skype. Please email me at Debby@academicsupportlink.com or call me at 617-584-5295 to set up a meeting.

Regards,
Debby

What Summer Experiences Are Best to Write About?
I bumped into a friend whose son is a sophomore in high school. What should he do this summer that he might eventually write about on a college essay, she asked? We talked about him going on a trip to a foreign country to learn about other cultures. She wondered if colleges might think that a parent was trying to “buy” an experience for a teen. My thoughts were that a summer job/experience/trip should be based on the teen’s interests, passions, and goals. Going to Mexico to volunteer in a health clinic or teaching guitar to youngsters in a village in Costa Rica is a great idea – but is this truly what interests the teen? Also, one doesn’t have to travel far to find an opportunity to understand cultural differences/poverty/homelessness – they are right in your community or one nearby.