Getting into your dream school is a long and tedious process. That is why it is a common sight to see the sad and frustrated look at the faces of students who did not see their names on the admission list. Well, it is normal to mourn over the loss but it should not hinder you to go on and pursue a college education.
About myself: analyze your mistakes.
If you fail to get admitted at your dream school, take this as the opportunity to assess yourself and have a good “about myself” session. It will be a good chance to analyze your mistakes that you may have committed during the application process and learn from those mistakes to do better next time. Examine carefully what went wrong; is it your “essay about myself,” your interview answers, or your grades? Read again your “essay on myself.” Was it too dramatic or desperate? There are many different factors; what is important is that you will be able to acknowledge them and give room for self-improvement.(1)
Look for other options.
Not getting into your dream school is not the end of the world. There are still many schools out there that offer similar features that you want from your dream school, whether it is the calibre of education, the environment, or tuition rates. You can still find other schools that offer the same curriculum or degree that you want. Just be patient enough to look for them because who knows? Maybe you will find your new school as enjoyable as your dream school or even more.(2)
Inquire about transfer programs.
Never lose hope. If you really want to be in that school, then wait for the next school year and apply again. It will be better if you maximize your options by looking into the possibility of transferring to your dream school after a year. Look for the schools that have the same degree that you want to pursue to avoid taking subjects that will not be credited as you transfer. After all, maybe this year is not just for you. Remember, patience is a virtue.(3)
(1) http://www.actstudent.org/college/mistakes.html
(2) http://www.morehouse.edu/campus_life/
(3) http://www.brcc.edu/services/advising/transfer/Default.htm
You have been preparing for it ever since you started school. You had worked yourself off to obtain the highest grades that you can. Your parents did their part by saving for it. But college is just too expensive. Fortunately, there are several financial aid and scholarship programs available in each college and university to help in fulfilling your dream.(1) However, the financial aid system of the country varies from district to
district or even school to school. So, the question now is how can you be able to get the best financial aid deal that will really suit you?
It should suit your current financial status
Just like looking for a pair of jeans that suits your current size, a financial aid program should meet your current financial status. If you or your parents have savings to provide for your tertiary education, then you do not necessarily need a full scholarship with other benefits. On the other hand, if you are in dire need of money and are sure that you can’t pursue your studies without financial aid, then go for full scholarships instead of the partial ones.
It should be flexible in terms of payment
Like a pair of jeans that can be worn comfortably anywhere, a financial aid program, particularly for student loans, should have flexible payment terms. You wouldn’t want a student loan which would practically hold you on your neck immediately after graduation. Stick to study grants and student loans from the government that can be deductable from your salary after graduation without totally compromising your income.(2)
It should be from a trusted agency or organization
Just like a pair of jeans from a trusted brand or retailer, your scholarship should be from a trusted agency or institution. After all, it’s money that you are dealing with. There are different kinds of reliable financial aids and scholarships available, such as grants and bursaries from the government, federal student loans, financial assistance programs from provincial aid organizations, and scholarships from private
institutions.(3)
To be able to get that scholarship, make sure that you come up with an excellent scholarship essay. Just like an admissions “essay on myself,” the scholarship essay should convince the readers that you deserve a slot. To help you write that scholarship essay on myself, try to read a sample essay about myself online. A well-written scholarship “myself essay” is clear, engaging, direct to the point, and is a reflection of your personality.
(1) http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2007/12.13/99-finaid.html
(2) http://www.yale.edu/admit/freshmen/financial_aid/index.html
(3) http://www.college.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os_jgoGDnQG8nY0MDFws3AyPz0BB_Q2cfQwMDM_3g1Dz9cJAuPKoMIPIGOICjgb6fR35uqn6kfpQ5whSLEHdTA0-D0BBXd0M3A5BdkTmp6YnJlfoF2V4e5fmOigATc04e/dl2/d1/L0lJSklna2shL0lCakFBQ3lBQkVSQ0lBISEvWUZOQTFOSTUwLXchLzdfU1JTQ1FLQjMxOFRHNTBJMFVURUcxRjAwMDY!/?WCM_PORTLET=PC_7_SRSCQKB318TG50I0UTEG1F0006_WCM&WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/college/college/howtopay/learnwhatsavailable
Stanford University is a learning institution that most high school graduates hear about, but only few students are actually admitted to. On a yearly basis, thousands of people send their application packages to Stanford with high hopes of getting admitted to this school. More often than not, however, applicants receive the thin rejection envelope instead of the bursting approval envelope. If you are one of the many people who were not accepted to Stanford or if you decided against going to Stanford, you may want to read this article on reasons not to attend Stanford University.
The Farm: The good and the bad
As one of the most prestigious schools in the world, Stanford University has produced some of the most influential and most renowned world figures. Aside from having educated some leading scholars, writers, and artists, Stanford also produced numerous political and legal figures. Some of the most prestigious people to graduate from Stanford include US and foreign presidents, vice-presidents, prime ministers, members of the royalty, senators, and Supreme Court Justices.(1) You can bet that not all of the Stanford graduates were perfect role models though. A classic example would be the 1971 experiment of a Stanford professor of psychology and his students, who created a mock prison system. The experiment led to the mock guards getting more sadistic, while the mock prisoners would show depression and passivity. Some students were emotionally scarred by the experiment.(2, 3)
Berkeley’s better academic environment
One of the biggest problems with going to school at Stanford is that it can cost you more than your entire life savings. At University of California, Berkeley, you can get a great education at a great value. Berkeley has also produced numerous influential figures, including Pulitzer Prize winners and Nobel Laureates. Berkeley even has a larger student body, which means a bigger and more diverse network of friends and social contacts. Stanford even allows their students to drop classes before taking the finals without incurring any penalties to their grades. What kind of education is that? How can you forge character, virtues, and values if you allow students to just drop a class to save their GPA? Talk about baby feeding.(4, 5)
A bunch of preppies with attitudes
Another problem with Stanford is that the students can be stuck-up and conceited, only worried about how good they look in their designer outfits. If you aren’t the type to try and look like a goody-two-shoes preppy, then you’ll probably get annoyed as hell in Stanford. Besides, all they have to talk about is their money and the people they “know.” Whatever happened to real conversations?
Life over money
Finally, if you believe that there is more to life than just money, then Stanford isn’t the right place for you. The people at Stanford tend to get caught-up in talking about their financial capabilities. Who can blame them, though? With the huge tuition that they pay, they must have money. But you have to agree that there is much more to life than fattening your bank account, like getting a good education at a place other than Stanford University.
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Stanford_University_people
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Zimbardo
(3) http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/02/ted_zimbardo
(4) http://ual.stanford.edu/AP/academic_policies/AcPolicies.html
(5) http://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/04/us/stanford-u-decides-to-make-courses-harder-to-drop-but-easier-to-fail.html?pagewanted=all
A crucial decision that a new high school graduate faces is this: should I go to the community college or a university? Which one is better for me? Take your time when you mull over this, for this is one of the most important decisions you’ll be making in your young life. The following are some things to consider to alleviate the difficulty of choosing.
Expenses
A lot of community colleges cost much less than the tuition in the university. Still, when you opt to go to the latter, and your finances are not enough to fund the tuition, do not despair. Bear in mind that there are a lot of scholarships out there. Fact is, if you would go through some sample of admissions essays online, you would find mention of these matters as the theme of their “sample essay about myself.”
The transition phase
If you think you would be intimidated in your freshman year at a university for whatever reasons, then consider going to a community college. After all, community colleges are less populated and thus have an intimate learning environment.
Housing and place
A crucial factor is the place of the school. Assuming it is far from your place, then you could be forced to reside in a dormitory. Many universities have housing accommodations for their students, whereas, community colleges seldom have this. Naturally, a strong reason why many go to community colleges is the proximity factor.
The separation issue
The typical university gives courses on a myriad of specializations. For some community colleges, one could get a degree in Associate of Arts only.
Be it a university or a community, you would probably be required to give admission essays, and before you do so, go through other sample essays online with the theme “sample essay about myself.” This requirement is important, as today’s admissions committees – generally speaking – are very discerning and particular.
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