Getting into Law or Medical School

November 16th, 2008

For some people, the ultimate academic pursuit is to get into law or medical school. A sample essay about myself may help you get your foot in the door. Beyond a sample essay about myself, there are specific college degree courses, which may help you get into your law or medical school of choice.

Getting into law or medical school takes some preparation. You would do good with a sample essay about myself. You also need to prepare academically. It will help to have gained undergraduate degrees in courses that can help you in the fields of medicine or law. While some schools offer pre-law or pre-med, others may not.

For medical school, you will need to be in courses that are heavy on science. Those with degrees in Biology, chemistry and physics often do well. Their transition from their college course to medical school isn’t as hard. Others come from Humanities and Social Science courses.

For law school, many qualify with just about any degree to their credit. Law school just requires diligence, logic, analytical skills and a lot of patience. However, there are courses that best prepare prospective law students. This includes Psychology, Political Science, Philosophy and Criminology. If you plan to go into law, choose courses that focus on research, analysis, logic and human behavior.

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But then again, while you need to prepare for medical or law school (if this is your ultimate goal), college should also be about the exploration of possibilities. You may have other interests that you want to explore. At the same time, your skills may fit another degree course. Follow your desires. Doing so does not mean you cannot qualify to medical or law school in the future. This may only help you focus and realize what you really want. If law or medicine is what you really want, then you can still qualify for it, regardless of what you took in college.

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Avoiding Sexual Harassment in College: Some Tips

November 14th, 2008

After successfully gaining a slot in college, with the help of the sample essay about myself, you now face a conflicting world of opportunities and challenges. A sample essay about myself is just a start. When in the college setting, you will be dealing with so much more. For one thing, there is the persistent issue of sexual harassment in college. Your sample essay about myself may not have anticipated it. But, this is a college reality. Steps need to be taken to warn and protect collegiate men and women about sexual harassment.

A study made by the American Association of University Woman has come out with dreadful statistics. According to the study, more than 60% of the male and female populace in universities has experienced sexual harassment. As someone who can be potentially exposed to this situation, you need to follow some guidelines to protect yourself:

1. Be Aware – Awareness is always the first step. Know what constitute sexual harassment. Sexual harassment includes any unwelcome sexual behavior. This includes physical, verbal and nonverbal actuations – from an unwelcome touch or proposition to sexually offensive jokes. Several online sources can let you know the different forms of sexual harassment, and the laws that protect you.

Next, be aware of your environment. It helps to know the people around and be familiar with your surroundings. Else, always bring company in situations when you’d have to go somewhere unfamiliar or meet with a stranger.

2. Evaluate – Note how you dress and act. Some can attract unwanted advances. While this is not your fault, you need to keep away from trouble, as much as possible.

3. Be vigilant – Some people take it for granted that you will just let sexual jokes or unwelcome touching slide. Don’t let it pass. Make them know that you do not approve of this behavior.

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4. Seek help – Know the people in college that you can turn to regarding this type of situation. Ask for help if you’ve been harassed.

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Using the SWOT Analysis to Determine Academic Pursuit

November 12th, 2008

In application essays to universities, you need to be able to show some self-awareness and a clear idea of what you want to pursue in college. The SWOT analyses in a sample essay about myself is a good example of how to do it. SWOT refers to Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT), commonly used measures in business and project planning. In the sample essay about myself, the SWOT is used to graph an analysis of personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This lets you show your focus and drive in the sample essay about myself.

Here are tips in incorporating the SWOT analysis in a sample essay about myself:

1. Understand SWOT Analysis – Know how to conduct and interpret your personal SWOT analysis. You need to answer several questions pertaining to the four factors analyzed. Access the several online tools to help you with your test. Since this is about your education, you need to draft questions that relate to this. Focus on your personal qualities, academic interests, training and experience. Consider questions like: “What subject do I often look forward to?” and “What are the interesting university courses available no?”

2. Answer honestly – SWOT analysis questions can be somewhat tough, as it needs for some self-assessment and analyses. No matter what, it is in your best interest to answer honestly. This is the only way you can effectively evaluate yourself in terms of your suitable academic pursuit.

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3. Self-SWOT Analysis – Once you’ve got your answers in, carefully review your list. Assess your academic situation against your answers. Here are some tips:
– Select a course where your strengths can be harnessed.
– Improve on your weaknesses first before selecting courses that may require better skills in these. Universities will have several opportunities to better your knowledge.
– Determine the path that you need to take to succeed in your selected academic pursuit. Improve yourself by taking extra courses and workshops on necessary knowledge and skills for you to excel in your chosen path.

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Getting Into the Top 5 Careers in Humanities and Social Sciences

November 10th, 2008

A good sample essay about myself can help get you in the top five careers for humanities and social sciences. When applying for university degrees in humanities and social sciences, school officials will most like ask for an essay. A sample essay about myself can get you started on getting into the popular professions in your chosen degree course:

1. Teacher – Being a teacher can be both challenging and fulfilling. You can opt to teach in the university or high school levels. As teacher, you will be exposed to continuous learning opportunities, and challenged in critical thinking. You will also have a strong on budding minds.

2. Lawyer – Law is a popular field for those taking up humanities and social sciences. These degree courses prepare students for careers as lawyers with appropriate exposure to psychology, history and human behavior – important areas to know when you are a lawyer.

3. Sociologist – A fulfilling and popular path to follow when taking degree courses in Humanities and Social Sciences, a career as sociologist will allow you to learn more about human and social behaviors, and the structure and institutions that govern them. The field of sociology supports education, politics, business and social psychology.

4. Political Scientist – A career as political scientist will expose you to the inner workings of public policies, as well as the ins and outs of political systems. This career deals with a variety of issues and topics. A degree in Humanities and Social Science provides appropriate exposure and knowledge for this type of work.

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5. Anthropologist – The study of human behavior in the social milieu can be an interesting career path for someone with a degree in Humanities and Social Sciences. An anthropologist deals with development topics on the cultural, social and physical aspects of society. He/ she studies cultural development vis-à-vis human behavior.

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Getting Into the Top 5 Careers in Science and Engineering

November 8th, 2008

To get into science and engineering degree courses, you will be asked to write an essay. Science and engineering degree courses are among the hardest to qualify for – you can get an edge through a sample essay about myself. A sample essay about myself can give you an idea how to format your application essays. A sample essay bout myself can be a start to your career in the respected fields of science and engineering.

In science, the popular career choices include:

1.    Environmental scientist – The Bureau of Labor Statistics refers to environmental science as one of the top jobs in the area of science and engineering. It has one of the faster job growth possibilities. An environmental scientist deals with finding solutions to environment issues and concerns through research and analyses.

2.    Hydrologist – Recognized as one of the fastest growing science careers, a hydrologist studies water cycle and circulation. He/ she analyzes the different aspects in water and its redistribution into the oceans and the atmosphere.

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In engineering, the popular professions are:

1.    Electrical engineer – An electrical engineer develops, designs and manufactures electrical devices. He/ she may also be involved in the installation and configuration of electrical systems.
2.    Civil engineer – A civil engineer is responsible for the civil structures we are used to: roads, airports, bridges, and the water and sewage systems. He/ she oversees their construction and maintenance.
3.    Mechanical engineer – A mechanical engineer is responsible for the design, manufacture and maintenance of mechanical components and equipments. The field offers him/ her a wide selection of industries to get involved with.

With the vast opportunities for those in science and engineering degree courses, there will surely be plenty of career options for you in the future. Make sure to give yourself an edge by attending workshops and seminars. These will also let you set your sight on the path you really want.

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Sample Essay about Myself Tip: Match Skills and Interest to Your Career Path

November 6th, 2008

It is common to be asked to write an essay about yourself when you apply for a slot in your course of choice. When you do so, note one of the most important sample essay about myself tip; that is, to make sure you are able to match your skills and interest to your career path. This sample essay about myself tip has worked for many aspiring students. At the same time, it is a good guide to anyone wanting a fulfilling career after college.

Choosing a career path is difficult when you are just starting out. Your best bet is to choose a profession that matches your skills and interest. Here are some tips:

1.    Know your options: There are many possible options to suit your skills and interest. Know what’s in line for you out there. You might already have some ideas. Do some research and know what else is there that aligns with your interests.

2.    Improve yourself: Once you know your options, you need to better yourself. If you are just entering college, take courses, workshops and seminars that can help you in your prospective profession. And, learning does not stop after college. Keep on taking seminars, lectures and forums that can help you get where you want to be.

3.    Make the most of what’s available: The goal is to realize what you really want, and increase your knowledge and experience to help you achieve it. To do so, you need to make full use of what’s available to you. If you are in university or just in high school, you have the ready services of a career advisor or guidance counselor. Talk to him/ her about your options.

4.    Know what you need: When you already know what you want as a career, you need to know what is required to achieve them. This includes the credentials and qualifications necessary. Plan to gain these requirements and go do it!

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5.    Adapt: In the course of learning more about themselves, people can change their minds about what they want. Allow this for yourself.

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A Guide to Improving Your Research Skills

November 4th, 2008

Research is an essential activity in colleges, universities and post-graduate institutions. Whether your school requirement is a homework, an essay, a major paper or a thesis, you will need to do light or heavy research to get a satisfactory grade. So to help improve your research skills, follow the tips below.

Tip 1 - Familiarize yourself with research strategies

Even before the term begins, read about various research strategies. By getting familiar about the strategies, you will be able to do your assignments faster and more effectively. In addition, you will save more time for reading sources, writing and editing.

Tip 2 - Understand the assignment given to you

Read the question and instructions given by the teacher and think about what they require you to accomplish. The question usually implies the following:

*The purpose of the assignment
*The topic you will write about
*The length of discussion of points
*The sources you will use
*The type of citation you will apply
*The submission deadline

If some of the information above are not implied or stated in the question and the instructions, consult your teacher. Remember to find out most especially the type of citation and paper format your teacher prefers.

Tip 3 - Make a research plan

Depending on when the submission deadline is, give yourself a lot of time for research, writing and editing. Make a research schedule and follow it. After all, cramming can only lead to an unsatisfactory research paper.

To find the sources you need, list down books or reading materials that you think will provide you the right information. And as you research, save time by looking into the materials that will help you most. Avoid getting distracted by interesting but unimportant sources and stay focused on your goal.

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Tip 4 - Apply basic research strategies

In any research, it is necessary to do the following for your ease and efficiency:

*Narrow down the scope of your topic.
*Start your research by reading general references like encyclopedias.
*Use reliable sources when searching for information from the Internet.
*Ask experts on the topic for suggestions on where to find useful research material.

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Tips to Avoid Committing Plagiarism

November 2nd, 2008

Plagiarism is a serious offense of using another person’s ideas without giving due acknowledgment or credit. The offense can cause offenders to be expelled from school and also prevent them from being recognized for their future academic contributions. So to avoid plagiarism, follow the tips below.

Tip 1 - Know the types of plagiarism

There are two types of plagiarism, one is intentional and the other is unintentional. Intentional plagiarism is done conscientiously and is seen as an unpardonable offense by academicians. Unintentional plagiarism, on the other hand, is committed when citations are written inappropriately.

To know more about plagiarism, ask your research teacher to provide you related reading materials. You can also find information about plagiarism in various university websites. By learning about plagiarism, you are already making steps to avoid it.

Tip 2 - Study and apply the rules on citations

Studying the rules on citations can take time considering there are several of them. Nevertheless, knowing how to apply them is what you need to avoid plagiarism. So as you learn about the rules of citation, remember to determine the following factors:

*What type of citation do I use?
*What details do I need to cite?
*How do I write citations?
*Where do I write citations and references?

It is advisable that you practice writing citations during your free time. By doing so, you will become more familiar with the different citation types and rules. In addition, you will be able to write your papers and assignments faster and have more time for editing when you are familiar with the rules.

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Tip 3 - Understand why you have to follow citation rules

It is always helpful to understand the “why” other than the “how.” The reasons for following citations free you from thinking that they are tedious, useless and annoying. Once you know why you should follow citation rules, you will see that they are, in fact, essential. In addition, the rules will help you to express your ideas more effectively and enable you to become a reputable academic source yourself.

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Socializing and Making New Friends in College

October 31st, 2008

College can be fulfilling, exciting and fun. Even if you need to adjust to various factors like leaving home, studying more seriously, and being independent, socializing and making new friends balance your activities and your college life. Each day, you will encounter more people from different social, educational and cultural backgrounds. So to know how to fit in and get along with many of them, follow the tips below.

Tip 1 - Spare time for socialization

Be it through the college fair, football games, late-night parties or study groups, socializing occasionally helps you to know other people and to be known as well. In addition, socializing allows you to broaden and share your educational resources with others. If you need to borrow textbooks, you can ask your new friends in the higher batches to lend you theirs. At the same time, you can help your other new friends by sharing your lecture notes or by giving tips about studying for a certain class.

Tip 2 - Be interested in others

People often warm up to those interested about them. But a lot of people are also shy and wait for others to approach first to talk. So instead of being like those waiting to be approached, make the first move. A friendly conversation can start with, “Hi! Which city do you come from?” Or you can say, “I love Biology. Does Biology interest you a lot?” When you make the first move to befriend people, you will see that you already have a long list of new friends by the end of the day.

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Tip 3 - Try out new activities

College is the time to make a brand new you. So break any old bad habits you have and try new activities. If a friend asks you to join their sports club but you’ve never joined a sports club in high school, join this time. If you’ve never participated in a book club, sign up for one. When you try different and new activities, you will meet more people, become more open-minded, and see life in a different perspective.

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Tips on Effective Note Taking

October 29th, 2008

Writing lecture notes is one of the common tasks of students. Writing lecture notes helps a student understand and remember topics discussed in class. In addition, having lecture notes helps a student get high grades. To help you understand lessons better and do well in school, below are tips on how to write useful class notes.

Tip 1 – Prepare before class

Taking down lecture notes seems like a no-brainer, but, in fact, it requires a bit of preparation. Preparation before the lecture is key to improve your note-taking skills. So, get ready by reading hand-outs and book chapters related to the topic to be discussed. By reading ahead, you familiarize yourself with concepts and become capable of quickly grasping ideas discussed in a lecture.

In addition, organize and keep your note-taking and highlighting tools close to you. When your tools are handy and accessible, you encounter less hassles and save more time for studying. And when your tools are organized, your mind can focus on the subject you’re reading about.

Tip 2 – Be attentive in class

Note taking in class means you only write new ideas mentioned by your professor. You do not write each and every word your professor says as he or she lectures. By doing the latter, you can end up missing various important points and even fail to clearly understand the entire discussion.

So, since you’ve read on the topic for the day, listen and pay attention to the lecture. Avoid writing too many notes because they will only clutter in your notebook and your brain. And as you listen, observe your professor’s body language, teaching strategies and voice tone. These factors can help you understand the lesson better.

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Tip 3 – Have a system for note taking

A note-taking system can make remembering and processing lessons easier. In addition, a note-taking system allows you to write clear and organized notes. So try using bullets and numbers for lists that allow quick and easy reading. Use arrows, stars or red ink for important points or headings. Finally, leave enough spaces above or below your notes. The spaces are where you can write new notes after a second review of lessons.

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