Trying to sound intelligent

One common mistake that people often make when writing their personal statements is that they try to impress readers with large words or an expansive vocabulary. The problem with using big or highfalutin words is that the writer may fail to project the “personal” side of personal statements. Instead of trying to impress the admissions committee with a large vocabulary, it may be better to impress them with the actual content and style. Most members of admissions committees are accustomed to reading all kinds of literature, especially those penned by students. As such, you can be assured that they look for originality, personality, and honesty over highfalutin words.

Writing about “what” instead of “why” or “how”

When writing personal statements, it is important to tell a story, instead of just mentioning things in short. For example, don’t just say that you entered into an organization, but write about why you entered the organization and how it has changed you as a person. This rule also applies when talking about your goals and aspirations. Try to give the reader a full picture of what you want to do in the future, why you want to do it, and how it can benefit you and the others around you.

Health insurance at a low premium and good options

One of the advantages of getting student health insurance is the low prices offered by many educational institutions. Colleges and universities usually offer student health insurance at lower prices than insurance companies. Students may be eligible for either group packages or individual packages, depending on the requirements of the insurer. Before settling on a student health insurance policy, though, it is important to know everything you can about the policy to ensure that it covers everything you need.

Good alternative for those not covered by their parents’ health insurance

Since most of the people who enter into college are already of legal age, they may no longer be covered by the health insurance plans of their parents or family. For those who no longer have health insurance, you should seriously consider getting student health insurance. Sicknesses and injuries are often accidental and unexpected, so it is important to have good health coverage. Remember that you are normally not required to get student health insurance from the school that you are attending. You can also get student health insurance from private insurance companies. Just make sure to ask about the requirements to qualify for the student health insurance policy. Don’t forget to read the fine print so as to make sure that the plan covers your needs.

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.

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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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.

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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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.

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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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.

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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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.

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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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!

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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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.

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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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.

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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